Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Accidents are very common. While most accidents are minor, some are very serious, resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, NCDOT, there are an average of more than 750 accidents per day in our state. About 300 people a day are injured in crashes in North Carolina, and there are about seven fatalities. Often, serious accidents result in entrapment. First responders may need the help of the jaws of life to remove victims from vehicles after a crash.
What are the Jaws of Life?
The jaws of life are specialty tools that are used to remove a person who is trapped inside a vehicle. There are several different tools that could be utilized. The most common tool that people think of when they hear the term “jaws of life” is the hydraulic spreader. This tool is used to pry open metal through the use of strong pressure. This type of tool can be used, for example, to pry open a jammed door that may have been damaged in the crash.
Other tools are also considered part of the jaws of life toolbox. A cutter is a large, strong tool that functions like an industrial pair of scissors to cut away metal parts of vehicles. A cutter may be useful in situations where the impact leaves no place to otherwise enter a car or truck. Rams may also be implemented to remove glass, such as the windshield or other windows, to gain access to the injured individual inside.
Accidents That May Require the Jaws of Life
Some types of accidents are more likely to result in entrapment and the need to use the jaws of life. Accidents that occur at high speeds are more likely to cause severe damage to a vehicle. The vehicle may be crushed, rendering the doors or windows unusable. Rollover crashes are especially severe, and first responders may need the jaws of life to help get to the victims inside. Side impact accidents can damage the doors, making them unable to be opened without mechanical assistance.
Benefits of the Jaws of Life
Vehicles are made of strong steel and that makes them difficult to get into in the case of a crushing accident. Regardless of the number of first responders, it takes more than human strength to access passengers. In many instances, injuries are extremely severe or life-threatening, and every minute counts. The jaws of life are powerful and make it easier and faster to get to the injured people inside a crashed auto. These tools can save lives and help get people to safety and medical help in a matter of minutes.
Were You Hurt in an Accident?
If you were hurt in an accident that was not your fault, you may be owed compensation for your injuries. The negligent driver may be held responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages you suffered. To learn more, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a free initial consultation.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury and boating accidents. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.ncdot.gov/Pages/default.aspx
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/jaws-life.htm
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