Cold and Silly Vs. Cold and Dead. Choose Safety over Inconvenience this Winter.

By: Jennifer Geiringer, Chief Marketing Officer

This week, most of the country got its first taste of freezing temperatures. As winter sets in, we will bundle our kids in warm bulky gear, buckle them into their car seats and head off to school and activities. Many parents are unaware that in doing this, we are putting our kids at risk and endangering their lives

Safety experts recommend NOT using winter coats underneath the harness of a car seat. Why? Bulky fabrics can make the harness too loose to be effective in a crash, increasing the likelihood of ejection in an accident.  If your child is ejected in an accident, their risk of death is 5 times greater.

A recent study published in the US National Library of Medicine, suggests that ejection due to improper restraint accounted for 88% of child and infant fatalities, making it the primary cause of death in children involved in the study.  Infants and children 0-4 years accounted for the majority of all deaths.  Another study found that two-thirds of all mortalities were attributed to occupant ejection from the vehicle.

As parents, keeping our children safe is our number one goal, right?  We want to protect our kids from the winter temperatures and keep them safe in the car.  We can accomplish both by removing our children’s coat to buckle them in, then resting the coat over them or putting it on backwards.  You can also keep a blanket in the car to keep them warm.  

I can hear parent complaints, even as I write this:  “The car is freezing when we get in, I don’t want to take my kid’s coat off” or “having to put my kid’s coats on and take them off every time we get out of the car is annoying and time consuming”.  I get it, it’s not ideal, however citing these excuses and leaving the coats on may save a little time and energy,  but it DOES NOT save our children’s lives

There are ways to make safety easier.  For the parent, there are really no ways around the extra steps. To put it bluntly, the process puts your child’s life before your inconvenience; it’s no brainer, right?  For your children, I recommend that you first warm up the car by manually starting it or installing a remote car starter, prior to putting the kids in.  Next, put your child’s coat on backwards on the way out to the car, so you only have to pull it off for a couple seconds while buckling; then put it back on backwards. Finally, leave the car running while unbuckling and put coats on to exit the car or, if you choose to turn the car off, simply pull the coat off, unbuckle, and put the coat on backwards again to walk into your destination.

Will your child be cold for a few seconds?  Possibly. Will they look silly walking around with a backwards coat on? Definitely.  But I’ll take cold and silly looking over cold and dead any day of the week!  Wouldn’t you?

Litigation Funding Helps with Financial Implications of a Wrongful Death

In the aftermath of a fatal auto accident, surviving family members are understandably consumed by anger, grief, and confusion.  A sudden and wrongful death can also bring a host of financial problems, especially if the deceased was the sole bread winner. Savings may dwindle to nothing, home foreclosure may be imminent, and the inability to pay the bills can ruin a credit score.  Although it is nearly impossible to plan for a tragic accident, Lawsuit Financial offers a way for victims to stay above water financially in the event that it does happen.

“My husband was killed by a drunk driver last year.  I was a stay-at-home mom caring for our two children.  We had so many bills – mortgage, car payment, tuition, already and then I was faced with paying for a funeral and figuring out what to do without my husband.  I filed a lawsuit, but every step forward became two steps back.  I had just about given up hope when I learned about litigation funding.  My first thought was – I can’t afford that; I have no job and can’t make monthly payments or incur more debt.  My attorney assured me that litigation funding was not like a bank loan.  Although this sounded too good to be true, I decided to check it out.  I figured I had nothing to lose at this point.  I called three funding companies before deciding to proceed with Lawsuit Financial.  Within 24 hours, I applied and was approved. There are not enough words to express my gratitude. Lawsuit Financial made it a little easier to get through a difficult time and keep my home.  I would highly recommend Lawsuit Financial to anyone needing lawsuit funding.” ~ Jackie S

Litigation funding is a cash advance against a pending lawsuit.  The major advantage is that it is provided on a non-recourse basis meaning that repayment is made once the case successfully settles.  If the case is lost, repayment is completely waived.  Additionally, there is no need for a credit check or employment verification and the plaintiff is free from monthly payments. Funding can be quickly provided after a completed application and case documentation is received, often times within 24 – 48 hours.

If you have lost a family member due to the negligence of someone else, are currently being represented by an attorney, and in need of financial assistance, let Lawsuit Financial take the risk during your pending case.  We cannot remove the emotional burden, but we can reduce the financial one so you can focus on things that matter instead of worrying about money.

Journey Home Safely

The holidays are coming to a close and many are returning home from vacation or trip to visit with out-of-state family and friends.  Wintry weather, busier roadways, and extensive travel time present greater risks.  Drivers need to apply the same safety tips travelling back home as the day they left.

Check weather and road conditions.  Just because the weather and roads are fine where you are does not mean they will be 200 miles into your trip.  Check the Federal Highway Administration's website for up-to-the-minute traffic information, detours and road construction before you leave. The Weather Channel's website identifies weather conditions of interstates and roads.

Plan ahead and know alternate routes.  Before you depart, become confident in knowing your route. Planning ensures that you are prepared for whatever might happen – construction, a road closing, long traffic back-up, or an accident blocking – during your trip.  Also, make sure your GPS is updated or you have appropriate state maps handy.

Pad your schedule, allow plenty of time to reach your destination.

 

Examine your vehicle before you leave. The last thing you want to worry about is being stranded far from home. Check brakes, battery, fluid levels, tire pressure, light bulbs and any parts that need regular maintenance.

Check your emergency equipment, such as a first-aid kit, flashlight, blankets, icy scraper/brush, drinking water and snacks, along with flares and jumper cables.

Don’t leave your cellphone and charger at grandma’s house.  You never know when you might experience car troubles or where you might be when that happens.  Also, be sure to have contact information for roadside assistance on hand.

Wear your seatbelt. Buckle up - not only is it the law; it could help save your life.  Make sure children are in the proper child safety seat.

Don't rush.  Take your time; drive carefully and patiently.  Speeding is never a good idea, especially during the holidays. Use signals to indicate lane changes and give everyone plenty of room.

Know how to drive on icy roads.  Tips include not driving until snow plows and salt trucks have done their job, allowing extra time to get to your destination, decreasing your speed, and leaving yourself plenty of room to stop.

Stay hydrated.  One- to two-percent loss of body weight can quickly lead to fatigue and decreased alertness. Also, your body requires more fuel in the cold.  Keep high-energy food on hand.

Make frequent rest stops.  Making frequent stops to rest or just stretching your legs is important in keeping your energy level high enough to be alert on the road.  Just a few minutes off the road will make all the difference in improving your alertness when you're back behind the wheel.

Lawsuit Financial wishes all of you a Happy New Year and safe travelling!