Halloween time is almost here! Time for trick-or-treating, costume contests, and festive celebrations. Unfortunately, Halloween is more than just a time for spooky fun- it’s also a night full of hazards and dangers that could cause serious injuries to your children and family members.

Deadly Roads

Halloween is the most dangerous holiday for children when it comes to being out on the streets. The National Safety Council (NSC) reported children are twice as likely to be hit and killed by a vehicle on Halloween night than any other day of the year. In research conducted by Sperling’s Best Places and State Farm®, over 60% of these accidents occurred within the four hour period between 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm and nearly 25% of these fatal accidents occurred within what’s considered the ‘Deadliest Hour’ between 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Dark streets, limited visibility, and increased distractions can prove deadly on Halloween if pedestrians and drivers are not staying alert while out for the night. Safe Kids Worldwide’s promotes a Halloween safety campaignBe Safe, Be Seen, that encourages trick-or-treaters, pedestrians, and drivers to be smart on the streets this holiday in order to keep everyone safe:

Walk Safely:

Drive Safely:

Costume Mishaps

Costumes are one of the best parts of Halloween, but for some unlucky trick-or-treaters, they could prove to be the worst. It’s important to keep safety in mind this holiday when designing or buying your costume to avoid the most common costume hazards causing injuries that can ruin an exciting night:

Not So Sweet Treats

Kids look forward to collecting pounds of candy on Halloween, thinking little about the risks associated with their treats. However, there are several dangers parents should be keeping in mind before their kids consume any candy this year, including allergic reactions, food poisoning, teeth injuries, choking, and treat tampering.

To help keep kids safe and healthy this Halloween, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises parents to follow these simple tips for trick-or-treating:

Pet Safety

Halloween can be more harmful to your pets than fun and owners should be prepared. Keep treats that can be poisonous to your pets, particularly chocolate, out of reach. Be cautious about the decorations you put in your home to reduce the chance of your pets being scared or injured. Don’t allow your pets to chew on costumes as not all these materials are safe for them to consume. Lastly, never leave your pets outside overnight on Halloween. Not everyone is nice to pets and some pranksters enjoy hurting, teasing, or even killing animals left outside.

Happy Halloween CT

Don’t let Halloween hazards ruin your night of fun. Prepare for safety, stay alert, and enjoy a spooky night out on the town. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween from Jacobs & Wallace.

Several people in Connecticut have been hospitalized with the virus since late August and One person is confirmed to have died this week from the flu in Connecticut.

On Monday, October 22, 2018 The Department of Public Health said Connecticut had its first flu-related death.  According to an article in CT Post,  The state Department of Health has reported the first flu death in Connecticut this season.  Details, such as where the patient was treated and the exact date they died, were not disclosed, but officials stated that the victim was over the age of 65.  To read the full article:  https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/First-flu-death-reported-in-Conn-13326002.php

Experts said this isn’t necessarily a harbinger of a nastier than usual flu season, they say it should drive home the message that the flu is dangerous, and people should get vaccinated.

Deaths have risen in 2018

In recent years, flu-related deaths are between 12,000 to 56,000 nationally in one season.  This past season, the CDC reports 80,000 flu-related deaths is estimated.  Experts state that senior citizens are the most vulnerable for getting the flu, adding many of them don’t get the flu shot. Although the flu vaccine mixture last year may have not been the best fit.

Vehicle Recalls Are Rising!

This year has been especially hard on a number of vehicle owners. An increase in vehicle recalls in 2018 has put drivers and used car buyers across the United States at an increased safety risk for accidents and under tremendous stress when it comes to repairs. According to Carfax, more than one out of five vehicles in the country is under a recall- affecting approximately 57 million cars! What’s even more shocking is at least 30% of recalled vehicles remain active on the roads, and some of the owners have no idea they are endangering themselves and others by operating them.

Most and Least Recalled Vehicles

While some vehicle models have only had one or two recalls ever, others are prone to several, possibly even within the same year. A study published by iSeeCars using data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) examined vehicle recalls from 2013 to 2017, identifying the vehicles on the market with the most and least number of recalls:

Most Recalled Vehicles:

 

Least Recalled Vehicles:

Consumers should always look for a history of recalls before purchasing a new or used vehicle. Not all recalls are as dangerous as others, so understanding the different types of recalls and how to find them can be crucial in purchasing a safe and reliable vehicle for you and your family.

