safety tips for winter highway driving avoiding winter accidents When you open your drapes in the morning, you’re greeted by a fresh coat of snow on the lawn. While you might rejoice at the opportunity to spend more time with your family and celebrate important holidays during the winter, you’re likely not excited to head out on the road in your vehicle. Thankfully, familiarizing yourself with a few winter driving safety tips can ease your anxiety and help to ensure that you arrive at your destination safe and sound.

Clear Ice and Snow from Your Car

Before you head out in your car, make sure that the windshield and all windows are completely free of ice. Maintaining the highest level of visibility possible will help you stay safe while on the road. You should also be sure to remove snow from the top of your car, as it can slide down from the roof when you stop, blocking your vision or those of drivers behind you.

Increase Your Following Distance

When driving on snowy or icy roads, it’s essential that you leave at least three times more space than usual between yourself and the car in front of you. It takes a lot longer to stop on an icy road, so you run the risk of rear-ending another vehicle if you follow too closely. Remember that you should also break gently to avoid losing traction and spinning out.

Stay Away from Big Rigs, Plows and Other Vehicles

It’s always a good idea to give semi trucks, plows and other large vehicles plenty of space on the road. During the winter, it’s especially important that you stay away from them. You don’t want to be in the way if a large truck spins out or if a semi stalls on an icy hill.

Use Low Gears and Avoid Cruise Control

For those who drive manual transmissions, staying in low gears is a great way to increase your traction on the road. Opt for low gears when climbing or descending hills. In addition to increasing your traction, you’ll also have better control over your movement on the road and will be able to stop more efficiently. Avoid using cruise control on icy roads; it’s better to control your speed yourself, so that you can respond quickly to changes in conditions.

Carry Chains, A Shovel and Warm Clothing

No matter how far you have to drive during the winter, it’s always a good idea to carry chains. If you’re headed out for a long trip, call the highway patrol or roads department in your area to find out about road conditions and chain requirements. If chains are required, put them on before you leave. Keep a shovel, gloves and warm clothing in your car in case you need to chain up on the side of the road.

Of course, if you’ve been involved in a winter accident, it’s a good idea to contact a licensed attorney. Here at Brown Chiari, we can guide you through the insurance claims process and will help you seek compensation if you are injured during an accident.

FDA’s MedWatch Safety Alerts: January 2013

Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants: Updated Safety Recommendations

FDA is providing updated safety information and recommendations to patients and health care professionals based on the agency’s current assessment of metal-on-metal hip implants, including:

the benefits and risks
the evaluation of published literature
the results of an FDA advisory panel meeting held in June 2012

Risk: Implant components slide against each other during walking or running, which releases tiny metal particles. These particles may damage bone or soft tissue surrounding the implant and joint. Soft tissue damage could lead to pain, implant loosening, device failure and the need for revision surgery.

Some of the metal ions released will enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, where they may cause discomfort or illnesses.

Recommendations for People Considering a Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant

Be aware that every hip implant has benefits and risks.
Discuss your options for hip surgery with your orthopedic surgeon.
See a list of questions to ask your orthopedic surgeon.

Recommendations for People With Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

If you are not having any symptoms and your orthopedic surgeon believes your implant is functioning properly, continue to follow-up routinely with the surgeon every one to two years.
If you develop new or worsening problems, such as pain, swelling, numbness, noise (popping, grinding, clicking or squeaking of your hip) or a change in your ability to walk, contact your orthopedic surgeon right away.
If you experience changes in your general health, including new or worsening symptoms outside your hip, let your doctor or other health care professional know you have a metal-on-metal hip implant.

For More Information

There have been 20 veterans who have tested positive for Hepatitis after the Buffalo VA Hospital used the same, blood-tainted insulin pens on several patients. Read more here….

Channel 2 -Rich Products has expanded the recall of Farm Rich products to now include all products made at their plant in Waycross, Georgia. Meanwhile the CDC said Friday they are now investigating 27 cases of E.Coli sickness; two of which they say are connecte…. To read more from this article, click here

Channel 4 – New York State health officials are investigating four cases of E.coli infection and News 4 has learned that the latest… To read more from this article, click here.

From Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Government investigators have found that Medicare paid billions in taxpayer dollars to nursing homes nationwide that were not meeting basic requirements to look after their…Read more

Consider this scenario: a patient with a bedsore is admitted into a nursing facility. During her stay, she develops three more bedsores. The facility fails to track and treat each wound properly, further complicating and prolonging her healing. Unfortunately, it is not hypothetical – OIG found this and many other examples of substandard care while conducting a recent review of skilled nursing facilities (SNF [pronounced “sniff”]).

Skilled Nursing Facilities Often Fail to Meet Care Planning and Discharge Planning Requirements

Click here to view Podcasts

Skilled nursing facilities (SNF) are required to develop a care plan for each beneficiary and provide services in accordance with the care plan, as well as to plan for each beneficiary’s discharge. These requirements are essential to ensuring that beneficiaries receive appropriate care and safely transition from one care setting to another. Several OIG studies and investigations found that SNFs had deficiencies in quality of care, did not develop appropriate care plans, and failed to provide adequate care to beneficiaries. In fiscal year 2012, Medicare paid $32.2 billion for SNF services. This study is part of a larger body of work about SNF payments and quality of care.

[button link=”https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-02-09-00201.asp” size=”small” target=”_blank” icon=”cog” color=” blue”]Read More[/button]

The Brown Chiari Law Firm has filed complaints against Olean General Hospital and three insulin pen manufacturers on behalf of three clients. The Lancaster firm is representing former diabetic patients who claim the hospital’s negligence has exposed them to blood borne diseases. According to Attorney Don Chiari, the former patients received insulin through an insulin pen and have now tested positive for Hepatitis. Last month, Olean General Hospital announced there was a possibility that insulin pens were re-used on different patients during the period of November 2009 and January 16th of this year. Informational packets were sent out by the hospital to approximately 1,900 patients. Hospital officials emphasized there is no proof at this time of the “transmission of any blood borne infections during the stay of any patient who received insulin from the pens” during the above time period.

[button link=”http://www.nbcnews.com/id/50971772/ns/local_news-buffalo_ny/#.US5ebTCsh8E” size=”small” target=”_blank” icon=”cog” color=” blue”]Read More[/button]

Brown Chiari LLP Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Legacy Health Care
BUFFALO, NY–(Marketwire – October 28, 2010) – New York nursing home abuse and neglect law firm Brown Chiari LLP has filed a class action lawsuit against Legacy Health Care on behalf of all residents who resided at Legacy facility from at least 2007 to the present, citing neglect and endangerment to the welfare of residents. Legacy Health Care operates numerous elderly care facilities including Ridge View Manor LLC, Williamsville Suburban LLC, Williamsville View Manor Nursing Home, and Sheridan Manor. Richard Zacher, owner and administrator of the named facilities, is also listed as a defendant in the case, as are John Doe 1-200, which includes agents or employees of the above-mentioned facilities.

Story: WIVB PDF

Brown Chiari filed the class action lawsuit against the nursing home chain on behalf of plaintiffs due to alleged deprivation of rights and benefits to which residents were legally entitled. Among the causes of action brought in this lawsuit, the named defendants are accused of failing to ensure a dignified existence for residents, inadequate staffing, and quality of care issues.
Legacy Health Care Facilities and those named under their umbrella are also accused of fraud, breach of contract and negligence. The complaint states that defendants have violated Section 2801-d of the Public Health Law by failing to staff facilities with adequate and qualified personnel to care for residents, compromising dignity of residents and quality of care. Plaintiffs’ complaint also claims breach of contract, as individual plaintiffs entered into contracts with defendants in return for health care services for related residents.
Questions raised by plaintiffs in this complaint relate to fraudulent conduct by defendants, failure to employ sufficient staff to properly care for residents, engagement in unfair or deceptive conduct in regards to administration, management and operation of facilities, and failure of defendants to support and advance environments that provide dignity and proper quality of care to residents.
Brown Chiari represents all plaintiffs in this lawsuit on behalf of their right to be compensated for damages and other costs related to breach of contract, fraud, and misrepresentation of care and services provided.

Brown Chiari LLP Chosen To Handle Major Wrongful Death Lawsuit With Child Injuries

A heartbreaking crash has taken the life of a woman and also injured 3 young children. Two of the children remained in critical condition following the collision, and one is in stable condition.

Brown Chiari LLP was retained to help in this devastating accident. Read more about this case at the following link:
http://www.wivb.com/

Crash claims life, injures three kids

See all WIVB stories regarding this incident below:
http://www.wivb.com/