Lane splitting and filtering are topics of controversy across the country. Many people believe these practices can reduce the volume of motorcycle accidents, while others are not so easily convinced.
What is lane splitting?
Truck accidents: Standing up against trucking companies
Commercial vehicle accidents may result in catastrophic injuries, especially when a large tractor-trailer collides with a small personal automobile. Most of these smaller vehicles are no match for the sheer size and weight of a semi. When negligence of any kind is a factor in these truck accidents, Connecticut victims and their families will face many decisions. One such decision involves choosing who to target when pursuing compensation for injuries.
You probably already know that you may seek compensation from the driver of the vehicle when he or she causes a negligent truck accident. What you might not realize is that sometimes the true fault lies with the trucking company instead of the driver. In other cases, both the driver of the truck and his or her employer may share the responsibility.
Parents play a crucial role in creating safe teen drivers
If your teen is taking behind-the-wheel driver's education classes this summer, they'll likely be expecting you to help them get some extra practice. The thought of being in the passenger seat while your teen drives may bring back not-so-pleasant memories of those rides you took with your own parents beside you nervously stepping on an imaginary brake and occasionally grabbing the wheel decades ago. However, parents play a crucial role in helping teens become responsible drivers.
Teaching your teen to avoid distractions may be challenging if your kids have grown up seeing you texting and driving. Even if you've been guilty of distracted driving in the past, it's never too late to begin modeling good driving behavior.
Does your summer vacation include parasailing activities?
Summer vacations are a great time to head to the beaches in Connecticut and elsewhere in New England. Whether it's for a family reunion or simply a gathering of old friends, there are always fun activities going on at the shore.
You may prefer to swim in the ocean, fish off the rocks or simply lie in the sun under your beach umbrella. Beach vacations have something to entertain every member of your family or group of friends. But some beach activities carry a much higher risk than others.
Why teen workers are at special risk in restaurants
Many teens seek summer employment in the restaurant industry. From casual dining chains to high-end restaurants, you'll be seeing more of them taking your orders and busing tables over the next few months. Many you may not see because they are behind the scenes in the kitchen.
Restaurant work can be dangerous for anyone. However, it can be particularly hazardous for inexperienced, part-time employees. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that the majority of work-related injuries among those under 18 occur in the restaurant industry. There are several key reasons for this:
- Teen employees have less on-the-job experience, so they often don't know how to protect themselves from common restaurant hazards.
- Teens are more likely to take risks because they don't understand the dangers.
- If they're only working in a restaurant for the summer and/or part-time, they may not get the amount of safety and other training that full-time workers receive.
- They may not know their rights. Minors are often prohibited by law from performing certain hazardous tasks. Connecticut also has restrictions on the hours that minors can work in restaurants and at other jobs, both during the school year and during nonschool weeks. Long shifts can increase the chances of mistakes and carelessness that can lead to injuries.
How safe are motorcycles?
To some degree, you decide just how safe you are on your motorcycle. There are steps you can take to increase safety and limit injuries.
Some of these include:
- Wearing a helmet
- Following the speed limit
- Getting proper training
- Wearing bright colors
- Not riding at night
- Never drinking and riding
- Never driving recklessly or carelessly
Who can be held liable for swimming pool injuries?
As warmer weather returns to Connecticut, many people will be spending time in pools owned and managed by others, whether it's at hotels, apartment buildings, community recreational areas or other people's homes. You can't always be guaranteed that these pools are maintained appropriately or properly supervised.
Unfortunately, too many people -- particularly children -- are severely and even fatally injured in pools every year. Statistics from the federal government show that drowning is the second leading cause of death from unintentional injury for children between 1 and 14. It's the leading cause of injury-related death for kids from 1 to 4 years old.
Read this before taking your kids to a trampoline park
Thinking about bringing your children to a trampoline park? These indoor facilities often have dozens of trampolines, which are all connected together. The result is a huge area where kids can jump and play. They love it, and parents love how it helps them burn off so much energy.
Trampoline parks are fun, but they are dangerous. You need to understand the risks.
How Connecticut motorcyclists can reduce their risk of a crash
The National Motorcycle Institute (NMI) posits that one of the leading reasons that motorcyclists become involved in crashes is because of carelessness. They note that there are certain actions that they can practice when operating their motorcycles on public roads to avoid hurting themselves or others.
Their researchers point out that a motorcyclist shouldn't start riding a high-performance motorcycle until they've used a less robust, "learner" one for at least one year.
Jogging tips when you have to run near cars
Some of the most devastating car accidents are those involving pedestrians. Many of these accidents involve people in crosswalks or getting in and out of cars, but a lot of them also involve runners. Those who jog in the city spend a lot of time in close proximity to vehicles, and there's always an inherent danger there, no matter how experienced they are.
So, if you decide to run near traffic -- or if you have no choice -- here are some safety tips that can help you avoid a serious crash:
