A spinal cord injury can have a significant impact on a person’s life — possibly forever. It also puts them at a higher risk of developing other conditions, including mental health disorders and chronic diseases.

A recently published study compared adults who had suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury with those who had not. Researchers found that those who had suffered a spinal cord injury were 20% more likely to have depressive disorders , 5% more likely to have anxiety disorders and 13.5% more likely to have three or more mental health conditions.

They were also more likely to develop diseases including cardiovascular, pulmonary and liver disease, cancer and diabetes. The doctor who was the study’s lead author said that this “makes sense, as patients with spinal cord injuries have extreme sedentary behavior including prolonged bed rest after injury.”

Another doctor involved with the study says that the results highlight the need to better understand both the mental and physical health needs of people who are dealing with a spinal cord injury.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of a crash caused by another driver, it’s essential to make sure that they get the compensation they need for all of their short-term and long-term health care needs. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to determine what these will be in the weeks and even months following a crash. An experienced attorney can help you work to get a settlement that will take in to account the expenses you may be facing for many years to come.

As a motorcyclist, one of your biggest safety challenges is making sure that drivers see you. The most serious motorcycle crashes involve cars and even larger vehicles. In fact. the most common cause of motorcycle accidents is drivers who turn in front motorcyclists at intersections.

Often, this happens because a driver is only looking for cars when checking to make sure the intersection is clear before entering it. Sometimes, the cyclist is in their blind spot. Other times, they may be distracted. That’s why cyclists need to be particularly cautious when there are gaps in traffic before proceeding — even if they have the right of way — and be prepared to take evasive action at a moment’s notice. If you see a car waiting at an intersection, look at the way that their wheels are pointing. Even if they don’t have their turn signal on, they may be planning to turn.

Another common type of crash also involves drivers not looking for — or at least not seeing — motorcyclists. Cars will sometimes change lanes and hit a motorcyclist that’s in the lane.

Again, motorcyclists can help prevent this by watching the vehicles around them, particularly if they’re on a busy highway where everyone’s trying to get in to the lane that’s moving the fastest. If you see a driver who appears to be anticipating a lane change, whether they’re signaling or not, stay out of their way.

A type of collision you definitely want to avoid is being hit from behind by a vehicle. Rear-end collisions are often just “fender-benders” for drivers. For motorcyclists, however, they can be fatal. It’s essential to be aware of traffic behind you, especially if you’re coming to a stop sign or light. Be prepared to move out of the way quickly if you see that the driver behind you isn’t slowing down or is hitting the brakes too late.

While cyclists have to be conscientious about drivers with whom they share the road, that doesn’t absolve drivers of responsibility when they behave negligently or recklessly. If you or a loved one was injured on a motorcycle by an at-fault driver , it’s essential to seek the compensation you need for medical costs and other expenses.

Nevada residents who are excited about the advent of self-driving cars should know that there are several concerns that keep the majority of the U.S. public from accepting them. AAA conducted a survey in January 2020 asking consumers if they would feel safe riding in a self-driving car, and only 12% answered in the affirmative. Twenty-eight percent admitted they don’t know what to think about self-driving cars in the first place.

The survey clarified what sort of tangible information consumers want about self-driving cars. For example, 57% want to know how liability would work in the case of accidents with self-driving cars, 51% are interested in the laws that would protect self-driving cars, and 49% are concerned about the cars being hacked.

Respondents also shared what sort of things would help them overcome doubts about the tech. Seventy-two percent said they want self-driving cars to let them take control if something goes wrong while 69% want a human back-up driver. Forty-seven percent would be reassured if the cars passed rigorous testing, and 42% said the same if they could see or take part in a demonstration beforehand.

Respondents also expressed the desire for more news stories on these cars. Ultimately, the survey may help automakers, policymakers and media as they try to make self-driving cars more palatable to the public.

Before self-driving cars come close to being a reality, though, automakers need to address the issues being raised by semi-autonomous vehicles. Some car collisions occur because semi-autonomous cars make their drivers complacent and inattentive to the road. Those who are injured as a result of this form of negligence may want a lawyer to represent them. Personal injury lawyers might have a network of crash investigators and other third parties to help strengthen a case.

