Posts Tagged ‘ Concussion ’

With Golf Cart Accidents on the Rise, how Stupid can you be in a Golf Cart?

May 6th, 2013. By AbiK

Apparently pretty stupid!

Given a top speed of around 15 miles per hour, golf carts aren’t exactly the speed racers that come to mind when you think about potentially dangerous accidents. But it’s that very image that can also create a false sense of safety for those who operate and/or ride in a golf cart.

Not all that long ago golf carts were simply that: carts used for playing golf. And they conjured up a speed demon image right up there with Fred Flintstone’s footmobile–only swapping out foot calluses for golf cleats. But with an increase in planned communities—particularly in Florida, California, Arizona, or Peachtree City, GA—as well as an increase in use on corporate and college campuses—golf carts have become more prevalent. And who ever imagined the day that homes would be built with custom golf cart garages?

Well, the increase in popularity has seemingly given way to an increase in golf cart injuries, too. According to an article in  Herald Tribune Golf (June, 2012), the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reported that injuries from being hit by or falling off of golf carts spiked 132 percent from 1990 to 2006. That translated to nearly 150,000 people, ranging in age from 2 months to 96 years, getting hurt in golf cart accidents over that time period.

Why the increase?

Let’s start with the fact that the golf cart is the new town cruiser—less work than a taking a bicycle; less of a pain than taking a car. But, unlike a car, in some states—Alabama, California, Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island, and Vermont—the minimum age to sit behind the golf cart wheel is thirteen. In Florida, it’s fourteen. The rest of the states put the minimum age to drive a golf cart at fifteen. That’s not to say that a teen can’t be a responsible driver. But one only needs to take a look at the above video to understand how teen stupidity can contribute to a golf cart accident.

On the flip side, there’s no maximum driving age. Of course, it’s not like every state has an age limit—or even just a vision test—for older car drivers either. But it’s a safe bet that some elderly drivers should not be putting the pedal to the metal regardless of vehicle size or speed.

Unfortunately, golf cart accidents can lead to some pretty serious injuries—including death. A sharp turn, for example, can cause passengers to fall out leading to spinal injury, fracture or concussion. But even seemingly harmless behavior like hanging a leg out over the side of the golf cart or forgetting to put the brake in the locked position when getting out of the golf cart can lead to injury as well. And it goes without saying that once alcohol and/or drugs are involved, stupidity usually follows…

So now that golf cart season is actually all seasons, golf cart safety needs to become an all-season concern as well.

 

 

Tags: Back Injury, Concussion, Golf Cart Accident, Neck Injury, Personal Injury, Spine Injury
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Football isn’t Tennis: Brain Injury Lawsuits Brew on Eve of Super Bowl

February 4th, 2011. By Hunter West

 

Uh, Maybe Not. (Design: good.kv)

This Sunday’s Super Bowl is not only the biggest night in professional football, but also arguably the biggest spectacle in professional sport. Witness the gate, the viewing audience and the lucrative broadcast and advertising contracts.

When you’re watching the big game this Sunday, look for the guys in the three-piece suits standing on the sidelines. No, they’re not journalists. And they won’t have headsets like the coaches do. But they will have binoculars, and notepads.

Those guys will be the lawyers—working for the teams, the league, and the players association. They’ll be watching every play, every tackle, taking notes.

They will disappear just before the Gatorade starts flying. Unless, of course somebody gets beaned in the head by the Gatorade bucket and incurs a concussion. That will bring the lawyers back for more note taking. 

Of course, I’m taking license with reality, here. There will be no suits impeding the pending war between the Steelers and the Packers. But make no mistake: the legal Beagles are catching up with pro football…

As recently reported in publications such as the New Yorker and Slate, the National Football League (NFL) is potentially facing two class-action lawsuits brought by players alleging the NFL knew, or suppressed knowledge of the long-term neurological risks of playing football. The latter stance alleging fraud would be the most aggressive. A lesser position would be one of negligence—to wit, the league was not aware, but should have known of the dangers posed by concussions and how play according to current rules increased the risk.

As this story gains traction, a huge debate will emerge between football purists who agree that ‘football is not tennis’ and anyone who thinks otherwise is not living in reality—and advocates representing players and the medical community who feel the NFL could, and should have been doing a lot more than it has been.

The pro football purists will think the lawsuits frivolous. It’s football, for crying out loud. Of course Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Brain Injury, Concussion, Football, NFL, Super Bowl
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