Could Drone Technology Be Used to Keep You Safe In Emergency Situations?

New installations of drone technology are being introduced in the emergency response field. Imagine that you are in a terrible auto accident on the way up a mountain to go swimming in a lake during the summer. Your car is hit on the left side by an errant driver, pushing you off the road, and your car then careens down a rocky cliff to your right. You regain consciousness, and realize your leg is trapped under the vehicle and you are surrounded by rocks. You know that an outsider would have a very difficult time getting to your car since boulders shroud the accident site, however there is an opening overhead.This is where emergency response can fly a drone in the opening, the drone then can gauge the damages after prompting you to verbally state your location and injuries. This could save the emergency response team countless hours and resources trying to locate the crash site and preparing for what injuries you have. This is an extreme case, but advances in technology are helping to keep you safe in emergency situations. Keep reading for tips if you are trapped in an auto accident and what to do after you are safe.

How to React if You Are Trapped After An Auto Accident

• Try to remain calm: This will be very difficult to do, but in this situation, panicking will drain you of the limited energy you have left. The more energy you conserve, the longer you will be able to fight to stay alive.
• Call out for witnesses: Even if you are in a very remote area, there could be more people listening than you think. Try yelling for help periodically, until you get a response. If there were people that saw your accident, they are most likely calling 911 already which is cause for optimism. Utilize your on-star emergency assistance and handsfree calling technology if possible.
• Have a first aid kit: Having a first aid kit in your car could be the difference between life and death in a devastating car accident like the one we described above. Have a box with a flashlight, blanket, first aid kit, and water.

Take Action to Get the Compensation You Deserve

New advances in technology are making it easier to save lives. Despite this progress, people are seriously injured in auto accidents every day that may not be their fault. If you have been in a serious accident and were not the driver at fault,  car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are dedicated to help you win coverage for injuries sustained in auto accidents.

This Common Electronic Device May Cause House Fires

Surge protectors are useful when they work as intended. These devices help protect our expensive electronics from the typical Texas thunderstorm or unexpected power surge. However, surge protectors can be dangerous in some cases. They can save your PlayStation 4 or home theater system, but they may also start fires. Fires caused by surge protectors and power strips may pose a risk to your property and safety.

Can You Prevent Fires Caused by Surge Protectors?

• Check for recalls: There have been several recalls over the years involving surge protectors that posed fire or electrocution hazards. In 2013, Schneider Electric recalled 15 million of its Surge Arrest surge protectors. The company received 700 reports of power strips overheating or melting. Schneider also received 13 reports of injuries and 55 complaints involving property damage. Belkin recalled 68,000 of its surge protectors in 2009 over fire concerns. Use the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) website cpsc.gov to check for recalls.
• Avoid fraudulent products: Surge protectors should undergo lab testing to ensure they meet required standards. These will be marked with UL, ETL or CSA labels. However, be on the lookout for fraudulent products sold by contractors or dollar stores. They may contain these labels while still posing a fire hazard. UL typically issues a press release when these products are identified. In the past, the CPSC has also issued press releases to warn consumers about faulty surge protectors and power strips with counterfeit UL labels.
• Search for complaints: Check for consumer complaints before purchasing a specific brand or model. Products are typically recalled only after many reports of fires or other problems. Consumers may have reported fires or other safety hazards. Saferproducts.gov is a useful resource for researching consumer complaints.
• Replace surge protectors: These devices need to be replaced after suffering a major surge. Surge protectors pose a fire hazard once they begin to fail. However, there are still cases where faulty consumer products falsely advertise a certain amount of protection.
• Inspect the cords: Never use surge protectors with cords that have visible damage. These may pose electric shock hazards. Do not try to repair damaged cords. Discard surge protectors or cords that feel hot to the touch. Unfortunately, some devices are cheaply built and damaged upon purchase.

Can Defective Products or Other Acts of Negligence Cause House Fires?

