Posts Tagged ‘ memphis personal injury lawyer ’

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18
Mar

Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Benefit Reform Bill Passes Legislative Committees

March 18, 2013

Several changes to the way Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Benefits are distributed are being passed during the present legislative session. According to Knoxville News, Governor Bill Haslam’s reform bill received approval form both House and Senate committees earlier this week.

The main change that can be expected from the governor’s legislation is that claims that are currently being disputed will no longer be heard in a court of law. Under the new law, those cases will be decided on by an appointed commission.

While those in favor of the law claim it will help attract new businesses to the state and will also help existing businesses grow, opponents of the laws believe the changes will drastically cut the amount of benefits an injury victim will receive. Furthermore, those against the law say business interests were directly involved in the drafting of the bill, while no employee representatives were involved in the process.

One lawmaker pointed to individuals who attended the proceedings who would be directly affected by the changes. One of those people was a man who had sustained serious burn injuries and received a six-figure settlement for his injuries. Under the new laws, that settlement amount would have been significantly less.

The Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers with John Michael Bailey recognize these changes may make it more difficult for injured workers to receive the benefits they need. That’s why the firm suggests discussing your case with a qualified attorney if you have been hurt on-the-job.

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11
Mar

Tennessee Considers Changes To The State’s Motorcycle Helmet Laws

March 6, 2013

Despite helmets being found to drastically decrease the chances of injury or death in the event of a motorcycle accident, Tennessee is considering relaxing its helmet laws.

According to Occupational Health & Safety, state law requires all operators and passengers of motorized bikes to wear helmets. That could change soon enough though if House Bill 0894 is passed in the legislative session. The new law would only require riders under the age of 21 to wear helmets.

The new law takes into consideration the fact there could be a rise in the number of riders who are killed or injured due to Tennessee Auto Accidents involving motorcycles. In response, the bill calls for the fee to have each Tennessee motorcycle license issued or renewed to be raised by $2. The money will be used to fund the Tennessee Medicaid program, Tenncare.

The bill also requires the Department of Health and the Department of Safety to compile an annual report examining the number of motorcycle accidents involving riders not wearing helmets and the associated costs of these crashes to Tenncare. The report will exclude all accidents that are caused by another driver or accidents where liability has not been determined.

The Tennessee Personal Injury Attorneys with John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers are aware of the serious risks associated with riding motorcycles. That’s why the firm encourages all motorcyclists to always wear a helmet, regardless of the law.

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4
Mar

Memphis Car Accident Leaves Two Police Officers Injured

March 4, 2013

The need to eliminate both drunk driving and accidents involving emergency vehicles was highlighted by a Memphis Car Accident that recently left two officers seriously injured. According to WATE 6 News, the crash occurred on the morning of Saturday, March 2.

Reports indicate the officers were partners who had stopped their vehicle along the side of the highway with the emergency lights flashing. One of the officers had exited the vehicle and another was sitting inside the cruiser when a 22-year-old driver plowed into the rear of their vehicle.

Both officers suffered injuries that required treatment at a local trauma center. Meanwhile, the driver of the vehicle responsible for the collision was arrested on charges of drunken driving and public intoxication.

Tennessee’s “Move Over” law states that all vehicles are required to shift over a lane when coming upon a stopped emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated. The law was enacted after a number of similar accidents resulted in several members of law enforcement losing their lives.  Law also prohibits a person from driving after consuming large quantities of alcohol.

The Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers with John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers recognize the failure to obey these laws can result in a motorists being found negligent in the event of an accident. That’s why the firm suggests talking about your case with a qualified attorney if you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault.

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25
Feb

Social Security Making The Switch To Electronic Payments

February 25, 2013

The United States Treasury Department says there are roughly five million recipients of Social Security Disability and retirement benefits who still receive paper checks each month.  This will soon be a thing of the past though, as the program moves over to exclusively offering electronic payments next month.

NPR News explained that beginning on March 1, the government will only issue benefit payments to a bank or credit union account held by the recipient. Those individuals who do not have a banking account have the option of having their benefits loaded onto a debit card provided by Chase Banks. These cards will allow access to an extended ATM network and will present users with minimal fees.

Officials say the move to electronic payments is being done to not only create a more efficient way of making payments, but also a more costly way of doing business as well. The switch is estimated at saving the government more than one billion dollars over the next decade. It is also important to note beneficiaries will receive their payments much faster electronically.

Many recipients reported being hesitant to make the switch due to security concerns; however, officials are assuring beneficiaries that the new system provides users with a much safer way of receiving their benefits.

The Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers with John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers encourage anyone who receives benefits and has not made the switch to the electronic system to consider doing so.

 

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4
Feb

Four Children Injured In Accident Due To Lack Of Safety Seats

February 4, 2013

Four children were injured in a car accident involving a van from a day care center. According to 48 News, the crash occurred Friday morning along Lamar Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.

Police say the 31-year-old driver of van belonging to a midtown day care facility, Taylor’s Learning Academy, was heading down the road when he suddenly veered off of the highway, hit a power pole, and rolled the vehicle. The impact of the Memphis Auto Accident ejected one child from the vehicle and left the driver and three other children with serious injuries as well. They were each transported to local trauma centers to receive treatment.

Officials say the accident highlights the importance for educating those traveling in vehicles with children about always using safety and booster seats. Reports indicate only one of the children involved in the recent crash was properly restrained in a safety seat, despite law requiring all children under the age of four-years-old or 40-pounds to use one of the devices.

The driver of the van has been charged with three counts of not following child restraint laws, as well as failure to have proof of insurance.

The Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers with John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers would like to encourage all motorists to not only utilize a child safety seat when traveling with kids, but to also ensure the device is properly installed before your journey begins.

