Memphis personal injury law blog

Safety authorities frequently remind employers and employees nationwide, including in Tennessee, of the importance of addressing hazards to prevent slip-and-fall accidents on construction sites. The risks of such incidents are exacerbated during the winter months when rain, melting snow and ice cause many surfaces to be slippery. They warn against the dangers of rushing when walking surfaces are treacherous, and suggest several precautions that workers can take.

Shoes with non-slip soles that provide proper traction are crucial, and workers must avoid distractions while they walk. Looking at the walking surface all the time can prevent both slips and trips because spilled liquids, wetness from workers' shoes, random materials and equipment along with level changes are all typical causes of falls. Carrying a flashlight when walking in dimly lit areas is also recommended.

Heading into winter weather, motorcycle enthusiasts in Tennessee will have to take special care when they take to the roads. Operating motorcycles in any weather conditions requires more skills than driving automobiles. Also, without seat belts, air bags and other protective features with which larger enclosed vehicles are equipped, motorcycle accident injuries are often more traumatic than those suffered by occupants of four-wheel vehicles. Safety authorities say eight in 10 motorcycle crash victims suffer severe or fatal injuries.

Bone fractures -- most often broken legs -- are some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries. They often result from the bike falling onto the rider in an accident because it has only two wheels and cannot stand without support. However, the instinct people have to put out their hands to attempt to break falls frequently causes fractured arms and wrists. Pelvic and shoulder fractures are also common in these crashes.

Construction workers in Tennessee will always face safety hazards, regardless of whether they are working on skyscrapers, residential buildings or at entertainment parks. The challenge is for the construction company owner or supervisor to protect the safety and health of employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration prescribes regulations and guidelines for all industries, and compliance can prevent all construction worker injuries.

However, not all construction sites are safe, and accidents happen that could leave workers unable to return to work for long periods. A construction worker was recently airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center after an incident at Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge. Reportedly, the incident occurred on a recent Monday.

As a Tennessee mother-to-be, your developing baby’s health, welfare and safety likely always is at the top of your mind. You consequently do everything in your power to maintain your own good health so that (s)he will benefit from it. Unfortunately, however, you have no control over every aspect of your baby’s birth.

Birth injuries occur in a reasonably small percentage of American births. Nevertheless, if your baby is one who receives a birth injury, those small numbers in no way console you. Depending on precisely which birth injury your baby suffers, the results could have far-reaching effects. Erb’s palsy is one such potentially catastrophic birth injury.