Category Archives: Personal Injury

Further Distracted Driving Research Underlines the Risks

Distracted driving has become a serious issue in the U.S., especially with the rise of cell phones and other electronic devices. The New Hampshire texting ban marks the state joining several others in restricting or banning texting and other types of cell phone use while driving. Additional research on this growing problem of cell phone driving use […]

As Winter Storms Approach, NH Agencies Urge Caution in Driving

Unseasonably warm weather in much of the U.S. meant that roads were clean and dry when they would ordinarily be snowy, icy, and slippery. Now that winter storms are rolling into New Hampshire and other New England states, however, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is encouraging drivers to take caution to avoid car […]

Which Injury Types Most Often Result in Hospitalization?

A severe injury sometimes requires a hospital stay, which may or may not involve surgery. According to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the injuries that most often require a hospital stay include: Fractures. Hip fractures topped the list, followed by fractures in the legs, pelvis, ribs, and spine. Together, these accounted […]

NHTSA Study Finds Motorcycle Helmet Use Reduces TBI Risk, Hospital Stays

A study published recently by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that wearing a motorcycle helmet reduces the number of possible serious consequences of a crash and motorcycle accident injuries that can occur, including the risks of death and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Wearing a helmet was also associated with shorter hospital stays when […]

When It Comes to NH Spinal Cord Injuries, Prevention is the Best Cure

Spinal cord injuries are more likely than other types of serious injuries to cause permanent, lifelong impairments of body functions, according to information from the National Injury Prevention Foundation. Only 0.9 percent of those who suffer a spinal cord injury achieve a full recovery; even five years after a spinal cord injury, up to 88 […]

Salt and De-Icers Can Prevent Slips, But Only When Used Properly

Salt and de-icing chemicals can help prevent slips and falls in icy New Hampshire winters by removing slippery snow, ice, and sleet from sidewalks and steps. However, using these chemicals improperly not only prevents them from working but can also pollute local drinking water sources. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) recommends keeping the following […]

Should New Hampshire Increase Its Speed Limits?

New Hampshire representatives are considering a bill to increase New Hampshire’s maximum speed limit from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour, mostly on freeways. However, the debate continues as to whether increasing the speed limit is a good idea, or if it will cost more than it’s worth, according to a recent […]

New Hampshire, Maine See All-Time Lows in Fatal Car Accidents

Both New Hampshire and its neighbor Maine set auto accident safety records this past year, logging in the lowest number of car crash deaths since the states began keeping track in 1949, according to a recent article in Maine’s Kennebec Journal. In New Hampshire, 87 drivers lost their lives on the state’s roads in 2011, beating […]

Stronger Safety Rules Lead to Safer Toys This Holiday Season

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been passing and enforcing stricter rules when it comes to toy safety. As a result, fewer children have been injured by defective toys in the U.S. this year, a trend the CPSC expects to continue through the holiday season. In 2010, about 181,500 children were injured and […]

Speeding Raises Major Safety Issues

Speeding doesn’t just put drivers at risk for an expensive ticket; it can also cause serious injuries or even death, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Approximately 900 U.S. motorists die each month in speeding-related crashes, and thousands more are injured. As many as one in three car accident deaths and serious car […]