Did Your Pelvis Break in an Accident? Compensation May Be Available

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Your pelvis is critical to your body. Breaking it could leave you unable to perform your usual tasks for weeks or months. If you’re older, the consequences of a broken pelvis can include a shortened lifespan. If you suffer a broken pelvis in a vehicle or motorcycle accident or due to a slip and fall, you may be entitled to compensation for what you’re going through.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC have helped accident victims, including those suffering a broken pelvis, for more than 30 years. If you want to learn more about how a party responsible for your injury may be held liable for their actions under Kentucky law, schedule a free consultation by calling us at 855-385-9532 today.

What is a Pelvis?

Your pelvis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is the seat of your axial skeleton (the skeletal system’s central core). It holds up the trunk of your body and connects it to your legs. You can think of it as a basin at the base of your spine, that opens in the middle.

What Does Your Pelvis Do?

Your pelvic bones carry your upper body’s weight with your pelvic floor’s muscles. The pelvic cavity, the area between your pelvis and abdomen, holds urinary and reproductive organs. In women, the pelvis’ opening serves as the birth canal.

Your pelvis protects important organs, nerves, and blood vessels, including internal reproductive organs, your bladder, and lower digestive tract. It also anchors your leg muscles.

What is a Pelvic Fracture?

The Cleveland Clinic reports that a pelvic fracture is a break in one or more pelvic bones. They can range from mild to severe.

The pelvic bones include:

  • The sacrum (a large triangle-shaped bone at your spine’s base).
  • The coccyx (or tailbone).
  • The hip bones, which are the ilium, ischium, and pubis

These bones make up your pelvic ring.

What Types of Fractures are There?

Your pelvis has multiple bones, so there can be many types of pelvic fractures, which can also vary on the break’s pattern, including:

  • Closed or open (compound) fracture: A closed fracture is contained within your body. An open or compound fracture pierces your skin
  • Complete fracture: Your pelvis breaks into two pieces
  • Displaced fracture: There’s a gap between the fractured pelvis
  • Partial fracture: The break doesn’t go through the pelvis
  • Stress fracture: Your pelvis cracks but doesn’t break completely through it

A pelvic fracture is also stable or unstable:

  • Stable: There’s one break, and the broken parts of the pelvis aren’t displaced. These can occur from low-impact accidents, like a fall
  • Unstable: There are two or more breaks, and the ends of the broken parts of the bones are displaced. These fractures are often caused by high-impact accidents like vehicle or motorcycle crashes

Less common are avulsion fractures, which occur when a ligament or tendon tears away from the pelvis, taking a small bone piece with it.

How Common are Pelvic Fractures?

About 3% of adult bone fractures are pelvic fractures. Most occur due to high-impact events, such as vehicle accidents or falls from a significant height.

What are Pelvic Fracture Symptoms?

They depend on the break’s severity and can include:

  • Pain in the groin, lower back, hip, or abdomen
  • Pain when moving your legs or walking
  • Tingling or numbness in your legs or groin
  • Difficulty urinating, walking, or standing

If you’ve had a serious fall or are in a vehicle accident, get medical attention as soon as possible, especially if you have these symptoms.

How is a Fractured Pelvis Treated?

That depends on several factors, including:

  • The fracture’s severity
  • The fracture’s pattern and type
  • Which bones are displaced and how much
  • If you have other injuries and your overall health

Mild and stable fractures where bones aren’t displaced can include rest, walking aids, and medications. More severe or unstable pelvic fractures usually require at least one surgery. Different surgery types include:

  • External fixation: Metal screws or pins are inserted into your pelvic bones through small incisions. They stick out of your body and are attached to bars which create a stabilizing frame that hold broken bones in proper positions while they heal
  • Skeletal traction: This is a pulley system outside your body that realigns the broken bone(s). Metal pins are implanted in your thighbone or shinbone. They  go through your skin and help position your leg. Weights attached to the pins pull on your leg to keep broken pelvic bone fragments in a normal position
  • Open reduction and internal fixation: Displaced pelvic bone parts are repositioned into their normal positions, then held together with screws or metal plates attached to the bone’s outer surface

If you have a severe pelvic fracture due to a motorcycle or vehicle accident, you may have other internal injuries caused by the pelvic fracture. Successful fracture treatment often depends on treating related injuries. It usually takes 8 to 12 weeks for a fractured pelvis to heal, with more severe fractures or those with complications taking longer.

