Kiernan, Plunkett & RedihanProvidence Personal Injury Law Firm2024-01-10T16:34:50Zhttps://www.kprlaw.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1100892/2019/03/cropped-favicon-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=504322024-01-10T16:34:50Z2024-01-10T16:34:50ZUneven surfaces
Uneven road surfaces pose a substantial threat to cyclists. Potholes, cracks and uneven pavement can cause bicycles to lose stability. Cyclists may lose balance, increasing the risk of collisions with vehicles or other obstacles.
Wet and slippery roads
Rain, snow and even morning dew can create hazardous conditions for cyclists. Reduced traction on wet surfaces increases the chances of skidding and loss of control. It is important for cyclists to exercise extra caution during adverse weather conditions.
Lack of bike lanes
The absence of designated bike lanes can expose cyclists to higher risks. When forced to share the road with motorized vehicles, cyclists face a greater likelihood of accidents. Well-planned bike lanes provide a dedicated space for cyclists, enhancing their safety by reducing interactions with potentially hazardous traffic.
Poorly marked crosswalks
Inadequately marked or poorly maintained crosswalks can lead to confusion and, consequently, accidents. Cyclists rely on clear road markings to navigate intersections safely. Faded or unclear crosswalks may result in misunderstandings between cyclists and drivers, increasing the risk of collisions.
Inadequate lighting
Insufficient lighting is a significant contributor to bicycle accidents, especially during nighttime rides. Poor visibility compromises the ability of both cyclists and drivers to anticipate each other's movements. Proper street lighting and reflective road markings can significantly enhance visibility and reduce the likelihood of accidents after dark.
While bicycle fatalities are relatively low in Rhode Island, with only five fatalities recorded in a five-year period, that does not mean motorists and cyclists can put the possibility of an accident out of mind. Being aware of how dangerous road conditions can affect bicyclists will help keep everyone safe.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=504292023-10-09T20:24:55Z2023-10-09T20:24:55ZDriving at night
Driving at night is the single most dangerous time to drive. The limited visibility makes it difficult for people to see the road in front of them, no matter how good of a driver they are. If you are not used to driving at night, try avoiding doing so because of the risks you run when you drive at night, such as:
Falling asleep at the wheel
Failing to see an object on the road
Crashing into a construction zone
Not seeing traffic signs
In addition to these dangers, additional risk factors, such as weather or road conditions, could elevate your risk even more. If you can avoid it, drive during the day. If you cannot avoid it, try driving with someone else, and always keep your eyes on the road.
Driving to and from work
Two of the most dangerous times to drive are in the morning when everyone is driving to work, and in the early evening, when everyone is going home. Traffic congestion is a significant risk factor and causes many accidents.
When going to work or returning home, people are sometimes in a rush and willing to take unnecessary risks to arrive at their destination as early as possible. However, this is dangerous, and it puts that person at risk and every other driver around them.
If you can find alternative routes to drive on during rush hour, doing so would significantly decrease the risk of getting into an accident. Again, it is impossible to totally prevent accidents. Still, it is possible to take action to lower your risk for your safety and the safety of others.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=504272023-07-14T21:15:03Z2023-07-14T21:15:03ZLack of proper nutrition and meals
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, neglect happens when a staff member fails to meet the needs of an older person. This can range from anything related to not getting them proper food to not giving them cups of water regularly. You could hear your loved one's stomach making noises or see them complaining about a dry mouth.
Unclean clothes or bedding
When you notice stains or rips on your loved one's bedsheets, it could indicate the staff has not washed the sheets in a long time. You may even see holes and food stains on the clothing they often wear. Having nursing home residents sit in unwashed or dirty clothes for long periods of time can potentially cause health and skin issues.
Worry when talking to staff
If your elderly loved one hesitates to ask questions to the staff or even flat out refuses to talk to them, it may be a sign of something worse than shyness. Neglect can make older adults fear talking to staff in case they retaliate by ignoring or denying them basic needs.
No matter what you notice when you visit your loved one, taking notes and thinking about the signs of nursing home neglect can help you.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=504262023-04-24T19:36:49Z2023-04-24T19:36:49Za quarter of annual malpractice claims, spotlighting the importance of educating patients on the potential risks.
There are three common classes of errors in diagnosis that patients may experience.
Failure to identify a medical condition
Whether your healthcare provider overlooks red flags on lab work or does not connect your symptoms to the condition you end up diagnosed with, you may have a claim for diagnosis failure. There must be evidence that a reasonable care provider would make that connection to show negligence.
Misdiagnosis of a medical condition
Misdiagnosis is among the most common malpractice claims, especially related to invisible illnesses and autoimmune conditions such as lupus. Sometimes, misdiagnosis leads to treatment recommendations that worsen symptoms or allow the condition to progress. You may have a malpractice claim in this situation.
Delayed diagnosis of a condition
In some cases, delays caused by misdiagnosis can worsen the prognosis. If another medical professional confirms that most other care providers would make a proper diagnosis when faced with the test results and symptoms, you may have a case. This is most common with conditions such as cancer and rare diseases which can progress and worsen until treatment begins.
Medical care professionals have a significant responsibility to provide the best possible care and make responsible, comprehensive treatment decisions. When you experience one of these situations with either failed diagnosis, delayed treatment or misdiagnosis, you should consider a medical malpractice claim to compensate for your losses.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=503722023-02-17T13:06:37Z2023-01-17T20:11:15ZDogsBite.org, there is a one in 50 chance of a dog biting you in America. As a parent, you are responsible for educating your children on how to interact safely with dogs.
Teach body language
The first step in teaching children about dog safety is how to read a dog's body language. Children should learn that a wagging tail does not always mean a friendly dog. Children also need to understand not to approach a growling dog or one showing its teeth.
Encourage safe interactions
Another important aspect of dog safety is how to approach and interact with a dog. Children should always let a dog sniff them before petting it. Never let your kids approach a dog from behind or reach over its head. Tell them not to pull on a dog's ears or tail, ride or play rough with a dog.
Caution against unfamiliar dogs
It is also essential to teach children the importance of being aware of their surroundings when interacting with dogs. Children should avoid unfamiliar dogs and never approach a tied-up dog or one behind a fence. Tell your children that running or screaming around dogs is unsafe, as this can trigger their instincts to chase and herd.
Create a dog bite plan
Finally, teaching children what to do in case of a dog bite is vital. Stress that they should stay calm, tell an adult and seek medical attention if necessary.
Overall, teaching children about dog safety is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. Educating children about interacting with dogs can ensure they stay safe while respecting the animal's boundaries.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=503422023-02-17T13:06:43Z2022-10-25T17:06:37ZRhode Island Liquor Liability Act, establishments that serve alcohol must not negligently serve liquor to visibly intoxicated individuals. The same applies to any liquor served to a minor.
This law protects individuals who receive an injury from overserved customers. If an intoxicated individual caused you damages, you might have a case against the vendor.
Who has liability?
The Liquor Liability Act specifies that the vendor only has liability if they reasonably should notice the intoxicated appearance or behavior of the person consuming alcohol. Also, the vendor is not responsible for the actions of individuals who purchase and consume alcohol outside the dram shop. However, if the vendor provides alcohol to a visibly intoxicated patron, they still have liability even if they consume the alcoholic beverage away from the shop.
Do social gatherings fall under the law?
Social gatherings usually fall outside the Liquor Liability Act. If someone becomes intoxicated at your residence and injures someone, you are not liable for their actions in most cases. An exception to this rule is the serving of alcohol to minors. If an adult provides alcohol to an underage person, any damages they cause might have legal consequences for the provider. Do not assume that you cannot face liability for providing alcohol at a social gathering, even if your patrons are of age.
Liquor is a heavily regulated consumer good. Rhode Island does not allow vendors to sell alcohol without discretion. If you suffered an injury from an intoxicated individual, the establishment that sold them alcohol might also be at fault.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=503382023-02-17T13:06:46Z2022-07-23T15:13:54ZRV accident while driving through the coastal towns of Rhode Island.
Go slow
Remember that due to their inertia, larger vehicles take more time to come to a complete stop than smaller ones. Going slow helps the RV driver avoid hitting a bicycle, pedestrian, or vehicle in front of them. Adjust the speed to road conditions, weather, and night driving as well.
