The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a list of what they say should be safety priorities for 2015. According to the NTSB, there are over 100 truck safety recommendations that have been made by the agency, but highway regulators have failed to act on those recommendations, contributing to the number of truck accidents that occur every day.

There are more than two million commercial truck drivers on the nation’s roadways. There are also more than 4,000 people killed every year in truck crashes. One of the most publicized crashes from 2014 involved comedian Tracy Morgan, who was seriously injured when a commercial truck plowed into the limousine in which Morgan, along with five other people, were traveling. One person was killed in that crash. Walmart, the owner of the truck, recently settled a wrongful death suit with the dead victim’s family. There are also criminal charges pending against the driver of that truck.

The NTSB’s statistics show that there has been a 17 percent increase in the number of fatal truck accidents, since 2009. One of the biggest causes of these accidents is driver fatigue. In the Morgan accident, police records show the driver had not slept for over 24 hours. The NTSB says that trucking companies should be putting policies into place that to not only ensure their drivers are not struggling with fatigue, but to also screen them for any sleep disorders which could also affect their driving.

The dangers of driver fatigue may play even more of a role in trucking accidents thanks to a move by Congress which did away with a regulation which prohibited truck drivers from working more than 82 hours in an eight day period.

Another issue the NTSB points out in their report is the lack of enforcing safety regulations. Too many trucks—more than 20 percent on the road—fail safety inspections. The agencies stresses there should be much more enforcement by highway regulators of these inspections.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a commercial truck driver, contact an experienced Westport personal injury attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the driver and company for your pain and loss.

Innovative technology may enable thousands of paralyzed accident victims to walk again. Biometric exoskeletons are currently being tested by patients at different medical facilities across the country. So far, the results have been positive.

Marketed under the name Indego exoskeleton, the device works on the same principle as a Segway does. If a user leans forward, the device moves faster, while leaning back slows it down. The Indego essentially does the walking for a paralyzed person, allowing him or her to stand up and walk away. The device is constructed of with equipment that regulates a user’s posture, returning him or her to a balanced position.

When a user leans forward, the Indego enables him or her to stand up. Once standing, if a user leans forward again, the device will vibrate, which is a signal that a forward step is about to occur. To stop that step, a user only needs to lean back. If a user stays leaning forward, the device will continue to take steps until he or she leans back. The device even allows users to climb stairs.

The device is light, only weighing approximately 27 pounds and can snap apart in order to be easily transported. The manufacturers are hoping to receive FDA approval sometime this year.

According to national statistics, there are almost over one million people who have some form paralysis as a result of a spinal cord injury. Approximately 30 percent of injuries—362,000—happened from work-related accidents. Almost one-fourth of those injuries—311,000—are the result of a motor vehicle accident. Another 16 percent of spinal cord injury victims—206,000—were injured in a sports-related accident, and 9 percent of victims—112,000—were injured in some type of fall.

The cost of living with a spinal cord injury can be financially devastating. In the first year after a spinal cord injury, the average expenses can be anywhere between $228,566 and $775,567. The estimate lifetime cost is approximately $681,843 to over $3 million, depending on the severity of the injuries.

If you or a loved one suffers from paralysis or other spinal cord injuries as a result of an accident, contact an experienced Westport personal injury attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have against the party or parties responsible for the accident.

Imagine being involved in a low-impact car crash and having your air bag, a device designed to protect your safety, explode causing shrapnel to spray throughout your vehicle. This is the type of situation that many drivers have faced over the last several months due to defective air bags manufactured by Japanese automotive supplier Takata.

What began as a regional recall, focused specifically in high-humidity states, has now become a nationwide safety concern affecting approximately 7.8 million vehicles from 10 different automakers, according to Consumer Reports.

The catastrophic events linked to Takata air bags have included explosive shrapnel as a result of air bags inflating too quickly after collisions such as rear-end car accidents. Over 100 personal injuries and at least five fatalities have been reported thus far, which has prompted the recall expansion. Honda was the first to take its recall nationwide as demanded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but in recent weeks, Ford, Mazda, Chrysler, and BMW have also followed suit, as reported by The New York Times.

Takata’s president has stepped down as the company continues involvement in this worldwide safety issue linked to its air bags installed in vehicles from 2002 through 2008. There are still lingering questions about the cause of more recent air bag injuries and which cars specifically are at inherent risk.

Car manufacturers are responsible in alerting consumers of any defectiveness regarding their products in a timely manner. If they are negligent in doing so, injuries can occur for which they hold accountability. Takata air bags have been directly linked to tragic events putting millions of people in danger. A woman in South Carolina has been the most recent victim reporting chest injuries sustained as a result of excessive force of the Takata air bag installed in her 2001 Honda.

If you or someone you know have been seriously injured as a result of a defective car part in Connecticut, contact a qualified Westport personal injury today. You may be eligible for compensation, which could help pay for any medical expenses acquired as a result of your injuries. Call our office for a free case evaluation.