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23
Jan

Campaigns to Eliminate Distracted Driving in Arkansas

January 23, 2012

A new campaign called The Great Hang Up is sweeping across the country The aim of the program is to eliminate distracted driving accidents caused by talking and texting on cell phones on America’s highways. According to Arkansas’s THV 11 News, the campaign asks that drivers sign a pledge to not operate a cell phone while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

To participate, sign a pledge sheet and keep it in your car as a reminder to the promise you have made yourself. Then, stay focused behind the wheel by following the sheet’s simple distraction eliminating guidelines.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is also trying to bolster efforts to end distracted driving by creating their own campaign called Faces of Distracted Driving. The group has created a website with videos that show the impact distracted driving accidents have on ordinary people and their families.

While Arkansas legislators are pushing for better laws to protect motorists from distracted driving, thousands will still be hurt or killed in the state until the ramifications of the accidents the activity can cause are understood by a majority of citizens.

This is why the Arkansas distracted driving accident lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to urge drivers to take a closer look at both of these programs and think about participating. Reducing the risks that distractions impose on drivers is the simplest way to eradicate a growing problem that could leave you injured.

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16
Jan

Arkansas Farm Worker Killed While Working In Grain Bin

January 16, 2012

A 56-year-old Arkansas farm worker died suddenly last Friday morning after falling into a grain silo. According to reports from KTHV News, the man fell at around 11:00 AM at Parker’s Farms on Miller Road in Lonoke County.

A press release from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Department stated that witnesses saw the victim on top of what farmers refer to as “The Bridge”–or a dome of grain that has formed an empty space beneath it. The victim was attempting to break up the bridge in order to clear a blockage, when suddenly it gave way beneath him, burying him beneath the falling grain. Rescue workers found the victim at approximately 12:15 PM and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Grain bins can be extremely dangerous and were responsible for a record number of worker deaths in 2010. According to a study from Perdue University, 51 workers died of suffocation related to grain bins, up from 38 the year before. In response to the growing number of deaths, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now requires that all farmers working with grain bins must wear a special safety harness with a lifeline on it.

The Arkansas wrongful death attorneys with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton know that employers have a responsibility to keep workers safe on the job. Call us today if your loved one suffered a wrongful death in a preventable farm accident.

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9
Jan

New Study Links Daily Aspirin Use With Blindness

January 9, 2012

While many who take an aspirin daily to help ward off the risks of a heart attack believe they are doing themselves a favor, new research may prove the contrary. According to THV 11 News, a new study published in Ophthalmology has found that while taking Aspirin may reduce the risks of heart disease and strokes, it may increase the risk of developing macular degeneration–or blindness.

The study, which was conducted by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, examined 4,691 patients, all of who were 65-years of age or older, from seven different locations across Europe. Data showed that 17.3 percent of those patients took Aspirin on a daily basis. What researchers found so disturbing was that the more Aspirin the patients took, there was a steady increase in both occurrence and severity of macular degeneration. One out of every four of the patients suffered from the condition.

When the patients who did not consume Aspirin daily were examined, researchers found that the number dropped in half. The study concluded that further studies on the topic are needed in order to confirm their findings.

The Arkansas drug injury lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton suggest talking with your doctor if you are taking Aspirin on a daily basis. They would also encourage contacting an attorney immediately if you suffer from macular degeneration and have taken a daily dose of Aspirin for an extended period of time.

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2
Jan

Migraine Medication Might Put Heart Health at Risk

January 2, 2012

Those who suffer from migraine headaches know that there is little to be done to stop the constant pounding once it starts. So, when you find a pain reliever that works, you stick with it. However, a recent study shows that a surprising number of patients who suffer from migraines are being prescribed medications they shouldn’t take because of heart conditions they also suffer from.

The findings were reported late last month by FOX 16 News and show that one in five patients with heart conditions who also suffer from migraines were given prescriptions for a class of drugs called triptans. These triptans are very effective in treating migraines and work by constricting blood vessels up to 20 percent. This constriction could cause a person with a history of heart issues to suffer any number of pulmonary problems, bust most commonly heart attacks and strokes.

Researchers pinpointed more than 120,000 patients who suffered form migraines from ten different insurance providers. Data collected from these cases determined that eight percent of all the patients suffered form both migraines and heart conditions. Of those patients, 22 percent had received prescriptions from doctors for triptans.

Some of these Medications include:

  • Amerge®
  • Axert®
  • Frova®
  • Imitrex®
  • Maxalt®
  • Relpax®
  • Treximet®
  • Zomig®

The Arkansas drug injury lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton suggest that anyone taking these medications that has a history of heart conditions to consult with your doctor immediately. If you have suffered from a heart complication while taking one of these medications, we suggest you contact us today.

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27
Dec

One Killed, Others Injured In Fayetteville Car Crash

December 26, 2011

Tragedy struck the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas, over the holiday weekend when two car accidents, caused by the same driver, occurred on Christmas Eve. 40/29TV News reported earlier today that the female driver involved died at the scene of the second crash and multiple other motorists were hospitalized with injuries.

It started at around 8:00 PM at the intersection of Hollywood Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, when the driver collided with another vehicle and sped away further down MLK Boulevard. She did not slow as she approached the intersection at Razorback Road and plowed into the rear end of a stopped SUV. The impact sent the SUV barreling into the intersection and onto the top of a police cruiser that was also stopped at the intersection. The officer was able to crawl from the wreckage and help the three young children and their parents trapped in the SUV. One of those children suffered a broken leg as the result of the crash, while the other four members of the family were taken to a local hospital to be examined and treated for minor injuries.

Spokesperson for the Fayetteville Police Department, Sergeant Shannon Gabbard, stated that the driver who caused the crash had to be pulled form the wreckage through a hole cut in the vehicle’s roof, but died at the scene.

The Arkansas auto accident attorneys with Rainwater, Holt, and Sexton are available anytime to discuss your case if you have been hurt in a car accident that was not your fault.

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19
Dec

Most Dangerous Women’s High School Sports Ranked

December 19, 2011

The National Center for Catastrophic Injury Research has been collecting data of fatal and serious accidents in women’s high school sports for nearly thirty years. Now the agency has released the top sports where these injuries occur.

According to 40/29 News, the researchers defined catastrophic injuries as those involving damage to the skull, brain, or spine. Non-fatal injuries were determined to be those that resulted in severe permanent disabilities, while serious injuries were  severe, but no permanent damages were suffered. Here are the results and totals:

#11-Volleyball- one non-fatal injury

#10-Soccer- one non-fatal and two serious injuries

#9-Lacrosse- two serious injuries

#8-Softball- one fatal, two non-fatal, and two serious injuries

#7-Field Hockey- three non-fatal injuries

#6-Ice Hockey- two serious injuries

#5-Basketball- one non-fatal and three serious injuries

#4-Swimming- one serious and four non-fatal injuries

#3-Track- one fatal, two non-fatal, and six serious injuries

#2-Gymnastics- six non-fatal and three serious injuries

#1-Cheerleading- two fatal, twenty-eight non-fatal, and forty-eight serious injuries

Many of these accidents involved broken vertebrae in the back that can lead to paralysis, while others were brain and skull injuries resulting from contact with another player or object on the field.

The Arkansas Brain Injury Attorneys with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to remind parents and student-athletes to be aware of the dangers of head and back injuries. If you feel like you have been hurt, stop playing and seek immediate medical assistance. The choice to step off the field and get checked out may save your life.

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12
Dec

Bumbo Chairs Have High Risk Of Head Injuries For Infants

December 12, 2011

It’s one of those items that word-of-mouth advertising from new moms has made a household name. Bumbo Baby Seats are in nearly every home these days with a child under 10-months old living there. Moms say that the portable, lightweight chair frees their hands, while allowing the baby to sit up by giving support to the neck and back.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced a recall of the chairs though due to an alarming number of reports of children falling from the product, resulting in head injuries. The agency stated that since October 25, 2007, they are aware of 45 incidences of falls from elevated surfaces. Of those children, 17 suffered skull fractures.

