Uncategorized Archives | Ahlander Injury Law

The Dangers of Truck Blind Spots

September 21, 2022 by Big Leap

When driving on a freeway, everyone encounters big semi-trucks and other box trucks. Driving alongside these big vehicles can be stressful and it’s important to understand the risks. These trucks have large blindspots and understanding these blindspots can help you to stay safe.

What Are Truck Blind Spots?

Blindspots are any areas surrounding a vehicle that are difficult for the driver to see even when using mirrors. These blindspots can pose dangers to other vehicles who may be in them and they can lead to unintentional collisions. Since trucks are such large vehicles, they have many blindspots that need to be avoided. These include immediately in front of the truck, immediately behind, along the sides on a diagonal, and right below the driver’s window.

Why They’re Dangerous

The blindspots of a truck nearly surround the entire vehicle. Because of this, it can be unsafe to be next to a truck at any point. It’s difficult for them to see you and it can lead to a very serious collision since their vehicle is likely much larger than yours. Collisions can occur both due to the vehicles driving in the blind spot and the actions of the truck driver. Aggressive driving of any kind can lead to an accident. If the truck driver is fatigued or doesn’t check their blindspots then this can also lead to a collision.

How to Drive Safely

You can’t control what a truck does on the road, but you can control how you drive around them. The best way to be safe when driving alongside a larger truck or semi is to practice safe driving. In general, you should avoid a truck’s blindspots and drive past them quickly (but safely) when you are alongside one. When pulling in front of a semi, allow extra space before merging because they can’t see directly in front of them. If you are behind a truck, don’t follow too close behind. They can’t see you and you’re likely to end up in a rear-end collision.

Being safe on the road should be your top priority. Understanding truck blindspots can help you know how to best drive alongside these larger vehicles. You can avoid nasty accidents and provide a safer environment for all drivers.

Have you been injured in a truck accident? Click here to find an injury lawyer to represent your case.

3 Common Types of Car Accidents

September 7, 2022 by Big Leap

Unfortunately, accidents can happen on the road and they may lead to serious injuries, repairs, and other expenses. There are several types of accidents that are fairly common and it’s worth knowing how you can reduce the risk of these accidents occurring.

Rear-End Collisions

One of the most common types of collisions is rear-end collisions. These types of collisions often occur because the person behind was distracted or didn’t respond in time. They may have been going too fast, didn’t slow down soon enough, or sped up too early. These accidents can lead to whiplash, neck injuries, back injuries, and more. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to control the behavior of other drivers, but you can give yourself space in front of your vehicle so that you don’t have to stop abruptly. If you slam on the brakes, then the car behind you has less time to stop. You can also take measures to avoid being the cause of a rear-end collision. Avoid distractions while driving and make sure you’re always paying attention to the car in front of you. Avoid tailgating. Don’t drive when you’re drowsy and avoid aggressive driving.

Intersection Collisions

When at an intersection, vehicles are moving in several different directions and this can create a higher risk for collisions. Accidents can happen if a vehicle is hit while turning or driving across the road. The severity of the accident will depend on individual circumstances and there are many types of injuries that can occur. To avoid these accidents, it’s best to pay attention to the vehicles around you before pulling into an intersection. If you’re at a stoplight, make sure the light is green for you, and don’t take risks when it turns yellow. At any other intersection, also take note of other drivers and their intentions to avoid a collision.

Single Car Accidents

Interestingly, not all collisions will involve multiple vehicles. Another common type of accident includes single car accidents. Examples are when a car hits a tree, fence, post, poll, etc. A single car accident can also occur during inclement weather or with poor road conditions. Avoiding these accidents comes down to driving safely. Take it easy when driving in poor weather or on rough roads. If you’re overly tired, intoxicated, or otherwise impaired then you should not drive. Your decision can have a big impact on whether or not you are in an accident.

You want to be safe while you’re out on the road. When you know how to avoid certain types of accidents, you can create a safer environment for both you and other drivers. Practice safe driving at all times.

Were you injured in an accident? Click here to find help from an experienced car accident lawyer.

Most Common Car Accident Injuries

August 17, 2022 by Big Leap

When you’re in a car accident, it’s common to receive fairly serious injuries. These injuries can take weeks for you to recover from and they can cause serious disruptions to your life. Certain injuries are more common than others. Receiving help from an accident injury lawyer can make sure you are compensated for your injuries.

Head Injuries

Due to the force of impact on your vehicle, it’s possible that you may be thrown against the car and hit your head. Hitting your head can lead to a variety of head injuries. If left untreated, some brain injuries can lead to disruptions in your life and even the loss of some functions. Head injuries can also cause you to be more prone to headaches and problems sleeping. After an accident, it’s important to receive medical attention to determine the severity of your injury, especially because it may not be obvious that you are injured immediately after the accident. Once you have received medical attention, you can begin taking steps to heal.

