The study was conducted by Cohen Children's Medical Center. According to the study, 2,700 teens die a year from driving under the influence. However, 3,000 teens die every year from texting while driving.
]]> In looking at this study, Dr. Andrew Adesman, with the medical center, pointed out the fact that while there are students who drink, most are not drinking seven days a week. However, most with cellphones are texting seven days a week.A former police officer also weighed in on the topic of texting and driving. He compares a vehicle to a weapon: Just as a gun or knife can kill a person, so can a car. This means that drivers need to be taking precautions when driving. If a person is not willing to take these precautions -- and not text while driving -- that person should not have a driver's license.
In Philadelphia there is a texting while driving ban for all drivers. However, even though there is a ban, this does not mean all drivers are following the law. In fact, the same Cohen Children's Medical Center study found that 57 percent of those teen boys asked still text and drive in states with bans.
For all drivers in Philadelphia this should cause concern. This means there are teens driving around while looking down at their phones. However, just as this dangerous driving behavior can lead to a wreck, it can also lead to a lawsuit. If it is believed distracted driving of any type caused an accident, those injured should talk with a personal injury attorney about holding that driver accountable.
Source: CBS, "Study: Texting And Driving Kills More Teens Annually Thank Drinking And Driving," May 9, 2013
]]>The goal among surgeons is never to harm patients. However, since one mistake is clearly too many, over the years much research has been put into surgical errors, looking at both how these mistakes happen and how to prevent them from happening in the first place.
]]> One study recently focused on video games and how playing these games may lead to fewer mistakes for surgeons. Overall, the study found those who played video games made 37 percent fewer errors than those surgeons who did not play video games. The idea behind this is that video games strengthen a surgeon's hand-eye coordination.Of course though this is just a study and does not provide a course of action. Going forward, it is not like Pennsylvania surgeons are going to be forced to play video games. Rather, it is just that a correlation was discovered between playing video games and fewer surgical errors.
In talking about surgical errors, while some errors -- like operating on the wrong body part -- tend to be apparently obvious, there are other errors that are much harder to prove. In these types of cases, an attorney should be contacted in order to try and build a strong case as to prove negligence on behalf of the surgeon and other medical staff.
Source: WCVB, "Can Video Games Help Train Surgeons?" Tracy Hampton, April 4, 2013
]]>The study was conducted by AT&T. Of those 1,011 adult drivers who were asked, 49 percent admitted to texting while driving. Of teens asked, 43 percent admitted to the same dangerous driving behavior. These statistics are particularly troubling given the fact that there are roughly 180 million adult drivers and 10 million teen drivers.
]]> The problems associated with texting while driving also seem to only be getting worse. According to the Department of Transportation, 3,267 people were killed in crashes due to a distracted driver in 2010. By 2011 that number reached 3,331. Within these numbers, while the government does not break down how many were caused by texting while driving, this type of distraction is considered the most dangerous since drivers are using their mind, eyes and hands to send messages.In Pennsylvania, texting while driving is banned for all drivers: teens and adults. However, even though it is against the law, there are still a good number of drivers who decide to take the risk and send off a message while driving.
Many times drivers in Pennsylvania may think that since it takes less than five seconds to send a text message that it really is not as dangerous as many make it out to be. However, combine these few seconds with the fact that a driver is traveling between 50 mph and 60 mph and it becomes obvious just how dangerous it is to not be paying attention to the road while traveling the length of a football field.
For those who are injured in Pennsylvania accidents due to a driver who was texting, contact an attorney to learn how to go about holding that driver accountable through a lawsuit.
Source: USA Today, "Texting in traffic: Adults worse than teens," Larry Copeland, March 28, 2013
According to the medical malpractice claim, the husband did not receive the proper and timely care that he needed back in 2007 after a gall bladder removal surgery. This lack of proper medical care and the treatment the doctor ordered ended up leading to a severe hernia. The hernia led to more surgical operations.
]]> These medical complications also greatly impacted the man's life as he struggled to work and complete household tasks.Prior to going to trial, the medical center and doctor attempted to reach a settlement with the couple. The settlement was for $100,000. However, the settlement was rejected and the case went to trial.
The trial went on for a week. Even though the medical center argued that the appropriate medical decisions were made, the Dauphin County jury still awarded the couples $250,000, which is obviously significantly higher than the settlement amount that was first offered.
In looking at this case, and the fact that a settlement offer was once put on the table, some might be wondering how to know when it is a good time to accept a settlement or let the case go to trial. Luckily, this decision does not need to be made alone, as an attorney with experience handling medical malpractice cases can explain what both outcomes could end up looking like.
