Single Lens Glasses Could Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents Among the Elderly

Thursday, May 27th, 2010 | Lawyer Marketing | No Comments

Slip and fall accidents among the elderly and all the complications that arise from these, are a major senior health concern. However, a new study has intriguing results for Las Vegas personal injury lawyers. Research suggests that bifocal spectacle lenses could actually increase the risk of falls among senior citizens.

The study was conducted by Australian researchers at the Prince Of Wales Medical Research Institute in Sydney. According to the researchers, the risks of a fall are higher among older persons who wear multifocal lenses and go out. These persons may have the lower part of their vision blurred, increasing the risks of an accident.

The study involved a total of 606 elderly people with an average age of 80. Half of the group was told about the dangers of multifocal lenses. These people were provided two separate pairs of single focal classes, and were asked to use the distance glasses when they went out. The other half of the group was told to continue using their multifocal glasses. The researchers found that the persons using single lenses had an 8% lower risk of falls than those who used multifocal lenses. However, in the case of elderly people using single lenses who spent a long time outside the house – approximately 2 or three times a week – there was a 40% lower risk of slip and fall accidents.

According to the researchers, when you’re wearing multifocal lenses, the lower part of the visual field is focused just about 50 cm ahead. This means that the person’s vision of just a few steps ahead of him, could be blurred. This would prevent him from identifying a crack in the pavement, or other potential fall risk. These risks may not be as high for persons in their 50s who may have a better response time, and may be able to react in time to prevent a fall. However, a person in his 70s is likely to have slower response times and a slower gait, and this could prevent him from avoiding a fall risk.

May 16 – 23 is Dog Bite Prevention Week

Monday, May 17th, 2010 | Lawyer Marketing | No Comments

Americans, both adults and children alike, are at risk for dog bites at any time of the year. However, the week from May 16 to May 22 will involve a stronger focus on dog bite prevention. For Los Angeles dog bite lawyers, National Dog bite Prevention Week is a great opportunity to focus attention on education and awareness in preventing dog bites.

According to the CDC, 4.5 million dog bites take place in the US every year. Children between the ages of five and nine, are at the highest risk for dog bites. Children are not just more likely to be bitten, but are also more likely to require emergency medical treatment for their injuries. Adult males are more likely to be bitten by a dog than adult females.

If you have a dog in your household, then you have a higher chance of being bitten. In fact, the risk of being bitten by a dog increases with the number of pet dogs you have in your home. If you have five or more dogs in your household, then your chances of being bitten by a dog increase by five times.

That doesn’t mean that you force yourself to develop an affinity for cats instead. It just means that you take care while deciding on the dog breed. California dog bite lawyers find that far too many dog owners purchase a dog breed with very little information about the animal’s breeding, behavior and other genetic traits. For instance, a pit bull is never the ideal choice for a family with kids. No matter what pit bull lovers will tell you, these are aggressive breeds, and are involved in more numbers of dog bites every year than any other breed.

That is not a matter of chance. Some breeds have been raised over generations to be more aggressive, and these traits have not been completely eliminated from their genes.

To be sure, ask your veterinarian, or an experienced animal breeder for the kind of dog you should have in your home.  You may feel sorry for a puppy with a disturbed history at the pound, but he may not be the perfect fit for you if you have little children at home.

Make sure that your children are comfortable around dogs before you introduce a puppy into the home.

Make sure your dog is sprayed or neutered before you bring it into the house.

Don’t encourage your dog to play aggressively.

Invest in training and socializing your dog.

If your dog begins to display aggressive or rough behaviors, seek expert advice immediately.

National Safety Awareness Month Will Focus on Teen Accident Prevention

Monday, May 3rd, 2010 | Lawyer Marketing | No Comments

May 2010 is being commemorated as National Youth Traffic Safety Month across the country. The special month-long campaign will focus on teen motorist safety, and is being backed by the National Organization for Youth Safety with the support of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

It’s not a coincidence that the month of May has been chosen to mark teen motorist safety. Prom is just a few weeks away, and there are going to be thousands of high school students across California spending the best night of the year with far too much drinking, an intoxicated drive home, and possibly, an accident. Besides, many high schoolers are gearing up for graduation parties, long known to California car accident lawyers as high-risk events where drinking and partying can place teenagers at high risk of being involved an accident while driving home. May also marks the official beginning of summer, with road trips and outings galore. Teen motorists must understand that they are at a higher risk of being killed in an automobile accident than from any other cause.

The National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS) is trying to bring that cold hard fact home to teenagers. The NOYS will also conduct all kinds of events that are aimed at reducing the number of teen motorist injuries and fatalities in California and around the country.

The NOYS is encouraging youth safety groups, youth health organizations, auto safety groups and other advocacy groups to participate the campaign. It is also inviting individuals and leaders to join committees formed to address specific problems related to youth traffic safety.

Any California car accident attorney will tell you that a teen motorist’s chances of being involved in an accident increase dramatically if he is driving with teenage passengers. Besides, teen drivers are at a high risk for speeding and reckless driving. Distracted driving is another major concern with this age group. The NOYS is looking at tackling these problems individually through peer-to-peer education programs, greater lobbying for stronger laws, as well as enforcement of current teen safety laws.