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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains: What To Do if You or a Loved One is Injured, Sickened, or Killed Due to Welding

Having a loved one incapacitated or killed as a result of an employer’s negligence is life-altering. Loss of the loved one and their income can devastate a family. Welding is a technical and demanding job that often occurs in a dangerous setting. Employers routinely cut corners on construction projects, making welding related injuries, ailments, and death a far too common reality. You need to immediately contact an experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney if you or a loved one is injured or killed as a result of their welding career.

Metal Fume Fever

Each year, thousands of welders are injured due to what is called “metal fume fever.”  It is also referred to as welding illness or “the brass shakes” and is caused by breathing in toxic welding fumes. It can last a few days or weeks and is caused by the chemicals released during the welding process, specifically by welding galvanized steel, which emits magnesium oxide and zinc oxide. The symptoms vary, but welders who experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, nausea, chills, headaches, or coughs may be experiencing symptoms. A more acute symptom is the pronounced taste of metal in the mouth. As the condition worsens, so do the symptoms, including yellow skin and vomiting.

Metal fume fever is easily prevented with adequate personal protective equipment and ventilation. If you are welding a closed environment with little or no ventilation, you have a right to ask for ventilation and/or respirator equipment to prevent metal fume fever. If you make that sort of request, be sure to document it.

Metal fume fever requires bed rest and hydration to recover from the symptoms, which means you will likely miss work if you succumb to it. That is unfair to you and your family, and if you are missing work due to metal fume fever, you should contact an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer to attain compensation to make you whole.

Cancer

Many of the gases and chemicals produced by welding are also carcinogenic. As has been shown numerous times, exposure to carcinogens is a significant factor in causing cancer. This is particularly true of welding stainless steel and working with nickel and chromium.  If you are welding with these metals, you need to consult a physician to check for any development of cancer.

Pneumonia

Welding fumes can also result in the welder developing pneumonia. Extreme exposure, coupled with a compromised immune system, can lead to death.

Asthma

Similarly, persistent contact with the gases used in and created by welding can cause asthma. Again, welding stainless steel and arc welding without sufficient protections in place and having contact with chrome oxide have been shown to contribute to respiratory problems such as asthma. If you are having shortness of breath, a dry or scratchy throat, and tightness in the chest you may be feeling the onset of asthma as a result of your exposure to welding gases.

In short, there are a host of concerns anytime you or a loved one is welding.  If an injury or death occurs, it was often preventable and only occurred due to the employer’s negligence or corner-cutting.  If that is the case, you have the right to be made whole with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.

What Should You Do if You or a Loved One is Injured?

If you or a loved one has been injured, can no longer work, or is sick due to welding, quickly receiving the compensation you are due will require consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Trying to settle the case on your own will lead to frustration and a settlement that is a fraction of what you deserve.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if a loved one has been injured, sickened, or killed.

Barrett Law has the experience to take on insurance companies’ defense counsel.  Contact us now at (601) 790-1505, to get experienced counsel on your side.

 

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains: What To Do if You or a Loved One is Injure or Killed in a Trenching Accident

Having a loved one die as a result of an employer’s negligence is life-altering. Loss of the loved one and their income can devastate a family. Unfortunately, employers routinely cut corners on trenching projects, making this horrific outcome a far too common reality. You need to immediately contact an experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney if you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trenching accident.

Trenching and excavation work is incredibly dangerous. Too deep trenches lacking sufficient shoring can collapse, crushing those working below, and resulting in serious injury or death. Sadly, these accidents are the result of employers’ unwillingness to take proper safety precautions are entirely preventable.  These injuries and deaths are the results of cutting corners.

What Are the Employer’s Responsibilities?

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards and protects employees on the job site.  Importantly, OSHA also provides protections against retaliation to employees who report unsafe workplace conditions.

Under OSHA and Mississippi workplace safety rules, employers must make sure that trenches are sufficiently supported with shorings, and large mounds of soil cannot obstruct trench exits. It is in construction companies’ interests to remove these hazards, as even if a significant personal injury claim is not brought against them, they can be fined by OSHA for maintaining an unsafe workplace.

