When a driver is in an automobile accident with another driver who has insurance with proper coverage, recovery for damages is generally straightforward. However, not every driver carries automobile insurance, which is in violation of state compulsory automobile insurance laws, or has the proper coverage. People do drive vehicles without insurance and are cause an increasing number of accidents each year. When an automobile accident involves an uninsured/underinsured motorist, recovery for damages becomes more difficult. An uninsured motorist refers to a person who is the driver responsible for causing the automobile accident (the at fault driver) and has not insured their vehicle. An underinsured motorist refers to a person who is the driver responsible for causing the automobile accident (the at fault driver) and has insured their vehicle but at limits that are insufficient to cover all of the damages sustained in the automobile accident.
If a driver is involved in an automobile accident with another driver who is uninsured or underinsured, the driver would be compensated by their insurance company if they had purchased uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in their insurance policy. This covers property damage--such as car repairs, bodily injury--such as medical expenses, and other compensatory damages--such as pain and suffering. Uninsured motorist coverage also comes into play when injuries are sustained due to a hit-and-run automobile accident. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can also be used if a person is hit by a vehicle as a pedestrian.
It is extremely risky to drive without insurance or without proper insurance, so always be sure that your insurance is up to date and covers all of your motor vehicles' needs. If you are properly covered, then your insurance should cover the costs of an accident, should you be at fault. If the other driver is at fault, then their insurance should pay. However, in the case that the other driver does not have insurance or their insurance isn't sufficient, it is wise to have an insurance plan that covers you even if you are hit by someone without insurance.
Although a driver can possibly sue a uninsured/underinsured motorist if their insurance does not include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, there is no guarantee that the uninsured/underinsured motorist will have the money or assets to pay the judgment. Therefore, including uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in an insurance policy simply makes sense.
If you have been in an automobile accident and have suffered injuries, you may have a legal case. If you would like to contact a lawyer, please use the Find Attorney button at the top of the page.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Common Sense Can Prevent a Bicycle Crash
Annually, about half a million bicycle related injuries occur. In addition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a bicyclist is killed approximately every six hours. However, most bicycle crashes are predictable and preventable by using proper precautions on the part of both the bicyclists and motorists.
Types of Bicycle Crashes
Falls and Collisions
Over 50 percent of bike crashes are the result of falls. Falls commonly occur either when the front wheel suddenly stops moving or when the rear wheel slides out. The front wheel can stop if it falls into a road defect, such as a crack or drain grate, or if the front brakes are applied very hard. Rear wheels can skid out when turning on gravel, sand, ice, metal surfaces, or any slippery surface.
After falls, the most frequent type of bike accidents are collisions with a stationary object, such as trees. Falls and collisions with fixed objects account for about 75 to 80 percent of all bicycle crashes.
Car-Bicycle Crashes
Car-bike crashes account for between about ten to 15 percent of bicycle accidents but result in the largest number of fatalities. Most of these accidents occur when either the bicyclist or the motorist is turning or crossing at an intersection or driveway. Other car-bike crashes occur when the bicyclist is not obeying traffic laws and is cycling on the wrong side of the road or running red lights.
Bicycle Crash Injuries
Injuries from bicycle crashes are most often to the limbs, and include fractures, abrasions, and lacerations. Fractures account for about 25 percent of bike crash injuries, and facial injuries account for about one third of injuries. The most severe and disabling injuries are brain injuries, which can result in a permanent disability. Head injuries are also more likely to be fatal.
What To Do When In a Bike-Car Crash
To the extent possible and practical to avoid further accidents or injuries after a bicycle crash, do the following:
* Do not move if you are seriously injured. Wait for medical help.
* Accept medical help, even if you do not feel severely injured.
* Wait for the police so an accident report can be filed with statements from witnesses, and the at-fault driver, and the crash scene investigated.
* Leave damaged property and equipment as it was until police arrive.
* Contact a personal injury lawyer who understands bicycling.
Bicycle Safety and Crash Prevention
Not surprisingly, helmets can protect again head injuries - both brain injuries and upper facial injuries. Studies show that about 75 percent of bicyclists who were severely brain injured were not wearing helmets. To provide proper protection, helmets must be fitted correctly.
Although helmets can protect against head injury, they do not protect from getting hit by cars! To help prevent personal injury, bicyclists must use common sense and remain alert when cycling on roads to avoid crashes with cars. Although drivers should be more attentive to the presence of bicyclists, the odds of injury favor the bicyclist. This is why it is so important to follow some basic common sense prevention guidelines which include:
* Follow the law - ride on the right side of road; stop at stop signs and red lights; use a headlight at night (also beneficial in the day).
* Avoid stopping in the blind spot of a car at a red light. You can be hit if it turns right and you go straight.
* Use a bell or horn to signal or alert drivers of your presence.
* Use a headlight and a rear light, especially at night.
* Use a mirror to glance at traffic behind, especially when approaching intersections.
* Be attentive and alert to the cars. Watch for left turning cars crossing in front that may not see you, and pay attention to parked cars for which a door may open.
* Slow down so you can stop quickly if necessary.
* Avoid riding on sidewalks.
* Avoid busy streets, especially as a novice rider.
If you have been injured in a bike crash, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact an experienced bike accident attorney for more information on a potential bike injury claim.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Types of Bicycle Crashes
Falls and Collisions
Over 50 percent of bike crashes are the result of falls. Falls commonly occur either when the front wheel suddenly stops moving or when the rear wheel slides out. The front wheel can stop if it falls into a road defect, such as a crack or drain grate, or if the front brakes are applied very hard. Rear wheels can skid out when turning on gravel, sand, ice, metal surfaces, or any slippery surface.
After falls, the most frequent type of bike accidents are collisions with a stationary object, such as trees. Falls and collisions with fixed objects account for about 75 to 80 percent of all bicycle crashes.
Car-Bicycle Crashes
Car-bike crashes account for between about ten to 15 percent of bicycle accidents but result in the largest number of fatalities. Most of these accidents occur when either the bicyclist or the motorist is turning or crossing at an intersection or driveway. Other car-bike crashes occur when the bicyclist is not obeying traffic laws and is cycling on the wrong side of the road or running red lights.
Bicycle Crash Injuries
Injuries from bicycle crashes are most often to the limbs, and include fractures, abrasions, and lacerations. Fractures account for about 25 percent of bike crash injuries, and facial injuries account for about one third of injuries. The most severe and disabling injuries are brain injuries, which can result in a permanent disability. Head injuries are also more likely to be fatal.
What To Do When In a Bike-Car Crash
To the extent possible and practical to avoid further accidents or injuries after a bicycle crash, do the following:
* Do not move if you are seriously injured. Wait for medical help.
* Accept medical help, even if you do not feel severely injured.
* Wait for the police so an accident report can be filed with statements from witnesses, and the at-fault driver, and the crash scene investigated.
* Leave damaged property and equipment as it was until police arrive.
* Contact a personal injury lawyer who understands bicycling.
Bicycle Safety and Crash Prevention
Not surprisingly, helmets can protect again head injuries - both brain injuries and upper facial injuries. Studies show that about 75 percent of bicyclists who were severely brain injured were not wearing helmets. To provide proper protection, helmets must be fitted correctly.
Although helmets can protect against head injury, they do not protect from getting hit by cars! To help prevent personal injury, bicyclists must use common sense and remain alert when cycling on roads to avoid crashes with cars. Although drivers should be more attentive to the presence of bicyclists, the odds of injury favor the bicyclist. This is why it is so important to follow some basic common sense prevention guidelines which include:
* Follow the law - ride on the right side of road; stop at stop signs and red lights; use a headlight at night (also beneficial in the day).
* Avoid stopping in the blind spot of a car at a red light. You can be hit if it turns right and you go straight.
* Use a bell or horn to signal or alert drivers of your presence.
* Use a headlight and a rear light, especially at night.
* Use a mirror to glance at traffic behind, especially when approaching intersections.
* Be attentive and alert to the cars. Watch for left turning cars crossing in front that may not see you, and pay attention to parked cars for which a door may open.
* Slow down so you can stop quickly if necessary.
* Avoid riding on sidewalks.
* Avoid busy streets, especially as a novice rider.
If you have been injured in a bike crash, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact an experienced bike accident attorney for more information on a potential bike injury claim.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Airbags: Safety Device or Safety Hazard
Drive, she said. Get behind the wheel of a car or SUV and you probably have many things on your mind. Airbags is not one of them.
Most of us automatically trust that the brand of car we purchased whether new or used will transport us from one place to another. Airbags are just not under scrutiny. Since airbags are invisible, we put them out of sight, out of mind until an airbag deploys when we drive over a bump; slam the door too hard; or an airbag fails to deploy when we're in an accident and need it most; or when the airbag does deploy, we or our children and other passengers are gravely injured.
Now if you haven't thought about airbags before -- here are a few things to consider: Airbags detonate with around 2,000 pounds of force at speeds that can exceed 200 miles per hour. Airbags were developed for the average 5-foot 8-inch, 180-pound male. If you're shorter and heavier or shorter and weigh less or taller and heavier and sit closer to the steering wheel; you will have to take your chances. Hopefully, you don't have a heart condition or osteoporosis as an exploding airbag can be fatal.
What vehicles have been recalled for airbags?
You name it and it most likely has been recalled. Since 1997, at least 3,000,000 vehicles have been recalled due to airbag related problems with BMW 3-series, Chevrolet Silverado, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Focus, Scion TC, Nissan 350Z, 720,000 GM recalls, Toyota Camry 2007, Saturn, and Volvo.
Of course, airbag problems are not detected until it's too late.
What are injuries sustained by airbags?
Though rare, serious or fatal injuries can occur when the driver or passenger is very close to or in direct contact with an airbag module when the airbag deploys. Brain injuries can happen to unconscious drivers who slump over the steering wheel or improperly restrained occupants who slide forward in the seat during pre-crash braking, and even properly restrained drivers who sit too close to the steering wheel. Side-impact crashes are three times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury than people involved in head-on or other types of collisions. Brain injuries from side-impact crashes are usually more severe.
Crashes on the side of a vehicle cause 10,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Data came from real accidents, rather than from crash tests with dummies. The difference is critical because it's difficult to accurately simulate a brain injury in a dummy. One of the most common causes of damage to the brain is trauma from a blow during a car crash.
Other airbag injuries from being hit by an airbag or exposed to its contents include eye injuries such as blunt trauma to the eye causing corneal abrasions, sub-retinal hemorrhage, blurred vision, retinal detachment. Chemical injuries include burns to the face and other parts of the body as well as breathing and asthma problems gases emitted from the airbag. Facial scarring may be caused when by an exploding airbag driving or grinding broken glass into the victim's face or upper body.
What can you do about an airbag complaint?
As a consumer you have the right to file an airbag complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The complaint information will be entered into NHTSA's vehicle owner's complaint database and used in conjunction with other complaints to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
Do you have an airbag failure lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by an airbag or a family member has died from an airbag injury, contacting a law firm about filing an airbag lawsuit is the sensible thing to do.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Most of us automatically trust that the brand of car we purchased whether new or used will transport us from one place to another. Airbags are just not under scrutiny. Since airbags are invisible, we put them out of sight, out of mind until an airbag deploys when we drive over a bump; slam the door too hard; or an airbag fails to deploy when we're in an accident and need it most; or when the airbag does deploy, we or our children and other passengers are gravely injured.
Now if you haven't thought about airbags before -- here are a few things to consider: Airbags detonate with around 2,000 pounds of force at speeds that can exceed 200 miles per hour. Airbags were developed for the average 5-foot 8-inch, 180-pound male. If you're shorter and heavier or shorter and weigh less or taller and heavier and sit closer to the steering wheel; you will have to take your chances. Hopefully, you don't have a heart condition or osteoporosis as an exploding airbag can be fatal.
What vehicles have been recalled for airbags?
You name it and it most likely has been recalled. Since 1997, at least 3,000,000 vehicles have been recalled due to airbag related problems with BMW 3-series, Chevrolet Silverado, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Focus, Scion TC, Nissan 350Z, 720,000 GM recalls, Toyota Camry 2007, Saturn, and Volvo.
Of course, airbag problems are not detected until it's too late.
What are injuries sustained by airbags?
Though rare, serious or fatal injuries can occur when the driver or passenger is very close to or in direct contact with an airbag module when the airbag deploys. Brain injuries can happen to unconscious drivers who slump over the steering wheel or improperly restrained occupants who slide forward in the seat during pre-crash braking, and even properly restrained drivers who sit too close to the steering wheel. Side-impact crashes are three times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury than people involved in head-on or other types of collisions. Brain injuries from side-impact crashes are usually more severe.
Crashes on the side of a vehicle cause 10,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Data came from real accidents, rather than from crash tests with dummies. The difference is critical because it's difficult to accurately simulate a brain injury in a dummy. One of the most common causes of damage to the brain is trauma from a blow during a car crash.
Other airbag injuries from being hit by an airbag or exposed to its contents include eye injuries such as blunt trauma to the eye causing corneal abrasions, sub-retinal hemorrhage, blurred vision, retinal detachment. Chemical injuries include burns to the face and other parts of the body as well as breathing and asthma problems gases emitted from the airbag. Facial scarring may be caused when by an exploding airbag driving or grinding broken glass into the victim's face or upper body.
What can you do about an airbag complaint?
As a consumer you have the right to file an airbag complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The complaint information will be entered into NHTSA's vehicle owner's complaint database and used in conjunction with other complaints to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
Do you have an airbag failure lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by an airbag or a family member has died from an airbag injury, contacting a law firm about filing an airbag lawsuit is the sensible thing to do.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Dangers Associated with the Welding Profession
According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), welding, soldering, and brazing workers are frequently exposed to a number of hazards, including the intense light created by the arc, poisonous fumes, and very hot materials. During the period from 1992 to 2001, fatal occupational injury rates for welders and cutters were 1.7 to 3.3 times greater than injury rates for all other construction workers. Rates for welders and cutters showed an increasing trend, from 23.7 per 100,000 full-time workers in 1992, to 45.4 in 1997. The fatal injury rate of 39.9 per 100,000 full-time workers in 2001 was 3 times the rate for all construction workers and represented a 68% increase from 1992.
