Injuries

Safety Tips for Traveling through Winter Storms

January 15, 2019 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

When weather forecasts call for accumulating snow or even a wintry mix, drivers should take precautions. Wintry weather reduces the friction of the roadway as well as a driver’s ability to control his or her vehicle, leading to an increased risk for accidents and injuries.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, 24% of weather-related motor vehicle accidents take place on roadways covered by snow, slush or ice, and 15% occur while snow or sleet is falling. Many of these accidents occur when drivers panic and make sudden, jerky movements behind the wheel. Turning the wheel too quickly, slamming on the brakes or stepping too hard on the accelerator can cause your vehicle to lose what little traction it has on a slippery road, leading to a loss of control.

The best advice, of course, is to stay off the roads during a winter storm, but that isn’t always practical. For tips to help reduce your risk of an accident if you must drive through a winter storm, read Car and Drivers’ “How to Drive Safely in Snow.”

An Ounce of Prevention to Protect Against Winter Sports Injuries

December 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

Winter is just around the corner. For some people that means dusting off the skis or snowboards and dragging out the sleds; and then there are others who can only hope they make it through the season without slipping and falling in the snow and ice. Whichever camp you fall into, the main objective is to keep yourself and your children safe.

Just being outside in the cold for long periods can be hazardous unless you take the necessary precautions — wearing appropriate clothing, warming up cold muscles before exercise, and not pushing yourself when tired are just a few examples. There are further measures you can take to prevent injuries depending on the specific activity you engage in. To learn about the most common injuries associated with various winter sports, and for tips on how to prevent them, read “Common Winter Sports Injuries.”

Keep Safety in Mind This Thanksgiving

November 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

Thanksgiving is a special time for many of us. It kicks off the holiday season, but it doesn’t hold the same pressures a lot of us feel at Christmas and New Year’s. It is simply a time to get together with family and friends, watch a parade and some football, eat, and pause to reflect on those things for which we are grateful.

Did you know, though, that on average there are more home fires resulting from cooking on Thanksgiving than any other day? It could be because so many people are in the kitchen trying new recipes; or because there is so much activity going on that even those who cook all the time are easily distracted. Whatever the cause, this year keep your home safe and your family free from injury by keeping some basic fire safety tips in mind as you prepare your holiday meal.

For a review of some tips that can help keep you safe, read the National Fire Protection Association’s article on “Thanksgiving safety.”

New Guidelines Aimed At Keeping Young Children Safer In Cars

September 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

Riding in automobiles is one of the most dangerous things children in the U.S. do on a daily basis, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury. However, the the Academy points out, using the right car and booster seats correctly can help reduce risk of serious injury to a child by more than 70%.

With this in mind, the Academy recently revised its guidelines on car seats, urging parents to keep their young children in rear-facing seats even longer than previously recommended. This position, the Academy says, offers better protection to young children’s heads and necks in the event of an accident. To learn more about how to protect your child while riding in your car, read “Experts drop kids’ age limit for rear-facing car seats.”

Send Your Kids Back to School Safely

August 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

In just a few short weeks children in our area will be returning to school. The transition from the more relaxed routine of summer vacation to the hustle and bustle of fall activities can be chaotic. In the rush to get everyone out the door on time, it’s easy to overlook minor details. Now might a good time to review some safety tips to help ensure your kids enjoy an injury-free school year.

Planning a travel route to and from school is a good place to start. Whether your child walks, bikes, or takes a school bus, reviewing basic traffic rules can help them get there safely. But travel isn’t the only area that poses a potential risk for injury. In her article, “Back to School Safety Tips,” Terry Hurley offers tips on such issues as backpack safety, bullying awareness, and even packing safe school lunches.

Johnson & Johnson Again Faces Damages over Talc Products; Plans Appeal

July 16, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

A Missouri jury recently ordered pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.14 billion in punitive damages to 22 defendants who claimed use of the company’s talc products led to their development of ovarian cancer. This comes on top of an award of $550 million in compensatory damages, for a grand total of $4.69 billion ordered by that jury, making this the 6^th largest jury verdict in U.S. history in a defective products case.

This is the latest in a series of cases against J&J claiming a correlation between extended use of the company’s talc products, including baby powder, and ovarian cancer. A small number of those cases, including the Missouri case cited above, contend that the company’s talc products are contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.

A spokesperson for the company stated that J&J, which has been successful in getting past verdicts related to this issue reversed, plans to appeal this latest verdict on grounds that it was the result of a “fundamentally unfair process.” To learn more about this ongoing court battle, read “Johnson & Johnson told to pay $4.7 billion in baby powder case.”

Cycling Laws and Precautions To Help You Avoid Injury

June 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

Each year as summer approaches, more and more bicyclists hit the road to take advantage of the warmer weather and longer daylight hours. Whether you are riding on a major street or on a back country road, sharing the road with other motor vehicles presents a risk for serious injury. According to the most recently available statistics, there were more than 800 bicycle fatalities on U.S. roads in 2015. That number represents over 2% of all U.S. traffic deaths for that year.

New Jersey has laws about sharing the road designed to make it safer for both motorists and cyclists. The laws for cyclists cover everything from safety equipment to where on the road they should ride. To learn more about how to keep yourself and your family members safe while bicycling this summer, read “NJ Bike Laws and Safety – Here’s What You Should Know.”

The Not-So-Hidden Dangers in Your Home

May 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

Most people like to think of home as their safe haven, yet each year millions of Americans suffer from injuries caused by common, everyday items found in their homes. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that last year approximately 14 million people in the U.S. were treated for injuries caused by household objects; some 9,000 of those injuries proved fatal. This risk is compounded if the items in question are defective or not used as intended.

The list of household items most likely to cause injury ranges from the obvious (ladders and cutlery) to the more obscure (ceilings and tables). To see the list of the top 20 most dangerous items in the home and who is most at risk from each, read “11 dangerous everyday things in your home that cause the most injuries.”

Are You Using Your Child’s Car Seat Correctly?

April 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

For decades now parents have understood that, when traveling by car, the best way to protect their young children from injury in the event of an accident was to make sure the children were properly secured in their car seats. But questions relating to the proper use of car seats still plaque parents and caregivers today: What type of car seat does my child need? Have I installed the car seat correctly? At what age should I turn the car seat around?

New Jersey is one of eight states to have laws stipulating that children under the age of two years be placed in rear-facing car seats. Studies have shown that these seats offer the most protection for very young children in front- and side-impact collisions. Now, a new study reveals this is true for rear-impact accidents as well. To learn more, read “Don’t turn around: . . .”

Are Self-Driving Cars the Answer to New Jersey’s Increasing Fatality Rate?

March 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

In 2015 New Jersey joined several other states in adopting a traffic safety strategy to cut the number of traffic accident-related deaths in half by the year 2030, yet traffic fatalities in the State continue to rise.

A recent report by the New Jersey State Police revealed there were 46 accident-related deaths in the State this past January, one more than in January 2017 and four more than in January 2016. Distracted driving was identified as a major contributor to this increasing fatality rate, leading some to believe that the eventual introduction of self-driving cars could play a major role in reducing the number of accidents and related injuries and deaths in the State. To learn more, read “NJ Counting on Self-Driving Cars to Cut Traffic Deaths by Half.”