Articles by Joseph Hernandez on ArticleSnatch.com

Screening Male Patients For Prostate Cancer And Medical Malpractice

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:33:29 -0500

Doctors typically use two tests to screen men for prostate cancer. The first test is the digital examination. During this examination the doctor uses a gloved finger to physically examine the prostate gland for any signs of enlargement, hardening, or the presence of nodules, any of which could be a sign of cancer. The second test is the PSA blood test which measures the level of prostate specific antigen in the bloodstream. A PSA above 4.0 ng/mL is generally considered to be elevated. Since prostate cancer increases the PSA level as the cancer progresses doctors generally advice a biopsy if the PSA test comes back abnormally high. When a factor other than prostate cancer causes the PSA level to raise the elevated PSA is called a "false positive." A biopsy has risks, such as the risk of infection and the risk of excessive bleeding. Given these two facts some doctors advise that male patients follow a plan of "watchful waiting." Under such a plan the doctor monitors the patient's elevated PSA over a period of months or years. **End Summary** Topics: advanced prostate cancer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases, including Medical Malpractice cases. You can learn more about cases involving advanced prostate cancer at his website: http://www.prostatecancerlaw.com .

Missed Signs Of Fetal Distress Lead To Medical Malpractice Settlements

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:43:54 -0500

Serious complications can occur after a pregnant woman goes into labor and before her baby is delivered. Physicians are responsible for monitoring the labor process. They also have the responsibility of being able to recognize signs that a complication has arisen that can pose a risk to the health of the unborn baby. And they have the responsibility of taking appropriate, timely action. When they fail to do so, as when a physician stubbornly takes the position that the labor process is proceeding normally and that the unborn baby is doing well even in the face of data clearly showing otherwise, the result can be a child with a permanent disability - a disability that could have been prevented. Consider the following cases: Case 1: In this case a pregnant woman was admitted to the hospital already in active labor. Over the course of the next nine hours the nurse noted that the tracing from the fetal heart rate monitor was reactive and reassuring. Then the unborn baby's heart rate began to climb. **End Summary** Topics: fetal distress]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about fetal distress injuries visit his website at http://www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

Parents Reach A $650,000 Settlement With Obstetrician After The Stillbirth Of Their Baby

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:32:16 -0500

A woman who had been suffering from hypertension for years decides with her husband to have a child. She wants to be careful and do everything possible to make sure she has a healthy baby, so when she becomes pregnant she meets with her physician. The physician refers her to an obstetrician who will responsible for helping her with her pregnancy. After discussing her hypertension with the obstetrician, the doctor takes her off her hypertension medication. However, the obstetrician was unable to keep the woman's blood pressure under control, so her primary care physician and obstetrician decided to have her take one-half of the dose she was on prior to her pregnancy. During her pregnancy the woman begins to suffer from episodes of headaches, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision. Given her symptoms she consistently sees her physician who determines that she had moderate preeclampsia and prescribes her a higher dosage of the blood pressure medication. As her pregnancy progressed these issues seemed to come up more frequently and the obstetrician noted that she began to leak amniotic fluid, which was detected from the amount of protein that was present in her urine. **End Summary** Topics: stillbirth]]> stillborn]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases, including birth injury medical malpractice cases. To learn more about stillbirth cases visit his website at www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

An Examination Of Two Lawsuits Claiming Placental Abruption Medical Malpractice

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:21:26 -0400

A placental abruption is a serious complication that can arise late in pregnancy. There is no treatment for a placental abruption. It can cause serious injury to the baby or even result in a stillbirth. In certain cases it can also lead to the death of the mother. When a pregnant patient presents with symptoms that indicate the possibility of a placental abruption, doctors and nurses must either rule out the possibility of a placental abruption or take action immediately in order to protect the baby and the mother. A placental abruption is often accompanied by heavy vaginal bleeding and by pain in the lower back and abdomen. Depending on where and how much of the placenta separates from the uterus, however, there may be no visible bleeding. Other symptoms that may indicate a placental abruption include a drop in the fetal heart rate as the unborn baby is deprived of oxygen, a change in blood pressure, and unusual contraction patterns. The following cases illustrate how doctors and nurses sometimes miss these symptoms Case 1: This case involved a lawsuit pursued by parents whose baby was born still. **End Summary** Topics: placental abruption]]> placenta abruption]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases, including birth injury medical malpractice cases. You can learn more about placental abruption injuries at his website www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

Lawsuit Claims Obstetrician Agrees To See Pregnant Patient At Hospital Then Never Shows

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:20:57 -0400

As fetal distress is a serious complication in pregnancy that often involves a loss of oxygen supply to the unborn baby. Thus, when fetal distress is noted action must be taken immediately to prevent harm to the baby. Below we consider the issue of liability in a case involving a delay of approximately two hours in reacting to signs of fetal distress. We also consider the resulting damages and the settlement result. An obstetrician is notified that his patient, a pregnant female, had been taken to a nearby hospital after she had fallen. The patient had undergone an ultrasound at the hospital in order to check for any harm to her baby and the ultrasound had been interpreted as showing no injuries. The obstetrician agrees to meet his patient at a second hospital to which she is going to be transferred in order to have additional monitoring which the first hospital is not properly equipped to perform. Once at the second hospital a fetal heart rate monitor was connected to the woman. The labor and delivery nurse at this hospital read the strip as non-reassuring and indicating that the unborn baby was in fetal distress. **End Summary** Topics: placental abruption]]> placenta abruption]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about fetal distress injuries visit his website at http://www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

Obstetrician Fails To Report To Hospital As Pregnant Patient's Baby Is In Fetal Distress

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:54:42 -0400

As fetal distress is a serious complication in pregnancy that often involves a loss of oxygen supply to the unborn baby. Thus, when fetal distress is noted action must be taken immediately to prevent harm to the baby. Below we consider the issue of liability in a case involving a delay of approximately two hours in reacting to signs of fetal distress. We also consider the resulting damages and the settlement result. An obstetrician is notified that his patient, a pregnant female, had been taken to a nearby hospital after she had fallen. The patient had undergone an ultrasound at the hospital in order to check for any harm to her baby and the ultrasound had been interpreted as showing no injuries. The obstetrician agrees to meet his patient at a second hospital to which she is going to be transferred in order to have additional monitoring which the first hospital is not properly equipped to perform. After being transported to the second hospital, the patient is connected to a fetal heart rate monitor which was read by the labor and delivery nurse at the second hospital as indicating that the patient's unborn baby is in fetal distress. **End Summary** Topics: fetal distress]]> stillbirth]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. Visit his website to learn more about fetal distress injuries and stillbirth cases.

An Analysis of Two Lawsuits Involving A Delay In Reacting To A Placental Abruption

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:41:31 -0400

A placental abruption is a serious complication that can arise late in pregnancy. There is no treatment for a placental abruption. It can cause serious injury to the baby or even result in a stillbirth. In certain cases it can also lead to the death of the mother. When a pregnant patient presents with symptoms that indicate the possibility of a placental abruption, doctors and nurses must either rule out the possibility of a placental abruption or take action immediately in order to protect the baby and the mother. A placental abruption is often accompanied by heavy vaginal bleeding and by pain in the lower back and abdomen. Depending on where and how much of the placenta separates from the uterus, however, there may be no visible bleeding. Other symptoms that may indicate a placental abruption include a drop in the fetal heart rate as the unborn baby is deprived of oxygen, a change in blood pressure, and unusual contraction patterns. The following cases illustrate how doctors and nurses sometimes miss these symptoms Case 1: This case involved a lawsuit pursued by parents whose baby was born still. **End Summary** Topics: placental abruption]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases, including birth injury medical malpractice cases. You can learn more about placental abruption injuries at his website. www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

Two Examples Of Cases In Which Drivers Tried To Blame The Pedestrian For The Accident

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:43:16 -0400

Accidents happen. That is also true for accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians. Attorneys experienced in handling pedestrian injury cases are adept at understanding not only the mechanics of the accident, the insurance issues, and the medical aspects of the injuries to the pedestrian, but also the psychology of the individuals involved. They understand that people sometimes remember events as consistent with their own self-image, an image of someone who is a careful driver, of someone who is not capable of causing harm to someone else. They also realize that when this happens sometimes all you need to bring out the truth is a little bit of common sense. Consider the example provided by the following two cases: Case 1: In this case a 75 year old male pedestrian was hit while crossing the street to get back to his double-parked car. The victim suffered multiple fractures including fractures to his shoulder, collarbone and to his ankle for which he required surgery that consisted of the insertion of screws and a metal plate. The 75 year old victim had been an active man prior to the accident. He was even working as a messenger. **End Summary** Topics: pedestrian accident]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a pedestrian accident lawyer can help you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

How To Overcome False Testimony In A Motor Vehicle Accident Case

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:44:07 -0400

One would expect that a person who causes an accident in which someone is badly injured would take responsibility for their actions and do everything possible to help the victim recover for his or her injuries. Any attorney who handles motor vehicle accidents involving catastrophic injuries, however, will sooner or later run into a situation in which the driver outright lies about what happened in an effort to avoid liability. When attorneys encounter a situation in which they believe this to be the case they need to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. Sometimes this requires retaining the help of experts, such as an accident reconstruction expert or a toxicologist. Other times all that is needed is an eye for detail, a bit of common sense, and a lot of hard work. For example, consider the following case. In this case, the driver who caused this pedestrian was driving a company truck and was in the scope of his employment at the time of the accident. The driver lost control of the tractor-trailer which went up onto the sidewalk where it slammed into a pedestrian. **End Summary** Topics: vehicle accident lawyer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a vehicle accident lawyer can assist you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

Obstetrician Not Present As Unborn Baby Suffers From Fetal Distress Settles Lawsuit For $750,000

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:45:13 -0400

Many complications can occur during a pregnancy. One complication that is extremely serious and requires prompt action is fetal distress. Fetal distress often occurs when the unborn baby's oxygen supply is somehow cut off. Fetal distress is noted by monitoring the unborn baby's heart rate. Under certain circumstances, such as when the heart rate drops below a certain range, immediate action such as an emergency C-section is required. This article examines a malpractice case where the delay lasted about two hours. In this case a pregnant woman who had fallen was admitted to a hospital to make sure that there had been no trauma to her unborn baby. An ultrasound was performed and showed no injury to the baby. The woman was still concerned that something was wrong and requested further monitoring. Since the hospital was not equipped with a fetal heart rate monitor she was transported to a second hospital, her obstetrician was notified that she was being transported and the obstetrician agreed to meet her at the second hospital. Once at the second hospital a fetal heart rate monitor was connected to the woman. **End Summary** Topics: fetal distress injuries]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about fetal distress injuries visit his website at http://www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

Review Of Medical Malpractice Cases Alleging Failure To Respond To A Placental Abruption

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:34:06 -0400

A placental abruption is a serious complication that can arise late in pregnancy. There is no treatment for a placental abruption. It can cause serious injury to the baby or even result in a stillbirth. In certain cases it can also lead to the death of the mother. When a pregnant patient presents with symptoms that indicate the possibility of a placental abruption, doctors and nurses must either rule out the possibility of a placental abruption or take action immediately in order to protect the baby and the mother. A placental abruption is often accompanied by heavy vaginal bleeding and by pain in the lower back and abdomen. Depending on where and how much of the placenta separates from the uterus, however, there may be no visible bleeding. Other symptoms that may indicate a placental abruption include a drop in the fetal heart rate as the unborn baby is deprived of oxygen, a change in blood pressure, and unusual contraction patterns. The following cases illustrate how doctors and nurses sometimes miss these symptoms Case 1: This case involved a pregnant woman who at age 38 went to see her obstetrician with persistent vaginal bleeding accompanied by back and abdominal pain. **End Summary** Topics: placental abruption injuries]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases, including birth injury medical malpractice cases. You can learn more about placental abruption injuries at his website. www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

$2.75 Million For Patient Whose Doctor Failed To Complete His Request For Prostate Cancer Screening

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:02:07 -0400

Prostate cancer affects African-American men differently from the rest of the population. Men of African-American descent are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. As such, doctors generally recommend that African-American men should begin screening for prostate cancer earlier (the recommended age being 45) so as to increase the likelihood that if they do develop cancer it can be detected at an early stage while it is still curable. A doctor who does not follow the guidelines for a patient may be liable if it is later discovered that the patient had prostate cancer which progressed to an advanced stage because of the doctor's failure to screen the patient. But beyond the guidelines, it may also be malpractice if a patient specifically request to be screened for a particular cancer and the doctor does not do so. Consider the reported case of a 41 year-old African-American male who had been involved in an ad campaign meant to raise awareness about the risk of prostate cancer in middle-aged males of African-American descent asked his doctor to screen him for the cancer. The doctor performed a digital examination and found no abnormalities. **End Summary** Topics: metastatic prostate cancer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases. To learn more about metastatic prostate cancer cases visit his website at http://www.prostatecancerlaw.com .

Low Ball Settlement Offer Made To Bicyclist Who Was Badly Hurt In Motor Vehicle Accident

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:01:51 -0400

In this article we discuss yet another case in which an insurer made only low ball offers to settle a motor vehicle case in which the victim suffered a serious injury, this time an injury that actually affected the victim's ability to work. In this case an individual driving an SUV was involved in an accident with bicyclist. According to the victim, the driver was coming in the opposite direction when, without warning, he made a U-turn right in front of him causing him to over the SUV's hood. The victim tore a cartilage in his wrist during the accident. This caused him difficulties at work where he was a mechanic for a high-end motor vehicle dealer. And a physician testified that the victim will likely eventually need to be fused and that this will likely end his career as a mechanic. This would result in a loss of earning capacity. The law firm that handled this matter on behalf of the victim uncovered that the driver was test-driving the SUV in order to be able to write an advertising review of the SUV for his employer. This added the driver's employer as a defendant. **End Summary** Topics: bicycle accident attorney]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a bicycle accident attorney can help you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

Review Of Two Motor Vehicle Cases Reveals Factors Affecting Outcomes

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:20:52 -0400

This year there will be an estimated six million motor vehicle accidents. From those, there will be approximately three million people injured. Two million of those will be permanent injuries. That is an average of one permanent injury from a motor vehicle accident every sixteen seconds. Attorneys experienced in handling motor vehicle accident cases understand that each case brings with it its own unique circumstances and challenges. Below we examine three different cases to see what lessons can be learned from them. Case Study 1: In this case involving a motor vehicle accident, while his view of a stop sign was obstructed by a truck that was parked in a no-parking zone, a driver from a local Pizzeria failed to stop the a stop sign. Entering the intersection, he broad-sided another car. The driver of that car sustained left-hand nerve damage, and herniated discs in both his neck and lower back. He had to undergo a total of four surgeries for his neck and back and an additional surgery for his arm. He was not able to play sports, something he had previously greatly enjoyed, after the accident. **End Summary** Topics: vehicle accident lawyer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a vehicle accident lawyer can help you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

Physician Is Sued After Failing To Complete Prostate Cancer Screening Requested By Patient

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:23:13 -0400

Statistically, men of African-American descent are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer at an earlier age than the rest of the male population. For this reason, physicians generally agree that screening for prostate cancer in men of African-American descent ought to start when they turn forty-five. By starting earlier for African-American men screening should result in diagnosing the cancer at an earlier and hopefully curable stage. When physicians fail to follow the guidelines for cancer screening and their patient is later diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that doctor may be liable for medical malpractice. In addition to screening for cancer, physicians also need to be able to recognize and follow up when a patient has complaints suggestive of possible cancer. Physicians also need to either perform screening testing required by a patient or make it clear to the patient that they will not perform the test and that the patient will need to see a different physician if he still wants the test. For example, in a reported case the patient was an African-American man, age 41, who requested to be tested for prostate cancer. **End Summary** Topics: metastatic prostate cancer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases. To learn more about metastatic prostate cancer cases visit his website at http://www.prostatecancerlaw.com .

Bicyclist Hurt In A Motor Vehicle Accident Recovers $550,000 After Defense Offers $30,000 To Settle

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:34:44 -0400

It is worth examining motor vehicle accident cases in which insurance companies have made offers well below the amount ultimately recovered at trial. These cases illustrate the factors that might come into consideration in the offer and the factors that might influence the ultimate outcome. For example, consider a case in which a bicyclist was injured. The driver in this case was operating an SUV. The bicyclist described seeing the driver come from the opposite direction then make a U-turn immediately in front of him giving him no time to stop his bicycle. He ended up going over the hood of the vehicle. The bicyclist suffered from a wrist injury in which his cartilage was torn. Due to his injury he had problems when he returned to his job as a mechanic with a dealership of high-end motor vehicles. Testimony from a doctor indicated that the bicyclist will probably require surgery to fuse the bones in his wrist at some point in the future and that when this happens it will probably prevent him from continuing to work as a mechanic. **End Summary** Topics: bicycle accident]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a bicycle accident lawyer can help you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

Significant Settlements Reached In Two Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Bone Fractures

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:15:53 -0400

Attorneys who handle motor vehicle accidents are often approached by individuals who suffered bone fractures in an accident. It is not uncommon to find that these victims also suffered other injuries in addition to bone fractures. The type of impact that can result in a bone fracture can also result in other serious, even life-threatening injuries. This article analyzes two case reports of motor vehicle accidents which resulted in fracture injuries. This motor vehicle accident occurred as a male pedestrian was out walking his dog alongside a road that did not have a sidewalk. Multiple injuries resulted from the accident including an ankle fracture as well as a rupture of the spleen. His spleen rupture caused very heavy bleeding internally and as a result the 57 year old male victim had to begin undergoing dialysis. It is anticipated that the victim will require dialysis for the rest of his life unless he is able to obtain a kidney transplant, for which he is a candidate. The law firm that represented the victim in this case was able to report that it was able to obtain a $2.5 million settlement for the victim. **End Summary** Topics: vehicle accident attorney]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. Learn more about how a vehicle accident attorney can help you by visiting his website at http://www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

$1,000,000 Settlement Reached In Lawsuit Claiming Doctor Missed Signs Of Fetal Distress

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:03:18 -0400

Serious complications can take place after a pregnant woman goes enters labor and before she delivers her baby. Doctors are responsible for monitoring the woman's labor. They are also responsible for recognizing signs that a complication has arisen which can place the health of the unborn baby at risk. They are also responsible for taking appropriate, timely action. When they fail to do so, as when a doctor stubbornly insists that the labor is proceeding normally and that the unborn baby is fine even when the data clearly shows otherwise, the outcome can be a child with a permanent disability - a disability that was preventable. Consider the following case: In this case an expectant mother was admitted to the hospital. She was already in active labor at the time of admission. In the course of the nine hours following her admission the nurse monitoring her condition noted that the tracing from the fetal heart rate monitor was reactive and reassuring. The unborn baby's heart rate then began to climb. **End Summary** Topics: fetal distress complications]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about fetal distress complications visit his website at http://www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

When A Driver Refuses To Take Responsibility For A Motor Vehicle Accident That Injured A Pedestrian

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:24:26 -0400

It is not unusual for an attorney to review a motor vehicle accident case in which the individual who is injured and wishes to pursue a claim tells one story of how the accident too place and the driver who would be the defendant in the case tells a completely different story - always one in which he or she is not at fault and is not liable for the accident. This happens even when the would-be defendant has insurance that would sufficiently cover the range the settlement or verdict is likely to fall in. So the motive is never really clear. It is up to the attorney who reviews the case on behalf of the injured individual to determine what evidence, if any, exists that they can use to disprove the version of the accident told by the would-be defendant. Consider the example provided by the following two cases: Case 1: The driver in this motor vehicle accident hit a 75 year old man as he was crossing the street. The driver was driving a van at the time of the accident. **End Summary** Topics: pedestrian accident lawyer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a pedestrian accident lawyer can help you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

When Insurance Companies Make Low Ball Offer To Accident Victims With Catastrophic Injuries

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:19:01 -0400

It should come as no surprise to anyone that insurance company adjusters sometimes make offers well below the value of a case as a means of trying to save money on settlement payments. But every now and then a motor vehicle accident case turns up where the position taken by an insurance company adjuster simply makes no apparent sense. When the liability (or fault) of the insured is not disputed settling a personal injury claim generally comes down to finding a number a number that (1) the injured victim likely thinks is less than he or she is entitled to, (2) the insurance company adjuster likely thinks is more than the insurance company should ideally have to pay, but (3) both sides believe there is sufficient risk of doing worse if the case goes to trial. Sometimes the two sides find a range on which they agree but cannot reach agreement on an actual number. **End Summary** Topics: vehicle accident attorney]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a vehicle accident attorney can assist you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

Baby Dies From Group B Strep Infection After Physician Fails To Administer Antibiotics

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:46:06 -0400

Group B Strep poses significant problems when contracted by a newborn. The infection can quickly develop into pneumonia, sepsis (an infection that spreads through the body), and meningitis. It can result in the death of the baby. Babies who survive may develop life-long disabilities such as cerebral palsy. As the bacteria can be transferred from a mother who carried the bacteria even if she was not symptomatic to her baby during labor and delivery most doctors agree that appropriate antibiotics should be administered during labor if certain conditions are met. The conditions doctors generally consider in determining whether to administer antibiotics during labor are: (1) The mother was Group B Strep positive in a previous pregnancy. (2) The mother was Group B Strep positive during the current pregnancy (asymptomatic expectant mothers are normally screened for Group B Strep during weeks 35 to 37 of the pregnancy). (3) The mother's medical history is unknown and the mother was not screened during weeks 25 to 37 of the current pregnancy. (4) The mother is otherwise at high risk of being Group B Strep. **End Summary** Topics: group b strep]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about Group B Strep infection cases visit his website at www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