If an employee currently works, previously worked, or is in an area where industrial welding is being performed, chances are the employee was exposed to welding rod fumes. Recent medical research suggests that exposure to welding fumes may lead many health problems, including two serious illnesses, Parkinson's disease and Manganism. There are many court cases pending regarding this exposure, the hazards involved and the health impact on employees.
For example, in early September 2005 a Mississippi shipyard worker who claimed his neurological problems were caused by inhaling fumes from welding rods concluded his lawsuit by settling with the final two welding company defendants in his case. The worker's lawsuit against the two welding manufacturers was scheduled for trial the following week. The lawsuit was settled for more than one million dollars.
As stated, the two diseases most commonly reported in medical research from the exposure to welding fumes are Manganism and Parkinson's disease. A description of each of these diseases follows:
* Manganism, also known as secondary Parkinsonism, is a condition that develops when excessive levels of manganese injure that portion of the brain that controls body movements. Symptoms of this condition include fatigue, headache, slow or slurred speech, poor memory, impaired balance and tremors, delusions and hallucinations, disorientation and/or difficulty walking.
* In addition to Manganism, recent studies have found that exposure to manganese fumes is associated with the early onset of Parkinson's disease. In fact, research conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine found that welders developed symptoms of Parkinson's disease an average of 15 years earlier than the general population.
* Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The four primary symptoms of the disease are tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Early symptoms of the disease are subtle and occur gradually. Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.
Employees that have been involved in welding, or who have worked for long periods in areas where welding work was being performed, and have a number of the symptoms listed above, should seek legal guidance. It is necessary to study work history records and evaluate medical records to determine whether there may be a valid claim against the manufacturers. Potential claims are subject to statute of limitations.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
If an employee currently works, previously worked, or is in an area where industrial welding is being performed, chances are the employee was exposed to welding rod fumes. Recent medical research suggests that exposure to welding fumes may lead many health problems, including two serious illnesses, Parkinson's disease and Manganism. There are many court cases pending regarding this exposure, the hazards involved and the health impact on employees.
For example, in early September 2005 a Mississippi shipyard worker who claimed his neurological problems were caused by inhaling fumes from welding rods concluded his lawsuit by settling with the final two welding company defendants in his case. The worker's lawsuit against the two welding manufacturers was scheduled for trial the following week. The lawsuit was settled for more than one million dollars.
As stated, the two diseases most commonly reported in medical research from the exposure to welding fumes are Manganism and Parkinson's disease. A description of each of these diseases follows:
* Manganism, also known as secondary Parkinsonism, is a condition that develops when excessive levels of manganese injure that portion of the brain that controls body movements. Symptoms of this condition include fatigue, headache, slow or slurred speech, poor memory, impaired balance and tremors, delusions and hallucinations, disorientation and/or difficulty walking.
* In addition to Manganism, recent studies have found that exposure to manganese fumes is associated with the early onset of Parkinson's disease. In fact, research conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine found that welders developed symptoms of Parkinson's disease an average of 15 years earlier than the general population.
* Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The four primary symptoms of the disease are tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Early symptoms of the disease are subtle and occur gradually. Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.
Employees that have been involved in welding, or who have worked for long periods in areas where welding work was being performed, and have a number of the symptoms listed above, should seek legal guidance. It is necessary to study work history records and evaluate medical records to determine whether there may be a valid claim against the manufacturers. Potential claims are subject to statute of limitations.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
What is Anoxic Brain Injury
With anemic anoxia, the blood is unable to carry enough oxygen to the brain. Toxic anoxia is the result of toxins that block oxygen in the blood from being used by the body. With anoxic anoxia, no oxygen is being supplied to the brain because breathing has stopped or blood flow is impaired. Hypoxic brain injury occurs when the brain's oxygen supply is reduced, rather than cut off completely.
Anoxic brain injury is an acquired brain injury, rather than a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI occurs when an outside force impacts the head hard enough to physically injure the brain. Anoxic brain injury leads to a change in the activity of the neurons, which can produce varying types and levels of impairment. Because the brain damage occurs at a cellular level, rather than to a specific area as with traumatic brain injury, the entire brain can be affected.
Symptoms of Anoxic Brain Injury
Symptoms can be similar to those seen with traumatic brain injury, but some are seen more often, or are more pronounced, in someone with an acquired brain injury. These can include:
* Loss of consciousness;
* Seizures;
* Impaired cognition, especially memory and attention span;
* A longer time in a coma or vegetative state;
* Significant behavioral changes, including depression, restlessness and hostility; and
* Impaired motor control.
A mild to moderate anoxic brain injury can produce headaches, confusion, mood swings, decreased concentration and attention span.
Causes of Anoxic Brain Injury
Anoxic brain injury can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
* An obstructed airway, as with choking or strangulation, a severe asthma attack or allergic reaction, or trauma to the head, neck or chest;
* A near-drowning;
* Electrocution/lightning strike;
* Severe bleeding;
* Heart attack, stroke or aneurysm;
* Exposure to toxins through illegal drug use, carbon monoxide poisoning, lead poisoning, etc.; or
* Some diseases, including meningitis, tumors, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, hepatic encephalopathy, uremic encephalopathy, etc.
Anoxic Brain Injury: Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis typically begins with a physical exam and an interview, if the patient is conscious. Diagnostic tests such as a CT scan, MRI or EEG (electroencephalogram) may be used to determine the nature and extent of the brain damage.
Immediate treatment is to establish an airway and provide oxygen for the patient. Respiratory assistance, such as CPR or a ventilator, may be necessary. Further treatment options may include the use of barbiturates to slow down brain activity, and steroids or other medications to reduce brain swelling. Treatments to increase the amount of oxygen to the brain, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, may be used.
Specialized rehabilitation can help, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as neuropsychological counseling for the behavioral and emotional aftermath of the injury; but brain injury is rarely completely curable. Recovery can be a long process that depends on the level of damage, and is often incomplete. Brain damage treatment is typically aimed at improving the patient's quality of life.
If you or a loved one has suffered from an anoxic brain injury or a form of traumatic brain injury, you may wish to consult with an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney. Your TBI lawyer can help you gain access to the resources you need and help you attain monetary compensation for brain injury acquired through negligence or employment.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Memory Loss
Depictions of head-injury patients in movies and television almost always show the patient experiencing some type of amnesia, or memory loss. Indeed, memory loss is the most common cognitive side effect of a severe traumatic brain injury. In patients with a milder TBI, memory loss is still one of the most common symptoms. And the more severe the patient's memory loss is, the more severe the brain damage is likely to be.
Temporary Memory Loss and TBI
Some traumatic brain injury-related amnesia is temporary; such patients are usually unable to recall what happened directly before, during and after their accidents. This is often caused by edema, or a swelling of the brain in response to the damage it sustained. Because the brain is pressed against the skull, parts that were not injured are still not able to work. As the swelling goes down, the patient's memory returns, often slowly over a period of weeks, months or even years. Temporary memory loss may also be an emotional response to the stress of the event that caused the TBI.
Other, less common, types of memory loss stemming from traumatic brain injury are fixed. These result from damage to the nerves and axons (connections between nerves) of the brain itself. Because the brain cannot heal itself like an arm or a leg, any function that is damaged during a TBI is permanently impaired unless the brain can learn to perform that function differently. Fixed amnesia may include inability to remember events before the injury, or loss of memory of the meanings of certain things, such as words or smells or objects. Less commonly, a person may not remember skills he or she had before the TBI.
Brain Damage and Anteretrograde Amnesia
A patient with TBI may also develop anteretrograde amnesia -- an inability to form memories of events that happened after the injury. The reason for this is not well understood, but an October 2006 study by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that TBIs reduce the levels of a protein in the brain that helps it balance its activity. Without enough of that protein, the brain can "overload," the researchers said, interfering with memory formation, particularly the ability to learn new things.
Treatment Options for Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Amnesia
There is no treatment for memory loss caused by a traumatic brain injury; if the memory does not come back on its own, it is gone forever. However, a September 2006 study published in Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology, showed promising results in TBI patients with anteretrograde memory loss who took the drug rivastigmine. The drug, which is sold to Alzheimer's disease patients under the brand name Exelon, helped patients with moderate to severe memory loss score better on memory tests than another group of patients that took placebos. The results were not as good for patients who had only mild memory loss. If you suffer from traumatic brain injury-related memory problems, you may wish to contact an experienced TBI attorney to discuss your options, which may include filing a brain injury lawsuit in order to gain compensation for your medical costs.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Temporary Memory Loss and TBI
Some traumatic brain injury-related amnesia is temporary; such patients are usually unable to recall what happened directly before, during and after their accidents. This is often caused by edema, or a swelling of the brain in response to the damage it sustained. Because the brain is pressed against the skull, parts that were not injured are still not able to work. As the swelling goes down, the patient's memory returns, often slowly over a period of weeks, months or even years. Temporary memory loss may also be an emotional response to the stress of the event that caused the TBI.
Other, less common, types of memory loss stemming from traumatic brain injury are fixed. These result from damage to the nerves and axons (connections between nerves) of the brain itself. Because the brain cannot heal itself like an arm or a leg, any function that is damaged during a TBI is permanently impaired unless the brain can learn to perform that function differently. Fixed amnesia may include inability to remember events before the injury, or loss of memory of the meanings of certain things, such as words or smells or objects. Less commonly, a person may not remember skills he or she had before the TBI.
Brain Damage and Anteretrograde Amnesia
A patient with TBI may also develop anteretrograde amnesia -- an inability to form memories of events that happened after the injury. The reason for this is not well understood, but an October 2006 study by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that TBIs reduce the levels of a protein in the brain that helps it balance its activity. Without enough of that protein, the brain can "overload," the researchers said, interfering with memory formation, particularly the ability to learn new things.
Treatment Options for Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Amnesia
There is no treatment for memory loss caused by a traumatic brain injury; if the memory does not come back on its own, it is gone forever. However, a September 2006 study published in Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology, showed promising results in TBI patients with anteretrograde memory loss who took the drug rivastigmine. The drug, which is sold to Alzheimer's disease patients under the brand name Exelon, helped patients with moderate to severe memory loss score better on memory tests than another group of patients that took placebos. The results were not as good for patients who had only mild memory loss. If you suffer from traumatic brain injury-related memory problems, you may wish to contact an experienced TBI attorney to discuss your options, which may include filing a brain injury lawsuit in order to gain compensation for your medical costs.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Hearing
Because the inner ear is directly connected to the central nervous system in humans, it may not be surprising that hearing problems are common after a traumatic brain injury. Tinnitus, a ringing, roaring or buzzing in the ears, and hearing loss are two of the most widely reported side effects of a TBI. Other hearing-related problems that can stem from brain damage include hyperacusis, in which normal situations seem unbearably loud; difficulty filtering one set of sounds from background noise, such as a conversation in a crowded restaurant; or auditory agnosia (also called pure word deafness), in which the patient is simply unable to recognize the meanings of certain sounds.
Ear Structure and Traumatic Brain Injury
Damage to the ear itself during a traumatic brain injury can cause hearing problems. The inner ear is made of a series of small and delicate membranes and body parts, which can rupture during head trauma. The cochlea, an important spiral-shaped bone inside the ear, may be concussed by a strong blow, causing hearing damage when supporting membranes are torn; patients with cochlear concussions often develop vertigo as well. Another type of membrane damage, perilymphatic fistula, causes hearing loss as well as vertigo and nausea. Surgery may help to correct this type of damage.
Doctors agree that damage to the central nervous system also plays a major role in TBI-related hearing problems, especially those with a cognitive basis. Among many others, a 2005 study by doctors at Haifa University in Israel showed that TBI patients who complained of hearing problems (including tinnitus) had significantly reduced function in a part of the brain that regulates hearing, compared to TBI patients without hearing complaints as well as people without head injuries. A German study from 2004 concluded that post-concussion syndrome led to hearing problems, even a year after the trauma, and that widespread damage to connections between the nerves of the central auditory pathway was probably to blame.
Brain Injury-Related Hearing Loss Takes Toll on Everyday Life
Because hearing loss limits or takes away one of the primary tools humans use to communicate, it has the potential to complicate many of the other side effects of brain damage, particularly cognitive and social problems. For some TBI victims, cognitive issues, such as trouble "finding words," already interfere with their ability to communicate. And inappropriate behaviors are only exacerbated if the patient genuinely cannot hear what is going on.
If You Suffer From TBI-Related Hearing Problems
Some hearing problems disappear a few weeks after the accident that led to the patient's brain damage, but others are lifelong afflictions. Some patients may not even notice their hearing problems until they are diagnosed by a doctor or audiologist. TBI experts, including the National Institutes of Health, recommend that patients who have sustained brain damage consult an audiologist, even if it seems like nothing is wrong. You may also wish to contact an experienced TBI attorney to evaluate your potential brain injury lawsuit and help you secure compensation for your injuries.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Ailments Caused By Chemical Exposure
Chemical exposure includes many varieties of substances, including biological agents, mineral dusts, nitrogen compounds, metals, pesticides, plastics, rubber, solvents, asphyxiates and sulfur compounds. Some of the more dangerous chemicals a person can be exposed to are as follows:
* Ethylene glycol ether: A solvent used in heavy industry and during semiconductor chip manufacturing "clean rooms".
* Pentachlorophenol (PCP): First used as a domestic pesticide, but use is now restricted as a preservative for wood. It is a potential carcinogen and may cause birth defects and respiratory complications.
* Chromated Copper Arsenate: Used for many of the same purposes of PCP. It contains high amounts of arsenic that is highly toxic to humans.
* Trichloroethylene: Used as a cleaning solvent. It is now in many groundwater supplies and soil. It can be inhaled or consumed with water, and may cause respiratory complications, nervous system problems, organ failure and death.
The most common ailments caused by some of the 400+ regulated hazardous substances include:
* Asthma - A respiratory disorder during which the chest constricts and sufferers find it difficult to breath. Asthma is often times caused by an allergic reaction.
