Jul 9, 2021 | malpractice, Personal Injury
Medical malpractice occurs frequently, yet medical malpractice suits are quite rare. It’s estimated that 200,000 people die each year in the U.S. from medical errors. However, suing for medical malpractice can be very costly and take a long time. To avoid being a victim of medical errors, make sure and be an advocate for yourself. Speak up if something feels odd to you. If you feel a doctor isn’t taking you seriously, try to get a second opinion. If you do suspect that you’ve been a victim of medical malpractice, contact a seasoned attorney to handle your case. Hopefully, you’ll never have to deal with a medical malpractice suit, but it’s important to know what they are so that you can be an advocate for your care.
All About Medical Malpractice Suits: When To Suspect It and How to Avoid It
What is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice happens when a health care professional causes injury by error, negligence, or omission. This means that a doctor could be sued for medical malpractice if they treat a patient incorrectly. A patient can also die if their doctor fails to diagnose or treat them. It mostly happens when a doctor goes against the standard of medical care.
How do You Determine Medical Malpractice?
For a case to be considered a medical malpractice case, a patient must prove that their doctor was negligent. There is a standard of care that is the general guideline for what any prudent doctor would do in a medical situation. A patient must prove that their provider did something that violates this standard. In addition, they have to prove that this directly harmed them. And finally, most medical malpractice suits only occur when the injury to the patient was very extreme. This is because these cases are very expensive to litigate.
How to Avoid Being a Victim of Medical Mapractice
The best way to avoid being a victim of medical malpractice is to be an advocate for yourself. The healthcare system can be overwhelming. And doctors can sometimes be intimidating and dismiss your concerns. However, if something feels wrong, speak up. Get a second opinion if your diagnosis or treatment seems extreme. In addition, be proactive about your medical care. Listen to your body and don’t be afraid to ask questions and speak up for yourself.
What to Do if You Suspect it Happened to You
If you suspect that you’re a victim of medical malpractice, speak to an attorney. These cases can be very difficult to win. So it’s important to have an experienced and knowledgeable advocate by your side. Be aware that these cases can take a very long time. In addition, it is very hard to prove medical malpractice, so you’ll need to have an airtight case. Keep a record of all your visits and any information that might be helpful.
Medical malpractice is unfortunately all too common. Doctors have large caseloads and many patients. However, these cases can be difficult to win in court. If you think you’re a victim of medical negligence, misdiagnosis, or omission, contact an attorney. Keep records of all of your visits. You’ll need to prove that a medical provider violated standard care practices. You’ll also have to prove that this directly harmed you. The best way to avoid being a victim of medical malpractice is to advocate for yourself. In addition, be proactive about your health care. Hopefully, you will never be the victim of medical malpractice. But it’s important to know what it is so that you can be an advocate for your own care.
Oct 30, 2020 | Personal Injury, Work Injuries
If you’re facing an injury of some sort, whether it be related to work or play, the injury recovery process can be difficult. After all, it might require time off work, exercise, and a good amount of rest and relaxation. For some, the down time is a dream come true and for others it’s a nightmare. But when you throw COVID into the mix? Injury recovery during COVID requires special consideration for a few different reasons. But what are they? In many ways, things will remain the same but in others they will not…
Injury Recovery During COVID: How it’s Different
Less help
When recovering from an injury, you often have limited mobility in some way. Whether your leg is hurt, your arm, your head, or even your toe— it might be hard for you to go about your day normally. In normal circumstances, you might call your mom or dad or best friend and ask them to come lend a hand during the day or stay for a few.
But, with quarantine, you might worry about getting sick or getting others sick. Injury recovery during COVID might lead you to go at the process alone. If this is impossible in your state, consider asking someone to take a COVID test and then come spend the week with you. Or, maybe find someone who is able to quarantine with you, especially if you have doctor’s appointments that you’ll need a ride to. Which brings me to the two other difficulties you might face…
Physical Therapy
With a virus that seemingly won’t go away, getting the assistance you need to heal to 100% might be difficult. There might be fewer session available, lower capacity, or you might just not be able to meet with a PT at all. Injury recovery during COVID might look a bit more like virtual sessions, printouts to follow, or sent home equipment. Either way, it’s important to stay committed to the plan put forth for you. The goal is getting back to 100% and to your normal life, which starts with committing to your recovery plan.
Catching a ride
Another difficulty that COVID has brought along is getting home safely when you can’t drive! Uber and Lyft have been at a lowered capacity. It seems like catching a ride can take upwards of 20 minutes— if you can catch it at all. This can be challenging when you are unable to drive, especially when you don’t have extra help like we mentioned above. You have errands to run, places to be, and maybe a doctor’s appointment this afternoon. When catching a ride is getting in the way of your injury recovery during COVID— it can be helpful to have a backup plan. Then, backup your backup plan. Times are tough but getting through them is not impossible. We wish you luck and a quick healing process. Call if you need us.
Nov 20, 2019 | Accident prevention, Personal Injury
While dogs have become known as man’s best friend, most often that means their owner’s best friend. When it comes to strangers, some dogs aren’t quite so friendly. For this reason, dog bite injuries can be quite common… and dangerous.
Not only are they very common in neighborhoods and living complexes, but they mostly happen to children. They are also common on-the-job injuries for employees that have to approach or work in homes. While certain areas have leash laws and other protective measures, it’s still important to practice these tips when approaching a dog you don’t know. After all, a dog bite might seem less severe than other types of personal injury but they can be just as serious.
Avoiding Dog Bite Injuries: Personal Injury
Don’t Approach Too Quickly
When dealing with a dog you don’t know, you never want to approach too quickly. For one thing, you don’t know the demeanor of the dog, so it’s best to keep your distance. In addition, coming up to a dog very quickly can put them on alert. Of course, the dog isn’t familiar with you either so they don’t know if you’re a threat…
When you approach too quickly, they may feel like you are going to attack. In that case, they may react out of fear and you could face dog bite injuries. As a child, it’s very natural to run up to a cute, furry dog. So, it’s important to teach your kids to approach slowly as well.
Be Aware of Their Food and Toys
Dogs can feel very protective over things that are theirs. Therefore, they may become aggressive when eating or playing with a chew toy. So, it’s best to avoid bothering them while they eat. At that point, they may become aggressive due to their protective instincts. If you’re reaching down and they snap too quickly, you could face serious dog bite injuries to your hands or fingers.
Don’t Try to Calm Them
When facing an aggressive dog, it can be tempting to try to calm them. However, that can lead to dog bite injuries very quickly. While some dogs don’t mean anything by their bark, others mean business. It doesn’t always mean they need to get to know you or sniff you out first.
Those tactics can calm some dogs and they will settle down rather quickly. However, you may just be putting yourself within a closer bite range. If you don’t know the dog or it’s owners, don’t assume you can calm them by talking to them or letting them sniff you.
If You’re On the Job…
Some jobs demand that you approach or even work in a person’s home. For instance, mailmen and other delivery service employees must approach stranger’s homes everyday. In addition, working in construction, electricity, plumbing, and other services can place you in a stranger’s home.
As a stranger in or around the home, you can seem like the biggest threat to a dog. Because of their protective instincts, they may try to snap to protect their owners and their territory. Therefore, it’s important to be cautious when approaching home. Be on alert for dogs that may roam the yard freely or run out of the door quickly. Dog bite injuries at work can be serious and lead to injuries that will prevent you from being able to do your job.
The best way to avoid dog bite injuries is to keep your distance until you feel safe around the dog and the dog feels safe around you…
While you may know to stay back, many kids do not. It’s instinctive to reach out to a dog as a child, especially if they have pets at home. So, be sure to teach your kids about keeping their distance when they don’t know the dog. By doing so, you can help prevent your children from facing serious dog bite injuries.
Aug 14, 2019 | Personal Injury, Work Injuries
Product liability cases may come about after injury you receive from a purchased product. Typically, when buying a product, you expect it to work as advertised. However, when things don’t quite go to plan, and you face injury, you might wonder if you have a case. But, for what exactly? You know something went wrong, and are hurt as a result…
Product Liability Cases: What Qualifies?
Defective design
Defect in design is one of the most common types of product liability issues. Maybe your car has a high center of gravity. Therefore, during a minor accident, your car flips and you face an injury. Product liability comes in all forms and fashions. However, these can be fatal if the company does not make you aware, and give you the chance to return the product.
Defective manufacturing
Defective manufacturing is not directly related to the product design in product liability cases. But, instead, it relates to how the product was put together. Maybe the screws for a bike are loose, and you fall into traffic. Or, they missed padding inside of a helmet. The issue with a product can vary. But, in this case, it was not due to the design. Instead it is due to how the bike was put together.
