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Recent Blog Posts
I Received Workers' Compensation Benefits As A Result Of My Injuries. Will I Have To Pay Those Benefits Back If I Am Successful In A Lawsuit Against The Person Who Negligently Injured Me?
The short answer is yes. Both Virginia law and District of Columbia law require the repayment of Workers' Compensation. Virginia Code ____ states ______. D.C. Code _____ states _____. There are two important factors to note, however. First, you are often entitled to credits for the costs of hiring a lawyer to handle your negligence claim. This credit takes into account the lawyer's fee and litigation expenses incurred in prosecuting your negligence claim. Second, often times the Workers' Compensation repayment amount can be negotiated favorably. You should therefore ask your attorney to help try to negotiate a reduction in the amount you owe.
When Nerve Damage After A Crash Results In Long-Term Effects
Can You Get Nerve Damage From A Car Accident?
Car crashes result in various injuries to many different parts of the body. While some injuries may be minor, other injuries-such as nerve injuries-are anything but minor. Nerve damage that occurs in auto accidents can even result in permanent disabilities. This is because nerves are involved in every body's movement, both voluntary and involuntary. Nerves also provide the body with the feeling of sensation, so when a person suffers nerve damage, life can be forever changed.
Nerve damage can be painful at the injury site and radiate throughout the body. The area of injury will determine if accident victims will experience nerve damage to their:
- Arms
- Hands
- Legs
- Feet
- Neck
- Face
Sometimes the pain can be felt instantly, but nerve damage symptoms may take days to detect in other cases.
Car Accident Injuries that can Cause Nerve Damage
Are There Any Texting Tools Or Apps I Can Use To Safely Continue A Conversation While Driving?
Americans send over 150 billion texts each month, according to distraction.gov, a government website established to help eliminate distracted driving. Although the popularity of talk-free messaging isn't that surprising, the inherent danger of this form of communication for drivers is taking its toll. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that as the popularity of text messaging increases, the number of drivers texting increases, which ultimately increases the rate of distraction-based car collisions. In fact, over the past three years, nearly 1.5 million people have been victims of car accidents where cell phone use and texting were determined to be the direct cause of the crash.
So, now that you know the risk, ask yourself what you do when you hear your phone go off while you're behind the wheel. Do you ignore it or do you take your eyes off the road and your hand off the wheel in order to respond? Are you mindful of the safety of surrounding motorists? How about your own?
Factors Involved In Patients Being Misdiagnosed And Treated For The Wrong Condition
When a patient visits his primary care physician or specialist to get a diagnosis and treatment plan for a health concern, he trusts that the doctor will make the correct diagnosis. However, a recent study suggests that many medical concerns are misdiagnosed. According to the study published in the journal BMJ Quality & Safety, about 12 million Americans involved in outpatient care are misdiagnosed every year. This alarming statistic reveals that at least one in 20 adults may walk away from an emergency room or their doctor's office with the wrong diagnosis.
When patients are misdiagnosed, they do not receive the treatment they need and may be treated for the wrong condition. Some of the reasons that patients in Virginia and around the country are misdiagnosed include:
- Lack of time. Doctors have a limited amount of time to spend with patients. In most doctor's offices and clinic settings, patients generally have to wait a long time to see a doctor; however, once the doctor comes into the room, the patient is in and out. According to an article in the Seattle Times, doctors spend about 10-15 minutes or less with patients. Because doctors don't spend adequate time with each patient, they are more likely to make a misdiagnosis and other medical error.
The Importance Of Getting Support From Others After A Birth Injury
The most joyous day in a family's life is bringing a child into the world; however, sometimes, this day is also marked by trauma. Sadly, many children suffer from unnecessary birth injuries that occur during labor and delivery due to negligence on the part of a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional. Consequently, a baby may have to suffer the reality of a birth injury for days, months, years, or even a lifetime.
When a baby suffers, a family also suffers-especially when the injury is severe. Not only is finding out about an infant's birth injury scary, but it is a very emotional time that causes parents to worry and have many sleepless nights. In fact, many parents who find out about their child's birth injury cannot eat, sleep, or function at work. The new reality of such an injury can even cause a parent to suffer from anxiety and depression.
Because the news of a child's birth injury is sudden and terrifying, parents of the injured child often have a hard time being there for their injured child, taking care of their other children, taking care of the house, and even taking care of themselves. This is why families impacted by devastating birth injuries need to rely on others during such a difficult time.
9 Things Victims Of Tractor-Trailer Accidents Should NOT Do
Any time a traffic accident occurs, adrenaline begins to pump through one's body. The heart beats faster, blood pressure rises, and you may feel a sudden increase in energy. Because adrenaline is the body's "fight or flight" response, it can cloud your reactions. For instance, someone may be injured but not realize they are in pain as a result of adrenaline. For this reason, it is important that people know what not to do after being involved in an accident with a large semi-truck.