* Pneumonitis - An inflammation of the lungs. Can be caused by a virus or an allergic reaction to aspirated vomitus, ingested gasoline or other petroleum distillates, ingested or skin adsorbed pesticides, gasses from electroplating, or other irritants. It manifests itself through fever, chills, dry cough, and inability to breath, constricted airways, and fatigue.
* Fibrosis - The unhealthy growth of scar tissue as a reaction to a stimulus or catalyst (usually a hazardous chemical). It is commonly located in the liver or lungs.
* Chronic Bronchitis - An obstructive pulmonary disease which, to be considered chronic, must occur for over three months to years in a row. Coughing and phlegm production are common symptoms.
* Cancer - Many hazardous chemicals are carcinogens in concentrated amounts, and can result in the uncontrolled abnormal growth of cells.
* Neuropathy - Degeneration of the nerves resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, and muscle weakness in various parts of the body.
* Parkinson's syndrome - A central nervous system (CNS) difficulty characterized by resting tremor, muscle rigidity (including a mask-like face), slow motor movement, and a stooped, shuffling gait.
* Methemoglobinemia (met-H) - Is caused by a higher than normal occurrence of methemoglobin in the blood, it results in a difficulty of oxygen transport in blood. Met-H is commonly caused by an over-exposure to nitrates.
* Anemia - A deficiency of red blood cells; symptoms include feeling tired, weak, and short of breath
* Dermatitis - Chronic inflammation causing swelling, pain, redness, itching, and cracking of the skin.
* Chloracne - An eruption of blackheads, cysts, and pustules, caused by the over-exposure to chlorine compounds such as halogenic aromatic hydrocarbons.
* Burns - Resulting from topical contact with strong acids or alkalies.
* Heavy metal poisoning - Examples are an over-exposure to substances such as mercury, lead and cadmium. Can be caused by elements that are either nephrotoxins (substances harmful to the kidneys) or heptotoxins (substances harmful to the liver).
* Birth Defects - Including hydrocephalus, Spina Bifida and Anencephaly.
* Raynaud's Phenomenon - A disorder that affects the blood vessels in the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. The disorder is characterized by episodic attacks, called vasospastic attacks that cause the blood vessels in the digits (fingers and toes) to constrict (narrow) and cause feelings of coolness and numbness. Raynaud's can occur on its own, or it can be secondary to another condition such as scleroderma or lupus.
It is overwhelmingly important to pay attention to the physical manifestations of a potential overexposure to hazardous chemicals. The irreversible damage caused by high concentrations of particular substances can be life threatening, and individuals should be well informed of the risks.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
* Ethylene glycol ether: A solvent used in heavy industry and during semiconductor chip manufacturing "clean rooms".
* Pentachlorophenol (PCP): First used as a domestic pesticide, but use is now restricted as a preservative for wood. It is a potential carcinogen and may cause birth defects and respiratory complications.
* Chromated Copper Arsenate: Used for many of the same purposes of PCP. It contains high amounts of arsenic that is highly toxic to humans.
* Trichloroethylene: Used as a cleaning solvent. It is now in many groundwater supplies and soil. It can be inhaled or consumed with water, and may cause respiratory complications, nervous system problems, organ failure and death.
The most common ailments caused by some of the 400+ regulated hazardous substances include:
* Asthma - A respiratory disorder during which the chest constricts and sufferers find it difficult to breath. Asthma is often times caused by an allergic reaction.
* Pneumonitis - An inflammation of the lungs. Can be caused by a virus or an allergic reaction to aspirated vomitus, ingested gasoline or other petroleum distillates, ingested or skin adsorbed pesticides, gasses from electroplating, or other irritants. It manifests itself through fever, chills, dry cough, and inability to breath, constricted airways, and fatigue.
* Fibrosis - The unhealthy growth of scar tissue as a reaction to a stimulus or catalyst (usually a hazardous chemical). It is commonly located in the liver or lungs.
* Chronic Bronchitis - An obstructive pulmonary disease which, to be considered chronic, must occur for over three months to years in a row. Coughing and phlegm production are common symptoms.
* Cancer - Many hazardous chemicals are carcinogens in concentrated amounts, and can result in the uncontrolled abnormal growth of cells.
* Neuropathy - Degeneration of the nerves resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, and muscle weakness in various parts of the body.
* Parkinson's syndrome - A central nervous system (CNS) difficulty characterized by resting tremor, muscle rigidity (including a mask-like face), slow motor movement, and a stooped, shuffling gait.
* Methemoglobinemia (met-H) - Is caused by a higher than normal occurrence of methemoglobin in the blood, it results in a difficulty of oxygen transport in blood. Met-H is commonly caused by an over-exposure to nitrates.
* Anemia - A deficiency of red blood cells; symptoms include feeling tired, weak, and short of breath
* Dermatitis - Chronic inflammation causing swelling, pain, redness, itching, and cracking of the skin.
* Chloracne - An eruption of blackheads, cysts, and pustules, caused by the over-exposure to chlorine compounds such as halogenic aromatic hydrocarbons.
* Burns - Resulting from topical contact with strong acids or alkalies.
* Heavy metal poisoning - Examples are an over-exposure to substances such as mercury, lead and cadmium. Can be caused by elements that are either nephrotoxins (substances harmful to the kidneys) or heptotoxins (substances harmful to the liver).
* Birth Defects - Including hydrocephalus, Spina Bifida and Anencephaly.
* Raynaud's Phenomenon - A disorder that affects the blood vessels in the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. The disorder is characterized by episodic attacks, called vasospastic attacks that cause the blood vessels in the digits (fingers and toes) to constrict (narrow) and cause feelings of coolness and numbness. Raynaud's can occur on its own, or it can be secondary to another condition such as scleroderma or lupus.
It is overwhelmingly important to pay attention to the physical manifestations of a potential overexposure to hazardous chemicals. The irreversible damage caused by high concentrations of particular substances can be life threatening, and individuals should be well informed of the risks.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Filing Your Mesothelioma Lawsuit
It's a disastrous diagnosis - mesothelioma contracted from occupational exposure. It is well known that the symptoms of mesothelioma can appear years, even decades, after occupational exposure, and its effects can be life-changing at best, life-threatening at worst. As soon as you have found competent medical care for your mesothelioma, you should consider filing a mesothelioma lawsuit with an experienced attorney. But what does mesothelioma litigation entail? This article will answer some frequently asked questions about filing your mesothelioma lawsuit.
What does "occupational exposure" mean?
"Occupational exposure" means that you were exposed to the agent that caused your mesothelioma - usually the toxic mineral asbestos in its insulation and fireproofing forms - in the usual course of business. If you worked with asbestos and then contracted mesothelioma, even if it was years after the exposure, you experienced occupational exposure.
What does a mesothelioma lawsuit entail?
Litigation is a long and often confusing process. When you contact a lawyer about a potential mesothelioma claim, you will typically present your medical records and diagnosis for his assessment before he can tell you if you have a chance in court. If the lawyer determines that your case is sound and will probably recover some monetary compensation and damages, he will take on your case, usually with a retainer or fee agreement. The lawyer will then file a complaint and summons suing the appropriate parties for the exposure leading up to mesothelioma. The court will set a series of dates for discovery and trial and, if the case does not settle, both parties will begin to work towards building a case. Since mesothelioma is a disease, an Independent Medical Examiner (IME) will probably be involved in your case.
An IME conducts an unbiased medical investigation into your mesothelioma and examines your medical records. The other side will probably request your medical records, as well, in order to determine if you had a pre-existing condition or other medical problems that may relieve them of responsibility for your occupational mesothelioma. Be prepared to sign waivers releasing this medical information to the requesting parties. Your attorney will advise you which documents to sign and which releases to give.
During the discovery process, your attorney may also consult with medical and other experts, who perform a variety of services such as document review and reports, medical examinations and detailed expert testimony on issues related to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma and employment.
If your case goes to trial, expect your lawyer to consult with other experts such as trial preparation specialists, who conduct mock trials and coordinate convincing exhibits, multimedia experts who can help present the evidence at trial in the most convincing manner, and witnesses who can bolster your own testimony in your mesothelioma trial. In an effort to avoid the cost and expense of a lengthy jury trial, many states require a mandatory settlement conference (MSC) or arbitration at which both parties sit down for a last-ditch attempt to resolve your complaints.
This may or may not result in a monetary settlement. If a jury finds in your favor, you may be eligible for damages above and beyond just your medical treatment; pain and suffering, loss of employment, and other damages may apply.
Do Patients Win Mesothelioma Law Suits?
It may seem like a daunting process, but patients do effectively fight and win against employers who have caused them to be exposed to toxic asbestos and its devastating health effects. Often, employers knew of the health dangers of asbestos but did not warn their workers or enable them to work in safe conditions. This negligence, both willful and accidental, means that employers bear some responsibility for the health damages of asbestos exposure incurred during occupational work. Patients can and do win mesothelioma lawsuits, and many multi-million dollar payouts have been recorded for the victims of mesothelioma and their families. If you have mesothelioma, it is vital to contact an experienced and competent mesothelioma lawyer in order to recover your rightful compensation.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
What does "occupational exposure" mean?
"Occupational exposure" means that you were exposed to the agent that caused your mesothelioma - usually the toxic mineral asbestos in its insulation and fireproofing forms - in the usual course of business. If you worked with asbestos and then contracted mesothelioma, even if it was years after the exposure, you experienced occupational exposure.
What does a mesothelioma lawsuit entail?
Litigation is a long and often confusing process. When you contact a lawyer about a potential mesothelioma claim, you will typically present your medical records and diagnosis for his assessment before he can tell you if you have a chance in court. If the lawyer determines that your case is sound and will probably recover some monetary compensation and damages, he will take on your case, usually with a retainer or fee agreement. The lawyer will then file a complaint and summons suing the appropriate parties for the exposure leading up to mesothelioma. The court will set a series of dates for discovery and trial and, if the case does not settle, both parties will begin to work towards building a case. Since mesothelioma is a disease, an Independent Medical Examiner (IME) will probably be involved in your case.
An IME conducts an unbiased medical investigation into your mesothelioma and examines your medical records. The other side will probably request your medical records, as well, in order to determine if you had a pre-existing condition or other medical problems that may relieve them of responsibility for your occupational mesothelioma. Be prepared to sign waivers releasing this medical information to the requesting parties. Your attorney will advise you which documents to sign and which releases to give.
During the discovery process, your attorney may also consult with medical and other experts, who perform a variety of services such as document review and reports, medical examinations and detailed expert testimony on issues related to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma and employment.
If your case goes to trial, expect your lawyer to consult with other experts such as trial preparation specialists, who conduct mock trials and coordinate convincing exhibits, multimedia experts who can help present the evidence at trial in the most convincing manner, and witnesses who can bolster your own testimony in your mesothelioma trial. In an effort to avoid the cost and expense of a lengthy jury trial, many states require a mandatory settlement conference (MSC) or arbitration at which both parties sit down for a last-ditch attempt to resolve your complaints.
This may or may not result in a monetary settlement. If a jury finds in your favor, you may be eligible for damages above and beyond just your medical treatment; pain and suffering, loss of employment, and other damages may apply.
Do Patients Win Mesothelioma Law Suits?
It may seem like a daunting process, but patients do effectively fight and win against employers who have caused them to be exposed to toxic asbestos and its devastating health effects. Often, employers knew of the health dangers of asbestos but did not warn their workers or enable them to work in safe conditions. This negligence, both willful and accidental, means that employers bear some responsibility for the health damages of asbestos exposure incurred during occupational work. Patients can and do win mesothelioma lawsuits, and many multi-million dollar payouts have been recorded for the victims of mesothelioma and their families. If you have mesothelioma, it is vital to contact an experienced and competent mesothelioma lawyer in order to recover your rightful compensation.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Schizophrenia and Traumatic Brain Injury
For victims of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families, side effects such as bipolar disorder and memory loss are tragic, but well known and well understood. But in the last decades, scientists have begun to study another serious side effect of brain damage that may go undetected: schizophrenia.
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia (Greek for "shattered mind") is a psychotic disorder that affects behavior, mood and thinking. The term was originally coined as "the schizophrenias" because of the wide variety of symptoms characterizing the condition. The most widely known symptom, auditory hallucination ("hearing voices"), may not even be present in all who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Psychologists break symptoms of schizophrenia into three categories:
. Positive symptoms are behaviors that are not present in normal individuals. They include auditory hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder, or disorganized thinking.
. Negative symptoms are symptoms showing loss of normal abilities. They include loss of ability to show or feel emotion, lack of motivation and trouble with speaking.
. Neurocognitive defects are problems with brain function in areas such as memory, problem-solving, attention and social functioning.
Schizophrenia Related to Brain Injury in Patients
Scientists have established that psychiatric conditions such as bipolar and anxiety disorders are more common in patients who have suffered from traumatic brain injuries. We also know that patients with schizophrenia have a high incidence of past brain damage, regardless of whether they have other strong predictors for schizophrenia, such as a family history of the disorder or maleness. But it is only since the early 1990s that researchers have begun to explore in depth that connection between brain damage caused by traumatic brain injury and schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia and Brain Injury: Recent Studies
. Among the findings of those studies:
. TBI-associated schizophrenia is true schizophrenia, not another disorder with similar symptoms, according to a 2001 study by Columbia University. The scientists observed that traumatic brain injury was associated with a greater risk of schizophrenia, suggesting that one condition increases a person chances of developing the other.
. Another study in the same year at the University of New South Wales in Australia discovered that TBI patients with schizophrenia-like psychosis had more widespread brain damage and cognitive impairment than TBI patients without psychosis. It also suggested that a family history of schizophrenia and the severity of the brain damage sustained during TBI increased the risk of schizophrenia.
. Scientists at the Hawaii State Hospital found in 2002 that it took an average of four to five years after a traumatic brain injury for psychosis to manifest, with most cases arriving within two years. The scientists in that study proposed that damage to frontal and temporal areas of the brain, and to the system that regulates dopamine, can cause psychosis.
