Getting into a car accident is nothing to take lightly, but it is also a fairly common occurrence, and most accidents do not result in substantial injuries. They can, though, and the trauma that accompanies an accident can make it difficult to think during the crucial moments after it happens. That is why it is important to make sure you know exactly what to do in the event you are in an accident.

Safety first

As common as accidents are, they can easily cause you to lose your bearings if you are caught off-guard or if it is your first time dealing with a crash. The first thing to remember is to check yourself for injuries. It is easy to shrug off pain and to focus on resolving the situation, but if you are the situation because you are hurt and need attention, then the best thing you can do is hold still and let help come to you. Calling for medical attention is a good idea, but if you have any substantial injuries, you should hold still.

If you are able to move, then you will also want to check over any passengers in your vehicle, to make sure you do not have anyone else in your car who needs medical attention. It is also a good idea to see if you can safely move the car further from the road unless you managed to get onto the shoulder or off the road as the accident unfolded.

Steps to take before you leave the scene

If you do not need medical attention that takes you away from the scene of the accident right away, there are a few things you need to make sure you do before you leave:

• Give a statement to law enforcement that narrates the accident from your perspective

• Take insurance information from the driver and contact information from the officer

• Contact towing and/or garage services to prepare for your vehicle’s repairs

If you wind up injured in the accident, you may have a claim for damages that will help cover your medical expenses. To discover what kind of compensation you could be eligible for, you need to talk to an experienced accident attorney who knows the law.

That way, you will be able to move forward with any claims you have promptly, allowing you to move forward with everything you need to get on your feet after an accident. Waiting can make it more difficult to present the facts of your case, so call as soon as you are able.

Mississippi drivers who often share the roadways with semi trucks may be interested to learn that a study has shown that truck drivers who suffered medical issues in the past may be more likely to crash than truck drivers who are healthier. Specifically, drivers who had three or more health issues have a crash risk that is quadruple that of drivers who have not.

For the study, medical records for approximately 50,000 commercial truck drivers were analyzed. Approximately 34 percent of the drivers had at least one health issue that was associated with poor driving performance. The crash history of the drivers was also analyzed. It was discovered that the crash rate was 93 per 100 million miles traveled for drivers who had at least three of the associated health conditions. When all of the drivers were included, the crash rate was 29 per 100 million miles.

Ultimately, the results of the study show that crash rates increase as drivers’ health decreases. However, truck drivers can often find it very difficult to remain healthy as they are required to sit for long periods of time in order to do their job. They are also more likely to eat and sleep poorly due to being on the road often.

Truck accidents can cause occupants of other smaller vehicles to suffer serious injuries. If there is evidence that the truck driver who caused the accident was not fit to drive, a personal injury attorney may assist with filing a lawsuit against the truck driver and the trucking company itself, seeking appropriate compensation for the losses that the victims have sustained.

Having to place a loved one in a long-term nursing care facility is never an easy decision, and many people wind up feeling some regret about the placement, at least initially. Often, this is because of personal feelings that complicate the choice even when it is the right one for all parties involved, but sometimes the misgivings have a more legitimate basis. After all, nursing home abuse and neglect are relatively common in healthcare environments, and finding a reputable home that will provide the right care for your loved ones is a vital first step in protecting them.

Handling the family decision

One of the biggest hurdles to finding a good nursing home placement is often a lack of cooperation or even direct opposition from extended family. This can lead to ruptured relationships. In some cases, it can make it more difficult to persuade a loved one that the move is necessary. This may be avoided with clear and effective family communication, but that is not always a possibility for everyone.

Weighing personal and medical factors

Another important consideration during nursing home placement is the facility’s ability to meet the specific needs of your loved one. Different homes will have different focus areas for their care and different client bases, but that is not the only reason for the consideration. Environment and location can also play a big role. That’s why it can be helpful to use resources that are specific to the condition leading you to seek nursing care. This worksheet from the Alzheimer’s Association is one great example of such a resource.

Involving an attorney

One way you can make the process easier for everyone involved is to bring in an experienced elder law attorney to help you. The right attorney will be able to help you locate homes that offer the care and characteristics you need while also providing a few key protections, such as:

• Knowledge about local nursing home practices and policies to guide your placement

• An understanding of elder abuse and neglect that can inform your ongoing monitoring of your loved one’s care

• Help understanding and navigating payment options and access

The first step to preventing nursing home abuse and neglect is to choose a nursing home with the reputation and practices that will support your loved one. An elder law attorney can help you with that choice. An experienced attorney can also provide you with insight and options if you notice signs of abuse or neglect, making him or her an important resource during every phase of your loved one’s care.

Mississippi residents who have family members living in nursing homes may be interested in learning that following a revision of federal rules, their loved ones may be able to be more involved with their own healthcare. According to a director at the advocacy group Consumer Voice, the rule revisions could transform the care that nursing home residents receive.

The secretary of Health and Human Services proposed the regulation changes, which will happen in three phases. The first phase began in November and addressed making the nursing facility feel more like a home, including allowing snacks and alternative meals outside of normal, scheduled meals. Additionally, residents can now also choose their roommates, meaning siblings or same-sex couples can share a room. Family members can also visit whenever the nursing home resident wishes as long as the rights of the other residents are not violated.

The revisions also cover potential abuse. The definition of nursing home abuse was expanded to include financial exploitation. Licensed professionals who have received disciplinary action in the past due to physical, mental or financial abuse cannot be hired by nursing homes. Finally, the facility must hire enough properly licensed staff members to meet the residents’ needs, and they must have the training to deal with dementia.

When family members put loved ones into nursing homes, they expect that their loved ones will be provided with the medical care they need. If family members notice signs of abuse or neglect that cause serious harm to their loved ones, a personal injury attorney may assist them with filing a lawsuit against the staff members who caused the abuse and the nursing home facility that hired them. Compensation may be sought by families for their loved ones’ medical bills and other damages depending on the severity of the abuse.

If an individual borrows a vehicle and subsequently causes an accident, there may be a question of who can be held liable for the damage that results. Mississippi motorists should be aware that if their vehicle is lent to someone who later gets into an accident, they may be held financially, and in some cases criminally, responsible.

In most states and situations, if the owner of a vehicle has insurance, the insurance will follow the car. This means that the insurance of the owner will be applied as primary coverage up to the limit of the policy if a vehicle accident occurs. If necessary, the driver’s insurance would be applied as secondary insurance.

The owner of a borrowed vehicle may not be held liable for damage caused by the vehicle in certain cases. They include if the owner did not give the driver permission to operate the vehicle or if the driver is explicitly excluded on the insurance policy.

The owner of a vehicle may be held liable if he or she allows someone to borrow the vehicle with the knowledge that the individual was impaired, such as with alcohol or drug consumption, or both. He or she could be held both civilly and criminally responsible. The same applies if the owner allows an unlicensed driver to operate the vehicle and that person subsequently gets into an accident.

A personal injury attorney may assist clients who are injured in car crashes by working to identify the parties that should be held financially responsible. This may entail a lawsuit against a negligent driver or owner, or a manufacturer of a defective auto part. Compensation could be sought for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses.