While there are practices in place to deal with chronic pain caused by accidents or injuries in DC, dealing with the chronic pain of a child can look completely different. According to a recent article, the doctors and medical staff at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC are launching innovative treatments in a new pain clinic designed specifically for kids.  

While these new treatments, which basically look like video games, do not guarantee a patient will be free of pain, they have many benefits that can add to the pain management.  

Children feel like they are playing video games, so the therapy feels less like a doctor visit and more like recreation.  

The games increase range of motion and still provide exercise for the patients.  

Bio-feedback beds can measure a patient’s heart rate and skin temperature, showing the patient that he or she has control over their body.  

The new practices reinforce positive thinking and improve the patient’s mindset.  

The catastrophic injury attorneys at Shevlin Smith applaud the efforts of those at Children’s National Medical Center. It is our hope that their innovative ideas will be reproduced in hospitals across the country so that more kids can be helped through their chronic pain. If your child was injured in an accident in Virginia or DC and suffers with chronic pain, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our Fairfax lawyers at 703.591.0067 today, or complete the contact form at the top of this sheet.  

Drive yourself to a hospital 

• If you suspect you may have a herniated disc after an accident, it is always better to be transported by an ambulance than attempt to drive yourself. Medical professionals will know how to care for your spinal cord injury.  

Lift heavy weights

• While you may not head to the gym with a spinal cord injury, many forget that even lifting a child qualifies as lifting weight. Be cautious with how much weight you lift when you have a herniated disc.

Participate in any exercise that involves twisting

• Any twisting motion can put additional pressure on the herniated disc and cause tremendous amounts of pain.  

Play high-impact sports

• Any exercise that involves your foot striking the ground can transfer the impact directly to your spine.  Running/jogging/ sprinting, aerobics, jump-rope, football, basketball, soccer, and baseball are all activities that should be avoided.

Assume that it’s mild and requires little attention

• Quality of life may be diminished, and a lifetime of pain is no joke.  Simple tasks may become painful, and pain can strike at any time.  

If your herniated disc was due to the fault of another person in Virginia, you may be entitled to compensation to help you receive the treatment you need. Call the spinal cord injury attorneys at Shevlin Smith today. Our Fairfax lawyers have the knowledge and experience to help you through the recovery process. Complete the form at the top of this page, or call 703.591.0067

Sadly, cerebral palsy is an incurable disorder, affecting those diagnosed with it for the entirety of their lives. This is one of the reasons that cerebral palsy can be so financially and emotionally draining for a family. However, there are a variety of treatment options available to those with cerebral palsy that can help them to manage the effects and symptoms.

While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, there are several treatment options that can be very helpful in managing its effects. Those suffering with cerebral palsy have issues with muscle control and mobility so treatment is aimed at aiding in those areas.  These treatment options include:

• Therapy
  • Physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral
• Drug Therapy
  • Including muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and Botox
• Surgical Options
  • To remove selected nerves, lengthen muscles or tendons, or treat spinal curvatures
• Mechanical Aids
  • Braces, wheelchairs, mobility aids, hearing and communication aids, writing aids, and specialized tools and utensils

Your child’s symptoms and the severity of his or her cerebral palsy will dictate what treatment is best. Many children are treated with a variety of methods to manage their symptoms.  But treatment can be expensive.  Your family can quickly face financial burdens, making it imperative that you seek compensation if another person is responsible for your child’s cerebral palsy.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the prospect of a lifelong endeavor of treating cerebral palsy in Virginia.  Contact the Fairfax birth injury attorneys at Shevlin Smith today at 703.591.0067 or complete the form on this page. 

The laws apply to every license applicant under 19 years of age and divide the process of obtaining a license into two phases.  Each phase is designed to teach young drivers safe driving techniques in a gradual manner.  

