4 Signs That You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer Today

 

Accidents happen, but some accidents can and should be prevented. They may occur due to improper attention, inadequate protection, negligence or even malicious intent.

When they do occur, it’s important that you seek someone who can help you in setting things back as they should be. Personal injury attorneys specialize in helping you acquire as much aid as the law sees fit for you to have in incidents of personal injury.

Below are four signs that you need to seek a personal injury immediately to help protect both your rights and any potential claims you might make.

 

1. You’ve Been in a Car Accident

Car accidents involve several tons of heavy parts colliding, which in turn results in more than enough force to severely injure you even while traveling at speeds below the speed limit.

When you’ve been in a car accident that resulted in any type of injury to you, you should generally always seek a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. They will help you walk through the steps required to prove your injuries in court, which in turn makes the odds of a successful claim even better.

 

2. You’ve Suffered at the Hands of Your Doctor

Between 2003 and 2013, there were over 587,000 cases of medical malpractice. These cases range from accidental cases of harm to negligence that resulted in the deaths of patients.

If you believe that your doctor has ignored your symptoms, treated you with the wrong treatment or allowed an existing condition to progress, then you should immediately seek a personal injury attorney’s help. They can help you acquire the funds to make right what one doctor did wrong.

 

3. You’ve Been Exposed to Hazards

Toxic exposure to chemicals, unsafe work hazards and injuries that resulted from improper precautions being taken by a business are all examples of valid reasons for personal injury lawsuits.

They’re also examples of situations where your health may have been severely affected in ways that may prevent you from ever seeing restitution for your injuries. That’s why seeking a personal injury attorney as soon as possible can help you acquire treatment sooner for a better prognosis and aid your family in acquiring funds if something happens to you.

 

4. You’ve Sustained Disabling Injuries

If you’ve sustained injuries that permanently disable you, then you may not be able to work for the remainder of your life. This could put you in a situation where you don’t have the money to live, let alone afford the extra expenses you might incur trying to seek treatment and rehabilitation.

This is where immediately seeking a personal injury lawyer like those at Yearwood & Company can help you. They can help you acquire swift legal settlements that can help you pay for any present and future costs you might have to sustain as a result of a disabling injury.

 

Seek a Personal Injury Lawyer Immediately

If you have any of the mentioned signs, then it’s time to seek a personal injury lawyer. Hesitating to do so will only make your case harder to prove, which in turn can make the costs you have to bear even more of a burden.

By swiftly seeking a personal injury lawyer, you’re protecting both you and your rights while improving the chances of a successful lawsuit or claim.

 

Categories: car accident, hazards, injury attorney, injury lawyer, malpractice, personal injury

5 Home Health Hazards You Should Address Right Now

 

By Meghan Belnap

 

Home life might seem simple and comfortable, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t hazards lurking throughout your home that you aren’t even aware of. Looking out for the health of your family is paramount for every parent and most don’t think to look at these potential hazards that are lurking right in your very own home.

 

 

Lead Poisoning

Lead is a naturally occurring element that exists in the environment, but if contained inside of the home, it can be extremely dangerous. Lead, found commonly in paint, certain toys, and gasoline, can cause infertility, high blood pressure, and joint/muscle pain. If a child swallows lead, lasting effects can range anywhere from brain damage to anemia. Lead can be tested for in the home, and it’s always wise to ensure that nothing you purchase or bring into the home contains it. Most of the lead poisoning seen have occurred in older homes so if your home is older than 1978 then you should have a professional come and test your home.

 

 

HVAC System Hazards

If an HVAC system is not cleaned or used properly, it can present its own fair share of health hazards. HVAC system present many hazards such as indoor air pollution, allergy irritation, respiratory illnesses, and much more. The vents can also become a hazard when cobwebs, debris, or dust are blowing out of them, or if there is visible mold inside of them. Contacting a professional cleaner, like those at Romaniuk Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd, to maintain these facets of your home is crucial for avoiding these types of hazards. Many people who get their systems cleaned and checked notice an increased amount of energy as their immune systems aren’t being constantly barraged with toxins.

 

 

Radon Hazards

Uranium is an element that can commonly be found in most types of soil, and when it decays, radon is released. Radon, when released, can seep through cracks in the home and lodge there for long periods of time. High amounts of radon in the home can lead to cancer, and in some cases, death. Radon contamination can be avoided by sealing floors and walls where outside gases can easily seep in.

