- Auto Insurance Limits
We recently learned a person can purchase up to $100,000 in "PIP" or "med pay" coverage with your auto insurance. What a bargin. Mine only costs $57 per year for two vehicles. Everyone should get this coverage. Most people only have $5,000. That is just not enough!
This kind of insurance will pay your medical bills if you are hurt in an automobile wreck, even if it is your fault. Insurance companies don't want you to know about this.
Do it now. Call your agent and ask for more PIP coverage.
Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey - Tractor-trailer Rig Causes Death
Just when I think Mountain Home, Arkansas is a safe place to live, reality strikes. Yesterday on Highway 62-412 about twenty five miles west of Mountain Home near the small town of Viola a man was suddenly faced with an emergency situation. An 18 Wheeler overturned in front of him. Caleb Lard of Mountain Home did everything he could in the emergency situation to avoid hitting the three large rolls of rubber from the 18 Wheeler that blocked his path.
A utility pole on the side of the highway took the life of Caleb's passenger through no fault of Caleb according to the news reports.
Who is to blame? According to news reports, charges are pending against Roy Choate of Harrison, the driver of the Kenworth tractor that went out of control in a curve.
Living in Mountain Home, I drive on these curvy roads every day. But, do I expect a semi to lose control and overturn in front of me? Of course not.
We all need to take responsibility and drive cautiously, but sometimes there is nothing that can be done, as in a situation such as this when a semi rolls in front of you.
Also reported injured were 26 year old Chasity D Lawing of Mountain Home and two year old Ethan Pucket also of Mountain Home. It is not clear from the early reports how they were injured.
Developing…
Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey - Confusing Allergy Warnings May Do More Harm Than Good
Do the phrases "may contain traces of" or "made in the same factory as" help you decide if the food is safe for your allergy?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) these warnings may be hurting consumers more than they are helping. Starting in 2006, a U.S. law required that foods disclose in plain language when they intentionally contain highly allergenic ingredients such as peanuts or dairy. However, left out of the law are accidental-allergy warnings -- for foods that might become contaminated because they were made in the same factory, or on the same machines, as allergen-containing products.
The FDA's own surveys found the allergic pay more attention to warnings that a food "may contain" an allergen than those "made in the same factory" labels. Yet when University of Nebraska researchers tested nearly 200 products with various accidental-peanut warnings, they found that peanuts were more likely to have sneaked into products labeled "made in the same facility."
The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, an influential consumer group, counts at least 30 different ways that the warnings are worded - and consumers too often falsely assume that one food is riskier than another because its label sounds scarier.
It seems as though many manufacturers would rather attempt to avoid liability using broad and vague labeling, than implement and stand behind procedures that would make such labeling unnecessary.
So, what to do?
In Canada, health officials have recommended foods bear one of two labels: "May contain X allergen" or "Not suitable for consumption by persons with an allergy to X." By limiting the manufacturer's options to one of the two, at least, the company will be forced to take responsibility for ensuring their product does not contain any allergen, or label the product and face the consequences at the cash register.
Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ryan Scott - Defective Valve Stems From China
Yet another Chinese import causes problems for Americans. The latest defective products are valve stems. Valve stems are the little black protrusions that are on the inside of each wheel and allow the tire to be inflated with air.
If a valve stem cracks, the air in the tire can suddenly escape, similar to a blow out, and the vehicle can go out of control and crash. The valves that are defective were sold between September 2006 and June 2007. There are some 30 million of these valve stems that were manufactured by Topseal, a subsidiary of Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corp. The valves were distributed by Dill Air Controls, an Oxford North Carolina, company.
Dill has issued a technical bulletin to its customers warning retailers to inspect the valves when the customers come in for regular service.
At this time the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the problem.
During these hot summer months, I expect to see more of these failures as the heat from the pavement causes the rubber to decay faster.
Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey - Do I Need An Attorney
Occasionally someone will ask me if they need an attorney for one thing or another. I inquire a little about their problem and usually respond that, "Yes they should consult with an attorney before signing anything." Why do I do that?
In my experience, attorneys don't normally charge for an initial consultation. It is like a store that doesn't charge for you to go in and try on shoes to see if you like them, or if they fit. Attorneys are the same way. The initial consultation is to see if you need an attorney, if you like the attorney you are consulting with, and if the attorney is willing to undertake your case.
In our practice, we have become very selective in the cases we accept. It doesn't do us any good to take a case where there is little chance of doing the client any good. In cases where neighbors are fighting over a boundary line, or parents fighting over child visitation or the like, we really can't do much good for the client.
On the other hand, attorneys usually can be very helpful in the case of an auto accident, a case involving a dangerous drug or product, or a medical malpractice case. In fact, in most of those types of cases, an attorney is absolutely necessary to get the best result.
In choosing an attorney, word of mouth is good. Other factors to consider are board certification, years of experience, and interest in your case. Most attorneys are willing to discuss their experience and qualifications. If they are hesitant to discuss those types of issues, look somewhere else.
Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey - Senate Blocks Bill on Pilot Truck Pro
