While a child continues to grow, while it is true that the child’s bones are more pliable and less prone to fracture, when a fracture occurs, special attention much be paid to ensure future complications do not arise. At the end of long bones are what are referred to as growth plates— which are where bones are actively growing. A fracture along a growth plate has the ability to disturb the growth along the plate and may cause disfiguration and long term growth problems. As a parent, getting grasp on the type of fracture your child has sustained in been in a bicycle accident is essential to assess the extent of damages and the cost of proper rehabilitation.
Growth Plate Fractures In Children
Growth plate fractures are more common in the forearm and fingers as well as the tibia and fibula of the legs, although there can occur elsewhere. When left untreated, growth plate fractures result in pain that affects range of motion and athletic performance. The bone may begin to grow in a crooked manner, resulting in physical differences between one limb and the other, which is growing properly. Early detection of a growth plate fracture is instrumental for treatment that reduces the impact of the fracture on your child’s development.
There are several ways in which a doctor will diagnose a growth fracture. The first is to take and compare x-rays of both the fracture and the properly growing plate in order to detect any differences that are already present. Many times, the x-ray alone will not be enough to verify the existence of a growth plate fracture and doctors will order an MRI or CT scan in order to gain information about the bone and surrounding tissue that will not only allow them to tell if an injury exists, but also the severity of said injury.
If your child is diagnosed with a growth plate fracture, the injury will fall into one of five categories of growth plate injuries. In many cases, the fracture is treated through immobilization of the joint— normally accomplished by putting it into a cast. In other cases, surgery and further therapy may be needed in order to ensure that the injury is repaired correctly and that the growth plate can grow properly without causing additional complications.
Treating Childhood Bone Fractures
Unless the prognosis and treatment is to be extremely simple, most doctors will refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon, which specializes in problems in the joints and bones. More than eight out of ten growth plate fractures will heal without any major complications. The most common concerns are stunted growth, open injuries which could cause infection to the joint and injuries occurring in an important are such as the knee not healing properly. In the case of stunted growth, one limb may grow to be shorter than the other.
Injuries to the knee have a much higher probability of complication than growth plate fractures elsewhere and have the potential to cause problems to the joint that will affect your child’s growth and range of movement for a lifetime. The successful treatment of these injuries will almost inevitably require surgery and months, if not years, of physical therapy. Over the time, the cost of treatment for more severe growth plate fractures can mount and become a financial burden. For this reason, if your child is involved in a bicycle accident, it is important to consult an attorney in order to evaluate whether you may be owed damages for immediate and recurring treatment that is expected to be required for your child’s injury.
If you are looking for a bike accident lawyer in Chicago, consider Jonathan Rosenfeld, who has many years of experience representing clients who have been involved in injuries that impose long term changes to their lives of no fault of their own. He will evaluate your case to determine whether or not you are owed damages not only for current expenses, but also for expenses that may occur over the future. You can learn more information about Jonathan’s law practice by visiting Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers or Chicago Bike Injury Lawyers.
As Philadelphia accident lawyers, we always have safety in our thoughts. However, it seems like safety only comes to the forefront of the public’s mind when either someone they know was hurt or killed or when there is a celebrity involved. Well thanks to Ryan Gosling, the news is buzzing with information about pedestrian accidents. Yahoo Movies reported that yesterday heartthrob Ryan Gosling saved British journalist Laurie Penny from an oncoming taxi.
Since Penny is from England she had looked the wrong way when she was about to cross the street, and lucky for her Gosling was there to step in and save her from what could have been a very serious accident. She turned to Twitter immediately following the accident and explained what happened.
Penny's Twitter feed following the almost accident.
And it must have been a day for pedestrian safety because in not-too-far Philadelphia the city played a April Fool’s joke on pedestrians in Center City. 6ABC in Philadelphia reported that the public prank was painted on the 1400 block of JFK Boulevard and will remain there for a week.
Some people are not amused by the prank most likely due to the recent rumors that Philadelphia was going to put a ban on texting while walking. While the city may not be taking it to that extreme the prank does double by trying to raise awareness to the very serious problem of distracted pedestrians.
Often times when you think of a pedestrian accident, you assume that it was the driver that acted in a negligent manner, but that is not always the case. In reality it is the responsibility of the pedestrian just as much as the driver to take steps to protect themselves from being involved in a pedestrian accident.
The Philly prank features a pedestrian holding an electronic device. The lane has been nicknamed the E-Lane.
New York City also recently made a very public statement about pedestrian safety with their Curbside Haiku campaign. [Read about it here]
In Philadelphia there were 30 pedestrian deaths in 2010 and another 1,739 were injured. With our attachment to technology in today’s world it is not unreasonable to note that people paying too much attention to their smart phone or mp3 player could be playing a large role in these high rates of accidents. Just like distracted driving, distracted walking could prevent you from avoiding a potentially deadly situation.
