Sunday, April 26, 2009
Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck accidents are particularly devastating. When a car is involved in an accident with a big rig or tractor trailers, the resulting accidents often leads to serious personal injury, death and property damage. Immediately after a an accident involving a truck or tractor trailer the truck accident owner or insurance company usually launches an thorough investigation aimed at limiting their monetary liability. This may involve a team of adjusters, investigators and attorneys whose primary responsibility is to limit the liability of the insurance company and minimize the amount of money to be paid to injured parties.
Heart Attacks
Each year, 1.1 million Americans experience a heart attack; 460 000 of them are fatal. Of those who die, almost half do so suddenly, before they can get to a hospital. Not much bigger than a fist, the human heart beats 100,000 times each day, sending about 2,000 gallons of blood coursing through vessels, which, laid end-to-end, would be long enough to circle the earth more than twice.
To carry out the vital task of pumping blood, the electrical timing of millions of heart cells must be exquisitely coordinated. Their timing sparks the heart to pump in a rhythmic, efficient fashion. When that coordination is disrupted, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias result.
Each heartbeat normally starts in the upper right chamber of the heart, or right atrium. Here, a specialized bunch of cells called the sinus node, or pacemaker, sends an electrical signal. The signal spreads throughout the right and left atria and then travels along specific pathways to the lower chambers or ventricles. As the signal travels, the heart muscle contracts. First the atria (the upper right and left chambers) contract, pumping blood into the ventricles. A fraction of a second later, the ventricles contract in a squeezing motion, sending blood throughout the body. Each contraction is a heartbeat.
Ventricular arrhythmias occur when a group of heart cells in the ventricles triggers contractions out of sync with the normal rhythm established by the sinus node. A number of factors can prompt a ventricular arrhythmia, including stress, exercise, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, amphetamines, tricyclic antidepressant drugs, and cough and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, as well as several drugs (such as diuretics and digitalis) used to treat various heart conditions.
Many people think that heart attacks are a "man’s problem," yet heart disease is actually the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. In men, the risk for heart attack increases significantly after the age of 45. In women, heart attacks are more likely to occur in the years after menopause (usually, after the age of 50). However, younger men and women can also have heart attacks.
Besides age, factors that increase the risk for heart attack are:
* A previous heart attack or procedure to open up the coronary arteries
* Family history of early heart disease:
o Father or brother diagnosed before age 55
o Mother or sister diagnosed before age 65
* Diabetes mellitus
* High blood cholesterol
* High blood pressure
* Cigarette smoking
* Overweight
* Physical inactivity
During a heart attack, a clot in the heart’s artery blocks the flow of blood to the heart. Heart muscle begins to die. This is technically called a "myocardial infarction," meaning "death of heart muscle." The more time that passes without treatment, the greater the damage. The part of the heart that dies during a heart attack cannot grow back or be repaired.
Many people think that a heart attack is sudden and intense, like the "Hollywood" heart attack depicted in the movies, where a person clutches his or her chest and falls over. The truth is that many heart attacks start as a mild discomfort in the center of the chest. Someone who feels such a warning may not be sure what is wrong. The discomfort (and other symptoms) may even come and go. Even people who have had a heart attack may not recognize the signs, because the next one can have entirely different symptoms. The warning signs of a heart attack are shown in the box below. Learn them, but also remember: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, you should still check it out promptly.
To carry out the vital task of pumping blood, the electrical timing of millions of heart cells must be exquisitely coordinated. Their timing sparks the heart to pump in a rhythmic, efficient fashion. When that coordination is disrupted, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias result.
Each heartbeat normally starts in the upper right chamber of the heart, or right atrium. Here, a specialized bunch of cells called the sinus node, or pacemaker, sends an electrical signal. The signal spreads throughout the right and left atria and then travels along specific pathways to the lower chambers or ventricles. As the signal travels, the heart muscle contracts. First the atria (the upper right and left chambers) contract, pumping blood into the ventricles. A fraction of a second later, the ventricles contract in a squeezing motion, sending blood throughout the body. Each contraction is a heartbeat.
Ventricular arrhythmias occur when a group of heart cells in the ventricles triggers contractions out of sync with the normal rhythm established by the sinus node. A number of factors can prompt a ventricular arrhythmia, including stress, exercise, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, amphetamines, tricyclic antidepressant drugs, and cough and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, as well as several drugs (such as diuretics and digitalis) used to treat various heart conditions.
