A new U.S. Senate transportation bill includes a measure that will change safety rules for large truck rentals.

Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal introduced the amendment in part as a response to the November accident at the Harvard-Yale football game in New Haven, Conn., where one woman died and two others were injured when a man driving a U-Haul van ran into them at a tailgate party.

The bill requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to analyze accidents involving rental trucks. The analysis will not only cover fatality and injury statistics, but will evaluate local and state laws that regulate companies that rent trucks. The bill also directs the USDOT to assess maintenance programs at truck rental companies. It mandates that the transportation secretary recommend new rules based on his findings.

“Alarming reports of safety violations and, most recently, a tragic accident involving a rental truck in Connecticut, have raised serious concerns about the safety and reliability of rental trucks driven by millions of Americans each year,” Blumenthal wrote in a press release.

Rental vehicles are not regulated in the same way as commercial truck fleets and so they are not held to the same safety standards at the federal level, according to Blumenthal’s release. Rental trucks are often the same size and weight as the ones in commercial fleets and are operated by drivers with less experience and training.

“While I am pleased that the Senate adopted my provision demanding a closer look at accident data and safety requirements for rental trucks, I believe it underscores the larger importance of passing a bill that is so critical to the safety and integrity of our nation’s highways and transportation systems and those who travel on them each day,” Blumenthal continued in the release.

One of the women injured in the truck accident in Connecticut filed a personal injury lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Haven in April seeking to hold responsible either the driver of the truck or the company that rented the truck who was unsafe, according to the suit.

The man who drove the truck has not been charged with a crime and tested negative for alcohol at the scene.

Blumenthal’s provision in the transportation bill would be a first step towards bringing rental truck fleets up to the same safety standards as commercial truck fleets.

Contact a Chicago truck accident lawyer and Chicago truck accident attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration added a new member to its family this year – a 10 year old.

The new crash test dummy helps to illuminate the safety issues faced by an under-studied group of motor vehicle passengers. There has been extensive research focused on keeping adults safe in car crashes. There also has been careful research done on how to keep infants, toddlers and other children safe.

The dummy tests restraint devices to see how a higher weight child manages crash energy. The 77-pound crash test dummy was developed in conjunction with updated safety seat requirements that were changed to stay up to date with the latest child restraint technology. The latest rule from the NHTSA expands child safety seat standards so that even children weighing between 65 and 80 pounds need to be in car seats or boosters.

Safety groups recommend keeping children in safety seats or booster seats for as long as possible. This can mean that children as old as 12 will need to be in a booster if they are not tall enough to ride in the seat like an adult.

Chicago personal injury lawyer Robert Briskman is experienced at helping people who have been hurt in auto accidents. To learn more, call 877-595-HURT (4878) or visit more of http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com.

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The National Patient Safety Foundation broadened the theme of the 2012 Patient Safety Awareness Week to include everyone at each step of the health care process. “Be aware for safe care” is the theme of 2012’s campaign to raise awareness of safety issues throughout the health care process. This year’s event is from March 4 to March 10. The NPSF produces educational resources and materials called the Patient Safety Awareness Toolkit for health care providers, patients and even communities that want to take part in the safety awareness campaign.

The toolkit is designed to help engage patients, community and staff at every level in patient safety. The NPSF encourages health care providers to prominently display the program materials and the campaign logo. The group provides educational resources to the staff of the hospital or health center. Health care professionals also can customize a Patient Safety Awareness Toolkit to better meet specific organizational needs.

The National Patient Safety Foundation has led and promoted the safety awareness week activities since 2002. A variety of efforts are being made in the United States and abroad to improve patient safety, including campaigns to prevent wrong side surgeries and other medical errors.

The NPSF also is promoting the Universal Patient Compact, which creates a framework for effective partnerships between patients and providers. The compact encourages providers to include the patients and families on the health care team.

Promoters hope Be Aware for Safe Care resonates with everyone in the health care process from the patients and their families to the staff of the medical center to the health care professionals attending to the patients. The theme for 2011’s Patient Safety Awareness Week was “Commit to Safe Health Care.” That campaign encouraged everyone in the health care industry to stay involved, informed and invested in every patient’s care.

Studies have shown that medical record documentation is the largest contributor to patient risk. There are campaigns under way to standardize medical record keeping to make it easier for caregivers to find patient allergies marked in different places in the records or ensure consistent dosing information.

Patient Safety Awareness Week has become a tradition in many hospitals and medical centers. The annual event is an opportunity for administrators to refocus caregivers, patients and families on the importance of safety and communication in the health care industry.

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago personal injury lawyer and Chicago personal injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation has formally banned Interstate bus and truck drivers from using hand-held phones.

