Consider these facts about falls:

• One out of every five falls causes a serious injury — including things like broken bones, hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries.
• Around 800,000 people are hospitalized due to falls every year — most of them suffering from broken hips or brain injuries.
• The vast majority — 95% — of hip injuries occur because the victim simply fell sideways.

Falls can be particularly problematic in the elderly because their bones are often more fragile than those of younger individuals. A brain injury from a fall may be worse in the elderly or ill, as well, especially if they’re on blood thinners.

Even a fall from standing height can leave victims emotionally scarred by their experience. After a fall that leads to broken bones or other painful conditions, many victims become more hesitant and fearful of falling again. This can drastically affect their overall quality of life as they reduce their general activity level.

Don’t discount the severity of your injuries just because you fell from a standing height or a very short distance, like off a curb. Your injuries may be just as serious as someone who fell from a much bigger height — and the consequences can last a lifetime. You have every right to seek compensation for your losses.

The only problem is that everyone else has the same idea, and a lot of those walkers bring along their dogs. While most pet owners are responsible, there are always some who think that their dogs shouldn’t be restricted by a leash. They don’t realize that they’re putting other people in danger. However, a loose dog can be prompted to attack anyone they perceive as a threat.

Here’s how to safely navigate the situation when you encounter a dog that’s not on its leash:

1. Recognize the signs of aggression or distress. If a dog’s ears are up and forward or their fur is raised, they’re telling you to back off. Listen. Don’t try to make friends.
2. If the dog is crouching down or shaking, they’re afraid — and an animal that’s afraid may attack. Let the dog retreat and don’t try to pet it.
3. Don’t show your own fear. No matter what the animal is doing, signs of fear from you can trigger its aggression. Stay calm. Under no circumstances should you try to run.
4. If you’re far enough away when you spot the animal, change directions. It’s better to go out of your way than to get bitten.
5. If you have your dog with you, restrict your dog’s leash and put your dog behind you or on the far side of your body so that you can better keep the animals apart.

Most people think they know their dogs well and that their dogs would “never bite” someone for no reason — but it happens. If it happens to you, get experienced legal assistance so that you can pursue fair compensation for your losses.

What causes burn injuries in the workplace?

Some industries — like restaurant work — put some employees at greater risk of burns than others. Burns are commonly caused by things like:

• Grease fires
• Scalds from hot water
• Caustic chemicals
• Steam scalds
• Gas explosions
• Electrical issues
• Defective tools

Most of the time, burns happen because there is just a moment of inattention at the wrong time or a flaw in the equipment.

How are burn injuries treated?

Any severe burn — no matter how small — should be considered a serious issue that needs medical treatment. Once human skin is damaged by a burn, it can’t effectively do its job of preventing infections — and that’s one of the reasons that wound care is so important. Depending on how severe the injury is, the victim may need months of specialized hospital care, skin grafts, wound care and rehabilitation just to begin to heal.

In fact, researchers say that burn injuries need to be treated more like chronic diseases. The complications from a serious burn injury continue long after the initial wounds have healed — and new complications can arise at any time. Both the psychological and physiological aftershocks to a victim’s system can be tremendous.

Studies have linked burns with an increased likelihood of:

• Diabetes
• Nervous system disorders
• Cancer
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Cardiovascular disease
• Infections
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Depression
• Anxiety

These long-term conditions may be further complicated when a burn victim doesn’t have access to the full range of professional medical and mental health services available. That’s why it’s so important to pursue compensation for a burn injury whenever possible.

Wrong-way drivers are sometimes just confused. An experienced teen can end up going the wrong way after taking the wrong ramp onto the highway. An older driver who is having trouble seeing at night may miss a turn or a sign and end up going against traffic. However, officials say that many wrong-way drivers are suffering from confusion simply because they’re inebriated. They say that there are known “hot spots” for wrong-way drivers around bars and restaurants, particularly close to closing time. In at least one state, the average blood alcohol content among wrong-way drivers has been calculated at .18% — more than twice the legal limit of .08%.

Wrong-way car wrecks are typically among the most serious. They often prove fatal to one or more of the people involved. That’s simply because head-on collisions at high speeds can be particularly devastating.

If you see a wrong-way driver heading your way, you should take the following steps:

• Flash your lights to try to alert the other driver that they’re driving into traffic.
• Pull your vehicle over as far to the right as possible and stop.
• Call 911 from your phone (if you have one) and alert the police.

Do not attempt to chase down a wrong-way driver on your own. It’s a situation best left to the authorities.

If you are involved in a wrong-way crash, you may suffer catastrophic and debilitating injuries. An attorney can help protect your right to fair compensation for your losses.

Physical therapy (PT) may be able to help. If you’re entirely unfamiliar with how it works or it’s been a while since you’ve seen a physical therapist, you may be surprised to learn that treatments have evolved significantly over the years. Physical therapists now specialize in treating different systems in the body.

Here are four types of physical therapists that can help you recover from your injuries:

Orthopedic physical therapists

This is the form of PT that most people recognize. It focuses primarily on your body’s musculoskeletal system and is particularly useful for whiplash injuries, knee injuries and other common injuries from car accidents.

Massage therapists

Massage therapy isn’t just for relaxation. It’s also used to help people with stubborn soft tissue injuries heal from the muscular damage they suffered in a wreck.

Cardiovascular therapists

A serious car accident can actually damage your heart and lungs — particularly if your ribs are injured by the seat belt or steering wheel. Cardiovascular therapy can help restore lung capacity and promote heart health after an accident.

Neurological physical therapy

Traumatic brain injuries are common in car wrecks — and the rapid intervention by a neurological physical therapist can help limit neurological damage. Early treatment can also help a victim regain control over their bodily functions when brain damage or spinal cord damage is involved.

