According to researchers at Harvard Medical School, debt for medical expenses accounted for 62% of all bankruptcies in 2007, up from 46% in 2001. These included expenses after an accident and due to illness. We know how difficult it is to pay off medical bills, especially if you don’t have health care coverage. If you have been injured in a serious…
A Houston, Texas mother is suing her local pharmacy for a prescription error that led to the death of her daughter. In August, 6-year-old Jadalyn died after taking a dose of liquid morphine that was 10 times the strength she was prescribed. Pharmacy error is the failure of a pharmacist to provide the proper dosage, medication or instructions. It is a form…
Most states, including Georgia, follow a set of standards known as the Uniform Vehicle Code. One of the rules of this code is that drivers must keep right if they are traveling slower than the speed of traffic. If you suffer injuries because a driver failed to follow Georgia’s slow-driving laws, you may be able to sue for damages. Why is slow…
This past August, Atlanta Magazine reported that the national cyclospora outbreak infected 353 people throughout 15 states, including Georgia. Cyclospora is a one-celled parasite that causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis or cyclospora infection. How people are exposed Cyclospora illness was rare before 1996, typically showing up only among travelers to developing countries or in those with a compromised immune system due to HIV or…
While significant birth injuries account for less than 2 percent of neonatal deaths, non-fatal birth injuries are fairly commonplace. On average, there are between six and eight birth injuries for every 1,000 live births. Some of these injuries heal quickly without medical intervention or following short-term medical treatment, while others can have lifelong consequences and require lifetime care. If your baby…
This past July, national news sources reported that Baby Einstein, an Atlanta-based toy company, was forced to recall more than 400,000 baby jumpers after receiving reports of more than 60 injuries. The recall included a number of models that sold nationwide by major retailers such as Toys R Us and Amazon. How common are toy injuries? A 2011 U.S. Consumer Product Safety…
This past July, a woman was killed in Six Flags Over Texas when she fell off a roller coaster during a sudden maneuver. According to a witness at the scene, before the ride started the woman expressed concern to a park employee that she was not properly secured in her seat. Most amusement park patrons expect to have a fun-filled day with…
Statistics compiled by the National Center on Elder Abuse show that nearly nine out of ten nursing homes fail to provide adequate patient care and that more than a third of nursing homes have violated elder abuse laws. The Federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 defines abuse as purposefully inflicting injury to a nursing home patient and defines neglect as failing to…
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 9 percent of passenger cars in the United States have at least one bad tire. According to an earlier NHTSA study cited in the report, more than 400 deaths, nearly 11,000 non-fatal injuries and more than 78,000 crashes occur annually due to flat tires or blowouts. Driving with faulty tires is clearly a…
In July, local news sources in Gwinnett County reported on a crash in Norcross where a motorcyclist was killed by a driver who did not yield while making a left turn. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to severe accidents because they are largely unprotected and often hard to see. Therefore, they need to take extra care to avoid accidents by following safety precautions…