Forklift accidents are not unusual for workers who are using forklifts in confined spaces. Unfortunately, when such an accident occurs, the injuries can often be very serious or fatal because of the weight and size of forklifts. According to recent statistics, over 90,000 injuries per year occur in theU.S.due to forklifts. In addition, about 100 people are killed each year in forklift-related accidents. The large number of forklift-related accidents is due in part to the fact that there are over a million forklifts being used daily in the U.S. 

Fortunately, new technologies are being continually developed to help combat this problem. Some of those technologies include audible and visual alarms for forklifts that can warn of movement and infrared beams that sweep the forklift’s area when it’s moving.

 In addition to installing new safety technologies, forklift owners or operators should be knowledgeable about forklift safety practices, such as: 

• It’s a violation of federal law for anyone under the age of 18 or anyone over the age of 18 who’s not trained in safety procedures to operate a forklift.
• Before driving a forklift, do a pre-use inspection, looking for signs of sparks, overheating, tire pressure issues, controls working smoothly, leaks, and braking or steering issues.
• Make sure that the surface on which you are driving the forklift is smooth and is capable of supporting the load.
• Maintain control of your forklift at all times, and operate it only while you are in the seat.
• Keep a safe distance from other forklifts.
• Don’t allow anyone to walk or stand underneath elevated forks.
• Make sure everything stacked on the forklift is safe and secure.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a forklift accident? If so, you may have a cause of action against the employer. Contact the Dallas construction accident attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 866-986-1529 to learn more.

A study released this week by the AAA’s safety foundation shows that teens driving with their friends in the car is much riskier than driving alone or with an adult. This study is one of the first that has been done since changes were made in driving laws in many states, which began in the mid-1990s. Many states now restrict teens from driving with passengers under the age of 21 and prevent driving at night.

The study was based on teen crashes that occurred between 2007 and 2010. The study found that a 16 or 17 year old’s risk of death when carrying one passenger younger than 21, and no adults, increased 44 percent when compared with driving alone. The risk is double that when carrying two passengers under the age of 21, and quadruples when carrying three or more young passengers. However, the risk of a teen driver dying in an accident when driving with a passenger aged 35 or older decreases by 62 percent.

The good news is between 2000 and 2010, the number of 16 and 17 year olds involved in fatal crashes fell by more than half each year. Much of the credit for those declines is attributed to graduated licensing laws, more seat belt use, less drunk driving and better car safety equipment. Among those young teen drivers who were killed between 2000 and 2010, 40 percent had at least one passenger under the age of 21 and no older adult passengers.

This new study shows just how distracting young passengers can be to teen drivers. If you have a young driver in your family, consider what rules you want to put into place about driving with other young passengers or alone – that can make a huge impact on the odds of a crash occurring.

Have you been involved in an accident that was caused by a teen driver? If so, you could have a cause of action against that teen. Call the Dallas car accident attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 866-986-1529 to learn more.

Every year in the United States about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs. About twenty percent of those require medical attention. Among children, those between the ages of five and nine have the highest rate of dog-bite related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Many of those bites are from the family dog. However, there are ways to keep your children safe around your dog.

It helps to keep your children in mind before choosing a dog for your family. If your child is young and is scared of dogs, it may not be time to add a dog to your household. Also, special care should be taken before you bring a dog into a household with infants and toddlers.

Once you feel your family is ready for a dog, consult with a veterinarian or a breeder to see what might be the best breed of dog for your household. Before purchasing or adopting a dog, spend time with it. See if the dog is gentle with your children and if they feel comfortable around him or her.

After you’ve decided on a particular dog, get it spayed or neutered, which can reduce aggressiveness. Spend time training the dog and getting it used to your family. Teach the dog how to behave submissively. Don’t wrestle or play other aggressive games with your dog, or the dog might think it’s acceptable to wrestle with young children.

Has your child been bitten by a dog? By law, the dog’s owner could be held liable for any injuries suffered as a result of the bite. If you are in the Dallas area and have suffered a dog bite due to the negligence of a dog’s owner, contact the Dallas dog bite attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 866-986-1529. They will help you learn more about receiving compensation for your injuries.

Although it’s not something that’s talked a lot about, electricity causes thousands of deaths and fires each year. There are more safety measures to prevent property damages or electrocutions from occurring than in decades past, so many people feel more comfortable around electricity and take risks they shouldn’t. May is National Electrical Safety Month, which is designed to bring about awareness of electrical hazards.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 53,000 home fires occur each year because of an electricity malfunction. Also, about 400 deaths are caused when people are electrocuted by consumer products. However, this doesn’t have to happen. Here are some safety tips to prevent electrical accidents:

• Don’t plug in too many plugs in one outlet. This could cause a short, which may lead to a fire.
• Keep smoke alarms on every floor of your home, and also in every bedroom.
• Don’t play with light sockets, outlets or electrical cords. If you have young children, use child safety plugs in outlets.
• If you need to unplug an appliance, don’t yank on the cord – hold on to the plug instead.
• Don’t leave extension cords plugged in outside, particularly older cords.
• Make a family plan for what to do in the event of a fire.
• Don’t allow your children to play near an electrical substation.
• Keep electrical items away from water.

Have you or a loved one been injured by a defective electrical appliance or an electrical problem in your home? If so, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Contact the personal injury attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 866-986-1529 today.

In today’s world, travel by air is a frequent occurrence for many people. It’s also one of the safest forms of travel. However, aviation accidents do occur, and the results can be horrific. It’s very rare that an airliner is involved in an accident, but crashes involving smaller aircraft and helicopters are not uncommon.

There are many factors that can be involved in an aviation accident, such as poor maintenance of an aircraft, mechanical defects, pilot error and air traffic controller error. Determining what caused the accident is crucial in an aviation accident, since there are so many different parties involved – the pilot, the airline, the air traffic controllers, the airport and the aircraft manufacturer.

Aviation accidents can involve a variety of laws, both state and federal. In theU.S., both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are responsible for overseeing aviation law. The FAA is in charge of the enforcement of aviation-related laws, as well as the oversight of the manufacture, operation and maintenance of all aircraft. The NTSB investigates all accidents that occur and recommends changes in safety procedures for aviation.

Aviation accidents can hurt not only those riding in an airplane or helicopter, but also those on the ground when an accident occurs. One common example is an air show. For example, in 2011 11 people were killed at an air show inReno,Nevadawhen an airplane crashed into the stands.

If you have been injured in an aviation accident, either as a pilot, passenger or a bystander, contact theDallasaviation attorneys at the Barber Law Firm at 817-329-5095. We will analyze the accident to determine which party is at fault, and will fight to get you compensation for the accident from the responsible party.