A Child Died in a School Bus Crash, but ND’s Supreme Court Won’t Lift the Damage Caps
In January of 2015, a school bus carrying 13 children stopped on a railroad track. It was hit by a BNSF Railway train. As a result of that crash, the driver and 17-year-old Cassidy Sandstrom died, and ten other children were sent to the hospital. The North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund set aside $500,000 to…
Read More4/20 “Holiday” Tied to Uptick in Fatal Car Crashes
Marijuana enthusiasts are familiar with April 20, or the shorthand 4/20. It’s an unofficial holiday popularized by High Times magazine in the early 1990s as a way to celebrate marijuana by lighting up in unison at exactly 4:20pm on April 20. But a recent study has linked 4/20 with an increase in fatal car crashes…
Read MoreBurn Injuries in the Workplace
According to the World Health Organization, about 180,000 people die each year from burns. Burns happen mostly in the home or workplace, and often should be preventable, though there are exceptions to every rule. Yet many workers suffer serious harm from burns on the job every day, and the damage done in an instant can…
Read MoreTruck Side Guard Bill Introduced After Fatal Crashes
In July of 2017, two cars slid under a jackknifed tractor-trailer in New York, killing all four occupants. A truck driver had swerved to avoid a deer and lost control of his rig, blocking both lanes of traffic on the highway. Two vehicles collided with the truck, sliding underneath, which resulted in the deaths of…
Read MoreToxic Chemicals and Oil Field Workers
Right now, the oil business is expanding after strong 2017 numbers. New demand and new technologies have spiked production all around the country, which also increases the demand for field workers. There is no doubt that the oil and gas industry has been good for North Dakota. But is it always good for workers? Oil…
Read MoreTwo Million Barrels a Day
Last year, Governor Burgum gave a speech where he challenged the energy industry to do four things: Take the Bakken to the next level Find ways to work hand-in-hand with the coal industry Create a zero-spill industry standard Produce two million barrels a day The “two million barrels” part of the challenge has been up…
Read MoreNorth Dakota’s Medical Malpractice Damage Caps Are Ruled Unconstitutional
In 1995, the North Dakota legislature capped medical malpractice damages at $500,000. Since that day, patients, attorneys and advocates have been fighting against the cap. No explanation was ever given for why the dollar amount was chosen, and no one’s ever proved that damage caps helped anyone outside of the insurance companies. The fight against…
Read MoreIf You Drive a Particular Ford Pickup, Ford Would Like You to Stop
For the last couple of years, reports regarding Takata’s exploding airbags have been largely focused on Honda. A release from Reuters, published in the Huffington Post, however, claims that thousands of Ford drivers could also be at risk. To date, more than 391,000 Ford Rangers (2004-2006 models) have been recalled for potential deadly defects. Ford…
Read MoreDrunk Driving May Be the Cause of the Crash on Highway 83 Bypass
On Tuesday, January 9th, a car crashed into the back of a Freightliner service truck on the bypass of Highway 83 in Minot. According to the truck driver, he was trying to turn, but couldn’t move because of traffic. He could see a Jeep coming up fast behind him, but there was nowhere to go.…
Read MoreMore Hobby Farming Leads to More Farming Injuries
Farming in any capacity is one of the more dangerous occupations in the US; every day over 100 workers suffer serious injuries. Hobby farmers who lack practical experience, or may be less accustomed to physical labor, are even more prone to accidents and injuries, often as the result of the defective machinery or exposure to…
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