What to Expect if Your Car Accident Injury Case Goes to Trial
After being involved in a car accident, dealing with a law suit may be another added stress factor you have to deal with. Depending on the severity of your injuries, damage to your property, or the other party’s insurance provider, trial may be necessary to get the compensation you need to get your life back to normal. If you decide to sue the at-fault driver for compensation, here is a basic guide on what you need to know about going to trial for a car accident injury case. 1. Opening Statement The first thing that’s going to happen is that both your attorney and the defendant’s attorney will state their opening cases to a jury. This introductory monologue is when each attorney outlines the key point in their case. Once opening statements are over your attorney will get the chance to go into further details about your case by presenting your claim. 2. Present Your Claim Presenting your claim means your attorney will need to provide proof that will back up the points they made in their opening statement. This proof could be witnesses that saw the accident happen, police reports, medical experts who treated your injuries after the accident, accident recreation specialist testimony, and any photographs you took. 3. Defendant Presents Their Claim Next is the defendant’s attorney’s turn to make their case. They will provide their proof and give their version on how the accident happened. After both parties have presented, it’s time for closing arguments. 4. Closing Arguments Once both attorneys are satisfied with the information they’ve presented, they will summarize the main points illustrated in their opening statements and in your claim....Traveling with the Kids this Summer? Learn Our Top Road Safety Tips
Summer is here and for many families, it’s time to hit the road! Driving is second nature, but it’s easy to forget how to be safe during a long car ride- especially when you’re travelling with kids. Summer driving leads to more accidents because there are more people on the road. So what are the best ways to stay safe during your drive? Keep the road safety tips listed below in mind, so you get your family through the road trip in one piece. 1. Have Your Vehicle Inspected Your car might work fine on short trips. But when is the last time you tested it’s performance for hours at a time? If there is an issue with your car, extended use could cause that issue to present itself and create a dangerous situation on the road. Some of the most important components to check before embarking on your vacation are your tires, brakes, and all engine fluids. The summer heat adds more stress to your engine making it work harder to run. A quick trip to the mechanic could decrease the chance of any of these problems happening and an accident occurring. 2. Limit Distractions When you’re traveling for summer activities, getting your whole family together in one vehicle can mean added noise, movement, and distractions you may not be used to dealing with on your daily commute. Remember to bring vehicle-appropriate activities, snacks, and beverages with you to keep kids occupied. If your children will have access to tablets, mobile phones, or any other kind of electronic devices, make sure they also have headphones to reduce noise. 3. Remember to Schedule Breaks...Top Causes of Accidents Involving Young Drivers
If you have a young driver in the home between the ages of 15 and 20, you need to have a serious talk about automobile safety. In 2016, 2,433 teens lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents. Sadly, the number of crashes resulting in injuries is more than 100 times higher. When it comes to the leading causes of teen deaths, motor vehicle accidents are at the top of the list. The number one reason car accidents become deadly is the failure to wear a seat belt. It’s important for parents to reinforce the need to wear seat belts. Also, talking with your teen about safety on the road and not being distracted while driving is vital. Operating a motor vehicle without concern for safety is dangerous and can impact more lives than just the driver. Keep reading for the top causes of accidents among young drivers. Texting While Driving We live in a world where people can’t seem to put down their phones. Even when driving, people continue to text and check social media. This can lead to distracted driving and fatal car crashes. Young drivers especially fail to see how dangerous this practice is. It places them and others in harm’s way. Bans on texting while driving are proving to be beneficial for road safety. States that have implemented laws that prohibit texting while driving are already seeing a decline in related accidents. Young Drivers are Easily Distracted If texting isn’t bad enough, there are other things that distract drivers and cause teen car crashes. Loud music, too many people in the car, and not paying attention...Medical Errors That Can Lead to a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Most medical professionals strive to do the best work they can every day. However, not even medical professionals are free from scrutiny. Patients rely on doctors and other medical professionals to treat mild to severe conditions. Although cases of medical malpractice aren’t the most common, they do happen. What could lead someone to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against a doctor or other medical professional? Continue reading to find out more about when you can and should sue for medical malpractice. Medication Errors Medication errors can occur in several different ways. To start, your doctor may prescribe the wrong medication for your condition. This can cause serious harm to a patient. Sometimes a certain medication will be given to the wrong patient in a hospital. More often, though, there will be an error in dosage. The doctor may mistakenly write the wrong dosage on the prescription. This may then lead the nurse to administer the wrong dosage. Sometimes a piece of medical equipment will malfunction and cause the patient to intake a larger dose of medication. Incorrect Diagnosis If the doctor fails to diagnose a condition, this could lead to serious long-term consequences. The doctor may leave a serious condition untreated, causing the patient to miss a vital treatment window. These cases account for the largest portion of medical malpractice lawsuits. Some cases even result in death. Cases of misdiagnosis can be difficult to prove. A misdiagnosis can happen to even the most experienced and skilled doctors. Usually, the doctor’s competence will be compared to a similar medical professional. Childbirth Injuries Childbirth is one of the greatest experiences any of us can ever...How Many People Are Drunk Driving on Halloween?
