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 Posted on June 29, 2011 in Traffic Accidents

Many people think of truck accidents as high-speed affairs that only happen on highways or busy on-ramps.

But the truth is, many fatal semi accidents in Virginia occur when a truck is going 45 mph or less.

Intersection accidents are a major contributor to the over 100 annual deaths caused by tractor-trailers in Virginia. Many of these are "left accidents," which cause injury and even death as a tractor-trailer attempts to make a left-hand turn on a city street.

So how can a simple left turn can cause a deadly semi crash?

• Cross traffic. When a truck turns left, it must cross the oncoming lanes of traffic, a bike lane and a crosswalk-any one of which can result in casualties if the driver isn't paying attention.
• Visibility. The left side of a semi has an extended blind spot. If a car has inched into the lane next to a turning semi, the truck driver may not see him in time to avoid a collision.
• Wide berth. Trucks usually need more space to maneuver than other vehicles, and this is especially true during turns. If a truck doesn't have enough room to complete a turn, he may go over a curb or into the opposite traffic lane (and sometimes into a pedestrian or driver).

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 Posted on June 03, 2011 in Traffic Accidents

If you're in the market for some new wheels in Virginia, you're probably looking for some style along with safety. We all want to keep our family safe, but we also want a car we enjoy driving, and while it's easy to know what we want on the outside, knowing what we should ask for on the inside can be tricky.

Luckily, many manufacturers have improved safety features in the last decade, for the driver as well as the passengers. One of these improvements is side-impact airbags, which greatly reduce injuries in the event of a right angle, or t-bone, collision.

Benefits of Side-Impact Airbags

How would side-impact airbags help in the event of a t-bone crash?

• Side-impact crashes account for 25% of all vehicle fatalities-nearly 10,000 deaths per year.
• A recent study found that side impact-airbags reduced fatalities in crashes as much as 45%. Airbags that include head protection are even more effective, since most deaths caused by side-impact crashes result from the victim's head hitting the window.

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 Posted on May 18, 2011 in Traffic Accidents

The warm weather may be a lovely break from winter's chill, but rising temperatures often mean an increase in bike traffic. Biking to work, shopping or simply for pleasure is a wonderful exercise, provided you take proper precautions.

Washington DC Bike Safety Tips

With these spring safety tips, you can reduce your risk of a DC bicycle accident:

• Get a tune-up. Bikes lose more than tire pressure during the winter. Have your cycle tightened, tires pumped and brakes checked before taking to the summer roads.
• Wear sunglasses. A good pair of sunglasses not only helps you see cars and obstacles in bright daylight, but also protects your eyes from gravel, leaves, and other debris thrown by passing cars.
• Listen to the road. Bikers must be aware of the cars, pedestrians and other cyclists around them at all times. Avoid an accident: leave your headphones at home.
• Be seen. Even if you usually only travel in daylight hours, place reflectors on the front and back tires, as well as beneath the seat. Wear bright clothing and a reflective patch on your helmet.

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 Posted on May 16, 2011 in News

As the weather heats up, more bikers are taking a turn toward safety to avoid bicycle accidents in DC by getting closer to cars.It may seem counterintuitive, but riding in the road may be safer than riding on the shoulder. Biking on the side of the road poses many risks, such as cyclists swerving into traffic to avoid obstructions. Bikers are often not seen by motorists because they are not in the traffic lane, and they have been injured or killed by parked cars opening doors.River Road in Montgomery County poses a particular problem. This is a common avenue for cyclists and drivers alike-and equally dangerous for both. The road is curvy and winding, and the lack of a shoulder forces bikers to either hug the guardrail or ride perilously close to cars moving at 50 miles an hour.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, bicycle accidents caused 11 Maryland deaths in 2009. Many of these resulted in collisions with cars, but the fault may actually lie with the road layout itself, which is designed for cars first, and other vehicles as an afterthought.Maryland and DC laws state that bicyclists may use the full lane of traffic as long as they can match the speed of the cars on the road. Residents are not only hoping for more bike lanes, but for city planners to consider other vehicles when designing the roadways.

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 Posted on May 04, 2011 in Medical Malpractice

Tort reform advocates often cite concerns about the cost of "defensive medicine" as a rallying point to change our current civil justice system for medical malpractice cases. They seek to limit a patient's right to recover for injuries negligently caused by a health care provider on the grounds that it will reduce the practice of defensive medicine and its associated cost. Are these tort reform advocates right in their analysis?The practice of "defensive medicine" is said to occur when a health care provider orders tests not to ensure the health of the patient, but as a safeguard to protect the health care provider from potential medical malpractice liability. While there is much debate about how much defensive medicine actually occurs, there can be no debate that a significant percentage of medical malpractice cases actually involve diagnostic errors. Diagnostic errors involve diagnoses that are wrong, missed or delayed. They can occur when a health care provider fails to order a particular test, when there is the miscommunication of information between consulting health care providers, or when a health care provider fails to consider all potential diagnoses. Researchers have estimated that diagnostic errors account for as many as 40,000 - 80,000 hospital deaths per year, and even more bodily injuries per year. In light of these estimates, can health care providers really be ordering too many unnecessary tests, and still be making so many diagnostic errors? As a society, do we really want to limit a patient's recovery for injuries that were caused by the proven negligence of a health care provider?