Weather has been crazy for the past month, and knowing Texas in the spring, we are due for some more severe thunderstorms in the near future. Stay safe, and if you decide to use surge protectors to safeguard your equipment, remember some of the tips from this blog. These are only a few examples of how you can protect yourself from defective products or negligent retailers. Other tips may involve common knowledge, such as avoiding daisy-chaining (plugging surge protectors into other strips).Faulty wiring and other acts of negligence may cause fires with surge protectors or other electronic devices. Landlords, contracting companies, retailers and other parties may be responsible for injuries and deaths caused by fires. For example, if a landlord neglects to repair faulty wiring or if a retailer knowingly sells faulty surge suppression or electrical equipment.Some surge protectors plug directly into circuit breakers to provide protection for an entire building. These devices may cause fires if they are installed incorrectly by contractors or other companies.If you or loved ones have been harmed by an electrical fire, an attorney can help review the details of your case. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to pursue damages against the parties responsible for the fire.The Texas product liability attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC will help you hold businesses accountable for causing injuries or deaths.

How Can You Check for Recalls on Common Household Products?

Common household products can pose significant risks to you and your family members if they contain defects. Over the past several years, recalls have included household products such as vacuums, kitchen tables, power adapters, refrigerators, space heaters and lawnmowers. Defects can cause electric shock, fires, poisoning and broken bones. Injuries, deaths and property damage from defective products are possible. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates defective consumer products cause $1 trillion in damages (medical bills, lost income and property damage) every year.Recall notices do not always reach consumers, so it is important to check. One of the best ways to check for recalls is to use the CPSC’s website.

Using the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Website to Check for Product Recalls

The CPSC was founded in 1972 to protect the public from injury or death caused by products under the agency’s jurisdiction. What kinds of products are under the CPSC’s jurisdiction? Lawnmowers, children’s toys, strollers, furniture, electronics and batteries – just to name a few examples. The CSPC constantly updates its website within listings of recalled products.You can use the website’s search engine to check for specific recalls. Type the manufacturer’s name or product model into the search field and the website will pull up a listing of recalls. For example, typing in Country Home Products (a brand of lawn equipment) reveals recalls for a brush remover and leaf vacuum. Clicking on the search result will tell you why the product is under recall. The website will also provide information regarding consumers who have suffered injuries from products, and how to schedule free repairs or receive refunds. Information found within search results include phone numbers, websites and email addresses for manufacturers.Be cautious of apps that claim to check for recalls. Information on recalls should come directly from manufacturers, your state’s attorney general or the federal government. Depending on the situation, you may be notified of recalls by manufacturers.

What Are Your Options if You Are Harmed by Defective Consumer Products?

In some cases, manufacturers become aware of product defects, but fail to notify agencies like the CPSC or consumers. At this point, these agencies can issue recalls and notify suppliers of products under recall. Suppliers can then attempt to notify consumers.There are some cases where consumers may file product liability lawsuits after suffering injuries from defects. Likewise, family members may file lawsuits after loved ones suffer fatal injuries. The following question about the defective product could become important for your case.

• Did a design defect make the product dangerous to use, even when used correctly?
• Did a manufacturing error cause the defect?
• Did the manufacturer or seller fail to warn about potential dangers from using the product?

The Texas product liability attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can review your case and help you explore options for holding negligent businesses accountable for causing injuries.

Looking for the Right Child Car Seat? Our Guide Can Help

It is a matter of vital importance to choose the right car seat for your child. These seats provide the best protection from fatal or catastrophic injuries during a car accident. However, many people install car seats incorrectly or choose the wrong ones. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) tool can help parents research and buy the correct child car seat.

