Can Spring Cleaning Mistakes Endanger Your Safety?

If you plan to do some spring cleaning in the next few weeks, it is essential to avoid mistakes that could endanger your safety. When cleaning products are misused, chemical reactions can occur. Some of these chemical reactions may result in serious injury or death. The following examples are common spring cleaning mistakes people make with these products.

Never Mix Bleach with Other Cleaning Products

Bleach is effective at what it is designed to do: clean and sterilize surfaces. However, it can cause hazardous chemical reactions when combined with other products. Chlorine gas is produced when bleach is mixed with acidic products. This is a common mistake people make when cleaning toilet bowls. They will purchase a toilet bowl cleaner containing acid and then mix it with bleach. Another common mistake is to mix drain cleaners from different brands. Mixed, this may also create chlorine gas. Chlorine gas irritates the mucus membranes. Low levels of exposure can cause coughing, breathing problems, and watery eyes. High levels of exposure can lead to vomiting, chemical burns, severe chest pain, pneumonia, and death. Acidic cleaning products include vinegar, drain cleaners, window cleaners (some but not all) and drain cleaners. Chloramines are produced when bleach is mixed with ammonia. These are toxic vapors that cause coughing fits, nausea, wheezing, shortness of breath, and pneumonia. If you are cleaning with rubbing alcohol, do not also clean with bleach. Rubbing alcohol and bleach react to form chloroform and hydrochloric acid when mixed. In large enough quantities, chloroform vapors can cause dizziness and irritation. Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive substance that may cause chemical burns. The Centers for Disease Control recommends avoiding bleach products in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. Only mix bleach products with water and your own hard work ethic.

Are There Other Dangerous Cleaning Products?

It is essential to keep cleaning products out of reach of children. If you plan to do some spring cleaning, be sure to keep these products out of reach. For example, drain cleaners containing sulfuric acid can cause severe chemical burns and disfigurement when they come into contact with soft tissue. Many of these products are uniformly fatal when ingested. Although some websites claim these products should be kept on a high shelf, that is hogwash. Keep these products in a high area in a locked cabinet or large toolbox. Children can climb counters, and they may not understand why these products are dangerous. Make sure your children can not see how you unlock these cabinets or toolboxes. Never leave cleaning products unattended. The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are committed to serving the community by promoting safety.

Truck Accident Causes 4: Health Conditions & Truck Crashes

Several health conditions may cause commercial drivers to crash their trucks. Although multiple conditions have been identified, truckers are not always screened. Some health problems have become hotly debated topics among lawmakers and transportation safety officials. The following conditions in this blog are common among the population, including commercial truck drivers. However, some of the conditions mentioned in this blog can be screened for and are treatable. Screening for and treating these conditions may prevent commercial truck accidents.

Can Sleep Apnea Cause Commercial Truck Accidents?

Last year, a study conducted by Harvard University discovered that truckers with sleep apnea had crash rates five times higher than truck drivers without the condition. This health condition causes interruptions in breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea may not realize they have the condition. They may experience excessive daytime drowsiness and difficulty concentrating. In some cases, they may doze off without warning. These are clearly a dangerous combination of symptoms for people operating vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and lawmakers have discussed screening commercial drivers for this condition. Sleep apnea is common in the population, but it is also treatable. If truckers were treated, they could reduce their risk of crashes. A “sleep apnea screening rule” is currently in limbo. Harvard University claims 20 percent of truck accidents are caused by drowsy driving. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that causes drowsiness. It is a known public risk, yet we still lack a screening rule.

Can Other Health Conditions Cause Truckers to Crash?

Other conditions may increase the risk of crashing. Another study conducted by the University of Utah School of Medicine found that truck drivers with poor overall health are more likely to be involved in accidents. Researchers combed through the medical records of almost 50,000 truckers and discovered drivers with conditions like heart disease, lower back pain, and diabetes were more likely to crash. Drivers with all three conditions were at the greatest risk. Crash rates involving injury among all truck drivers were 29 per 100 million miles travelled. For those with three of the health conditions, the crash rate was 93 per 100 million miles.

Are Commercial Truckers Screened for Health Conditions?

Commercial truckers operating vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds in interstate commerce must undergo Department of Transportation health examinations, as certain conditions disqualify drivers. After passing the examination, truckers receive a medical certification that remains valid for two years. Driver qualification files (also called DQ files) contain the health records of truckers. Trucking companies may request these files before hiring drivers. There are cases in which trucking should, or is required to, request that truckers obtain new medical certificates. As is well known, trucking companies do not always comply with federal or state regulations. People injured in truck accidents, or their family members should consult with an attorney to explore possible legal options against trucking companies. The Texas truck accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are dedicated to helping people harmed by negligent business practices.

Avoid These Social Media Mistakes on Spring Break

One of the worst spring break mistakes is posting carelessly on social media. Clogging your Facebook or Instagram feeds with unprofessional or unflattering posts may lead to consequences that follow you for life. Your relationships with family or obligations to school administrators or employers can also be damaged. What you post online will never go away. Think of the following consequences of social media mistakes before you hit the post button.

1. Depending on what you post, you could be terminated. For example, if your employer sees photos of you drinking heavily, it may reflect poorly on your professional life. This is especially true for professionals with licenses, such as teachers, nurses, and lawyers. Posting anything deeply unprofessional, whether it be a photo or a regular status update, may end with you losing your job. Texas is an “at-will” state, which can make it easier for an employer to terminate your position.

2. You may get into trouble with your school. School administrators may see or become aware of your posts. Are you on campus and violating a school policy? You may be referred to your school’s administrative office for disciplinary reasons.