Many people think that heart attacks are a "man’s problem," yet heart disease is actually the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. In men, the risk for heart attack increases significantly after the age of 45. In women, heart attacks are more likely to occur in the years after menopause (usually, after the age of 50). However, younger men and women can also have heart attacks.
Besides age, factors that increase the risk for heart attack are:
* A previous heart attack or procedure to open up the coronary arteries
* Family history of early heart disease:
o Father or brother diagnosed before age 55
o Mother or sister diagnosed before age 65
* Diabetes mellitus
* High blood cholesterol
* High blood pressure
* Cigarette smoking
* Overweight
* Physical inactivity
During a heart attack, a clot in the heart’s artery blocks the flow of blood to the heart. Heart muscle begins to die. This is technically called a "myocardial infarction," meaning "death of heart muscle." The more time that passes without treatment, the greater the damage. The part of the heart that dies during a heart attack cannot grow back or be repaired.
Many people think that a heart attack is sudden and intense, like the "Hollywood" heart attack depicted in the movies, where a person clutches his or her chest and falls over. The truth is that many heart attacks start as a mild discomfort in the center of the chest. Someone who feels such a warning may not be sure what is wrong. The discomfort (and other symptoms) may even come and go. Even people who have had a heart attack may not recognize the signs, because the next one can have entirely different symptoms. The warning signs of a heart attack are shown in the box below. Learn them, but also remember: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, you should still check it out promptly.
Birth Injury Lawyers
A birth injury usually arises due to complications during labor and delivery. Birth injuries range from mild to severe, from bruising to permanent disability. The most common types of birth injuries include bruising and forceps marks, facial paralysis, brachial plexus injuries, fractured bones, and brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. While birth injuries can occur in very simple deliveries, they most often occur during difficult labors. An infant’s large size or a mother’s pelvis’ small size may contribute to a difficult labor which may lead to birth injuries. In addition, difficulty in passing through the birth canal (such as shoulder dystocia) and the baby’s position may also complicate the delivery process and lead to potential birth injuries.
A doctor should be vigilant in order to anticipate complications that may lead to birth injuries. Some of the things a doctor should take into consideration when preparing to deliver an infant are, possible complications resulting from the size of the baby, the mother’s medical history, umbilical cord positioning, fetal distress such as irregularities in the fetal heartbeat, and proper administration of drugs used during labor and delivery. Failure to monitor these and a number of other situations may mean that the physician was negligent in his care of a patient.
A doctor should be vigilant in order to anticipate complications that may lead to birth injuries. Some of the things a doctor should take into consideration when preparing to deliver an infant are, possible complications resulting from the size of the baby, the mother’s medical history, umbilical cord positioning, fetal distress such as irregularities in the fetal heartbeat, and proper administration of drugs used during labor and delivery. Failure to monitor these and a number of other situations may mean that the physician was negligent in his care of a patient.
PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES
Generally, it is difficult to set a dollar amount to a specific injury you suffer in an accident. There are numerous factors to consider when attempting to settle a personal injury claim: medical bills, pain and suffering, disfigurement, lost time from work, medical costs for ongoing injuries and the like.
In any action based on negligence, there must be an actual injury suffered. Normally, a plaintiff must show that they suffered some kind of physical harm. Recovery will not be allowed where only mental harm, and no physical harm was suffered. Once physical harm has been proven, Plaintiff may recover a variety of damages. These include, Direct loss: The value of any direct loss of bodily functions. Ex.: Actual monetary compensation for the loss of a leg. Economic loss: Out-of-pocket losses stemming from the injury. Ex.: Medical expenses, lost earnings. Pain and suffering: Damages for pain and suffering caused as a result of the injury. d. Hedonistic damages: Damages for loss of the ability to enjoy one’s prior life. Ex.: Compensation for loss of the ability to walk, even if loss of that ability has no economic consequences. Consciousness required: Courts are split about whether Plaintiff must be conscious of the loss in order to be able to recover damages. Some states do not allow hedonistic damages where Plaintiff is in a coma. Future damages: Plaintiff brings only one action for a particular accident, and recovers in that action not only for past damages, but also for likely future damages. Present value: When Plaintiff is recovering future values, courts generally instruct the jury to award Plaintiff only the "present value" of these losses. Periodic payments: Some states now allow Defendant to force Plaintiff to accept periodic payments in certain situations. These payments generally terminate upon Plaintiff’s death.