Whiplash

In an accident, your body is subjected to certain levels of trauma. You’re forced to move suddenly and much faster than you typically would on your own. Whiplash occurs in these circumstances. You experience whiplash when your neck is forced forward and then backward suddenly. The muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues are strained and it can cause a great deal of pain. Recovering from whiplash usually involves taking pain reliever medications, icing the affected area, physical therapy, and anything else recommended by a doctor. Many people recover from whiplash within several weeks.

Cuts, Scrapes, and Broken Bones

Whatever the severity of the accident, it’s fairly common for people to receive cuts or scrapes. These can be fairly minor and self-treated and others may require medical attention. Being in an accident can be quite traumatic, so it’s a good idea to get medical care even if you don’t think your injuries are that serious. A medical professional can alert you to issues you may not notice on your own. In addition to cuts and scrapes, it’s common for people to break bones. Broken rings are fairly common because that part of your body is pushed around in an accident. It’s also common for people to break arms, legs, hips, or shoulders. Regardless of the severity of the injuries, it’s important to photograph any visible injuries to preserve that evidence.

Injuries from car accidents can vary greatly. If you’ve been injured in any way, it’s worth it to contact an accident injury lawyer. They can help make sure you can be compensated for the injuries you’ve suffered.

Are you looking for legal representation? Click here to learn more about Ahlander Injury Law.

What You Should Do If Bitten By a Stray Dog

August 3, 2022 by Big Leap

Being bitten by a dog can be a frightening experience, but it is even more so if it is a stray dog. You can’t talk to an owner to know the dog’s history, and you also may not have anyone to hold responsible for the incident. It’s important to know what you should do in this situation.

Stay Away from but Track the Stray Animal

After you’ve been bitten, you should do your best to stay away from the stray animal. It is also good to track the whereabouts of the animal. Keeping track of the animal is important for several reasons: First, you can determine if the dog has any illnesses that may affect you via the bite. You can also determine if it actually has an owner or if there is someone responsible for it. Additionally, tracking the dog can prevent it from biting or injuring anyone else.

Seek Medical Attention

Once bitten, you should seek medical attention. Doing so will enable you to address your injuries and prevent infection. And don’t procrastinate your trip to the ER–it is essential to take care of the problem early on and take steps to prevent it from getting worse. Because the dog is a stray, you don’t know its history. Therefore, seeking medical attention allows you to determine if the dog passed any diseases or infections to you. While receiving treatment, be sure to document your injuries. Documentation can be used in any legal cases you may wish to pursue.

Contact a Dog Bite Attorney

Most often, dog bite attorneys are contacted in cases where you are trying to hold an owner responsible for the behavior of their dog. With a stray, there typically is no owner. However, contacting a dog bite attorney may still help you. There are still cases where someone is responsible. For example, if someone was feeding or caring for the animal or allowing it in an area where you were bit, they could be held responsible for letting it roam free. Additionally, a dog bite attorney can help you qualify for proper compensation from an insurance company. Overall, it’s worth contacting an attorney to determine what actions you can take.

In summary, if you’ve been bitten by a stray dog, there are a couple of things you need to make sure you take care of: contain the animal, seek medical intervention, and document your injuries. Then, consider contacting a dog bite attorney. Following these steps will protect both you and others, as well as get you the compensation you need.

Were you recently bitten by a stray? Click here to contact a dog bite attorney to help with your case.

What to do if You are in a Motorcycle Accident

September 15, 2021 by Big Leap

Much like car accidents, motorcycle accidents can be frightening. There are several things you should do immediately after an accident for your benefit. Knowing what to do beforehand will help you to be more prepared.

Address Safety

The very first thing you should do is address the safety of everyone on the scene. When in a motorcycle accident, you are highly susceptible to injuries compared to when you are inside a car. You won’t be walking away unscathed. You should do your best to get yourself to a safe position and handle any injuries you can while on the scene. If you are able to, you should check on everyone else involved in the accident to make sure they are safe or at least in a position where they will survive until help arrives. At the very least, you should know everyone’s safety level even if you can’t do anything about it.

Call Emergency Responders

Once you’ve addressed everyone’s safety, you should call the emergency responders. Calling for medical attention should be one of your top priorities. Again, on a motorcycle you’ll likely see more injuries so getting medical attention quickly is important. In addition to medical services, you should also call the police. No matter what type of accident you are in, you need to call the police to file a police report. This report is important to you because it can help to establish fault. You can present this report to your insurance so they can see what compensation you deserve.

Contact Attorney and Insurance

After the accident, you need to contact your insurance. Present them with the police report so you can establish fault and then work towards getting your compensation. Your insurance can help you cover paying to repair your car, cover medical bills, and any other suffering you experienced. In some cases, insurance companies can be difficult to deal with and it can be hard to actually get compensation. In these cases, you should contact an attorney. Your attorney is familiar with these types of cases and they know how to negotiate with insurance companies. They can offer you the help that you need.

Any kind of accident can be scary and difficult to deal with. Understanding the process that should follow an accident can be extremely helpful. It may vary from case to case, but these steps should help you navigate any accident you are in.

Speak with an attorney about your motorcycle accident.