If you were involved in a car crash, you may be hesitant to get behind the wheel again. You may have injuries that prevent you from driving. You may have even lost your driver’s license for a time. Regardless of the reason you’re not driving, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft can help you get where you need to go.

Not much more than a decade ago, many of us couldn’t have imagined hopping in a stranger’s car. Now, millions of people use Uber and Lyft every day.

However, we’ve all read of rides going horribly wrong, with passengers becoming the victims of rapes, theft and kidnapping. In some cases, the perpetrators were masquerading as Uber or Lyft drivers or passengers got in a car they mistook for the ride they ordered.

Ride-hailing companies run background checks on applicants. They’ve also implemented a number of safety features and guidelines for passengers to help ensure their safety. It’s important to remember these every time you ride and not to become complacent. For example:

Of course, safety is important. Make sure that you buckle your seat belt. The driver’s probably anxious to get moving, but make sure they wait until you’re fastened in. If you’re not comfortable with how they’re driving, end the ride and report the issue to the company.

If you’re recovering from injuries you suffered in a crash caused by a negligent or reckless driver, make sure you see the compensation you need.

As the National Sleep Foundation has announced its annual Drowsy Driving Prevention Week for Nov.1 to 8, 2020, drivers across Nevada may want to take a second look at the impact that drowsiness can have on their behavior behind the wheel. In its effect, drowsiness is similar to alcohol intoxication as it impairs drivers’ attention, ability to assess risks and reaction times. Being awake for over 20 consecutive hours is like having a BAC of .08.

Drowsy drivers are three times as likely to crash as other drivers are. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that some 100,000 police-reported crashes every year in the U.S. involve drowsy driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says the number is more like 328,000. Not all drowsy driving crashes are reported as such, after all. AAA goes on to state that 109,000 of those crashes end in injury and 6,400 in death.

Drivers should recognize when they are drowsy. Symptoms of drowsiness include constant yawning, trouble keeping one’s eyes open, lane drifting and difficulty remembering the last few exits. The only real solution to drowsiness is adequate sleep: at least seven hours each night. Various interventions exist to reduce drowsy driving, though, including crash avoidance technologies and education programs aimed at employees and university students.

When car crashes are caused by someone who was clearly drowsy, then victims who were not at fault may confidently pursue a personal injury claim. It may be wise, though, for them to see a lawyer beforehand because the case can quickly get complicated. With a lawyer, victims may have access to third parties like crash investigators who can help build up the case. The lawyer may take on all negotiations for a settlement, litigating if the other side refuses to pay out.

Nevada and all other states with the exception of Hawaii allow individuals as young as 18 to obtain a CDL for intrastate travel, opening the possibility for interstate travel when they turn 21. Now, a bipartisan bill introduced in February 2019 is proposing that even truckers under 21 be allowed to travel interstate.

In February 2020, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety held a hearing to explore the concerns arising from the bill. Though the bill would set up a probationary period where CDL holders under 21 complete 400 hours of driving, at least 240 of them with another driver 21 or older, this may not be enough to ensure safety.

One panelist, the president of the Truck Safety Coalition, stated that crash rates are higher among those truckers aged 18 to 20 and that sending them out of state to travel unfamiliar routes will only worsen matters. Another panelist, the executive vice president for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said that the bill is founded on the myth that there is a shortage of truckers.

Many are pushing for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to more carefully maintain and update its regulations. Others advocate more funding for well-designed infrastructure as the way to improving safety policies for the trucking industry.

When truck crashes occur, though, the only thing that begins to matter is determining fault. Trucking companies may do all they can to uphold federal regulations, but truckers themselves, whatever their age, can choose to act negligently behind the wheel. Those who are seriously injured in a truck crash can be eligible for compensation, but since determining fault and negotiating for a settlement are difficult matters, they may want to hire a lawyer. The lawyer might litigate if a settlement is not reached.