We applaud Gosling and the city of Philadelphia for doing their parts to control the pedestrian accident epidemic. If you or someone you love has been injured contact Console & Hollawell’s skilled pedestrian accident attorneys in Philadelphia today. We will work with you to determine who was at fault in your accident and ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable. Call us today at (866) 778-5500 to set up your free consultation.
After the recent news story about the death of a 21-month-old child, the public is finally becoming aware of an often ignored danger to their children—the laundry room. Tiffany Hebb of Oregon was just doing some laundry. When she had to step out of the room for a minute a disaster occurred.
In just the short time Hebb was out of the room, her son Ollie was able to crawl into the filling washing machine. She returned and frantically retrieved him out of the machine and resuscitated him. He later passed at a local hospital due to the extensive brain damage from the drowning.
No parent should have to suffer the tragedy of losing a child, especially in an accident that could have been prevented. When these types of accidents occur it is important to speak with qualified personal injury attorneys in New Jersey.
When baby proofing your home you think of many things such as keeping chemicals in an unreachable or secure location, covering electrical outlets, putting child locks on cabinets and drawers, but how many think of lesser known dangers like drowning in the washing machine?
This is not an isolated incident either, in 2010 one Chinese toddler climbed into a washing machine while playing hide and seek and was stuck for two hours. Emergency responders had to disassemble the machine and cut him from the plastic drum to free him. Also, in 2011 Shine reported that one boy in Germany was killed when he climbed into a dryer and his twin brother managed to turn it on. They also told the story of one boy whose arm was severed when he opened a front-loading washing machine while it was running and got his arm stuck.
How can you protect your child?
The best way that parents can protect their children is by preparing themselves for any and all scenarios. That means researching lesser known dangers that are lurking in your house. For laundry room safety you should make sure that:
1. All detergents bleach, and other cleaners are out of reach of children to avoid accidental ingestion.
2. Hangers, especially wire hangers, should be stored out of reach as they pose a strangulation risk.
3. Keep your child away from running or filling machines as they pose a burn hazard due to the hot water and hot mechanical parts.
4. Your child should never be allowed on top of or in the dryer or washing machine. You need to make sure that your child knows that they are not play places. They could fall, get limbs caught within, or become trapped in the machines.
5. If at all possible keep your child out of the laundry room completely.
It is our job as parents to protect our children from these dangers. Children, especially young ones, are extremely curious and if unattended could put themselves in danger. If your child has been injured, contact the New Jersey injury lawyers at Console & Hollawell. We will review the specifics surrounding your child’s accident and help you recover damages for their injuries. Set up your free consultation by calling (866) 778-5500.
An ordinance up for adoption on April 3 in the City of Passaic would charge car accident victims, homeowners, businesses and any injured parties “response” fees to use fire services. That means every time the fire department shows up to an accident, before rendering any services, the meter is already running. New Jersey is one of 26 states in the country that allows its cities and towns to charge “emergency response fees” to private individuals or insurance carriers.
The proposed charges read like a restaurant bill: $500 to arrive at a car accident, $600 if a vehicle is on fire and $1,500 to free trapped passengers from a wrecked car. That’s not including the response fees for accidents involving damage to public utilities, rescues from burning buildings and investigations involving arson. The city can charge you these fees regardless of fault in an accident.
What are Tax Dollars For?
The Fire Department is a tax-funded institution in Passaic and other cities across New Jersey. It makes me wonder where the tax money they’re actually collecting is going. Could I get an itemized bill of how the town plans to use the dollars forcibly extracted from its citizens? Maybe I can find some extra dollars lying around.
Charging these response fees can have vast implications for both the insurance industry and drivers. Higher costs for insurance companies lead to higher premiums for policy holders. Drivers involved in car accidents may think twice about calling for emergency assistance when faced with these fees. How can a driver know what coverage she needs to make sure she won’t end up paying just for the local Fire Department to show up and help her? This is the reality of a pure capitalist system. You want help? Pay me.
The Government Spin
Government officials in Passaic claim the fees provide much-needed revenue for the cash-strapped city, according to NorthJersey.com. Officials say that most fire insurance policies already cover emergency response fees, so the city is simply tapping into covered services that already exist. This statement makes no mention of how the charges affect auto insurance policies. If other towns follow Passaic’s lead, everyone in the state could be looking at higher insurance rates.
Getting the Help You Need
With accident charges on the rise, it’s never been more important for you to have a knowledgeable NJ car accident lawyer on your team. An experience attorney negotiates with your health insurance company to reduce your charges and informs you of your rights to pursue damages. You shouldn’t have to face your insurance company alone.
