Planning on buying a used car in the near future?  Just because a tire looks OK does not mean it is safe to use. Modern tires are highly engineered products that must withstand the weight of a car plus the forces from braking and turning while providing a comfortable ride and increased gas mileage. Even without exposure to heat and friction from the road, certain tire compounds like natural and synthetic rubbers decompose over time. Tire manufacturers must provide the date on which the tire was manufactured, but not the date by after which the tire should not be used. To make matters worse

Have your been injured by a defective vehicle or tire?  Any manufacturer selling in the United States has a duty to warn consumers about any unsafe product, and under certain circumstances, has a duty to recall a dangerous product.  U.S. governmental agencies have revised their regulations to require reporting of more safety issues, in order to better protect consumers. For vehicles, new criteria for the ratings system include side pole testing, using different sized test dummies and collecting more crash data.   There are ways to get more detailed information on crash and rollover tes

If your child was involved in trauma, he or she may seem OK.  Post-concussive symptoms in kids show up differently than with adults, however.  If in doubt, always consult a medical professsional for your child. With babies, it can be difficult to recognize that a brain injury has occurred. The most obvious symptom is loss of consciousness but other signs include crying inconsolably and not being able to be comforted, vomiting, or excessive sleepiness. Refusing to eat, prolonged irritability, or unusual or prolonged periods of quietness or inactivity may also be signs of a concussion or more

Been chased by a phantom or know someone who has?  Another driver can cause you to have an accident even if there is no contact between your vehicles. Drivers engaging in reckless driving, such as weaving in and out of lanes or crossing the center line, can force you to perform an evasive maneuver and, in turn, cause your vehicle to roll over or collide with another car, a freeway median, or some other object. In most of these cases, the negligent driver never bothers to stop and is never identified. These unidentified vehicles often are called “phantom vehicles.”  If you are injured be

It's cold!  But extremely important to keep everyone safe from Carbon Monoxide, which has been called "the silent killer."    Typically, carbon monoxide is not produced in dense enough levels to harm anyone, but when appliances malfunction, deadly amounts can rapidly accumulate.  Here's what to do to keep everyone safe: Have your home heating systems (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually by a trained service technician.  If you rent, ask your landlord to have this done. Never use portable generators inside homes or garages, even if doors and windows are open.