Source: The Patriot-News, "Dauphin County jury awards $250K damages in medical malpractice case," Matt Miller, March 11, 2013
]]>By the time of the 2010 recall, there were already roughly 93,000 patients in the U.S. who had the Articular Surface Replacement implanted.
]]> At this point, around 10,000 lawsuits have been filed against the company. In these cases, the doctors who implanted the devices reportedly did not know about the potential issues, and therefore, could not warn patients. This means patients thought they were getting a device that would improve their lives, not cause more pain.However, the claim is that while the doctors did not know, as early as 2008 the manufacturer did know about the issues, but did not tell doctors. The manufacturer reportedly learned of the issues from surgeons and DePuy consultants.
If it turns out the manufacturer knew of the potential risks, yet continued to aggressively market the device anyway, it could end up speaking volumes in the pending lawsuits.
In general, those patients who received hip implant devices that were part of the recall should learn about their rights. Questions to ask are:
A Pennsylvania attorney with experience representing those affected by the DePuy recall can help examine the facts to see if there is a case.
Source: New York Times, "What a Company Knew About Its Metal Hips," Feb. 10, 2013
]]>Recently, Sung Ok Yoon, a molecular biologist, led a study testing the experimental drug LM11A-31. In this study, mice with crippling spinal cord injuries were given varying doses of the drug. Those who received the highest doses ended up eventually being able to walk again.
]]> When looking at spinal cord injuries, typically what happens is that a protein is released that destroys the nerves protecting the axons. These axons are responsible for transmitting information between the brain and the rest of the body. When these axons are damaged, this can result in permanent paralysis.Right now, the main form of treatment for a spinal cord injury is to give patients an anti-inflammatory drug called methylprednisolone. However, to possibly be effective, this drug has to be given within eight hours -- and no longer than 24 hours -- after an the injury.
Looking to the future, Yoon said she wants to see what happens if the mice are given LM11A-31 weeks, or even months, after the injury-causing accident. The hope is that not only would this drug result in restoring someone's ability to walk, but that this drug would be able to open the window time for treatment after an accident.
At this time, while this research does sound promising, Pennsylvania residents who have been in accidents resulting in spinal cord injuries -- or the family taking care of those injured -- must keep in mind that LM11A-31 is still in the experimental stages testing mice with spinal cord injuries.
Additionally, while in the future there may be more treatment options for those suffering from spinal cord injuries; the truth is that these types of injuries are still going to be quite traumatic and painful.
Source: Voice of America, "Experimental Drug Helps Mice With Spinal Cord Injuries," Jessica Berman, Jan. 12, 2013
Eighteen people were treated for respiratory issues that may be related to the train crash. They complained of sore throats. They may have been exposed to the chemical immediately following the train accident.
Exposure to vinyl chloride, which is used to make PVC piping as well as other plastic products, can cause drowsiness, headaches and dizziness, as well as other center nervous system problems. In the long-term, vinyl chloride inhalation can cause cancer. It is classified as a Group A, human carcinogen.
]]> While the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection believes that all of the vinyl chloride released has dissipated and the air is safe, they are still taking precautions. Some people were evacuated and schools went into lockdown near the accident. Furthermore, authorities will need to move the other three cars carrying the chemical and they are worried about at least one of them: "there's probably going to be one car that's going to be a very delicate move," a Paulsboro spokesman said.If you have been exposed to a toxic substance, seek treatment immediately. If the exposure causes injury, you may be able to hold the responsible parties liable through a personal injury lawsuit. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills (past, current and future), pain and suffering, loss of income and other damages. Learn more by visiting our pages on personal injury.
Source: CNN, "Train cars with toxic cargo fall off New Jersey bridge," CNN Wire Staff, Nov. 30, 2012
]]>Source: CBS News, "Paralyzed patients regain some sensory function after neural stem cell treatment," Michelle Castillo, September 3, 2012
Our firm represents individuals who have suffered catastrophic injures as a result of another person's negligence. For more information, please visit our spinal cord injury page.
]]>Source: Insurance Journal, "Malpractice Claims at Record Low, Not Driving Health Costs: Consumer Group," Andrew Simpson
Our law firm assists individuals who were harmed by negligent health care providers. For more information, please visit our medical malpractice page.
]]>The study focused on 500 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who had tested positive for traumatic brain injury (TBI) between 2008 and 2011 and were being treated at the Oklahoma City VA Hospital. The researchers organized the data into two classes: 1) veterans who had experienced TBI within four years prior to being screened by the hospital; and 2) veterans who experienced TBI earlier than four years prior to being screened.
