Autonomous Ubers – An Idea Whose Time Has Come Or Disaster Waiting to Happen?

Autonomous Ubers – An Idea Whose Time Has Come Or Disaster Waiting to Happen?

As a Baltimore Chiropractor that spends the majority of my time treating patients with auto accident injuries such as headaches, neck pain, and back pain, I have begun to see more and more Baltimore auto accident injury victims who have been injured at the hand of an uber cab. We’ve all seen them and we’ve probably all used them as they are everywhere these days. Just about anyone with a driver’s license and a car and take you wherever you are going for a small fee. These “industry disrupting” uber cabs have been great for citizens looking to make a few extra dollars on the weekend but they are not without their risk and concerns over safety and liability.

In another instance of life immitating art, Uber is attempting to roll out the first every autonomous taxi cab vehicles. I remember first seeing a similar idea watching “Total Recall” with Arnold Schwarzenegger where he was a passenger in a “Johnny cab.” These vehicles are set to hit the road in Pittsburgh this week. They are being met with a mix of optimism and skepticism as you might imagine.

I think the IDEA of a self driving taxi cab is fantastic. Companies such as uber won’t have to worry about the issues regarding whether their drivers are employees or independent contractors. It seems like it would be easy to get where you are going just by typing in an address in a phone and using a predetermined credit card to pay for the fair.

But what of safety? Opponents say that the technology is largely untested. It views the Pittsburgh citizens as “sitting ducks” and “guinea pigs” in an experiment. Some early reports on these vehicles is that they have trouble with bridges, puddles, rain and snow. Since that is the case Pittsburgh seems like an odd choice as it has tons of all of the above! Not to mention the subtleties of driving from hand gestures to lights blinking- how will the computers on board respond to these “unspoken” communications?

Uber has made it a point to say that each of these autonomous driving taxi cabs will have a “driver” who is able to take over at a moments notice in case of an emergency. So that’s a bit relieving. However many people do not feel that there is enough regulation around this new technology and they are fearful of what may happen. And of the data collected in these interactions, who has access to it? Is it just the private companies such as Uber or do they have to turn the data over to the government for evaluation?

One thing is for certain. These self driving ubers, even with all of the sensors and gadgets will inevitably cause crashes. It is likely, therefore, that they will cause injury. Will they permanently disfigure someone? Kill someone? And will their rates of crash and injury be better or worse than we as humans have been responsible for? I suppose it all remains to be seen.

Would you let a self driving Uber take you to the movies? Or would you stick with a normal taxi or uber? Share your thoughts below.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured in a Baltimore auto accident within an uber (autonomous or driven) please contact Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic at (443) 842-5500.

Dr. Gulitz

SCIWORA – A Scary Finding in Minors Involved in Baltimore Auto Accidents

As a Baltimore chiropractor whose clinic spends the majority of its time treating individuals involved in Baltimore auto accidents, we come across many types of injuries as a result of these Baltimore car accidents. We traditionally see patients with headaches, neck pain, and back pain. Occasionally we see cuts, scrapes, bruises, and concussion as well. As specialists in treating this Baltimore auto accident injuries we get really good at picking up on subtle injuries that often go unnoticed by other providers.

One since type of injury that can be difficult to diagnose is called a SCIWORA injury. The acronym stands for Spinal Cord Injury WithOut Radiographic Abnormality. This is a special term for injuries that occur to minors below age eight that involves transient injury to the spinal cord without any radiographic (x-ray) proof of its occurrence.

It may not be a surprise to many that there are thousands of children injured in motor vehicle collisions (in Baltimore and elsewhere) every year and that motor vehicle collisions are the number one cause of infant mortality for children between 5-19 in the United States.

Following a Baltimore auto accident injury it is normal for a parent to take their child to a local Baltimore emergency room or a Baltimore urgent care location for evaluation. At these evaluations which are largely overbooked and under-staffed it is not unusual for these patients to have a physical exam but to not have any x-rays taken. As these rooms get more and more crowded we are starting to see a shift of parents taking their children directly to Chiropractors and Physical Therapists for initial evaluation and treatment. Typically these evaluations will include x-ray (radiographic) analysis to rule out fracture, dislocation, or more importantly ligamentous instability that could indicate trouble for their child.

As with all patients, a proper history and physical examination is required in order to make an appropriate diagnosis. This can be especially challenging in children since many times their verbal skills may not be up to par with that of their parents. As you can imagine, it is also hard for parents to describe pain and symptoms that children are feeling. Additionally, it is not unusual for children to avoid telling to the truth to a “stranger” during an exam and to generally go into “avoidance mode” and withhold key answers during an evaluation. To further complicate matters, typically SCIWORA injuries do not manifest until about 3-4 days following a Baltimore auto accident injury.

So then how do we determine if a SCIWORA is present? The key is to make the patient (child) feel comfortable enough to open up to you so that they can describe the pain they are feeling. It is understandable that this may take several visits before they feel comfortable with a provider to tell them everything.

Providers need to evaluate for a TFNE (transient focal neurological episode) that may have taken place during or shortly after the crash. These symptoms may include, but are not limited to, ataxia, unilateral anosmia, tinnitus, memory problems, nystagmus, impairment of tactile sensation, positive cranial nerve examination, hypoesthesia, and muscle weakness. It can be challenging for a minor or their parents to describe these symptoms to a provider. Even still, these symptoms may last minutes or hours depending on the severity.

If these symptoms are present on history, then motion x-rays of the affected region (typically neck or lower back) are indicated. This involves taking x-rays of the patient in extremes of motion both in flexion (bringing the chin to the chest, or bending forward) and extension (bringing the neck all the way back or hyperextending the lower back and looking to the ceiling). This can be used to look for any bony slippage, which could indicate ligamentous instability. If there is suspected ligamentous instability, then referral for MRI or CT scan is appropriate. Provided the presence of a SCIWORA is indicated on advanced imaging, then referral to a neurologist or pediatric neurologist is indicated to help monitor and evaluate the condition.

Many patients and children are able to walk away from Baltimore auto accident injuries without injury while others are not so lucky. Even when things seem ok, it is always worthwhile to get a medical evaluation to determine if there are any latent underlying pathologies that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. We see many children in this office following Baltimore auto accident injuries. Fortunately, I have only ever seen one with a SCIWORA injury in my approximately 8 years of licensed practice.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured in a motor vehicle collision and require an evaluation and treatment, please contact Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic at (443) 842-5500. We would be happy to help!

Dr. Gulitz

Meet Graham – The Only “Human” Who is Designed to Survive a Car Crash

As many of my blog readers and followers know I am a Baltimore Chiropractor that spends the majority of my time treating Baltimore auto accident injury patients. My staff and I routinely diagnose and treat whiplash in Baltimore, along with Baltimore headaches, Baltimore neck pain, and Baltimore back pain. While not all of our patients are Baltimore auto accident patients, probably about half of them are. That is why I spend so much time blogging about Baltimore auto accident injuries.

I came across an interesting news story that felt very appropriate given the type of patients that we routinely treat. The Australian state of Victoria under the “Transport Accident Commission” worked alongside a trauma surgeon, a crash investigation expert, and an artist to design a “human” that would be capable of surviving an auto accident. The project is meant to highlight how fragile the human body is, and how susceptible we all are to the traumatic forces involved in even slow impact motor vehicle collisions.

So what would it take to survive all types of auto accident injuries? “Graham” was designed with the following:

• a flattened face to absorb more energy
• larger skull with more cerebrospinal fluid to cut down on the incidence of concussions
• hoof-like legs with added joints to help him avoid impending crashes in the first place
• ultra-thick rib cage lined with “natural airbag” sacs
• Ribs that extend to the base of his skull, that is, an absence of a neck.

