Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Blog

A car accident, or any type of traumatic accident, can lead to a condition such as acute anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A recent study shows that playing just 20 minutes of Tetris – a video game that was originally released in 1985 – can prevent the painful, intrusive memories that can follow trauma. Although the study was small, researchers believe that the results justify additional exploration. Since traumatic memories are highly sensory, they can become associated with certain sounds or odors. The bright colors, repetitive movement, and immersive experience of Tetris can prevent graphic recollections from forming when played shortly after an accident. If you or someone you love has suffered an injury, acute anxiety disorder, or » Read More

  At the onset of summer, the number of dog bite injuries increases as the clear majority of the population begins to spend more time outdoors with their furry friends. Dogs are immersed into more social situations as the weather gets nicer, which may be outside the dog’s comfort zone. Much like humans, dogs can become irritable in the heat, and even the most well trained pet can act out of character when placed into unsavory conditions. The NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene reports that in 2013, more than 4,611 dog bite accidents were reported. More than half of them occurred during the summer months, with the highest number of bites occurring in August. Dog owners are subject » Read More

We have long known that a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or an intracranial injury, can cause agonizing symptoms in the victim. Some of those symptoms may include confusion and persistent headaches, among others. In very severe cases, a victim might experience a period of unconsciousness, amnesia, coma, disability, and fatality. These can be quite traumatic, but recent research indicates yet another possible debilitating effect of a TBI – dementia. The new research, which took place in Finland, suggests that a TBI could dramatically increase the risk of developing dementia later in life, especially if the victim is middle-aged. A TBI is usually caused by a sudden, violent blow or jolt to the head, which can result in bruising of the » Read More

Tire blowouts pose a serious threat to all who travel American roadways, but drivers of large trucks are particularly vulnerable. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tire blowouts cause more than 12,000 truck accidents annually. The tires of a large truck can be subjected to as much as 75,000 pounds of pressure. These same over-worked tires must then travel thousands of miles, further contributing to their decline. As a result, tires weakened by pressure and distance are more likely to explode in response to a puncture or tear. Some tire blowouts are attributable to improper maintenance. The law requires drivers of large trucks to check their tire pressure before every trip. An underinflated tire allows for too » Read More

According to a recent insurance study, the use of legalized recreational marijuana has been linked to an increase in car accidents. In fact, collision claims in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon increased by 2.7 percent since the legalized sale of marijuana began, as compared to surrounding states. In the study, researchers accounted for the following factors: The number of vehicles on the road The age and gender of drivers The weather The employment status of the driver Car accidents across the country began to go increase in 2013 after more than a decade of steady decline. The insurance industry found several possible elements that could have factored into the cause, including distracted driving because of texting or cell phone use, road » Read More

Patients go to hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities to heal, but they may be putting themselves at risk in ways they do not anticipate.  Preventable diseases such as Legionnaires’ disease can be spread easily in hospitals and nursing homes, infecting patients who are already vulnerable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a report highlighting the danger of Legionnaires’ disease and the need for stricter safety standards for hospital water systems. The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report examined data from cases of Legionnaires’ disease in 2015 where 6,079 cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in the United States in 2015. The CDC report focused on 2,809 reported in 20 states and New York » Read More