Despite the promise to a safe and healthful work environment spelled out in the Occupational Safety and Health Act, many workers are still injured every year while performing their job duties. Tomorrow, April 28, is Workers’ Memorial Day, an annual event to remember workers who have lost their lives on the job.
Workers’ Memorial Day is an opportunity to raise awareness regarding the preventable nature of many workplace accidents, encouraging employers to provide the necessary equipment, training and oversight to keep workers safe and to help their employees recognize hazards in the workplace to prevent injuries and fatalities. Events commemorating victims of work-related accidents and diseases will take place this weekend in Iowa and all around the world to promote safe and healthful work environments for workers across the globe. This morning, Iowans, including families and friends of those killed in workplace accidents, gathered to pay tribute at the State Capitol. Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro reflected on the 32 Iowans that died last year in injuries sustained at work saying “Workers Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember Iowans who have died in Iowa’s workplaces and serving in our military in the past year. This is also a day to reflect on the lives that were lost and to renew our commitment to workers safety and health in the workplace.
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The Iowa State Patrol has issued a warning to the parents of teen drivers that their kids are driving too fast. This in response to a rash of recent cases involving teenagers speeding on Iowa roads, with some driving more than 100 mph. With 57 fatalities and roughly 13,000 crashes involving young, inexperienced drivers last year alone, police are honing in on teen speeding, as well as distracted and impaired driving, to reduce the number of incidences.
A picture is worth a thousand words and the Iowa State patrol is using social media to drive home the point. Recently, they posted pictures to Facebook of two recent stops involving teenage drivers in the Des Moines area pulled over for excessive speeds. One picture shows a 17-year-old stopped for going 100 mph in a 65 zone; the other shows a 16-year-old traveling up to speeds of 104 mph. Both drivers were given citations for roughly $300 apiece and will likely lose their licenses through the Iowa DOT if convicted. Unfortunately, the speeding epidemic is not limited to Iowa. Traffic deaths have been rising across the country for the last several years and a recent study by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is pointing a finger at speeding as the main culprit for the uptick in traffic fatalities declaring “speed is what’s killing Americans.” Looking at U.S. passenger vehicle crashes spanning a decade, the NTSB found that speeding was a major factor in over 100,000 deaths, more than a third of all traffic fatalities. The figures are nearly equal to the number of drunk driving fatalities during the same period, underscoring just how dangerous speeding can be. “Drunk driving and speeding have a lot in common”, the NTSB report highlights. Drunk drivers and speeders both have a higher likelihood of being in a crash resulting in death or serious injury. Speeding or drunk driving not only puts the driver at risk, but also their passengers, other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike. There is no quick fix to the problem. One of the major recommendations is to make the consequences for speeding similar to that of a DUI for starters. Other remedies range from expanding enforcement tools like speed cameras to overhauling existing speed limits altogether. Just raising awareness about the dangers of speeding may help to put a dent in the problem, which is where parents of teen drivers come in, especially in light of the recent stops by the Iowa State Patrol. Helping kids understand how distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding are all risky behaviors behind the wheel may save lives. If you or a family member is injured in an Iowa car accident, contact Des Moines personal injury attorney John T. Hemminger for help today at 515-283-2116. In 2016, nearly 5,000 workers were fatally injured on the job. Of those fatalities, over 20 percent worked in the construction industry, accounting for 900 lost lives. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor has worked to reduce the number of workplace fatalities through the implementation of safety and enforcement programs, construction workers still face incredible danger every time they go to work.
