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Archive for the ‘Auto Accidents’ Category

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Steer Clear of the Big Trucks

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Steer Clear of the Big Trucks

(On behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

So if I told you that 4,000 people were killed in one year as a result of accidents that involve trucks, would that shock you? What if I told you that in approximately 40% of those crashes, driver fatigue was to blame?

What if I told you that after 8 hours of consecutive driving, the likelihood of a crash doubles? Reports show that a driver who has been on the road for 10 hours without a break is 2.5 times more likely to cause an accident than someone who just got on the road. In the 11th hour of consecutive driving (without resting), the likelihood of causing an accident shoots up to 5 times as often.

What if I told you that after 8 hours of consecutive driving, the likelihood of a crash doubles? Reports show that a driver who has been on the road for 10 hours without a break is 2.5 times more likely to cause an accident than someone who just got on the road. In the 11th hour of consecutive driving (without resting), the likelihood of causing an accident shoots up to 5 times as often.

So, why is it that our truck drivers are allowed to drive for 11 consecutive hours? This issue has been in the news. Consumer advocate groups have voiced their opinions. Lawsuits have been filed.

Back in 2009, the Department of Transportation said it would review and reconsider the hours of service rules. In December of last year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration did make some changes, some of which went into effect in February and some which will go into effect in July 2013. For now, though, the number stands at 11. Eleven hours is still the maximum number of consecutive hours a truck driver can drive without stopping for a break. However, the subject will continue to be researched and analyzed.

So what does this mean? It means that our truck drivers, and all of us sharing the road with them, are at risk. Besides the potential for driver fatigue due to consecutive hours at work, truckers have blind spots, make wide turns, need more space and time to stop, have huge blowouts, and drift into other lanes due to wind or a lighter load. Let’s do them (and ourselves) a favor and steer clear of them when possible.

If you or your loved one has suffered serious or crippling injuries through a trucking accident, please give us a call at (888) 696-6049. The Gibby Andry Law Firm is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and we have the experience necessary to properly evaluate cases of serious or crippling injury and/or death. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

Posted in amputation, Auto Accidents, Auto safety, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, legal settlements, Truck Accidents | No Comments »

Burn Victim?

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Burn Victim
(On Behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

Most of us will only have to deal with a minor sunburn this summer. Perhaps, a household burn will cause you some pain. Ovens, stoves, irons, curling irons, hot beverages, and scalding water are some of the likely culprits. Perhaps your occupation will put you at risk of an electrical or chemical burn. Whatever the reason, burns can and do cause serious injury. Some could be life threatening.

Treating a burn will depend upon the severity of the burn. Burns typically fall into three categories:

First Degree Burns: Your skin is red, probably a little swollen, and may cause some pain to the touch. You may treat with cool water (not iced water) and aloe or anesthetic cream. Don’t use butter or egg whites. An over-the-counter pain reliever may help ease the pain.

Second Degree Burns: There is severe pain and swelling, deep redness, splotchy appearance, and blisters usually form. Although these are typically treated similarly to first degree burns, play it safe and get medical treatment. Second degree burns should be covered with a sterile bandage. Blisters should not be broken. Watch carefully for signs of infection.

Third Degree Burns: These are the most serious. The skin will likely look white or black and charred. Permanent tissue damage and loss muscle and/or bone may result. Call 911 or seek medical attention immediately. Medical treatment is required.

Keep in mind that infection or complications from burns may be equally, or even more dangerous, than the burn itself. Look for fever, pain, redness, swelling, and/or oozing. Know that infection can lead to more serious complications.

If you or someone you know has suffered a serious burn through someone’s negligence or carelessness, give us a call at (888) 696-6049. The Gibby Andry Law Firm is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and we have the experience necessary to properly evaluate serious cases of burn injury and/or death. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Burn Injuries, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, personal injury, Refinery Accidents, Truck Accidents | No Comments »

Wrong Way Drivers

Monday, March 5th, 2012


(On behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

What do LaPlace, Louisiana; Bowling Green, Ohio; Seattle, Washington; and, Central Florida have in common? Sadly, within the past month alone, serious accidents have resulted as the result of wrong way drivers.