 

 

Pesticide Use

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that pesticides are in nearly 3 quarters of US homes. Contact with pesticides can result in nausea, headaches, neurological complications, convulsions, and in extreme cases, death. Switching to natural pesticides dramatically helps to eliminate the possibility of these unfortunate outcomes.

 

 

Toxic Mold

Last but certainly not least, toxic mold is a living organism that can most commonly be found in warm, damp environments. This is why mold is commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. Mold organisms produce mycotoxins that are extremely dangerous to those living inside the home. These toxins can cause memory loss, allergy systems, headaches, rashes, and mood swings. The best way to prevent a mold problem is to dry water damage as soon as possible and controlling moisture levels inside the home.

 

These hazards can, normally, be identified with little effort but getting some professional to come in a take a look at your home should not be out of the question. Make sure you are keeping your family safe from these potential hazards by recognizing and addressing these issues early.

 

 

Categories: hazards, health, Home

Home Sweet Home? 5 Potential Health Hazards of Old Homes

Some individuals choose to purchase older homes for a variety of reasons such as their size, aesthetic appeal, and more. However, there are plenty of problems that go along with older homes that many are not aware from, such as radon in the basement, cracked foundation, and others. Before making the final decision to purchase an older home, homeowners should consider five potential health hazards of older homes.

 

Radon

Known as the second leading cause of lung cancer, this is a naturally occurring gas in our environment. Cracks in the foundation are usually the way radon enters the home, and 1 in 15 houses in the country have a high level of this gas, according to the EPA. Unlike new construction homes, where Radon detectors often come standard, older homes need to be tested. If there is a dangerous level of Radon found, you may spend a significant sum of money installing ventilation and sealing the basement floor.

 

Cracked Foundation

A lot of materials and processes were used in older homes that leave them open to cracked foundations. Many homes were not sealed on the exterior side of the home, leaving them susceptible to cracking. Moreover, materials such as cinder blocks and cement tend to crack and leave over a period of time. All of this can lead to mildew, mold, and even termites and rot.

 

Lead Pipes

Replaced in the 1940s, lead remained present in the mid-1980s in the solder that was used to join copper pipes. So even if the pipes themselves are not made of lead, there can still be traces of the substance within the home. Exposure to lead over time can cause a number of health issues including lead poisoning and chronic headaches.

 

Lead-Based Paint

Typically, even if lead-based paint was used on the exterior of the home, it was painted over several times, encapsulating it in a Latex-based product. However, over time, the paint can crack and chip and become airborne which can then be inhaled or ingested by child and adult alike. This is a caution to be aware of in older homes.

 

Asbestos

This sturdy but hazardous material was commonly used in composite roofing material, cement-and-fiber siding, in vinyl floor coverings, water pipes, and to insulate boilers and furnaces. When asbestos is cracked it becomes friable and thus easily inhaled or ingested. Older homes built prior to the 1980s may have trace amounts.

 

Potential homeowners should be aware of these potential health hazards of older homes. Finding out about the home, when it was built, and any remodeling can help you avoid or fix the hazards.

Categories: based paint, cracked foundation, hazards, health, health hazards, homes, homes nbsp, lead based, nbsp lead, old homes, older homes, potential, potential health

What Are the Most Serious Home Hazards for Your Pet?

Pets are an important part of their family, and yet their wellness and wellbeing is often unknowingly put at risk by having harmful plants, foods or other substances around your home. To keep your pet healthy, it is important that you know what is safe for them and what is not.

 

Chocolate, for example, may be your absolute favourite thing, but did you know that it can be terribly toxic for your dog? There is a component in chocolate called theobromine and it can cause increased heart rate, hyperactivity, arrhythmias, diarrhoea, vomiting and even seizures if chocolate is consumed by dogs. If a dog eats a lot of chocolate it can even lead to sudden death. Keep all chocolate well away from your dog, and if your dog eats chocolate by accident then contact your vet immediately as a precaution.

 

Antifreeze is also terribly dangerous for pets. In colder weather like we are currently experiencing in the UK, people start to add antifreeze to their car engines. It’s great for protecting cars from extreme temperatures but it can be deadly if a cat or dog laps it up from a puddle in the driveway. Just a few licks of antifreeze (such as a cat might get from cleaning its paws after standing in some) can be enough to cause kidney failure and even death in your cat. If you do spill whilst filling up your car then ensure that you hose down your driveway thoroughly and let it dry again before you let our pet outside.