What NOT to Do
While you may not be able to totally control your response after a serious truck accident, reading these tips now may give you the presence of mind to avoid making a major mistake. The following are suggestions of what NOT to do following an injury accident:
- Don't pass up a medical evaluation. Many people don't realize how serious their injuries are until hours or days following a crash. This is because some symptoms don't show up immediately after an accident. It's critical to your health and your potential personal injury claim that you go to the emergency room after a truck crash and that you get x-rays taken or have other tests done so a thorough diagnosis is made. Truck crashes are serious and generally produce traumatic injuries that require the care of a medical professional.
What Kind Of Medical Mistakes Kill Patients Every Year?
Hospitals and doctors are supposed to help people, not harm or even kill them. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. In fact, over 400,000 people die each year because of problems that are caused by medical mistakes.
This means that people who are seeking treatment for an illness or injury become further injured, sick or even die from something a doctor or medical staff member does, not the illness or disease they already had. That's right-over 1,000 people die every day because of a medical mistake.
Common Types of Errors
When you check into Fairfax Surgical Center, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, or any other medical facility in the area, there's a chance you could come out worse than when you went it, if you are able to leave at all. Here, we take a look at some of the medical mistakes that could take the life of someone you love this year.
- Sponges or other surgical equipment are left inside the body during surgery, causing extreme pain and a potentially fatal infection.
What Treatments Are Available For Birth Injuries?
It's a sad reality, but there are many different types of birth injuries that can occur during pregnancy and labor. Consequently, many babies suffer from a wide range of symptoms from minor to severe. While not all birth injuries require treatment-some conditions just need monitoring-many birth injuries will need some type of treatment in order for the baby to make the best possible recovery and be able to live a relatively normal life.
Common Types of Treatment
The severity of the birth injury will determine which type of treatment is needed. Because there are many treatments available, we have put together a list of common treatment methods used in birth injury cases. For most babies born with birth injuries, treatments typically fall into one of the following three categories:
- Therapy. Many babies born with birth injuries need physical therapy and occupational therapy to help them make the best recoveries. Infants born with shoulder dystocia, a brachial plexus injury, or brain damage usually benefit from physical therapy. Even infants born with cerebral palsy work with physical therapists to strengthen muscles. Physical therapy can help injured children learn how to walk, stand, and sit down through exercises that promote flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination. Occupational therapy helps injured children with doing daily tasks such as eating and swallowing, grooming, getting dressed and using the toilet. Occupational therapists do this through a series of exercises, neuro-musculoskeletal activities, and other types of therapy treatment. Sometimes, therapy can help injured infants make complete recoveries; however, if a birth injury is severe, lifelong assistance and therapy treatments may be the result.
What's The Difference Between Paraplegia And Quadriplegia?
Paraplegia vs. Quadriplegia
According to a study initiated by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, there are nearly six million people suffering from some sort of paralysis in the United States. Of this six million, five percent (300,000) are paralyzed as a result of accidental spinal cord injuries. Paralysis from spinal cord injuries are generally classified under one of two categories: paraplegia and quadriplegia.
Paraplegia and quadriplegia are both often referred to as paralysis. Although each condition does indicate paralysis, they are two separate conditions affecting different areas and body functions.
What Is Paraplegia?
Derived from two Greek words, "para" (meaning two) and "plegia" (meaning paralysis), the term paraplegia refers to complete paralysis of half the body (generally the lower half), including two limbs. This type of paralysis is the result of an injury below the neck in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spinal cord. Paraplegics are usually hospitalized for up to five months for extensive rehabilitation and therapy and may require the extended use of a wheelchair.
What All Drivers Should Know About Drowsy Driving Truck Accidents
Did you know that drowsy driving is responsible for 72,000 collisions, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths each year? Sadly, the numbers don't lie. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 2013 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving is a major problem. While anyone who hasn't had enough sleep has the potential to cause a drowsy driving crash, commercial truck drivers are some of the most likely people to drive sleepy.
Drowsy Truck Drivers Are Far Too Common
The truth of the matter is that drowsy driving is a huge problem for truck drivers. Whether truckers choose to push on while they are sleepy or their trucking companies make them clock a certain number of hours or miles before they can get some rest, driving a big rig while drowsy can have deadly consequences. This is why the federal government implemented an hours-of-service law to reduce truck driver fatigue.
The hours-of-service law, enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, is a safety rule designed to limit the amount of time truck drivers are at the wheel-ensuring truckers get the proper sleep to reduce the amount of drowsy driving truck accidents. Although this federal law is in place, many truck drivers and trucking companies fail to comply with the hours-of-service rule. Thus, there are many tired truck drivers on our roads.
703-591-0067
10513 Judicial Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030
703-591-0067
From our office in Fairfax, Shevlin Smith, P.C. serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., including Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Dale City, Fair Oaks, Leesburg, Manassas, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, and Woodbridge, as well as Fairfax County, Arlington County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County.
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