The time for Halloween festivities has come again! Between trick-or-treating, costume contests, and pumpkin-loving celebrations, there is more than enough spooky fun to keep your family entertained. 

Unfortunately, Halloween is also a holiday full of hazards that could cause serious injuries. Celebrate with caution this year and avoid the common dangers that could end your exciting night with a trip to the emergency room. 

Watch For Deadly Road Hazards  

Halloween is the most dangerous night for children to be out on the streets. According to the National Safety Council (N.S.C.), children are twice as likely to be hit and killed by a vehicle on this holiday than any other day of the year.  

Another study published by Sperling’s Best Places found that over 60% of fatal road accidents occurred within a four hour period on Halloween: 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Nearly 25% of the accidents during this timeframe occurred within what’s called the ‘Deadliest Hour,’ between 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  

Dark streets, limited visibility, and increased distractions on Halloween can prove to be deadly if pedestrians and drivers do not stay alert. According to the Be Safe, Be Seen safety campaign proofed by Safe Kids Worldwide’s, these are the safety measures families can take this week to prevent Halloween road accidents:  

Walk Safely: 

Drive Safely: 

Avoid Costume Mishaps 

For some unlucky trick-or-treaters, a poor costume choice will be the most dangerous hazard of the night. It’s important to keep safety in mind this holiday when designing or buying your costume to avoid preventable accidents. Some of the precautions to consider include:  

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 chow-down on their goodies this year. 

Allergic reactions, food poisoning, teeth injuries, choking, and treat tampering can all cause more of a fright than families are looking for this Halloween. To help keep kids safe, the Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) advises parents to follow these simple tips for trick-or-treating: 

Keep Pets Safe  

Pet owners- be prepared. Halloween can be more harmful to your pets than fun. Treats, costumes, and frequent doorbell ringing from eager trick-or-treaters can cause your pets a lot of stress. To keep everyone happy and safes this Halloween, consider these safety tips in mind before the night is in full swing:  

Our team at Jacobs & Wallace wishes all Connecticut residents a happy and safe Halloween. Don’t let holiday hazards ruin your night of fun. Prepare for emergencies, stay alert, and enjoy your spooky night out on the town. 

Millions of large trucks and tractor-trailers hit American roads every day- some not as safe as others.  

At least 1 in 3 truck drivers have experienced a serious accident during their career. In 2017, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (N.H.T.S.A.) reported more than 100,000 injuries and 4,761 fatalities related to large trucking accidents; 23 of these fatalities occurred in Connecticut.  

Several hazards plaguing the trucking industry are putting all Americans on the road at risk. And with the demand for trucking on the rise, more long-haul truck drivers will be sharing the roads than ever before. These are the dangers Connecticut residents need to be aware of to help reduce their chances of accidents.  

Reckless Truck Drivers 

Drivers of large trucks are at a high-risk for accidents from the start. The average loaded truck weighs up to 40,000 pounds, about 10 times the weight of an average passenger vehicle. It can take up to 500 feet for a large truck to stop, it’s impossible to swerve quickly (and safely) around hazards, and visibility is often poor as trucks tower over pedestrian vehicles on the road.  

Despite the overt dangers of these large vehicles, accident statistics still find that truck drivers are using reckless driving behaviors that are increasing their chances further of causing fatal accidents. The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey found that 90 percent of trucking accidents are caused by human error, such as inexperience and inattention. Other dangerous behaviors include:  

When truckers do not drive with care, the accidents they cause are disastrous. Of the 4,761 fatalities resulting from large truck accidents, only 841 were truck drivers. The remainder of the victims were occupants of other vehicles (3,450) or non-occupants such as pedestrians and cyclists (470).  

Rising Risks In The Trucking Industry 

Working as a long-haul truck driver in today’s industry is not an easy job. There are several negative factors that accompany the occupation that could also be leading to an increase in reckless driving, aside from obvious neglect. These include:  

Driver fatigue is often a direct and indirect consequence of the trucking profession. While drivers are responsible for knowing when they are too tired to drive, long hours and high demand make it hard for drivers to afford to take a break.  

