Driving Behind a School Bus.

As you know, driving around school buses requires experience, understanding, and patience.  School buses are safe modes of transportation, but drivers of automobiles can make for a very dangerous situation.

If you see a school bus in your lane or coming towards you, pay close attention to what it is doing.  Give the bus extra space and be prepared to stop suddenly as it loads or unloads the kids.  Because they are walking on or near the road, kids are in some danger when they get on or off the bus.  It’s up to the cars around them to keep a close watch and make sure the coast is clear before continuing on.

 With that in mind, here are some cardinal rules to follow:

·         School buses are required to stop at railroad crossings, so be ready to hit the brakes if you're behind one.

·         School buses travel at slower speeds. Expect to slow down and only pass when the bus driver signals you to go by.

·         Pay attention to any stop signs or signals on the bus.

The Masters Law Firm of Charleston wants all kids to complete their daily journey safe and sound.  Be extra cautious when traveling anywhere near any West Virginia school bus.

Stepping up Safety Precautions for Coal Miners During Cold Winter Months.

When the weather is cold, the safety risks in coal mining can heat up. To raise awareness of winter coal mining safety risks, and to help protect miners when the temperatures dip down, the MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) has launched its annual Winter Alerts campaign.

Statistics show that coal mine explosions occur most often during the colder months, October through March. Low humidity and low barometric pressures, combined with seasonal drying of many areas in underground coal mines, have been major factors in past mine explosions. Colder weather also brings other potential hazards, such as limited visibility, icy haulage roads and walkways, and the freezing and thawing of highwalls at surface mines, which can make them unstable.

MSHA’s Winter Alert campaign outlines the actions that can prevent serious accidents in coal mines in the colder months: ensuring that snow and ice in travel ways are removed, salt and sand are applied where needed. In underground coal mines, mine operators should make certain that there is adequate ventilation, and should be familiar with emergency procedures that prevent ignitions and explosions.

It’s all part of MSHA’s goal to encourage employers and workers to understand that “Prevention is the Key to a Safe Workplace.”

Coal mining safety is imperative in West Virginia. The Masters Law Firm of Charleston wants you to be aware of the steps that are being taken to protect coal miners in the winter.  Please visit their website at www.themasterslawfirm.com.

Vehicles are Slipping and Sliding All Over West Virginia Roads This Time of Year.

Although statistically less people are involved in fatal vehicle accidents in the winter than in the summer this is still a time of year that you or a loved-one may have been involved in an accident on the road.

All told, auto accidents kill more than 40,000 people in the U.S. each year; they are the No. 1 cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 34.

The simple fact is, getting behind the wheel of a car is the riskiest thing most people do every day, says Russ Rader, a spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  In West Virginia there are other vehicles such as trucks hauling coal that enter and exit the highways frequently.

Instead, drivers are left to look at how and when fatal accidents occur and try their best to stay off the road at the most dangerous times, as well as make sure they’re focused solely on the road regardless of if they’re driving in dangerous conditions.

Please drive safely this winter and slow down.  This reminder comes from your friends at the Masters Law Firm of Charleston, serving all of West Virginia.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Overview.

Carbon Monoxide (sometimes referred to as CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning material containing carbon.  Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain damage and death.  You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but carbon monoxide can kill you.

Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas known as the "silent killer." Carbon monoxide is produced by common household appliances. When not properly ventilated, CO emitted by appliances can build up. For example, gas stoves can emit hazardous levels of carbon monoxide.  Gas appliances should be serviced yearly by a qualified service technician.

Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue, are often mistaken for the flu because the deadly gas goes undetected in a home. Prolonged exposure can lead to brain damage and even death.

The Masters Law Firm of Charleston, serving all of West Virginia, has experience with CO cases.  We are here to help you or a loved one.  This is a legal advertisement from the Masters Law Firm of West Virginia.  Call us at (800) 342-3106.

