Slip and Fall Incidents Resulting in Ankle Injuries

Posted by jmr on Feb 21, 2018 in Uncategorized | 0 comments It can be difficult to move around when you have sustained an ankle or foot injury and can disrupt even basic aspects of your daily life. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), more than 25,000 people sprain their ankle every day in the U.S. Most ankle injuries reported by emergency rooms are strains, sprains, and fractures resulting from slip and fall accidents. The AAOS also reports that you should visit a medical professional if you experience the following symptoms: Bruises Pain near or at the ankle Swelling of the ankle Unable to bear weight on the injured ankle You may be entitled to compensation if you believe your injury is the result of an incident at work or due to another party’s negligence. However, it is imperative to seek medical attention and to keep all records of medical evaluation and treatment to provide evidence for your personal injury claim. Here are the most common types of ankle injuries: Ankle Fracture In an ankle fracture, one or all of the bones in the ankle are broken: the tibia, fibula or the talus. A fracture can refer to a complete or partial breakage. The severity of a fracture ranges from an avulsion injury, which is less serious, to a shattering break which is a severe injury. Sometimes an ankle ligament is damaged because of a fracture and the ankle is unable to stay in position as a result. Ankle Sprain A sprain occurs when the ankle ligaments that hold together your bones and joints are torn, stretched, or damaged. Usually, this happens because of a roll, turn, or twist beyond the limit the ankle can reach. There are three degrees of sprains based on the damage sustained: Grade I: A mild sprain is a Grade I. This means that the ligaments have been stretched but not torn and it is usually a matter of soreness and swelling. Generally, it heals in about two to four weeks. Grade II: A Grade II sprain is a moderate injury where the ligament fibers are partially torn and the foot is bruised and swollen. Your ankle may even feel looser. About six to eight weeks are necessary for recovery. Grade III: Grade III is the most severe type of sprain: a complete tear of the ligament. There can be sharp or acute pain and generally, you will experience major bruising and swelling....
read more

The Facts of Medical Malpractice

Posted by jmr on Feb 16, 2018 in Uncategorized | 0 comments When it comes to your health, being proactive about your care is a great way to help minimize the chances of a medical malpractice happening to you. Many patients do research at home in order to better understand their condition and may also write down symptoms they experience to ensure it matches with the diagnosis. A patient naturally wants to trust his or her doctor, but should keep in mind to pay attention to the the standard of medical care they are receiving. Listen to your body, make decisions based on common sense and what feels right to you. If it helps ease some anxiety, patients can choose to bring a friend or loved one with them for doctors appointments. Your family or friend may have a similar impression of the doctor and his or her ability to treat you. If you have questions about your situation, be sure to consult with a medical malpractice lawyer  recommends. How Does Medical Malpractice Occur? Medical malpractice happens when a doctor or provider deviates away from the normal scope of care which causes injuries, illnesses or even death in patients. When a doctor is negligent and/or commits a misdiagnosis it can have serious consequences. What Are Signs of Medical Malpractice? It can be a red flag if your doctor is aloof, rushed, impatient, does not fully explain your condition or does not tend to concerns. Some doctors openly admit fault if they have made a mistake. Sometimes patients are not suspicious of a malpractice until another doctor tells them that their previous doctor acted in error. How Common is Malpractice? Medical malpractice is one of the top three leading causes of deaths in United States. Thousands of patients every year pass due to a fault on behalf on their doctor. Many patients or surviving family members are afraid to file a lawsuit due to the low number of cases that are actually won. Additionally, a medical malpractice lawsuit can be time consuming and financially expensive. Patients may fear other doctors in the field will become aware of the lawsuit and refuse taking on their treatment. Others falsely believe it can cause an increase in the cost of their medical care. How May a Doctor Commit an Oversight? In some scenarios, doctors either wrongly interpret abnormal testing of their patients, or it went completely disregarded. By not taking the entire body wellness into...
read more