A drunken man caught on a police patrol camera is seen belting the words to Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in this recently surfaced YouTube video. He maintains perfect spacing throughout the A capella version of the tune despite his obvious inebriation. All the classic moments are here: man insisting he isn’t drunk, police telling him to quiet down, man continuing his epic performance with maximum vibrato. It’s fortunate this tape doesn’t appear in the aftermath of an accident.
My heart goes out to the cops, who really had no choice, but to listen to the man give them a private concert.
Why is this scene funny? Because the man in custody didn’t make the deadly decision to get behind the wheel of a car and drive. That’s not a decision every legally intoxicated person makes and the results can be life-altering for those involved. Imagine that drunken fool screaming deep cuts from Queen while trying to pilot an SUV. The resulting car accident could’ve been catastrophic.
In 2010, there were 181 alcohol-related accident fatalities in New Jersey where at least one driver’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. There were 221 car-accident fatalities where at least one driver had alcohol in their system, but below New Jersey’s legal limit of .08. Alcohol slows down reaction time, lowers inhibition and makes it more likely drivers will get into serious car accidents.
If you sustained injuries or lost a loved one as the result of a drunk driver’s actions, you may be entitled to pursue the at-fault party for damages. Contact a knowledgeable NJ car accident attorney to review your options and rights to a fair settlement. Don’t sign any documents from an insurance company or an attorney representing an at-fault party until you speak with a lawyer. Failing to do so could reduce your ability to future compensation to meet your growing financial needs, medical bills and pain and suffering.
Many of us remember the first flight we were on after the 9/11 Attacks. With new, stricter regulations and a general air of uneasiness it is probable that most people did not have a pleasant experience the first time they flew after that tragic day. It has now been over 10 years since the attacks and although we will never forget, the world of aviation has seemed to move on. Many of us wouldn’t think twice about taking a plane today whereas 10 years ago we may have looked into alternate modes of transportation.
In recent weeks, however, a new trend has seemed to sprout up in the world of commercial airlines—crew members having nervous or mental breakdowns while on the plane. Luckily no one has suffered serious injury as a result of these incidents. Just yesterday a JetBlue pilot had to be restrained by passengers after he allegedly lost control of himself and became overwhelmingly upset. CNN reported that the pilot, Clayton Osbon, has been flying with the company for 12 years, and there is no record of anything like this having happened in his past.
With media outlets glued to this story many are quick to accuse Osbon of being unstable or crazy, but as was addressed in the CNN news report, there are federal regulations about pilots and their mental and physical health. The report explained that until the age of 40 pilots must undergo a mental and physical examination every year and after 40 they must go every six months. This regulation is thorough and necessary in order to ensure the safety of everyone aboard.
The most important aspect of this story is that no one was hurt. Had the co-pilot been unable to convince Osbon to exit the cockpit or had not the passengers take control of the situation someone could have been seriously hurt.
There is no way of knowing what the outcome would have been in a what if situation, but easily there could have been an unsafe emergency landing that could have injured everyone on board. And this is not an isolated incident; earlier this month a similar situation occurred on an American Airlines flight when a flight attendant began screaming and making threats.
There are several safety issues that need to be addressed. One is that if she was indeed bipolar and off her medication, the airline should have had some measure in place to ensure that any employees who need this type of medication take it. I do not believe she should be excluded from her profession simply because she has an illness, but there should be monitoring as back-up to make sure both she and her passengers remain safe while on the plane.
The other thing that bothered me about this incident was, as you can clearly see in the video, many passengers opted to watch, laugh, and record the incident rather than try to help. In one interview a passenger even explained that had they been in the air, things would have been taken in a much more serious manner. There were only a few passengers who took the initiative to try and control the situation. They restrained the obviously distraught flight attendant and talked to her and tried to calm her down until authorities were able to enter the aircraft.
It seems that in this day and age taking video footage to put up on YouTube is more important to people than their safety and that of those around them. Perhaps they failed to realize that in air or not, this breakdown could have quickly turned into a dangerous situation. If no one had stepped forward or had called 9-1-1 the flight may have gotten off the ground and her hysterics could have led to an emergency landing or worst case scenario could have led to the plane crashing.
People really need to be proactive when it comes to safety, and be selfless when in a situation and have some concern for the lives around you. All too often people act carelessly or without thought of their actions and this leads to accidents.
If you or someone you love has been injured as the result of someone else’s negligence contact Console & Hollawell’s accident attorneys in New Jersey. With over 17 years of experience, our lawyers are ready and able to help you get your life back on track and will fight diligently to see that you are properly compensated. Call us today at (866) 778-5500 and set up your free consultation.
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