Halloween is meant to be a fun time for parents and children to hit the streets in their spookiest attire. Unfortunately for responsible trick-or-treaters, many people take the holiday as an opportunity to put others in danger. Drunk driving is a reality every holiday, but it’s arguably never more pertinent to pedestrians than on holidays such as Halloween. We’re here to give you a brief rundown on Halloween drunk drivers and how to handle them. Halloween Drunk Drivers One of the reasons that drunk drivers are so dangerous on Halloween is that so many people, mostly children, are walking the streets. Not only are they walking, but they’re often running and playing in black clothes on the street. In addition, Halloween’s increase in drunk driving threatens other sober drivers on the road. These facts make Halloween one of the deadliest nights of the year. The combination of vehicles and children on the roads makes a dangerous mix by itself, but it’s amplified when alcohol is involved. The National Highway Traffic Administration stated that almost 45 percent of Halloween road-deaths were a result of drunk driving. These numbers spike when Halloween falls on a Friday or Saturday night. When the holiday falls on weekdays, the weekends before and after are also dangerous. It’s obvious that Halloween is dangerous, but what can be done about it? Approaching Halloween Night You’re in a good position if your children are at an age when they can’t trick-or-treat alone. If you’re with your children, make sure to be alert to your surroundings at all times. Even residential neighborhoods are vulnerable to drunk drivers, so it’s essential...Understanding Malpractice: When Should You File a Medical Lawsuit?
When people think of medical malpractice, they think of the age-old tales of surgeons leaving tools inside a patient after surgery. However, that isn’t a common form of malpractice these days due to procedures put in place to prevent it. Understanding the medical malpractice definition and how to file a medical lawsuit is a good place to start. Common Forms of Malpractice The most common form of medical malpractice comes from medication. A medication error can come from a number of issues, including incorrect drug labeling, incorrect dosage, wrong medication time period, wrong medication, not monitoring drug side effects, and not prescribing medication. If any of the above happened due to the negligence of a doctor, then it is a medication error. Any harm that comes from it can be considered medical malpractice. In these cases, it becomes about proving that the doctor did not act in the standard duty of care that other doctors would have abided by. Medication Errors However, medication errors in terms of medical malpractice can be difficult cases at times. If you were prescribed the wrong medication or medication not technically for your illness but had experimental effects on your illness, then these cases can be straight-forward. However, if there was incorrect or confusing labeling, then the case becomes a bit difficult where the doctor can defend themselves or shift blame to the pharmacy. Yet, if you suffered horrible side effects or your illness became worse due to a medication error, you shouldn’t just deal with it. It is medical malpractice and you are owed compensation for any side effects or worsening condition that you suffered. Medical Malpractice Lawsuit...Avoiding Injury During Hurricane Season
Hurricanes are deadly forces of nature that can cause massive damage when they strike. As you prepare for the next hurricane season, it’s important to know what you need to do to avoid injury when a hurricane or tropical storm strikes. Read on for important hurricane safety tips to help protect your property and your family. Remove Potential Flying Projectiles Even a Category 1 hurricane has winds that range between 74 and 95 mph, which can cause any loose objects around your home to become dangerous flying projectiles. Before the hurricane hits, walk around your property to find and put away anything that can become a flying object. This includes patio furniture, trash cans, and gardening tools. It’s also a good idea to trim back any dead or weak tree branches to prevent them from breaking off and becoming projectiles during the storm. Stock Up on Emergency Supplies If you’ll be riding out the storm in your home, you must make sure your emergency supply kit is fully stocked. You’ll want enough nonperishable food and bottled water for everyone in your house, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries, and a first-aid kit. It’s a good idea to put together your emergency supply kit at the start of hurricane season. If a storm is heading your way, stores might start running low on supplies as people try to stock up at the last minute. Know Your Evacuation Route It’s important to make sure you know your evacuation route. As the storm approaches, pay attention to local weather reports, make a plan for where you’ll go if you have to evacuate,...Facts about Anesthesia Mistakes & Personal Injury
