Archive for January, 2012

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30
Jan

Drunk Driver Sentenced To 22-Years For Fayetteville Crash

January 30, 2012

Drunk driving can not only destroy the lives of accident victims, but their families and loved ones as well. FOX 16 News reported from a courtroom today where the parents and fiance of two drunk driving victims gave testimony on the impact their loss has had on their lives during the sentencing of the drunk driver responsible for the crash.

The accident happened on May 15th of last year on I-540 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is there that the drunk driver, with a blood alcohol content of .16–or twice the legal limit–hit the vehicle driven by the 26-year-old woman. A passenger in the woman’s car died at the scene, and the driver died three days later at a local hospital.

The driver responsible for the crash pled guilty to two counts of negligent homicide and was sentenced to up to 22 years in prison.

While a lengthy prison sentence may ensure the drunken driver doesn’t commit the crime again for quite a while, it does not compensate for the loss the victims’ families have suffered. In order to be awarded damages for the accident such as lost income, expenses, and other punitive damages, a civil case must be brought against the drunk driver.

The Arkansas wrongful death attorneys with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton are here to help you if you have any questions regarding the loss of your loved one because of another person’s negligent act. Contact an experienced attorney today for a free initial consultation.

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23
Jan

Campaigns to Eliminate Distracted Driving in Arkansas

January 23, 2012

A new campaign called The Great Hang Up is sweeping across the country The aim of the program is to eliminate distracted driving accidents caused by talking and texting on cell phones on America’s highways. According to Arkansas’s THV 11 News, the campaign asks that drivers sign a pledge to not operate a cell phone while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

To participate, sign a pledge sheet and keep it in your car as a reminder to the promise you have made yourself. Then, stay focused behind the wheel by following the sheet’s simple distraction eliminating guidelines.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is also trying to bolster efforts to end distracted driving by creating their own campaign called Faces of Distracted Driving. The group has created a website with videos that show the impact distracted driving accidents have on ordinary people and their families.

While Arkansas legislators are pushing for better laws to protect motorists from distracted driving, thousands will still be hurt or killed in the state until the ramifications of the accidents the activity can cause are understood by a majority of citizens.

This is why the Arkansas distracted driving accident lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to urge drivers to take a closer look at both of these programs and think about participating. Reducing the risks that distractions impose on drivers is the simplest way to eradicate a growing problem that could leave you injured.

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16
Jan

Arkansas Farm Worker Killed While Working In Grain Bin

January 16, 2012

A 56-year-old Arkansas farm worker died suddenly last Friday morning after falling into a grain silo. According to reports from KTHV News, the man fell at around 11:00 AM at Parker’s Farms on Miller Road in Lonoke County.

A press release from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Department stated that witnesses saw the victim on top of what farmers refer to as “The Bridge”–or a dome of grain that has formed an empty space beneath it. The victim was attempting to break up the bridge in order to clear a blockage, when suddenly it gave way beneath him, burying him beneath the falling grain. Rescue workers found the victim at approximately 12:15 PM and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Grain bins can be extremely dangerous and were responsible for a record number of worker deaths in 2010. According to a study from Perdue University, 51 workers died of suffocation related to grain bins, up from 38 the year before. In response to the growing number of deaths, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now requires that all farmers working with grain bins must wear a special safety harness with a lifeline on it.

The Arkansas wrongful death attorneys with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton know that employers have a responsibility to keep workers safe on the job. Call us today if your loved one suffered a wrongful death in a preventable farm accident.

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9
Jan

New Study Links Daily Aspirin Use With Blindness

January 9, 2012

While many who take an aspirin daily to help ward off the risks of a heart attack believe they are doing themselves a favor, new research may prove the contrary. According to THV 11 News, a new study published in Ophthalmology has found that while taking Aspirin may reduce the risks of heart disease and strokes, it may increase the risk of developing macular degeneration–or blindness.

The study, which was conducted by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, examined 4,691 patients, all of who were 65-years of age or older, from seven different locations across Europe. Data showed that 17.3 percent of those patients took Aspirin on a daily basis. What researchers found so disturbing was that the more Aspirin the patients took, there was a steady increase in both occurrence and severity of macular degeneration. One out of every four of the patients suffered from the condition.

When the patients who did not consume Aspirin daily were examined, researchers found that the number dropped in half. The study concluded that further studies on the topic are needed in order to confirm their findings.

The Arkansas drug injury lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton suggest talking with your doctor if you are taking Aspirin on a daily basis. They would also encourage contacting an attorney immediately if you suffer from macular degeneration and have taken a daily dose of Aspirin for an extended period of time.

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2
Jan

Migraine Medication Might Put Heart Health at Risk

January 2, 2012

Those who suffer from migraine headaches know that there is little to be done to stop the constant pounding once it starts. So, when you find a pain reliever that works, you stick with it. However, a recent study shows that a surprising number of patients who suffer from migraines are being prescribed medications they shouldn’t take because of heart conditions they also suffer from.

The findings were reported late last month by FOX 16 News and show that one in five patients with heart conditions who also suffer from migraines were given prescriptions for a class of drugs called triptans. These triptans are very effective in treating migraines and work by constricting blood vessels up to 20 percent. This constriction could cause a person with a history of heart issues to suffer any number of pulmonary problems, bust most commonly heart attacks and strokes.

Researchers pinpointed more than 120,000 patients who suffered form migraines from ten different insurance providers. Data collected from these cases determined that eight percent of all the patients suffered form both migraines and heart conditions. Of those patients, 22 percent had received prescriptions from doctors for triptans.

Some of these Medications include:

  • Amerge®
  • Axert®
  • Frova®
  • Imitrex®
  • Maxalt®
  • Relpax®
  • Treximet®
  • Zomig®

The Arkansas drug injury lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton suggest that anyone taking these medications that has a history of heart conditions to consult with your doctor immediately. If you have suffered from a heart complication while taking one of these medications, we suggest you contact us today.

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