In February, we heard about the LSU student who was driving the wrong way down I-10 in LaPlace, Louisiana, killing himself, and four other people. Also, in February in the Orlando/Central Florida area, there were two unrelated crashes on the same evening involving wrong way drivers. We are just five days into this month and have already learned that in downtown Seattle, a driver suffered serious injuries after crashing as a result of driving the wrong way for at least four miles, first on I-90 and then on I-5. Luckily, the other driver escaped serious injuries. Also already this month, in Bowling Green, Ohio, 16 sorority sisters who were headed out for their Spring Break vacation in the Dominican Republic. While on their way to the airport, in a caravan of sorts, the first vehicle in the line successfully swerved to avoid a head-on collision with a 69-year old wrong way driver. However, the second vehicle in the line was not so lucky. Three of their sorority sisters were killed and two were seriously injured that morning. The wrong way driver also died in the accident.

I am not sure if lack of sleep, alcohol, texting, or simple carelessness was at fault in these accidents. Regardless, it is important to remember that our very best is required when we are behind the wheel. Our utmost attentiveness, alertness and focus may just save a life.

If you or someone you know has suffered serious injuries in an automobile accident as the result of someone else’s carelessness, give us a call at (888) 696-6049. The Gibby Andry Law Firm is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and we have the experience necessary to properly evaluate serious cases of injury and/or death. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, legal settlements, personal injury | No Comments »

Loss of Limb Doesn’t Keep Some Down

Friday, February 10th, 2012

(On behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

There are many inspirational stories of individuals who have endured injuries involving the loss of a limb as the result of a freak accident, automobile accident, accident at work, or an accident while playing sports.

In Orlando, Florida, a local high school soccer star loses her leg in an automobile accident and runs again! The accident occurred while the young girl was participating in a fundraising carwash. One of the cars rolled into her lower extremities, crushing them, resulting in the amputation of one of her legs. However, there was no stopping her. She was fitted with a prosthetic and is training with her college soccer team.

A young Air Force cadet from Ohio loses his leg in a basic parachute training class accident. However, he keeps his dream of becoming a pilot alive, and since the accident, the gentleman has kayaked, climbed a 50-foot rope tower, earned scuba certification, and finished a 5-kilometer race in about 40 minutes.

These are amazing stories of success! The trauma of losing a limb, undergoing numerous surgeries, being fitted for and using a prosthetic, and making the necessary life adjustments are just part of the long road to physical and emotional recovery. Consider the strength and determination that is required.

Sometimes accidents are just that, accidents. Sometimes accidents are caused by the negligence of another person or entity or by their carelessness. Sometimes, the injured does not recover. Sometimes, death is the result. If you or someone you know has been injured and suffered the loss of a limb in an accident, give me a call at (888) 696-6049. The Gibby Andry Law Firm is located in New Orleans, Louisiana and we have the experience necessary to properly evaluate serious cases of injury. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

Posted in amputation, Auto Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, loss of limb | No Comments »

Don’t Drive if You Can’t See

Monday, January 30th, 2012

(On Behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

Smoke and fog have been making headlines recently. Both have claimed lives over the past few weeks.

The December 29th multi-car pile-up on I-10 near Michoud Boulevard was reportedly caused by dense fog and smoke which affected visibility for drivers on the road in the early morning hours. It was disturbing to learn that as many as 40 cars were involved, two precious lives were lost, and many others were severely injured in the accident.

Recent brushfires in the southern region have caused smoke to be an issue for drivers. Just yesterday near Gainesville, Florida, the police closed sections of I-75 due to fog and smoke from an area brushfire. The roads were re-opened as visibility had apparently improved; however, approximately 20 minutes later, at least a dozen cars and six tractor-trailers were involved in a pile-up that took the lives of 11 people and injured many others. Rescuers were forced to listen for moans and screams in order to find the injured as they could see only inches in front of them due to almost zero visibility caused by smoke, fog and darkness.

Both accidents occurred in the early morning hours and even though visibility was decreased, the drivers did not pull over but continued to drive.