What is the Outlook for Someone with a Pelvic Fracture?

It depends on the type and severity of the injury. Mild, stable fractures normally heal well with treatment without chronic complications. Unstable, severe pelvic fractures caused by high-impact accidents could cause complications like severe bleeding, organ and/or nerve damage. If they are treated successfully, the fracture usually heals well.

However, a pelvic fracture could also result in chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, impaired mobility, and a type of dangerous blood clot (deep vein thrombosis).

When Can a Pelvic Fracture be Life-Threatening?

Unstable, complex pelvic fractures caused by high-impact forces, such as during a vehicle accident or a significant fall, can damage surrounding organs, blood vessels, and nerves in the pelvic region. This can cause life-threatening infections, bleeding, and organ failures.

Speak To A Satterley & Kelley, PLLC Accident Injury Attorney Today

If you’re injured in an accident and suffer a broken pelvis, Satterley & Kelley PLLC attorneys can protect your rights to compensation for your injuries and losses. To reach our Louisville office, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation.

American Standard Equipped Bathrooms and Killed Its Workers

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American Standard, Inc. operated a massive enamel plant in Louisville, Kentucky, for more than a hundred years. It employed many workers over the decades who were regularly exposed to asbestos fibers. These naturally occurring mineral fibers have many useful qualities, but they also cause cancer.

Located on South Seventh Street, the facility first opened in the 1890s and was acquired by American Standard in the 1920s. The plant was a major employer for decades until it shut down in 1992. Like many industrial facilities dating back many years, the plant contained asbestos products that helped the plant function, but also poisoned countless employees.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is an extremely light and strong naturally occurring mineral fiber that’s resistant to fire, heat, electricity, and chemicals. It’s been used in products because of those qualities for centuries.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos fibers are tiny, light, strong, and durable. If they’re in the air, they can easily be inhaled or swallowed by anyone in the area. The human immune system can’t break down or eliminate asbestos fibers after they enter the body.

Over decades, fibers cause scar tissue, inflammation, cell mutations, and various cancers. Asbestos causes mesothelioma, a fatal cancer of the linings of the lungs, heart, abdominal organs, and abdominal and chest cavities.

Who Was Exposed at American Standard?

Asbestos was throughout the facility. It was on steam pipes, boilers, and ductwork. It was in the floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and insulation. Furnaces, ovens, and kilns used to create plumbing fixtures were built with asbestos-containing materials, including fire brick and refractory coatings, to withstand the intense heat used in the manufacturing process.

Asbestos fibers would be liberated from products when they were installed, repaired, or removed. Those involved in construction, renovation, or maintenance, including millwrights, boilermakers, electricians, insulators, and general laborers were exposed. Outside contractors and company employees passing through the plant could also inhale or swallow asbestos fibers in the workplace.

Family members of those working in the plant were also exposed when fibers came off dirty clothes that were worn home.

Did the Exposure Ever Stop?

As long as asbestos and people were present in the facility, exposure continued. Equipment would need maintenance and repairs over time. Overhauls would be especially dangerous because asbestos products had to be pulled off machinery for it to be repaired or replaced, sending fibers into the air. After the work was done, new asbestos products were installed, putting more fibers into the workplace.

Fibers could drift through the air and settle on equipment or the floor. People walking by or performing work could send the fibers back into the air, where workers could swallow or inhale them.

What Should Asbestos Victims Do?

Mesothelioma is physically and emotionally devastating. But for many former American Standard workers and their families, understanding who caused the disease and holding them accountable can provide a measure of justice and support. Compensation can help you cover medical costs, lost income, and the burdens faced by your loved ones.

The average person diagnosed with mesothelioma will probably pass away somewhere between six and 18 months from their diagnosis. It’s essential to act quickly if you or a loved one are diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.

Kentucky’s statute of limitations for filing a compensation claim is only one year from the date of diagnosis. While your medical treatment should be your top priority, pursuing legal rights must also be done promptly.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys have experience handling asbestos cases filed by those who worked at American Standard. With more than two decades of experience in asbestos litigation and a detailed understanding of this site and its history, you can trust us to represent you and your family.

Call Us Today for A Free Consultation

If you or a family member has an asbestos-related disease and worked at American Standard or elsewhere, Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, is here to help you through this difficult time.

To discuss your situation and how Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation.

Accidents on the Water Can Be Just as Deadly as Those on Roads

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Negligent acts can injure or kill, no matter the form of transportation involved in an accident, and they can be the basis of an insurance claim or lawsuit seeking compensation for the harm done. The Fleck Firm can represent you and your family if negligent boating causes severe injuries or death.

A weekend or vacation may have started with the best intentions, but end in a hospital emergency department. Regardless of where the boating accident occurred, Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can investigate the incident and seek the maximum compensation possible. If you have questions or concerns about a boating accident and the injuries it caused, call us at 855-385-9532 today.

Marshall County Boating Accident Leaves One Dead and One Injured

Thomas and Mary Reese of Illinois were boating near the Jonathan Creek area of Kentucky Lake on July 2 when they were struck by another boat, according to the Western Kentucky Star. The county coroner stated they slowed down while another boat approached them so quickly that they couldn’t avoid the collision.

The married couple was thrown from the boat and later taken to a local hospital. Seventy-two-year-old Mary Reese died of her injuries. At the time the article was written, Thomas Reese was still in the hospital.

Violating Safety Rules and Practices Could be the Basis of an Insurance Claim or Lawsuit

Insurance policies cover potential liabilities that the insured may incur if they commit negligence and harm someone in some way. Generally, negligence is not acting reasonably in a given situation, given a person or company’s obligation to others that they may put in harm’s way. This could mean failing to do something when it should have been done, or doing something insufficiently in some way.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes a summary of regulations and best practices covering fishing and boating. If a boater violates an applicable regulation and harm results, they could be a defendant in a lawsuit seeking compensation filed by someone they injured.

The following actions would be reckless operation of a watercraft and violate Kentucky law:

  • Weaving through boat traffic
  • Following another watercraft towing someone on water skis, a surfboard, or any water sport device too closely
  • Jumping another watercraft’s wake in a way that endangers life, physical safety, or property
  • Cutting between a boat and the person towed by it
  • Crossing another boat’s path if visibility is obstructed
  • Steering toward an object or person in the water, then turning sharply nearby

Boaters should reduce their speed in busy areas and allow sufficient room to avoid other boats. Creating an excessive wake, even in areas where it’s not expressly prohibited, can be dangerous. Operators of larger craft should be aware of the wake they’re creating and how it could impact others in the area.

It’s against Kentucky law to operate a boat or vessel, including personal watercraft (jet ski), or use water skis, surfboards, or similar devices while intoxicated or under the influence of a substance impairing one’s ability to act safely. Someone doing so, if caught by a game warden, faces possible fines and jail time.

Streets and highways have painted lines to mark where vehicles must go. That’s not the case in the water. To provide an orderly flow of boat and watercraft traffic, there are “rules of the road” that boaters should follow.

They will encounter three situations: meeting another watercraft, crossing their path, and overtaking one. Who has the right of way and who must give way varies depending on the situation. If there’s an emergency situation, all vessels must give way to prevent a collision.

Sailboats under sail have the right of way unless they overtake another vessel. Rowboats and paddle-powered boats have the right of way over motorboats. Recreational craft should give up the right of way to a large commercial craft like a towboat or barge because of their large blind spots.