If you suffered injuries in a serious car wreck, you may need extensive treatment — and that can be expensive. Find out how you can hold the other party responsible.

If your loved one has suffered a burn injury in an accident, here are some of the multisystemic problems victims may face after a burn:

Bacterial infections

The skin is the body’s first barrier against infection. When the skin suffers trauma, that barrier is weakened or eliminated. When an infection reaches the bloodstream and becomes sepsis, it can be fatal.

Breathing problems

A burn victim may inhale hot air, chemical fumes or smoke that permanently damages their lungs. Even once they recover, they may never again be able to breathe properly without supplemental oxygen.

Fluid and temperature problems

Because of the trauma, the victim may experience hypothermia, which is a dangerously low body temperature. They may also suffer from hypovolemia, or low blood volume, due to the fluid loss.

Bone and joint problems

The scar tissue that comes from burn injuries isn’t just distressing because of its appearance — it can also limit a victim’s ability to move properly. Scar tissue can cause the skin around a victim’s joints and tendons to tighten or shrink — making it very difficult to use their hands, walk, talk or do similar things.

Psychological damage

Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety over their post-burn appearance can afflict tremendous emotional damage on a burn victim long after they’ve otherwise recovered.

If your loved one suffered burn injuries due to someone else’s negligence, it’s wise to find out what compensation you may be due to help pay for medical care, therapy and lost wages.

Furthermore, there will be times when you have to cross a street, which increases the risk of an accident.

Here are the steps you can take to protect yourself when crossing the street:

• Look both ways, twice: This lessens the likelihood of losing track of a vehicle moving toward you, which reduces the risk of walking out in front of it.
• Cross the road at crosswalks: Since it’s a law for drivers to stop and let you cross, this is the safest place to make your way from one side of the road to the other.
• Make eye contact: When crossing the street, make eye contact with any drivers who are stopped. This makes it clear to them that you see them, and they see you.
• Don’t dart into traffic: Even if you’re in a hurry and see an opportunity to quickly cross the road, don’t do so on a whim. You should plan out every cross, only doing so in a crosswalk and when the light tells you it’s safe.

Even if you follow these safety tips, you could still find yourself the victim of a pedestrian-car accident.

As one of our Las Vegas readers, you’re aware of how difficult it can be to maintain your safety as a pedestrian. If you’re injured as the result of another person’s negligence, learn more about the laws that protect your legal rights.

Here are some of the many things your doctor will suggest in regards to treatment:

• Rest, rest and more rest: A concussion is a brain injury, so you must give it time to rest and recover. This means cutting back on the amount of physical and mental exertion you take on during your day.
• No physical activity: The last thing you want to do is strike your head before you’ve fully recovered from a concussion. Your doctor will suggest that you don’t partake in any physical activity, either for leisure or work.
• Limited mental concentration: For example, if you work or go to school, shortened days may be necessary. Also, you don’t want to spend too much time focused on reading, watching television or using a computer.

As you recover, you will visit with your doctor to ensure that everything is going as planned. Should you run into any setbacks, such as symptoms that reappear, it’s important to receive immediate medical attention.

A concussion may not be the most advanced or serious traumatic brain injury, but it’s one that can impact your life nonetheless. On the plus side, the right treatment plan can help you make a full recovery.

Once you’re sure of your injuries and prognosis, you can then file an insurance claim and decide if there are other ways to obtain compensation from the person or party responsible for your accident.

If you come face to face with an aggressive dog that wants to attack, there are steps you can take to defuse its behavior and hopefully move to safety.

• Stay calm: Screaming uncontrollably, throwing around your arms and making sharp movements will stimulate the dog. When you remain calm, the dog will slow down and possibly leave the scene.
• Don’t make direct eye contact: It’s natural to want to make direct eye contact to show your dominance, but this actually makes the dog more aggressive. Instead, turn sideways while keeping a view of the dog out of the side of your eye.
• Slowly back up and seek shelter: As you slowly back away from the dog, seek shelter or anything you can put between the two of you. For example, getting on the other side of a door or fence will make you feel much safer.

Even if you do these things, you could still be the victim of an attack. If this happens, protect your throat, chest and face while fighting off the dog.

Regardless of the extent of your injuries, you should receive immediate medical treatment. You may require stitches, surgery and/or a rabies shot among other procedures to stabilize your health.

The next step is to collect documentation related to the accident, such as the name of the owner, photos of your injury and a police report. Doing this will help you take steps to protect your legal rights and hold the dog’s owner responsible.

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent slip-and-fall accidents, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk. One of the best things you can do is understand the most common causes. Here are four to be aware of:

1. Wet surfaces: For example, if a spill in a grocery store is not immediately addressed it could result in a slip-and-fall. Just the same, floors are often slick after a recent cleaning, such as in an office building or casino.
2. Defective sidewalks: This can include, but is not limited, to cracks, holes and uneven surfaces. Even a minor defect, such as a slight change in elevation, puts you at risk.
3. Torn or bulging carpeting: Carpeting doesn’t last forever. When it begins to wear down, it increases the risk of a slip-and-fall.
4. Stairwell defects: Common examples include missing or loose handrails, sloped steps and missing steps.

Even if you make a conscious effort to watch every step you take, you will at some point likely lose track of what you’re doing and go back to your normal ways.

If you’re injured in a slip-and-fall accident, don’t attempt to get up and leave the scene. Instead, stay where you are until help arrives. It’s critical to not only receive immediate medical treatment, but to also make note of what happened and collect evidence to back up your claim. This can help you receive compensation for your injuries.