Karns & Kerrison Blog

With the amount of press discussing the dangers of social media use while driving, it is amazing that anyone would use their phones at all while driving. However, people continue to get into serious accidents caused by cell phone use while driving. The technology continues to get increasingly dan...

While motorists are constantly warned against the dangers of distracted driving, it turns out that boaters in Rhode Island are also in need of a reminder. According to the 2015 statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard, operator inattention was the number one reason for boating accidents. Distracted b...

When someone is in need of financial assistance from the government, it can be confusing to understand which type of help should be sought. In Rhode Island, two commonly confused programs include the Supplemental Security Income program and the Social Security Disability Insurance Program. While ...

More Americans are losing sleep. We miss sleep over our kids, work, and for that extra dollar. People are pushing through their day with less hours of sleep and it can lead to some dangerous repercussions. It has recently been found that every hour of sleep counts when you get behind the wheel. A...

TV, films and other popular media have used amnesia as a plot device for years. In reality, most forms of amnesia do not fully erase a person's identity and may require therapy to overcome. Memory problems may also present legal challenges for a personal injury case and cause victims more sufferi...

For victims of traumatic brain injury in Rhode Island, there is often concern regarding long term effects. While some are able to make a full recovery from their injuries, others face a variety of significant complications, which can include both physical and psychological impairments. In some in...

When most people think about autonomous self-driving cars, they imagine something like a science-fiction movie, with thousands of computerized vehicles filling the highways in perfect synchronization. The science, of course, is very different from the science-fiction regarding autonomous motor ve...

New England winters are well-known for being cold, pristine and beautiful, but they are also known for being dangerous. U.S. Climate Data reports that the state receives an average of 102.5 inches of rainfall each year. Slick, frozen roads can cause cars to careen out of control and crash, but th...

While it may look easy to cruise across the lake in a boat, driving any watercraft requires knowledge and training. Lawmakers in Rhode Island want to make sure all drivers are capable of safely operating their vehicle, whether they are on land or water. There are several stipulations that have be...

Head trauma that causes a brain injury can occur at any time and to anyone, from pedestrians who slip on an icy sidewalk to soldiers who become injured on the battlefield. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that there are 138 fatal brain injuries every day in the United States ...

When someone in Rhode Island applies for Social Security Supplemental Income benefits and is denied, it is important to understand the reasons why. There are several different facts that may cause the application to be turned down, but there may still be options available even after denial. One o...

Rhode Island is one of the top states for uninsured motorists. It is estimated that 17 percent of motorists are uninsured in the state. These drivers are knowingly breaking the law because every driver is required to have motor vehicle insurance. Even with these laws in place many drivers will st...

While most people know that there are penalties and punishments for those found driving under the influence, many do not realize that similar rules also apply to those operating a watercraft in Rhode Island. Boating under the influence, or BUI, can cause serious injuries or fatalities and can car...

When someone experiences head trauma, it is important to watch for any signs of brain injury. The symptoms can be obvious or difficult to detect, but being aware can increase the chances of securing the appropriate treatment in Rhode Island. A patient's outcome may depend heavily on how quickly t...

Contact Us Are you on a kidney transplant list? Has your transplant surgery been scheduled? You are probably already looking forward to your post-transplant life and making plans for what you will do once you feel better. Depending on your age, it is possible that you are weighing your options fo...

While many people think that Social Security Disability benefits are only available to adults, some children in Rhode Island may qualify. There are certain rules and guidelines that must be met in order to be approved, but the additional income can ease the financial burden of parents caring for ...

A hot topic of debate in Rhode Island has been whether or not simply looking at a cellphone or tablet screen is allowed by the law. Current restrictions reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures for the state include all texting and bans against any cellphone use, even hands-free,...

Advances in exercise wear have made bicycling a feasible year round sport for many. While Rhode Islanders don't wrestle with ferocious cold or heaping amounts of snow that our inland New England neighbors contend with, we do get to wrestle with the occasional Nor'easter rainstorm or blizzard and ...

One of the best ways to protect everyone on a boating trip is to make sure there is a functional life jacket available for each person aboard. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, for those 2015 boating accident reports that included the cause of death and life jacket usage, 76 percent of the 626 f...

A past post on our personal injury and Social Security disability blog began a conversation about people who suffer with traumatic brain injuries and their potential difficulties in the workplace. Serious brain injuries like TBI can impact a victim's life in various ways: cognitively, physically ...

Some people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), specifically those in end stage renal disease (ESRD) and requiring dialysis to sustain life, will qualify relatively easily for Social Security Disability benefits. In fact, unlike other impairments as found in Social Security's blue book, CKD almost...

A person who suffers from a traumatic brain injury will face various hurdles in his or her life. Simple daily tasks might become difficult or impossible. They might even experience changes in their behavior. Getting good sleep can become difficult. Despite the many struggles faced by TBI victims,...

Believe it or not, the first day of school is just around the corner. Those who have kids in K-12 have likely bought school supplies and might even be counting down the days until the school schedule begins again. Those who are in college and live on campus have probably already headed back, with...

Tinnitus is hearing sounds when there is no external sound present and this can be caused by traumatic brain injury. Types of phantom sounds that can be heard in your ears include: Ringing; Buzzing; Roaring; Clicking; Hissing. The phantom noise can be heard in one ear or both ears and...

Sleep disturbances are one of the most common symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Studies show that up to 65% of individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury have symptoms from sleep disturbances. Sleep is extremely important as while sleeping the brain refreshes the connections that allow i...