Defective marketing
You might not consider it, but marketing can also play a role in the danger of a product. Maybe the team behind this product failed to apply warning labels, or give you the proper safety measures. Most any product should come with warnings. For example, failing to label a cup of extremely hot coffee, which results in a burn constitutes product liability.
Understanding Benefits
In the event of product liability injuries, it is important to know what your benefits could be. Depending on your injury in the product liability case, you might end up with some pretty hefty medical bills. In that case, your way of life might change as you recover. Every case is different, as is the injury. Therefore, compensation for that injury might be completely necessary to your healing.
May 19, 2019 | Boating Accidents, Personal Injury
Memorial Day is a time of year to celebrate the people in our country who have made the ultimate sacrifice in helping keeping this nation safe. For many, Memorial Day weekend provides an opportunity to host parties, cookouts, boat days, and gatherings for those we hold close. However, one thing to keep in mind during your annual celebration, are Memorial Day injuries. Memorial Day injuries can occur for a number of reasons, and in a number of ways. Of course, injuries can occur at any time— and we should always practice caution in our daily lives. However, there are certain issues we are more susceptible to this holiday season.
Memorial Day Injuries: Avoiding Holiday Misshaps
Car accidents
You might not realize, but car accidents are increasingly common over Memorial Day weekend. There is an influx of drunk drivers, many people not paying attention, and others who are rushing to the party. So, if you plan to head out this coming holiday weekend: assign a DD or get-home plan, don’t let them drive drowsy, and avoid roads late at night. Taking steps to avoid accidents might just keep you out of harm’s way.
Water-related Incidents
It happens every year during Memorial Day weekend: people head out in the masses towards their nearest body of water. For some of us, that might mean a dip in the pool, tubing on the lake, or maybe a little deep sea fishing. Whatever method you use to cool off, it’s important that you take measures for safety.
You’ll likely be drinking and having fun. Therefore, it can be easy to lose sight of proper protocol when it comes to water safety. When in a body of water such as a lake or the ocean, wear a lifejacket. Sure, you know how to swim. But, there are certain factors outside of your control that might make that lifejacket a, well, lifesaver. Furthermore, pool safety is extremely important all Summer long. Not just on Memorial Day.
Alcohol Poisoning
As we’ve mentioned, Memorial Day is a time of celebration and annual parties for many. Therefore, many tend to drink a bit too much. While this can often be innocent enough— sometimes, it can lead to further complications. Drinking heavily, in the sun, and without the right amount of water— you are at risk for alcohol poisoning.
Dehydration
Drinking water, even if you don’t plan to drink alcohol, is key to ensuring that you have a solid Memorial Day. Dehydration can certainly throw a wrench into your plans, and cut your day short; It can lead to dizziness, fainting, a lack of energy, and rapid heartbeat among other symptoms.
Mar 27, 2019 | Personal Injury, Work Injuries
Accidents come out of nowhere. One minute you’re working, or having fun with friends, and the next— you’re in pain. When recovering from an injury, healing is your number one priority. Therefore, a post-accident pain journal can be a consideration for documenting your injury, recovery, and any details surrounding your injury that might benefit your claim in the future.
Post-Accident Pain Journal: You Should Use One
What is it?
A post-accident pain journal is an informal record of your pain levels after an accident. It can be on the notes app on your phone or in a small notebook. Anything that’s easy for you to access when you have an onset of pain. There are also mobile apps and printable templates for you to use to journal.
What should I journal?
Anything regarding your health after an accident should ideally be journaled. Doctors visits, prescriptions and medications, and other symptoms should be logged in your post-accident pain journal. Anytime you have an ache or a strain from an injury you got during the accident, put it in there!
Who’s going to read it?
Keep in mind, a lot of people may be reviewing this. Your insurance company, doctors, and lawyers may all ask to see it. Also, your post-accident pain journal might also appear in court if necessary. Keep a neat, but detailed, log of your pain.
Why is it important?
You might have had a severe accident that you swear you’ll never forget. Or, it might’ve been on the smaller side with “not many details”. Either way, you need a post-accident pain journal. All the small details, even the ones you think might not matter, need to be included. Plus, it’s always better to have too much information than not enough!
Anything else?
Additionally, you should include conversations you have with anyone involved in the accident. After the accident, make a note of the officers you had contact with and the other involved parties, if applicable. Keep this handy, along with any other conversations you have regarding the accident. This could be with potential law representation or insurance companies. Keeping track of names, dates, and times will also be helpful in your post-accident pain journal. While these might not be pain related, they are details that are relevant to your case.