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (F.M.C.S.A.) reports that at least 13 percent of large truck drivers involved in vehicle accidents were experiencing some level of fatigue at the time of their crash. Driver fatigue can lead to a slew of harmful effects, including:  

When and Where Truck Accidents Occur 

In a 10-year-study conducted by the N.H.T.S.A., the following trends were found regarding fatal trucking accidents:  

How To Prevent Trucking Accidents  

Connecticut drivers sharing the roads with large trucks, beware. Fatal trucking accidents can happen in an instant. Staying alert to the vehicles around you and practicing safe driving behaviors is the only way to help avoid these tragedies before they occur. Some suggestions include:  

Connecticut Truck Accident Attorneys  

Vehicle accidents caused by reckless driving are not acceptable. Truck drivers are accountable for their behaviors on the road, regardless of the stressors that accompany the job.  

If you or a loved has been injured in an accident involving a large truck, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact our expert team of personal injury attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options. 

Learning to drive is an exciting milestone in a teen’s life that brings them one step closer to adulthood. But some teens are gravely underestimating the driving risks that can lead to life-threatening accidents.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens between the ages of 15 to 18. Sixteen-year-olds have the highest crash rate across all driving age groups in the United States, with 1 in 5 getting into a serious accident within their first year of driving.

Today marks the beginning of National Teen Driving Safety Week. Regardless of whether your teen has had their license for years or is just beginning to drive, now is the perfect time to see what they know about road safety and how to improve their driving skills to reduce accidents.

Getting Involved Makes A Difference

Parents have more input on their teen’s driving behaviors than they think. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), parents can be the number one ally or the number one threat to the success of their teen driver on the road.

At least 56 percent of teens learn to drive from their parents, but this doesn’t include the indirect lessons they get at an early age. Every time you are in the car with your child, they are learning how to drive. If you text and drive, eat and drive, or frequently blast the music in the car, your teen driver will remember these actions as acceptable things to do behind the wheel.

Talking with your teen about safe driving behaviors is the best first step to seeing how much they know about the dangers of the road. Starting a conversation is not always easy, but these suggestions may help get you on the right track to protecting your teen behind the wheel.

Know The Facts

An average of six teen drivers die every day from crash-related injuries. This statistic is enough to make any parent worry. But how do you get your teen driver to share the same concern?

Reviewing these crash stats from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is a perfect way to find out what they already know about the dangers of the road. It can help spark a conservation about what they perceive to be dangers or their misconceptions about certain reckless driving behaviors:

– 1,830 teen drivers ages 15-20 died from car crashes in 2017.
– 54% of teens admit to talking on the phone when driving.
– 56% of teens will not speak up if another teen driver they are with is driving recklessly.
– Most teen driver crashes are caused by three critical errors: lack of scanning, speeding, and distractions.
– Teens are more likely to crash while impaired, using a cell phone, or when they have passengers in the car.
– The most common teen driving crashes are left turns, rear-end accidents, and running off the road.
– Teen driving accidents most often occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
– Most teen drivers have significant skill deficits when they graduate from their driving programs.

Review The Eight Danger Zones

Knowing how to prevent motor vehicle accidents starts with understanding how they occur. The C.D.C. highlights eight driving danger zones that lead to fatal accidents involving teen drivers that parents should review at home:

1. Driver Inexperience: This is the leading cause of all teen driving accidents in the country. Most teen drivers will crash at least once in their first year of driving. Parents can help reduce these rates by providing more supervised driving time with their teens, even after they get their license.
2. Driving With Passengers: Teens do not always prioritize safety when around friends. Restrict your teen from driving with passengers until you know they are a safe driver. Experts recommend limiting passenger for at least the first 6-months.
3. Nighttime Driving: The dangers of nighttime driving increases for teen drivers who are not as experienced in spotting road hazards. Try to get your teen off the road by 9 p.m. when accident rates tend to rise. Practice nighttime driving with your teen to help them get comfortable driving in the dark before you allow them to drive later.
4. Seat Belts: Wearing seatbelts can reduce fatalities in car crashes by 45 percent and injuries by 50 percent. Make it a rule that your teen must wear their seatbelt in order to drive. Statistics show that teens who have parents involved with their driving are twice as likely to wear their seatbelt on the road.
5. Distracted Driving: Parents should be strict with their teens about not using electronics behind the wheel. Other distractions can include passengers, radio volume, eating, and fixing hair/doing makeup. Discourage your teen from doing any of these behaviors while driving to reduce their chances of accidents.
6. Drowsy Driving: Your teen may not know they are too tired to drive. Teach your teen about the dangers of fatigued driving and the risks of not getting enough sleep.
7. Reckless Driving: Teen drivers lack the experience, judgment, and maturity to understand the true dangers behind reckless driving behaviors. Encourage your teen to follow the speed limit and avoid aggressive driving behaviors. The longer they go on practicing reckless driving, the more they will come to accept the behaviors as safe.
8. Impaired Driving: One drink can significantly impair your teen’s ability to drive. Review the dangers of drinking and driving every time they go some place where it could occur. Create a plan for alternative transportation home if they do find themselves impaired.