Adjust the mirrors
Because they deal with more blind spots, drivers of longer vehicles such as RVs depend on their mirrors even more than those driving cars and trucks. Operators should take the time to adjust all of their mirrors before heading down the road.
Get used to the RV
If possible, practice driving the RV on a road that does not contain much traffic before trying city or interstate driving. This helps accommodate drivers to how the RV handles, which makes them safer drivers.
Knowing how to avoid an accident in an RV allows drivers to stay safe and not cause injuries to themselves, their passengers, or others on the road.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=503352023-02-17T13:06:51Z2022-05-04T15:22:55ZAmerican Veterinary Medical Association, over 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States every year. Of these incidents, 800,000 require professional medical attention.
If you suffer from a dog bite, you need to know how to respond. See below to learn more about what to do immediately after a dog bite.
Get medical treatment
Even if the bite does not seem severe, you need to receive medical attention. This is especially true for puncture wounds. Take a picture of the injury if you have time, as this is valuable if you need to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner.
Gather witnesses
Look around for any witnesses to the incident. Try to get their contact information if you need it for a lawsuit in the future. Witnesses lend you credibility for your side of the story.
Exchange information with the owner
If you know the dog’s owner, get their information as soon as possible. You need to see the dog’s vaccination history and breed. You also need to get the owner’s insurance, address and contact information.
Contact animal control
Consider filing a report with animal control. If you notice this dog wanders around without supervision by its owner, filing a report may prevent future attacks.
Taking careful documentation and seeking medical attention is the bare minimum of what you should do after a dog bite. You need to have a plan of action in place for any emergency, especially if you have children.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=503132023-02-17T13:06:59Z2022-02-01T20:53:00ZTied for first
Speeding and drunk driving top the list of troublesome activities that cause vehicle crashes. They are responsible for about a third of all fatal vehicle wrecks. Driving even 5 to 10 miles over the posted speed limit is dangerous. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous because it results in impaired judgment, slower reflexes and reduced visual function.
Distracted driving
Texting or talking on the phone when driving are probably the most commonly cited distractions. However, anything that takes your attention away from the road for more than two seconds is dangerous. Examples include eating, drinking, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio or talking to passengers. Distracted driving causes roughly 16% of all fatal crashes.
Left-turn issues
An astonishing number of crashes involving left-hand turns occur every year. The driver turning left might hit the median, another vehicle or be hit by oncoming traffic. The left-hand turn is one of the leading causes of serious crashes.
Weather conditions
Driving in rainy, snowy, foggy or icy conditions can easily result in a wreck. Approximately 1.2 million weather-related vehicle crashes occur every year.
A look ahead
Given left-hand turns and other dangerous driving behaviors, it is no wonder that many thousands of injuries occur annually. The crash is the first shock. Insurance issues are next, which is why injured victims rely on the help of knowledgeable advocates to negotiate maximum compensation on their behalf.]]>On Behalf of Kiernan, Plunkett & Redihan, LLPhttps://www.kprlaw.com/?p=503122023-02-17T13:07:04Z2021-10-22T19:42:12Zcosts associated with an attack.
Understanding liability
Rhode Island has a strict liability law for dog bite injuries. Under this law, the owner pays for injuries and damages if an animal attack occurs outside of an enclosed area on his or her property.
However, if a dog bites you on the owner's private property, he or she does not have to pay for the cost of injuries if the animal does not have a history of aggression. If you suffer injuries caused by a dog with a history of attacks, the court may double your available legal damages.
Reviewing additional circumstances
The term "owner" in Rhode Island refers to the person who had control of the animal at the time of the incident. The state also allows you to seek compensation for a pet (or "nonhuman victim") of a dog bite. In addition to the cost of medical treatment associated with the injuries, you can also file a claim for property damage that occurred in the attack.
In addition to the state laws about dog bites, some Rhode Island cities have their own regulations about vicious animals and requirements to report dog attacks. If you want to seek legal compensation from a dog's owner, you have three years to file a claim from the date of the incident.]]>