What are the Medical Malpractice Concerns when Treating a Dog Bite Injury?

Posted by Adam R. Leighton on Jun 21, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What are the Medical Malpractice Concerns when Treating a Dog Bite Injury? Experienced Attorney Medical malpractice is a legal description for cases in which a healthcare provider misdiagnoses or improperly treats a patient. As a result of the healthcare provider’s negligence, the patient must cope with the original injury from the dog attack, as well as the issues or conditions that were otherwise avoidable but for the physician’s mistake. The person may suffer far more from the complications than they did from the original dog bite injury. It may require hiring a personal injury law to recover damages from dog owner as well as from the healthcare provider. Medical Malpractice while Treating a Dog Bite Injury In the scenario of a dog bite attack, a doctor may not correctly diagnose the nature or severity of the victim’s injuries, or they may not diagnose the patient at all. A more extreme example is a traumatic brain injury that results from a dog bite attack and which the doctor does not recognize or diagnose. As a result, the patient does not receive the critical and immediate care that they need. When nearly any type of serious injury is left untreated, it can lead to extreme pain, the inability to function in daily life or at work, the loss of memory, emotional instability, and personality changes. If this describes your circumstances, your personal injury lawyer may have already told you that the cost of medical treatment could be included in your claim against the dog’s owner. Medical malpractice takes many forms, even when it comes to dog bite injuries. Here are several common examples: ·         The doctor does not diagnose one or more lacerations to the gums from the dog attack. As a result, a serious infection develops that if left undetected can become life-threatening. The bacteria that is present in a dog’s saliva can wreak havoc when the human body is exposed to it through an open wound. ·         The doctor does not prescribe antibiotics though the patient’s condition warrants it, and another doctor with a reasonable level of skill would prescribe them under the same circumstances. As a result, a serious infection develops that if left undetected can become life-threatening. ·         The doctor does not inform the patient that they must come back for follow-up visits in order to monitor their recovery process. As a result, complications develop that the...
read more

Damages You Could Seek in a Medical Malpractice Case

Posted by Adam R. Leighton on Mar 19, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Damages You Could Seek in a Medical Malpractice Case Experienced Attorney Sometimes medical malpractice is very blatant and other times it’s true misfortune. In either case, you shouldn’t be left holding the bill if a medical professional’s negligence caused you deeper injury or a more serious illness than you started with. The good news is you can generally receive compensation if you’re suffering after the mistake of your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or other professional. If you are the loved one of someone who suffered medical malpractice and died as a result, you should receive compensation as well to help you pay for the costs that were incurred. What damages can you seek? Special In speaking about quantifiable expenses that were caused by the mistake of your medical professional, they are called special damages. You can seek these as compensation for medical bills and lost wages. Sometimes your lawyer will have to figure out future medical expenses depending on your condition, but you should never forget to include those in the damages you seek. In some cases, the court will require an expert witness to verify costs, and in other cases, the bill speaks for itself. When determining the amount of lost wages to seek, keep in mind everything you’ll lose out on. You probably already lost a handful of paychecks during the time following your injury or illness, but if you have follow up appointments and future medications to pay for, add those to the totals. General It’s hard to determine a definite amount to seek for general damages, as these are things that don’t typically come at a price. For example, loss of consortium, loss of the ability to work, loss of joy, and pain and suffering are all some general damages you can seek. Again, you may need an expert witness who can testify about the consequences that come with your type of injury or illness, but in any case, you will have to give evidence of your losses. Punitive Especially in cases where the medical professional’s malpractice was blatant, you may be able to recover punitive damages. A judge or jury will determine the amount, and it is meant to further punish the defendant for acting recklessly and causing your injuries either willingly or knowingly. Survival If your loved one died due to medical malpractice, you may be able to seek some of these same damages for the time the individual was still alive after...
read more