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29
Jan

Study Finds Hospital Bed Alarms Ineffective at Preventing Falls

January 28, 2013

Slip and fall injuries are some of the most common types of accidents that occur in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The frequency of such injuries prompted many hospitals to invest in alarm technology that would supposedly help prevent these accidents, but a new study published in a recent issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine points to the contrary.

The study examined results from 349 beds from 16 units in a hospital located in Memphis, Tennessee. Half the units were used as a control test group while the other half were outfitted with the alarms, as well as receiving interventions and specialized trainings to increase the understanding and use of fall alarms. While the study found the training and interventions led to a greater use of the alarms, there was no significant data to support the idea the alarms prevented Slip and Fall Accidents after other contributing factors were brought into the equation.

Researchers attributed this phenomenon to what they referred to as “alarm fatigue.” Essentially, nurses and staff heard the alarms so often, they became desensitized to the signal and often did not respond.

The Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers with John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers say medical staff failing to respond to an alarm that indicates a patient may be in trouble could be considered negligence and would encourage anyone who has been harmed under a physicians’ care to contact an attorney to discuss your legal rights.

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14
Jan

One Person Killed, Four Others Injured, In Memphis Car Accident

January 14, 2013

One person was killed and four others seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision that occurred this past week in Memphis, Tennessee. According to The Commercial Appeal, the accident happened at around 3:00 p.m. Tuesday along Interstate 40, near mile-marker 44 in Haywood County.

Reports from the Tennessee Highway Patrol indicate that the 21-year-old driver of a vehicle was heading east along the highway when she suddenly lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road. The car then went down a steep embankment and rolled several times before coming to rest.

The impact of the Memphis Car Accident caused all five people inside the vehicle to be ejected. The victims were all transported to local trauma centers to receive treatment to their injuries; however, one of the victims died before arriving.

Investigators are continuing to evaluate whether contributing factors such as alcohol and a lack of seat belts may have played a role in the accident. Troopers have stated already they do believe speed was a contributing factor in the crash,

The Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers with John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers recognize the dangers that being involved in a motor vehicle accident that was not your fault can pose and may be able to help if you or a loved one were injured in a collision that was believed to have been caused by another person’s negligence.

 

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31
Dec

Law Enforcement To Be Watching Closely For Drunk Drivers

December 31, 2012

This year, Tennessee saw a dramatic increase in the number of motor vehicle fatalities when compared against the number from the previous year. So far in 2012, 1,002 people died in Memphis Car Accidents, which is 72 more than in 2011. A large portion of these accidents were caused by drunk drivers.

Law enforcement recognized the problem and say they will be out in force tonight in an effort to keep drunk drivers off the highway. According to Nooga.com, the state toughened up its laws against drinking and driving in July of this year when state lawmakers passed what is known as a “No Refusal” law. The law allows for law enforcement to obtain a search warrant in order to collect blood and breath samples from a potentially intoxicated person, thus streamlining an evidence collection system, which could previously be halted by a person simply refusing to offer the samples. Officers say they will not only be watching for drunk drivers, but will also be issuing citations for seat belt and distracted driving infractions.

The Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers with John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers recognize the dangers that drunk drivers not only pose to themselves, but also everyone else on the road that they are around. That is why the firm asks that we each do our part to keep Tennessee’s highways safe by not getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

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17
Dec

Two Killed and Two Seriously Injured in Memphis Car Accident

December 17, 2012

A multi-vehicle accident on the north side of Memphis, Tennessee, over the weekend was responsible for leaving two people dead and two others seriously injured. The Commercial Appeal stated the crash occurred Sunday just after 5:00 p.m. at the intersection of New Allen and Hawkins Mill.

Officers with the Memphis Metro Police Department stated they arrived at the scene and found where two vehicles had collided with one another, sending one spinning out of control off the road. Emergency response crews were immediately summoned to the scene and worked diligently to free all four victims. Two of the individuals involved in the Memphis Car Accident died at the scene, while two others were rushed to a local Memphis hospital for treatment. They remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Officers added they are still investigating what may have led to the accident.

Despite the unanswered questions involved in this case, one fact is known for sure, and that is in 2012, the state of Tennessee will exceed the number of fatal accidents that occurred last year. So far in 2012, Tennessee has recorded more than 941 traffic fatalities, compared to the total of 937 that were recorded last year.

The Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers with John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers are hopeful motorists will be vigilant of the dangers presented by the highway this coming holiday season by slowing down, eliminating all distractions, and always driving defensively.

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10
Dec

Contest Aims To Prevent Workplace Accidents

December 10, 2012

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that last year; the construction industry was the second leading occupation in workplace fatalities with 721 workers dying on the job. Thousands more sustained injuries as a result of Construction Accidents, considering the industry had an accident rate of around 9 workers per 100,000 being hurt.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun looking into new ways to educate the public on the dangers of workplace injuries and how they can be prevented. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, one way the agency is achieving this is by hosting a contest, called the Worker Safety and Health App Challenge. The contest prompts individuals and teams to create an application for smart phones that will promote workplace safety.

The University of Tennessee’s Construction Industry Research and Policy Center and its Department of Industrial Systems Engineering have teamed together on an entry into the contest they call, “Working Safely is No Accident”. The app targets workers between the ages of 13 and 24 and aims to make them more aware of their rights to workplace safety and ways they can work to prevent accidents.

Winners of the contest will receive roughly $30,000 in prizes.

The Memphis Personal Injury Lawyers at John Michael Bailey Injury Lawyers would like to wish the team the best of luck in the contest and hope the application is successful in saving lives.

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