Commercial vehicle drivers in West Virginia and throughout the country may be subject to stricter laws regarding speeds. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are proposing a rule that would decrease the speed that such vehicles could actually travel.
FDA approves cognitive skills assessment tool
Many West Virginia residents who have been in car accidents or who have played contact sports have incurred traumatic brain injuries. Nationwide, over 2 million emergency room visits are the result of these types of injuries each year. Mild TBIs, which include concussions, are the cause of a large percentage of these trips to the hospital.
Individuals with mild brain trauma injuries at risk for PTSD
West Virginia residents may be surprised to learn that more than just extreme head injuries can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. A recent study of civilian emergency services providers showed that patients who had experienced mild traumatic brain injuries also had an increased risk for PTSD.
6 people injured on amusement park ride
West Virginia residents have likely heard about some of this summer's incidents of amusement park injuries and deaths, including the Kansas boy who was killed while riding on a water slide. In another case in Connecticut, six people who were on an amusement park ride were injured after receiving electrical shocks.
Autopilot may help West Virginia drivers
In August 2016, a driver in China recorded footage of his Model S scraping another vehicle that was on a road's shoulder. However, Tesla responded by saying that the accident was the driver's fault as his hands weren't on the wheel when the crash occurred and that he had his head down at times. Drivers are warned ahead of time that the automatic steering feature is designed to assist them.
Drowsy drivers caused about 5,000 deaths in 2015
West Virginia residents might be surprised to learn that roughly 5,000 people died in 2015 because of a drowsy driver, according to a study by the Governors Highway Safety Association. The report also noted that the there is not enough information to show the full extent of this dilemma.
Insurance companies worried about brain damage in contact sports
West Virginia residents who follow football likely know that doctors have linked playing the sport to degenerative brain diseases like chronic traumatic encephalopathy. There have been numerous reports about a 2015 lawsuit that was filed against the NFL by former players worried about the consequences of repeated head trauma. The NFL settled the suit by agreeing to pay 20,000 players up to $5 million, a figure that has worried many insurance companies.
Safe driver week coming in October
Working with law enforcement agencies in West Virginia and across the country, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will hold its safe driver week from Oct. 16 to 22. During that week, law enforcement agencies across the country will step up enforcement of traffic laws while also engaging in educational efforts about safe driving behaviors.
The dangers of engaging in social media while driving
With the ability to communicate via cellphone on social media platforms, there is an ever-growing enticement for West Virginia motorists to engage in these distractions while behind the wheel. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that on a daily basis around the country, more than a thousand individuals are hurt and eight die because of a car accident caused by a distracted driver.
Commercial properties and premises liability
Businesses in West Virginia owe a duty of care to all of the customers that enter the building they occupy. Even if a business owner does not own the building where the business is located, the owner is usually liable for accidents that take place on its premises. That's because most commercial leases have provisions that make safety the tenant's responsibility rather than the landlord's.
