In our last post, we discussed the various causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries, from a slip and fall accident to a serious car accident. We also talked briefly about the importance of taking steps to prevent them: traumatic brain injuries are a difficult injury to contend with once they’ve happened, and can have a wide range of symptoms and effects.

While you can’t control the actions of others, simply taking a few strong steps can dramatically reduce the risk of you or a loved one experiencing a personal injury or becoming the victim of a traumatic brain injury.

We’ve taken a few of the most common causes of TBIs and created a list of methods that can lower your risk.

If you’re an avid social media user, it may be tempting to document every event of your life. While this is usually fine, it is not a good idea following a car accident. Oversharing can be detrimental to your case, so consider the following consequences before you upload that photo or write that tweet.

• • Photos document your physical condition
    Every injury that you sustain from your accident is evidence to argue your case. However, if you post photos of yourself dancing at a bar, playing soccer, or hiking, for example, the opposing legal team could use those photos to disprove the severity of your injuries.

A traumatic brain injury is a massive head injury that causes a brain dysfunction, specifically resulting from an external force. The effects of this trauma can range from mild dysfunction of some cells to bruising, all the way to long term impairment and even death.

While it is difficult to know the full extent of people who suffer a TBI each year, the number is estimated to be 1.7 million people. Out of those people, 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized, and 1.365 million, or about 80% are released from the emergency department after being treated.

Currently, there is no cure and so prevention is often the best bet at avoiding a complication from TBI. But in order to understand how to avoid TBI, you must first understand what causes them.

Do you have a first-time driver in your home? While seeing your child get behind the wheel for the first time can be exceptionally nerve-wracking, as long as you teach your child the importance of driver safety, your worries will subside. Don’t know where to start? Here are some simple driver safety tips that will keep car accidents at bay and your child as safe as can be while on the road.

Get accustomed to the car
One of the biggest worries of first-time drivers is that they don’t really understand the massive machine they are driving. A car has so many components, and while seasoned drivers don’t think twice about them, these small details can be quite intimidating. So, to bypass any additional fear and apprehension, make sure your child gets familiar with the car before they start driving. This means going over the manual, teaching them the functions of the dashboard, and having them test out the strength they need to brake and turn the steering wheel.

Sadly, over 35,000 people die in road crashes annually and these crashes also leave over two million people injured or disabled. If you or your loved ones have been affected by a car accident, you know how terrifying and painful the experience can be, especially if a loved one has died wrongfully at the hands of another driver. Indeed, a car crash is the main cause of death from traumatic brain injury and those rates are highest for those between 20-24 years of age. There are certain steps you should always take when in a car accident and afterwards to make sure that the appropriate legal steps are being followed, especially if there was a death or serious injury. You may want to consult a legal professional, such as an attorney or lawyer, regardless of which side of the crash you were on.

Car accidents are an unfortunate fact of life that drivers face every time they get behind the wheel. Although most commutes are thankfully uneventful, it seems that car accidents are happening with greater frequency.

This is thought to be for a number of different reasons, with distracted driving being a leading cause. And with an estimated 660,000 drivers using their cell phones or mobile other devices at any given moment during the day in America, it’s easy to see how and why the number of car accidents continues to climb.

The moments after car accidents can be extremely stressful. After a car crash, you’re not exactly sure what’s going on, who’s injured and who’s fine, or even aware of what just happened. Despite the mass confusion in the aftermath of a car accident, this time is still extremely important.

The roadways are an extremely dangerous place and crashes happen much too often at the hands of illegal drivers. In 2013 alone, 9.9 million people drove under the influence of illicit drugs.

Hopefully, if you’re involved in a car crash, you’ll be unharmed and aware enough to pay attention to what’s going on around you, but that’s not always the case. That’s why your first move, no matter what, should be to contact an emergency crew immediately after an accident. After you’ve been cleared by a medical professional, that’s when you make the second most important call of the day: to your car accident lawyer.

If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, it can be hard to know where to turn. In fact, it can be hard to know for certain that you actually were the victim of malpractice in the first place. This is one of the most important times to consult a legal professional, as they will be able to lead you down the right path to fight for your rights. To prevent confusion during this difficult time in your life, here are some things to do after the incident.

Congrats on passing your road test! Now that you have your driver’s license, you might think that you’re ready to hit the roadways and drive all across your town. Pump the breaks both literally and figuratively, however, because there are a few more important things you’ll need to do before you’re ready to be behind the wheel. Here are a few things you should do as soon as you can if you are a new driver.

Be defensive
Even if you feel confident behind the wheel, you need to recognize that accidents often involve multiple cars. In other words, you can do everything right and still be hit. For this reason, it is important to drive defensively. Anticipating what other drivers will do is a great way to start. With practice, you can start to expect the unexpected. It is important to have a contingency plan in all situations so that you can avoid an accident.

Learn Everything Driving
Although you passed your road test, there is still plenty for you to learn before you get behind the wheel on a consistent basis. You may know the actual laws of the road, but you also need to educate yourself on what to do in the event of an emergency. You have to learn how to deal with road rage, what to look for on the road, and how you should handle all the various situations that will occur over your driving career. Talk to experienced drivers and ask any questions you might have and pay attention to how other, more experienced, drivers handle each situation.

Stop Relying So Much On Technology
At any given daylight moment in the United States, approximately 660,000 drivers are on their cell phones or some other electronic device. It’s essential to your safety and the safety of others that you stop relying on your technological devices so much. Sure, you can use your cell phone as much as you want when you’re not behind the wheel, but if you are constantly using your phone, you’ll have the urge to use it while you’re driving, which is an absolute no-no.

Make sure to think defensively, cut back on using your cell phone, and educate yourself on every aspect of driving before you start your driving career.

Are you in the midst of choosing a lawyer for a car accident case? If you’re choosing a lawyer in Lexington KY, contact the Golden Law Office today.

Parenting is extremely difficult and one of the most important responsibilities you have is preparing your kids to be responsible adults. Although you’ll teach them to be respectful, one of the most important aspects of teaching your kids is driving and the rules of the road.

Car crashes, unfortunately, happen far too often in the United States. In the U.S., over 37,000 people die in a crash on the road every year and an additional 2.35 million are injured or disabled. In addition to showing your kids how to parallel park, properly change lanes, and abide by the roadway laws, you should also teach your children how to handle themselves in the event of a vehicle accident.

Far too many kids (and adults) are unaware of what is required of them in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Not knowing what to do can lead to serious legal issues down the line, so it’s essential that your kids learn exactly what they should do after a crash. Here is what you should teach your kids regarding car accidents.

Seek Medical Attention

Emphasize to your kids the importance of getting professional medical help after an accident. Serious car accidents can result in a severe head injury or other bodily injury. Your kids should know to call 911 right away following a car crash, but they’re going to have to ensure that they are okay before any other moves are made.

Pay Attention to Everything Going On

The next thing you should teach your children to do in the event of a car crash is to clear their head, take a look at everything going on, and try their best to store every single detail into their memory. Buy your kids a small notepad and a pack of pens and have them keep those items in their glove compartment at all times. Being able to write down everything will ensure they will remember important details of the accident. These details will come in handy later on down the line, especially once your kids move on to the next step.

Contact Their Car Accident Attorney

The final thing your kids should do after a car crash is call their personal injury attorney (This is where the information comes in handy). Aside from law enforcement and medical professionals, the only other person your child should talk to after an accident is their attorney. Make sure they have the number and know how important contacting their attorney really is.

If you or your kids are in need of a personal injury attorney after a car accident, contact the Golden Law Office today.