It’s easy to associate medical malpractice with surgical horror stories, but any mistake during the treatment process can harm a patient. For example, a medication error can cause permanent cognitive or physical disabilities due to drug interactions, allergies and adverse side effects. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, pharmaceutical errors kill at least …
Nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals have a duty to provide patients with competent care. If a medical worker causes an injury to a patient or causes an existing condition to worsen due to substandard or negligent care, the victim will have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. If the patient dies, then a surviving …
When used correctly, a global positioning system (GPS) can actually reduce your risk of crashing. Voice guidance can be a godsend when driving on unfamiliar roads, and step-by-step navigation will help you avoid making last-minute turns. Like other electronic devices, though, GPS can draw a driver’s attention off the road long enough to cause an …
Elder abuse has become deplorably common across the United States. Unfortunately, only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse get reported, according to the National Council on Aging. The scope of the problem is vast: Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse. If you or a …
By the time our parents and grandparents are ready to retire, they have earned the right to live in a comfortable, safe place to enjoy their Golden Years. Although people aged 60 and older are healthier and more active than ever before, it is often the case that aging family members require ongoing medical care, …
The long Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to visit family and friends. According to Travel + Leisure, more than 89 percent of the 47 million people who travel on Thanksgiving will commute by car. Unfortunately, combining long hours behind the wheel with unfamiliar roads and restless kids can be a recipe for disaster. Even …
Except for New Hampshire, every U.S. state has laws that require most drivers and other front-seat occupants to wear a seat belt. Louisiana, like many other states, also has laws that require seat belt use in the back seat. These laws apply to those over the age of 9, with few exceptions. Children under age …
Pharmacists must complete years of training before they can enter their profession. Unfortunately, prescription errors still happen – and they kill 7,000 people each year. Patients who are lucky enough to survive often suffer physical or cognitive problems due to adverse side effects and drug interactions. Although there are several factors that can lead to …
Toy manufacturers are constantly experimenting with new products to increase their sales and profits. Unfortunately, a minor defect can transform a child’s toy into a deadly hazard. If a toy defect caused an injury to your child, then you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other damages from the toy’s designer, manufacturer …
Letting your children walk to school is a great way to teach them responsibility. Before you let them commute alone, though, make sure they understand pedestrian safety etiquette. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,735 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in the United States in 2013, and thousands more received treatment for …
Riding a motorcycle certainly has its benefits. Lower gas prices, easier parking, a thrilling way to skirt traffic – it’s no wonder why there are more than 115,000 registered motorcycles in Alabama alone. Unfortunately, a motorcycle accident is likely to end with injuries. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 9 in 100,000 passenger vehicles were …
Neck and back injuries can have severe, life-altering consequences. Although there are several causes of spinal cord trauma, most of these injuries happen in car accidents. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, an estimated 282,000 people in the United States are currently living with spinal cord trauma. Many of them require ongoing …
We all need the help of a qualified, experienced doctor at some point – and when we do, we expect only the best in modern medical care. Unfortunately, many doctors have demanding schedules and constantly changing patient lists. These and other factors can lead to medical errors, which often have devastating or even fatal consequences. …
According to a 2012 study cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.5 percent of motorists in Louisiana admitted to driving after consuming too much alcohol in the last 30 days – the eighth highest rate in the nation. Encountering an intoxicated driver could have terrible consequences. Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that …
A three-vehicle crash on U.S. 61 that left one man dead has resulted in the arrest of the dump truck driver who allegedly caused the wreck. According to WBRZ2, 26-year-old Deante Dixon now faces charges related to failure to stop at a stop sign and negligent homicide. The crash happened at the intersection of U.S. …
You may have heard horror stories about botched surgeries, prescription errors and birth injuries, and many people assume that these mistakes are exceedingly rare. However, a recent study from Johns Hopkins University shows that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. JHU researchers discovered that more than 700 people …
Most people feel perfectly safe when they use household products, but a small defect can transform a seemingly benign item into an injury hazard. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an alarming number of injuries happen every year due to defective furniture and décor, kitchen appliances, children’s equipment, and other goods we interact with …
Car accident injuries can be exorbitantly expensive to treat – especially after high-speed wrecks. Unfortunately, recovering fair compensation after a collision is a legally complicated process. Even if liability and negligence seem obvious, the at-fault party might deny liability, or the insurance company may undervalue or deny your claim. For this reason, all drivers should …
Three adults and one child were hospitalized with injuries after an obstacle collapsed during the 5K Warrior Dash race near Baton Rouge. According to CBS News, investigators believe the cause of the accident was inadequate bracing of the 50-foot framed structure. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said that the “Diesel Dome” obstacle, which was holding …
Three pedestrians died when a tow truck left the road and crashed into them, reports WWLTV. The accident happened at the intersection of South Carrollton and Tulane Avenues just before 5 p.m. Another pedestrian and the tow truck driver sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital. The accident also caused damage to multiple parked vehicles …
If you’re like most adults, then you spend plenty of time behind the wheel of a car. That familiarity can easily lead to complacency, but accidents are far more common than many people realize. In 2014, an estimated 2.34 million people in the United States sustained injuries in motor-vehicle wrecks, according to the National Highway …
Most drivers feel drowsy behind the wheel from time to time. Unfortunately, making a habit out of driving while fatigued can have severe and even deadly consequences. In 2013, drowsiness contributed to an estimated 72,000 crashes and 44,000 injuries, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Up to 800 people died in those wrecks. …
It’s no secret that car accidents can cause debilitating injuries that range from broken bones to paralysis. Although physical wounds are often easy to identify, many victims also endure psychological trauma that affects their careers, relationships, and enjoyment in life. According to a report from the American Psychological Association (APA), car accidents are the leading …
Nursing home residents and their loved ones expect long-term care facilities to provide reliable care in a safe environment. Sadly, many nursing homes provide substandard care, which often causes medical complications, social isolation and even death. Every year, elder abuse affects up to 2 million Americans aged 65 years and older, according to a study …
Although the average American spends more time behind the wheel during the day than at night, nearly half of all accidents happen after sunset, according to Forbes. With lower visibility and more drunk motorists on the road, the risk of crashing is much higher at night. On Halloween, these dangers will be compounded by the …
Recent headlines in Louisiana are putting slip and fall accidents in the spotlight. On October 18, the Louisiana Record reported that a man has filed a lawsuit against Petsmart Inc. after he allegedly slipped and fell on water that had spilled from a fish tank. According to the suit, the victim injured his head, neck …
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers’ compensation protects employees in the United States from financial hardship in the event of a job-related injury by providing them with benefits such as: Wage replacement while they are out of work Medical treatment for their injuries Vocational training if they need to find another job Unfortunately, …
Most drivers are fastidious about safety. They never drive under the influence, engage in distracted behavior or break traffic laws. Unfortunately, there are some hazards that are out of your control. It’s no secret that snow and sleet increase the risk of crashing. What you may not know, however, is that rain is the deadliest …
A crash on U.S. 80 between a Mack tractor-trailer and a 2013 Ford pickup caused the death of 60-year-old Dallas Hamilton. Hamilton was driving the Ford. The tractor-trailer driver did not sustain injuries. According to WRBL, the semi-truck caught fire after the collision. Emergency responders blocked U.S. 80 while they attended the scene. How Common …
Auto part defects, poor weather, distractions—there are countless factors that can cause an accident. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vast majority of collisions involve human errors. The NHTSA groups all driver errors into four categories: Recognition errors, such as taking your eyes off the road; Decision errors, such as speeding; …