While the complex nature of schizophrenia makes its cause unclear, as the last study suggests, there is evidence to believe that brain injury directly causes schizophrenia, by damaging the areas of the brain that control higher functions. There is also evidence that a traumatic brain injury may cause psychosis indirectly. Scientists believe that schizophrenia is caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility to the disease and an emotionally or physically traumatic experience that triggers this susceptibility. Some studies exploring the two conditions suggest that traumatic brain injury and its complications may act as such a trigger.
Many physicians know a traumatic brain injur may cause neurocognitive disorders such as trouble with speech, and psychiatric problems like bipolar disorder, but not all are aware of the growing evidence linking schizophrenia with brain damage. TBI patients and their families should be sure to include a qualified psychiatrist in their plans for brain damage treatment. In addition, brain injury patients and their families should consult an experienced brain injury attorney as they seek to recover costs for expenses such as lost wages, current medical costs and future medical care.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Lead Poisoning Threatens Pregnant Women
The dangers of lead paint and lead poisoning include a broad range of mental disorders and chronic disabilities. But lead paint and lead poisoning is especially dangerous for women, who run the risk of passing dangerous lead exposure on to developing fetuses while pregnant. Here are some ways that women can experience a safe pregnancy free from the effects of lead poisoning:
Clean Up!
Cleanliness is next to godliness...and can help pregnant women escape the dangers of toxic lead exposure. Pregnant women should clean the house when they see the presence of chipping paint or dust - both of which can contain lead particles. Cover chipping paint in your home with duct tape, plastic or contact paper, and vacuum dust whenever possible. A wet cloth will help wash down painted and dusty surfaces, protecting you from lead particles and their potential dangers to you and your fetus. Hand-washing, while common-sense, is not practiced enough, so be sure to wash up after interacting with soil, which might contain lead toxins, and before preparing food or eating. Wear garden gloves and wash up after dusting or mopping to prevent cross-contamination with your food or water.
Craft With Care
Ceramic and other pottery may have its appeal, but with lead paint posing a very real threat to your fetus, it may be a good idea to avoid ceramic crafts until after your pregnancy. If you must interact with lead-containing pottery or paint during your pregnancy, be sure to wash your hands well afterwards and wear protective clothing. Solder is a bad idea while pregnant, so hand the soldering iron off to another crafty woman during your pregnancy. Change your clothing after working with lead-filled crafts materials and be sure to wash them away from other family members' garments.
Take Care At Work
Occupational exposure to lead is dangerous for men and women, but pregnant women run the additional risk of lead contamination to their unborn children. If you work with soldering irons, welding materials, lead-based paint, common construction site chemicals and items, or work in a factory setting, you may be putting your fetus at risk. Ask your employer about a transfer to a lower-risk area of the factory, and be sure to wash hands often. Put your work clothing in a separate hamper and wash it separately from other family's garments. Keep lead-exposed shoes outside of the house and be sure to vacuum well if they go into the house. Educate yourself about the hazards of lead exposure and be certain to talk to your doctor about how your prenatal care can reflect your concern about lead poisoning and lead exposure.
Seek Legal Advice for Exposure
If you have been exposed to lead paint or other lead at work or at home, consult a doctor and then a lawyer. An experienced lead poisoning attorney can help you recover money for the injury, pain and suffering caused by toxic lead paint exposure that affects the health of you and your baby.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Clean Up!
Cleanliness is next to godliness...and can help pregnant women escape the dangers of toxic lead exposure. Pregnant women should clean the house when they see the presence of chipping paint or dust - both of which can contain lead particles. Cover chipping paint in your home with duct tape, plastic or contact paper, and vacuum dust whenever possible. A wet cloth will help wash down painted and dusty surfaces, protecting you from lead particles and their potential dangers to you and your fetus. Hand-washing, while common-sense, is not practiced enough, so be sure to wash up after interacting with soil, which might contain lead toxins, and before preparing food or eating. Wear garden gloves and wash up after dusting or mopping to prevent cross-contamination with your food or water.
Craft With Care
Ceramic and other pottery may have its appeal, but with lead paint posing a very real threat to your fetus, it may be a good idea to avoid ceramic crafts until after your pregnancy. If you must interact with lead-containing pottery or paint during your pregnancy, be sure to wash your hands well afterwards and wear protective clothing. Solder is a bad idea while pregnant, so hand the soldering iron off to another crafty woman during your pregnancy. Change your clothing after working with lead-filled crafts materials and be sure to wash them away from other family members' garments.
Take Care At Work
Occupational exposure to lead is dangerous for men and women, but pregnant women run the additional risk of lead contamination to their unborn children. If you work with soldering irons, welding materials, lead-based paint, common construction site chemicals and items, or work in a factory setting, you may be putting your fetus at risk. Ask your employer about a transfer to a lower-risk area of the factory, and be sure to wash hands often. Put your work clothing in a separate hamper and wash it separately from other family's garments. Keep lead-exposed shoes outside of the house and be sure to vacuum well if they go into the house. Educate yourself about the hazards of lead exposure and be certain to talk to your doctor about how your prenatal care can reflect your concern about lead poisoning and lead exposure.
Seek Legal Advice for Exposure
If you have been exposed to lead paint or other lead at work or at home, consult a doctor and then a lawyer. An experienced lead poisoning attorney can help you recover money for the injury, pain and suffering caused by toxic lead paint exposure that affects the health of you and your baby.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Open Head Injury, Skull Fractures and TBI
Though traumatic brain injury does not always involve a fractured skull, the term "open head injury" is used when the affected individual's skull is penetrated by an object, such as a bullet or bone fragment. This differs from a "closed brain injury", which involves a non-invasive blow to the head through sports, a car accident, or another incident. The term "open head injury" actually refers to the condition of the skull rather than that of the brain; there are different grades of severity in traumatic brain injury of both the open and closed varieties. Open head injury is usually diagnosed with the help of x-rays or other technology such as CAT scans or tomography.
Side Effects of Open Head Injury
When the skull is broken, the delicate tissues of the brain are exposed to further harm in the form of infections or further injury during other blows. In addition, bone fragments remaining from a traumatic brain injury such as a fall or car accident can move around and injure the brain after the initial traumatic event. While a fracture in the skull can actually give the brain room to swell without negatively impacting the brain, the brain is at risk for infections in exposed tissue. In addition, an open head injury can lead to more severe side effects such as seizures, dementia or even paralysis.
Types of Skull Fractures
There are almost as many varieties of skull fractures as there are ways in which the skull can be broken. The two major varieties of skull fracture in open head injuries are simple "linear" skull fractures and depressed skull fractures.
Linear Fractures
The term "linear skull fracture" is used to refer to a straightforward crack or break in the skull. Linear fractures may be relatively minor and require little or no treatment, though doctors will still want to diagnose and treat the potential damage caused to the brain upon impact and breakage of the skull. The placement of linear fractures is important; when a linear skull fracture extends into the sinus cavity, it may cause leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through the ears or nose and may require insertion of a drainage device. If the linear skull fracture occurs near the base of the skull, it may cause other complications such as nerve or artery damage.
Depressed Skull Fractures
The term "depressed skull fracture" is used to refer to a situation in which the broken bone presses down into or on top of the brain. Depressed skull fractures are common in victims of traumatic brain injury whose heads have been struck with blunt objects. A depressed skull fracture can be compared to a "dent" in the skull; surgery is usually required if the depth of the dent equals or exceeds the thickness of the skull bone which surrounds it.
Treating Open Head Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury
There are several options for the victims of open head injuries and related brain damage. As stated above, some patients may require surgical intervention if the skull is depressed beyond repair or to remove errant bone shards that can threaten further brain injury. Bone fragments may be removed or replaced with synthetic skull pieces to protect the fragile brain tissue. In addition, some patients whose open head injuries are never repaired may have to wear a helmet to prevent re-injury in the case of a fall due to a seizure or other event.
If You've Suffered From Open Head Injury or TBI
If you have suffered from brain injury due to a skull fracture or other open head injury, you may be eligible for compensation and damages to make up for medical expenses, lost wages, and future medical care. Contact an experienced brain injury attorney for more information on filing your traumatic brain injury claim and recovering damages for traumatic brain injury side effects.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Slip and Fall Case Makes it to Supreme Court
Slip and fall cases may seem like straightforward personal injury lawsuits, but the underlying case is often more complex than may meet the eye. A 2005 law suit, which made it all the way to the New York State Supreme Court, exhibits both the severity of slip and fall injuries and the potential complexity of these personal injury law suits.
Negligent Mail Delivery?
The case in question is Barbara Dolan v. U.S. Postal Service. In the case in question, plaintiff Dolan sued the U.S. Postal Service for wrist and back injuries sustained after a slip and fall on her front porch. Dolan claimed that she slipped on mail that was placed on her porch instead of being properly placed in her mailbox. Dolan litigated her case in the lower New York courts and fought all the way up to the New York State Supreme Court, but was defeated by the government, who claimed that it was not liable for negligent mail delivery. However, Dolan's lawyer successfully argued that since different courts have interpreted the definition of "mail delivery" differently, the nation's highest court should rectify the discrepancies and hear the case at the Supreme Court level. The Supreme Court found 7 to 1 for plaintiff Dolan, setting a precedent in a different field related to whether the government should be responsible for so-called "negligent transmission".
Lessons Learned
Whatever the outcome of Dolan's case, the fact that it reached the highest court of the land is notable in and of itself. The severity of the plaintiff's slip and fall injury - so severe that her husband claimed she could not perform her conjugal duties and filed a complaint in the New York courts - is just the tip of the iceberg of injury that exists in slip and fall cases. From traumatic brain injury to concussions to contusions to lasting spinal harm, slip and fall injuries are a serious concern and threaten the health and welfare of employees, customers and regular citizens all over the country.
If You Have Been Injured
Know your rights if you have sustained a slip and fall injury. Notify the owner of the premises or the manager of the business in which you were injured as soon as possible after the fall. Document your medical visits and take photographs of the injury if possible. Seek medical attention immediately to determine whether you have suffered injury. If the store, business or property owner refuses to compensate you for your slip and fall related injuries, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your personal injury attorney can help you recover the damages and compensation you deserve after a slip and fall injury. This can include, but is not limited to, attorney's fees, medical bills, lost wages, and other benefits.
Your case may well settle before it reaches its first jury trial. Not every trial will make it to the Supreme Court and have the chance to set precedent and affect future cases. But each slip and fall injury suit filed represents a citizen standing up for his or her right to compensation for their injuries due to the negligence of a property owner or business. Talk to a personal injury lawyer to determine if you have a valid claim before filing your slip and fall suit.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Negligent Mail Delivery?
The case in question is Barbara Dolan v. U.S. Postal Service. In the case in question, plaintiff Dolan sued the U.S. Postal Service for wrist and back injuries sustained after a slip and fall on her front porch. Dolan claimed that she slipped on mail that was placed on her porch instead of being properly placed in her mailbox. Dolan litigated her case in the lower New York courts and fought all the way up to the New York State Supreme Court, but was defeated by the government, who claimed that it was not liable for negligent mail delivery. However, Dolan's lawyer successfully argued that since different courts have interpreted the definition of "mail delivery" differently, the nation's highest court should rectify the discrepancies and hear the case at the Supreme Court level. The Supreme Court found 7 to 1 for plaintiff Dolan, setting a precedent in a different field related to whether the government should be responsible for so-called "negligent transmission".
Lessons Learned
Whatever the outcome of Dolan's case, the fact that it reached the highest court of the land is notable in and of itself. The severity of the plaintiff's slip and fall injury - so severe that her husband claimed she could not perform her conjugal duties and filed a complaint in the New York courts - is just the tip of the iceberg of injury that exists in slip and fall cases. From traumatic brain injury to concussions to contusions to lasting spinal harm, slip and fall injuries are a serious concern and threaten the health and welfare of employees, customers and regular citizens all over the country.
If You Have Been Injured
Know your rights if you have sustained a slip and fall injury. Notify the owner of the premises or the manager of the business in which you were injured as soon as possible after the fall. Document your medical visits and take photographs of the injury if possible. Seek medical attention immediately to determine whether you have suffered injury. If the store, business or property owner refuses to compensate you for your slip and fall related injuries, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your personal injury attorney can help you recover the damages and compensation you deserve after a slip and fall injury. This can include, but is not limited to, attorney's fees, medical bills, lost wages, and other benefits.
Your case may well settle before it reaches its first jury trial. Not every trial will make it to the Supreme Court and have the chance to set precedent and affect future cases. But each slip and fall injury suit filed represents a citizen standing up for his or her right to compensation for their injuries due to the negligence of a property owner or business. Talk to a personal injury lawyer to determine if you have a valid claim before filing your slip and fall suit.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Automobile Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injury
Of the 1.4 million Americans who sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, half of them will be involved in an automobile or motorcycle accident. The National Institutes of Health cite automobile accidents as the number one cause of traumatic brain injury in people under 75.
Accident-Related Brain Injury: Mechanisms
In an auto-accident-related TBI, the victim is jolted violently, sometimes against an object. This causes the brain to twist within the skull and bump against the skull walls, damaging the brain's axions, which are the connections between neurons. This disrupts the brain's internal communications, reducing the patient's ability to perform basic functions. Patients with more severe axion damage may go into comas or die immediately. Other types of brain injuries that are commonly caused by an auto accident include concussion; contusion, or bruising of the brain tissue; skull fracture; and anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the brain.
A closed brain injury, in which the skull is not broken or penetrated, is the most common kind of TBI caused by auto accidents. It is also more difficult to diagnose than a penetrative brain injury, because the symptoms may not be obvious at first. Right after the accident, victims may feel fine, or show only a short loss of consciousness or a mild headache. They may be sent home from the hospital with a clean bill of health. However, more symptoms can appear in the days and weeks after the accident. They include:
. Headaches
. Dizziness and lightheadedness
. Double vision or blurred vision
. Confusion or agitation . Fatigue
. Memory loss
. Mood or behavior changes
. Trouble concentrating
. Slurred speech
. Dilation of the pupils
. Repeated vomiting or nausea
. Loss of coordination
These secondary symptoms can occur when the brain swells in response to the original trauma. Because the brain is trapped inside the skull, this swelling can cause complications of the original, seemingly mild, injury. About 40 percent of TBI patients develop some of these symptoms, sometimes called post-concussion syndrome, in the days or weeks after an accident. Accident victims who show any of these symptoms should insist on being thoroughly rechecked for a traumatic brain injury, even if doctors originally said they were fine.