Most Trenching Accidents Are Preventable

Workplace laws surrounding trenching are extremely prescriptive because trenching accidents are so often severe and are usually preventable. Sufficient shoring or benching, keeping heaving equipment away from the trenches’ sides, and sufficiently removing excavated earth are all proven work-site techniques for preventing cave-ins on workers working below ground.

Additionally, there are a number of serious environmental factors that endanger workers that are not immediately related to how the trench is dug or shored.  In particular, it is extremely important that the employer monitors soil for toxins and environmental conditions such as heavy rains. Soil samples should be taking as trenching commences and continue as work progresses to prevent workers from being exposed to toxic substances trapped in the trenching soil. Employers must have a plan to remove employees and machinery safely from a trench in the case of extreme rain or a water main rupture.  Using benching to prevent cave-ins may not be appropriate in very silty or sandy soils; in these conditions, shoring may be the only safe option.

Extreme nearby vibrations can also result in these tragic situations occurring. Employers need to know what other work is going on in the vicinity, as heavy machinery working on utility or building projects nearby may cause vibrations that destabilize soils on their trenched building site.

In short, there are a host of concerns any time you or a loved one are working on a construction project that involves trenching.  If an injury or death occurs, it was often preventable and only occurred due to the employer’s negligence or corner-cutting.  If that is the case, you have the right to be made whole with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.

What Should You Do if You or a Loved One is Injured?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trenching accident, receiving the compensation you are due will require consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Trying to settle the case on your own will lead to frustration and a settlement that is a fraction of what you deserve.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if a loved one has been injured or killed.

Barrett Law has the experience to take on insurance companies’ defense counsel.  Contact us now at (601) 790-1505, to get experienced counsel on your side.

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains How Employers are Responsible for the Employees’ Actions Under Vicarious Liability

When a person is injured in an accident with a vehicle owned by a corporation, it is rarely the corporation’s CEO that was at the wheel. In that scenario, the minimum wage earning employee that caused the accident is unlikely to have the funds to compensate the injured person. So how does a person hold the company financially responsible for the injuries caused by that employee? Legally, the concept of the transfer of liability from the company to its employees is called vicarious liability. In a nutshell, that means that an organization is liable for the actions of those who act on its behalf.

If you were injured in an accident, contact an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer immediately. Being compensated for your injuries is a complex process and is not one you should go through alone. Hiring an attorney who “dabbles” in personal injury work will likely result in you getting a reduced settlement if you get one at all.

Respondeat Superior

The legal theory of respondeat superior means that an employer company is legally responsible for its employees’ actions while they are working on the company’s behalf. A case can be based on respondeat superior when the employee was negligent in the performance of his or her duties. For example, if an employee drinks and then drives a company vehicle to run an errand, causing an accident, the victim of that accident would have a strong argument that that employee acted unreasonably and caused them harm. Because that unreasonable act occurred within the context of employment, the employer would also be responsible for any of the employee’s harm. The same argument would likely not be successful against the company if the employee drank and then jumped in their own car to drive home from work, as that scenario did not occur within the employment context. The context in which the harm occurs, proving negligence, and proving the employee/employer relationship are separate legal challenges in every respondeat superior negligence case. Experienced personal injury counsel will likely work with you to establish that each requirement is met before bringing a claim.

Negligent Hire

The above example concerned accidents, or negligent behavior, committed by an employee while on the job. Another aspect of vicarious liability is “negligent hire.” A negligent hire claim arises when an employee intentionally injurers a coworker or a third party intentionally. In these cases, the behavior was not at the direction of the employer, as a making a delivery in a truck might be, and was clearly outside the employee’s duties. However, the employer may still be liable if they were negligent in hiring the employee, meaning that they knew or should have known that they posed a danger to other employees or the public.

A negligent hire claim often arises in the context of sexual abuse. If an employer fails to adequately background check an employee with a criminal record of sexual abuse, and then that employee proceeds to sexually abuse a third party, a claim of negligent hire often arises. Similarly, if an employer hires an employee with a documented history of violence and then that employee violently injures a third party, a similar claim of negligent hire will arise.

