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  Children Are Most Often the Victims Dogs, we love them! They are many times our closest companions and considered one of the family. But any dog can be territorial and unpredictable when they feel threatened or when defending puppies, owners or food. “Our dog has never bitten anyone before” is a common refrain to those who respond to dog bite situations. The numbers tell the story. More than 4.5 million people are bitten each year in the United States, one in five requiring medical attention, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Half of the victims are children… Read More

Another really tragic reminder about the dangers of large trucks on our local highways. In this very sad news story, 17 people were hurt last night, four died at the scene and another in a local hospital.  According to the story in the local newspaper, several people were in the roadway to help the victim of an earlier crash at 2:30 a.m. when the truck hit them. Both the Star-Telegram and National Public Radio had news stories about truck safety in the last several months:  On The Hill, Debate Reawakens Over Tired Truckers; In Texas, Traffic Deaths Climb Amid Fracking Boom; Government… Read More

Fast-Track Approval of Medical Devices Called Into Question The United States is the largest medical device market in the world with sales expected to reach $133 billion by 2016. In most cases, medical devices save and improve lives. Unfortunately, not all devices undergo the same rigorous review process before hitting the market. A number of new medical devices can and do bypass scrutiny by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through a fast-track approval process called the 510(k) program. If a manufacturer can prove that its product is “substantially equivalent” to an existing product, it can avoid stringent premarket… Read More

The red-light-camera program is effective and should be continued, a city official told the City Council on Tuesday. “First and foremost, the driver for this is public safety,” said Alonzo Linan, assistant director of transportation and public works. “Our goal is to change driver behavior through the issuance of citations.” The first red-light cameras were installed in stages during 2008. In 2009, an average of 3,850 citations per camera were issued. Today, that’s down to 1,529, Linan said. And wrecks at the same intersections have dropped off. In 2009, the crash rate was 0.70 per million vehicles at the intersections.… Read More

For the automotive industry, 2014 was the year of the recall. You couldn’t pick up a newspaper, turn on the evening news or check your favorite news site without hearing about another new and alarming recall. And unfortunately for car owners everywhere, recalls show no sign of letting up. What’s even more concerning is a lapse by automakers and federal regulators in responding soon enough to reports of serious injury and death. Visit Fatal Flaws: Crisis in Auto Safety by The New York Times for an interactive overview of the issue. Deadly Defects Problematic for the Auto Industry Industry advocates… Read More

Controversy Grows With Popularity of Uber Uber created a better mousetrap in the world of for-hire transportation. Its technology seamlessly links riders and drivers through a smartphone app that is one-tap easy to use. Becoming an Uber driver is almost as effortless, allowing people from all walks of life to earn money with their personal vehicle. The results have been staggering: Raving fans have propelled Uber from a tiny San Francisco startup in 2009 to a major enterprise today now operating in more than 200 cities and 53 countries. The company will hit $10 billion in revenues in 2015 (it… Read More

Risks at Home, on the Road Increase Trimming the tree and stringing up the lights is a long-standing tradition during the holiday season. Unfortunately, decking the halls can put you and your loved ones in danger. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates 230 home fires involve Christmas trees and another 150 involve holiday lights every year, resulting in 15 deaths. Decorating Tips for the Home… Prevent ladder injuries – In 2012, 34 percent of the holiday decorating incidents involved falls. Read Ladder Safety 101 for tips. Click poster to see additional safe decorating tips from the CPSC. Choose a… Read More

“Fatal truck crashes… are all too common—happening nearly 11 times every single day in this country on average, and killing nearly 4,000 people each year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.” “On top of that, more than 100,000 people are injured every year in truck crashes. That’s as bad as if a commuter jet crashed every single week of the year, killing everyone on board. And the numbers have been getting worse: Truck-crash fatalities have increased since 2009…” truck accidents surge Excerpted from: Truck accidents surge: Why no national outcry?, by Eamon Javers and Jennifer Schlesinger, CNBC, July… Read More

The lawyers at WPK know too well the life-changing consequences of a devastating injury. Far too often, tragedy might have been prevented if not for the carelessness or negligence of others. Those haunting “what ifs” only compound the grief for family, friends and the community. This month we bring you the stories of four families that turned their grief and “what ifs” into action, winners of the 2014 Justice Served Awards: Family’s Persistence Uncovers Truth at GM Ken and Beth Melton were “boiling mad” that a defect in their daughter Brooke’s 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt might have caused the accident that killed… Read More

Car temperatures can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes, rapidly overheating a small child. You might think it’s impossible to forget there is a kid in a car. That only happens to irresponsible parents, you might say, shaking your head. It can happen to anyone regardless of education or social standing. As the temperatures climb, so too does the risk of injury or death from heatstroke. Thirteen children have already died in hot cars this year. But this tragedy is 100 percent preventable.You should know what we can do to spread the word about the risks and consequences of leaving… Read More