Oklahoma City Personal Injury and Workers' Comp Blog

Oklahoma intersections are high-risk areas for injury

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Friday, October 4, 2019.

Are you a daily commuter that travels in and out of Oklahoma City to and from work each day? Perhaps, you're among those who work from home but still travel into the city to go shopping and run errands. Either way, chances are that anytime you navigate Oklahoma roadways, you're at risk for injury, especially if you happen to be at an intersection.

Intersections are highly dangerous places, whether you are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, on a motorcycle, walking or riding a bicycle. As a pedestrian or a licensed driver, you're legally obligated to adhere to all traffic laws and safety regulations, including those pertaining to intersections. The problem is that there is no guarantee that all travelers sharing the road with you will fulfill their legal obligations. In fact, some drivers are downright reckless.

Beware, chemical hazards in the oil and gas industry can kill you

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

If you work in the Oklahoma oil and gas industry, safety on the job site is likely your primary concern. Have you given thought to the number of hours you spend in circumstances in which hazardous chemicals threaten your safety? If you do not practice the necessary safety standards, you could contract occupational diseases that will harm your skin, lungs and other organs.

Chemical hazards come along with noise-induced hearing loss and the threats confined spaces pose in this industry. If you have worked in the oilfields for many years, you should remain beware of complacency. Remember, occupational illness and injuries can happen at any time to anyone, so brush up on your safety precaution strategies at frequent intervals.

Will technology make your child's bus ride safer?

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Tuesday, August 6, 2019.

With the last few days of summer slipping away, you and your children may be preparing for the start of a new school year. Whether the kids are eager to return or complaining that summer went too quickly, there is no avoiding the day when they will climb aboard the big yellow bus.

When you were a child riding a school bus, the danger may never have occurred to you. It is a very different story when you are a parent. As happy as you may be that the kids will soon be back in school, you must also face the possibility that an accident while boarding, exiting or riding a bus may result in life-changing injuries for your child.

Your first auto accident may leave you injured and confused

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Wednesday, July 3, 2019.

You hope you can get through your life and never experience the trauma of a motor vehicle accident. Perhaps you know one or two people who can brag that they have never had as much as a scratch on their cars, but you certainly know others whose lives changed dramatically after an accident. If you are a responsible driver, you may keep your cellphone out of reach, your hands on the wheel and your attention on the task of safely operating your vehicle.

Nevertheless, as long as you share the road with others, there is always the chance that you will experience a motor vehicle crash. The first time this happens can be terrifying and surreal. You may not believe it is happening to you, or you may not even realize what is going on. You will suddenly feel a loss of control and a rush of adrenaline as your body automatically kicks into survival mode. This is a kind of shock, and it may last for hours or days.

Even minor auto accidents can cause major injuries

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

Every time you share the Oklahoma roads with other drivers, you risk your life and also the lives of your passengers. A collision need not be serious to cause both physical and emotional trauma. While taking precautions will go some way in keeping you safe, the actions of other vehicle operators might threaten your safety.

If you are ever the victim of a crash, the number and type of injuries will depend on the position of each occupant of your car, whether they wore seat belts and the location and intensity of the impact. While cuts and bruises from broken glass and flying objects in the vehicle are typical, other less visible injuries can cause severe problems if they remain undiagnosed and therefore also untreated.

Injured Oklahoma workers must fight for every penny

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

Certain jobs bring an increased potential for injury. However, you do not have to work in a dangerous job to be at risk for injury. Accidents and workplace violence can occur at any time, leaving you and your family struggling.

Fortunately, workers' compensation insurance covers qualified workers who suffer injuries on the job. The process for claiming these benefits can be complicated, and it is not unusual for injured workers to have to put considerable time and effort into obtaining the financial benefits they need. Additionally, in Oklahoma, the funds available to you through workers' comp may not compare well to those in surrounding states.

Smartphone addiction and its deadly consequences

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Friday, April 5, 2019.

At some point while driving, you have probably shared the road with an Oklahoma driver who was exhibiting signs of distracted driving. These types of behaviors include swerving or drifting from lane to lane, or perhaps you actually noticed the driver putting on makeup or eating. You know that no matter the type of distraction, unfocused drivers are extremely dangerous.

Of course, the biggest source of distracted driving is smartphones. These handheld devices have a grip on most Americans, and many drivers find it simply impossible to just put down the phone and drive. As a result, distraction is now one of the leading causes of car accidents and a major public safety concern.

Car accidents are second most common cause of brain injury

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Monday, April 1, 2019.

As the weather gets warmer, you may find yourself wanting to get out of the house more to enjoy the Oklahoma sunshine. Whether you are driving your family to the park for an afternoon of fun or heading to the home improvement store to plan your first spring project, you will be out among the thousands of other travelers, some of whom are not paying attention to their driving.

You may take every possible precaution to remain safe. You wear your seat belt, use appropriate safety seats for your children and keep your cell phone in your pocket. Nevertheless, you cannot control the actions of other drivers, and this places you at risk of accident and injury. Among the most common injuries victims of car accidents face are traumatic brain injuries, which can alter the course of your life.

How safe are you while working alongside a robotic co-worker?

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Thursday, January 10, 2019.

Are you working side-by-side with a robotic colleague? Robots are becoming a part of the manufacturing environment in Oklahoma, taking over all those tedious, unsafe tasks. Several agencies are working on establishing safety standards to protect human workers. These include the American National Standards Institute, the National Safety and Health Institute, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Although current safety standards do not include regulations to deal with user and equipment safety in robotics, your employer must comply with OSHA's general safety standards. You need protection against the hazards posed by traditional industrial robots that do not share workspace with humans, and the more modern collaborative robots that interact with human workers and work alongside them.

Are you prepared for the many hazards you will face as a trucker?

On behalf of Litton Law Firm on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

Transportation and logistics play significant roles in the economy of Oklahoma, and so do the brave men and women who spend many hours facing the numerous hazards of operating big rigs. If you are new to the trucking industry or considering making a career as a trucker, you might be interested in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's report that truckers experience more non-fatal injuries than workers in any other industry. Commercial truck drivers face much more than the dangers of road accidents.

To limit the number of injuries and deaths caused by fatigued and exhausted truck operators, the U.S. Department of Transportation regulates the number of hours the operators may drive before taking mandatory rest periods. However, many other aspects of trucking are hazardous.

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