Costs of Automobile Accident-Related TBI
The costs, both personal and financial, of a traumatic brain injury can be high. Because brain tissue cannot regenerate the way other body tissues can, brain-damage patients may never fully recover from their injuries. Such patients will live the rest of their lives with disabilities such as trouble seeing or hearing, memory loss, motor skills damage, depression and personality changes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 5 million Americans need help with daily tasks because of a traumatic brain injury. All of these things take a toll on the lives of the patients and their loved ones, as well as costing millions of dollars to treat.
To minimize the chance of living with a disability, accident victims who think they might have a TBI should insist on a thorough medical evaluation after an accident, so they can begin treatment as soon as possible. If you believe that someone else may be at fault for an auto accident that caused you or a loved one to sustain brain damage, or if you believe you are being unfairly denied treatment or compensation, you may wish to speak to an experienced brain injury attorney.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Accident-Related Brain Injury: Mechanisms
In an auto-accident-related TBI, the victim is jolted violently, sometimes against an object. This causes the brain to twist within the skull and bump against the skull walls, damaging the brain's axions, which are the connections between neurons. This disrupts the brain's internal communications, reducing the patient's ability to perform basic functions. Patients with more severe axion damage may go into comas or die immediately. Other types of brain injuries that are commonly caused by an auto accident include concussion; contusion, or bruising of the brain tissue; skull fracture; and anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the brain.
A closed brain injury, in which the skull is not broken or penetrated, is the most common kind of TBI caused by auto accidents. It is also more difficult to diagnose than a penetrative brain injury, because the symptoms may not be obvious at first. Right after the accident, victims may feel fine, or show only a short loss of consciousness or a mild headache. They may be sent home from the hospital with a clean bill of health. However, more symptoms can appear in the days and weeks after the accident. They include:
. Headaches
. Dizziness and lightheadedness
. Double vision or blurred vision
. Confusion or agitation . Fatigue
. Memory loss
. Mood or behavior changes
. Trouble concentrating
. Slurred speech
. Dilation of the pupils
. Repeated vomiting or nausea
. Loss of coordination
These secondary symptoms can occur when the brain swells in response to the original trauma. Because the brain is trapped inside the skull, this swelling can cause complications of the original, seemingly mild, injury. About 40 percent of TBI patients develop some of these symptoms, sometimes called post-concussion syndrome, in the days or weeks after an accident. Accident victims who show any of these symptoms should insist on being thoroughly rechecked for a traumatic brain injury, even if doctors originally said they were fine.
Costs of Automobile Accident-Related TBI
The costs, both personal and financial, of a traumatic brain injury can be high. Because brain tissue cannot regenerate the way other body tissues can, brain-damage patients may never fully recover from their injuries. Such patients will live the rest of their lives with disabilities such as trouble seeing or hearing, memory loss, motor skills damage, depression and personality changes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 5 million Americans need help with daily tasks because of a traumatic brain injury. All of these things take a toll on the lives of the patients and their loved ones, as well as costing millions of dollars to treat.
To minimize the chance of living with a disability, accident victims who think they might have a TBI should insist on a thorough medical evaluation after an accident, so they can begin treatment as soon as possible. If you believe that someone else may be at fault for an auto accident that caused you or a loved one to sustain brain damage, or if you believe you are being unfairly denied treatment or compensation, you may wish to speak to an experienced brain injury attorney.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Employment Accidents -- An Overview
Three Department of Labor (DOL) agencies have responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the laws enacted to protect the safety and health of workers. These are the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which contains rules concerning the employment of workers under the age of 18. Almost every state has a workers' compensation department, the benefits under which vary from state to state. OSHA or OSHA-approved systems regulate safety and health conditions in most private industries. Nearly every employee comes under OSHA's jurisdiction. There are some exceptions such as miners, some transportation workers, many public employees, and the self-employed. In addition to the requirements to comply with the regulations and safety and health standards contained in the OSH Act, employers subject to the Act have a general duty to provide work and a workplace free from recognized, serious hazards.
According to the Act, every employer shall furnish to every employee a place of employment that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. In addition, employers shall comply with occupational safety and health standards that are included in the Act.
The Department of Labor has an Employment Standards Administration division (ESA) whose mission is to enhance the welfare and protect the rights of workers. As an enforcement and benefit delivery agency, the ESA is composed of four major programs one of which is responsible for workers' compensation, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. Workers who are injured while on the job, who have been injured in association with their job or who have safety or health issues directly related to their job may be covered under workers' compensation. Workers' compensation is a system of laws outlining specific benefits to which an injured employee is entitled, including lost wages and medical expenses. In other words, it is an important safety net for employees when they are injured while on the job or because of a job.
The specific issues associated with each case must be explored to determine the benefits an employee may be entitled to receive. In addition, depending upon the type of employment accident and injury, the worker may also be able to file a personal injury suit against one or more of the contractors involved, which does not affect workers' compensation claims or benefits.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
According to the Act, every employer shall furnish to every employee a place of employment that is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. In addition, employers shall comply with occupational safety and health standards that are included in the Act.
The Department of Labor has an Employment Standards Administration division (ESA) whose mission is to enhance the welfare and protect the rights of workers. As an enforcement and benefit delivery agency, the ESA is composed of four major programs one of which is responsible for workers' compensation, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. Workers who are injured while on the job, who have been injured in association with their job or who have safety or health issues directly related to their job may be covered under workers' compensation. Workers' compensation is a system of laws outlining specific benefits to which an injured employee is entitled, including lost wages and medical expenses. In other words, it is an important safety net for employees when they are injured while on the job or because of a job.
The specific issues associated with each case must be explored to determine the benefits an employee may be entitled to receive. In addition, depending upon the type of employment accident and injury, the worker may also be able to file a personal injury suit against one or more of the contractors involved, which does not affect workers' compensation claims or benefits.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Lead Poisoning Linked to ADHD, Other Disorders
Lead paint and lead poisoning have long been known to cause a host of health problems, including hearing loss, stunted body growth and even reduced I.Q. But new research points to another danger of lead paint and lead poisoning - attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
Boys at Greater Risk
The study proved that boys are at a greater risk than girls, pointing to a specific variation in a genetic dopamine receptor (DRD4-7). Children with this genetic variation who have exposure to lead are at a greater risk of developing ADHD. The connection between lead poisoning and attention problems has long been known, and it was this connection that spurred doctors to research a potential link between ADHD and lead poisoning.
Doctors split the children studied into two groups - a high- and low-risk category of DRD4 variation. Though exposure to lead paint and other lead did not seem to increase the risk for children with the high-risk variety, the low-risk group was significantly affected by the presence of lead.
A Series of Disorders
ADHD children are not the only victims of lead poisoning - lead exposure can lead to disorders in almost every part of the body. The nervous system is a common casualty of lead exposure, with reduced strength and inability for different body parts to effectively communicate with one another. The potential for miscarriage is increased by lead exposure, and sperm production can be endangered in men who are exposed to lead paint or particles. Though there is no conclusive proof that lead is carcinogenic (cancer-causing) to humans, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that lead is a potential human carcinogen.
Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning
Children are by far the most vulnerable to lead poisoning. Children ingest lead in a number of ways - through chewing on paint chips in old houses, eating soil or dust that has been contaminated with lead, or biting ceramics or other objects that have been coated in lead-based paint. Young children are at significant risk through their ingestion habits, but fetuses and babies are at risk, too: premature birth and even miscarriage are well-known side effects of lead exposure.
In order to reduce the risk of lead poisoning for children, parents should be vigilant about what goes in their children's mouth. They should keep close watch on children who chew or lick painted surfaces and keep cosmetics and other lead-based pigments away from children. Frequent hand and face washing can keep lead dust from getting in the mouths and mucus membranes of children. In addition, your child should be tested for lead at one or two years of age.
Legal Options for Lead Poisoning
If you or your child have been injured by lead poisoning, contact a medical professional immediately. You may be liable for damages due to your lead-based medical problems. It is best to consult an experienced lead poisoning attorney who can provide you with legal consultation and support as you litigate your lead poisoning claim. You may be eligible for compensation or damages to help pay for medical bills and pain and suffering.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Boys at Greater Risk
The study proved that boys are at a greater risk than girls, pointing to a specific variation in a genetic dopamine receptor (DRD4-7). Children with this genetic variation who have exposure to lead are at a greater risk of developing ADHD. The connection between lead poisoning and attention problems has long been known, and it was this connection that spurred doctors to research a potential link between ADHD and lead poisoning.
Doctors split the children studied into two groups - a high- and low-risk category of DRD4 variation. Though exposure to lead paint and other lead did not seem to increase the risk for children with the high-risk variety, the low-risk group was significantly affected by the presence of lead.
A Series of Disorders
ADHD children are not the only victims of lead poisoning - lead exposure can lead to disorders in almost every part of the body. The nervous system is a common casualty of lead exposure, with reduced strength and inability for different body parts to effectively communicate with one another. The potential for miscarriage is increased by lead exposure, and sperm production can be endangered in men who are exposed to lead paint or particles. Though there is no conclusive proof that lead is carcinogenic (cancer-causing) to humans, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that lead is a potential human carcinogen.
Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning
Children are by far the most vulnerable to lead poisoning. Children ingest lead in a number of ways - through chewing on paint chips in old houses, eating soil or dust that has been contaminated with lead, or biting ceramics or other objects that have been coated in lead-based paint. Young children are at significant risk through their ingestion habits, but fetuses and babies are at risk, too: premature birth and even miscarriage are well-known side effects of lead exposure.
In order to reduce the risk of lead poisoning for children, parents should be vigilant about what goes in their children's mouth. They should keep close watch on children who chew or lick painted surfaces and keep cosmetics and other lead-based pigments away from children. Frequent hand and face washing can keep lead dust from getting in the mouths and mucus membranes of children. In addition, your child should be tested for lead at one or two years of age.
Legal Options for Lead Poisoning
If you or your child have been injured by lead poisoning, contact a medical professional immediately. You may be liable for damages due to your lead-based medical problems. It is best to consult an experienced lead poisoning attorney who can provide you with legal consultation and support as you litigate your lead poisoning claim. You may be eligible for compensation or damages to help pay for medical bills and pain and suffering.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Government Institutes Largest Crib Recall in US History
Crib recall: Federal regulators recently recalled about 1 million cribs made by Simplicity Inc. because the drop rail on some of the nation's best-selling models can detach from the crib, creating a dangerous gap that has led to the deaths of at least three children.
On September 21 2007, following a Chicago Tribune investigation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of cribs sold under both the Simplicity and Graco name. It is the largest recall of full-size cribs since the agency was created in the 1970s. The agency initially said it was aware of two deaths in Simplicity-manufactured cribs with older style hardware where the drop-side was installed upside down. One of those children was a 6-month-old in Georgia; the other was a 9-month-old named Liam Johns. After more investigation, it became apparent that a third child had had died as a result of an accident involving the poorly designed cribs.
The CPSC is warning parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity and Graco cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side up and is advising that consumers who have one of the cribs cited in the recall should contact Simplicity (888-593-9274 or www.simplicityforchildren.com) to obtain a repair kit with new hardware. If the crib already has the newer hardware consumers should still check the crib's drop rail to ensure it is assembled right-side up.
The recall covers a number of models of cribs manufactured by Simplicity Inc., sold under both the Simplicity and Graco brand names.
The models recalled include:
* Simplicity Branded Models :
. Aspen 3 in 1
. Aspen 4 in 1
. Nursery-in-a-Box
. Crib N Changer Combo
. Chelsea
. Pooh 4 in 1
. Graco Branded Models:
. Aspen 3 in 1
. Ultra 3 in 1
. Ultra 4 in 1
. Ultra 5 in 1
. Whitney
. Trio
After the initial recall, the crib recall caused more uproar, as a U.S. congressman demanded to know why the CPSC had delayed so long in ordering the recall, given that the first incident involving the unsafe cribs may have occurred as early as 2004. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission to explain why the agency took more than two years and the deaths of three infants before it recalled 1 million cribs for design and hardware flaws. The investigation into the CPCS's response remains underway.
Given the seriousness of the recall, many parents immediately followed the instructions from the CPSC to contact Simplicity Inc. regarding obtaining new hardware. The CPSC also stated that parents should not allow children to sleep in the recalled cribs for "even one more night." However, in the weeks following the recall, it has become apparent that Simplicity may not be providing parents with the proper resources to ensure their cribs are safe. Parents who are calling Simplicity, Inc. as instructed, to order a repair kit for the recalled cribs are finding those kits are not so easy to come by. In fact, Simplicity does not even have the repair kits ready.
More than two weeks after the recall notice went out, Simplicity is telling anxious parents that it could be three to four weeks before they get a repair kit to fix the cribs' defects. That's because the CPSC allowed the company to issue the recall prior to designing and manufacturing the kits. The CPSC said this was necessary because of the immediate danger posed by the hazardous cribs.
What's worse, parents who have asked Simplicity to overnight repair kits say they're not being told that the kits aren't ready. Rather, Simplicity is sending out replacement parts that don't even include installation instructions. Apparently, the replacement parts may not even have been approved by the CPSC.
If you or anyone you know has been negatively affected by either the faulty Simplicity or Graco branded cribs, fill out the form on this page to be put in touch with a cribs recall lawyer today, who can answer your questions and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
On September 21 2007, following a Chicago Tribune investigation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of cribs sold under both the Simplicity and Graco name. It is the largest recall of full-size cribs since the agency was created in the 1970s. The agency initially said it was aware of two deaths in Simplicity-manufactured cribs with older style hardware where the drop-side was installed upside down. One of those children was a 6-month-old in Georgia; the other was a 9-month-old named Liam Johns. After more investigation, it became apparent that a third child had had died as a result of an accident involving the poorly designed cribs.