In any action based on negligence, there must be an actual injury suffered. Normally, a plaintiff must show that they suffered some kind of physical harm. Recovery will not be allowed where only mental harm, and no physical harm was suffered. Once physical harm has been proven, Plaintiff may recover a variety of damages. These include, Direct loss: The value of any direct loss of bodily functions. Ex.: Actual monetary compensation for the loss of a leg. Economic loss: Out-of-pocket losses stemming from the injury. Ex.: Medical expenses, lost earnings. Pain and suffering: Damages for pain and suffering caused as a result of the injury. d. Hedonistic damages: Damages for loss of the ability to enjoy one’s prior life. Ex.: Compensation for loss of the ability to walk, even if loss of that ability has no economic consequences. Consciousness required: Courts are split about whether Plaintiff must be conscious of the loss in order to be able to recover damages. Some states do not allow hedonistic damages where Plaintiff is in a coma. Future damages: Plaintiff brings only one action for a particular accident, and recovers in that action not only for past damages, but also for likely future damages. Present value: When Plaintiff is recovering future values, courts generally instruct the jury to award Plaintiff only the "present value" of these losses. Periodic payments: Some states now allow Defendant to force Plaintiff to accept periodic payments in certain situations. These payments generally terminate upon Plaintiff’s death.
Car Accident Lawyers
Car accidents occur each day on roads in every state, county, city and town. While many car accidents are simple "fender benders," others result in substantial property damage and serious injury. A high percentage of accident-related personal injuries result from motor vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, more people are injured or killed by negligence on our roads and highways than ever before. Car accidents and truck accidents are a leading cause of death in many states year after year. They often result in serious injuries involving head and brain injury, spine injury, loss of limb, amputations, loss of senses, and other catastrophic results, including wrongful death, are all too common. Many injured victims of car accidents are overwhelmed by the avalanche of telephone calls, insurance forms, accident reports, medical bills and general correspondence that is received immediately after an car accident. Further, those that have been injured in an accident may not be in the proper frame of mind to deal with inquiries from insurance companies, whether written, recorded or verbal.
In many states, car accident victims who have suffered personal injury may be entitled to recover damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, permanent disfigurement, dismemberment, wrongful death, loss of opportunity to enjoy life, interference with marital and/or parental relationships, and other types of general damage. Many states also allow for recovery of "special" damages, such as past, present and future medical bills, wage loss, loss of earnings potential and other out-of-pocket expenses. Some states also require that certain "no-fault" benefits be paid following a traffic accident. This type of benefit may serve to pay a portion of lost wages and medical bills.
In many states, car accident victims who have suffered personal injury may be entitled to recover damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, permanent disfigurement, dismemberment, wrongful death, loss of opportunity to enjoy life, interference with marital and/or parental relationships, and other types of general damage. Many states also allow for recovery of "special" damages, such as past, present and future medical bills, wage loss, loss of earnings potential and other out-of-pocket expenses. Some states also require that certain "no-fault" benefits be paid following a traffic accident. This type of benefit may serve to pay a portion of lost wages and medical bills.
What is a Brain Injury?
A brain injury is caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in an injury to the brain. The severity of a brain injury may range from “mild,” i.e., a change in mental status or consciousness to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. Brain injuries which are considered "mild" are anything other than a "mild" effects on the accident victim. "Mild" brain injury victims may suffer symtoms severe enough to disrupt memory, mood, basic cognitive functioning. The general feeling is that a traumatic brain injury victim is a "different person" than before the injury.
Brain injuries contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability annually. Of the 1.4 million who sustain a brain injury each year in the United States:
* 50,000 die;
* 235,000 are hospitalized; and
* 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
Among children ages 0 to 14 years, brain injury results in an estimated:
* 2,685 deaths;
* 37,000 hospitalizations; and
* 435,000 emergency department visits annually.
The number of people with brain injury who are not seen in an emergency department or who receive no care is unknown.
The leading causes of brain injury are:
* Falls (28%);
* Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);
* Struck by/against events (19%); and
* Assaults (11%).
Brain injuries contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability annually. Of the 1.4 million who sustain a brain injury each year in the United States:
* 50,000 die;
* 235,000 are hospitalized; and
* 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
Among children ages 0 to 14 years, brain injury results in an estimated:
* 2,685 deaths;
* 37,000 hospitalizations; and
* 435,000 emergency department visits annually.
The number of people with brain injury who are not seen in an emergency department or who receive no care is unknown.
The leading causes of brain injury are:
* Falls (28%);
* Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);
* Struck by/against events (19%); and
* Assaults (11%).
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