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 Posted on June 23, 2017 in Medical Malpractice

It is common sense that people need adequate sleep to function, let alone examine patients, perform medical procedures, and prescribe medications. But did you know that many medical professionals are sleep deprived? Shockingly, many doctors and other medical professionals haven't gotten enough sleep in order to perform their jobs accurately and safely.

What's even more troubling is that a new law may make things worse. Currently, first-year resident physicians are allowed to work 16 consecutive hours without sleep, but as of July 1, 2017, first-year medical residents will be allowed to work 28 hours or longer shifts without sleep, per the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Sleep-Deprivation Could Lead to More Medical Errors

According to research, working long hours without sleep may increase one's risk for making errors and may jeopardize patient safety. In fact, the 16-hour work limit that was set for first-year residents was put in place following a 2009 report from the Institute of Medicine that found that first-year medical residents "make more errors when working longer consecutive hours."

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 Posted on June 21, 2017 in Brain Injuries

When a patient suffers brain damage due to the negligence or carelessness of a medical professional, he could face a long road to recovery. One effect a serious brain injury can have is to limit the victim's mobility and communication skills. Depending on the location and severity of a brain injury, a victim may never be able to fully recover these physical functions. But even if a total physical recovery isn't possible, almost all brain injury survivors will need some type of therapy and support that will likely include the following:

• Physical therapy. Through a physical therapy program, a brain injury victim may be able to improve lost mobility or regain the ability to control certain muscles. By working with a physical therapist trained in brain injury recovery, the patient may be able to make progress to overcome some of the limitations caused by the damage to the brain.
• Occupational therapy. Brain injury survivors may need ongoing rehabilitation to regain independent living skills. Through occupational therapy, those with brain injuries may be able to re-learn skills such as self-care, hygiene, and cooking. Occupational therapists help brain injury survivors regain the independence needed in everyday life.

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 Posted on June 20, 2017 in Traffic Accidents

Following a car crash, everyone involved is usually pretty shaken up. This is especially true if children are involved. From the sounds of screeching tires and breaking glass to the bright lights and sounds of sirens, a crash can be very traumatic to children, even if they are not injured. However, injuries present a whole other list of issues such as pain, inconsolable crying, a scary ambulance ride, extensive tests, surgery, and even an uncomfortable hospital stay. So it's no wonder that kids often suffer from emotional trauma after a collision.

While some emotions are quite normal for children to feel following an accident, it is important that parents are aware that even minor car crashes can cause children to suffer extensive emotional stress and trauma-even to the point that they may need medical attention for the emotional scars they suffered.

So how can parents know if the emotional wounds a child suffers in a crash ends up being something more serious, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

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 Posted on June 17, 2017 in Brain Injuries

Because the brain is responsible for voluntary actions such as controlling muscle movement, it's no wonder that many people suffer paralysis following a brain injury. The brain is made up of billions of neurons and serves as the center of the nervous system, which is why paralysis can be the result when there is nerve damage in the brain. Although there are many causes of brain damage and paralysis, this article will focus on medical malpractice as the cause.

Causes of Paralysis Due to Medical Negligence

• Labor and delivery errors. When obstetricians fail to provide adequate care to their patients, it is possible that an infant may suffer from cerebral palsy, which can lead to paralysis. Anytime there is a lack of oxygen to the brain during labor and delivery, when maternal infections aren't treated properly, when forceps and vacuum extractors are used incorrectly or with too much force, or when severe jaundice in an infant is left untreated, damage to the brain can occur that results in some type of paralysis.

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 Posted on June 14, 2017 in Library

When car accidents occur, glass from the windshield and windows can shatter, metal shrapnel from defective airbags can be catapulted, and other objects inside and outside of the car can fly through the air. When any of these things happen in a crash, it is usually done quickly and forcibly-resulting in very serious injuries for drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians.

Frighteningly, the head is a common area of the body that often suffers when objects are shattered or are hurled through the air in crashes. These objects may penetrate the skin and the skull when they are projected through the air. Even when objects don't break the skin, the skull can be broken from blunt impact when the head makes forceful contact with an object. When the skull is broken and the brain is exposed, this is known as an open head injury.

Understanding How Open Head Injuries Happen in Crashes

Open head injuries in auto accidents are typically the result of a forceful or penetrating blow to the head. Although the skull is designed to withstand a great amount of force, a blow to the head or flying object can penetrate the skull, fracturing it and exposing the brain.

