Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-03-20
~ KATHERINE LOUISE SMITH

Copyright, 1907. by Joseph II. Bowles.)
The alarming prevalence Of rail-
road accidents In this country has
drawn some severe criticisms on our
mode Of living by foreigners who con-
tend that there Is one accident
abroad TO ten here. Whether this be
80 or not. the daily papers are filled
with accounts of accidents either by
steam or street cars. and one can
sympathize with the old sea captain.
who. when congratulated on being
safe on land and away from the
perIls OF the sea. replied: Not at
all. feel safe on the sea. There
is no danger OF some blamed street
sign falling on me as ! walk"
Railroad and street car corpora
lions claim to take every precaution.
but II Is a noticeable fact that when
n severe accident occurs. some rep
resentative Is apt TO call Immediate
iy and offer to settle. rather than TO
trust the law to collect damages. As
many women do not know what TO do
under these circumstances. few sug-
gestions regarding accidents when
travelling may not come amiss. Many
a woman has. In the distress and
fright caused by an accident. accept
ed a sum for damages that later on
she realized was In no way adequate
or commensurate with her fright and
injuries.
A railroad or street car company Is
liable for any injury caused by their
careIessness or neglect. For this
reason when a woman Is injured In
an accident In the cars or in a pub
lie conveyance. she should. II she is
able. obtain the names and addresses
of persons who were In the accident
or saw II. II she Is not able to do
this herself. she should get some
one 10 do II for her. The sooner this
is done the better. and an advertise
mcnt in the papers stating that the
names Of all parties who Witnessed
the accident are desired. will usu-
ally bring a number OF names. either
OF persons who were In the accident.
or saw Il. II II astonishing how
many witnesses can be discovered for
even a trivial matter.
The railroad or street car corpora
ton, on their hand. Is not idle. for
all companies who carry passengers
employ permanently man whose Of
fetal title Is claim agent" lie looks
up the nature and cause Of all acct
dents. and takes the names and ad-
dresses of persons injured. and the
witnesses. II this claim agent is not
present he Is represented by some
employee on the train. who does II for
him. II. after obtaining all the evi-
dence. this claim agent decides that
the company can be held for the &C
cident. he endeavors 10 make q settle
ment with the injured passengers. II
10 at this time that many mistakes
are made by women who are anxious
to settle. and who do not take precau-
tons on their part TO ascertain how
much they are injured. or what
HIOuNar tute haft ttt tattatte
Before accepting any offer OF set
element a woman who Is hurt should
have n physician examine her 10 ind
out the real nature OF her injuries.
how severe they are. and whether
temporary or permanent
II Il her duty. no matter what the
report. TO take such steps and treat
ment rs win lessen the injury rs
much as possible. but the doctors
opinion will settle In her mind wheth-
q she Is justified In claiming dam
ages. and n 80. to what extent Her
doctors bill and medicine are added
20 the damages. n she collects. II the
woman discovers she Is injured. she
should. on no account. accept the Of
fer Of the company without frst sub
hitting the facts OF the accident. the
doctors report and the offer Of set
Element. 10 some lawyer or business
man Of experience. that she may OBJ