Federal and state laws require that everyone onboard a vessel must have a personal flotation device (PFD) or its equivalent. If a boat is 16 feet or longer (except canoes and kayaks), it must also have a throwable PFD. Personal watercraft operators and passengers must wear a PFD. Kids younger than 12 must wear a PFD if they’re in an open part of a boat that’s underway.

Are You or a Loved One Injured in a Boating Accident?

If so, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Abatement Situation in PA So Questionable the Feds Got Involved

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The average age of the School District of Philadelphia’s buildings is more than 70 years old, and asbestos has been an ongoing problem for the district. It took another turn in late May when the district announced that they and the federal Department of Justice might reach an agreement concerning their investigation into the handling of asbestos in some of the city’s schools.

“The Board of Education will consider a proposed agreement between The School District of Philadelphia and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) with respect to an ongoing investigation of the District’s asbestos management practices,” according to the school’s board agenda for a May 29 meeting, reports WCAU.

The board didn’t take action on the issue as the DOJ was reportedly not prepared to proceed. The agenda item was added soon before the meeting, which took place hours earlier than initially scheduled.

The details of a proposed agreement are not public. Seven Philadelphia school buildings were closed from 2022 to 2023 because of asbestos.

Why Federal Intervention Matters for Our Children’s Safety

DOJ involvement in Philadelphia’s school asbestos crisis signals a breakdown in the district’s safety protocols. This federal intervention suggests the district failed to protect students and staff from a known health hazard that threatens our children’s futures.

Children at Greatest Risk

Asbestos exposure poses unique dangers to children whose developing bodies are more vulnerable to long-term health consequences. Diseases like mesothelioma can remain dormant for decades, meaning today’s brief exposure could devastate their adult lives. Parents trust schools to provide safe learning environments—this situation violates that fundamental expectation.

Restoring Trust Through Transparency

Last-minute meetings and withheld information have shattered community confidence. Families deserve clear, honest communication about risks to their children’s health. Moving forward requires unwavering transparency and immediate action to ensure every student and staff member is truly protected.

Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation or for more information.

Woman Awarded $2.7 Million in Secondary Asbestos Exposure Case

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A Fort Lauderdale, Florida, jury decided asbestos in brake dust caused the female plaintiff’s peritoneal mesothelioma after a trial in March. They found the maker of a brake grinder used by her father liable for $2.7 million of the total $18 million verdict.

The only defendant in the trial, Hennessy Industries, was found to be 15% responsible for the plaintiff’s mesothelioma. Denise Cook, 64, claimed she developed the disease after years of asbestos exposure caused by work her family did on car brakes, according to the Courtroom View Network. 

Jurors decided that 15 other entities that were not defendants at the trial were 85% responsible for Cook’s mesothelioma. They included auto parts manufacturers and Johnson & Johnson, whose talc-based Baby Powder is another possible cause for Cook’s illness, a cancer affecting the lining of her abdominal cavity.

The maker of the brake-grinding tool allegedly long used by her father, Ammco, is owned by the defendant, Hennessy Industries. Cook argued they’re responsible for her mesothelioma because they failed to warn her father of the risks posed by asbestos in the dust created by the grinder.

The defendant told the jury her peritoneal mesothelioma wasn’t caused by chrysotile asbestos found in brake dust. It was instead the result of genetic risks or natural causes. Plaintiff’s attorney, with the help of a medical expert, convinced the jury otherwise, stating that the only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos.

Call Us Today for a Free Consultation

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma? If so, Satterley & Kelley attorneys can answer your questions, talk about your rights to compensation, and explain how we can help. Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

New Targeted Therapy Shows Promise Against Mesothelioma

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A new drug shows how far medicine has come in treating mesothelioma, a fatal asbestos-related cancer, and how far it needs to go before there’s a cure. A trial in the United Kingdom (UK) shows that a drug once seen as a failure may extend the lives of those coping with mesothelioma.