Choose Carefully When Buying a Space Heater in West Virginia

The Masters Law Firm reminds you to exercise precaution when choosing a space heater this cold winter.  The best space heaters can quickly heat an average size room for as little as $40.  Not all of them are risk free.  Many of those tested by Consumer Reports got hot enough to cause the equivalent of a bad sunburn within a second of contact.

Consumer Reports and the National Fire Protection Association offer the following safety advice:

·     Don't leave an electric heater unattended while it's plugged in. Place the heater on a level, flat surface where children and pets can't reach it and never in a child's room. Use a heater on a tabletop only when specified by the manufacturer. If you place it on furniture, it could fall and be damaged.

·     Don't use a space heater in a damp or wet area unless it's designed for outdoor use or in bathrooms. Moisture could damage it.

·     Keep combustible materials such as furniture, bedding, and curtains at least three feet from the front of the heater and away from its sides and rear. Don't use a heater near paint, gas cans or matches. Keep the air intake and outlet clear.

·     Run the electric cord on top of area rugs or carpeting so that you can step over it and not abrade it underfoot. Plugging another electrical device into the same outlet or extension cord as the heater could cause overheating.

Look for safety features. All of the heaters that were tested include a sensor that shuts them off if they overheat. A switch that does the same if they tip over is a welcome plus for taller models, especially with kids and pets nearby. Instructions for all the models tested by Consumer Reports also warn consumers to keep them away from water. One model has a plug that's ground-fault protected, though kitchens, bathrooms, and other moist areas should already have protected outlets.

Stay safe and secure while you endure cabin fever.  The very best to you and your family this New Year from The Masters Law Firm of Charleston West Virginia. 

Is Your Christmas Tree a Threat?

Christmas trees are a beautiful way to welcome in the spirit of the holidays, but be warned, they bring with them an element of danger.  You need to be diligent about how your tree is protected and placed in your home.

Christmas trees can catch on fire. The National Fire Protection Association reports that between 2007-2011 U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 230 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of six deaths, 22 injuries, and $18.3 million in direct property damage annually.

While the living room fireplace may be an ideal venue for Santa to stuff stockings, the heat from the fire, vents, and radiators dry out live trees quickly. 

At this busy time of year a Christmas tree is not the only threat to your safety.  More than 30,000 non-fatal shock accidents occur each year with an increase in statistics during the holiday as people gather together.  Heating equipment accounted for nearly 60,000 injuries in 2013.  Space heaters accounted for 19% of the total injuries, but more than two-thirds of the thermal burn injuries.

The Masters Law Firm in Charleston West Virginia hopes that you have a safe and happy Christmas season.  Remember that if you need representation due to any injury, contact The Masters Law Firm at (800) 988-4035.

Anchor And Stabilize Your Christmas Tree and Furniture

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released a statement urging parents and caregivers to anchor and stabilize their furniture, appliances, televisions and Christmas tree, in order to put a stop to tip-over related accidents.

In a report released by the CPSC this past December, 379 people were killed and many more were injured in tip over related accidents between 2000 and 2012. Eighty-four percent of the people that were killed were younger than 9 years old. 2012 had the greatest increase in fatalities at 41 for the year. The CPSC estimates that over 43,000 people are injured each year in these types of accidents. Falling televisions accounted for 62 percent of the reported fatalities.

Most fatalities occur in the bedroom. Some reports believe that as a family transitions to a flat screen TV, their older, heavier TV is moved into the bedroom without the proper stand or anchoring device. A dresser is no place for an unanchored television and is involved in many tip-over related accidents. A TV should be placed on a stand suitable for its size and weight, in addition to being securely anchored.

In an effort to prevent tip-over related tragedies, the CPSC recommends the following safety measures in homes where children live or visit:

·         Anchor furniture to the wall or the floor.

·         Place TVs on sturdy, low bases, or anchor the furniture and the TV on top of the base, and push the TV as far back on the furniture as possible.

·         Keep remote controls, toys, and other items that might attract children off of TV stands or furniture.

·         Keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children.

·         Make sure freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.

·         Supervise children in rooms where these safety tips have not been followed.

Have a safe and happy holiday from the Masters Law Firm in Charleston West Virginia.