Animal lovers in West Virginia may have heard that an orangutan at an Ohio zoo injured a volunteer in late January when it reached through the barrier and bit the victim's hand. Officials from the zoo in Toledo say that the victim's thumb detached during the incident....
Month: January 2019
Riskier ways of using phones cause greater driver distraction
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released a report on distracted driving that should prove interesting to many in West Virginia. Researchers focused on two surveys from 2014 and 2018; in these, drivers in four Northern Virginia communities were observed...
CMV crash deaths rise, FMCSA points to seat belt neglect
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has recorded another annual increase in commercial motor vehicle fatalities. In 2017, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 5,005 such fatalities. In contrast, 2009 saw 3,193 CMV crash deaths....
Symptoms commonly related to serious brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can affect anyone in West Virginia under certain circumstances. Whether a TBI occurs as a result of a motor vehicle accident, hard fall, sports-related impact or physical assault, it's important for victims and their loved ones to recognize...
How drivers in West Virginia can avoid truck accidents
Large truck crashes are some of the most serious on America's roads. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 3,986 truck crash fatalities in 2016: a 27 percent jump from 2009. Of those fatalities, 66 percent...
Motorcycle stunt riders cause road hazards
Stunt riding, one of the latest trends in motorcycle sports, appeals to a new generation of motorcycle enthusiasts. Riders use dirt bikes, or they buy sports bikes designed with enhanced power to weight ratios.Automobile design has increased power while decreasing...
Ridesharing drivers at high risk for fatigue, sleepiness
Back in April 2018, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a position statement in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine regarding the safety risks of the ridesharing industry. Ridesharing drivers in West Virginia, as elsewhere in the U.S., typically work...
Universal Orlando sued for lack of warning signs in Spanish
Property owners in West Virginia may occasionally wonder how far they must go to prevent accidents. Near the close of the year 2018, a case was brought against Universal Orlando Resort that illustrates how premises liability law can have its gray areas. The...
Infotainment systems increase risk of distracted driving
A recent study sponsored by AAA focused on increasing levels of driver distraction tied to newer motor vehicle infotainment systems. These systems are more and more common on West Virginia roadways. Researchers examined 30 systems installed in 2017 model cars and...
What does the circadian rhythm have to do with truckers?
Safety is a major concern for everyone who operates a vehicle, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration keeps up with issues that affect commercial truck drivers. Fatigue is one of those issues, and the circadian rhythm has a part to play in it.The...