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 Posted on May 04, 2011 in Traffic Accidents

It's hard to say. According to a recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, annual motorcycle deaths fell 2 percent in the first nine months of 2010. The improvement was short-lived, however: in the last quarter of the year, the fatalities began climbing.Several theories arise as to why the death rate fell in the first part of the year. Some say it was a result of the economy-fuel prices were up, so recreational motorcycle riders chose to forgo their bikes to save on gas. On the flip side, a commuter may choose the fuel economy of his motorcycle over that of his car if gas prices continue to rise. Whatever the reason, a motorcycle accident in Virginia can cause life-altering injuries for its rider.

Preventing Virginia Motorcycle Crashes

So how can we stop the upward trend of motorcycle fatalities in Virginia?

• Helmets. Federally approved helmets reduce a rider's risk of dying in an accident by as much as 40 percent. Unfortunately, helmet use among motorcycle riders fell 13 percent over the past year.

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 Posted on May 02, 2011 in Medical Malpractice

As attorneys who specialize in handling medical malpractice cases, we have seen many examples of patients who have suffered significant side effects from taking medications prescribed by their physicians.

Prescription Medications Can Have Unforeseen Side Effects

A report released in April by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has found that the number of hospitalizations due to medication side effects has increased over by over 50% between 2004 and 2008. While medications can certainly help treat a patient's condition, unfortunately they can also cause problems as well. While a physician who prescribes a particular medication, or a pharmaceutical company who manufactures a particular medication, can be negligent in causing the side effects of a patient, that is not always the case. There are occasions when a patient can suffer a known side effect that was properly disclosed to the patient. As a result, it is important that patients understand the risks associated with any medication being prescribed. Before taking any medication, be sure to ask your doctor what his/her experience in prescribing that medication is, what the risks and side effects of that medicaiton are, and whether any other medications you are taking are known to interact with the newly proposed medication.

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 Posted on May 01, 2011 in Spinal Cord Injuries

When the spinal cord is injured, various parts of the body are affected. One likely problem that arises from a spinal cord injury is respiratory difficulties. These effects are long-term and can even lead to pneumonia.

Understanding the Respiratory System

Simply stated, it is the job of the respiratory system to provide the body with oxygen. The organs in the respiratory system take in oxygen and dispel carbon dioxide. The blood moves through the lungs to become oxygenated. Then, as it travels throughout the rest of the body, the blood takes on carbon dioxide. It passes back through the lungs to receive more oxygen. If the respiratory system does not work properly, the body does not get its needed oxygen.

Why Would Respiratory Issues Result From a Spinal Cord Injury?

When spinal damage occurs, the brain may lose the ability to communicate with certain muscle groups. The muscles inside your chest and abdomen are what aid with breathing and even coughing. Although the lungs themselves are not affected by the spinal cord injury, it takes the chest and abdominal muscles to help them perform the function of taking in oxygen.

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 Posted on April 17, 2011 in Birth Injuries

A cephalohematoma, or swollen mass on a newborn baby's head, is caused by a buildup of blood between the baby's skin and skull during a difficult delivery.

Cephalohematoma in Virginia is often diagnosed with visual symptoms. For example, a typical hematoma:

• Appears by the second or third day of life;
• Has a localized swelling with well-marked edges;
• Does not usually have any unusual skin discoloration;
• Does not go beyond the suture lines of the baby's skull;
• Is commonly located over the parietal bone (back of the skull).

In most cases, the hematoma will be reabsorbed without further consequences within a few months. However, because of the type of birth injury and the baby's weakened immune system, the site of a cephalohematoma is at an extremely high risk of infection.

Was your child injured as a result of a doctor's mistake? Find out with our FREE book: Do I Have A Case? A Patient's Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law

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 Posted on April 04, 2011 in Catastrophic Injuries

You may have heard the term "fracture" before. When a bone is broken, it often means intense pain and a long recovery time-but are there any other dangers from a fracture?

Types of Bone Fractures

Depending on the location, a bone fracture in DC could cause the victim serious injury:

• Skull fractures. One of the most dangerous types of fractures, as trauma to the skull can cause intracranial bleeding.
• Pelvic fractures are commonly caused by seat belts in Virginia car accidents.
• Ankle fractures happen when the body goes one way, and the foot another-often when the foot is trapped in an accident.
• Spinal fracture risks increase with age, but even young people can suffer a spinal injury if they experience trauma to the head, neck or back.
• Collarbone fractures are the most common type of broken bones. Due to the location and fragility of the clavicle, a collarbone fracture can be particularly painful.

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