The BBC reports that researchers in Southampton, UK, used a drug to slow the growth of mesothelioma for the first time. The disease is an aggressive cancer of the linings of the chest and abdominal cavities, and organs in them, including the lungs, heart, and intestines.

What is a PARP Inhibitor?

This NERO (Niraparib Efficacy in patients with unResectable MesotheliOma) trial looked at PARP (or poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, a protein that helps your cells repair themselves) inhibitors, which block the repair of damaged DNA (or deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms).

DNA damage is part of a cell’s life cycle. It doesn’t prevent cells from growing and dividing if the damage can be repaired.

PARP inhibitor studies have shown that it can improve the survival of patients with some breast and ovarian cancers. A prior study showed that mesothelioma doesn’t respond to this type of drug, but it suggested more evidence was needed to establish whether it could improve patient outcomes.

PARP inhibitors work especially well with cancers that have gene mutations that make DNA repair more difficult, such as BRCA gene mutations. Due to these defects, the cancer cells become more dependent on PARP to repair the damaged DNA. If DNA repairs can’t be made, the cell cannot divide to create more cancer cells, and instead it dies, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

PARP inhibitors have been used to treat some prostate, breast, and gynecologic cancers. Some PARP inhibitors include:

  • Olaparib
  • Talazoparib
  • Rucaparib
  • Niraparib

PARP inhibitors may be used with more traditional treatments like chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Chemotherapy damages cancer cells’ DNA to kill them. Using a PARP inhibitor to make DNA repairs more difficult could increase chemotherapy’s effectiveness.

PARP inhibitors used with both chemotherapy and immunotherapy have been shown to cut the chances of disease progression in patients with recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer (a type of uterine cancer starting in the lining of the uterus).

What Did the Study Show?

Director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and co-lead of the trial, Prof. Gareth Griffiths, called it “a significant step forward.” The trial was run by the University of Leicester and the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.

Eleven hospitals in the UK participated, and 88 patients whose mesothelioma treatment had become ineffective were included in the trial. Those given the PARP inhibitor niraparib had a 27% reduction in the chances that the mesothelioma would progress or cause death.

This delayed the progression of mesothelioma by an average of 1.5 months compared to patients receiving standard treatments. Many patients had a much longer period when their cancer didn’t grow.

What are the Side Effects?

PARP inhibitors’ side effects may include:

  • Low red blood cells (anemia)
  • Low white blood cells
  • Low platelets
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Hair loss

These symptoms are generally not severe and can be treated.

What are Researchers Looking Into?

PARP inhibitors have some limitations. The types of cancer they may treat are limited, and cancers can develop a resistance to them, making them less effective over time. But they’re the subject of ongoing research to widen the cancers they can treat and to come up with different mechanisms to sabotage cancer cell DNA repair.

Other targeted therapies are being researched to be used in combination with PARP to overcome resistance and improve responses. One of them is a PRMT inhibitor. PRMT (or protein arginine methyltransferase) is a protein in cells that interacts with DNA. A combination of these two has shown promise in studies.

Another research subject is reducing or eliminating side effects.

Take Legal Action Now — Contact Our Firm

If you have developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Your family may also obtain compensation for the losses they suffered because of your disease. Let us be your boots on the ground, seeking the maximum compensation for you and your family.

Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

Asbestos Exposure Increases the Chances of Developing Ovarian Cancer

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If you or someone you love has ovarian cancer, it may be because of past asbestos exposure. Asbestos is most commonly associated with lung-related cancers, like pleural mesothelioma or lung cancer. But this toxic mineral fiber has been linked to several cancers, including this one in women, a group of people not traditionally heavily exposed to asbestos.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of natural, fibrous minerals that is heat, fire, chemical, and corrosion resistant. Due to these properties, asbestos has been used for centuries in about 3,000 products, including insulation, fireproofing materials, wallboard, and automotive brakes, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Talc is another mineral fiber refined to make talcum powder. Talc and asbestos can be mixed in underground mineral formations, and if not handled properly, talcum powder may be contaminated with asbestos fibers.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Fibers are tiny and light. If they’re airborne, they can stay in the air for a long time, where they can be inhaled or swallowed by anyone nearby. It’s difficult, if not impossible, for the human body to break down asbestos fibers after they enter the body. Over years or decades, the fibers cause inflammation, scar tissue, and genetic changes in nearby tissue that can become cancerous or malignant.

Asbestos exposure causes most mesotheliomas (a rare cancer of the membranes lining the chest, abdomen, and abdominal organs) and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary. Ovarian cancer can be the result of swallowing or inhaling asbestos fibers or the use of asbestos-contaminated talcum powder on a woman’s pubic area.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovaries are female reproductive glands that produce eggs (ova) for reproduction, reports the American Cancer Society. The eggs move through the fallopian tubes to the uterus, where a fertilized egg settles and develops into a fetus. The ovaries are the main source of the female hormones progesterone and estrogen.

The ovaries have three kinds of cells. Each may develop into a different tumor type:

  • Epithelial tumors make up most ovarian cancer cases. They begin with cells covering the ovary’s outer surface
  • Germ cell tumors develop from cells producing eggs
  • Stromal tumors begin with structural tissue cells producing hormones and holding the ovary together

Some tumors are benign (or non-cancerous) and won’t spread outside the ovary. Malignant tumors, or those that have low malignancy potential, can spread or metastasize to other body parts and can be fatal.

How is Ovarian Cancer Treated?

Surgery is often the first line of therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic. It may involve removing:

  • One or both of the affected ovaries
  • Fallopian tubes
  • Uterus
  • Nearby fatty tissue and lymph nodes if the cancer is in these areas

Surgery might be enough to eliminate the cancer, but most patients decide to use chemotherapy as well to cut the risk of the cancer recurring. Which comes first, and what chemotherapy drugs are used depends on the cancer stage and if it’s spread to other parts of your body. Chemotherapy can be delivered through an IV into a vein or directly into the abdomen with a catheter.

Another option is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which is given during surgery. It’s sometimes recommended if the ovarian cancer is considered advanced or initially inoperable. Chemotherapy is pumped into the abdomen, hopefully sparing healthy tissue and causing fewer side effects.

Targeted therapy may be available. It uses your cancer cells’ unique characteristics, allowing them to grow, divide, and spread against them. These characteristics are targeted to identify weaknesses and attack cancer cells.

The latest class of ovarian cancer drugs is PARP inhibitors. PARP is a protein that repairs damaged DNA when dividing. PARP inhibitors block the protein, causing cancer cells to die.

Ovarian cancer’s five-year survival rates vary on the specific cancer types, but are overall better than other types of asbestos-related cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Call Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, Today For A Free Initial Consultation

If you or a loved one are diagnosed with ovarian cancer after being exposed to asbestos, you may be entitled to compensation for your hardship. Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer. 

High Levels of Asbestos Slowing Down Los Angeles Fire Recovery

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The March fires in Los Angeles destroyed more than 16,000 buildings. Many of them contained asbestos, which was released into the air due to the fires and the efforts to extinguish them.

In one affected section of the city, Eaton, half of the burned buildings tested positive for asbestos. The extra time it takes to abate the area has slowed rebuilding efforts. Another part of the city, Altadena, had less asbestos, and recovery has proceeded faster.

California fire officials estimate that 73% of the buildings in the affected areas were constructed before 1980. Asbestos was widely used in various building products in the US before that date.

CBS News reports that the US Army Corps of Engineers states that 2,269 properties were cleared of hazardous material, including asbestos, as of March 8. Overall, about 31% of the affected buildings have tested positive for asbestos. 

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a warning in February, stating that buildings within 250 yards of the fire sites could be exposed to asbestos, hazardous chemicals, and toxic heavy metals, including lead. 

