... and Justice for All

How Long Do I Have to See a Doctor After an Accident?

Month after month, one of the questions bringing the most visitors to my website, www.RobertAbellLaw.com, is how long after an accident do I have to see a doctor? Here's a video that may help:

 

Robert L. Abell
www.RobertAbellLaw.com

Related articles

Employee Cannot Waive Claims Under the Equal Pay Act, Sixth Circuit Rules

Agreement To Shorten Limitations Period for Wage and Overtime Claims Not Enforceable, Sixth Circuit Rules

The Attorney-Client Privilege In Kentucky: When Does It Apply To Statements By A Corporation's Employees?

Countrywide Financial Race Discrimination Class Action Denied

Landlord Can Be Liable For Tenant's Injuries Caused By Leaky Roof, Kentucky Court of Appeals Rules

Lobbying & Loopholes; Why There May Be No Criminal Liability for Individual GM Employees

The New York Times writes on the apparently-successful lobbying efforts that will likely preclude any criminal liability for individual GM employees responsible for the ignition defect and efforts to cover it up. See Laws Hinder Prosecutors In Charging GM Employees In Ignition Defect.  

Here's the gist:

For nearly 50 years, legislative attempts to provide prosecutors additional leeway to criminally charge automakers and their employees have been quashed.

                    and

The pattern of loopholes and legislative victories illustrates the lobbying might and political clout of the auto industry, even as it careens from one safety crisis to another.

As has been said, "money doesn't talk it swears."

Robert L. Abell
www.RobertAbellLaw.com

 

Related articles

Laws Hinder Prosecutors in Charging G.M. Employees in Ignition Defect

change comes to detroit

Super PACs Take Over Campaign Organizing

Fiat Chrysler CEO admits GM merger battle lost, but consolidation war far from over

GM Getting In Wringer For Lying to Feds

Aside from the defective ignition switch that has been lined to at least 13 deaths, GM is going to get in a wringer for lying to the NHTSA which inquired about what GM knew or had found regarding a series of fatal crashes known now (and known then by GM) to have been caused by the defective ignition switch.

Lying to a federal agency is a crime. The New York Times reports: Documents Show General Motors Kept Silent on Fatal Crashes. This is too kind; the documents actually show that GM knew what had caused one crash but lied and said it didn't know. 

Robert L. Abell
www.RobertAbellLaw.com

Related articles

Feds fine GM for too little data too late

GM safety crisis grows as recalls mount

GM Recalls 7.6M More Vehicles

Senators Introducing Bill Making It A Crime For Companies (Like GM) To Cover Up Dangerous Defects

GM Won't Limit Ignition Switch Crash Compensation

Recall delayed because General Motors refused to call power steering failure a safety issue

GM could face another fine for Impala recall

GM Could Face Another Fine for Impala Recall

Feds may nail General Motors for 'criminal fraud'

GM Defect Likely Linked to More Deaths, NHTSA Chief Says

Railroad Crossing Safety Requires "Active" Warning Systems

Research shows that a stop sign is the most dangerous type of warning system at a railroad crossing.  The safest is an "active" warning system which include flashing lights and gates.  Despite this research, the Federal Highway Administration proposes only to require a stop or yield sign at every railroad crossing in the country. 

Stop signs at railroad crossings pose two types of specific dangers.  One is that large vehicles, such as school buses, require about 10-15 seconds to clear a crossing.  This may not be enough time to clear the crossing before an oncoming train would arrive, even one that could not be seen when the vehicle began crossing.  The second is that some stop signs are placed too far from the crossing to allow a clear line of sight to see if there is an oncoming train.  These problems are why the National Cooperative Highway Research Program has strongly and continually recommended that engineering analysis determine the safest warning system at each railroad crossing.  The American Association for Justice has urged the FHWA to drop this proposal based on decades of research and experience and its letter may be reviewed here. 

This proposed agency rule also offers an illustration of the continuing efforts to use the preemption doctrine to insulate corporations from accountability, responsibility and liability.  The preemption doctrine would hold that installation of a stop sign and the compliance with federal regulation that it would entail would bar any liability under state law for an unsafe crossing.  That is no justice: issue an unsafe federal regulation that encourages dangerous practices and prevents any responsibility or liability. 

Robert L. Abell
www.RobertAbellLaw.com

Sick Truckers On The Nation's Highways

    Hundreds of thousands of truck drivers remain fully licensed and drive commercially on our Nation's highways although suffering from illnesses and physical maladies that would qualify them for federal disability benefits, according to report obtained by the Associated Press many media outlets reported today including the Philadelphia Inquirer.  The government agency, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, responsible for regulating trucking has failed to adopt any of eight important safety regulations that were suggested by experts in 2001.  These are very basic such as establishing minimum standards for those officials who determine whether truck drivers are medically and physically capable of driving safely.  The report also states that drivers violating federal medical rules have been caught in every state.

Robert L. Abell
www.RobertAbellLaw.com