Be A Role Model

Remember, your teens are watching. If you have identified any of the eight danger zones as behaviors you are currently doing behind the wheel, stop. No matter how young your children are, they are always learning from you. Be a good driving role model to encourage safe driving behaviors from the very beginning.

Create A Parent-Teen Driving Agreement

Hold your teen accountable for their pledge to drive safely on the road. Parents can create a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement to lay out all of the house rules for both parties to understand and agree on before your teen is allowed to drive. These rules can include anything from:

– Always wearing a seatbelt.
– Obeying all traffic laws.
– Driving the speed limit.
– Never texting and driving.
– Never drinking and driving.
– Never allowing alcohol or drugs in the car.
– Driving only when they have permission.

To download a complete Parent-Teen Driving Agreement, you can find one here!

Share Your Knowledge

Driving has changed significantly over the years, and parents may feel lost when it comes to addressing the topic with their teens. Thankfully, there are several different avenues parents can take to gather and share helpful information to protect their teens on the road, including:

– Parent Social Groups
– Health Clubs
– Parent-Teacher Association Meetings
– Faith-Based Organizations
– Social Network Blogs and Groups
– Work Supports and Friends
– School Events

For additional resources to help you discuss safe driving with your teen, the C.D.C. Parent Resource Page is full of helpful information.

Remember, driving is a privilege that can turn deadly when things go wrong. If your teen is not committed to driving safely on the road, take the keys away until they are.

Connecticut Car Accident Attorneys

Connecticut drivers have a responsibility to keep everyone safe on the road. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident due to the negligent acts of someone else, you may be eligible to receive compensation for any damages suffered. Contact our expert team of personal injury attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options.

When 27-year-old Brianna Snitchler scheduled an appointment to remove a cyst, her physician recommended a simple biopsy to check the growth for cancer first. Brianna’s biopsy was performed via a guided needle at a local hospital. It took 20-minutes using a local anesthetic, and she didn’t even have to change into a gown. 

After the test results came back benign, Brianna was ready to schedule the procedure to have her cyst officially removed. That is until she received a surprise bill for $3,357.52. 

This unfortunate story published by Kaiser Health News has many American patients shaking their fists in rage. Similar to countless others before her, Brianna fell victim to a facility fee, otherwise known as a cost to ‘rent the room’ she was treated in. Of the $3,357.52 bill Brianna received, a shocking $2,170 consisted of a facility fee for using the radiology room in the hospital; none of the fees was covered by her health insurance.  

These types of situations highlight an urgent need for transparency in our health care system. Medical bills with unexpected charges, such as facility fees, can sink individuals and families quickly into debt. In turn, patients are neglecting their health and turning away from needed services based on financial fear.  

Until change arrives, Connecticut patients must do their due diligence to know when these fees may apply and how to reduce costs safely.  

When Will You See Facility Fees on Your Medical Bill?  

Facility fees are unique to the United States health care facilities. Facility fees are similar to a rental fee for time spent in a treatment room and for the costs associated with the procedures the patient needs. These fees are on top of a doctor’s fee or a fee for performing a medical service.  

The ‘facility’ where these fees can be applied will differ. Some areas where they may apply include tests, scans, or medical procedures performed in the following facilities:  

According to The Alliance, facility fees can range from $15 to thousands of dollars in extra costs for patients depending on the services provided. Facility fees are most commonly applied in hospital settings. However, as more hospitals take ownership of medical clinics, outpatient surgical centers, and even physician’s offices, facility fees are starting to become more frequent across the board.  

