Personal Injury
Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits May Finally Get the Support They Need
Burn pits, which were used to burn garbage and other waste during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been a feature of military life since 2001. A story in the New York Times reports on how Congress plans to help those veterans who were exposed to the toxic fumes spewing from these open burn…
Read MoreAir Ambulances – Harming Those They Help?
Air ambulances play an important role in helping injured people get the care they need. When a regular ambulance can’t reach an area because of the rugged terrain, or because it would take too long to get to the injured person, an air ambulance can be the difference between life and death. Air ambulances are…
Read MoreNorth Dakota’s Motorized Scooter and Electric Bicycle Laws
Motorized or electric scooters, or “e-scooters,” and electric bicycles are becoming increasingly popular methods for getting around; perhaps you’ve seen people zipping around here in Minot and nearby areas. E-scooters and e-bikes can be a fun and fuel-efficient way to get around, but only when riders follow the rules of the road and practice safe…
Read MoreWhy Are Fatality and Injury Rates for Pipeline Workers Underreported?
The oil and gas extraction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in the U.S. workforce. But when it comes to calculating how often serious injuries and fatalities happen, it can be a challenge to calculate accurate number because of data gaps and limitations according to an article in Industrial Safety & Hygiene News…
Read MoreWill Marijuana Use Make North Dakotans Unsafe?
Medical marijuana was approved for qualifying medical conditions by North Dakota voters in 2016. Now, potential marijuana dispensaries can apply for applications with the North Dakota Department of Health to open in the Devil’s Lake Jamestown, Dickinson and Minot regions. An article in the Grand Forks Herald reports that the state is allowing one dispensary…
Read MoreThe Symptoms and Stages of Frostbite
It’s no secret that North Dakota winters are cold – really cold! Even going outside for a short period of time puts any of us at risk for frostbite. Frostbite isn’t just a worry for skiers or mountain climbers. Anyone exposed to freezing temperatures for just about any length of time can get frostbite if…
Read MoreWho’s Responsible if You’re Hurt on Someone Else’s Property?
North Dakota requires that owners of almost every type of property owe a duty of care to the people who visit their property. The duty requires that the property owner inspect the property and fix known defects, so visitors aren’t injured. Owners can also be found liable if they should have reasonably known of a…
Read MoreRisks for Agricultural Workers during the Harvest Season
North Dakota farmers have begun harvesting their small grains with success, despite the hot and dry summer. However, if we don’t get some rain soon, many are concerned about later crops, like soybeans and corn. As of now, it’s too early to tell what kinds of yields local farmers will see for the rest of…
Read MoreA 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 MoreDespite Flashing Lights, Trucks and Trains Still Manage to Collide
When you are impatient for a train to pass, it can seem like an eternity waiting for those cars to go by. Sometimes it even seems like the lights begin to flash and the barrier goes down without a train in view for miles. But you still respect the roadway crossing gate because you recognize…
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