Did You Know that California Has the Third Most Number of Pedestrian Deaths in U.S.?

Image Source: http://www.mortlocklaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Pedestrian-Accident.jpg

Walking down the street may seem like a regular, daily activity for you. For thousands of pedestrians in Los Angeles however, walking by the side of the street can be a matter of life and death. Did you know that the State of California is currently the 16th most dangerous state for pedestrians in the United States? Furthermore, California has the 3rd most number of fatalities in pedestrians?

That is why the state government with the help of town and city governments has been doing its best efforts to make roads much safer. Over the years, city streets have been re-engineered and fitted with modern equipment to further increase pedestrian safety.

However, the government alone can only do so much. As it is your life is in danger, you more than anybody has the responsibility to protect yourself from the dangers on the road. Here are some very simple tips that you keep in mind to help ensure your safety and you walk to where you want to go.

Be Predictable. As much as possible, stay away from freeways and other restricted zones as these places are very dangerous for pedestrians like you. Also, make it a point to only cross or enter streets where you are legally allowed to do so. By doing these things, drivers can better predict your presence and exercise more care as they pass along.

Always try to walk facing road traffic. Especially in places where no sidewalks are available, make it a point to walk opposite the direction of the traffic flow. This way you will be able to see where vehicles are going to, helping you be aware of their presence and avoid them if necessary. Also in cases of accidents or in instances where a wayward vehicle passes, you can immediately react to the situation to avoid getting harmed.

Be conspicuous. One major reason why pedestrians get hit is because drivers can’t see them. Avoid walking in dark areas where it will be harder for motorists to see you. If you could wear clothes in light shades, please do so. Being seen will help minimize the chances of you getting struck by vehicles on the road. In dark areas, carry along a flashlight with you.

Be wary. While most drivers are nice, there are ones who are not. Make sure that you don’t trust them to just notice you. Watch out for them coming and try to avoid them if you can.

Don’t drink and walk on the side of the road. Drinking and driving is bad. The same goes for people who hit the road. Do not walk around drunk or drugged as you are not in your best self and you might just end up in an accident.

Be cautious. You must always cross multiple-lane or streets with high-speed traffic with caution. This way you’d be able to better react to situations whenever it is called for.

If you however get involved in a vehicular accident in Los Angeles, it is best that you have yourself treated immediately for the injuries you have sustained. After that, try to find a good lawyer to represent you in court. But you should only trust the best Los Angeles personal injury attorneys that you can find. They will help you with every step of the way to ensure that you get the reparation that you deserve for all of the injuries that you have sustained due to the accident.

What You Should Do After You Sustained a Spinal Cord Injury?

Image Source: http://ehstoday.com/health/nsc-2012-nine-steps-and-three-rules-help-prevent-back-injuries

The spinal cord is one of the most vital parts of the body. Injury to the spine can cause drastic effects that can impair the motor skills of an individual. Severe trauma brought by falling can cause severe pain and, at worst, disability. When this happens to you or any loved one, you should seriously think about filing for a spinal injury claim.

First of all, you should know the statute of limitations of this disability claim. These factors vary from state to state so you might have to do some research. If you don’t really get all the legalese that goes with this, hire the services of a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Nobody, other than an attorney, can help you understand the laws better.

Then, you should know and understand everything about the injury. The type or extent of injury can affect the approval of your claims.

These are the signs and symptoms of spinal injuries in relation to the spine’s three divisions:

•    Cervical. These are injuries in the neck area. An injury in this part of the spine could affect your breathing, as well as the functions of the arms, shoulders, wrists and hands. More than that, you’d also experience problems in your cardiovascular diseases.
•    Thoracic. This can affect your body’s upper torso and your abdominal muscles.
•    Lumboscral. This affects the control of the legs and hips, urinary system, and anus. The bowel and bladder, as well as sexual functions, may be severely affected by such injuries in this spinal area.

If you have been involved in an accident that caused you spinal injuries, you should make sure to file claims as soon as possible. In most states, you only have up to 60 days, from the time of the injury for the government to accept your application. That is why in cases where you get involved in accidents, you have to undergo all of the needed checks. You should also try everything and exhaust all possible means to understand the effect of the injuries that you have sustained.

People suffering from disabilities brought about by accidents need to still have a decent and normal life. That is why you should immediately go and file for that spinal injury claim the soonest possible time.