Why Facility Fees Make Medical Bills So High  

So what does a facility fee actually cover? Some of the costs include:  

What Makes Facility Fees So Tricky  

There are several reasons why patients are receiving surprise facility fees:  

How To Prevent High Medical Bills  

Patients do not have to fall victim to outrageous facility fees. According to Clear Health Costs, there are multiple ways you can protect yourself financially:  

The bottom line is do your research, or have someone assist you in asking these questions, before undergoing any medical procedures. Choosing a lower cost facility with outpatient services may not always be in your best interest depending on your health. Talk to your doctor, your insurance company, and the facilities that provide your treatment to make an educated decision on your care.  

Connecticut Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Attorneys 

At the law firm of Jacobs & Wallace, we believe your family’s health and safety should be a priority. If you or a loved has been injured in an accident due to a preventable medical error, you may be eligible to receive compensation for any damages suffered. Contact our expert team of personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options. 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world. There are approximately 3.8 million survivors in the United States who have fought or are currently fighting breast cancer, most of which have families and loved ones who rely on their support.  

Though survival rates of patients diagnosed with breast cancer have gone up, the fight against this disease is far from over. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, around 270,000 new patients will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer by the end of 2019, another 62,930 with non-invasive cases. Sadly, one woman dies from breast cancer every minute around the world, and over 41,000 women specifically in the United States every year.  

What’s far more devastating than the initial diagnosis of breast cancer is the reality for some patients that they may not be able to afford to treatments. Between taking time off work, chemotherapy, surgery, and medications, even health insurance does not provide enough support for some patients to afford care, and patients who have to pay out of pocket may be looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs.  

With October marking National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our team at Jacobs & Wallace is showing our support for the cause with a special social media initiative to raise funds and awareness for a local charity: the Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation. This outstanding organization has been helping thousands of families across five states (including Connecticut) who financially struggle after with non-medical expenses after diagnosed with breast cancer.  

Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation  

Breast cancer is a disease that is not discriminatory based on gender, race, ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic background. One in eight American women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Even men have a 1 in 1,000 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer, often experiencing a higher rate of fatalities from late diagnoses.  

Breast cancer does not care if you are having trouble paying your bills. It doesn’t care if you are living check-to-check, if you have unsatisfactory health insurance, or if you’re saving money to buy a family home.  

The immediate and staggering financial consequences of breast cancer puts unbearable stress on survivors and their families. Cancer treatments can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and over $100,000 depending on the procedures and medication required.  

Aside from the medical costs, breast cancer patients often fall behind on their personal financial responsibilities when their focus is on beating a deadly disease. With the unthinkable decision to choose daily necessities over living, breast cancer treatments often come first.  

The Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation (B.C.E.A.F.) believes no one should have to choose between chemotherapy and a roof over their heads. Since 2006, supporters and volunteers of B.C.E.A.F. have helped over 3,400 patients throughout Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. B.C.E.A.F. focuses on providing financial assistance for the non-medical expenses survivors and families do not plan for after they are impacted by breast cancer.  

Many patients cannot work or lose their employment while undergoing cancer treatments. Caregivers and family members may also have to quit their jobs to take care of their loved ones fully time. When patients who are financially struggling are referred to B.C.E.A.F. by nurses, social worker, and other services providers, our team provides direct financial support in the areas needed most, including:  

B.C.E.A.F. has helped thousands of survivors across the region, but their efforts are far from over. As hundreds of thousands of patients become newly diagnosed with cancer every year, more survivors are in need of support than ever before.  

Jacobs & Wallace Gives Back To Breast Cancer Survivors 

This year, our team at Jacobs & Wallace is thrilled to be joining B.C.E.A.F. in their mission to support breast cancer survivors. To help, we will be donating $1 for every Facebook engagement we receive to B.C.E.A.F. to go towards the countless essential services they provide.  

From now until the end of October, every ‘Like’, ‘Follow’, ‘Share’, or ‘Comment,’ we receive on our Facebook page will equal a $1 donation. It only takes a few clicks to make a significant difference in a survivor’s life, and couple ‘pokes’ at your friends and family to encourage them to do the same.  

If you’re looking to get more involved with B.C.E.A.F., there are a few ways to provide your support 

For more information on how to get involved with B.C.E.A.F., check out their events calendar to show your support.  

Our Commitment To You:

No Fees Unless We Win

If we take your case, it will not cost you anything upfront. We represent clients statewide and handle all our injury cases on a contingency basis.
Get a Free Case Review
Let's talk about your case.
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
menu
menuchevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram