Articles Posted in Personal Injury

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released the findings of a study that suggests that travelers who travel for four hours or more double their chances of developing deep vein thrombosis. According to the WHO, almost one in 6,000 long-haul travelers is at risk for thrombosis, which can have some unpleasant and potentially serious consequences.

The WHO points out that very short travelers whose feet do not touch the ground and very tall people who are cramped in small seats are at most risk. Frequent travelers, women taking birth control pills, the obese, and those who have disorders related to blood clotting are also at risk of developing dangerous blood clots due to immobility during travel.

The assistant director-general for non-communicable disease and mental health for WHO, Catherine Le Gales-Camus, points out that whether travelers are traveling by car, bus, train, or plane, venous thromboembolism can occur when someone is not moving much for fours or more during travel.

A new study reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that carbon monoxide poisonings at hotels and motels are not decreasing, although they are not a common malady for travelers. Researchers of the study found 68 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning at resorts, motels, and hotels across the country between 1989 and 2004.

The research indicated that 27 people died of these poisonings, and a further 772 people became ill as a result of the carbon monoxide. Researchers say that the odds of any one person becoming ill from carbon monoxide while traveling are quite low. However, Dr. Lindell Weaver of LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, who headed the study, points out that carbon monoxide poisonings are not decreasing in number and are fatal and serious when they do occur.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that is produced by heating systems, cars, gas ranges, and other appliances. In hotels, carbon monoxide can build up if a fuel burning appliance, furnace, water heater, or other item is not properly vented or is important condition. In some cases, defective products can lead to excessive carbon monoxide emissions.

Sufferers are of carbon monoxide poisoning may experience nausea, chest pain, confusion, and dizziness. If victims do not leave the area where excessive carbon monoxide is present, the gas will prove fatal. The problem with hotels, according to researchers of the study, is that many people sleep in their hotel rooms. If the gas is present in their room, the carbon monoxide may become fatal before the travelers have a chance to wake.

Federal law and the United States stipulates that resorts, hotels, and motels must have smoke detectors in every guest room. However, there are no national laws about the presence of carbon monoxide detectors. Some states require hotels, motels, and resorts to have carbon monoxide alarms somewhere on the premises of the property. However, none of the states require a carbon monoxide detector in each guest room.

Researchers however, point out to that carbon monoxide detectors only cost about $25 per unit. Therefore, the researchers argue that having carbon monoxide detectors which can prevent fatalities makes a great deal of sense. Despite this, the researchers from the study reported that of the 43 hotels, motels, and resorts they were able to contact which had experienced a carbon monoxide poisoning incident, only 12% had installed carbon monoxide detectors since experiencing a fatality or injury on site.

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Many people are using the last days of Florida summer in order to get in some vacation or travel time before the children return to school in the fall. While Florida travelers have a wealth of possible locations to visit and experience, is important to that all travelers be aware of the potential for illness and personal injury while abroad. If you are hoping to travel to other countries, make sure that you take some precautions.

If you wish to travel outside the country, it is important to see your doctor a minimum of six weeks before you leave for your destination. This allows you to have a dental and medical check op before you go. You may need to take extra prescriptions, medication, or vaccinations before you go. You will also certainly want to take a medical information bracelet, eyewear, first-aid kits, and other necessities before you go.

If you are leaving the country, you may need vaccinations in order to stay safe. If you are not fully protected, your doctor may recommend vaccinations against Hepatitis A or hepatitis A immune globulin, Hepatitis B, the flu, Yellow Fever, Polio, Japanese encephalitis, Measles, Mumps, Rrubella, Meningococcal meningitis, Pneumococcal, Rabies, Tetanus, Diphtheria toxoids, Typhoid fever, and Chickenpox. Based on your condition and the location you’re traveling to, your physician can make specific recommendations for the type of vaccination you will need to stay safe.

One type of common personal injury sustained by many Florida victims in car accidents and other accidents is whiplash. This is a soft tissue injury to the neck that is caused by sudden flexion and extension of the neck. While whiplash is not usually considered serious, it does cause injury to ligaments, discs, intervertebral joints, cervical muscles, and nerve roots.

It is important to always be checked for whiplash if you have been in an automobile accident. This is especially important since the symptoms and signs of whiplash may not appear for several days until after the accident. Is also important to get a physical examination after any sort of possible injury to the neck area, because whiplash can cause serious symptoms that can affect your ability to work or go about your daily tasks.

Whiplash can cause neck stiffness, myofascial injuries, headache, dizziness, and shoulder or back pain. Some sufferers of whiplash also experience concentration impairment, problems sleeping, depression, fatigue, memory loss, and other like symptoms. These symptoms are serious and can cause acute suffering if not treated. Also, those who have been victims of whiplash also need to be examined for mild traumatic brain injury, which is sometimes overlooked in head injuries.

If you have suffered a personal injury, such as a head injury, burn injury, fractured bone, scarring, spinal cord injury, or other injury caused by someone’s negligence, you may need a good Florida lawyer to represent you. Even if you do not want to go to court, a Florida attorney can investigate the circumstances leading up to your injury and can negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies and other parties involved. An attorney can ensure that you are not given a lowball settlement that does not cover the costs of your injury. Remember, insurance companies make a larger profit when they profit under-compensate injury victims, so you are not likely to get a good settlement without an attorney.

When hiring an attorney for your personal injury case, keep in mind that many attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that they will charge you no money up front. In fact, their only fee is a percentage of your final settlement. This means that you will not be facing a huge debt with a personal injury attorney. You will pay if and when you win your case or settle out of court. Plus, since the attorney is getting a percentage of your settlement, he or she is highly motivated to ensure that you get the best settlement possible
When selecting a personal injury lawyer, look for an attorney who has a record of success with cases such as yours. For example, if you have been in a boating accident, look for a Florida attorney who has been able to get good settlements for injured parties in boating accidents. An attorney familiar with cases such as yours will have the knowledge needed to take care of your case well.

Secondly, you will want to find an attorney you trust. Set up a free, no-obligation appointment with a Florida attorney if you can and ask plenty of questions. Make sure that your attorney listens to you and seems to take your concerns seriously. Work with the lawyer who makes you feel comfortable. During your consultation, ask where your attorney is based. Look for a Florida lawyer in your area who is familiar with local juries, judges, and laws.

When you meet with a personal injury attorney, ask about his or her areas of specialization and about previous cases he or she handled that were similar to yours. Ask who will be working on your case, how long the case might take, and whether the attorney works on a on a contingent fee basis. Ask whether there are things you can do to improve your case and how often you will contacted with updates about the case. Ask whether the attorney has ever been disciplined by an ethics committee or has ever been suspended from the practice of law. Ask about the attorney’s education and continuing education experiences. All these answers will give you a general idea of the attorney you are about to hire.

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Some personal injuries are serious but still leave the victim with a good chance of recovery. For example, someone who fractures a bone in a slip and fall accident may suffer injury and lost income, but may eventually recover fully and lead a normal, full life. On the other hand, some personal injuries are what can be called “catastrophic.” These injuries lead to long-term or permanent effect such as permanent disability, significant suffering, or a shorter lifespan.

If your personal injury seems very serious, it is important to seek help from a qualified Florida attorney who has experience with similar, serious injuries. A good attorney will often help you understand some of the long-term possibilities of a serious injury. For example, serious injuries to minors and children can mean repeated surgeries or treatments to accommodate growth, in addition to treatments for the injury itself. An injury in childhood may even affect normal development. Being able to foresee these medical expenses and problems can help you and your attorney get fair compensation and fair help.

Brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are two types of personal injury that often are catastrophic to an entire family. Someone who suffers a brain injury may require a lifetime of care and may even experience changes of personality, which may be very difficult for a family to deal with. A victim of spinal cord injury may lose motor function partly or completely. Present medical science is limited when it comes to spinal cord injuries. While in the future some medical advances may create more options for patients, right now patients may face a lifetime of disability.

Burn injuries not only require expensive cosmetic surgery – which is rarely covered by medical insurance – but can also leave permanent scars that cause serious trauma and upset. While a victim will sometimes get some compensation for the cosmetic treatments, he or she may not get help for therapy, even when it is needed. Some burn injuries also cause muscle or nerve damage that require years of rehabilitative work.

Obviously, injuries can cause terrible and expensive repercussions. Unfortunately, insurance does not always help. In fact, some of the most dangerous drivers out there are underinsured or carry no insurance at all. This means that if you are in a car accident and suffer a serious injury, you may not be able to get much help from insurance providers. Even in cases where insurance is in place, insurance companies will not simply give away all the money needed for long-term care. A good Florida attorney with personal injury experience is imperative to help juries understand the long-term costs and needs that face someone who has faced a serious injury.

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Personal injuries can happen anywhere. You can sustain a serious injury in a car accident, on a property you are visiting, in a store, or in a private home. Personal injuries range from seemingly minor scrapes and bruises to serious head injuries, burn injuries, internal injuries, fractured bones, and spinal cord injuries. No matter what injury you suffer, there are certain steps you need to take to protect yourself:

1) Seek medical help. Even if your injury seems pretty minor, it is hard to tell whether or not there will be lasting repercussions from the wound. Only seeing a doctor will help you understand the severity. A healthcare professional can also document your injuries so that if the injury turns out to be more serious than you initially imagined, you have documented proof of what has taken place.

2) Report the incident to authorities. Do this as soon as you can. Authorities will be able to look into the accident and will be able to protect others from potentially harmful situations. You will be given a case number or file number that will help you keep tabs on the investigation.

3) Meet with a qualified Florida lawyer. A good Florida attorney can help protect your interests and can help you understand all your rights. A good rule of thumb is to not sign anything in a personal injury case until you have spoken to a good lawyer. An initial consultation can be free of charge and can empower you by giving you the information you need to know to deal with insurance adjusters and other professionals involved in the case.

4) Contact your insurance company, if needed. If you have been in a car accident or have sustained property damage as well as a personal injury, you will need to file a claim and meet with a claims adjuster.

5) Continue to work with your Florida attorney. Your lawyer will help you understand what needs to happen next. Maintain good communication and follow your attorney’s suggestions. Your lawyer may assesses your case and file a lawsuit. He or she may work to get you a settlement or may set a trial date for your case. Your attorney will work on pre-trial examinations and exchange of documents before the trial and he or she will also deal with any appeals made in the case.

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