The results of the study were shocking. Most of the symptoms associated with head injuries-headaches, dizziness, coordination problems, depression or judgment and memory problems-did not improve, even after eight years. For veterans who had experienced TBI within the prior four years, nearly half reported mild-to-moderate headaches, with 46 percent experiencing severe headaches.
]]> The numbers were similar for veterans who had experienced TBI earlier than four years prior to being screened. About 45 percent of veterans in this group reported mild headaches and 51 percent said that they suffered from severe headaches.Although most of the symptoms of head injuries did not improve after eight years, veterans reported that the one symptom that did improve was depression.
Although the study was conducted on veterans, many of whom had received their brain injuries from explosions, the conclusions of the study are applicable to civilians. The researchers found that veterans who had been injured by other means, such as vehicle accidents, suffered from the same persistent symptoms of head injury as those injured by explosions.
Source: New York Times, "Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury Can Persist for Years," James Dao, July 18, 2012.
]]>The researchers trained the rats to walk, run, sprint, and even climb stairs using this form of therapy. The key to re-training the rats how to walk again, according to the researchers, was training the rats on a stationary runway, because this encouraged the rats to make the conscious decision to walk instead of just moving their limbs reflexively. The robotic arm had the effect of forcing the rats to use their back legs to move, and the researchers stimulated their lower spinal cord with a combination of electrodes and chemicals in order to re-animate the neurons of the lower spinal cord.
]]> The researchers' ultimate conclusion was that the neurons grew new connections to the brain and the legs, in effect side-stepping the previously severed connections.This result brings hope to humans who have suffered spinal cord injuries. The therapy used on the rats has clear implications for human injuries, namely, that the combination of electrical and chemical stimulation of the spinal cord and the use of a harness can be an effective cure for paralysis suffered from a severed spinal cord.
There is already evidence that this treatment is effective in humans. A 25-year-old man had been paralyzed after a hit-and-run car accident. Thanks to an experiment conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, he learned to walk again using a harness and electrical stimulation of his lower spine.
The key to re-learning how to walk appeared to be the simple determination to try. For those affected by spinal cord injuries and/or paralysis, there is hope for a cure and for rehabilitation thanks to these scientific discoveries.
Source: Scientific American, "With Willpower, and a Jolt of Electricity, Paralyzed Rats Learn to Walk Again", Ferris Jabr, May 31, 2012
]]>Due to their driving inexperience, teens are especially susceptible to distracted driving. They will say differently if asked, though. According to a survey from the Bridgestone Tire Company, young drivers do not feel that they are vulnerable to distracted driving.
The study surveyed over 2,000 drivers ranging in age from 15 to 21. About two-thirds of those surveyed described themselves as very safe drivers, although the study results showed that many teens define safe driving as having not been ticketed or been in a car accident. Over 83 percent said it was very dangerous to text while driving, but 28 percent admitted to spending half the time that they drive reading text messages.
]]> In general, those surveyed downplayed the importance of driving with two hands on the wheel and did not consider using a cell phone or reaching for food, drinks or the radio distractions from driving. The survey's analysis suggested that the young drivers surveyed are in denial about distracted driving as well as their distraction tendencies that put them at risk.The United States Secretary of Transportation has called distracted driving an epidemic and has stated that young drivers are at a higher risk of car accidents. National teenage car crash studies back that up. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states that car crashes are the leading cause of death among 13 to 19-year-olds, and 16-year-olds have more car crashes than any other age group.
Source: School Transportation News, "Survey: Teens in 'Denial' About Effects of Distracted Driving," Ryan Gray, April 24, 2012
]]>HOW MUCH FORCE is too much?
That's the question at the heart of an Internal Affairs investigation that city police launched over a violent, videotaped arrest of an 18-year-old youth in Frankford this week.
At least two witnesses recorded footage that shows four cops from Northeast Philadelphia's 15th District struggling with Marcus Warryton on Ruan Street near Paul shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, moments after cops say Warryton crashed his car and attempted to leave the scene.
Click here to read more.
]]>Two days after this video surfaced of a violent arrest by four Philadelphia police officers, commissioner Charles Ramsey has decided the first three responding officers on the scene that night should be restored to street duty.
Click here for the full story.
]]>"He didn't kill anybody, he didn't rob anybody, he didn't have any drugs. What's the reason to beat him like that?" said Marcus Warryton's mother, Sophia Singleton.
Sophia Singleton says there is simply no justification for the way her son was treated by police.
Click here to read more.
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