Grand Rapids Personal Injury Blog

There may be some signs of hope for Michigan residents with spinal cord problems. Scientists from Boston Children's Hospital are working on a way to help paralyzed patients regain the ability to walk. Their research study examines ways to revitalize undamaged nerve pathways in the spinal cord.

Paralysis occurs when the neurons in the spinal cord become severed and are no longer able to transmit movement commands from the brain. However, most spinal cord patients only suffer partial nerve damage, meaning some neural pathways remain intact. Despite this, around 50 percent of patients suffer total paralysis and the loss of sensation. For the study, researchers set out to determine why this occurs and if it could be remedied.

The American Sleep Foundation states that almost half the adult drivers in Michigan and the rest of the United States confess to repeatedly driving while feeling sleepy. Almost 20 percent of the drivers surveyed admitted that during some time in the last year, they fell asleep while driving. Forty percent of the drivers stated that they experienced falling asleep behind the wheel more than once since they began driving.

Many drivers may be unaware that drowsy driving is a hazard that places themselves and others on the road in danger. According to a report issue by the Governors Highway Safety Association, it is estimated that 5,000 people lost their lives in 2015 due to motor vehicle crashes caused in some part by drowsy driving.

Commercial truck drivers in Michigan should be aware that they are more likely to engage in drowsy driving than other motorists. According to some estimates, drowsy driving is responsible for at least 100,000 motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. each year. Because of their enormous weight and size, commercial trucks and big rigs are likely to cause catastrophic and deadly injuries when they are involved in accidents.

Commercial truck drivers are more susceptible to driving while drowsy because of their tight deadlines, pressure from their employers and long hours on the road. Other drivers can get off of the road and get some much-needed sleep until they are able to drive safely again. However, commercial truck drivers who have to get their cargo to a specific location at a certain time may feel that they do not have this option.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced that it will ramp up its enforcement efforts in Michigan and throughout the country during Brake Safety Week in 2018. The event, which will take place Sept. 16-22, will primarily focus on Level I inspections. Inspectors will be looking for things like loose or missing parts, defective rotor conditions and worn linings. They'll also be checking a wide range of other components that are crucial to the braking safety of commercial vehicles.

Vehicles that don't pass inspection during Brake Safety Week will be taken off the roadways until they fix the associated issues. Brakes must consistently be maintained and repaired so that they operate according to the manufacturer's specifications. When brakes are improperly repaired, maintained or installed, they can reduce efficiency and present a risk to everyone on the road.