General steps to obtain a drivers license in Virginia:

• If you are under 19, you must complete a DMV-approved driver’s education course.
• Once you have completed a driver’s education course, you can apply for a learners permit.  You must be at least 15 years, 6 months of age.
• A permit must be held for 9 months and comes with the following limitations:
  • You may only drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age and who is seated beside you.  The driver accompanying you may be 18-20 years of age if he or she is your legal guardian, brother, or sister.
  • The driver accompanying you must hold a valid drivers license, be legally permitted to drive, be alert, and able to assist you.

• If you are under 19, you must complete at least 45 hours of supervised practice, 15 of which must be completed at night, after sunset.  (This is a recent increase from 40 hours/10 at night).

In Northern Virginia and nearby counties, a 90-minute segment for parents of driver education is being introduced in 2013. 

If you fulfill the above requirements, you will be granted a full driver’s license that allows for unsupervised driving.  However, you will still have some limitations for one year after the date of issue. 

Driver’s license and permit holder restrictions for drivers under the age of 18:

• You may not operate a motor vehicle in Virginia while using a cell phone or other wireless communication device.
• You may not drive from midnight to 4:00 a.m. unless you are traveling from work or a school-sponsored event, or if accompanied by an adult, or responding to an emergency call as a volunteer firefighter.
• Changes to the law effective July 2013 -You may not have more than one passenger under the age of 21 for the first year after receiving your license. After you have held your license for one year, you may carry only three passengers under age 21 until you reach age 18.  Passenger restrictions do not apply to family members. 

The Virginia car accident attorneys at Shevlin Smith want to remind teens to practice safe driving skills.  If you find yourself involved in a northern Virginia or DC car accident that was not your fault, contact us today.  Our experienced Fairfax lawyers are here to help. Call 703.591.0067 or complete the contact form on this page.  

When a stroke goes undiagnosed in a child, the repercussions are tragic.  One 15-year-old went to the emergency room with complaints of vomiting and a terrible headache.  The doctors treated him for a migraine but after his mom pushed for further diagnostic tests, they did a brain scan and found that the teen had suffered a pediatric stroke. 

Once the teen was finally diagnosed, doctors had to remove part of his skull to allow for swelling.  A second stroke resulted in the boy losing his ability to speak or move his limbs.  He has had to endure hours of rigorous and costly rehabilitation. 

Most people assume that strokes are an adult occurrence, but pediatric strokes are a leading cause of death among children.  The reality is that there is often a significant delay in diagnosing pediatric strokes.  On average it takes doctors 28 hours to properly identify a child’s stroke.  Just like the 15-year-old that was treated for a migraine, medical mistakes can make a patient’s condition worse.  One doctor was quoted as saying that pediatric stroke victims usually end up with “six or seven decades of disability.”

Those residual effects from a stroke can mean high healthcare costs.  One study showed that the first year of care for a child that has suffered a stroke was around $42,000 without including the loss of the parents’ salary due to missed work. 

If a delayed diagnosis of a pediatric stroke or any other disease or illness has led to a long-term injury for your child in Virginia, there may be recourse available.  Contact our catastrophic personal injury attorneys at Shevlin Smith.  Our Fairfax lawyers are experienced with helping victims and their families pursue compensation for medical mistakes.  Call 703.591.0067 today or fill out the contact form at the top of this page.

• Summit 2012, an annual healthcare meeting, was devoted solely to paralysis research.  Doctors from all over the world convened to discuss the most recent experimental procedures, medications, and therapies related to spinal cord injuries. 
• One of the procedures recently discussed was spinal cooling.  When NFL football player Kevin Everett was injured on the field, an orthopedic surgeon was with him and tried the experimental procedure. The theory behind it is cooling the inside of the body up to six degrees below normal to prevent swelling.  It has seen great results, but the success hinges on the process beginning within moments of injury.
• In July 2012, Invivo Technologies announced their approval from the FDA to begin experimental tissue regeneration surgery for spinal cord injury victims.  In their laboratory research, they were able to restore mobility to almost every animal that was part of their study. 
• In January 2013, two victims of spinal cord injuries inspired a bill that would allow up to $4 million for public institutions (i.e. universities) to research new ways for spinal cord injury victims to regain mobility. 