Bicyclist Recovers For Injuries Even Though She Was 75% At Fault For The Accident

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:51:19 -0400

Each state has its own laws that control lawsuits for motor vehicle accidents. For example, each state has a version of a law called the Statue of Limitations the amount of time after the accident within which the plaintiff must file a claim. Another very important law controls whether, and how much, a plaintiff can recover if the plaintiff is partially at fault for the accident. Consider, for example, the reported case in which a 19 year old woman was struck by a motor vehicle as she was crossing an intersection with her bicycle. The force of the impact threw her from her bicycle and she was then hit and dragged by a second vehicle. She suffered multiple serious injuries including a injury to her leg which resulted in an above the knee amputation. According to one report witnesses to the accident indicated that the plaintiff entered the intersection against a red light. The law firm that handled the case reported that it took the case to trial and the jury found that the city and the second driver were 13% at fault while the first driver was 12% at fault. **End Summary** Topics: bicycle accident]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a bicycle accident lawyer can help you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

A Comparison Of Two Placental Abruption Malpractice Cases

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:32:39 -0400

Various serious complications can develop when a pregnant woman reaches full term and is about to give birth. One such complication happens when the part of the placenta which holds the unborn baby prematurely separates from the mother's uterus. This causes tearing of the blood vessels in the area of the separation often, but not always, causing back or abdominal pain and heavy or persistent vaginal bleeding. Even when these signs are not present another sign that the mother may have experienced a placental abruption is a change in the fetal heart rate to such a degree that the baby is said to be in fetal distress. The change in the baby's heart rate is due to the lack of oxygen supply resulting from the abruption. It is critical to the health of the baby (and of the mother in extreme cases) that doctors and nurses are expected to be able to recognize that a placental abruption has occurred and to take timely and appropriate action. Below we examine two cases involving harm to a baby when a doctor or nurse did not take immediate action following after a placental abruption. **End Summary** Topics: placental abruption]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases, including birth injury medical malpractice cases. You can learn more about Placental Abruption and Medical Malpractice Cases at his website. www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com .

$1.2 Million Jury Award To Victim Of Motor Vehicle Accident After Driver Tried To Avoid Liability

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:11:17 -0400

"Take responsibility." It is an expression that is often said but not often lived up to. In motor vehicle accident cases it is not at all uncommon to see a driver or other party deny, rather than take, responsibility for causing the accident. It is not uncommon form an attorney who represents victims with catastrophic injuries from a motor vehicle accident to handle a case in which the driver-defendant just plain lies about how the accident occurs. The best approach in these cases is to let the facts of the case speak for themselves. In some of these cases uncovering and studying every detail of the scene of the accident, speaking with all witnesses to the accident, and using common sense is all it takes to be able to rebut the story made up by the driver-defendant. Consider how the attorney representing the victim was able to position the following case: This case involved a driver of a tractor-trailer who lost control of his vehicle. The truck ended up on the sidewalk by the side of the road where it struck a pedestrian. **End Summary** Topics: pedestrian accident attorney]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a vehicle accident attorney can assist you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .

City Denies Liability After Bus Runs Over Pedestrian In Crosswalk

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:01:56 -0400

Handling serious pedestrian accident cases is never routine. These cases often involve complex medical issues, insurance issues, and liability issues. Given the substantial sums that are involved in these cases it is not surprising that defendants often deny liability or try to minimize the nature and extent of the injuries suffered by the victim. Attorneys who are experienced at handling these types of cases understand how to position the case for settlement if possible and for trial if necessary. When liability is denied by a defendant this sometimes requires the use of experts such as accident reconstruction specialists who can recreate the scene based on such physical evidence as skid marks, type of road, weather conditions, etc. Sometimes, however, all that is necessary is a thorough investigation and some good lawyering. Consider a reported case in which the driver of a city bus was taking a left hand turn when he struck a young female pedestrian. The bus not only hit the pedestrian, it knocked her down and then ran over her. The victim was in a marked crosswalk when she was struck by the bus. **End Summary** Topics: pedestrian accident lawyer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about how a pedestrian accident lawyer can help you visit his website at www.vehicle-accident-law.com .