The new rule was jointly created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. “I hope that this rule will save lives by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel,” said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood after the rule went into effect in November.

The new rule is simple and has financial and professional consequences. Commercial drivers are no longer allowed to use a hand-held phone of any kind while operating a bus or truck. Drivers found in violation of the restriction will be fined up to $2,750 per offense and may be disqualified from operating a commercial vehicle after multiple violations, according to the DOT. States hold the commercial driver’s licenses and will revoke them after multiple offenses.

Commercial truck or bus companies also can be fined for allowing their drivers to operate hand-held smartphones while driving. The maximum fine for companies is $11,000.

There are about four million professional commercial drivers in the United States, according to the DOT. The government got the authority to make such a rule from federal highway safety laws passed in the 1980s. The DOT used research from its own 2009 study showing the dangerous effects of distracted driving that indicated it does not take much distraction for a commercial driver to create big problems on the highway.

The study found that doing things like text messaging on a phone were more than twice as distracting as rummaging through a grocery bag or looking at a map while driving. It also showed that using a hand-held device was about five times more distracting than speaking on the phone hands-free.

As many as 500,000 people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2009, according to the DOT’s research. Another 5,474 died in distracted driving accidents in the United States that year. The DOT’s study alarmed the industry, and government agencies have been cracking down ever since. The FMCSA and the PHMSA both banned texting while driving in 2010 in hopes of cutting back on distracted driving. The new smartphone ban goes much further by banning use of all hand-held devices.

Some of the country’s largest employers of commercial drivers like Wal-Mart, UPS, Greyhound and Covenant Transport already had rules banning their drivers from using smartphones, according to the DOT’s press release.

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago truck accident lawyer and Chicago truck accident attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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An attempt by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce dosing confusion about liquid acetaminophen has led the agency to clarify a warning about dosing because the first changes created even more confusion.

Major manufacturers agreed in 2009 to produce acetaminophen in only one strength after FDA advisory committees raised concerns about confusion and dosing errors. The new standard concentration is 160 mg/5 mL.

Ideally, that would mean only one concentration of acetaminophen would be available. But because the change was only a voluntary one, some manufacturers opted not to comply with the single-concentration recommendation. As a result, multiple concentrations remain on store shelves including 80 mg/mL and 80 mg/0.8 mL. Adding to the confusion, manufacturers who changed the dosage did not always change the packaging to make it clear that the product is a different strength.

The FDA stressed that the new dosages come with an oral syringe to help with precise dosing. Older products came with droppers. Acetaminophen is still safe in other concentrations as long as parents continue to use the correct dose for the concentration. The FDA also urged healthcare professionals to instruct parents in proper dosing and to explain the problems associated with incorrect dosing when they recommend the drug for children.

Chicago medical malpractice attorney Paul Greenberg has experience in helping parents whose children have been given the wrong dosage by a medical professional. To learn more, call 877-595-HURT (4878) or visit more of http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com.

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Illinois surgery centers are under the microscope after state health officials found numerous violations of infection control standards. The Illinois Department of Public Health is mandating that these types of widely used outpatient facilities be more in line with hospital regulations. The inspections have been prompted by other state infection scares and national initiatives such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Healthcare-Associated Infections objectives for Healthy People 2020.

“We want people to know there is regulatory oversight of these types of facilities and that we are closely monitoring infection control,” said Bill Bell, the division chief for Health Care Facilities and Programs for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

His team went to state facilities unannounced and tracked a patient’s surgery through all the steps rather than merely looking at the facility’s guidelines on infection control. In 2010, almost 76 percent of these facilities had infection control violations. The latest inspections found facilities with the following violations:
- Inadequate sterilization and cleaning practices
- Reuse of needles, syringes, and vials
- Improper or no labeling
- Improper use of personal protective equipment
- No investigation into why a doctor’s patients had a high frequency of post-op infections
- No regular training on infection control
- No qualified person in charge of infection control program
- Infections not reported

These incidents put patients at risk for contracting infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that errors involving injection processes, equipment cleaning errors, and inadequate environmental cleaning increase the risk of infections. Better communication between nurses and environmental services workers in regards to what is being cleaned after procedures is key. Proper labeling of vials, syringes, and other containers is also crucial.

Not only do surgery centers need to be mindful of their infection control procedures, but long-term care facilities, end-stage renal disease facilities, and hospitals must be vigilant about mitigating the chance of patient and worker infections. The CDC recommends personnel to have “…sufficient and appropriate equipment and supplies necessary for the consistent observation of standard precautions, including hand hygiene products, injection equipment, and personal protective equipment.”

