Over the last two years, a number of high profile accidents and incidents have to led global recalls, lawsuits and congressional hearings about the safety of Toyota’s vehicles and this week, seven insurance companies filed suit against the automaker to recoup funds used to settle claims for accidents caused by vehicle acceleration problems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently reviewing accidents involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles that have resulted in nearly 90 fatalities since 2000 and its estimated that the company could end up with a $10 billion civil liability from claims related to personal injury, wrongful-death and consumer fraud. Overall the automaker was forced to recall nearly 5.5 million vehicles to replace floor mats and accelerators that did not return to their position.

Trucking accidents are a far too common threat on the roads in Texas, especially since most trucking accidents occur on rural roads. Many of these accidents are due to defective trucking equipment like poor truck maintenance and equipment defects or failures. Defective trucking equipment can cause serious car accidents which can result in catastrophic injuries, all of which lead to loads of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has suffered from a car accident with a truck due to defective trucking equipment or equipment failure, you need a lawyer to be on your side and represent your interest against these large companies.  The lawyers at the McMinn Law Firm are experienced in trucking and car accident cases and we want to help you obtain the justice you deserve.

Many problems can arise with truck maintenance, such as:

• Steering failure
• Brake failure
• Tire failure or blowouts
• Carrying a load that is overweight or overloaded
• Carrying a load that has been improperly balanced
• Faulty seat belts, seals or holes

Weak trucking equipment can be weakened even more by improperly loaded cargo, leading to possible accidents on the road. Innocent victims need to be represented against trucking companies who hold responsibility for the safety and maintenance of these trucks on the highway. These trucking companies are legally supposed to maintain adequate inspections and maintenance of their trucks on a consistent basis as well as keep maintenance logs to track and assure proper truck operation.

The lawyers at the McMinn Law Firm understand the daily hazards innocent drivers face just by driving on the highways, and we want to be there for you or someone you know who has been affected in a car accident or truck accident.  Defective trucking equipment is a fatal danger on the road, one that is highly preventable, and we will fight to obtain your compensation and justice in a trucking accident case.  Our attorneys will investigate each truck and car accident for every detail and gather all the evidence to determine what led up to the accident. Let the McMinn Law Firm help you so you do not have to go through this whole process alone.

Many patients who use cold therapy devices have been known to experience skin damage, nerve damage, and extreme pain that can be permanent. Doctors prescribe these cold therapy devices to their patients after surgery and joint injuries to relieve pain and swelling. Some of the more common practices of cold therapy can be found in baby teething tools, ice bags to treat sore muscles, or in cold compresses administered to fever sufferers.

The devices work by filling a cooler-like pouch with ice water then placing the cooling pad on the affected body part. There is a circulating pump inside the device that repeatedly circulates the ice water which cools the pad through connecting tubes and keeps the pad cold for extended periods of time.

Injuries from using these devices occur because most of the machines come with little to no instructions about temperatures or length of treatment time. If a patient leaves the machine on the affected area for too long, that area will become too cold and will slowly be desensitized. This in turn can lead to problems equal to frostbite. Frostbite sets in when the device causes the area to freeze, decreasing blood flow and heat delivery to the tissues resulting in ice formation. Depending on the length of cold exposure injuries can spread to the skin and underlying tissues, even to the nerves and bones.

Injuries from the use of cold therapy devices fall into two categories: nerve damage or nerve and skin damage. These damages don’t only result from using the devices at below freezing temperatures or for long periods of time. In fact, many injuries occurred in the 45-55 degree range for relatively small time periods, as apparent in the following case.

A 20-year old football player applied ice to his shoulder for 45 minutes due to soreness. This caused the athlete’s lower arm and hand to drop resulting in sensory changes in his wrist and fingers. Because of this his athletic career was put on hold until his nerve functioned properly returned a year later. If you are going to treat an injury with ice or a cold therapy device make sure the patient has a low percentage of body fat and that the area to which the cold is going to be applied is well protected with subcutaneous tissue.