Archive for June 2020
What Kinds of Compensation Are Available in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program?
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is a U.S. federal program that offers compensation to people injured by vaccines. If you suffered a serious reaction to a vaccination, keep reading to find out what types of compensation are available to you under the VICP. 4 Types of Vaccine Injury Compensation Available to Victims The Program itself…
Read MoreIllinois Supreme Court: No immunity for ambulance driver who runs a red light on the way to non-emergency transport
On June 18, 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court found that a paramedic driving an ambulance without a patient on a non-emergency trip was not covered by the immunity provision of the state’s Emergency Medical Services Systems Act.[1] The Court found that the immunity typically provided to paramedics when rendering medical care does not necessarily apply…
Read MoreNHTSA Releases Preliminary Findings on 2020 Q1 Traffic Deaths
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation that creates and maintains a tremendous amount of highway safety data for the federal government. Recently, the NHTSA has released its preliminary Q1 2020 traffic crash fatality projections. Americans are driving less, but traffic fatalities have increased Their early…
Read MoreE-Scooters Return to Chicago This Summer
According to the Chicago Tribune, the City of Chicago will participate in another electric scooter program this summer. The Tribune reports that the program is being reinstated, despite a “controversial” trial last year. Also, the city will have four times as many electric scooters compared to the previous year, and they will be citywide. Chicago…
Read MoreSixth Circuit Finds Insurer Responsible for $3,000,000 Consent Judgment
In an unpublished decision handed down Friday, June 19, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that Hamilton Specialty Insurance is responsible for a $3,000,000 settlement entered into by its insured after Hamilton refused to defend the insured in litigation arising out of a fire.[1] Hamilton Specialty Insurance refused to defend…
Read MoreCalifornia Appellate Court Hears Argument in First Major Roundup Loss for Monsanto
In early June of 2020, the California Court of Appeal First Appellate District heard an argument in the Dewayne Johnson v. Monsanto case. In 2018, a California jury awarded Dewayne Johnson, a school groundskeeper, $289 million after finding that Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide weed killer was a substantial factor in causing Mr. Johnson’s non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).…
Read MoreThe Link Between Guillain Barre Syndrome and the Tdap Vaccine
In 2017, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program amended the Vaccine Injury Table to include Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) as a vaccine injury associated with the annual flu shot. As of today, the influenza vaccine is the only vaccine listed on the Table with an association with GBS. But what if you came down with GBS…
Read MoreCalculating Stopping Distance in Semi-Trucks
For all of us that drive a sedan or SUV every day, we have a pretty good understanding of how long it takes our vehicle to stop. Obviously, certain things like speed and road conditions will affect how quickly we are able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. As you might expect, stopping…
Read MoreCongress Considers Raising Truck Insurance Minimums for First Time in 40 Years
Recently, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed amendments to the INVEST in America Act. Among the most important amendments proposed to the Act is the Garcia Amendment (Chuy Garcia – IL). This amendment would raise insurance minimum requirements for motor carriers from $750,000 per accident to $2,000,000 per accident. The INVEST in…
Read MoreHow Technology and Safety Programs Help Trucking Companies Fight Distracted Driving
Distracted driving kills. In 2018, nearly 3,000 people were killed by distracted driving in the U.S. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving. This can include talking on your phone, texting, changing the radio station, using a GPS system, eating, and drinking. Really, distracted driving is anything that takes your focus away…
Read More