So what can you do? Don’t drive if there have been reports of fog, smoke, or fire. If you must drive, slow down. Turn on your headlights – so you can see and be seen. But, don’t use your bright lights – they cause a reflection, making it more difficult for you to see. Turn on your emergency lights. Use your windshield wipers. Signal well in advance if you plan to turn or change lanes. Pull off of the road, leaving enough room to safely exit your vehicle. Alert the authorities by reporting any road hazards promptly.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious accident, call me at (888) 696-6049. The Gibby Andry Law Firm located in New Orleans, Louisiana, has extensive experience handling cases involving serious injuries. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, Motorcycle Accidents, Truck Accidents | No Comments »

RU THR?

Monday, January 16th, 2012

texting-driving
(On behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

Texting is the new way we humans communicate. Some of us have been known to text while driving, flying, skiing, riding a horse, riding a bike, rollerblading, walking, talking, using the bathroom, etc., etc. However, our brains are not equipped to handle two things at once. Our reaction time is slowed. When it comes to driving while texting, the results aren’t good. One would think that being drunk or high on drugs would affect our reaction time more greatly than a few seconds of texting while driving, but such is not the case.

Just to give you an idea, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has estimated that a driver traveling at 55 miles per hour who sends or receives just one text message typically takes his eyes off of the road for the amount of time it takes to travel the length of a football field, including the end zones. A lot can happen in that distance. And, many of us rarely travel at just 55 mph anymore.

Operators of 18-wheelers, busses, ferry boats, cruise ships and trains have also been at fault for texting while “driving.” One example which comes to mind was the 2008 accident in California in which the operator of a train crashed while texting, killing 25 people, including himself, and injuring over a hundred more. There have been countless other accidents caused by commercial drivers texting while operating their vehicle. The US Department of Transportation now bans all commercial drivers from texting while driving and some states ban any and all drivers from doing so.

But, as we know, not everyone follows the rules. If you or someone you know has suffered serious injuries in an automobile accident through someone else’s carelessness, give us a call at (888) 696-6049. The Gibby Andry Law Firm is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and we have the experience necessary to properly evaluate serious cases of injury and/or death. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, legal settlements, personal injury, Truck Accidents | No Comments »

Injured in a Car Accident?

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

Car Accident

(On Behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, chances are that texting or some other distraction was involved.

There has been so much in the news lately about how dangerous it can be to take your eyes off of the road for even just a few seconds, and despite the fact that we know it can be deadly, it seems that we just cannot help ourselves.

The USA Today recently reported that distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,000 people in the year 2010 alone. Even with such statistics, texting or the use of some other device while driving is still so widespread. Yes, we know the danger but we when we hear the tone or feel the vibration notifying us that we’ve just received a message, we feel compelled to take a quick look – and some of us even feel compelled to reply. Please, resist the urge! The same is true when we think if we don’t take one more glance at the map on our GPS, we might miss our exit or the turn we need to take. Please, resist the urge! I’ll bet you will agree that each and every one of those 3,000 folks who lost their lives in 2010 (or caused someone else to lose their life in 2010) would gladly take back those few seconds in time and remain free of distraction while driving.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is on board and is pushing to prevent distracted driving by either disabling or simplifying communication devices while cars are in motion. Specifically, it has proposed guidelines which would put a stop to dialing, texting, surfing, and entering information into phones, computers or navigation devices while the vehicle is not in park. Not only are they encouraging car manufacturers to deploy voice command systems in their cars, the NHTSA also plans to discuss devices which people bring into their cars. Hearings have been planned to take place across the nation.

In the meantime, we can do our part. We know what to do – and, what not to do.

If you or someone you know has suffered serious injuries in an automobile accident as a result of someone else’s carelessness, give us a call at (888) 696-6049. The Gibby Andry Law Firm is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and we have the experience necessary to properly evaluate serious cases of injury and/or death. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

Posted in Auto Accidents, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, legal settlements | No Comments »

September is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month!

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

(On behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

Did you know that every 48 seconds another American becomes paralyzed? Every 48 seconds.

Did you know it is estimated there are 1,275,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the U.S.? In fact, 100,000 of those individuals are estimated to have suffered their injury while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Did you know that accidents are the No. 1 cause and motor vehicle crashes are the No. 2 cause of all spinal cord injuries? In fact, approximately 70% of all spinal cord injuries in children under the age of 18 were caused by motor vehicle accidents.