There is hope that the prognosis for spinal cord injuries could change in the future.  While you wait, we know that there are many ongoing needs for your new way of life.  If you have a spinal cord injury in Virginia or Washington DC that was not your fault, contact Shevlin Smith today at 703.591.0067.  Our Virginia spinal cord injury lawyers are here to help!

Pitocin is a drug used all over the U.S., including Virginia and DC hospitals.  It is most often given through an IV infusion.  While it was created in 1953 (and approved for use in 1955), it was not widely used for over 30 years.  Now, it is said that nearly 81 percent of women in U.S. hospitals receive Pitocin to induce or augment their labors.  It was also noted that only 3 percent of those women actually needed it. 

Medical professionals claim that it is just synthetic oxytocin, a hormone a woman’s body produces on her own to signal contractions.  Unfortunately a mother’s body responds differently to the synthetic form.  Here are a few side effects that have been reported in mothers:

• Anaphylactic reaction
• Postpartum hemorrhaging
• Arrhythmia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hematomas
• Rupture of the uterus

While risks to the mothers are frightening on their own, there are a number of complications that involve the unborn child. 

• Bradycardia
• Arrhythmias
• Brain damage
• Neonatal seizures
• Neonatal jaundice
• Neonatal retinal hemorrhage
• Fetal death

In addition, a mother given Pitocin has a higher rate of c-section and birth injury.  Mothers given Pitocin are also more likely to have an epidural; another factor that leads to an increase in birth injury.  With induced labors, it’s common for the doctors to assist in extracting the baby, leading to any one of these common birth injuries:

• Bruising or marks from forceps or a vacuum
• Brain damage
• Bone fractures (clavicle and femur)
• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• Facial paralysis

Even with medical advancement, we are a long way from removing preventable mishaps.  Induced labors tend to result in more issues.  Often physicians fail to perform a timely c-section when complications arise, or use too much force to extract a baby. 

If you believe you had a child injured during birth by a medical professional in Virginia or DC, contact our birth injury attorneys at Shevlin Smith today.  We can help you determine if you are entitled to compensation.  Call us at 703.591.0067 or complete the form at the top of this page for a consultation.  

Symptoms of malnutrition from gastric bypass surgery:

• Extreme fatigue or tiredness
• Dizziness
• Bleeding gums
• Tooth decay
• Fragile bones

Can lead to broken bones in the case of a fall or injury

• Inability to control your body temperature

Difficulty staying warm and increased risk of hypothermia

• Slow immune responses

Can lead to more infections and take you longer to recover from illnesses

• Muscle weakness

Leading to decreased mobility and stamina

• Slower reaction time

Can cause car accidents or injuries from delayed responses

• Memory loss
• Decreased organ function

Kidney failure, decreased lung capacity, intestinal problems, heart problems

• Bloated abdomen
• Abnormally dry skin
• Depression

If you were inadequately informed of the post-surgical risks involved and wonder if you have a medical malpractice case, contact our board-certified attorneys at Shevlin Smith today.  Call us at 703.591.0067 or fill out the contact form on this page.  Let us help you navigate the road to recovery.  

Important guidelines to follow for preventing shaken baby syndrome:

• Never shake your baby, even if you believe that you are only being playful
• Warn the baby’s siblings of the dangers of shaken baby syndrome
• Always keep an eye on your baby, even a blow to the head can cause shaken baby syndrome
• Do not hold your baby if you are arguing
• If you are losing your temper or are stressed out, take a break away from your baby by putting your baby in a safe place or by asking for assistance from a family member or friend

Shaken baby syndrome is a serious form of child abuse. For more information on shaken baby syndrome, read our library article “Virginia Brain Injury Lawyer Details Symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome.”

At Shevlin Smith, our Virginia brain injury attorneys understand the dangers associated with shaken baby syndrome and child abuse. For legal advice, call our Fairfax law office at 703.591.0067 or complete the contact form on this page. We will speak with you about your case and discuss with you how to proceed. Since your baby may need lifelong care, we are here to help get you and your family compensation for the injuries.

