Head Injury Cognitive Tests Approved by FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved testing devices for evaluating head injuries with two different computer program cognitive tests.  The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment is one of the tests and the other is the Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) and ImPACT Pediatric.  The pediatric version is for those falling between the ages of five to eleven and the other ImPACT version is for those from twelve to fifty-nine.    Read more

Do Not Forget Your Bicycle Helmet

It’s bicycle riding weather and with the increase in this activity comes the increase in head injuries.  Experts want people to know they can prevent severe head injuries by wearing bicycle helmets, so although the helmet cannot prevent an accident in the first place, it can save the rider from facial injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe head injuries, and death.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that less than fifty percent of bicycle riders in the United States wear bicycle helmets and in 2013 there were a reported 494,000 Emergency Room visits and nine hundred fatalities due to bicycle injuries!  Read more

The Latest Auto Recalls

It seems we cannot go long without the need to let our readership know about further automobile recalls.  There’s a slew of new recalls out this August, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Bentley Motors, Inc. has recalled 2007 to 2009 Continental Flying Spur models due to the possibility the sunroof glass could fall out while driving the vehicles.   If you are the lucky owner of a Bentley you may contact 1-800-777-6923 to see if your particular automobile is subject to the recall. Read more

McDonald’s Recall of Happy Meal Fitness Trackers

Happy Meals at McDonald’s are not so happy after the fast food giant had to issue a recall of its Step-It activity tracker wristbands.  This was after McDonald’s received over 70 claims of problems with the bands.  There were reports of skin irritations, blisters, and burns with children wearing the bands and McDonald’s decided to quickly recall all trackers in the United States and also in Canada.  A social media campaign by one mom also got the word out that the tracker burnt her child after only eight minutes of use. 

There are two different trackers subject to the recall, one that was an activity counter tracker and one that was a light-up band tracker.  McDonald’s will replace the recalled trackers with another toy or a couple of food choices, including their tubes of yogurt or apple slices.  McDonald’s has indicated they do not want to see any more injuries from the trackers and urge customers to bring the trackers back right away. 

If you or someone you love experienced injury due to one of the McDonald’s Happy Meal fitness trackers, contact your medical provider and please contact Inserra & Kelley Law Offices to see whether you may be entitled to compensation.    

Jeep Gear Shift Problem and the Loss of Actor Anton Yelchin

Back in April of 2016 Inserra & Kelley reached out to its readership to warn that Fiat Chrysler announced a recall of 1.1 million vehicles throughout the world because of a gear shift design causing driver confusion over what gear vehicles are in. As said, even though vehicles have two reminders in place for safety, including a chiming/alert message if the door is opened when not in park and an indicator light that tells drivers what gear it is in, drivers have had difficulty.  Fiat Chrysler decided, after at least 41 injuries had been reported by April, 2016, that they would work on a fix.  The latest news on the issue has assured consumers that there is a fix for the Jeep gear shift problem that, unfortunately, ended up taking the life of actor, Anton Yelchin in June, 2016. Unfortunately for Mr. Yelchin and the loved ones he left behind, his written recall notice to owners was mailed seven days after his death due to the defect.  Yelchin’s heartbroken family is now suing, with their suit alleging that Yelchin’s SUV gear selector was defective, and its poor design the reason the SUV rolled out of its parked position on Anton’s steep driveway, trapping the young 27-year-old between a brick wall and the car.  The suit further states that the beloved Anton Yelchin was crushed and lingered alive for some time, trapped and suffocating until his death.       

As said in April, the affected vehicles for the recall include 2012 to 2014 Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300 sedans, as well as 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee sports utility vehicles.  The gear shift has already been changed by Fiat Chrysler in newer vehicles, so they have known this design to be a problem while making newer models. 

If you suspect your Fiat Chrysler vehicle may be the subject of the gear shift recall, contact Fiat Chrysler or your nearest dealer immediately.  If you or a loved one has been injured or worse due to the confusing shift design, do not hesitate to contact the professionals at Inserra & Kelley Law Offices to see if you may be entitled to compensation. 

Tragedy Speaks to it NEVER Being Safe to Walk on Railroad Bridges

Inserra & Kelley is saddened to bring its readership yet more tragic news due to another accident that may have likely been prevented.  This story speaks of an ill-timed choice that led to serious injury, as well as the death of a young man now known to his community as a hero.  On August 1, 2016, three teens made the choice to navigate Papillion Creek, in Papillion, Nebraska, by walking across the railroad bridge over thirty feet about the creek.  It is reported by a witness that when a train was heard coming, the teens tried to run to a place to jump from the bridge safely and one of the young men reportedly helped push his friend clear of the train before losing his own life. Therefore, one teen lost his life, a second one was seriously injured, and a third one was able to escape without serious injury.   Now there is mourning going on in the community of Papillion as it grieves its son, family member, and friend.   

Unfortunately, this very railroad bridge has been known to the Papillion community as it is close to an area called “Oz,” where local young people have been known to hang out and fish in the creek.  Now the location will be a tragic reminder to area residents to never navigate train tracks, whether on the tracks or on a bridge.  It is never safe and no person is capable of outrunning a train that cannot swerve to miss an accident or stop quickly.   The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad has tried to do its part in warning people with “no trespassing” signs posted on this bridge, but still tragedy occurred in 2016, but also back in 2008 when a 54 year old man was hit by a train on the same bridge.  Fortunately, this man survived, but would likely warn others that the train came on with just a fraction of a second to escape and, even though he had walked on that very bridge many times before his close call, it was not worth it to ever attempt navigating it again.  Local officials, after this latest tragedy involving injury and loss of life, are doing what they can with other proper owners next to the area to see if restrictions can be put in place to prevent future incidents. 

Inserra & Kelley Law Offices sends out heartfelt condolences and wishes to those involved in this 2016 heartbreaking tragedy, while at the same time urging everyone to be cautious in a world with dangers lurking around every corner. Always be alert and aware, keeping safety in mind at all times.            

Distracted Driving and the Family of 5 Tragedy in Nebraska

Inserra & Kelley has been on a mission of getting the word out that distracted driving is the biggest danger on the roads in modern society.  Unfortunately, a stark reminder of this came with news this week of a tragedy in Western Nebraska on Interstate 80 in which a distracted over-the-road truck driver caused a horrendous multiple vehicle crash that immediately took the lives of a beautiful family of five on their way to missionary training in Colorado.  Another man was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but was declared dead as of August 2, 2016, all because the truck driver was described as inattentive and distracted by outside influences when he rammed into a minivan at a high rate of speed!  We do not know at this time what distractions caused the accident, but in this age are aware of a host of distractions that tempt drivers, from electronics to eating to talking to applying makeup and a list that could go on and on.  It is necessary again to let everyone that distracted driving does not save time or help in the long run, and can in fact cause devastating injuries and loss of precious lives.  It is best to put anything that might distract a driver out of reach and turned off so temptations do not lead to a split second tragedy that a driver can never take back.  

The latest example of the crash of July 31, 2016 has not only resulted in tragedy for the families with loss of lives and injuries, but also the arrest and current charge of five counts of felony motor vehicle homicide for a truck driver who likely did not set out with any intention of doing anyone harm.  Most drivers would say that they would never desire to hurt anyone due to their actions in driving, but in our current society of constant stimuli and activity, every driver must look deep within and ask whether there are distracted driving habits that could be nixed in order to try to avoid even one more tragedy. 

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an accident, please contact Inserra & Kelley Law Offices as you may be entitled to compensation.