Claims for negligent retention can also be brought by injured third parties when a company became aware of an employee’s tendency to be violent or to harm others and did not fire them upon becoming aware.

What Should You Do if You Are Injured by a Company’s Employee?

If you are injured by an employee of a company, you may be owed compensation under a theory of vicarious responsibility. But receiving the compensation you deserve will require consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you or a loved one has been injured.

Contact us now at (601) 790-1505, to get experienced counsel on your side.

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains: Insurance Considerations for Accidents Involving an Uber Driver

The way in which work is performed has changed. The U.S. economy has changed to a “gig economy,” where private individuals work as contractors on behalf of large corporations, often using their own equipment. In the past, individuals providing services were usually working as agents or employees of corporations, using the employers’ equipment. For a consumer, it is now unclear whose liability insurance covers you if are injured while receiving services from an independent contractor.

The prime example of the new gig economy is Uber, the ride-sharing company that allows private citizens to use their own vehicles to provide other individuals rides. The rider finds the independent Uber driver using Uber’s phone app and pays the driver through the app at the ride’s completion.

Uber provides their contractors with liability insurance, it also requires the drivers to carry their own insurance, and it is difficult to determine which policy will control when an accident occurs. If you are in an automobile accident with an Uber driver or while you are riding as a passenger with Uber driver, understanding which policy applies is an important first step.

In understanding which insurance policy applies, you must know whether the accident occurred within the scope of an accepted Uber ride or not. The question is when is an Uber driver “on the clock” or working for Uber, as opposed to just driving their private vehicle around town?

Uber’s Commercial Policy

If you formally accept a ride from an Uber driver through Uber’s app and a subsequent accident occurs during that ride, the incident is covered by Uber’s commercial insurance policy. Similarly, if a driver gets into an accident on his or her way to picking up a ride formally requested through the Uber app, Uber’s commercial policy applies.  This commercial policy covers Uber for damages or injury of up to one million dollars per incident.

In terms of insurance coverage, what happens when an Uber driver drops off his or her customer, completes that transaction, and is waiting for another ride request? What if you get into an accident with an Uber driver while he or she is not actively responding to an Uber request or transporting a passenger?

The Uber Driver’s Personal Insurance Policy

If you are in an accident with Uber driver while you are not an Uber passenger and the driver is not on his or her way to pick up an Uber passenger, his or her personal liability insurance covers the accident. Assuming that the policy is in effect, there is no way of knowing what its limits are or how extensive is the coverage it offers.

Uber’s Contingent Coverage Policy

As was stated above, normally, an Uber driver’s personal insurance policy applies in between rides. However, if a situation arises where the driver’s personal insurance policy either does cover or does not sufficiently cover harm caused by an accident, Uber has a contingency policy.  It is important to note that the contingency policy is not nearly as robust as Uber’s commercial policy. Instead, it has very low limits of $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident with an additional up to $25,000 for property damage.

What Should You Do if You are in an Uber Accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision with an Uber driver or while a passenger with an Uber driver, receiving the compensation you are due will require consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of an Uber accident

The seasoned Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney at Barrett Law has the experience to take on defense counsel for either the Uber driver’s insurance company or for Uber’s insurance; either will be focused on minimizing or denying you compensation for the harm you or a loved one experienced.  Contact us now at (601) 790-1505 to get experienced counsel on your side.

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains: Pitfalls of Handling a Personal Injury Case Alone

Being injured as a result of another party’s negligence is stressful and life-altering. It can threaten your livelihood and family’s status in life. Attaining fair compensation to “make you whole” and repay the costs associated with your injury is often as stressful as the injury itself.

