Recent Blog Posts
April 29, 2019 / Personal Injury
Do I Have a Legal Case if My Child Develops CTE from Sports?
Thanks largely to the research of neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee and her team at University’s CTE Center, more and more is becoming known about the connection between sports and CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. This degenerative disease — caused by repeated concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) — is definitively diagnosable only after death, but it has been linked to myriad problems in life, including anxiety, depression, personality changes, and memory and thinking problems. In 2017, Dr. McKee released the results of a study of the brains of former football players. Of the 111 former NFL players included in the research, all but one were posthumously diagnosed with CTE. In 2018, she released research th[...]
April 22, 2019 / Catastrophic Injuries
How Burn Injuries Happen In Our Homes — and How to Stop Them
The kitchen is the heart of the home, a place of good smells, warmth, and bonding over delicious meals. It’s also a place where every day you work with fire, hot water, and steam — a danger zone for your and your children’s skin. A burn can be minor and treatable at home or far more serious, requiring hospitalization and a long recovery period. The most severe burns can even lead to death. But by following a few easy-to-implement safety measures, it is possible to minimize the risk of burns — in the kitchen and elsewhere in the house — and keep your family out of harm’s way. Children Are at a High Risk for Burns Kids love to help mom and dad in the kitchen, whether it’s making cookies or tonight’s dinner. Sadly, young peop[...]
April 15, 2019 / Truck Accidents
Frequent Truck Safety Violations and Where to Report Them
Any time you drive down a highway, you get a snapshot of the legions of commercial trucks that rumble across the nation, day and night. These behemoths dominate the other vehicles on the road, and it goes without saying that any accident involving one is bad news. There is a government agency — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA — whose mission it is to regulate the trucking industry and prevent injuries and accidents through enforcing safety rules, improving technology, increasing awareness, and other measures. Trucking companies and drivers are required to follow FMSCA’s regulations. If they don’t, endangering everyone on the road, they can be held legally responsible. Here are a few of the most common[...]
March 18, 2019 / Wrongful Death
How to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Indiana
If a member of your immediate family was killed due to negligence or an intentional act of another, you need to know how to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Indiana to seek compensation for your loss. You need to learn who can file these types of legal actions and what can be sought by them are controlled by Indiana statutes and court cases interpreting them. In order to file a wrongful death lawsuit, the following must be met: The deceased apparently died due to negligence or because of an intentional act of another, You are allowed by statute to benefit from the lawsuit, You seek damages allowed by state statute, and The filing occurs within two years of the person’s death. The deceased apparently died due to neglige[...]
March 11, 2019 / Vehicle Accidents
An Alarming Increase in Indianapolis Hit-and-Run Car Accidents
Being struck by a vehicle while walking on the side of, or crossing, a street is traumatic enough, but what do you do if the driver doesn’t stop? That’s an increasing problem in Indianapolis, reports Fox 29 News. Even if the driver escapes the scene after hitting you, you still may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries. In the first nine months of 2018, a dozen people were killed in Indianapolis in hit-and-run accidents, according to the report; and there are thousands of such accidents happening in the city. Three years ago, 5,049 hit-and-runs were reported to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD). They caused 543 injuries. In 2017, the number of reported hit-and-runs increased to 5,539, with injuries goi[...]
March 7, 2019 / Truck Accidents
Technology May Reduce The Damage Done by Fatigued Truck Drivers
We may be in a period of time when technology’s ability to change our transportation system has never been greater. Though developments in the past impacted how vehicles are powered and their safety, today’s technology is shaping the future of the relationship between drivers, including those in commercial vehicles, and their vehicles. This technology has the potential to do many things, including reduce the threat fatigued drivers pose to themselves and others on Indiana’s roads. Technology may greatly reduce the number of drivers of commercial trucks, whether they’re fatigued or not. Though it’s not ready to be put safely on the road yet, given enough time, improved software and greater computing capacity, the replacement of [...]
January 3, 2019 / Catastrophic Injuries
How to File a Brain Injury Claim
Brain injuries can create lifelong disabilities. They can prevent you from working, impair your ability to think, change your personality, result in emotional problems, impair you physically and cause chronic pain. If you’ve suffered a brain injury because of the negligence or an intentional act of another party, you may have legal rights to compensation. We know the process of how to file a brain injury claim can be difficult. Let us help you through the process. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can be caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal brain function. There were about 2.8 million [...]
December 20, 2018 / Worker Injury
How to Report a Work Injury
If you’ve been injured in the workplace, you’ll be happy to know that most employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Ideally, this means that the only thing between you and the compensation for your injury is a little bit of paperwork. This article will guide you through the process of how to report a work injury in Indiana. Sometimes injuries just happen. But sometimes injuries happen because an employer or other responsible party has neglected to take required safety measures to protect employees. If you’ve been injured and think it may have resulted from negligence on the part of your employer, contact Stephenson Rife. We offer a free consultation and will be able to let you know if you may have a legal c[...]
November 26, 2018 / Truck Accidents
DRIVE-Safe Act: A Look Under the Hood
Three senators introduced the DRIVE-Safe Act to Congress in August. The controversial bill, which would lower the age requirement for driving a big-rig across state lines to 18, is meant to combat a growing shortage of truckers in the American economy. Currently, 18-year-olds are allowed to drive big-rigs, but they may not cross state lines until the age of 21. The Trucker Shortage America has a major truck driver shortage. American shippers need another 51,000 drivers to meet the freight demands generated through major corporations like Amazon and Walmart. Many companies offer major signing bonuses for drivers. Supporters of the DRIVE-Safe Act say that the bill will bring in new drivers to meet the demand. They say many people who mig[...]
October 1, 2018 / Vehicle Accidents
Can Cell Phones PREVENT Distracted Driving?
You probably had to read the title twice, right? While cell phones are often the primary cause of distracted driving, the increased attention and concern with regard to this problem is leading to some creative ways to address the role of mobile phones and distracted drivers. Technology companies, truck fleets, and Indiana police officers all have innovative ways to prevent distraction and help identify distracted drivers. Distraction affects a driver’s visual, manual, and cognitive abilities—often all three simultaneously. But help is here. The Right App Technology and automotive companies have been putting their minds together to help prevent distracted driving by creating apps for your smartphone. The proper smartphone app can ac[...]