Fairfax birth injury lawyer explains the causes of fetal distress before labor:

• Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the uterus
• Umbilical cord becomes entangled around the baby’s neck or a limb
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Infection in the uterus

Fetal distress must be monitored by a doctor. If you believe that you were not properly monitored and that fetal distress caused your child’s birth injury, call the attorneys at Shevlin Smith. 

At Shevlin Smith, our Fairfax birth injury attorneys represent clients whose babies were victims of medical malpractice in Washington DC and Virginia. Call our Fairfax office at 703.591.0067 to speak with our attorneys. For additional information on fetal distress, read our library article “The Warning Signs of Fetal Distress Moms in Virginia Should Know.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009 more than 5,400 died and 448,000 were seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes due to distracted drivers. So what steps can we take to stop teens from texting and driving?

• Discuss the dangers of texting and driving, as well as distracted driving, with your teen. Explain to them why it is so dangerous.
• Do not text and drive, or even talk on the phone, while driving. Be a good example for your children.
• Ask your child’s teachers or school staff to discuss the dangers of texting and driving with the students.
• Do not call or text your teen at a time you know he or she will be driving.
• While texting and driving is illegal, establish additional rules and penalties within the family if the teenager is caught texting and driving.
• Review the cell phone bill to determine if your child is texting and driving.

Any type of distracted driving is dangerous to drivers, passengers, and anyone else on the roadways. For additional information on the texting and driving laws in Virginia, read our library article Want to Know About Texting & Driving Laws? Ask a Fairfax Lawyer.

At Shevlin Smith, our Virginia car and truck accident attorneys want you and your teenagers to be safe if you are on the roads. If you do find yourself or a loved one in an accident in Virginia or Washington DC, call our law office at 703.591.0067. We will review your information and provide you with a fast and free consultation about your case. 

Prosthetics have come a long way over the years. While a prosthetic device will not be as natural to you as your own arm or leg, it will help you do the things you were able to do before the accident. As a part of your recovery process, a medical professional or therapist will work with you on rehabilitating the muscles before fitting a prosthesis. A prosthetic device will not be provided, however, until you are completely healed.

Our Virginia catastrophic personal injury attorney explains the therapy associated with the use of a prosthetic device:

• Before being fitted for the prosthetic device, therapy will focus on gaining strength, range of motion, and increased mobility.
• Once the device is fitted, therapy will include putting the prosthesis on and taking it off.
• Therapy will then progress to practicing daily skills and activities.
• Once daily skills are mastered, adaptive equipment may be introduced, such as steering equipment for driving.

At Shevlin Smith, we want you to know that your life will continue after your amputation. While the recovery process may seem daunting, the results will be amazing and you will become independent again.

Call Shevlin Smith at 703.591.0067 if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident in Washington DC, or Virginia. Our Fairfax catastrophic personal injury attorneys will discuss your accident and treatment and we will work to have you compensated if another is at fault. Our attorneys have achieved excellent results representing clients with catastrophic personal injuries. Call our office today.

A Virginia spinal cord injury attorney explains the different tests used by medical professionals to diagnose a spinal cord injury.

After the doctor discusses your symptoms with you and the possible cause of your pain, the following tests and procedures may be conducted:

• X-rays to look at the spine to see any fractures or other abnormalities
• CT scan is used if an issue is seen through the x-rays, such as problems with the bones and disks
• An MRI helps determine whether there are issues with herniated disks, blood clots, or if there is anything else pressing against the spinal cord
• Myelography is used to perform an x-ray examination of the spinal cord in which a dye is injected to show the spinal cord, spinal canal, and nerve roots.
• Electromyogram may be used to measure muscle activity
• Nerve conduction study tests the velocity of the nerves transmitting signals throughout the body

There are several tests that your doctor may use to determine if you have a spinal cord injury. Once the tests are completed, contact a Fairfax spinal cord injury lawyer if you believe another is at fault for your pain, suffering, and lost wages.