Army Corps Colonel Sonny Avichal, the Eaton fire’s emergency field office commander, said testing was performed during cleanup efforts after the fires. Asbestos abatement had to be done by hand before large-scale debris removal started. 

Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

Potentially Deadly Mistakes Pool Owners Can Make

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Owning a pool can involve a lot of work, including taking the necessary steps to keep those using it safe. A swimming pool on a hot Kentucky day can be a joy, but that will be short-lived if someone gets hurt. If you or a family member is injured while using a pool, one of these mistakes may be to blame. It may also be the basis for a compensation claim due to the owner’s negligence.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC helps those injured by negligence obtain the compensation they deserve for what they’ve suffered. If you or a family member are injured or killed at a swimming pool, contact us so we can discuss what happened and how we can help.

Drowning is the top cause of death for children one to four years old, and the second top cause of unintentional injury death for kids five to 14 years old, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is Negligence?

Nearly all personal injury claims are based on negligence. The plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) must prove all the elements of their claim. They must establish it’s more likely than not that the defendant (the party sued) committed negligence and caused the plaintiff harm.

Elements of a negligence claim include the following:

  • Because of the relationship between you and the defendant (a guest or hotel customer), they owed you a legal duty to do or not do something, given the facts
  • The defendant failed this duty
  • This is the factual and legal (or proximate) cause of the accident
  • You suffered harm as a result
  • Under state law, the defendant must pay you damages (compensation for the resulting harm measured in dollars)

Whether the defendant is negligent, and if so, how difficult that will be to prove, is primarily based on the facts. Because facts drive these cases, you must involve us in your case as soon as possible. The earlier our investigation, the lower the risk that evidence will be lost, witnesses will move away, and memories will fade.

What Negligence Might Lead to a Drowning or Other Injury?

Swimming pool owners, whether the pool is in their backyard or part of a country club or hotel, are legally obligated to maintain safe premises. Negligent acts, or failures to act,  that may create legal liability often involve a lack of reasonable precautions to prevent foreseeable harm. Some examples include the following:

1. Failure to Supervise

  • Private pools: Leaving children unattended without adult supervision.
  • Public/commercial pools: Not providing lifeguards or having insufficiently trained staff.

2. Lack of Proper Fencing or Barriers

  • Many jurisdictions require barriers (e.g., fences, gates with locks) to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Negligence: Failing to install or maintain such barriers, allowing children or others to wander in unsupervised.

3. Improper Maintenance

  • Slippery surfaces around the pool due to algae or spills.
  • Broken equipment like ladders, diving boards, or pool lights.
  • Poor water quality leading to illness or injury (e.g., from bacteria or excessive chlorine).

4. Failure to Warn of Hazards

  • Not posting signs for:
    • No diving (in shallow water)
    • Depth markers
    • “Swim at your own risk”
  • Absence of clear rules or emergency procedures.

5. Defective Pool Equipment

  • Using or failing to repair defective:
    • Drains (which can cause entrapment)
    • Pumps or filters
    • Heaters (risk of burns)

6. Inadequate Lighting

  • Poor visibility during evening or night swimming can lead to accidents.

7. Allowing Dangerous Behavior

  • Tolerating horseplay, intoxicated swimming, or diving in unsafe areas without intervention.

8. Violation of Local Codes and Regulations

  • Not complying with safety standards mandated by local building or health codes.

9. Failure to Provide Emergency Equipment

  • No readily available life rings, poles, first aid kits, or automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

Swimming pool accidents are tragic, but many are preventable when property owners meet their legal responsibilities.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a pool-related incident, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.

Avoid These Summer Driving Dangers

Avoid These Summer Driving Dangers to Try to Stay Safe

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Every season has its safety challenges. Summer is a time of sudden rain that can compromise your vehicle’s traction. Many people drive long hours to vacation, creating more distracted and fatigued drivers on the road. Higher temperatures can lead to mechanical breakdowns and tire failures at the worst moments, creating extremely hazardous situations when you least expect them.