If you are trying to attain your compensation through an insurance company without the help of an experienced attorney, you are likely discovering a multitude of obstacles that the insurance companies routinely place in claimants’ paths to frustrate their attempt to attain fair compensation. Always keep in mind that the insurance company opposing you is not in the business of helping you; in fact, it is in the business of paying out as little as possible to you. The following are the most common obstacles injured parties encounter:

“Low Ball Offers” or “Go Away Money” Offered to Those Without a Lawyer

Insurance companies will try to scare you into not hiring counsel by saying that they will take a huge percentage of your settlement or slow down payment to you. Obviously, insurance companies have tremendous self-interest in making those sorts of claims.  In fact, when an insurance company knows that you are unrepresented, they often give you far lower settlement offers than you would receive otherwise. They have two reasons to this.  First, you have little understanding of what your case is worth, as you are inexperienced.  Second, they want you to sign a release and “go away” prior to getting the sort of legal advice that would dissuade you from taking these low dollar offers.

The Dilemma Posed By a “Small Case”

Not all claims are for millions of dollars or involve complex or extreme injuries. This may be your first claim, but it is the insurance company’s thousandth. If you have a “small claim,” insurance companies automatically know that they have an advantage. Specifically, they know that it is not financially worthwhile for you to hire an attorney, as the cost of your counsel’s work to attain fair compensation often exceeds the compensation itself.  As a result, insurance companies routinely offer low financial offers in these cases, as they know that a person coming to them will often accept the low amount rather than pay more for counsel to help them attain more.

Talking Yourself into a Corner

If a third party injures you, his or her insurance company will likely contact you soon after. These calls intentionally seek to lock you into certain statements about the severity of your injury—or lack thereof—before you fully feel your injuries’ effects. You can also inadvertently accept partial blame by responding positively to the insurance company representative’s leading questions.

We are all are of “Miranda Rights” from watching television; the police must read someone their “Miranda Warning” prior to interrogating them in a criminal case. The “Miranda Warning” starts by saying, “You have the right to remain silent.”  The problem with the insurance company representative’s contact with you is that they do not give you this sort of warning. In fact, they want you to talk so that those statements can be used against you in your subsequent claim for compensation.

It is not possible for you to understand all of your injuries soon after you are injured. In fact, many serious injuries take years to develop. Similarly, until a thorough investigation is conducted by an attorney, it is unlikely that you fully understand what caused the negligence that harmed you.

Statements made early on in a case will come back to haunt you later, once you have realized the full extent of your injuries or have more information suggesting the incident’s true cause. Rather than speak to anyone about the matter, remember that you should remain silent to avoid boxing yourself in later. 

What Should You Do if You or a Loved One is Injured?

If you or a loved one has been injured, receiving the compensation you are due will require consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Trying to settle the case on your own will lead to frustration and a settlement that is a fraction of what you deserve.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if a loved one has been injured or killed

Barrett Law has the experience to take on insurance companies’ defense counsel.  Contact our seasoned Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyer now at (601) 790-1505 to get experienced counsel on your side.

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Explains: How to Notice Nursing Home Abuse

We all care deeply for our elders and spend the money required to keep them happy and healthy in a nursing home once they become unable to care for themselves.  While many nursing homes care deeply for the clients they care for, others cut corners and provide care that is below acceptable standards. Abuse, injury, neglect, and, sometimes, death can result from a nursing home failing to meet the standard of care. Often, abuse goes unnoticed or is explained away by staff or administrators attempting to avoid blame or liability. So what are the telltale signs of abuse, and what should you do if you notice them.

Death

Obviously, if your otherwise healthy, elderly relative dies suddenly or mysteriously, he or she may have been the victim of abuse. A nursing home will be quick to label it as some other innocuous cause or simple old age. If you have any suspicion that the death was due to neglect or abuse, en engaging counsel immediately is vital.

Malnutrition

Our basic, day-to-day existence is heavily influenced by the food we eat. While it is rare that nursing homes guarantee gourmet meals, they do have a duty provide nutritious and sufficient food and hydration, some cut corners. It can be difficult to differentiate  between your loved one’s declining interest in food and malnutrition, but weight loss is an indicator that you should monitor. Is the nursing home monitoring your loved one’s weight? Is your loved one asking you to bring them food or beverages? Dramatic weight loss or a loved one that seems to never have enough food or beverages are warning signs that the nursing home is not meeting the accepted standard of care.