The CPSC is warning parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity and Graco cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side up and is advising that consumers who have one of the cribs cited in the recall should contact Simplicity (888-593-9274 or www.simplicityforchildren.com) to obtain a repair kit with new hardware. If the crib already has the newer hardware consumers should still check the crib's drop rail to ensure it is assembled right-side up.
The recall covers a number of models of cribs manufactured by Simplicity Inc., sold under both the Simplicity and Graco brand names.
The models recalled include:
* Simplicity Branded Models :
. Aspen 3 in 1
. Aspen 4 in 1
. Nursery-in-a-Box
. Crib N Changer Combo
. Chelsea
. Pooh 4 in 1
. Graco Branded Models:
. Aspen 3 in 1
. Ultra 3 in 1
. Ultra 4 in 1
. Ultra 5 in 1
. Whitney
. Trio
After the initial recall, the crib recall caused more uproar, as a U.S. congressman demanded to know why the CPSC had delayed so long in ordering the recall, given that the first incident involving the unsafe cribs may have occurred as early as 2004. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission to explain why the agency took more than two years and the deaths of three infants before it recalled 1 million cribs for design and hardware flaws. The investigation into the CPCS's response remains underway.
Given the seriousness of the recall, many parents immediately followed the instructions from the CPSC to contact Simplicity Inc. regarding obtaining new hardware. The CPSC also stated that parents should not allow children to sleep in the recalled cribs for "even one more night." However, in the weeks following the recall, it has become apparent that Simplicity may not be providing parents with the proper resources to ensure their cribs are safe. Parents who are calling Simplicity, Inc. as instructed, to order a repair kit for the recalled cribs are finding those kits are not so easy to come by. In fact, Simplicity does not even have the repair kits ready.
More than two weeks after the recall notice went out, Simplicity is telling anxious parents that it could be three to four weeks before they get a repair kit to fix the cribs' defects. That's because the CPSC allowed the company to issue the recall prior to designing and manufacturing the kits. The CPSC said this was necessary because of the immediate danger posed by the hazardous cribs.
What's worse, parents who have asked Simplicity to overnight repair kits say they're not being told that the kits aren't ready. Rather, Simplicity is sending out replacement parts that don't even include installation instructions. Apparently, the replacement parts may not even have been approved by the CPSC.
If you or anyone you know has been negatively affected by either the faulty Simplicity or Graco branded cribs, fill out the form on this page to be put in touch with a cribs recall lawyer today, who can answer your questions and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Drugs and Medical Devices Associated with Heart Problems
DRUGS THAT HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HEART PROBLEMS
Zelnorm
Zelnorm, a medication that was prescribed to women that were being treated for irritable bowel syndrome accompanied with constipation, as well as, patients that were under the age of 65 years old and had chronic constipation, has been attributed to the increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and worsening chest pains than patients that did not take Zelnorm.
Bextra
Bextra has been prescribed to patients that have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or painful menstrual cycles and is classified as a COX-2 selective NSAID that has been linked to have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Ortho evra
Unlike a common form of birth control that is taken orally, Ortho Evra is a form of birth control patch that introduces and removes the hormones into and out of the blood stream a different manner exposing women to about 60 percent more estrogen which has been found to lead to an increase in the risk of blood clots, strokes, and more seriously, death.
Phen fen
Phentermine and Fenfluramine, or Phen-Fen, are two separate drugs that were combined together into one single medication used to decrease appetite and help give the feeling of increased satiety and taken by people that suffer from obesity to help effectively aid in weight loss, yet, was pulled from the market after the drugs were linked to cause primary pulmonary hypertension and valvular heart disease.
Ephedra
Ephedra(r) is a dietary supplement that is marketed as a natural product that claims to help with such things as weight loss, increased energy, and enhanced athletic performance, but has since been found to actually be the cause heart attacks, strokes, eizures, rapid and irregular heart rhythms, increased blood pressure, chest pain, psychosis, tremors, and death.
Adderall
Adderall is a prescribe medication for the treatment of attention deficit disorder, or ADD, but has also been known to cause psychological side effects, and with any misuse of the drug, can even lead to sudden death due to the onset of heart attacks and strokes.
Paxil (heart birth defects)
Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, type of antidepressant that has been discovered to cause birth defects when prescribe to pregnant women, and even been associated with increased suicidal tendencies in adults and children.
DEVICES THAT HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HEART PROBLEMS
Many medical devices that were manufactured for the intent to help patients suffering from heart problems have recently been linked to more counter-productive problems in patients that have used them. Two of the nation's top manufacturers, Medtronic with its defibrillators, and Guidant with pacemakers, as well as, defibrillators, have had to recall some of the medical devices that were implanted in patients due to faultiness and malfunction.
Along with these medical devices that are being pulled from use in patients with heart problems, drug eluting stents that are placed within the coronary artery to help keep a continuous blood flow to the heart, have also been recalled due to the arterial wall damage that is done by the placement of the stent.
Medtronic models
Medtronic is the nation's leading maker of heart implant devices that are used in people who are at risk of going into cardiac arrest, and whose most recent defibrillator models have been prone to have a defect in the lead wires that connect to the defibrillator, and which carry electric impulses to the heart, causing the defibrillator to deliver unnecessary shocks or to not even operate at all.
Guidant models
Guidant Corporation who manufactures pacemakers that send electrical impulses to help accelerate a slow heart beat, and defibrillators that are small implanted devices placed in the body for the function of regulating the heartbeat in patients with a risk of heart problems, has recalled both the pacemakers and the defibrillators due to short circuiting of the devices resulting in death of some the patients using the faulty devices.
Sprint Fidelis models
The Sprint Fidelis model of defibrillators that are manufactured by Medtronic and are implanted in over 250,000 patients, have been recalled due to faulty electrodes that have been found to malfunction leading to an unnecessary electrical jolt to the heart, or for the life saving device to completely fail altogether.
Drug eluting stents
A drug eluting stent is a latticed metal scaffold placed within the coronary artery for the purpose of keeping the vessel open and aiding in the adequate flow of blood to the heart, but unfortunately, actually has an adverse effect by causing blood clots that lead to the arterial wall being damaged.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Zelnorm
Zelnorm, a medication that was prescribed to women that were being treated for irritable bowel syndrome accompanied with constipation, as well as, patients that were under the age of 65 years old and had chronic constipation, has been attributed to the increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and worsening chest pains than patients that did not take Zelnorm.
Bextra
Bextra has been prescribed to patients that have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or painful menstrual cycles and is classified as a COX-2 selective NSAID that has been linked to have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Ortho evra
Unlike a common form of birth control that is taken orally, Ortho Evra is a form of birth control patch that introduces and removes the hormones into and out of the blood stream a different manner exposing women to about 60 percent more estrogen which has been found to lead to an increase in the risk of blood clots, strokes, and more seriously, death.
Phen fen
Phentermine and Fenfluramine, or Phen-Fen, are two separate drugs that were combined together into one single medication used to decrease appetite and help give the feeling of increased satiety and taken by people that suffer from obesity to help effectively aid in weight loss, yet, was pulled from the market after the drugs were linked to cause primary pulmonary hypertension and valvular heart disease.
Ephedra
Ephedra(r) is a dietary supplement that is marketed as a natural product that claims to help with such things as weight loss, increased energy, and enhanced athletic performance, but has since been found to actually be the cause heart attacks, strokes, eizures, rapid and irregular heart rhythms, increased blood pressure, chest pain, psychosis, tremors, and death.
Adderall
Adderall is a prescribe medication for the treatment of attention deficit disorder, or ADD, but has also been known to cause psychological side effects, and with any misuse of the drug, can even lead to sudden death due to the onset of heart attacks and strokes.
Paxil (heart birth defects)
Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, type of antidepressant that has been discovered to cause birth defects when prescribe to pregnant women, and even been associated with increased suicidal tendencies in adults and children.
DEVICES THAT HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HEART PROBLEMS
Many medical devices that were manufactured for the intent to help patients suffering from heart problems have recently been linked to more counter-productive problems in patients that have used them. Two of the nation's top manufacturers, Medtronic with its defibrillators, and Guidant with pacemakers, as well as, defibrillators, have had to recall some of the medical devices that were implanted in patients due to faultiness and malfunction.
Along with these medical devices that are being pulled from use in patients with heart problems, drug eluting stents that are placed within the coronary artery to help keep a continuous blood flow to the heart, have also been recalled due to the arterial wall damage that is done by the placement of the stent.
Medtronic models
Medtronic is the nation's leading maker of heart implant devices that are used in people who are at risk of going into cardiac arrest, and whose most recent defibrillator models have been prone to have a defect in the lead wires that connect to the defibrillator, and which carry electric impulses to the heart, causing the defibrillator to deliver unnecessary shocks or to not even operate at all.
Guidant models
Guidant Corporation who manufactures pacemakers that send electrical impulses to help accelerate a slow heart beat, and defibrillators that are small implanted devices placed in the body for the function of regulating the heartbeat in patients with a risk of heart problems, has recalled both the pacemakers and the defibrillators due to short circuiting of the devices resulting in death of some the patients using the faulty devices.
Sprint Fidelis models
The Sprint Fidelis model of defibrillators that are manufactured by Medtronic and are implanted in over 250,000 patients, have been recalled due to faulty electrodes that have been found to malfunction leading to an unnecessary electrical jolt to the heart, or for the life saving device to completely fail altogether.
Drug eluting stents
A drug eluting stent is a latticed metal scaffold placed within the coronary artery for the purpose of keeping the vessel open and aiding in the adequate flow of blood to the heart, but unfortunately, actually has an adverse effect by causing blood clots that lead to the arterial wall being damaged.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Diabetes Drug Avandia Associated with Increased Risk of Osteoporosis
The type 2 diabetes drug Avandia, from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is making headlines again as scientists find that long-term use of the drug may increase the risk of osteoporosis among patients. Avandia, also referred to as rosiglitazone, was approved in June 1999, since that time the drug has been taken by millions of Americans. The study was conducted by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and first appeared in the scientific health journal, Nature Medicine in the Dec. 2 online issue. Researchers found that the drug may contribute to bone loss over time and that the drug may speed up the process of osteoporosis, thinning of bones and may result in bone fractures in the body that can be fatal to type 2 diabetes patients who already experience hardships from the symptoms associated with this illness.
Dangerous Avandia Side-Effects
Avandia is an oral anti-diabetic medication that has been associated with congestive heart failure, according to warnings released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In early 2007, GlaxoSmithKline reported the results of a 26-week, double blind, fixed-dose study that resulted in approximately 40 percent of patients taking Avandia to have reduced their insulin dose, compared to those receiving placebo pills. However, in November 2007, the FDA placed yet another warning label on the drug, this time consisting of a "black box" warning. The warning is also known as "black label" warning and it is the highest and most severe warning a drug can have while still being available on the market. While the warning on the box was related to the severity of potential heart failure, only continued research will determine how great the risk of osteoporosis is among users who also risk heart failure while on the drug. But for those who are currently or have in the past taken the drug, contacting an attorney who can offer advice on how to receive probable compensation for the potentially irreversible damage is a wise decision.
Overcoming the Avandia Osteoporosis Risk
For users of Avandia as well as other type 2 diabetes drugs recently released on the market, it is advisable to speak with an experienced diabetes law firm who can offer advice on building a potential case and receiving compensation for having taken Avandia or other type 2 diabetes drugs, which may also cause the increased risk of osteoporosis. Treating diabetes can be a difficult challenge in and of itself, and when additional factors or side effects come to light about a specific drug the situation can become an even more frightening dilemma. But the best way to overcome potential harm is to not only contact a doctor to better understand steps to protect yourself, but to contact a law firm and become aware of the latest news and findings.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Prescription and Over the Counter Drugs Can Cause Harm: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Adverse drug reactions are all too common. Most are unreported; however, they contribute to over 150,000 deaths per year, making them a leading cause of death in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner has estimated that anywhere between 3-11% of hospitalizations every year are due to adverse drug reactions. People taking various prescriptions and over the counter medications are often unknowingly making themselves susceptible to serious adverse side effects that can lead to death.
Stevens - Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and Toxic Epidural Necrolysis Syndrome (TEN) another form of SJS, are severe, adverse skin reactions to both prescription and over the counter medications. Many different drugs can trigger SJS, but anti-convulsants, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are most consistently responsible for causing SJS. While anyone can develop SJS, a Caucasian predominance has been reported. It is most commonly seen in children and in women (a 2:1 ratio compared to men), and can lead to death if left untreated. According to some reliable sources and reports from 3% to 15% of patients who contract severe SJS die from the syndrome. Additionally, over half the people who develop SJS experience serious upper respiratory tract infections.
First discovered in 1922, Stevens - Johnson Syndrome is a serious inflammatory skin disease and is characterized by painful, ulcerated lesions on the skin and mucous membranes. According to the Stevens - Johnson Syndrome Foundation, the symptoms of SJS include:
. Rash, blisters or red splotches on the skin.
. Persistent fever.
. Blisters in mouth, eyes, ears, nose and/or genital area.
. Swelling of eyelids and/or red eyes.
. Conjunctivitis.
. Flu-like symptoms.
Patients with these symptoms have a recent history of having taken a prescription or over the counter medication.
Various prescription drugs have been found to be strongly associated with SJS, and some have even been recalled by the FDA. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have recently come under a great deal of scrutiny relative to causing SJS. One such drug is Bextra, an anti-inflammatory drug prescribed to treat the pain associated with osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. All of these drugs now have recently strengthened the warning and precautions sections of their packaging. Most are now required to have a "black box" warning, the highest warning level the FDA issues on approved drugs. Some NSAIDs have even been recalled by the FDA and/or taken off the market voluntarily by the manufacturer.