How a Slip and Fall Accident in a Nursing Home Can Change a Senior’s Life

Posted by Adam R. Leighton on Feb 11, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How a Slip and Fall Accident in a Nursing Home Can Change a Senior’s Life Experienced Attorney If you are a relative of a senior loved one in a nursing home and they recently suffered from a slip and fall, it is important to understand how this could affect their life and what you can do to support their recovery, such as contacting a nursing home abuse attorney. A fall can lead to serious injuries such as a broken hip, bone fractures, head injuries, soft tissue wounds, neck and back injuries, muscle sprains, and much more. Here we talk about in what ways your loved one may be impacted and what their road to recovery may look like:  Decreased Mobility and Independence A slip and fall accident can weaken a senior person’s ability to get around on their own, thus decreasing a sense of independence. After the slip and fall, it is possible that your loved one may not ever fully recover. Depending on their age and other medical conditions, they may have to get around using a wheelchair, walker, or quad cane. Along with this, many seniors start to become less active out of fear that they will fall again. They begin to not trust themselves and their body as much as before.  The Need For Surgery and a Long Recovery As we humans age, illnesses and injuries may take us longer to recover from compared to when we were in our younger years. If a senior loved one needs surgery to repair a broken hip for example, this may mean a very long road of healing a rehabilitation after the procedure. Surgery can also expose the senior resident to other risky complications, such as blood clots and infections.  Risk For Other Health Complications Nursing home staff must stay vigilant and attentive until the senior has recuperated from surgery, since the resident will be laying in bed much more often and unable to take care of themselves in certain ways. However, some senior residents may not fully overcome their slip and fall accident injuries at all. As a result, they may become less mobile and more likely to have other health complications such as pneumonia and bed sores.  Less Opportunity For Stimulation Part of ensuring that a senior is still having a quality of life in a nursing home, is by providing them with opportunities to be creative and active. If a senior loved one becomes less active due to a slip and...
read more

Financial Resources for Your Spouse’s Brain Injury

Posted by Adam R. Leighton on Feb 11, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Financial Resources for Your Spouse’s Brain Injury Experienced Attorney When your spouse suffers a brain injury, it can change your life forever. Medication, rehabilitation and full-time in-home care can cause financial issues that may skyrocket out of control in a matter of months. Finding resources to afford these services can be difficult; however, there may be a few avenues you can take to support your spouse’s care. Review the Circumstances of the Injury  Depending on the nature of your spouse’s injury, he or she may be eligible for financial restitution. For example, if the injury occurred at work, you can file a worker’s compensation case on your spouse’s behalf. You may have to gain power of attorney before you can do so, but this can be an effective step in gaining financial support. Gather Information for Your Financial Needs  Before you can find financial support for your spouse’s brain injury, it is important that you gather information related to your immediate needs. After the injury occurs, collect costs related to your spouse’s care, including: Intensive care bills Medication Emergency transportation  The more information you can document properly, the better the chance you can secure financial help. Remember to make copies of every document so you can refer to them later if you decide to talk to a lawyer or require them as proof of your expenses for a legal case. Contact a Lawyer  If you believe your spouse’s brain injury was caused by the negligence of another, contacting an attorney to help you build a case may result in a monetary award. Working with a lawyer can help you cut through the red tape that often occurs with worker’s compensation cases and injuries that are caused by others. If you decide to allow a lawyer to represent you, he or she can gather important information that can support a worker’s compensation or personal injury case. However, you may want to act quickly, as although state statutes vary, you may only have one year to act. Contact Your Insurance Company  Your personal insurance may cover some or all of your spouse’s rehab, medication and other necessary expenses. Your doctor and other healthcare facilities might submit the cost directly to your insurance after treatment; however, it is wise to contact your representative to ensure these costs are being covered. Understanding which costs are covered can help you balance your medical budget and allow you to find other resources for expenses...
read more

How Long Is the Statute of Limitations for a Shooting Injury at a Business?

Posted by Adam R. Leighton on Feb 9, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How Long Is the Statute of Limitations for a Shooting Injury at a Business? Experienced Attorney Victims of a shooting can pursue a legal remedy against every person or company that contributed to their injuries. When a shooting occurs on business property, the victim may be entitled to pursue a remedy against the business owner. While laws vary from state to state, the general rule is that a business has a duty to protect patrons from foreseeable harm. Particularly in high crime areas, businesses may be required to provide adequate security to ensure that people who enter their property are not injured or killed by shooters. Businesses also have a duty to ensure that property conditions do not encourage violent crimes. A parking lot mugging or assault that ends with a shooting might be prevented by adequate lighting. A business that fails to keep its premises safe can be held responsible for criminal acts that are encouraged by the unsafe condition. Statute of Limitations for a Shooting at a Business Every state sets time limits for bringing forth lawsuits. The time in which a lawsuit must be brought forth is known as a limitations period. Each law that sets a limitations period is called a “statute of limitations.” Limitations periods vary from state to state. Within a state, the limitations period may vary depending on the nature of a lawsuit. For example, a lawsuit against a shooter based on an intentional act of violence might have a different limitations period than a lawsuit against a business based on inadequate security. The statute of limitations that governs negligence claims will usually apply to lawsuits against businesses for failing to maintain safe premises or to provide adequate security. Limitations periods for negligence lawsuits are typically two or three years, though they can be as short as one year or as long as six years. Time limits become even more complicated if the shooting occurred on a business operated by the government. A “notice of claim” law might impose a short time limit for notifying the government of the victim’s intent to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations may also be different if the claim is made against the government. Statutes of limitations all have very different strict rules and timeframes. It is always prudent to consult with a security negligence and shooting lawyer, like a security negligence and shooting lawyer in Atlanta, GA, to determine the limitations period that applies to a particular shooting....
read more