The HHS’ Healthcare-Associated Infections goal for Healthy People 2020 is to ultimately reduce infections related to health care facilities. Infections cause many preventable deaths, serious injuries, and increased medical costs. The HHS is “…particularly concerned about central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.” When prevention practices are in place the HHS estimates that 70 percent of infections can be reduced, saving at least $25 billion.

When a patient’s life is compromised because of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, they can take legal action. Patients are owed a reasonable standard of care, no matter what type of facility they go to or what procedure they have. The Chicago personal injury lawyer Robert I. Briskman is accomplished in holding health care facilities, staff, and their insurance companies accountable for their mistakes that caused the infection. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg will investigate every route to get their client compensation for their pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. The Chicago personal injury lawyers are respected by their clients, peers, and the courts for their years of service throughout Chicagoland. To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878).

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 West Hubbard Street, Ste 810
Chicago, IL 60654

Robert Briskman is a Chicago personal injury lawyer and Chicago personal injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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Bicycling in your neighborhood or to work should be an enjoyable, stress-free activity. But for a man in Cook County, Illinois, and for thousands of other bike riders, careless or negligent drivers can cause a serious injury or death. In late July, a 79-year-old man was cycling two blocks from his home in suburban Maywood when he was hit by an automobile shortly after 8 p.m. Within an hour he passed away at Loyola University Medical Center.

According to BIKESAFE, most automobile-bicycle accidents occur in the summer months of June, July, and August between 5 and 9 p.m. Through its case studies, BIKESAFE, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation, found that auto-bicycle accidents are most often caused by a driver who:
fails to yield at an intersection light
fails to yield at a stop sign
drives out mid-block or mid-driveway
turns left or right into a bicycle path
tries to overtake a bicycle

An estimated 53,000 injuries occur every year from auto-bicycle accidents and two percent of them are fatal. Cyclists must be mindful to wear helmets, obey traffic laws, and be aware of vehicles around them. In urban areas in and around Chicago, cyclists also have to be cautious with drivers going high speeds. Poor sight distance, speeds that make it harder to brake quickly, and traffic jams can increase the chances of an accident. Injuries can also occur when bicycles ride next to parked vehicles and a door is opened unexpectedly. And in the case of the Cook County senior, riding at dusk and into the night hours can cause visibility problems. Cyclists should be sure to use rear reflectors, pulsing lights, and other bright gear when they ride at night.

Automobile-bicycle accidents can cause serious brain injuries, even when cyclists are struck by vehicles going 35 mph or less. Back and limb injuries are also very common. When an accident like this occurs, the driver’s car insurance is responsible for your medical expenses. The Chicago bicycle accident lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg have helped many accident victims recover compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, future care, and lost wages. They are also experienced in guiding loved ones in a wrongful death lawsuit. Their team of Chicago accident attorneys works with the top experts for your medical planning and the accident reconstruction part of your case.

To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878).

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 West Hubbard Street, Ste 810
Chicago, IL 60654

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago car accident lawyer and Chicago car accident attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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Big trucks like semi-tractor trailers have big blind spots that increase the risk of an accident. This is especially true during the summertime when more drivers, including less-experienced teenage drivers, are on the road. These blind spots, also called “No Zones,” are far larger than an automobile’s blind spots. Drivers need to remember that if you can’t see the truck driver’s face in the side-view mirror, he will not be able to see you. Drivers are cautioned to steer clear of a truck driver’s blind spots – particularly on the sides – as a tractor trailer needs twice the time and room to stop.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently began a new summer campaign called “Teens and Trucks” to highlight the importance of driving safely around large trucks. The months between May and August are unfortunately noted for the most teen deaths due to auto accidents. People from 16 to 24 years old were the biggest group affected, and 4,000 of these youths died from large truck accidents.

“Do not expect that having a driver’s license is a right that comes without responsibility or risk,” said Steve Keppler, Executive Director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). “Be accountable for your actions, spread the word to your friends and parents, and help create a culture of safety. Most importantly, take the driving task seriously. You never know the impact you can have that ultimately could save your life or someone else’s.”

From partying at prom and graduation to going to a summer job or enjoying a road trip, teens must be aware of not lingering in the “No Zone” or darting in and out of traffic to rush to their destination. Pulling behind a tractor trailer can be dangerous as a trailer can brake suddenly and cause a rear-end collision. Pulling in front of them prematurely can be deadly too. Drivers need to have the whole front of the big rig in their rear-view mirror before pulling in front of them and be sure not to slow down. Otherwise, the chances for a collision increase.

“We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “They are: buckle up, don’t drink and drive, don’t speed, don’t text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck’s blind spots.”