You can see some pictures of Graham here. While I do not think that his physical appearance is enough to make you “swipe right” on Tinder, the visual presentation of Graham is nonetheless quite striking. I have been treating Baltimore auto accident injuries for over four years and have been treating auto accident injuries for approximately eight years and I have not met anyone that resembles Graham in design. We all have different “human metrics” (height, weight, thickness, male/female, age, etc) that make us more or less susceptible to injuries in Baltimore auto accidents. The cars we ride in along with the vehicle crash dynamics also play into the likelihood of suffering injury. But the point is no design (not even the human body) exists perfectly to avoid injury.

We have to remember that cars, though ubiquitous, are nonetheless capable of severely injuring, or even killing those around us. We have to be mindful of the skill and attention that it takes to operate these machines and we need to be more cautious while doing so.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured in a Baltimore auto accident and requires treatment, please contact Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic at (443) 842-5500. We would be happy to help!

Dr. Gulitz

Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic Celebrates 4 Year Anniversary

As many of my avid blog readers and followers are aware I am a chiropractor that spends the majority of my time treating patients with headaches, neck pain and back pain. The patients can be the “weekend warrior type” or they can be involved in Baltimore auto accident and Baltimore worker’s compensation injuries. No matter the cause of their neck and back pain, we are happy to provide service to get them feeling better again quickly.

Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic first opened on 08/20/12 and we just recently celebrated the 4 year anniversary of the clinic opening. The past four years have flown by. I have met tons of other business owners, medical providers, physical therapists, lawyers, and other chiropractors. All of these parties have shared with me their success stories on growing their businesses and helping to serve their clients/patients. After four years the clinic finally feels like it is an intrinsic piece of thread in the tapestry of Baltimore City.

Recently I announced the opening of our second clinic. Construction is underway at the second location, 6810 Park Heights Avenue Suite C4, Baltimore, MD 21215. We hope to have it up and running before Thanksgiving so that we can offer our services to the clients of Northwest Baltimore City, Pikesville, and Owings Mills as well.

My favorite part of expanding the clinic has been taking on the role of mentor to other chiropractors in the clinic. Currently the Fells Point clinic has Dr. Erica Wise D.C. and Dr. Manpreet Keith D.C. The grand opening of the Upper Park Heights clinic will feature another chiropractor (whose information will remain private until all the details have been finalized). I have enjoyed spending time with these providers and sharing with them my insights on injury diagnosis, case management, and patient treatment. As much as I enjoy treating patients and helping patients in a one on one environment, I am learning as I gain more experience that I can help more patients by instilling my knowledge and experience in other providers.  I feel that I will be able to leave a longer lasting legacy if I can continue to train “the next generation” of chiropractors within my clinics.

I recently celebrated another milestone in my life, as I asked my girlfriend to marry me on the anniversary of the date that the clinic originally opened. She said yes and we are working on planning our wedding.

The last four years have been stressful and exciting. I expect the next four years to be more of the same. I just wanted to say thank you to the community for supporting the clinic as it grows and for allowing us to serve you for all of your chiropractic needs. Moving to Baltimore to start his clinic was my dream and I sincerely appreciate your collective efforts in allowing my dream to come true.

Dr. Gulitz

New Vehicle Safety Features Help to Cut Down On Baltimore Auto Accidents

As many of my avid blog post readers and followers already know, I am a Baltimore Chiropractor that spends the majority of my time reading about, researching, and providing care for Baltimore auto accident injuries. Typically patients present with whiplash injuries which manifest as headaches, neck pain, and back pain. Occasionally we see more severe injuries such as subdural hematoma and spinal cord injuries, but these are indeed rare in our clinic.