Why Are Vehicles Recalled

There are thousands of reasons for why a vehicle could be under a recall, but most fall under two categories: safety-related and non-safety related. NHTSA provides a few examples of each that consumers should be aware of when it comes to understanding vehicle recalls:

Safety-Related Recall Examples:

Non-Safety-Related Recall Examples:

Naturally, car owners should pay more attention to safety-related recalls when they are issued. These types of recalls could lead to serious accidents, injuries, and even fatalities if not addressed.

 

Is Your Vehicle On Recall?

Knowing the difference between safety-related and non-safety related recalls will do you no good if you aren’t aware there is a recall on your vehicle. And when it comes to keeping on top vehicle safety, many car owners are confused about how to locate this information. When a recall is issued, dealers and manufacturers send out a notice in the mail to consumers with the information on why the recall was issued and repairs needed to repair the malfunctioning parts. But these pertinent mailings do not always make their way to the owners, while other times they may get misplaced or lost before repair dates are scheduled timely.

For anyone looking to see if their vehicle is on recall, NHTSA has developed an online search tool to help. Using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) consumers can look up: safety recalls that are incomplete on any vehicle, safety recalls conducted over the past 15 calendar years, safety recalls conducted by major light automakers which include motorcycle manufacturers. For help finding your VIN number, visit https://www.autocheck.com/vehiclehistory/autocheck/en/vinbasics.

Who Is Liable For Vehicle Recalls

Dealers and manufactures in Connecticut are responsible for notifying you in a timely manner regarding recalls on your vehicle. But that doesn’t that mean they are off the hook for damages once you’ve received it. If a driver sustains an injury due to a recalled part or function on a vehicle, the courts will take into consideration multiple factors in determining liability:

Depending on the answers to these questions, car owners may not be liable for accidents and injuries resulting from a vehicle recall. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury due to a malfunctioning or defective recalled part in a vehicle, the law firm of Jacobs & Wallace is here to fight for you. Contact our winning team today to explore all your options regarding your case and to seek justice against negligent dealers and manufacturers for putting your safety on the road at risk.

Avoiding ER Errors

U.S. News & World Report has released its rankings of the best hospitals in America for 2018-19, evaluating more than 4,500 hospitals in the country across 16 specialties and nine procedures and conditions. In Connecticut, Yale-New Haven Hospital was ranked best in the state.

According to the ranking, here are the best hospitals in Connecticut:

U.S. News uses two methodologies, one for procedures and conditions ratings and another for specialty rankings. The rankings are produced by U.S. News with research organization, RTI International. U.S. News says its methodologies in most areas of care are based largely or entirely on objective measures like risk-adjusted survival and readmission rates, volume, patient experience, patient safety and quality of nursing.

The specialties included in the rankings are:

The procedures and conditions included in the rankings are:

Emergency Room Errors

Emergency room errors can result in injury, worsening of an existing medical condition, or death. Nearly half of all medical malpractice related injuries are caused by emergency room errors. When their negligence causes harm, we are here to help you obtain JUSTICE.

The need for emergency care normally means a sudden and potentially life-threatening health event has occurred. Death or serious illness during or following an emergency room visit does not always indicate emergency room error. Some visits to the emergency room will be unsuccessful, even with good care.

The emergency room setting is a very high-stress environment for doctors and other staff, making mistakes more likely to occur, however, that is no excuse for substandard care.

Common Emergency Room Errors Include:

Diagnostic Error

A large portion of injuries and death caused by emergency room errors involve misdiagnosis, delayed diagnoses or failure to diagnose. Diagnostic errors can lead to delayed treatment or failure to treat, allowing conditions to worsen and in some cases create other, more serious, health problems. Medical conditions which are often involved in emergency room diagnostic errors include:

misdiagnosis can mean receiving an inappropriate and potentially harmful treatment. Delayed diagnoses can mean losing precious time during which irreversible damage can occur. Failure to diagnose often results in a patient being sent home without treatment, and can easily result in death.

Medication Errors

The damage caused by medication errors can range from no significant harm to death of a patient with a relatively minor original health problem. Medication errors in emergency rooms come in many forms including:

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

If you or someone you know has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, call us to discuss your case with one of our experienced medical malpractice attorneys and get the JUSTICE you deserve. We represent clients statewide and handle all of our personal injury and medical malpractice cases on a contingency basis. There are no legal fees to pay unless we win.

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