Unusual or Unexplained Injuries

While it is not uncommon for the elderly to lose their balance or fall, some injuries are cause of abuse. Differentiating between unavoidable accidents and abuse can be difficult. But one important consideration is that all injuries should be carefully documented, along with their ensuing care. Asking to review those records is critical to understanding their cause and to letting nursing home staff know that you are keeping a careful watch over your loved one’s care.

Bedsores

You may have placed your loved one in a nursing home because you lacked the time, strength, or skill to remove them from bed, change their bedding, and change their position each day. That is a critical, basic task for any nursing home facility, because people who lay in one position for too long develop painful bed sores. While the pain alone is problematic, the sores can go on to develop into dangerous and even deadly infections.

Dramatic Changes is Mental State

If your loved one has always had a positive, outgoing disposition and now has retreated into a constant state of depression, they may be suffering from some sort of abuse.  Similarly, if they report being treated roughly or physically disciplined by nursing home staff, this is a clear indicator that they are being abused. Follow up on any report of physical mistreatment with nursing home staff immediately.

What Should You Do if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect?

A negligence claim stemming from nursing home neglect calls for an experienced personal injury attorney.

Call Barrett Law Now!

When a loved one has been injured or killed due to ineffective or negligent nursing home care, entrusting representation to anyone less than a highly experienced personal injury attorney is a mistake. The Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney at Barrett Law has the experience to take on the nursing home’s defense counsel that is focused on denying your compensation for the harm your loved one experienced.  Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

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Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Provides Do’s and Don’ts if a Loved One Is Injured or Killed Due to Medical Malpractice

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Having a loved one injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice is one of the most traumatic events you can experience. If that unfortunately occurs, you need immediate, expert legal advice to negotiate the complex decisions that lay before you. There are several things that you can do to help or hurt your situation at that moment, and being aware of them now can mean the difference between caring for your family and assets and financial ruin.

Do:

Do Shut Down Social Media Accounts

While this is not a criminal situation, the old saying “anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law” still holds true.  Your statements on your Facebook page can come back to haunt you, as opposing counsel may use them to show that your story has changed or that you are lying. Old photos of your loved one may be used to demonstrate that their injuries or death were caused by their own conduct. While it is an inconvenience, shutting down your social media accounts and those of your loved ones is a necessity to protect your interests until your case is concluded.

Do Tell the Truth

There is a misconception that people can get away with lying and manipulating the truth in court. In fact, that rarely works. Lying about any aspect of your case can ruin any chance you have to attain any financial recovery, and even deception about an unrelated issue can be used to discredit you in the eyes of the court or jury.  You will likely have to tell your story many times, to your attorney, in depositions, and in court. Lawyers are trained to hone in on inconsistencies and exploit them to show that a person’s story has changed.  They then argue that those changes suggest that the person is being deceptive. The easiest way to “keep your story straight” is to tell the truth and stick to it.

Do Hire An Experienced Attorney

If a loved one is seriously injured or killed due to medical malpractice, you can be sure that the doctor or hospital will have the best legal representation money can buy. Proving medical malpractice is difficult, and you cannot just hire anyone to represent your interests. You should only consider hiring an attorney with an extensive background in medical malpractice representation. Hiring an attorney without that track record sends a message to the insurance companies and opposing counsel that you will likely settle the matter for less than the case is worth. The opposite is true when you hire a veteran medical malpractice attorney; that sends a message to the other side that they should pay you what the case is worth to avoid a protracted battle against a skilled adversary.

Don’t:

Don’t Assume That a Quick Settlement is In Your Best Interest

A quick settlement usually benefits the insurance company representing the doctor that injured or killed your loved one.  A quick settlement may be convenient, but it’s worth a fraction of what you may attain after a competent attorney retains experts to review the evidence in your case. Medical malpractice cases are usually measured in years because of the complexities involved. Assuming it will resolve quickly will usually result in you getting less than you deserve.