I’d like to deviate from the normal form of the blog post where I discuss intricacies of what happens after a Baltimore resident is injured, and instead flip the dialogue to how to avoid sustaining Baltimore auto accident injuries in the first place. I have been reading some car magazines to learn more about accident avoidance mechanisms and I thought I might share some with you. For those looking to upgrade to their next vehicle, these options may well be worth the money, as they look to cut down on or eliminate crashes (and therefore Baltimore auto accident injuries) moving forward. In no particular order, here are a few of the new gadgets that you may want to look at before you drive off in your new vehicle.

1) Blind spot detection – This features allows a visual cue (flashing light) to indicate to you the driver that another vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist is in your blind spot. We’ve all had a “near miss” moment where we attempt to change lanes only to suddenly jerk the wheel back to avoid a collision. This should help that some. One potential problem is it may flash so frequently as vehicles pass that we may become numb to it and ignore it over time. Still, it seems useful. I wouldn’t avoid turning my head as we were taught in driver’s education, but it is a nice add-on feature that can definitely help to present some lane-change crashes.

2) Lane assist – This is a feature that allows you to stay in your lane and alerts you as you drift out of your lane and into another lane. The vehicle would be automatically re-centered back into its lane by having the vehicle’s onboard computer turn the wheel slightly. I think this could be somewhat useful on long “autopilot” drives up and down the coast, especially if you are getting drowsy. I’d be nervous about it not allowing me to change lanes quickly if enabled, but I like the idea of it.

3) Rear View Camera/Parking Assist – This one will be of particular interest to city dwellers such as myself. By now many new vehicles allow you to “upgrade” to a rear view camera due to their simplicity and their ability to cut down on vehicle crashes while parking and cramming into tight spaces. I personally don’t know how I ever lived without one. It is believed that by May of 2018 all new vehicles manufactured in the US will need these onboard, but until then they are simply an option worth pursuing. Some of these cameras allow just for a simple image of what’s behind the vehicle. Others allow for sensors that trip if there is an impending impact, and others still demonstrate where the vehicle would travel to in real time based on the way the tires are currently turned. Other cameras take the game one step further by letting you see to the right and left side of your vehicle so you can see how close to the curb you are when you parallel park. Obviously the sky is the limit based on the number and location of cameras. I don’t see any draw back of these systems as they will generally be in play only when at low speed, reverse, and parking. I can’t wait to see them as default equipment on all cars of of 2018. I would strongly recommend that everyone exercise their option to purchase a camera system.

4) Heads Up Display – This is a feature that was only once available on the Milennium Falcon. A small projector reflects your vehicles speed, integrated navigation, and speed limit slightly above your steering wheel. This allows for your eyes to remain on the road as you navigate your directions. I really like this system in a vehicle that I drove, because I found that it kept me looking straight ahead rather than continually glancing to my vehicle’s navigation and my instrument panel. The one negative that I experienced was that with polarized sun glasses I would lose visual contact based on the position of my head. This is probably something that can get fixed. I only test drove one vehicle with this problem so I am not sure if it is an industry problem or if it is an early adopter problem.

5) Rear-End Prevention Technology – As just about everyone has heard most rear-end auto accidents are caused by operator error rather than drug/alcohol/weather issues. These technologies utilize a sonar-type signal to automatically slow a vehicle down in an attempt to avoid a crash before it occurs. I think in theory these technologies could really cut down on the number of collisions, but I am afraid that if they are not perfected they will cause vehicles to stop short and will actually cause INCREASED occupant injuries. I think they need more time to develop and mature but I think the idea is really solid and that once perfected I think they will work well to cut down on whiplash injuries.

One thing is for certain- technology can add to the fun of driving and it can add to the prevention of Baltimore auto accident injuries. The negative consequence of all of this technology is that not all vehicles will have access to it. We, as vehicle operators, can not completely depend on technology to keep us safe. It is our responsibility to take proper precaution and attempt to avoid collisions.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured as a result of a Baltimore auto accident, please contact Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic at (443) 842-5500. We would be happy to help!

Dr. Gulitz