Macon, Georgia Accidents and Dangerous Occupations Lawyer

Accidents and Dangerous Occupations

We’ve all heard the phrase “accidents happen,” but there’s a prevailing line of reasoning that they don’t simply occur. Rather, they are “made.” The cause can almost always be traced to someone who dropped the ball and that prior event (or events) produces the accident. Whenever someone does something they should not have done or fails to do something they should have done, the result can lead to a harmful accident. A common example is falling on a flight of stairs. There was no magical force behind the tumble. Maybe you were carrying a load that made you off balance. Maybe you were in a hurry and going too fast. Maybe you weren’t wearing your glasses. But the fault may not have been yours – someone left something on the ...

Macon, Georgia Can a TBI Cause Dementia? Lawyer

Can a TBI Cause Dementia?

The brain is a fascinating structure, the complexities of which science continues to explore. “The boss of the body,” it’s the control center for thinking, emotions, perception, learning, language, remembering, and more. Damage to this essential organ can result in an assortment of physical and psychological problems. When a sudden bump, blow, or jolt to the head disrupts the brain’s functions, it is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a “traumatic brain injury” (TBI). Ranging from mild to severe, TBIs commonly arise from vehicle accidents, slip and fall accident injuries, assaults, and sports. Symptoms of a TBI are not as evident as broken bones or dislocations. They can involve vague issues such as co...

Macon, Georgia Concussions Can Affect Driving Performance Even After Symptoms are Gone Lawyer

Concussions Can Affect Driving Performance Even After Symptoms are Gone

The prevalence and consequences of concussions in professional American football have been all over the news in recent months. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed, alleging that the NFL knew about the risks of repeated concussions but hid that knowledge in order to get players back on the field faster. Currently, a settlement has been approved that could result in the NFL paying $1 billion over 65 years. Athletes across many sports and all skill levels are indeed susceptible to concussions, but they aren’t the only ones. Suffering a concussion in a vehicle accident is extremely likely and can stem from even a minor fender-bender. Falls are also a common cause of brain injury. Damage to the brain is not always immediately obvious. Becau...

Macon, Georgia When Intubation Goes Wrong Lawyer

When Intubation Goes Wrong

When a patient has difficulty breathing or undergoes certain surgical procedures, they will be intubated. Intubation is when a tube is inserted into a patient’s airway. Often, the procedure is successful and there are no complications. However, in some cases, the intubation process comes with disastrous results for patients. Intubations can go wrong for several reasons, one of which is inexperience or negligence on the part of a medical professional. Certain factors also put patients at greater risk for intubation complications. Doctors and other medical professionals are supposed to recognize those factors and act accordingly. Unfortunately, there are several intubation mishaps in medical procedures every year. A Look at the Intubation...

Macon, Georgia When Surgeons Leave Something Behind Lawyer

When Surgeons Leave Something Behind

You’ve probably heard the phrases “leaving something behind” or “putting yourself into your work,” right? These phrases suggest going the extra mile, and they’re something that many of us strive to do in our personal and professional lives. The phrase takes an odd twist, however, if you work in surgery and the thing you’re leaving behind is a surgical instrument inside your patient’s body. It sounds like something that isn’t all that common, almost as if it springs from the pages of a cheap novel or some obscure newspaper in a third-world country. But, as terrifying as it is, surgeons' leaving something inside a patient’s body is not as rare as you might think. In fact, studies suggest that - brace yourself - your avera...

Macon, Georgia Passenger Vans: More Room, More Risk Lawyer

Passenger Vans: More Room, More Risk

After a few false starts, the modern van made its first noteworthy appearance in 1983. The Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager models manufactured by Chrysler that year made these roomy vehicles a more affordable option for families. With the ability to easily reconfigure seating to handle varying volumes, vans effectively replaced station wagons in the automotive market. A popular subcategory, 15-passenger vans are widely used to carry athletes, schoolchildren, scouts, church members, campers, seniors, travelers, and other groups. But is the convenience worth the risk? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 15-passenger vans are a safety threat due to a high rate of rollover accidents. The problems stem fr...

Macon, Georgia Workers’ Compensation Benefits & Idiopathic Injuries Lawyer

Workers’ Compensation Benefits & Idiopathic Injuries

We spend much of our lives at work, in part to earn money to be able to enjoy whatever leisure time is left over. All those on-the-job hours means that workplace injuries are bound to happen. When they do, most fall under the umbrella of workers’ compensation, which awards financial benefits for certain injuries. Georgia law provides that an accidental injury is compensable under the Workers' Compensation Act if the employee's injury arose out of and in the course of employment. Determining whether there is a causal connection between the workplace conditions and the injury can be a complicated matter – and one that is key for compensation. As opposed to outward risks associated with employment, some risks stem from idiopathic conditio...

Macon, Georgia Questionable Nursing Home Discharge Practices Lawyer

Questionable Nursing Home Discharge Practices

Too often, residents of nursing homes are treated disrespectfully, as cases to be managed rather than as people to be cared for. The top complaints about these facilities address basic issues such administration of medications, resident/roommate conflict, poor staff attitudes, unanswered requests for assistance, and unfair discharge. In fact, improper evictions are the leading grievance against nursing homes, with complaints totaling as many as 8,000 to 9,000 every year. The problem is likely bigger than what is reported, because many patients and their families don’t realize they have rights to challenge these types of administrative decisions or that there are specific procedures that must be followed. Imagine having to go to the hospi...

Macon, Georgia How to Handle Insurance Adjusters After an Accident Lawyer

How to Handle Insurance Adjusters After an Accident

If you’ve been in an accident where some damage has occurred, chances are you will have to deal with an insurance adjuster. There are three different types: independent, public, and claims. All three primarily do the same thing, which is to investigate the accident, advise the insurance company, determine the compensation needed, and negotiate for a settlement. The claims adjuster may be an attorney, but they have the same power as a standard adjuster and cannot make you do anything against your will. How do you handle dealing with an insurance adjuster? There are many horror stories about insurance adjusters, with quite a few of them true. If you do not have an attorney representing you, here are a few things you should know: Do n...

Macon, Georgia Involuntary Transfers/Discharges from Nursing Homes: Patient Rights Lawyer

Involuntary Transfers/Discharges from Nursing Homes: Patient Rights

There’s a famous expression that says, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” and most of us like to imagine that we fall into that category. That when situations become difficult, we react with strength and work harder to meet the challenge. The thing is, there are many instances when things get tough in which we choose instead to pass them on so they become someone else’s dilemma – and this practice is on the rise in nursing homes. Facilities are increasingly evicting “problem patients,” making space for those without diseases that demand a lot of care (like dementia) or those who bring in more money (such as a private-pay patient or a short-term rehab patient). Analysis of federal data from the Long-Term Care Om...

Archives

Categories

8 Laws Georgia Drivers Should Know

It can be hard to remember every single driving law that exists, especially if it’s been many years since you attended your driver’s education class. Georgia periodically updates its laws,  which means there’s a good chance that some of the state’s...