While it is impossible to prevent the development of SJS, short of never taking any needed prescription or over the counter medication, there are ways to treat the disease if one does develop symptoms. It is of the utmost necessity to stop taking the drug associated with the negative side effects/reactions. After that, hospitalization is usually necessary, combined with a variety of treatment options including care from burn units, the ICU and dermatological teams. If identified and treated properly in a timely manner, most patients who come down with SJS can recover successfully.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Stevens - Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and Toxic Epidural Necrolysis Syndrome (TEN) another form of SJS, are severe, adverse skin reactions to both prescription and over the counter medications. Many different drugs can trigger SJS, but anti-convulsants, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are most consistently responsible for causing SJS. While anyone can develop SJS, a Caucasian predominance has been reported. It is most commonly seen in children and in women (a 2:1 ratio compared to men), and can lead to death if left untreated. According to some reliable sources and reports from 3% to 15% of patients who contract severe SJS die from the syndrome. Additionally, over half the people who develop SJS experience serious upper respiratory tract infections.
First discovered in 1922, Stevens - Johnson Syndrome is a serious inflammatory skin disease and is characterized by painful, ulcerated lesions on the skin and mucous membranes. According to the Stevens - Johnson Syndrome Foundation, the symptoms of SJS include:
. Rash, blisters or red splotches on the skin.
. Persistent fever.
. Blisters in mouth, eyes, ears, nose and/or genital area.
. Swelling of eyelids and/or red eyes.
. Conjunctivitis.
. Flu-like symptoms.
Patients with these symptoms have a recent history of having taken a prescription or over the counter medication.
Various prescription drugs have been found to be strongly associated with SJS, and some have even been recalled by the FDA. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have recently come under a great deal of scrutiny relative to causing SJS. One such drug is Bextra, an anti-inflammatory drug prescribed to treat the pain associated with osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. All of these drugs now have recently strengthened the warning and precautions sections of their packaging. Most are now required to have a "black box" warning, the highest warning level the FDA issues on approved drugs. Some NSAIDs have even been recalled by the FDA and/or taken off the market voluntarily by the manufacturer.
While it is impossible to prevent the development of SJS, short of never taking any needed prescription or over the counter medication, there are ways to treat the disease if one does develop symptoms. It is of the utmost necessity to stop taking the drug associated with the negative side effects/reactions. After that, hospitalization is usually necessary, combined with a variety of treatment options including care from burn units, the ICU and dermatological teams. If identified and treated properly in a timely manner, most patients who come down with SJS can recover successfully.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Assessing Traumatic Brain Injury - The Glasgow and Rancho Los Amigos Scales
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in a number of differing effects in victims, including loss of consciousness and even coma. Published in 1974 by neurosurgeons Bryan J. Jennett and Graham Teasdale of the University of Glasgow, the Glasgow Coma Scale is a tool doctors use to assess a patient's consciousness. When doctors wish to assess a brain injury patient's recovery, they turn to the Rancho Los Amigos Scale, which was developed by head injury treatment specialists at a California hospital in order to assess a patient's progression during the traumatic brain injury rehabilitation process.
The Glasgow Coma Scale
The Glasgow Coma Scale allows doctors to place a numerical value on the amount of consciousness they perceive in a brain-injured patient. It is essentially a mathematical formulation in which motor response, verbal response and eye opening are added together to create a numeric value that stands for the degree to which the TBI patient is in a coma state (in which "coma" is defined as unable to obey commands, speak coherently or open the eyes).
The Glasgow scale is as follows:
Eye Response (E):
. Eyes open spontaneously (4);
. Eyes open to speech [not to be confused with a sleeping person awakening, which rates a 4 on the scale] (3);
. Eyes open to pain [pain is administered by applying pressure to the fingernail of the victim, with other measures implemented if there is no response] (2);
. Eyes do not open (1).
Verbal Response (V):
. Oriented - patient is able to respond to queries about date, time, place, and his name and age (5);
. Confused - patient is somewhat disoriented, though he or she can respond coherently when questioned (4);
. Inappropriate words - patient cannot engage in conversation and forms sentences of random words or utters individual words at random (3);
. Incomprehensible sounds - patient makes moaning sounds or other verbalizations, but does not form words (2);
. No verbal response (1).
Motor Response (M):
. Obeys commands - patient can complete simple tasks when asked (6);
. Localizes to pain - patient can try to prevent or change pain administered by a doctor (5);
. Withdraws from pain - patient flexes, flinches or pulls the body away when pain is administered (4);
. Flexion to pain (3);
. Extension to pain (2);
. No motor response (1).
After assessing numbers for each area, the practitioner adds them together for a final score. A score of eight or under indicates that the patient is in a coma; at least 50 percent of patients at an eight score or lower more than six hours after TBI will die. A score of 9 to 11 indicates a moderate coma or injury, while a score of 12 or higher means a moderate injury.
The Rancho Los Amigos Scale
The Rancho Los Amigos Scale was developed to help practitioners, families and therapists to understand a brain injury victim's progression through the rehabilitation process. Though it stipulates "levels" of recovery, it is possible for patients to exhibit characteristics of different levels simultaneously, and plateaus are common in recovery. The scale is not intended to predict outcomes of traumatic brain injury.
The Rancho Los Amigos Scale is as follows:
. Level I - No Response - Patient cannot respond to external stimuli including sound, touch, or speech;
. Level II - Generalized Response - Patient can respond to stimuli only inconsistently and may open the eyes without appearing to see or focus;
. Level III - Localized Response - Patient may respond to simple commands; patient responds inconsistently to external stimuli;
. Level IV - Confused, Agitated - Patient is in a state of agitation and exhibits excitable behaviors that may range to the abusive or aggressive;
. Level V - Confused, Inappropriate, Non-Agitated - Patient is unable to process new information and may display verbally inappropriate behavior; patient can follow commands and appears alert;
. Level VI - Confused Appropriate - Patient has some self-awareness and can be taught simple tasks; patient's attention and memory span are improving;
. Level VII - Automatic Appropriate - Patient no longer seems confused, but carries out tasks in a "robotic" fashion; patient appears normal but has poor judgment and needs guidance;
. Level VIII - Purposeful Appropriate - Patient is oriented as to time and place and exhibits alertness and functionality.
If You've Been Affected By Traumatic Brain Injury
If you or a loved one has been in a coma or has experienced the effects of TBI, consider contacting an experienced brain injury attorney. Your traumatic brain injury lawyer may be able to obtain compensation for your injury including paying for medical bills, surgeries and therapies, covering the costs of lost wages and future medical care.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
The Glasgow Coma Scale
The Glasgow Coma Scale allows doctors to place a numerical value on the amount of consciousness they perceive in a brain-injured patient. It is essentially a mathematical formulation in which motor response, verbal response and eye opening are added together to create a numeric value that stands for the degree to which the TBI patient is in a coma state (in which "coma" is defined as unable to obey commands, speak coherently or open the eyes).
The Glasgow scale is as follows:
Eye Response (E):
. Eyes open spontaneously (4);
. Eyes open to speech [not to be confused with a sleeping person awakening, which rates a 4 on the scale] (3);
. Eyes open to pain [pain is administered by applying pressure to the fingernail of the victim, with other measures implemented if there is no response] (2);
. Eyes do not open (1).
Verbal Response (V):
. Oriented - patient is able to respond to queries about date, time, place, and his name and age (5);
. Confused - patient is somewhat disoriented, though he or she can respond coherently when questioned (4);
. Inappropriate words - patient cannot engage in conversation and forms sentences of random words or utters individual words at random (3);
. Incomprehensible sounds - patient makes moaning sounds or other verbalizations, but does not form words (2);
. No verbal response (1).
Motor Response (M):
. Obeys commands - patient can complete simple tasks when asked (6);
. Localizes to pain - patient can try to prevent or change pain administered by a doctor (5);
. Withdraws from pain - patient flexes, flinches or pulls the body away when pain is administered (4);
. Flexion to pain (3);
. Extension to pain (2);
. No motor response (1).
After assessing numbers for each area, the practitioner adds them together for a final score. A score of eight or under indicates that the patient is in a coma; at least 50 percent of patients at an eight score or lower more than six hours after TBI will die. A score of 9 to 11 indicates a moderate coma or injury, while a score of 12 or higher means a moderate injury.
The Rancho Los Amigos Scale
The Rancho Los Amigos Scale was developed to help practitioners, families and therapists to understand a brain injury victim's progression through the rehabilitation process. Though it stipulates "levels" of recovery, it is possible for patients to exhibit characteristics of different levels simultaneously, and plateaus are common in recovery. The scale is not intended to predict outcomes of traumatic brain injury.
The Rancho Los Amigos Scale is as follows:
. Level I - No Response - Patient cannot respond to external stimuli including sound, touch, or speech;
. Level II - Generalized Response - Patient can respond to stimuli only inconsistently and may open the eyes without appearing to see or focus;
. Level III - Localized Response - Patient may respond to simple commands; patient responds inconsistently to external stimuli;
. Level IV - Confused, Agitated - Patient is in a state of agitation and exhibits excitable behaviors that may range to the abusive or aggressive;
. Level V - Confused, Inappropriate, Non-Agitated - Patient is unable to process new information and may display verbally inappropriate behavior; patient can follow commands and appears alert;
. Level VI - Confused Appropriate - Patient has some self-awareness and can be taught simple tasks; patient's attention and memory span are improving;
. Level VII - Automatic Appropriate - Patient no longer seems confused, but carries out tasks in a "robotic" fashion; patient appears normal but has poor judgment and needs guidance;
. Level VIII - Purposeful Appropriate - Patient is oriented as to time and place and exhibits alertness and functionality.
If You've Been Affected By Traumatic Brain Injury
If you or a loved one has been in a coma or has experienced the effects of TBI, consider contacting an experienced brain injury attorney. Your traumatic brain injury lawyer may be able to obtain compensation for your injury including paying for medical bills, surgeries and therapies, covering the costs of lost wages and future medical care.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
FDA Issues Chantix Public Heatlh Advisory
On February 1st, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory, giving new information about the risks of taking the prescription medicine Chantix, or Varencline Tartrate. It stated that the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer, had reviewed and updated the prescription information for the drug, adding warnings alerting people to risks of intense mood and behavior changes. Further, it reiterated the necessity of communication between patients and their doctors regarding previous psychiatric illness, stating again that Varencline could not only be responsible for new conditions, but also exacerbate existing conditions or rekindle previous conditions. Additionally, it issued several warnings:
* Patients should tell their doctor about any history of psychiatric illness prior to starting Chantix. Chantix may cause worsening of a current psychiatric illness even if it is currently under control and may cause an old psychiatric illness to reoccur.
* Healthcare professionals, patients, patients' families, and caregivers should be alert to and monitor for changes in mood and behavior in patients treated with Chantix. Symptoms may include anxiety, nervousness, tension, depressed mood, unusual behaviors and thinking about or attempting suicide. In most cases, neuropsychiatric symptoms developed during Chantix treatment, but in others, symptoms developed following withdrawal of Chantix therapy.
* Patients taking Chantix should immediately report changes in mood and behavior to their doctor.
* Patients taking Chantix may experience vivid, unusual, or strange dreams.
* Patients taking Chantix may experience impairment of the ability to drive or operate heavy machinery.
While Chantix has demonstrated clear evidence of efficacy, it is important to consider these safety concerns and alert patients that they are possible.
These are not the first Chantix warnings announced by the FDA. In November 2007, the FDA began investigating reports of depression, agitation and suicidal behavior among patients taking the medicine, after they had received reports of 37 suicides and more than 400 of suicidal behaviors in connection with the drug. A link between Chantix and serious psychiatric complications became progressively probable. Additionally, the FDA determined that there might be other adverse side effects of Chantix such as the further worsening of preexisting psychiatric illness or causing a recurrence of past psychiatric issues. Two weeks after this initial FDA report, Pfizer added stronger Chantix warning labels to the drug, stating publicly that while a direct link between Chantix and the reported psychiatric problems did not exist, the possibility of Chantix-induced psychotic episodes could not be ruled out.
Most recently, the FDA has been evaluating reports that in addition to erratic behavior in patients taking Chantix, suicidal thoughts, depression, and changes in the emotional state are present in many cases. These Chantix psychiatric adverse events can set in within days or weeks of beginning the Chantix treatment. In fact, many patients taking the medicine have posted their feelings online, seeking support after a highly-publicized shooting was linked by the media to the drug. Most of these people describe intense nightmares, paralyzing depression, consuming apathy, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide. Many of these cases were linked to alcohol consumption and the interaction that it has with the drug. While there is not a definitive Chantix-suicide connection in a controlled testing, there is ever-mounting evidence raising concern.
While there is not as of yet a current Chantix class-action lawsuit against the manufacturer, Pfizer, the public outcry for reform, reparation and compensation for the damages done grows larger every day. No doubt that with the release of the FDA's most recent review of the drug and it's potentially fatal side effects that there will soon be litigation against the company. To be sure, even Pfizer admits to a certain risk of taking the drug, although none so serious as the actuality of many of the cases. It would be wise for anyone who has firsthand experience with suicidal thoughts or severe depression from taking Chantix, or who has been affected by someone who is or was taking Chantix, to contact a health care provider as soon as possible.
Once the health of anyone taking Chantix has been assured, it may be in the best interest of any Chantix patient or their families to consider contacting an expert Chantix law firm in order to receive experienced counsel on possible Chantix damages that may be sought for those effected by the possible danger of Chantix suicide. If you or your loved ones have been affected by the adverse side effects of Chantix, simply fill out the Chantix attorney referral for on this page to be put in touch with a qualified Chantix lawyer in your area.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
* Patients should tell their doctor about any history of psychiatric illness prior to starting Chantix. Chantix may cause worsening of a current psychiatric illness even if it is currently under control and may cause an old psychiatric illness to reoccur.
* Healthcare professionals, patients, patients' families, and caregivers should be alert to and monitor for changes in mood and behavior in patients treated with Chantix. Symptoms may include anxiety, nervousness, tension, depressed mood, unusual behaviors and thinking about or attempting suicide. In most cases, neuropsychiatric symptoms developed during Chantix treatment, but in others, symptoms developed following withdrawal of Chantix therapy.