 

If you transport your dog around in the car then make sure that you put a seatbelt on them. Larger dogs especially should be harnessed in the back seat of the car, which prevents them from distracting the driver and also keeps them safe in the event of an accident. Smaller dogs should be in a carrier or pet crate, secured with a seatbelt.

Categories: antifreeze, chocolate, Danger, dog eats, Dogs, hazards, nbsp, pet, seatbelt

How to Make Your Home Environment Safe for Your Family

You spend over half of your lifetime in your own home, which means that the quality of your living environment can have a significant impact on your family wellness. Your children’s wellbeing is particularly at risk to potential health hazards in your home, such as changes in air quality, lead dangers caused by deteriorating paint and safety hazards, so how can you ensure a safer, healthier home for the entire family?

Firstly, make sure you’re home is dry. If there’s moisture in your home environment, it can influence the quality of the air. For example, mould and mildew, when in excess, can lead to allergy and asthma attacks, and higher moisture levels also give rise to dust mites, which is a common allergy in children. However, you can make sure your home is moisture-proof by repairing leaks, keeping a good level of ventilation, opening a window when bathing (or keeping a fan running) and controlling overall indoor humidity levels.

You also need to keep your home well-maintained to avoid fire safety issues and accidents from poorly maintained flooring or wiring, as well as water damage and mould problems. If you fix these problems when they are small, you’ll avoid larger wellness consequences later on. A stitch in time saves nine. Pest control is another important part of your prevention process, as mice, ants, cockroaches and bed bugs are all easier to control by stopping them from intruding, rather than letting them in and trying to catch them. Don’t let pests get a foothold in your home, but block access points like holes in the walls and floors – especially in the basement.

However, some of the more dangerous threats aren’t as visible as your local pests. Radon is an odourless, invisible gas that can threaten your wellness with cancer, and your whole family can become ill from carbon monoxide exposure before any detectors notice its presence. Plus, you may be aggravating your child’s asthma or allergies without realising, as air fresheners and candles release toxins into the air that aggravate respiratory symptoms. Make sure you get your home tested for radon and carbon monoxide, and eliminate odours at the source by cleaning and taking out the rubbish often.

 

Categories: hazards, moisture, pests

Write, Design, Identify: How to Promote Mental Health

If there’s one thing you learned from running an oil and gas company, it’s that you can’t function without your people. However, employee wellbeing in the this industry isn’t what it once was – especially when it comes to their mental health. Mental illness takes its toll on corporate wellness, both in terms of individuals and the company, but how? And what can you do to help?

According to says Diana MacKay, the director of education, health and immigration programmes at the Conference Board of Canada, ‘[Individual] productivity may go down, but there’s also the impact on the productivity of these other team members and managers.’ Pat Ferris, a partner with the Calgary-based psychological counselling firm Janus Associates, explains ‘It’s OK to have tough management. It’s OK to have periods where the pressure is on. But it’s not OK to work people to death.’ So how do you find that balance between giving your employees challenging work and stressing them to a breaking point?

1. Get it in writing – Have formal policies in place which promote mental health in the work place. Angus Thompson, a research associate at the Edmonton-based Institute of Health Economics, stresses. ‘You want to make sure the rules are really clear and everyone is treated in accord with common decency and those rules, so fairness is a big thing.’ You could include a work-life balance policy that would have provisions for flex time, working from home or personal leave days available to employees.

2. Design healthy and realistic jobs – Ferris says it’s important to make sure workloads are reasonable and that employees have a certain degree of autonomy over their work and receive recognition. You should also include diversity and inclusion training and policies to tackle issues such as workplace bullying and harassment. Murray Brown, vice-president of land and general counsel at Devon Canada, explains, ‘It isn’t just targeting one area like physical health. It’s trying to address all the areas that our employees need.’

3. Identify hazards – Ferris recommends, ‘Start to identify what may be contributing within the organisation to harm mental health. No matter how much promotion of health that you do, if you’ve got a culture that allows injury, you’re going to have poor mental health.’ In the energy sector, workers may have moved from other parts of the country to work in the oil patch, meaning they’re missing the support system they’ve relied upon in their home communities. Therefore, it’s important to tailor your company programmes to fill a gap in community support.

Categories: energy companies, hazards, policies