Knapp & Roberts

Charter Bus Accidents Claim 4,000 Lives Each Year

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:33:06 -0700

Passed Law Changes Abuse Cases

Sun, 13 May 2012 22:43:01 -0700

Safety Features for Vehicles

Mon, 7 May 2012 07:46:40 -0700

When choosing to purchase a car, there are additional options drivers can opt into in order to increase their safety when operating a vehicle and avoid auto accidents. With advanced technology being readily available at more affordable prices, drivers can take advantage of various programs and amenities that have become popular among families and new drivers.

Electronic Steering Control (ESC) - This feature improves your steering ability, particularly in poor weather and off-road conditions. This is a popular amenity in places with significant rainfall or snowfall.

Stability Control and ABS- This helps drivers keep better control of their vehicle, particularly in vehicles that have an increased rollover risk, like trucks and SUVs. Read more about this safety feature here.

Reverse Sensing- A reverse-sensing detector or camera aimed at preventing backing into objects or people. Not only can you see behind you via a monitor, it will also beep according to how close you are to something behind you. This may seem like an expensive safety feature to have, but it's actually being seen more and more in vehicles at reasonable prices.

Roll Stability Control- This reduces the likelihood of a rollover accident, as well. With the help of an ESC system and a sensor, this amenity works by detecting an extreme cornering and evasive turning and braking one or more wheels while reducing engine power if it detects possibility of a rollover.

Curve Control System (CCS)- An extension of the above Roll Stability Control system, this system detects when you're entering a curve too quickly and automatically slows your vehicle speed by reducing engine power and applies braking to all four wheels.

Blind Spot Detection- This feature alerts a driver when a vehicle is in his/her blind spot (the areas to the side and rear of the vehicle outside of the driver's view). Sensors via cameras or radar monitor the sides of the vehicle will detect whether someone is nearing your blind spot and lights will flash communicating the detection to the driver.

Automatic Crash Notification- This system automatically notifies authorities if you vehicle is involved in an accident. This allows for quicker response time.

Tire Pressure Monitors- This checks a vehicle's tire pressure and alerts the driver when the pressure level drops below the safe range.

Night Vision- Driving at night is the most dangerous time to be on the road, because it's more difficult to see your surroundings. However, with night vision, a video generated image is shown in real time on a screen within your vehicle to detect animals or people in the distance. This helps drivers detect any oncoming road blockage sooner, rather than later.

Advanced Forward Lighting - These are lights that automatically adapt to changing driving conditions, as well as objects that may be ahead of us. For example, some vehicle will swivel the lights left or right by up to 15-degrees if the driver is traveling on a curvy road.

Auto accidents kill thousands of people each year due to various driver, vehicle, and manufacturer faults. Taking the extra effort to ensure your safety will not only protect you and your family, but those around you, as well. If everyone had at least one safety feature above, imagine how many accidents could be avoided each week.

Knapp & Roberts are Arizona auto accident attorneys that are dedicated to helping others through difficult times in their life. If you've experienced an auto accident due to a faulty vehicle safety feature, reach out to Phoenix's car accident lawyers. We have the knowledge to guide you through this process and work diligently to ensure that this does not happen to you, or any others who may have the same malfunction you had, ever again. We care and we will help.

Weight Loss Surgical Errors

Tue, 1 May 2012 22:56:12 -0700

With obesity an increasingly common cause of death for many Americans, surgeons are seeing a rise in weight loss procedure requests in an attempt to save their health. There are two common types of bariatric surgery, a popular surgical procedure sought for weight loss: adjustable gastric banding and gastric bypass surgery.

In adjustable gastric banding, the surgeon inserts a band in the patient's esophagus to the stomach to restrict your amount of food intake. This band is removable. Gastric bypass, however, is a permanent reduction in the size of the stomach. According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, approximately 225,000 of these procedures are performed each year.

A recent investigation of one weight loss surgical center in Los Angeles shows that abiding by simple protocol could have saved one woman's life during surgery. During a routine lap-band surgery procedure, a 55-year-old woman lost her life because of two workers in the surgery room. First, one person inserted an intravenous line improperly, which caused the solution to pool on the operating room floor, and second, the anesthesiologist failed to turn on the oxygen tank.

Upon further investigation by the police, they found that four others had died in the same hospital in the same area during the same procedure--all due to repeated surgical negligence: two patients died as a result of peritonitis, one due to a lacerated liver and one as a result of inadequate anesthesia administration. It is examples of repeated error like this that makes reporting error initially and taking action immediately so vital.

Had action been taken the first time an error in this hospital was made, perhaps the 4 other deaths could have been avoided. If you or your loved one has experienced a surgical error in Phoenix due to the negligence of a medical professional, report it immediately. Contact Arizona's medical malpractice attorneys, Knapp & Roberts. We have the knowledge and experience you need to avoid the same mistreatment from happening to someone else. Give us a call, we will help.

Long-Term Effects of a Concussion

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:11:52 -0700

Despite how common concussions are, recent studies show they could be more harmful than people think. If you've ever had a concussion or know someone who has, you know that a typical diagnosis for concussions is to play the waiting game: wait and see what happens. If nothing happens, then the victim will be okay, but if the concussion victim is bleeding, vomiting, unusually sleepy, or has a severe headache, see a doctor. However, physicians are learning that multiple concussions could have severe long-term effects.

Following a study by Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy of 70 brains donated by athletes and military veterans whom are common concussion victims, they're finding in some instances traces of brain disease and structural brain damage likely caused by the injury.

This find is also being used as a likely explanation for recent student athlete suicide cases where both students have never had a history of depression in their family. For instance in one case, brain researchers found structural damage that affected portions of the football player's brain that control judgment and impulse control.

Whether you're riding your bike, playing a sport, or fighting for your country, the best thing you can do to avoid severe head trauma is wear a helmet. It's so simple and understated, but the benefits can be life saving.

If you or your loved one has suffered a concussion in a car accident, bike accident, sports accident, etc... and are in need of legal advice, give Knapp & Roberts' experienced lawyers a call. We care. We can help.