Summer weather can increase the risk of vehicle accidents in several ways. Here are the key factors:

1. Increased Traffic Volume

Summer brings vacations, road trips, and teen drivers out of school, all contributing to more congested roads, especially on weekends and holidays. When there are more vehicles and more drivers, it becomes increasingly likely that someone will make a mistake and cause an accident.

2. Driver Misbehavior

Driver mistakes cause most vehicle accidents. There are plenty to be made, including the following:

  • Although the use of GPS helps, out-of-town drivers may make sudden stops or turns on unfamiliar roads, increasing the risk of a crash
  • Highway exits can be the scenes of confused drivers where they initially start leaving the highway, realize they made a mistake, and then quickly cut back to the travel lanes
  • The opposite often happens as well. Drivers realize they need to get off a quickly approaching exit and cut through multiple lanes to reach it at the last second.
  • Most of us don’t regularly drive long distances. Extended driving during hot weather to vacation or see family members can lead to distractions, drowsiness, or falling asleep
  • Summer holidays and weekends are times when many of us drink and drive. You don’t need to be intoxicated for alcohol to impair your driving and increase the risks that you and others will be injured or killed in an accident
  • Heat causes fluid loss through sweat, which can lead to dehydration. If you’re driving, drink plenty of fluids to stay better relaxed and focused on the road. Combining heat and alcohol consumption increases the chances of dehydration
  • High temperatures can cause you to feel fatigued, sluggish, or sleepy, especially on long drives

3. Sun Glare and Vision Problems

Intense sunlight, particularly at sunrise and sunset, can temporarily blind or obscure road hazards, traffic lights, and signs. Extended exposure to bright light without sunglasses can cause headaches or blurred vision.

4. Increased Vehicle Failure Risk

Engines run hot all the time. There are additional challenges when the outdoor temperature is hot, too, including the following:

  • Overheated engines can leave drivers stranded in dangerous situations
  • High temperatures increase the strain on batteries, cooling systems, and engines
  • Heat boosts tire pressure, which is especially dangerous with older or worn tires, and tire blowouts may result in the loss of vehicle control
  • Trailers or campers that are rarely driven may have unsafe brakes and tires
  • High summer temperatures speed the wear and tear of rubber belts and hoses
  • The loss of air conditioning may cause you to be uncomfortable and distracted

5. Heavy Summer Rains

Thunderstorms and sudden downpours often break the high heat and humidity. Wet roads and decreased traction can cause accidents.

  • Worn tires on wet roads can result in hydroplaning, where your vehicle isn’t on the pavement but a thin layer of water, making steering or stopping difficult, if not impossible
  • Wiper blades not up to clearing heavy rain off your windshield will lessen your ability to see ahead of you at a time when water on the road makes stopping more difficult
  • You must slow down to drive safely when the road is wet because it’ll take a longer distance to come to a stop. The speed limit is set based on perfect, dry driving conditions during daylight

6. Construction Zones

Summer is the peak season for roadwork, which often includes lane shifts, narrowed lanes, and unexpected stops. Fatigued drivers may miss warning signs of construction work ahead and rear-end vehicles slowing down or stopping. Construction workers can also be victims of unsafe vehicles.

7. Pedestrians and Cyclists

More people walk, run, or bike in warm weather, creating additional hazards for drivers, especially in areas where tourism is a major industry.

Speak To a Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you consider these issues and take steps to prevent problems, you may avoid an accident. If another driver ignores the dangers summer driving can produce and causes an accident with you as a result, it may be negligence that can be the basis of an insurance claim or lawsuit against them seeking compensation for your losses.

If this happens to you or a loved one, Satterley & Kelley PLLC attorneys can help you take legal action. We will be with you every step of the way, protecting your best interests and ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve. Don’t deal with a serious injury alone.

Contact our Louisville office at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600 to schedule a complimentary initial consultation and discuss your case. If it’s more convenient, you can also complete our contact form.