(more…)

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents | No Comments »

So You Think You Have a Concussion?

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

(On Behalf of Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

So You Think You Have a Concussion

Did you know that some concussions can be classified as traumatic brain injuries? That’s right – a traumatic brain injury!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.7 million people receive traumatic brain injuries each year. About 75% of those are concussions or other mild brain injuries.

What’s to blame?

You may have guessed that motor vehicle accidents account for many concussions. Many of those accidents can be avoided by simply obeying the laws and speed limits, refusing to text and drive, and avoiding driving while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or lack of sleep.

You may not have realized that common activities like football, baseball, soccer, skateboarding, riding bikes, playing on the playground, being involved in a fight or a fall are some of the other major culprits. Be sure to wear the protective safety gear and helmets. Prevention is key!

It’s just a bump!

Is it just a bump? Has your child suffered a bump or blow to the head recently? If it shook the head hard enough, he or she could have received a concussion. Look for these classic symptoms:

  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Sleepiness
  • Memory Loss
  • Slurred Speech
  • Nausea or Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety

Most think those who have suffered a concussion will lose consciousness, but this is not always the case. In fact, many with a potential traumatic brain injury may not even realize it. The symptoms may not present themselves until weeks later. While it is true that the severity is usually determined by how long the symptoms continue, it is best to get to the doctor sooner rather than later.

Give it time.

The brain needs time to heal. Don’t rush back to normal activities, whether it is school or work, and do not return to physical activities, driving, or operating any type of heavy machinery. Recovery typically takes a couple of weeks. Most concussions heal quickly and completely but some can be severe and may put you at further risk. It’s best to wait for a full recovery and get a doctor’s release before returning to normal activities.

If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion or other traumatic brain injury as the result of someone else’s carelessness or negligence, call me at (888) 696-6049  The Gibby Andry Law Firm located in New Orleans, Louisiana, has extensive experience handling cases involving traumatic brain injuries. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, bike accidents, Car Accidents, personal injury, Refinery Accidents | No Comments »

Important New Developments in Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

Friday, May 20th, 2011

(On Behalf Gibby Andry Law, New Orleans, LA)

spinal injuriesSpinal cord injuries may or may not result in total paralysis. Based on the damage, some injuries will allow for a complete recovery while others will cause complete and permanent paralysis. Motor vehicle accidents have been found to be the leading cause of all spinal cord injuries, accounting for approximately 40% of all reported since 2005.

In July of 2006, one such accident left a sophomore at Oregon State University paralyzed from the waist down. This baseball pitcher was reportedly reaching inside his car for his duffel bag when he heard a car speeding around the corner. He was struck by a hit-and-run driver and was left in the middle of the street. He remembers trying to crawl and then waking up in the hospital the next day. After being told he would never stand or walk again, he began what became years of physical therapy and rehabilitative treatment. His hard work and attempts to stand and walk again had failed. However, through the experimental treatment developed at UCLA and the University of Louisville, he underwent surgical implantation of a 5-1/2 inch long 16-electrode stimulation device in his lower back next to his spine.

Unbelievably, the now 25 year old has since regained the ability to stand and has even taken a few steps on the treadmill. He can voluntarily move his hips, knees, ankles and toes, and has also regained some bladder and sexual function. This is made possible through electrical stimulation to his damaged spinal cord. While electrical pulses have been used in the past, a computer sent the pulses to the brain to control the activity. In this type of treatment, the spinal nerves are made responsive to sensory messages sent from the legs. This breakthrough treatment may potentially help 10-15% of those with spinal cord injuries. While not a cure, it may certainly give hope to those who once believed they were facing a lifetime of total paralysis. Exciting news in the treatment of spinal cord injuries!

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury or other injuries as the result of another person’s negligence or carelessness, give me a call. The Gibby Andry Law Firm located in New Orleans, Louisiana, has extensive experience handling cases involving crippling injuries. Let us get to work on getting you and your family the compensation you deserve.

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Posted in Auto Accidents, Car Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, Pedestrian Accidents | No Comments »

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