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Updates & tips

Tennessee Tractor-Trailer Crash Takes Life of Birchwood Man

Two tractor-trailer rigs crashed recently in McMinn County in Tennessee, leaving the driver of one of the trucks dead.  According to Tennessee Highway Patrol, the crash took place on Interstate 75 in the northbound lanes near mile marker 50.  The interstate was shut down from approximately 3 a.m. until around 8:30 a.m. before wreckage was removed so that traffic could resume. 43-year-old James Crittenden was killed in the crash, after the truck he was driving struck another tractor-trailer rig.  According to highway patrol, Crittenden was traveling at speeds of about 85 mph when he struck the other tractor-trailer which was moving at about 40-45 mph.  Phillip Coward, 59 of Detroit, Michigan, was the driver of the other truck involved in the accident. Coward's trailer was carrying chicken, which was spilled across the interstate due to the trailer being broken open as a result of the crash.  Crittenden was hauling medical waste, but Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesperson Dalya Qualls stated that the cargo was secure and did not spill as a result of the crash.   Coward was running with hazard lights on, but apparently Crittenden was traveling at speeds too high to stop before the crash occurred.  Both drivers were tested for the presence of alcohol, but neither tested positive.  The fatality report stated that no criminal charges or citations were issued. There are countless reasons that big truck accidents are so common today.  In some cases, the driver of a big rig is not at fault.  Other times, drivers may be fatigued due to lack of sleep.  Companies often hire drivers who aren't sufficiently qualified to drive, making the company liable when an accident occurs. Other times faulty equipment may be to blame, or loads are not secure.  Trucks that are loaded at weights in excess of the limits of the law increase the risk of fatal or serious injuries.  Alcohol may be to blame, or a driver may be driving at rates of speed higher than what weather conditions permit. No matter what the reason is, big trucks are often involved in deadly accidents as was the case in this report.  A small vehicle or motorcycle stands little chance when placed up against a tractor-trailer rig. If you or a loved on has been injured in an accident involving a big truck, contact the truck accident attorneys in New York at Brown Chiari for a free evaluation of your case.

By Brown Chiari LLP

Lawsuit Filed by Women's Estate After Choking Death in Nursing Home

Johnson Mathers Nursing Home in Carlisle, Kentucky is where a resident choked on food after being left unattended; she later died at the emergency room of Johnson Mathers Hospital which is connected to the nursing home facility according to the lawsuit.  Now, the estate of Lorrine M. Wheeler, the resident who died, is suing the nursing home. Wheeler had been a resident at the nursing home for only 10 days when she choked on food (she was on a pureed diet) and was left alone by a nurse who realized that Wheeler was choking.  The nurse left Wheeler and proceeded to go clean a dirty suction machine, which took 15 to 20 minutes.  During that time, the nurse did not immediately notify other staff members that Wheeler was choking.  Also available was a lifesaving "crash" cart the facility owned that was equipped with a suction machine that was clean.  It is unclear why the nurse chose to clean the dirty machine. (article provided for personal injury attorneys at Brown Chiari) After cleaning the machine, the nurse returned to Wheeler's room, where the resident was suctioned without success.  At that point, the nurse notified other staff that she thought Wheeler was "gone."  The nurse, identified as Joyce Fulton is no longer working at Johnson Mathers Nursing Home according to Doris Ecton, administrator at the facility. The choking incident happened prior to November 2010 which is when the facility changed ownership.  Formerly owned by Johnson Mathers, Thames Healthcare took ownership in November of 2010.  Because of the ownership change, the nursing home has requested that the lawsuit be dismissed by the court. The lawsuit alleges that workers of the facility later falsified documents to hide their involvement in the choking death of Lorrine Wheeler. Brown Chiari is a Lancaster NY nursing home abuse law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of those abused in a nursing home or elder care facility.  If you suspect your loved one has been treated unfairly in a nursing home, contact us for a free evaluation of your claim.

By Brown Chiari LLP

Wright County Egg Conditions Deteriorating with Every Update

We've already mentioned a few of the deplorable conditions found at Wright County Egg, one of the companies responsible for the biggest egg recall in recent years.  As investigations continue, things just keep getting worse.  Jens Manuel Krogstad of the Des Moines Register recently wrote a report containing information offered by past and present workers of Wright County Egg; given what employees have said, it's nearly unbelievable what took place at the facility.  The Salmonella food poisoning information is still being researched by officials. While it is normal for chickens to die on a daily basis, especially in extremely hot weather, employees at the farm observed that dozens of chickens died every day, and that often their bodies would lay in cages for days or weeks at a time.  Lucas Garcias, a former employee, stated that "There's always been mice," and "I saw maggots and sometimes mice on the conveyor belt." If you believe you have been injured, please consider contacting a salmonella poisoning attorney to help you look in to whether or not you have legal recourse. It is common for mice, flies, ammonia and dead chickens to be found in these facilities, however it is necessary that these conditions be controlled according to Darrel Trampel, an Iowa State University poultry veterinarian.  Trampel states that the key to reducing bacteria and possible health risks is to control these conditions and maintain them at safe levels. Hinda Mitchell, a spokeswoman for Wright County Egg said that the company monitors ammonia levels on a regular basis, and that employees inspect barns for dead chickens daily.  Wright County Egg said that they implement best practices for the caring of flocks, rodent control, ensuring that workers are safe and managing manure and ammonia levels. Current workers at Wright County Egg described their daily routine, which included tossing dead chickens into bins.  They also stated that once each week they inspect the cages using flashlights in order to find chickens that may have been missed.  Some are left to decompose for days or even weeks before they are discovered, which could have resulted in food poisoning. Trampel said that "If flashlights are needed to find the dead birds, then flashlights should be used every day."  A common complaint by both previous and current workers at the facility was that of strong ammonia odors that took their breath.  According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, ammonia levels are not to exceed 50 parts per million in an eight-hour shift for the safety of workers. (post provided by Buffalo personal injury attorneys at Brown Chiari) One former employer who did not want to be identified said that the conditions inside of the hen houses was "incredible," and that she did not understand how the government allowed Wright County Egg to operate in the manner they did.  Every worker that was interviewed did agree that piles of manure under hen houses were cleaned out only once each year.

By Brown Chiari LLP