At Shevlin Smith, our attorneys have significant experience representing clients involved in accidents that have caused spinal cord injuries. Call our office at (703) 591-0067; we are here to speak with you if you have been injured in Virginia or Washington, D.C.

At Shevlin Smith, our experienced Fairfax birth injury attorneys don’t believe that your baby should suffer as a result of complications during birth. We also believe that the parent should not suffer or feel helpless. Therefore, we encourage you to look for the following signs if you think that your little one may have suffered a fracture during delivery:

• Baby cries in pain when held in a certain position
• Baby fails to move a limb
• Baby has a stiff limb
• Bruising
• Hard lump in the area that may have been fractured
• Baby has an area that is tender to the touch
• Baby refuses to put pressure on a limb
• A limb is bent out of position

Sometimes these fractures require long-term treatment. If you believe that your doctor is at fault, call us today.

The Virginia birth injury lawyers at Shevlin Smith have over 20 years of experience representing clients and handling birth injury claims. You can trust us to recognize medical malpractice in birth injury claims. Call our office at 703.591.0067 if you live in Virginia or Washington, D.C., to speak with an attorney about your case. Our caring and compassionate attorneys are here to speak with you and get you the compensation you deserve.

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles the financial repercussions include:

• Medical costs from traffic accidents are twice as expensive when injured drivers or passengers are not wearing seat belts.
• Higher premiums are shared amongst all drivers to cover crash-related expenses involving drivers and occupants that do not wear seat belts.

In Virginia, the failure to wear a seat belt is considered a “secondary” offense. This means that you could be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt if you are already being pulled over for another violation, such as speeding. In addition, if you have a passenger over the age of 18 in the front seat who is not wearing a seat belt, that person will receive a summons. 

At Shevlin Smith, our Virginia motor vehicle accident attorneys want to reinforce the importance of wearing seat belts, because this small precaution can save lives. If you are in a motor vehicle accident in Washington, D.C., or Virginia, call our office to speak with an experienced lawyer about your case. If you are injured in the crash or if there is damage to your motor vehicle, we will work to ensure you are properly compensated. Call our Fairfax, Virginia, office at 703.591.0067. If you are in an accident, don’t delay in getting the help you need.

Plastic surgery does not always turn out as planned. If you underwent plastic surgery in Virginia or Washington, D.C. and mistakes were made, call a Virginia medical malpractice lawyer at Shevlin Smith to discuss your next steps. Our team of experienced lawyers will help you recover if your surgeon was negligent.

If you are a victim of bad plastic surgery, our medical malpractice lawyers will work with you as you take the following steps:

• Make an appointment with the surgeon to discuss your concerns.
• Get a second opinion if your surgeon is unwilling to rectify the situation; you may wish to speak with a specialist in corrective surgery.
• Obtain all of the required documentation to build a case, such as photos, medical records, and complaints/grievances filed. This will be important evidence to show medical negligence.

You could have lifelong complications and disfigurement from a botched plastic surgery. This could change your life forever.

At Shevlin Smith, our attorneys will work with you to make sure you are fully compensated for your injury and losses. This could include compensation for the pain and suffering, and also for lost wages for the time you missed work. For additional information on plastic surgery dangers, read our library article Learn About the Most Common Medical Errors Involved with Plastic Surgery in Virginia and Throughout the United States. If you live in Virginia or Washington, D.C., call our office at 703.591.0067 for a free case consultation.

What Your Child May Experience Next

Traumatic brain injuries are unique. It is hard to predict how your child is going to react to the injury as it depends on the extent of the injury, the part of the brain that was hurt, and other factors. However, your child may experience:

• Denial
• Grief
• Fear
• Frustration

Alternatively, your child may show limited awareness of his or her brain injury or limitations.