3. You could hurt your future career prospects. Many employers meticulously comb through the social media accounts of job applicants. They may check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or Google. Photos or status updates can reflect poorly on your professional ambitions. Employers want candidates who will not be a liability. Any time you post to social media, ask yourself: “Is this something I would want my future boss to see?”

4. Your family may take offense at some of your posts. Depending on the post, this may strain your relationships with family members.

5. In the worst-case scenario, your embarrassing post could go viral. This means tens of thousands or millions of people could see one of your most embarrassing moments. These are the types of posts that get picked up by media outlets and haunt people for the rest of their lives.

Want to Avoid Social Media Mistakes? Keep Your Future in Mind

Alcohol is a significant reason people show poor judgment when posting on social media during spring break. However, even the excitement of the moment can lead to permanent consequences. Always keep your future in mind when posting on social media. Do you want your family, employers, or school administrators to see your posts? It’s also a good rule of thumb to keep your personal and professional social media accounts separate. You can maintain separate social media accounts for your professional and personal life. If they are not separate, you can set your privacy settings to the maximum to increase the likelihood that only select people can see your posts. For example, Facebook allows you to limit who can search for you or see your timeline. You can also use security settings to limit who can find you on Google. The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC are dedicated to serving the safety and well-being of our community.

Truck Accident Causes Part 3: Semi-Truck Distracted Driving

Commercial truckers who are not paying attention to the road are risking their own lives and those of others. We commonly associate distracted driving with passenger vehicles, but it is also common among commercial drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has strict regulations that limit mobile phone use by truckers. These regulations are designed to prevent semi-truck crashes. Penalties for breaking these regulations are harsh.

• FMCSA regulations prohibit commercial truck drivers from sending or reading text messages or emails while driving. These rules are broad and apply to electronic devices such as cell phones, PDAs, pagers, laptops, and any other device used to input, write, send, or receive text messages.

• Drivers cannot browse the internet (such as Facebook or any other social media websites).

• Drivers can only press a single button to terminate phone calls.

The fines and penalties for breaking these rules vary. Commercial drivers may have their CDL disqualified for 60 days if they have two offenses within three years. They may have their CDL disqualified for 120 days for three offenses within three years. Fines for individual drivers can reach $2,750 per offense. Commercial motor carriers who allow drivers to use mobile devices can face penalties of up to $11,000. There are exceptions to these rules. For example, if it is necessary to contact law enforcement or emergency services. Penalties are steep because distracted driving is far more dangerous for large commercial vehicles. A fully loaded truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, multiple times more than your average passenger vehicle. The FMCSA released the following stats on distracted driving:

• Commercial drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a crash while reaching for a mobile phone.

• Truckers who text and drive are 23.2 times more likely to deviate from their lanes, or cause accidents or near-accidents.

• Truckers who dial a phone number are six times more likely to be involved in an accident.

The Department of Transportation also releases the famous statistic. Drivers who send or read texts take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 miles per hour, this equates to 346 feet.

How Can an Attorney Help After a Semi-Truck Crash?

There are several ways a truck accident attorney could hold texting drivers or their employers accountable for causing a semi-truck crash. For example, an attorney may be able to find evidence that a truck driver was texting or posting on social media at the time of an accident. Other forms of communication may show company policies encourage truckers to email or text while driving. Some accidents may be caught on camera. Skilled truck accident attorneys meticulously go through all available evidence to help your case succeed. The Texas truck accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC can help you hold negligent truckers and commercial carriers accountable for causing crashes.

Truck Accident Causes 2: Why Jackknifing Accidents Happen

Jackknifing accidents occur when truck trailers bend in a way resembling a pocketknife. This is due to a truck trailer skidding and pushing into the vehicle. These types of truck crashes cause drivers to lose control of their cars. They can rollover and hit other vehicles. Motorists may be forced underneath tractor-trailers in what is known as an underride accident. The outcomes of jackknifing crashes are always tragic. What do these crashes look like? A recent accident near San Antonio involved a truck that lost control after jackknifing. According to the San Antonio Fire Department, the semi-truck collided with several other vehicles and crossed the median. Six people were injured, one of whom was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Jackknifing can happen for several reasons. However, many of these crashes are preventable.

• Bad weather: Slick road conditions caused by rain and icing significantly increase the risk of jackknifing. The rear tires on a semi-truck may lose traction, causing the trailer to swing to the side.

• Neglecting maintenance: A common theme on our blog is that poor maintenance practices cause many truck crashes. The same applies to jackknifing crashes. Commercial carriers should replace worn truck tires and brakes. It is also essential to maintain and replace suspension components and other steering-related mechanical parts.

• Unsecured or poorly distributed loads: Cargo loaded into trailers can shift if not properly secured or distributed. Shifting cargo can alter the truck’s center of gravity, potentially causing a jackknife or rollover.

• Careless driving: Semi-trucks are more challenging to handle than standard passenger vehicles. There is less room for error. Truckers should avoid speeding, especially while turning. Braking suddenly may cause a jackknife. This is almost always the case when truckers apply the brakes and swerve simultaneously. Truckers should remain attentive to traffic conditions to avoid this scenario.

How Can You Avoid Jackknifing Accidents?

We cannot stress enough how important it is to avoid semi-trucks whenever possible. Be extra cautious around semi-trucks in inclement weather or when road conditions are slippery. Semi-trucks are more likely to jackknife while making downhill turns. Unfortunately, there is no way to know which trucking companies regularly perform maintenance or hire safe drivers. Motorists injured in jackknifing crashes or their family members may have grounds to file lawsuits. An experienced truck accident attorney can help preserve evidence that may be crucial to your case, and can deal with insurance companies on your behalf. The Texas truck accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC will provide the personalized attention your case deserves.