The CPSC and the product’s manufacturer, Bumbo International, also acknowledged there are 50 cases where children were injured after maneuvering out of the chair while on the floor. Of these cases, two resulted in skull fractures while another resulted in a concussion and broken limb.

The CPSC and Bumbo International have now put warning labels on the product, and they are reminding parents to never use the chairs on elevated surfaces or while the child is unmonitored.

The Arkansas Brain Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton urge parents to first seek medical assistance if your child has suffered a head injury due to a fall. Next, if the fall was caused by a defective product, they encourage you to seek counsel from an experienced attorney.

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5
Dec

Holiday Traditions Linked With Increase To Heart Problems

December 5, 2011

If you’ve ever thought the holidays and your in-laws were going to kill you, there may actually be scientific proof to support that statement. New research is showing that the large meals, heavy doses of alcohol, and stress through the holidays puts us at an increased risk for heart problems and stroke.

According to KATV 7 News, a doctor with the Society of Vascular Surgery, Dr. Niten Singh, reported the findings in the group’s most recent news release. Singh stated that there is a five percent increase in heart-related deaths every year around the holidays in the United States. Much of this can be attributed to the fat and calorie-packed meals we consume. The American Council on Exercise found the average holiday meal weighs in at 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat.

Alcohol can also be a deadly factor during the holidays–with consumption rates spiking through the winter months. The problem has become so great, a heart condition specifically linked to the problem has arisen. Holiday Heart Syndrome is an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk of stroke.

Stress–from traveling or entertaining–has long been known to contribute to heart troubles.

The Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to encourage families to use the holidays as a time to focus on health so that each family member will be able to enjoy the company of others for years to come.

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28
Nov

Debate Over HPV Vaccine Comes To Arkansas

November 28, 2011

With the federal government advising parents across the country to vaccinate all children between the ages of nine and 14 against the human papilloma virus (HPV), some Arkansas teens are coming forward to warn both parents and teens about the dangers these vaccines may pose.

4029 News told the story of a 20-year-old woman who received the vaccine as a teen. She was then a 16-year-old Ozark High School cheerleader who started receiving the three-part vaccine during a routine check-up because cervical cancer ran in her family. From the first shot, she reported feeling nausea and pain throughout her body. The teen spent the next four years in and out of hospitals and underwent numerous exploratory surgeries in an effort to find answers to her ailment to no avail. She is now on dozens of medications and after receiving a settlement from the drug’s maker for her doctor’s bills, the girl is now on disability due to her condition.

35 million doses of the drugs Gardasil and Cervarix have been given in the United States since 2006, with 20,000 reports of bad reactions to the drugs. Some of the symptoms included muscles aches and numbness, but data is pointing in the direction that the vaccine could cause an autoimmune disease linked to several types of arthritis as well.

The Arkansas Defective Drug Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton encourage parents to research these vaccines before giving them to your children. If you have taken these drugs and suffered adverse effects, contact us immediately to see if we can help you.

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21
Nov

Arkansas Receives Four Stars For Efforts Against Drunk Driving

November 21, 2011

Arkansas is doing more than most states to combat drunk driving according to a new report released by the advocacy group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). According to the report released last Wednesday, the state received four out of five stars on a national report card that evaluated each state’s drunk-driving countermeasures.

The report was released in conjunction with the group’s fifth anniversary of the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®, and reviewed what each state was doing to combat drunk driving. Arkansas received it’s rating for:

  • Conducting sobriety checkpoints
  • Having enhanced penalties for those who drive drunk with children in the car
  • Requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers
  • Using administrative license revocation for drunken driving offenders

The state would have received a five star rating if they would have taken part in “no refusal” checkpoints that allow officers to receive warrants on-site for blood samples from drivers who refuse to submit to testing.

MADD’s report also offered updated figures for the cost of drunk driving to American taxpayers. They say accidents caused by intoxicated drivers cost Americans $132 billion annually.

The Arkansas Auto Accident Attorneys with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton are encouraged by the MADD’s assessment of Arkansas. If you have been injured in an drunk driving accident at no fault of your own, you may not know what to do. Recently, founding attorney, Mike Rainwater, spoke about what to do to protect yourself after a crash.

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