Of course, no one can predict when a workplace accident will occur, however, workplace accidents involving construction workers fall into 4 main categories: falling, struck by injuries, electrical and caught between an object. Des Moines Ladder Fall Accidents Falling accidents are the number one cause of construction injuries and fatalities. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 work fatalities are attributed to falls. Construction workers often are asked to work on elevated areas, sometimes lacking safety gear and training. Falls from rooftops, ladders and scaffolding, or other structures or equipment is all too common. Iowa Construction Zone Struck By Injuries Struck by injuries are also prevalent in construction zones. These types of injuries may be the result of falling or swinging equipment, vehicle strikes or falling debris. Electrocution Risks at Construction Sites Electrocution is an ever present risk. Construction workers may be charged with working on electrical wiring specifically or just be surrounded by live electrical lines on a project. Nearly 100 workers suffered fatal injuries due to electrocution in 2016 alone. Construction Equipment Accidents Construction workers work with various equipment on a work site, some of which are stationary and others that move objects from point a to b. Severe injuries are caused when workers are compressed by equipment or objects on site, such as structure collapses or being pinned by equipment. Contact Des Moines Construction Worker Injury Lawyers When workers are hurt on the job, few know where to turn for help. The Des Moines construction worker injury lawyers of John T. Hemminger have decades of experience assisting construction workers in workers’ compensation, personal injury lawsuits and helping family members in wrongful death claims. Our attorneys have a proven track record of helping those injured in workplace and job site accidents get the compensation they deserve when they need it the most. If you, or a family member is hurt at work, call our Des Moines workers’ compensation law office for a free and confidential consultation today at 515-283-2116. Recent census data reflects that the U.S. has the greatest number and proportion of people 65 and older in decennial history. This Boomer Generation effect will continue for decades, which will result in many seeking care in nursing home facilities. In fact, in 2014, there were approximately 1.4 million nursing home residents in the country. This raises the specter of widespread elder abuse as many elderly people seeking care can be quite vulnerable to abuse from staff or other residents in a nursing home setting.
The National Center for elder abuse identifies seven types of abuse that the elderly commonly suffer: physical, sexual, emotional or psychological, neglect, self-neglect, abandonment and financial abuse. Family members should be aware of the different kinds of abuse that can take place and be alert to the signs when their family member is in the care of a nursing home facility. Physical abuse may include actions such as slapping, shoving and kicking or may also include using drugs inappropriately or using physical restraints. Signs include bruising or welts, fractures, cuts, or other injuries to the body. Other signs may include behavioral or personality changes or an elderly person reporting abuse. Neglect of the elderly in a nursing home setting boils down to refusing or failing to provide the elderly with the care they need. It may include refusing or failing to provide water, food, medicine, hygiene and personal safety. Symptoms and signs may include unsanitary conditions, poor hygiene, dehydration, malnutrition and untreated health problems, such as bed sores. Financial abuse is defined as illegally or improperly using an elderly person’s assets or other property. In a nursing home setting, away from the eyes of a family member, financial abuse takes on many forms. Symptoms or signs of financial exploitation to look for include:
Contact an Iowa Nursing Home Elder Abuse Lawyer Attorney for Help Nowadays, many families have a family member cared for in a nursing home setting. It is good practice to be alert to signs of abuse or neglect to protect your loved one from harm. If your family member is injured or abused in an Iowa nursing home, contact the Iowa nursing home elder abuse lawyers at the law offices of John T. Hemminger at 515-283-2116 for immediate assistance. St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and many festivities are planned in the metro area. Not only will there be a number of party goers, including students returning from spring break, but law enforcement plans to be out in full force to put the kibosh on drunk driving and drunk driving car accidents.
According to a Des Moines Police Department spokesmen, there has been a spike in drunken driving crashes on St. Patrick’s Day and, with 39 percent of fatality car accidents caused by drunk driving in the state, law enforcement hopes that those celebrating St Patrick’s Day will find a designated driver or take a cab to avoid problems. Despite their best efforts, Iowa law enforcement is well aware that some drunk drivers will not be deterred, however. In fact, some drivers are arrested repeatedly for being drunk behind the wheel, some even after being involved in a fatality accident. It’s a constant struggle costing lives. In fact, since 2005 more than 11,000 people were charged with intoxicated driving subsequent offense in the state. Over 200 drunk drivers were charged with vehicular homicide, some who had earlier DUI convictions. Of those responsible for causing the death of another while driving drunk, 13 drove after being charged or convicted. “Why Iowa can’t seem to keep drunk drivers from driving again?” is a question that troubles many in the state, particularly those who have lost someone to a drunk driving accident. Many would like to see Iowa require chronic offenders barred from driving for life, particularly those whose actions have resulted in an injury or fatality car accident. Clearly measures are needed to keep 1st offenders from graduating to 2nd, 3rd or aggravated DUI offenses to keep Iowa roads safe for everyone. If you or a family member has been injured in an Iowa drunk driving accident, contact the personal injury law offices of John T. Hemminger for help today at 515-283-2116. Following recent news reports regarding various incidences of nursing home abuse and neglect across the country, recommendations have followed instructing families to be alert to signs of abuse or neglect such as weight loss, unexplained injuries or behavioral changes to name a few.
A family in Michigan took that advice to heart noticing that their 89-year-old father had in fact been losing weight and had cuts and bruises on his body since becoming a resident at an area nursing home. Concerned, the family decided to see for themselves whether anything was amiss and installed a camera in their father’s room where their worst fears were confirmed – their dad was indeed a victim of nursing home abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, stories of nursing home abuse and neglect are all too common. In this case, the family’s attention to their dad’s deteriorating condition likely saved him from further harm. It certainly underscores the importance of being observant to the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect to protect elderly family members. Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect Abuse can be physical, emotional, financial or sexual. More obvious signs include unusual bruising or bleeding, open wounds, bed sores or cuts, burns and abrasions, weight loss, and poor hygiene. Less obvious signs may include listlessness, strange behaviors, physical or emotional withdrawal, disappearance of personal items or sudden and unusual financial transactions. Contact an Experienced Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect Lawyer Family members who feel as if something is off should follow up on their concerns to rule out abuse or neglect and seek legal help if a family member is injured as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect. If your family member has been injured in an Iowa nursing home, contact the Des Moines, Iowa nursing home abuse lawyers of John T. Hemminger for help today at 515-283-2116. Source: NBC26, “Family sues Michigan nursing home over elder abuse that was caught on camera”, March 5, 2018 The federal Nursing Home Compare website provides rankings for nursing homes along with inspection information so that consumers can have one more tool when trying to decide where their family member will be well taken care of.
Homes are rated based on information on staffing levels, the percentage of registered nurses on board, quality measures such as vaccination schedule compliance or whether a resident is keeping on weight, and state inspections. Homes are awarded one to five stars based on their performance in these areas and only the top ten percent receive 5 stars. Although it is a useful tool, people looking for care on the behalf of a loved one should keep in mind that two thirds of the information regarding staffing and quality is self-reported and the remaining third is derived from state inspections, which may or may not be current. It is still important to delve deeper into researching a potential nursing home by talking to administrators about any blips on inspection reports to ensure they have been addressed and to drop in at different times of day to see for yourself how many staff are on hand and how people are being cared for. Contact Iowa Nursing Home Residents Rights Attorneys Over 25 Years of Experience Protecting Nursing Home Residents With all the news coverage regarding nursing home abuse and neglect, families are of course concerned about the quality of care their loved one will receive in a nursing home setting. The federal database along with some detective-like leg work may help you find the right place for you loved one when they need care in a nursing home setting. If you have concerns about an Iowa nursing home or suspect elder abuse, neglect or exploitation in a nursing home or by one of it’s employees, contact Iowa nursing home resident rights attorney John T. Hemminger at 515-283-2116. Long before automobiles, people traveled by train. The first passenger railroad in the U.S. began construction in 1828 and five years later, the country saw its first train accident. As train travel proliferated, train wrecks became “a surprisingly frequent form of disaster” according to historians. “The single worst type, was the rear-end collision”, which left many victims with a peculiar constellation of symptoms such as back pain, arm pain, headaches, hearing problems, and anxiety known colloquially as “railway spine”. Flash forward to the future to the age of automobiles and the same condition is often referred to as neck and back whiplash injury, often resulting from a rear end car accident.
