Humpback Whale Saves Scientist The Heroes of the Sea
We recently served a client who suffered a slip-and-fall injury, which worsened her pre-existing back issues that included years of treatment and a prior surgery. A year after her fall, with her pain not improved, she required back surgery again, and she was not able to return to her job as a waitress. Four years after her fall, we were able to favorably settle her case. It was a long road, but after her case was resolved, she was thrilled to talk to us about her excitement for the 2021 holiday season, including her plan to buy extra gifts for her grandchildren. To avoid going down a similar long road, you’ll want to step carefully this snow season! Here’s what you need to know in case it snows: Wear appropriate footwear. If your shoes don’t provide traction, consider safer shoes! Even if they’re “meant” for cold weather, look again. If you don’t feel like your shoes provide adequate traction against slipping on ice, don’t go outside with them. Rubber soles and boots or shoes with grip and texture can help you stay stable on ice or snow, especially while it begins to melt. Keep your hands free. Besides a helmet, your hands are a frontline defender against serious head injury while falling. They can help you catch your fall or protect your head where necessary. So, make sure to wear gloves to keep your hands warm and out of your pockets — don’t use your phone while walking on ice either! Take shorter, smaller steps while walking for stability. Just like how we often have to drive slower in the ice, it’s safer to take smaller strides when navigating icy or snowy sidewalks. If you can, walk on grass or gritty surfaces rather than smooth surfaces. If you do fall, try to take pictures where you fell if possible. After an injury, it’s crucial to take care of yourself first and call 911 or get to a hospital as soon as you can if needed. However, you should also try to take a picture of what you slipped on, or ask someone to get that picture for you. A picture of black ice can often be the difference between proving negligence and recovering from an injury or not getting a settlement for the injury at all. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call our legal team! After an accident, it can feel like the ground was swept from under you. We’ll be there to help you back on your feet. FOLLOW THESE SLIP-AND-FALL WINTER SAFETY TIPS Don’t Be a Victim!
In the movie “Castaway,” we see a whale notifying Chuck Noland of a nearby ship. The whale continuously sprays him with water to get his attention. Although this is a fictional story, what happened in “Castaway” isn’t just movie magic. There are real-life stories about whales helping people in need. In 2018, a marine biologist, Nan Hauser, was swimming in the waters
off the Cook Islands when she noticed a
50,000-pound humpback whale near her. For 10 minutes, Hauser swam around the whale while it nudged her with its head, bumped her with its belly, and swiped at her with its fins. At first, Hauser thought the whale was trying to attack her. But actually, it protected her from a 15-foot-long tiger shark on the other side of the whale. Hauser told the Daily Mirror, “I’ve spent 28 years underwater with whales and have never had a whale so tactile and so insistent on putting me on his head, belly, or back, and most of all, trying to tuck me under his huge pectoral fin … I was sure that it was most likely going to be a deadly encounter.” Hauser didn’t know the whale wanted to protect her until she returned to her team’s research vessel. This is when she noticed the tiger shark creeping nearby. This isn’t the first time a humpback whale has intervened to help another creature. In fact, the humpback’s altruism has been well-documented over the years to show how they benefit other species at their own cost. In 2009, Robert Pitman took a photo of a humpback cradling a seal while rolling out of the water. The whale had protected the seal from a group of killer whales. Pitman, a marine biologist, has analyzed 115 interactions with humpback whales and concluded that they will travel long distances in order to prevent killer whales from attacking, regardless of what type of animal the killer whale is pursuing. Whether this behavior is out of instinct, accident, or altruism, they have saved the lives of many aquatic animals and people. They are the heroes of the sea!
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