After a car accident, driving can become stressful. Merging onto the freeway may raise your heart rate, change your breathing and put you into a cold sweat. PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may develop after experiencing a traumatic event such as a car accident that threatens your safety or makes you feel helpless. So how do you deal with Post Traumatic Stress after an accident? For most people symptoms are only temporary lasting days, weeks or months and decrease as time goes on. Symptoms may be triggered by something that reminds you of the original traumatic events. There are...[ Read More ]

Stress slows healing by blocking the delivery of nutrients throughout the body. Elevated levels of cortisol can increase depression, obesity, insomnia, heart disease and digestive problems. So if you are recovering from an accident and are experiencing excessive stress then here are some ways to decompress and rid your body of the stress hormone, cortisol. Exercise – Go for a walk though nature, do yoga or play a sport. Exercise helps circulate nutrients in your body and reduces levels of cortisol. Cortisol’s purpose is to promote the release of glucose, your body’s source of fuel. Meditate – Close your eyes...[ Read More ]

After an accident, hospital bills may begin to pile up while you are out of work due to injuries sustained in the collision. Stress is a natural response when our outlook may seem bleak. In short durations, stress keeps us alert and helps us to avoid danger by giving us a burst of energy that allows us to run or fight; but what happens when this stress builds up without relief? Stress hormones can slow the delivery of nutrients that heal the body. What this means is that wounds will take much longer to heal when a person is experiencing...[ Read More ]

If traffic lights are out due to a storm or power outage then drivers are to stop at the intersection as though it is a four-way-stop. Drivers must then proceed through the intersection one by one in the order of first-come-first-serve. This means that you must yield to the right of way to others who have arrived first. If two cars arrive at the same time, then the vehicle to the right will proceed first. Pedestrians, cyclists and other road users may be confused by malfunctioning lights and signals. Be alert and aware of your surroundings. When a pedestrian is...[ Read More ]

In the summer time we often don’t think about flooding because Western Washington gets substantially less rain this time of year; but did you know that flash floods can happen as a result of thunderstorms? The following are some tips on how to drive in a flood. Avoid driving on roads covered by water. They are prone to collapse and may sweep away an average vehicle in only 12 inches of moving water. Driving through water may also stall your engine and cause irreversible damage if you try to restart the engine. If you come to a flooded street then...[ Read More ]

Here’s what a good Personal Injury Lawyer can do for you: • Remove the constant stress and hassle of having to deal directly with the insurance company adjuster. (You’ll finally be able to focus on getting well with greater peace of mind). • Stop harassing phone calls from collection agencies about your unpaid medical bills. (Make sure that the insurance company pays for all your outstanding medical bills). • Have a strong advocate on your side making sure that the insurance company plays by the rules. (You’ll finally have someone who will watch your back). • Hire economic experts who...[ Read More ]

The most common type of personal injury case is a road traffic accident, but did you know the term personal injury also includes medical and dental accidents? Depending on the intent or negligence of the responsible party, the injured party may be entitled to monetary compensation through settlement. General damages may be emotional stress or pain and suffering whereas special damages are measurable costs which can be itemized. These may include medical bills, property damages and lost wages. Injuries sustained may last a lifetime and in some cases result in an inability to do one’s job. Personal injury is usually...[ Read More ]

We have all read prospective employment resumes that state, “I’m great under pressure and handle multi-tasking efficiently.” As a nation, we pride ourselves for being able to accomplish multiple things at once. Furthermore, all of us believe that we can improve productivity by doing so. What really happens when we begin doing more than one thing at a time? Researchers have utilized MRIs to observe the human brain while multi-tasking and performing various interrupted tasks. What they found is that when working on one task the brain devotes both frontal lobes to managing the work. When two tasks are performed...[ Read More ]

With texting and driving on the rise, there are now a number of simulators and games that have been released recently to show young adults just how difficult it is to text while maintaining complete control of a moving vehicle. The New York Times published one simulator that measures your reaction time and how it is affected by external distractions. You can find the link to test out your skills at: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/19/technology/20090719-driving-game.html?_r=0 I tested out the simulator and found that there is a delayed reaction when switching between viewing something close up and then something further away due to focusing...[ Read More ]

The Cunnane Law Office has provided this content for informational purposes only. You should refer your questions to a personal injury attorney. Here in Seattle a lot of us commute to and from work. During long commutes we might get tired from a long work day mixed with a warm car. Sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your overall risk of crashing. Factors that may affect your level of tiredness while driving include: sleep loss from restriction or too little sleep, interruption or fragmented sleep, chronic sleep debt, driving patterns or work schedules, undiagnosed or untreated...[ Read More ]