‘Whiplash’ injuries can range from a muscle sprain to spinal cord contusions to a fractured vertebrae. Soft tissue injuries including muscles tears, sprains, nerve damage or deep muscle bruising do not show up with diagnostic tools such as x-rays or MRI’s the same way traumatic injuries like bone fractures do, but that does not make them any less painful or life altering to the victim of a car accident. All injuries can have a significant impact and can manifest in different ways. Following an accident, even if it is initially just minor discomfort or pain you are feeling, seek medical attention immediately. Remember that soft tissue injuries sometimes do not become symptomatic right away, so you may feel okay following an accident only to develop symptoms hours or days later, which should also prompt a trip to the doctor. If you are making a claim with the offending driver’s insurance company, it is very important to document all the expenses you incur for treatment and rehabilitation, including medical expenses, travel expenses to and from a medical facility, lost wages for missed work, prescription costs and copays. If an insurance adjuster is unwilling to pay your claim, you may want to file a personal injury lawsuit to facilitate the collection of your economic damages as well as pain and suffering. Are You Suffering From Neck and Back Whiplash Injury? Contact a Des Moines Car Accident Attorney For Help If you have been injured in an Iowa car accident and are suffering from neck and back whiplash injury, it is advisable to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your case first. An experienced car accident attorney can help you navigate the process so that you receive a fair settlement to compensate you for medical treatment of your injury or pursue a legal suit if an insurer is not meeting their end of the bargain. Contact the Des Moines personal injury law offices of John T. Hemminger at 515-283-2116 for assistance today. One of the most dangerous things just about everyone does on a daily basis is get into a vehicle and drive. When accidents occur, few people know what to do. According to an Iowa Highway Patrolman interviewed following a string of weather related accidents in the state, the normal response people have after being involved in an accident is to leave their car to assess the damage done to their vehicle. However, exiting the car may not be a good idea as they are designed to provide protection. If possible it is recommended that drivers and their passengers remain in the car with seat belts fastened until emergency vehicles arrive. Of course, in situations where there may be a fuel leak or a vehicle is in the middle of oncoming traffic, occupants should stand off the shoulder of a road or highway at a considerable distance while waiting for help.
With the icy conditions seen in Iowa during the winter, it is advisable to avoid travel when road conditions are not at their best. Drivers come in all varieties, many with little experience navigating slick roads which pose a risk to even the most seasoned drivers. Even when drivers are doing everything right, one accident can create a chain reaction, as seen in the multiple vehicle crash recently where one person was killed and several others severely injured in a pile up involving more than 50 cars after a bus rear ended a semi on Interstate 35 in Ames. The crash was one of 185 that state troopers responded to across the state on Monday alone. Iowa is still in the thick the winter season so drivers are urged to take precautions when heading out in conditions that are not ideal. Make sure that cars are up to the challenge by ensuring the windshield wipers are functional and tires are in good shape at a minimum. Take along emergency supplies such as additional warm weather clothing, water and snacks and also a flashlight, charged phone and perhaps flares to alert other drivers to make way for a disabled vehicle. Drive defensively and slowdown in inclement weather and avoid distractions or impaired driving to minimize your risk of a car accident. As always, if travel is avoidable, it is better to wait out the storm. Iowa Car Accident Injury? Contact an Experienced Des Moines Personal Injury Attorney For Immediate HelpIf you or a family member has been injured in an Iowa car accident, contact the Des Moines personal injury law offices of John T. Hemminger for help today. We have helped many injured Iowans and their families get the compensation they need when they are hurt due to the negligence of another driver. Call 515-283-2116 today for your free consultation. Source: KWQC, “Iowa State Patrol offers tips to stay safe during an accident”, by Shelby Sheperd, February 8, 2018. The recent departure of Minnesota’s commissioner of health, amid reports of criminal abuse in Minnesota’s nursing homes, is yet another example of the persistent and widespread problem of nursing home abuse and neglect.
These revelations have spurred Minnesota’s Governor to empower the Department of Human Services (DHS) to more proactively investigate alleged cases of nursing home maltreatment. The DHS will now have the authority to “direct Health Department staff, make personnel decisions and implement changes to the agency’s work and investigative process.” Additionally, as part of this initiative, families will no longer be kept in the dark regarding DHS investigations into alleged nursing home maltreatment. Certainly these are steps in the right direction that we can all take a lesson from as more nursing home abuse and neglect allegations come to light. Like so many states across the nation including Iowa, Minnesota faces a severe backlog of unresolved abuse and neglect cases. This backlog, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, has risen from about 4,000 in 2010 to well over 25,000 in 2016. Unfortunately, these shocking statistics spell trouble for all families who have loved ones being cared for in nursing homes everywhere as it points to just how many abuse and neglect reports there are every year and also the fact that there is little being done to address the problems. Experienced Iowa Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers If you or a family member has been a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse resulting in serious injury, don’t wait to seek help. It is important to discuss your concerns with an experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorney to stop harmful actions and to seek compensation for your loved one. Contact the Des Moines nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers of John T. Hemminger Law for immediate assistance today. |
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