3,000,000 Whiplash (also known as Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration or CAD) injuries occur each year in the United States.  50% of these injury victims will fully recover.  10% will be permanently disabled.  And 40% will suffer some degree of permanent injury with chronic pain - this is because the ligaments are torn or over-stretched due to trauma (spinal ligamentous injuries).  For example, if you over-stretch heavy duct tape, it will never return to its previous degree of elasticity and strength.  Damaged ligaments allow abnormal movement causing spinal instability, bad joints and advanced spinal degeneration, which can cause chronic pain and the need for future medical treatment for the duration of the injury victim’s lifetime.

The cause of this epidemic?  Auto manufacturers have stiffened vehicle bumper systems to avoid or minimize property damage to vehicles, which causes the instant transfer of crash energy trauma to vehicle occupants, and which thereby provides the mechanism of injury in low speed and higher speed collisions.  So just because there is minimal property damage does not mean that the occupant is not severely injured!

If you have been injured in this type of accident, it is important to take advantage of the initial window of opportunity for healing so that the scar tissue repair process will be more functional, and thereby minimize the degree of permanent residuals from the crash injuries. Restoring normal spinal motion through proper treatment, including spinal manipulative therapy, is critical to the repair of damaged ligamentous and other connective tissues.

Don’t Be a Turkey This Thanksgiving.
Buckle Up America. Every Trip. Every Time.

This year’s Thanksgiving safety campaign by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration kicks off with one goal in mind: educate the public about the critical role seatbelts play in saving lives in any way possible. With humorous banners and graphics, you can see the efforts taken by the heads of this campaign to catch the eye of any demographic they can reach. While the catch lines and phrases take a humorous approach, the realities behind the campaign are shocking and in no way funny.

Highway travel during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday week is expected to be heavy in the Orlando area as families pile into their cars and head off for holiday destinations. But there’s one sure recipe that can turn a joyful holiday into a tragedy: failure to buckle up.

Seat belts are the single most important safety device in your vehicle and they have saved countless lives and prevented untold numbers of injuries over the years. We urge everyone driving on our state’s roads this holiday to drive carefully, don’t drive impaired and, most important, buckle up each and every trip, night or day.

Nationally during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2008 (which ran from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 26, to 5:59 a.m., Monday, December 1), 389 passenger vehicle occupants died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, including 156 during daylight hours (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) and 231 during nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.). Two fatalities were unknown regarding time.

Nighttime is the most dangerous time on the road because seat belt use is lower. Of the 231 passenger vehicle occupant deaths in motor vehicle traffic crashes at night during the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday period over two-thirds (67%) did not have their seat belts fastened (where seat belt use was known); while 40 percent of fatalities in daytime crashes were not wearing seat belts.

Thanksgiving is the iconic American holiday. Unfortunately, some people seem willing to forego this classic family gathering for the pleasures of an emergency room, or worse, the morgue, simply because they didn’t take a second to buckle up before driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.

If you fail to buckle up during this holiday period, you run the risk of getting a ticket, or worse, getting killed or injured. Make sure the only belt left unbuckled this Thanksgiving is the one at the dinner table, not the one in your vehicle.

For our recent article on Airbags & Safety Belts click HERE. To contact us, click here.

Minor vehicle damage in the presence of serious occupant injury is a frequent occurrence in acceleration-deceleration (rear-end) automobile collisions. The amount of damage sustained by the car bears little relationship to the force applied. To take an extreme example: If the car was a large SUV struck on concrete with the brakes applied, the damage sustained might be very great but the occupants would not be injured because the car could not move forward, whereas, a small car on ice, the damage to the car could be slight but the injuries sustained might be severe because of the rapid accelerations permitted.” 

Basic physics explain this phenomenon.  A vehicle that is more easily accelerated will generally sustain a lesser amount of damage than one that does not accelerate, given the same intensity of force application.  If the energy of the striking vehicle is expended in an effort to accelerate the lead vehicle forward, less energy is absorbed by the lead vehicle in a manner that will cause damage to its structure. The reverse situation would also be true of the lead vehicle that is not accelerated — if it is not accelerated, the energy expended by the striking vehicle in the collision is absorbed by the lead vehicle in the form of twisted metal, broken glass, etc.

The bottom line: Just because your car is not totaled does not mean that you have not sustained serious injuries that should be examined by a doctor.  Here are some helpful hints, if you have been involved in an accident.

Downtown Orlando/408 Crash

The crash prompted authorities to close the westbound lanes of the expressway just west of Interstate 4 for a short time.  Authorities said one person was trapped in a vehicle involved in the wreck.  Motorists can exit the expressway before I-4 to avoid the backups.  Traffic cameras showed the backup extending to Lake Underhill Road before 8 a.m.

In Florida, golf cart usage is on the rise.  Golf carts are no longer just for golf; they are an eco-friendly mode of safe transportation over short distances, and many communities such as The Villages are planned to be “golf cart friendly.”  Golf carts have become much faster and more powerful - some can reach 25 mph and travel over 40 miles on a single battery charge. Golf carts are now routinely used for transportation purposes at sporting events, hospitals, airports, national parks, college campuses, businesses and military bases. In many gated and retirement communities, golf carts have become the primary means of transportation. Most golf carts are not subject to federal regulation, and state and local regulations for golf carts vary widely by region.

Unfortunately, approximately 1,000 Americans are injured on golf carts each month, according to a University of Alabama at Birmingham study.  People over 80 and men between the ages of 10 and 19 are most at risk.  Golf cart injuries rose 132% from 1990 to 2006.  Part of the increase in injuries is because of their increased popularity, but 38% of injuries occurred when riders or drivers fall or jumped out of carts.

The most common personal injuries caused by golf carts include brain injuries and broken limbs. Most cases were bruises or other soft-tissue injuries, mainly to the legs and feet. About 31% of the injuries occurred in children.

Parents should not permit golf cart use on streets or on private property. Giving teenagers and children golf carts to ride around is not safe. Most golf cart manufacturers clearly state the intended purpose of golf carts in their manuals and instructions. These instructions should be followed carefully to prevent injuries

Golf Cart Safety Tips

• Drive at a reasonable speed, considering the weather and terrain.
• Brake slowly, especially on downhill slopes.
• Avoid sharp turns at high speeds.
• Passengers should put both feet firmly on the golf cart’s floor, keeping their arms and legs inside the cart at all times.
• Sit back in the seat so the hip restraints can help.
• Be prepared to use the handgrip to prevent a fall.
• Use seatbelts, if they’re available.
• Consider not letting let kids younger than 6 ride in golf carts and not letting kids younger than 16 drive golf carts.

The Kane Law Firm is experienced at handling injury cases involving golf carts.  If you know someone who has been thrown from a cart, injured as a result of a collision, or injured as a result of the negligence of others, please call us at (407) 644-5263 or email Info@KaneInjury.com.  We look forward to helping you.

More than 130,000 drivers a day travel on Orlando’s East-West Expressway, also known as the 408 Expressway.  The $77 million construction project started years ago on the road, trying to ease congestion and accidents.  The project will not be officially complete until April 2010, which includes a decorative bridge that has a pedestrian walk and the final layer of asphalt.  However, if all goes according to plan, in just over a week, all east-bound lanes between Crystal Lake Drive and Conway Road will be open.  Commuters should see a 10 to 15 minute difference in their evening drive home by Thanksgiving.  The west bound lanes opened last summer and the Expressway Authority said the results were instant.  The road is now at capacity and studies show that it should not be expanded again until 2025.  When the Expressway Authority finishes the section, it will move to its next project at Oxalis and the 417.

Yesterday, one parent’s worst nightmare became her reality when her 3-year-old son vanished with a man from Florida Hospital in Altamonte Springs while she attended to her own emergency medical treatment.  

Altamonte Springs police identified the little boy as Alexou Higgs. The mother, Brittany Higgs told police that the man, a friend, did not have permission to take the boy from the hospital. The mother had apparently allowed the man to take the boy to a nearby vending machine while she was being treated by the hospital for an injury, but instead, he disappeared with the boy, leaving a frantic mother telephoning police to report the abduction. 

Police identified the man as Vincent Marchese, a 30 year old with an extensive criminal history including resisting an officer, drug possession, and armed robberies. He had been in and out of prison since 1999. Marchese was arrested and held in jail just last weekend for failure to appear in court and driving on a suspended license.

 A Seminole County deputy located the abductor’s van on Route 436 near the hospital. Marchese had smashed his van into a deputy’s squad car at the intersection of Derbyshire and Oxford roads in Maitland and fled the scene of the accident on foot, leaving 3-year-old Alexou in the van. Thankfully, the boy was reported without injury when the officer immerged from the van carrying him. He was no doubt terrified at his situation, and was taken quickly back to his mother. 

As can only be imagined, a tearful reunion ensued upon his return. Meanwhile, an intense manhunt continued overnight through the Maitland area. With the aid of helicopters and officers from Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Longwood and Seminole County Sheriff’s Department, the abductor was finally apprehended in a Maitland neighborhood this morning after residents spent most of the night being advised to stay in their home as they searched for the wanted man.

Marchese will face a myriad of charges, including interfering with parental custody, kidnapping, fleeing the scene of an accident, and will likely be held responsible for the extensive property damage and injuries the victims of his car crash sustained. Information confirming the man’s license was suspended when he crashed into the deputy’s cruiser has not been released.  

As a parent, a story like this makes me realize how easy it was for one parent to face the horror of losing her child. I can’t begin to imagine the pain it must have caused her know that her helpless son was in a car accident and she couldn’t be the one to be there. We are fortunate to have high caliber law enforcement that works hard to protect our community and our loved ones…even the little ones. We at the Kane Law Firm urge you to keep your children safe, be mindful of the people around your children, and always err on the side of caution with regard to their safety. After all, they are worth it!

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, unintentional pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of death among children ages 5-14.  More than 100 children each day are treated in hospital emergency rooms for pedestrian-related injuries.

One of the keys to help children become safer pedestrians is to understand their physical limitations and how they may think.

• Fantasy v. Reality. Until approximately age 7, children don’t always distinguish between fantasy and reality. For example, when they are in a crosswalk, they may believe they are completely safe.
• Visual Skills. A child’s peripheral vision is only two-thirds that of an adult. Peripheral vision, along with depth perception and the ability to judge speed and distance do not fully develop until at least age 10.
• Hearing. Children can’t always locate the source of a sound. They may hear a car, but not know where it is coming from.
• Judgment. The ability to anticipate hazards, understand cause and effect, and think about more than on thing at a time are skills that develop with age and experience. When a young child is told to “look left, right, and left again,” he may just turn his head. If he does see a car approaching, he may not realize he needs to stop and wait for it to go by.

The Top 7 Ways to Keep Child Pedestrians Safe

1. Always know the route your children are taking, and when they plan to arrive and return. Walk the route with them in advance.
2. Younger children (until at least age 10) should be accompanied by a grown-up. Older children should walk with a buddy.
3. Children need to wear bright clothing so they can be seen. In low light conditions such as dawn or dusk, children should wear retro-reflective materials and carry a flashlight. Do not let children walk at night.
4. Teach children to use sidewalks and crosswalks, and use them yourself. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the far left, facing traffic.
5. Children should ALWAYS stop at the curb and never run into the street. Make sure your children cross streets with a grown-up until they are at least age 10. Never cross the street from between parked cars.
6. Remind children to look left, right, and left again before entering or crossing a path, sidewalk, street or driveway. They should continue looking as they cross.
7. Children need to make eye contact with each driver, wave, and wait for the driver to wave back before they pass in front of him or her.

For more information please go to http://www.imsafe.com/pedestrian-safety

Or if you or someone in your family is looking for an attorney to assist you in an injury claim, please call the Father-Daughter Team at the Kane Law Firm, P.A. at (407) 644-KANE(5263) or email us at Info@KaneInjury.com.  “Let Our Family Help Your Family.”

Florida wildlife officials are urging boaters to be on the lookout for manatees that are migrating to warmer waters for the winter.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says boaters should stay in marked channels and obey speed zone signs during the winter migration period. Kipp Frohlich, a leader of the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Section, says boaters should also give a manatee plenty of room in the water because it might not be traveling alone. 

The State of Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of registered pleasure craft, and first for the number of number of boating accidents. BSO offers these tips to help you stay safe and avoid trouble afloat:

• Complete a boating education course. One of the primary factors contributing to vessel accidents is operator inexperience.
• Get your boat checked for safety’s sake. The Vessel Safety Check (VCS) is a free public service offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron volunteer organizations.
• Always wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket and make sure all your passengers wear one too.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages while boating. More than one-third of all boating deaths resulting from collisions involved alcohol use.
• Be aware of weather conditions before heading out on the water and know what to do if the weather suddenly changes.
• Have a working marine radio on board at all times and know how to use it.
• Pack extra gear you may need. A flashlight with fresh batteries, flares, a first aid kit, sunscreen, and drinking water are a few items that should be packed in a watertight container that floats.
• Tell someone where you are going, who is with you, and how long you plan to be out. Then stick to your travel plans.
• Ventilate after fueling. Open hatches, run the blower, and check for fuel fumes before starting the engine.
• Know your boat’s capacity and how to properly load it. An overloaded or improperly loaded boat can cause safety problems.
• All children under the age of 6, in a vessel under 26 feet, must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while underway in Florida waters, and up to 3 miles from shore.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a boatng accident, please contact the Kane Law Firm, P.A. at (407) 644-KANE (5263) or email us at Info@KaneInjury.com. We are a father and daughter team of attorneys and know how devastating an injury can be to you and your family.  We would be honored if you would, “Let Our Family Help Your Family.”

 The first Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, marked the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I, what many proclaimed, with an optimism that turned out to be wildly misplaced, “the war to end all wars.”  It became a U.S. national holiday in 1938 and in 1954 was renamed Veterans Day to honor all veterans.

THANK YOU

to thank everyone who has served or is currently serving our country!