Any of these things can be difficult not only for your child, but also for you as a parent. It may take a team approach for you to help your child through this difficult time. A team may include not only you and your child, but also:

• School teachers and administrators
• A psychological counselor
• Doctors
• Friends and relatives
• A Fairfax brain injury attorney

Together, the team may work to help your child recover to the greatest extent possible.

Our Northern Virginia Brain Injury Lawyers Would Be Proud to Be Part of Your Team

Whether your child was injured in a car crash, sports mishap, slip and fall, or other type of accident, our brain injury lawyers in D.C. would be pleased to provide you with a free consultation. If your child’s brain injury could have been prevented had someone else exercised reasonable care, then we will work hard to get your child the recovery that he or she deserves. Please contact us today at 703.591.0067 for more information.

Know the Signs of a Potential Birth Injury

As a parent, there is very little, if anything, that you can do to prevent a birth injury that is caused by medical negligence. Yet, it is important for you to be cautiously optimistic about the birth of a healthy baby and at the same time to be aware of the potential signs of a birth injury.

Your child may have suffered a birth injury and may require medical attention if he or she experiences:

• Arm or leg movements, or lack of movement, that are abnormal for newborns
• Excessive sleeping
• Bruises
• Excessive crying
• Delayed developmental milestones
• Poor muscle tone
• Breathing difficulties or seizures

Of course, if you have any concerns about your newborn’s health, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

Contact a Northern Virginia Birth Injury Attorney if Your Child Has Been Hurt

Our Fairfax birth injury lawyers hope that your child is born healthy and not harmed by medical negligence. However, if your child is hurt then we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible at 703.591.0067 and to read our FREE book, Do I Have a Case? A Patient’s Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law, for more information.

Our attorneys have gotten justice for several victims of Fairfax car accident lawsuits, including:

• Drowsy driving. Our 63 year-old client sustained injuries in a head-on collision in Fairfax County after a driver in the opposite lane fell asleep at the wheel. The drowsy driver crossed the center line and struck our client’s car, causing severe fractures in both of her legs. We were able to obtain a $425,000 settlement for her future suffering and past medical expenses.
• Motorcycle crashes. Our 39-year-old client broke several bones and developed an infection after he was struck at an intersection while riding his motorcycle. We were able to secure $500,000 for our client, the highest amount of his insurance.
• Underinsured/uninsured accidents. Our client suffered a broken leg, ligament damage and a serious knee injury after being struck while walking to her car in a parking lot. The driver who hit her, however, did not have enough insurance to cover her injuries. We submitted a claim under our client's Underinsured Motorist Coverage, and our client was awarded the full amount of the policy ($100,000) for the costs of her Virginia pedestrian parking lot accident.

At Shevlin Smith, we pride ourselves on providing caring and knowledgeable representation for all accident victims. To find out how we can help you, call (703) 591-0067 today to start your FREE legal consultation.

• Paraplegia. When a patient suffers a severe injury to the thoracic (lower) spine, the result is usually paraplegia, or complete paralysis of the legs. On one hand, the patient cannot walk and may have difficulty performing sexually—but on the other, he will be able to perform much of his own self-care and mobility if he can operate a wheelchair.
• Quadriplegia. Loss of function in both the arms and legs, also known as quadriplegia, is caused by a complete injury occurring between the C4 and C7 vertebrae. In addition to suffering the effects of paraplegia, these victims may also be prone to infection, lose sensation throughout their bodies, and are commonly unable to control bodily functions.
• Complete paralysis. A complete injury means the victim’s spinal cord has been cut or crushed, and the patient will never recover the ability to convey messages to and from the brain. A complete spinal cord injury can even be life threatening: an injury between the C1 and C3 vertebrae will leave a patient not only unable to move her arms and legs, but also unable breathe her own, requiring a respirator and long-term hospital care. 

The best way to find out what you are owed for your injury is to call the trusted Fairfax medical malpractice attorneys at Shevlin Smith for a FREE legal consultation. Call (703) 591-0067 today or click the link on this page to receive a FREE copy of our report, Do I Have A Case? A Patient's Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law.