Butte County Personal Injury Blog

Protecting yourself when you ride

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.

Unless you are under the age of 17, South Dakota law does not require you to wear a helmet when you ride or operate a motorcycle. Nevertheless, there are many who realize they already have very little protection in the event of an accident, so not only do they wear a helmet, but they may also add protective eye gear, gloves and protective clothing. Even with these precautions, however, the chances of being seriously injured in a collision with another vehicle are high.

Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that about 80 percent of all motorcycle accidents result in serious or fatal injuries. If you are on your bike when you encounter a larger vehicle, the odds are not in your favor. You may find yourself struggling to recover from some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries.

Did you need surgery to repair a broken bone?

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Lives can change in an instant, and people who have been involved in car accidents know that better than many people do. One minute you may have simply been trying to get to work on time, and the next minute, a car comes seemingly out of nowhere and crashes into your vehicle. Suddenly, you are experiencing immense pain, confusion and fear.

Soon after the adrenaline subsided, you may have suspected that you had broken one or multiple bones. Car crashes can easily cause these and other serious injuries, and you may worry what it means for your health and your life. Of course, to know the answer to these questions, you will need an evaluation from medical professionals.

When a bad tumble causes a brain injury

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm posted in blog on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

Slipping or tripping may seem funny in cartoons, but in real life, it often leads to serious injuries. While a cartoon character who falls may make you laugh as a bullet-shaped knot grows out of his head, it is not so amusing when you are the one with a head injury.

Traumatic brain injuries can occur when your head strikes the ground or another object during your fall. These injuries can have lifelong consequences, requiring prolonged medical intervention and expensive treatments and therapies. If your fall occurred because of the negligence of a South Dakota property owner in remediating a hazard, you may have cause to seek compensation through the civil courts.

Did you lose a loved one because of someone else's negligence?

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm posted in blog on Friday, February 9, 2018.

Losing a loved one may just be one of the hardest things you may ever go through. The hole left behind by that person's absence can never be filled. When that loss comes suddenly at the hands of someone else, the situation takes on another level of grief.

Nothing can bring back your loved one, but it might be possible to seek some closure, along with compensation for the financial losses the death of your loved one caused. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for those losses.

Mining accidents have many causes, catastrophic results

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm posted in blog on Friday, December 22, 2017.

Every job has its risks. Even the most sedentary work can result in injury or illness if proper precautions aren't in place. Of course, you understand that some jobs consistently rise to the top of lists of industries carrying high risk of danger. If you work in the mining industry, you know your life is often on the line.

Mining is one of the top industries in South Dakota. Gold, silver and other minerals have lured adventure-seekers and dreamers to the state for generations, and entrepreneurs have built lucrative businesses around those dreams. Oil, natural gas fields and coal mines provide energy for the world and jobs for many hardworking residents. Nevertheless, no matter which type of mining you do, you face hazards on the job daily.

Weather-related traffic accidents bring a flood of grief

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, October 20, 2017.

With fundraisers and celebrity contributions, it is likely that charities raised millions of dollars to support the victims of the recent natural disasters across the country. You may have joined others in South Dakota who watched news coverage of devastating winds and floods, leaving destruction and death behind. You were probably horrified to hear of the number of people who died in those storms.

Still, the U.S. Department of Transportation says that the number of people who die in an average year from weather-related traffic accidents is greater than the number of annual deaths from all the tornadoes, floods and hurricanes combined.

Traumatic amputation can leave you with considerable pain

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm posted in personal injury on Monday, August 28, 2017.

You likely understand that anyone could be involved in a life-changing accident at any time. You may have felt as if your life was heading in a positive direction and that you had the abilities to participate in activities that made your life feel worthwhile when a serious incident resulted in your suffering a catastrophic injury, such as losing a limb. This type of outcome can occur after a severe car accident, and you may not know how to move forward.

Unfortunately, amputation during a car accident or needed amputation as a result of the incident can leave you feeling devastated. Not only have you suffered a serious physical trauma, but this type of event could also leave lasting psychological effects as well.

The rights of railroad workers under FELA

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm posted in personal injury on Wednesday, July 5, 2017.

Working in the railroad industry can be stressful and high-risk for employees. While it is an inherently dangerous job, certain federal laws guarantee protections and rights to these workers. If you work on America's railroads, it would benefit you to know and understand your rights under the Federal Employers Liability Act.

This law clearly establishes your rights as an employee in this industry, including your rights in case you suffer an injury on the job. If you were hurt or believe that your employer violated the terms of FELA in some way, you have a right to compensation and care needed to recover from your injuries.

The serious nature of burn injuries

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm posted in personal injury on Wednesday, May 3, 2017.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, close to a million burn injuries occur in the United States each year that are severe enough to require medical attention. Hospitalization is required in approximately 50,000 cases, and 20,000 of burn cases involve burns that cover a quarter of the body's surface or more. More than 4,000 die from these burns, and as many as 10,000 die due to related infections.

The Impact of Spinal Cord Injuries

On behalf of Barker Wilson Law Firm posted in personal injury on Thursday, March 2, 2017.

One spinal cord injury changes many lives forever. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, approximately 11,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries in the United States annually. The majority of spinal cord injury victims are young men. But that statistic does not include the 11,000 families struggling to share the burden of the potentially life-long aftermath of the traumatic event. The number 11,000 fails to even begin to express the profound physical and emotional loss that can accompany this most devastating of all injuries. The financial cost can be absolutely staggering for any family. When the medical community has exhausted its efforts to restore and rehabilitate, the victim and their family must rely on each other to carry on. But sometimes, if the injury was caused by the carelessness of another, the legal system can offer help.