Don’t Assume That All Bad Medical Outcomes are Negligence

A patient’s failure to respond to medical care is not necessarily negligence or malpractice. When someone is injured or killed, there is often strong impulse to assign blame. But not every injury or death results in a successful personal injury case, as sometimes there are bad outcomes even when medical professionals meet their professional obligations. Speaking to an attorney about the facts of your case is vital to attaining an understanding of whether the tragic event a loved one suffered is provable malpractice or simply an unfortunate result of legitimate medical care.

Don’t Play Detective 

Let your attorney do the intense work of researching your case and asking tough questions. Taking any role in the investigation of your case, such as asking hospital or medical personnel questions, can ruin it. While you may be reaching out to them out of grief, curiosity, or a desire to help your case, your questions may bias them against you or tip off insurance companies about your attorney’s case strategy.

A medical malpractice claim calls for an experienced personal injury attorney.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of a medical procedure.

When a loved one has been injured or killed is a very serious legal situation, and entrusting representation to anyone less than a highly experienced personal injury attorney is a mistake. Barrett Law has the experience to take on insurance companies and defense counsel that are focused on denying your compensation for the harm your loved one experienced.  Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

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Risky Behavior Behind the Wheel: Common Causes of Car Accidents

Most people believe that they are good drivers, and yet, statistically, many of us engage in behaviors that put ourselves and others on the road at risk. With the average American driving around 13,436 miles a year, it is not that surprising that even people who might be cautious most of the time might have an occasional slip-up.

When accidents do occur, it is often the result of a few different behaviors, some of which are extremely common, and even some that the majority of people on the road likely do on occasion.

Driving Drunk

The good news is, the practice of drunk driving is decreasing. The bad news is that even though the numbers are in decline, a staggering number of adults still engage in this obviously risky behavior. Injuries resulting from drunk drivers are common, and actually occur at a rate of one every two minutes. In some cases, a person who is involved in an accident while driving drunk can be found at fault through the doctrine of “negligence per se.” This is because drunk driving is illegal, and the violation of the drunk driving statute can be used to show negligence even in the absence of some other evidence of actual negligent driving.

Texting while driving

While drunk driving might be decreasing, texting, and other cellphone use while driving is increasing. Our smartphones have become something like an appendage for many of us, and we might not even realize how much we look at the screen. While glancing at a text might seem fairly harmless, and like the type of thing that everyone does, texting and driving can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.

Driving above the speed limit

This is another driving transgression that most drivers have been guilty of at least a few times. Sometimes we might drive too fast because we are rushing to make it somewhere, and other times we might just not be paying attention to the speedometer. In nearly one-third of fatal car accidents, speeding played a role. It is also important to remember that weather should be taken into account when driving. Sometimes a person might not be driving above the speed limit but could be driving at a speed that is unsafe for the weather conditions, such as heavy rain or icy roads.

Being tired

Sometimes car accidents occur from something as simple as tiredness. Driving drowsy can be dangerous, and it occurs all the time. Who hasn’t had to wake up early and drive before their coffee kicked in, or driven home late from an airport or family gathering? Some tens of thousands of car accidents annually are considered to have been caused by people driving while tired. Of course, tiredness likely plays a part in many more accidents, and it is difficult to accurately measure the statistics for driving tired.

When we get behind the wheel, we owe a duty to everyone else on the road. We cannot control everything we might come across when driving, but we should strive to be as cautious, alert and responsible as possible.

If you were involved in a car accident, contact the experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney at Barrett Law, PLLC now to discuss your claim.

 

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Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Talks about Winter Weather on the Roads

Sometimes, the effects of winter weather can be as difficult to predict as the weather itself. For example, as they planned and prepared for one recent winter storm, officials from the Mississippi Department of Transportation said that they did not expect to see much of an impact from the storm in northern Mississippi. The storm had other plans, though. The snow was heavy, and many roads became icy.

Some drivers heeded the advice that the Department of Transportation issued once they realized what effects the storm was having and decided to stay off the roads. Other drivers wanted or needed to travel during the storm, and while most of them reached their destinations safely, there were approximately fifteen incidents in the northern part of the state, as well as many others in other areas. Most of those incidents involved single vehicles that slid off of the road. There were a few severe accidents, including a roll-over. Fortunately, most of the incidents did not cause injury.