How to Use NHTSA’s Safercar.gov to Find a Child Car Seat

NHTSA operates www.safercar.gov, a website where parents can research car seats and sign up for recall notices. Once you load the website, there are several tabs you can choose to start researching. Start off with the ‘Car Seat Types’ tab. This area of the website will help you become familiar with the three types of car seats – rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster seats. Read the descriptions and find out which type of car seat you will need to buy.The “Car Seat by Child’s Age and Size” tab will give more details why you need to select specific types of car seats.Next, click the “Find a Car Seat” tab. This tab allows you to type in your child’s birthday, weight and height to find the correct car seat. Multiple results will load and allow you to make comparisons. Pay close attention to the “ease-of-use” ratings. Ideally, you want to choose a selection with a five-star rating to avoid installing or using the seat incorrectly. The “Ease-of-Use Ratings” tab has more information on this subject.Once you have bought the seat, click the “Register Your Car Seat” tab. Registering your car seat allows the manufacturer to contact you about recalls. You should also sign up to receive car seat recall notices through email. Click the ‘Get Car Seat Recall Notices’ tab on the website to sign up for and receive email alerts. This is one of the most important steps of our guide. If you do not register the seat, you will not be informed of potentially deadly defects. Parents who have already bought child car seats before reading this guide should also register and enroll in these services.After making your purchase, you will need to install the seat. The “How to Install Your Car Seat” tab uses video instructions to walk you through the steps for proper installation. If you are even the least bit unsure on these instructions, see if a local fire or police department offers free installation services. Some Texas Department of Transportation offices also install car seats free-of-charge.You can use the ‘Get Your Seat Inspected’ tab to discover which areas near your address install car seats. Select your state and ZIP code. If we type in Texas and 75901, the search tool shows five locations in Lufkin that will help with installation.The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can help families of children who suffered catastrophic injuries from defective car seats or products.

Can This New Texas Program Prevent Sports-Related Brain Injuries?

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics show sports and recreational activities are responsible for 3.8 million concussions each year. While football is responsible for a portion of this number, other sports also cause concussions. Horseback riding, soccer, water polo and other sports can also put high school students at risk for sports-related brain injuries.In Texas, there are more than 800,000 student athletes. To improve the safety of these athletes, the University Interscholastic League and the O’Donnell Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center are launching the nation’s largest brain injury tracking program. This program will track brain injuries in 24 different sports at more than 1,400 middle and high schools in Texas. Researchers will look into why injuries happen, how long it takes student athletes to recover, and how to prevent future concussions.The program will also test the effectiveness of existing concussion prevention laws and programs. Texas has rules for concussion screening for student athletes attending public schools. In our state, we have Natasha’s Law, which requires an athlete to be removed if they are believed to have suffered a concussion. The new concussion tracking program will use its findings to weigh the effectiveness of Natasha’s Law and other rules. In addition, this new program will look at whether concussion recovery programs are effective.Texas’ new screening program is important because it may help prevent some of these injuries from occurring in the first place. By preventing concussions, schools can help students avoid serious and possibly fatal health complications.

Why Should You Take Concussions Seriously?

Until recently, concussions were considered a minor injury. Concussions are anything but minor. Athletes can suffer from post-concussion syndrome, chronic traumatic encephalopathy and second-impact syndrome. The latter condition is often fatal, but it can result in severe disability.Second-impact syndrome is a rare but life-threatening health complication caused by suffering one concussion, and then another shortly afterwards. The condition has received attention from the press for causing deaths and severe brain damage.In 2006, an Indiana high school football player suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit during a game. According to the teenager’s parents, their son complained of a severe headache for days afterwards. His parents took him to a doctor to receive a CT scan, but there were no signs of trauma. Days later, the teenager returned to practice and took another hit to the shoulder. Within minutes, he suffered a seizure. The severe brain swelling caused by second-impact syndrome left the teenager unable to walk on his own, and robbed him of his short-term memory.If Texas researchers can find more effective ways to prevent or identify concussions, they may have luck preventing future cases of second-impact syndrome and other serious health conditions.In the mean time, school have an obligation to keep student athletes safe. Trainers and coaches must identify athletes with concussions and remove them from play.