5 Quick Tips for Homeowners Who Find Asbestos

Posted by jmr on Feb 12, 2018 in Uncategorized | 0 comments The idea of having asbestos in your home is scary. Asbestos is hazardous to your health and you do not want to expose yourself to it. If you discover asbestos in your home, you must make the proper moves to keep yourself out of danger. Follow these five quick tips to handle asbestos in your home. 1. Leave It Alone If you find out that there is asbestos in your home, it is best to leave it alone. If you touch asbestos, the particles can get released into the air and in your lungs. 2. Be Careful During Renovations If there is asbestos in your home, you must take caution when doing any kind of renovations. If you are not careful, you could aggravate the building materials that contain asbestos. Be extra careful when doing home renovations to prevent the spread of asbestos particles. 3. Inspect for Damage It is important to inspect asbestos-containing materials in the home regularly for damage. If there is even a little damage to an object that contains asbestos particles, it can negatively affect your health. If you regularly monitor areas that contain asbestos, you can avoid asbestos exposure. 4. Don’t Touch During inspections, be careful not to touch any objects that contain asbestos particles. Doing so can be detrimental to your health. Touching asbestos can also release the particles into your home. 5. Turn to Professionals If you want to remove asbestos from your home, it is important to contact an asbestos abatement company. These professionals are highly trained at safely removing asbestos from homes. They can get rid of asbestos in a timely manner so that you avoid hurting your health. You may have to leave your home while these professionals remove asbestos. Contact one of the asbestos roof removal services Los Angeles, CA, recommends for more information. If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos because of someone else’s carelessness, you may want to talk to a personal injury lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation for being exposed to asbestos. He or she can review your case for free and determine the best way to move forward. Your lawyer will negotiate with insurance companies and try to get a settlement out of court. However, if a fair settlement can’t be reached, he or she should be willing to go to trial and fight hard for you. What happened to...
read more

The Course of Action for Wrongful Death

Posted by jmr on Feb 12, 2018 in Uncategorized | 0 comments A wrongful death scenario can be a very challenging, emotional and devastating time for the remaining family. Here we have answered some common questions surrounding wrongful death cases, to prepare those for the legal process. How is Wrongful Death Compensation Calculated? There are many factors when it comes to the amount of compensation given for wrongful death, and they are listed as follows: Contributions of decedent in past Life expectancy at time of death Health prior to accident Age at time of death Lifestyle habits Occupation Previous earnings Future potential income Is Compensation for Punitive Damages Possible in a Wrongful Death Case? In many states, punitive damages cannot be recovered for a wrongful death case. There are a few states that have detailed statues which do permit seeking punitive damage compensation. Whether compensation for punitive damage can be sought varies based on the state in which the deceased passed. Can Surviving Family Members Opt-Out of a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Yes, if any members of the deceased surviving family does not want to be a part of a wrongful death lawsuit, they can remove themselves from participation. However if they do so, they are signing away their rights and opportunity for compensation. Is a Lawyer Necessary? It is usually recommended that plaintiffs consult with a lawyer for a wrongful death case. Due to the sensitivity and complexity of these kinds of cases, clients can benefit from professional representation. If investigations of the incident reveal hidden details of the death, and any other possible responsible parties it can help to have the professional counsel of a lawyer. Can Heirs Seek Separate Lawyers? Yes, heirs can obtain different lawyers, which in some cases can be necessary if the heirs are resentful towards the other. However, it can benefit the heirs if they attempt to get along, as obvious hostility can minimize the value of a case in the eyes of a court or judge. Who Can File a Wrongful Death Case? Depending on the state in which the death occurred, certain surviving family members can be entitled to pursuing a wrongful death claim if any of the following are applicable: 1. If deceased was married, the spouse when death occurred can file a lawsuit. The children are also able to submit a claim. 2. If deceased was married with no children, then the parents can bring forward a lawsuit. 3. Any brothers...
read more

If I Was Convicted of a DUI, Am I at Fault for the Car Crash?

Posted by jmr on Feb 12, 2018 in Uncategorized | 0 comments Driving while under the influence is considered a crime, and the consequences after being caught can include immense fines, jail time and a suspension of your driver’s license. But, many people may wonder is the driver who was behind the wheel drunk automatically assumed to be at fault for the accident itself? The answer is, not necessarily. If you were found guilty of driving while intoxicated, your chances of being found at-fault for the accident is higher, but you are not immediately considered the party responsible. Here we cover more information about the legalities of car accidents, and how a DUI can be a factor in the case.   So, who is determined to be the at-fault driver for the car crash? In most incidents of car collisions, the key component of the case is who is at-fault. The person responsible and his or her insurance company are then financially liable to cover damages and personal injuries that resulted from the collision. Fault is commonly broken down into three main parts, and are defined as follows:   Duty of care – the duty of driver translates into a responsibility to operate the car with a reasonable amount of care the entire time while behind the wheel. Breach – the person has breached or broken the duty of care by not acting in a responsible or careful manner at the time of the collision. Causation – the plaintiff must establish a causation link between the other driver’s breach in duty of care and the injuries or damages that resulted.   How is the defendant’s driving while under the influence taken into consideration? The plaintiff simply stating that the driver was drinking while driving is not sufficient to win the case and prove cause. The defendant being intoxicated can be the plaintiff’s argument for how the duty of care and breach was committed. In other words, the plaintiff may have a solid argument that the defendant failed to drive in a reasonable and careful way due to being drunk behind the wheel.   However, the driver being drunk may not be the deciding factor for causation. Whether the defendant being intoxicated is relevant depends on the car accident scenario. For example, in a rear-end crash, the driver behind is usually at-fault and whether or not the driver ahead was drunk is unrelated.   Should I hire an attorney to help my...
read more