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 Posted on June 13, 2017 in Traffic Accidents

In 2015, there was an 8.3% increase in motorcycle fatalities from 4,594 in 2014 to 4,976 in 2015, according to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Sadly, this number is of great concern, which is why it is important to remind all motorists to be on the lookout for not only the loud cruisers and sport bikes but especially the quiet mopeds, scooters, and other two- or three-wheeled motorcycles.

This is one of the reasons that this coming Monday, June 19, 2017, is National Ride to Work Day. It's a way for motorcyclists to come together and remind the public that motorcyclists come from all walks of life and that biker stereotypes are no longer true. Not only does this day serve to make the public aware of the need to share the road with motorcyclists, but it is a way to educate the public about the benefits of riding a motorcycle, such as saving fuel and reducing traffic and parking congestion.

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 Posted on June 12, 2017 in Traffic Accidents

Now that summer is here, many people are heading out on road trip vacations, traveling across the state or into another state. Because of this, roads and interstates are busier during this time of the year, increasing the risk of a crash. Although no one expects to crash while on vacation, if it happens, it is critical that you find a lawyer who practices in the region where the accident took place.

If you were injured in a car crash while visiting Washington, D.C., or other historic sites in Virginia, you should hire a lawyer who practices law in the local area. This is because your case will be handled in the jurisdiction where the car accident took place and a local lawyer will be familiar with local courts and state laws. Although most cases are settled prior to court, it is possible that your case may need to go to trial and you will want an attorney on your side who is familiar with the area.

How Do I Find the Right Attorney?

Car accidents that occur out of state can become complex for the injured victim. This is why finding the right attorney to handle your case is a critical part of the process. Before hiring just any lawyer to handle your case, here are some questions to ask:

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 Posted on June 11, 2017 in Library

As you walk through your front door after work, your cell phone rings. You are surprised to see it is your husband, who is supposed to be home with the children. You answer it and immediately know something is wrong. Your husband is at the hospital and your little girl is in surgery.

On his way home after picking up the kids from practice, a truck rammed the passenger side of his car, right where your daughter was sitting. Your son was sitting behind your husband so he only suffered a small wrist fracture and some cuts. However, your baby girl wasn't as lucky. From what your husband explained, she has a broken pelvis and possible rib fractures.

You immediately drop everything and run back to your car. As you speed toward the hospital you make mental notes to question the doctor and your husband about how this could have happened.

Pelvic Fracture Collision Factors

Pelvic fractures are an alarmingly common injury for car accident victims. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that nearly 15% of collisions result in pelvic damage, and 25% of victims who die in traffic accidents are reported to have broken pelvises. Although 15% may not seem that high, the number of victims exceeds 800,000 adults and children a year, according to theJournal of Trauma, Injury, Infection and Critical Care.

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 Posted on June 09, 2017 in Birth Injuries

One of the worst things that can happen during labor and delivery is for a doctor, nurse, or midwife to act negligently and harm an innocent baby. In fact, because of the lifelong impairments associated with such an injury, one of the worst birth injuries an infant can suffer is a brain injury. Although birth brain injuries are rare, they do occur at the hands of negligent doctors, nurses, and other negligent medical professionals in the following ways:

• A negligent doctor may fail to monitor a mother's blood pressure during childbirth or leave an infant stuck in the birth canal too long, causing an infant to suffer a lack of oxygen. If a baby is stuck in the birth canal, a doctor may use a birth-assistance tool-such as forceps incorrectly or with too much force-and cause an infant to suffer a brain injury. Or a doctor may cause a baby to suffer a lack of oxygen by failing to take action when the umbilical cord is wrapped around an infant's neck. Additionally, doctors may fail to diagnose and treat anemia at birth or infant jaundice, which can lead to brain damage. Even during pregnancy, doctors can put infants at risk of suffering brain damage if they fail to diagnose and monitor infections in the mother.

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 Posted on June 08, 2017 in Traffic Accidents

Summertime is known as road trip season, as people often take their vacation during the summer months when the weather is warm and kids are out of school. Unfortunately, this can also become disaster season if you fail to properly prepare before hitting the open road.

Whether you are cruising down a scenic road or driving straight down an interstate to your vacation destination, it is important that you follow these tips in order to stay safe during this summer's driving season:

• Have your car serviced before the trip. To ensure your vehicle is road-ready, get an oil change and have a mechanic inspect the battery, belts, air conditioner, fluids, and tires.
• Get the proper sleep. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep before driving so that you can stay alert on the road. Drowsy driving is responsible for approximately 72,000 crashes every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If you feel tired, make sure you pull over somewhere safe or switch off driving with another adult.

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