* Patients taking Chantix should immediately report changes in mood and behavior to their doctor.
* Patients taking Chantix may experience vivid, unusual, or strange dreams.
* Patients taking Chantix may experience impairment of the ability to drive or operate heavy machinery.
While Chantix has demonstrated clear evidence of efficacy, it is important to consider these safety concerns and alert patients that they are possible.
These are not the first Chantix warnings announced by the FDA. In November 2007, the FDA began investigating reports of depression, agitation and suicidal behavior among patients taking the medicine, after they had received reports of 37 suicides and more than 400 of suicidal behaviors in connection with the drug. A link between Chantix and serious psychiatric complications became progressively probable. Additionally, the FDA determined that there might be other adverse side effects of Chantix such as the further worsening of preexisting psychiatric illness or causing a recurrence of past psychiatric issues. Two weeks after this initial FDA report, Pfizer added stronger Chantix warning labels to the drug, stating publicly that while a direct link between Chantix and the reported psychiatric problems did not exist, the possibility of Chantix-induced psychotic episodes could not be ruled out.
Most recently, the FDA has been evaluating reports that in addition to erratic behavior in patients taking Chantix, suicidal thoughts, depression, and changes in the emotional state are present in many cases. These Chantix psychiatric adverse events can set in within days or weeks of beginning the Chantix treatment. In fact, many patients taking the medicine have posted their feelings online, seeking support after a highly-publicized shooting was linked by the media to the drug. Most of these people describe intense nightmares, paralyzing depression, consuming apathy, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide. Many of these cases were linked to alcohol consumption and the interaction that it has with the drug. While there is not a definitive Chantix-suicide connection in a controlled testing, there is ever-mounting evidence raising concern.
While there is not as of yet a current Chantix class-action lawsuit against the manufacturer, Pfizer, the public outcry for reform, reparation and compensation for the damages done grows larger every day. No doubt that with the release of the FDA's most recent review of the drug and it's potentially fatal side effects that there will soon be litigation against the company. To be sure, even Pfizer admits to a certain risk of taking the drug, although none so serious as the actuality of many of the cases. It would be wise for anyone who has firsthand experience with suicidal thoughts or severe depression from taking Chantix, or who has been affected by someone who is or was taking Chantix, to contact a health care provider as soon as possible.
Once the health of anyone taking Chantix has been assured, it may be in the best interest of any Chantix patient or their families to consider contacting an expert Chantix law firm in order to receive experienced counsel on possible Chantix damages that may be sought for those effected by the possible danger of Chantix suicide. If you or your loved ones have been affected by the adverse side effects of Chantix, simply fill out the Chantix attorney referral for on this page to be put in touch with a qualified Chantix lawyer in your area.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Soil and Water Contamination
Groundwater contamination usually arises when individuals have wells. In those circumstances, the ground aquifer is contaminated with the specific chemical or chemicals released by the responsible party. This material then develops into a plume and infiltrates the various well water sources. Individuals that own the wells are then exposed to the chemicals by ingestion (drinking the water), skin contact (bathing with the water), and inhalation (breathing steam from the water).
In addition to being exposed to groundwater contamination through wells, groundwater contamination can also result in areas of low water tables with atmospheric or air contamination in people's homes. If the chemicals are volatile, such as gasoline or other materials, they may escape into people's basements and may be trapped, thereby exposing the homeowner who may inhale the fumes.
Another source of chemical contamination is from soil. This can occur as discussed above with groundwater contamination, but can also occur when streams or other bodies of water are contaminated with heavy metals or chemicals. When areas flood, these heavy metals and chemicals are deposited on an individual's property and thus contaminate the soil. People can be exposed to these contaminants in the following ways: skin contact (walking on the soil or gardening); inhalation (creating dust in the yard or tracking dust into the home); and ingestion (eating vegetables grown in the soil).
Sources of Soil Contamination
While it would be impossible to list all the potential sources of chemical contamination, the following list will serve to illustrate typical contamination sources:
* Gas stations,
* Machine shops,
* Railroad yards and other railroad-related work sites,
* Chemical manufacturing plants,
* Incinerators,
* Dry cleaning stores,
* Chemical waste storage facilities,
* Any manufacturing plant that uses any type of cleaning solvents or gasoline based products,
* Oil refineries, and
* Landfills.
Potential Injuries from Soil and Water Contamination
Contaminants are likely to cause chronic health effects, or effects that occur long after repeated exposure to small amounts of a chemical. Examples of chronic health effects include cancer, liver and kidney damage, disorders of the nervous system, damage to the immune system, and birth defects. While it would be impossible to list all the potential injuries that can be caused by various chemical agents, the list below will serve to be illustrative of those conditions, that when coupled with appropriate exposure, could be caused by chemical contamination. The potential injuries from soil and water contamination include the following:
* Various forms of cancer (lung, bladder, brain, kidney, leukemia, lymphoma, skin cancer);
* Various forms of learning disability (ADD, ADHD, LD);
* Teratogenic effects (effects on the fetus when the mother is exposed before or during pregnancy);
* Respiratory effects (breathing difficulties, allergies and other similar conditions);
* Gastrointestinal effects (stomach conditions);
* Cardiovascular effects (heart problems);
* Hepatic effects (various liver conditions);
* Renal effects (various kidney effects including blood in the urine and other kidney problems); and
* Neurological effects (various nervous system disorders, including reflex malfunction and headaches).
If you have been exposed to soil and/or water contamination and have been injured, you may have a legal case.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
In addition to being exposed to groundwater contamination through wells, groundwater contamination can also result in areas of low water tables with atmospheric or air contamination in people's homes. If the chemicals are volatile, such as gasoline or other materials, they may escape into people's basements and may be trapped, thereby exposing the homeowner who may inhale the fumes.
Another source of chemical contamination is from soil. This can occur as discussed above with groundwater contamination, but can also occur when streams or other bodies of water are contaminated with heavy metals or chemicals. When areas flood, these heavy metals and chemicals are deposited on an individual's property and thus contaminate the soil. People can be exposed to these contaminants in the following ways: skin contact (walking on the soil or gardening); inhalation (creating dust in the yard or tracking dust into the home); and ingestion (eating vegetables grown in the soil).
Sources of Soil Contamination
While it would be impossible to list all the potential sources of chemical contamination, the following list will serve to illustrate typical contamination sources:
* Gas stations,
* Machine shops,
* Railroad yards and other railroad-related work sites,
* Chemical manufacturing plants,
* Incinerators,
* Dry cleaning stores,
* Chemical waste storage facilities,
* Any manufacturing plant that uses any type of cleaning solvents or gasoline based products,
* Oil refineries, and
* Landfills.
Potential Injuries from Soil and Water Contamination
Contaminants are likely to cause chronic health effects, or effects that occur long after repeated exposure to small amounts of a chemical. Examples of chronic health effects include cancer, liver and kidney damage, disorders of the nervous system, damage to the immune system, and birth defects. While it would be impossible to list all the potential injuries that can be caused by various chemical agents, the list below will serve to be illustrative of those conditions, that when coupled with appropriate exposure, could be caused by chemical contamination. The potential injuries from soil and water contamination include the following:
* Various forms of cancer (lung, bladder, brain, kidney, leukemia, lymphoma, skin cancer);
* Various forms of learning disability (ADD, ADHD, LD);
* Teratogenic effects (effects on the fetus when the mother is exposed before or during pregnancy);
* Respiratory effects (breathing difficulties, allergies and other similar conditions);
* Gastrointestinal effects (stomach conditions);
* Cardiovascular effects (heart problems);
* Hepatic effects (various liver conditions);
* Renal effects (various kidney effects including blood in the urine and other kidney problems); and
* Neurological effects (various nervous system disorders, including reflex malfunction and headaches).
If you have been exposed to soil and/or water contamination and have been injured, you may have a legal case.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Serious Side Effects Associated with Accutane
Since 1982, a division of Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. has manufactured Accutane in the United States. It is used to treat serious forms of cystic acne. Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. is the prescription drug unit of the Roche Group, one of the worlds leading research-oriented healthcare groups with core businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.
Accutane is a highly effective oral medication used to treat severe recalcitrant nodular acne that has not been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics. Nodules are inflammatory lesions with a diameter of 5 mm or greater. The nodules may become suppurative or hemorrhagic. "Severe" by definition means "many" as opposed to "few or several" nodules.
Accutane, and its generics, contain Isotretinoin. People who suffer from the embarrassments associated with acne need to be aware that Accutane carries a significant risk of adverse side effects in certain patients.
Health complications and the legal issues surrounding those caused by Accutane involve the use by pregnant women and associated birth defects and the use by teenagers and associated depression and suicidal behavior. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant and women who are breastfeeding SHOULD NOT take the drug.
Over the past two decades, Accutane has been linked to a large number of dangerous, even life threatening, side effects including:
* Birth Injuries and Birth Defects
* Depression and Suicidal Tendencies
* Psychiatric Diseases
* Central Nervous System Ailments
* Liver Disease
* Inflammatory Bowel Disease
* Hearing and Vision Problems
* Bone and Muscle Damage
* Pancreatic Damage
As with most prescription drugs, the side effects and severity of complications associated with Accutane vary from patient to patient and from case to case. Not every fetus exposed to Accutane has resulted in a deformed child, however, there is an extremely high risk that a deformed infant may result if pregnancy occurs and the woman has/had been taking Accutane even for very short periods. In addition, there is an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, and there have been reports of premature births associated with the use of Accutane. There have also been reported cases of IQs lower than 85 in some infants.
Similarly, not every teenager or young adult who takes Accutane will experience depression or suicidal thoughts. However, the potential for these side effects has caused enough concern, and are serious enough, that the risks must be addressed and taken very seriously.
Steps have been taken to help prevent Accutane's potentially dangerous and undesirable side effects. Since the introduction of Accutane, education has played a large part in reducing and preventing the drugs' fetal risks by reinforcing the importance of pregnancy prevention by women using the drug.
Prevention has not stopped at educating patients. Frequent updates and information on potential side effects of the drug are provided to doctors and other health care professionals. This includes notification to doctors that Accutane may cause depression and/or psychosis, as well as suicide, in some cases. This is to help ensure that health care providers make educated and ethical decisions based on the patients' history and personal needs. Doctors have also been advised to monitor patients very closely for symptoms of depression.
All prescription drugs come with educational material included in the packaging. Accutane's packaging advises patients to watch for signs of depression, such as feelings of sadness, irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite, trouble concentrating, thoughts of hurting oneself or suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, many patients who take Accutane due not consider the possible side effects, as their desire for clear skin and their need to regain a positive self-image takes precedence.
Due to the number of potential complications associated with Accutane and the severity of the side effects, the FDA now requires any potential user to sign a consent form. Additionally, pharmacists must give users a detailed warning brochure from the FDA called a Medguide (Medication Guide). Only three drugs in United States history have been required the use of a Medguide: Accutane, Thalidomide and Mifeprex.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
Accutane is a highly effective oral medication used to treat severe recalcitrant nodular acne that has not been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics. Nodules are inflammatory lesions with a diameter of 5 mm or greater. The nodules may become suppurative or hemorrhagic. "Severe" by definition means "many" as opposed to "few or several" nodules.
Accutane, and its generics, contain Isotretinoin. People who suffer from the embarrassments associated with acne need to be aware that Accutane carries a significant risk of adverse side effects in certain patients.
Health complications and the legal issues surrounding those caused by Accutane involve the use by pregnant women and associated birth defects and the use by teenagers and associated depression and suicidal behavior. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant and women who are breastfeeding SHOULD NOT take the drug.
Over the past two decades, Accutane has been linked to a large number of dangerous, even life threatening, side effects including:
* Birth Injuries and Birth Defects
* Depression and Suicidal Tendencies
* Psychiatric Diseases
* Central Nervous System Ailments
* Liver Disease
* Inflammatory Bowel Disease
* Hearing and Vision Problems
* Bone and Muscle Damage
* Pancreatic Damage
As with most prescription drugs, the side effects and severity of complications associated with Accutane vary from patient to patient and from case to case. Not every fetus exposed to Accutane has resulted in a deformed child, however, there is an extremely high risk that a deformed infant may result if pregnancy occurs and the woman has/had been taking Accutane even for very short periods. In addition, there is an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, and there have been reports of premature births associated with the use of Accutane. There have also been reported cases of IQs lower than 85 in some infants.
Similarly, not every teenager or young adult who takes Accutane will experience depression or suicidal thoughts. However, the potential for these side effects has caused enough concern, and are serious enough, that the risks must be addressed and taken very seriously.
Steps have been taken to help prevent Accutane's potentially dangerous and undesirable side effects. Since the introduction of Accutane, education has played a large part in reducing and preventing the drugs' fetal risks by reinforcing the importance of pregnancy prevention by women using the drug.
Prevention has not stopped at educating patients. Frequent updates and information on potential side effects of the drug are provided to doctors and other health care professionals. This includes notification to doctors that Accutane may cause depression and/or psychosis, as well as suicide, in some cases. This is to help ensure that health care providers make educated and ethical decisions based on the patients' history and personal needs. Doctors have also been advised to monitor patients very closely for symptoms of depression.
All prescription drugs come with educational material included in the packaging. Accutane's packaging advises patients to watch for signs of depression, such as feelings of sadness, irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite, trouble concentrating, thoughts of hurting oneself or suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, many patients who take Accutane due not consider the possible side effects, as their desire for clear skin and their need to regain a positive self-image takes precedence.
Due to the number of potential complications associated with Accutane and the severity of the side effects, the FDA now requires any potential user to sign a consent form. Additionally, pharmacists must give users a detailed warning brochure from the FDA called a Medguide (Medication Guide). Only three drugs in United States history have been required the use of a Medguide: Accutane, Thalidomide and Mifeprex.
LegalView.com is your source for everything legal on the web, and represents a comprehensive legal database for all of your legal needs. Visit us at http://www.legalview.com for information on the latest litigation issues and recalls.
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