In Illinois, summertime means lots of outdoor activities and travelling to enjoy time with family and friends. The fun can be abruptly cut short by a big rig accident. If you or a loved one have been injured in a big rig accident as a result of another driver’s negligence, a Chicago truck accident attorney will help you pursue compensation for your injuries. Chicago truck accident lawyer Paul A. Greenberg has years of experience helping clients get payment for their medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and other costs from the guilty party. As a SuperLawyer recipient, he is respected by colleagues, insurance companies, and the judiciary as an outstanding lawyer serving the Chicago and Illinois community. The team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg are experts at determining who is at fault and handling all the legal matters, allowing you to focus on healing and getting back to your normal routine.

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago truck accident lawyer and Chicago truck accident attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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Illinois has one of the highest rates of railway accidents in the country. According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), seven deaths and 48 accidents have occurred on state railways this year so far.

In May, an Amtrak and Burlington Northern Metra train collided, causing passenger injuries and derailment of the Metra train. 12 passengers went to local hospitals but none were critically injured. Investigators are attempting to determine whether a switching error caused the collision. A switch is a set of points that guides trains from one track to another at a junction. Some switches are controlled by an individual, whereas others are controlled remotely. Incorrectly setting a switch can cause two trains to be on the same track simultaneously, increasing the chances of an accident.

“The train hit the brakes, and then it hit the brakes again, so a lot of people went flying and were injured,” said passenger Virginia Watkins about the May accident. “I’m a little shaken. I was standing up, and I felt like I was swinging around the pole.”

Other train-to-train collisions in Illinois’ past have caused death and serious injuries. Car-train collisions are the worst problem in the area though, as fatal injuries often ensue because of the high-speeds and sheer power of the train. Legal experts say that, “A legacy of short-sighted planning has placed trains and automobiles on the same grade throughout the sprawling metropolis, and complex intersections and traffic snarls only exacerbate the problem.”

Passenger train companies owe their customers a duty to maintain a safe riding environment. When a person is dealing with serious injuries or the death of loved one, they should consult a Chicago accident attorney to uphold their rights. Train companies are regulated by the FRA and are required to maintain the train and equipment, keep the train tracks clear of dangerous debris, watch for dangers at rail crossings, and employ qualified personnel to ensure rider and worker safety.

The Chicago accident lawyer Robert I. Briskman, Esq. has decades of experience helping clients in all types of accidents, including railroad accidents, hold the responsible party accountable for their negligent actions and getting you the compensation you need for current and future concerns. The law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg works closely with experts such as accident reconstructionists and medical planners to vigilantly fight your case.

Robert I. Briskman is a Chicago car accident lawyer and Chicago car accident attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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The Third District Appellate Court of Illinois upheld a trial court’s ruling that a tractor-trailer driver and her company’s affiliates were liable for the deaths of two men and serious injuries of another.

DeAn Henry was driving a tractor-trailer full of potatoes on Interstate 55 in Plainfield, Ill., when she realized that several vehicles ahead of her were not moving. She tried to stop her truck, but was unable to do so. Henry crashed into multiple automobiles, killing Joseph Sperl and Thomas Sanders, and injuring William Taluc. She was due to deliver the potatoes to the C.H. Robinson (CHR) warehouse in Bolingbrook, Ill.

Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, the Appellate Court made CHR vicariously liable for the wrongful deaths and serious injuries. A total of $23,775,000 was awarded, with $8.75 million for Sanders, $7.25 million for Sperl, and $7.775 million for Taluc’s negligence claims.

“Tragically, the demands of one’s job and distractions on the road can result in needless deaths and injuries,” said Chicago car accident attorney and SuperLawyer Paul A. Greenberg, Esq.

The CHR warehouse where Henry was supposed to deliver the goods had a storage facility designed to store perishable goods, such as potatoes, before they are transported to their final destination. The potatoes were ultimately to be delivered to Jewel-Osco grocery stores. Henry was in frequent contact with CHR throughout the trip, as the company had strict rules and fines if goods were not delivered on time.

She testified that “she would not have been able to deliver the load to the Bolingbrook warehouse within CHR’s schedule without violating federal regulations.” CHR would also ultimately pay her if she successfully transported the goods. The appellate court ruled that because of CHR’s heavy involvement in, and control of, DeAn’s work, she was an agent of CHS rather than an independent contractor.

“In addition to determining who is at fault for an accident, it is essential to be able to identify all parties who may be financially responsible for damages,” said Greenberg, who practices at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg along with a team of accomplished Chicago car accident lawyers. “A good lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation in order to pinpoint everything and everyone that caused an accident.”

To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878)

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