Being employed in the railroad industry here in West Virginia is a dangerous job. The federal government signed the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) into place in 1908 after realizing just how risky it is for individuals to be employed as railroad workers face....
You only have 2 years to take legal action after a car wreck
A person who's involved in a car wreck is likely going to have some injuries. Some of these might be catastrophic. For those who suffer an injury in a wreck that's caused by another person's negligence, the thought of being responsible for their own medical care and...
Federal regulations govern driving time for truckers
Truckers spend a lot of time on the roads, but this doesn't mean that they're immune to fatigue. In an effort to minimize the chance of one of these professional drivers suffering from this problem, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set limits for...
Truckers aren’t always the cause of semitruck crashes
Semitruck crashes can lead to catastrophic injuries that can cause negative impacts on the victims' lives. These individuals might choose to seek compensation for their injuries, but they will need to know the cause of the accident, so they can ensure they are holding...
Slip-and-fall incidents can lead to serious injuries
People who go into buildings expect that the floors will be cared for properly. They don't expect that they are going to come across conditions that could lead to them suffering injuries. Unfortunately, not all businesses take this duty seriously. Instead, some use...
Spring DST linked with higher fatal crash rate for first week
West Virginia residents may have no choice but to drive drowsy after losing one hour of sleep with daylight saving time. They should know, however, that the first week after DST always sees a rise in fatal car crashes. This was the conclusion that researchers at the...
Bill proposes interstate travel for truck drivers under 21
The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety held a hearing in February of 2020 concerning a bill introduced the previous year that, if passed, would open up interstate travel to commercial truck drivers under 21. West Virginia residents should know...
School start times may affect how safely teens drive
Teenagers tend to sleep long and into the late morning due to changes in their internal circadian rhythm. If they do not achieve the 8 to 10 hours of sleep recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, they may drive distracted, forget to wear their seatbelt...
Report calls for updating of NHTSA’s car safety rating system
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established a five-star car safety rating system in the 1990s, and it has no doubt helped automakers continue to build safer vehicles. However, one report argues that the system is becoming outdated in the face of...
Sleep apnea among truckers, and how it can be treated
Sleep apnea is a dangerous disorder that affects about 4% of the general population. However, as those in the trucking industry are aware, it affects around 35% of truckers in West Virginia and across the U.S. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of sleep...