Just as the people who work for the Department of Transportation work to keep the roads safe, drivers can do their part to drive as safely as possible when winter weather hits. One way that you can stay safe this winter is to check road conditions before you go out and making a wise choice about whether to make the trip. Also, if your vehicle has snow or ice on it, be sure to remove all of it before you get on the road. Snow from the roof of a car can slide down onto the windshield, blocking visibility completely. Chunks of ice can fly off of the roof, startling other drivers and possibly even crack a windshield. Other safe driving practices that you can use to avoid accidents this winter include slowing down when there is any amount of rain, snow, or sleet, not using cruise control, and avoiding sudden turns, acceleration, and braking.

If you do get in a wreck, seek medical attention immediately, even if you do not seem to be hurt. Some car accident injuries, including some serious and potentially life-threatening injuries, are not always immediately apparent. Also, while it is important to cooperate with police and other authorities in connection with your accident, remember that you may consult with an attorney before discussing details with them and that you do not have to talk to anyone from an insurance company. Insurance companies do not have your best interest in mind, and it is helpful to have an attorney deal with them so that your interests are protected.

Barrett Law PLLC:   Helping Mississippi Car Crash Victims Recover

Winter weather on the roadways can lead to dangerous driving conditions. If you got hurt in a winter weather-related wreck, you might be able to recover financially for your injuries and damages. To learn more about pursuing a claim for damages caused by a winter weather-related accident or any other type of wreck, please call the knowledgeable Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney at Barrett Law PLLC, at 1 (601) 790-1505 to set up an initial consultation.

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Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Talks About the Risks Associated With Drowsy Driving

The holiday season is a busy season on Mississippi roads and elsewhere. While winter weather is certainly one thing that drivers must watch out for, there is something else that we all need to be aware of both during holiday travel season and all year long – the dangers of drowsy driving. A recent drowsy driving accident happened in Mississippi when the driver of a tractor trailer fell asleep and drifted onto the shoulder, where it struck an abandoned vehicle. The truck flipped over, and luckily the driver was not hurt.

It’s no secret that Americans are tired, and many of us try to squeeze so many things into each day that we end up sleeping a lot less than we need to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much of a sleep deficit to dramatically increase your accident risk. Drowsy driving is so dangerous that it has been the focus of a lot of research. Approximately forty thousand people get hurt in drowsy driving accidents each year, and fifteen thousand people die. Some of that research has shown that getting fewer than seven hours of sleep before driving increases crash risk significantly. Drivers who sleep only five or six hours before driving have twice the risk of drivers who get seven hours of sleep of more. Drivers who sleep fewer than five hours have the same accident risk as drivers who drink alcohol before driving. These are frightening statistics, given that if we are honest with ourselves, we can admit that many of us get far less sleep than that on far more nights than we would like to admit.

The reason that lack of sleep increases accident risk is that it affects the body in many of the same ways that drinking alcohol does. It decreases a driver’s overall awareness of their surroundings and their behavior; it impairs judgment, and it slows down reaction time.

Approximately one out of every five deadly crashes involves a drowsy driver. Half of the tired drivers who were involved in accidents just blacked out – they did not exhibit any signs of tiredness before falling asleep. Drivers can decrease the risk that they will be involved in a drowsy driving accident by getting adequate rest, traveling at times when you would normally be awake, and taking plenty of breaks to move around and give your eyes a break from focusing on the road. Choosing light meals and snacks instead of heavy, fatty foods while you are on the road can also help you stay awake. Some people think that coffee and energy drinks can help you stay awake during a drive, but those quick fix strategies don’t work for long and can trick them into thinking that they are more alert than they are, increasing accident risk even more.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Compassionate Counsel for Mississippi Automobile Accident Victims

Automobile accidents caused by drowsy drivers can cause severe injuries, death, and a large amount of property damage. If you got hurt in a drowsy driving wreck or someone that you love died in a drowsy driving accident, you might be able to recover financially for your injury or your loss. To learn more about how to pursue a claim for damages, please call the knowledgeable Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (601) 790-1505 to arrange your free, initial consultation.

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