When you’re undergoing surgery, an anesthesiologist will provide sedation or general anesthesia to ensure that you don’t feel the pain of the procedure. However, anesthesiologists are human beings, so they can make mistakes just like anyone else. Hospitals and clinics around the country implement protocols to protect patients, but mistakes can still happen. Frightening Statistics Close to 40 million procedures involving anesthesia are performed every year in the United States. According to a study performed at Johns Hopkins, more than a quarter of a million people die each year due to medical errors, making this the third-leading cause of death in the nation. While not all of these deaths are directly related to errors made by anesthesiologists, some of them are, so it’s certainly cause for concern. Dosing Errors One of the most common mistakes made in the process of administering anesthesia is an error in the dosing. Medications must be dosed carefully based on the age, height, and weight of the patient, along with other critical factors. Errors in dosing are often made by anesthesiologists who don’t have a lot of experience, as well as those who are using different types of equipment or devices than they are used to using. Carelessness, haste, and inattention account for over 5 percent of the dosing errors made, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Mistakes in Documentation When it comes to medicine, documentation is critical to ensure proper quality of care and transfer between the various staff members who might attend to a patient. Before, during, and after a surgery, a patient may interact with a number of medical professionals, so...Tips to Avoid Construction Site Accidents
Construction site accidents are all too common, but they can have serious consequences. Not only can accidents impact the physical and emotional health of the workers, but these mishaps can also delay projects and make it difficult to get crews onsite to handle the critical tasks. By following a few tips, you can reduce the chances of having major incidents and keep your construction site safe. Concerning Statistics It’s no secret that construction sites are some of the most dangerous places to work. In fact, out of nearly 4,700 worker fatalities in 2016, 21.1 percent were in the construction industry, according to statistics from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The highest risks include falls, being struck by objects, electrocutions, and being caught in or between walls or other objects. OSHA Training One of the best ways to protect your construction site is to require every worker who will be on the site at any point to attend an OSHA training session. OSHA provides detailed training manuals and resources designed to help construction companies create their own training for their workers. It’s important to follow their guidelines and topics to ensure that every worker on the site receives training that applies to their job. Some of these topics include fall prevention, hazard communication standards, general requirements in scaffolding, respiratory protection, and ladders. Maintain Proper Signage On a construction site, it’s impossible to communicate updates to every worker when people are coming and going at all hours of the day. You could have the concrete team starting their pours early in the morning, while some crews could come in later...What Is Cerebral Palsy and How Can It Be Caused by Negligence?
Cerebral palsy is a common motor disorder that occurs in roughly 1 1/2 to four of every 1,000 births. Although cerebral palsy can occur naturally, it may also be the consequence of medical negligence. This situation is usually the case when doctors fail to diagnose or treat a condition or use birthing tools incorrectly. This failure can injure a newborn and lead to the development of cerebral palsy. What Is Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral palsy is a motor disorder that affects muscle control. A person who has this condition may have trouble walking and coordinating movements. At birth, cerebral palsy is usually the result of insufficient oxygen to the brain, abnormal brain development, or an infection during pregnancy. Cerebral palsy may also be a complication due to a difficult or premature birth, or it may be due to restricted intrauterine growth. Side effects associated with the disorder include the following: Trouble swallowing Speech impediment Breathing problems Learning disabilities Seizures Can Cerebral Palsy Be Caused by Negligence? Although cerebral palsy may occur due to natural complications, it may also be the cause of doctor and hospital errors. For example, a medical professional may fail to follow proper medical procedures and injure an unborn child. Failure to deliver the infant correctly and depriving the child of oxygen are the most common causes of cerebral palsy due to negligence. Doctors and hospitals may also fail to react to a complication promptly or may fail to render proper care, thus permanently damaging the child’s brain and leading to the development of cerebral palsy. For example, an infection or similar medical issues may be incorrectly...The Hollywood injury attorneys at David W. Singer & Associates, P.A. handle all types of accident injury cases in Florida.
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