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How to Avoid a Potential Medical Malpractice Case
Being affected by a medical malpractice case does not only affect you; the misdiagnosis negatively affects the doctor and his or her medical career. Every year, medical malpractice has killed over 200,000 patients in the United States. To potentially prevent a medical malpractice case from ever occurring, there are ways to establish a good relationship with your doctor.
Making the Right Medical Diagnosis
To make sure that a person avoids as many medical malpractice cases as possible, it is best for him or her to make an appointment with a specialist, depending on the symptoms and type of illness. That person should also have, in writing, all of the symptoms that he or she is experiencing. The person must be truthful in what he or she writes because there have been far too many cases where the person forgets to tell the doctor other experienced symptoms.
The Dangers of Black Ice
This month, the weather has been in the sub-zero degrees and driving conditions have been under par. The weather may get warmer, but we should not get too excited. As temperatures may be no more than 32 degrees, we are still in freezing temperatures, and we need to prepare for the worst driving conditions. Black ice is a very common factor in car accidents, and we need to know the dangers that black ice can cause.
What Is Black Ice?
Black ice is a thin coat of ice that is often impossible to see on the roadways, which can cause dangerous driving conditions. Black ice is formed when temperatures rise above freezing, or if the sun comes out at daytime. Any moisture on the ground will melt, and roadways will be wet. Puddles may form if it rains. Then, later in the evening, if the temperature drops below zero, the water formed will freeze again, and black ice will likely form.
Why Is Black Ice Dangerous?
PTSD from Car Accidents
Being in a car accident can be a very scary experience, even for the most seasoned drivers. With the event being a sudden occurrence, the individuals involved in the car accident may not remember much at first. Over time, post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can develop, with accidents being the most frequently experienced traumatic event among males and the second most frequently experienced traumatic event among females. Regardless, many survivors of car accidents frequently experience mental health difficulties, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a condition that develops when people have experienced a scary or dangerous event. Nearly everyone who has been involved in a car accident will feel afraid immediately following the situation, but the majority of those individuals will recover from the “fight or flight” response rather quickly. Individuals who still feel afraid and experience the “fight or flight” response typically have PTSD and may feel stressed or frightened, even when they are not in danger.
How Will Uninsured Motorist Coverage Protect You?
Getting involved in a car accident is a very scary event, especially if you or a loved one was hurt. If the other driver did not have auto insurance coverage at the time of the accident, there may be very serious consequences that could be faced. It is always important for both parties to have auto insurance coverage, as to protect themselves from hefty payments from the accident and related injuries. Uninsured motorist is good to have, as the insured will be protected in the event that the other person does not have auto insurance coverage.
What Will Uninsured Motorist Coverage Provide Compensation For?
Typically, uninsured motorist coverage will provide for medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering. If a person is injured in a car accident and does not have uninsured motorist coverage, then he or she will typically be responsible for those expenses, as the insurance company will not pay if uninsured motorist coverage is not listed on the policy.
Are Pedestrian Accidents Overlooked?
Most of us have some first-hand knowledge of car accidents since these types of accidents happen all the time. Many of us have not been involved in a pedestrian accident, even though these types of accidents are often serious in nature. There is some suggestion that pedestrian accidents are more dangerous than other modes of travel, and nearly 18 percent of all traffic fatalities involve pedestrians.
Pedestrian Accident, Injury, and Fatality Statistics
Three years ago, in 2015, nearly 5,400 pedestrians were killed in pedestrian accidents which involved cars. Every day, on average, 15 pedestrians were killed in pedestrian and car accidents, representing the highest number of pedestrians killed since 1996. In 2015, nearly 70,000 pedestrians were injured as a result of a pedestrian accident, yet only a small percentage of injuries from pedestrian accidents are recorded by the police.
Pregnant Women and Car Accidents
Having a child is one of the fondest memories in a person’s life. However, there are many factors to consider when a woman is expecting a baby, such as driving habits. Research has shown that pregnant women are 42 percent more likely to be involved in a car accident by the second trimester. By the third trimester, however, the likelihood of being involved in a car accident is far less than it is for mothers in their second trimester.
Statistics of Pregnant Women in Car Accidents
About one in 50 pregnant women will be involved in a car accident at some time in their pregnancy. At the first month of the first trimester of pregnancy, there was a reported 4.33 crashes per 1,000 women per year. However, at the first month of the second trimester, the car accident rate increased to 7.66 crashes per 1,000 women per year. During the entire second trimester, the car accident rate was 6.47 car accidents per 1,000 women per year. During the last month of pregnancy, the car accident rate decreased to 2.74 crashes per 1,000 women for every year. After the birth of the baby, the car accident rate further decreased to 2.35 crashes per 1,000 women per year.
Warrantless Blood Draws and DUI
In Illinois, a DUI arrest can occur not only when an officer believes that someone is driving under the influence of alcohol, but a DUI arrest can occur when an officer has probable cause that an individual is driving under the influence of any controlled substance or marijuana. Currently, most breath analysis equipment is only able to determine the presence and/or amount of alcohol in a driver’s system. In order to determine whether or not a suspected drunk driver has any other controlled substance in their system (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines, etc.), an officer will normally request that the driver submits to blood testing at a hospital (“blood draw”).
The United States Supreme Court has held that breath analysis testing is not subject to Fourth Amendment protection, while blood testing is subject to that protection. [1] This is important because if testing is subject to Fourth Amendment protection, law enforcement will be required to obtain a search warrant issued by a judge for any testing. There are many exceptions to this warrant requirement. For the purposes of this topic, the exception to the warrant requirement that has the most impact is called exigency.
Complications of Slip and Fall Accidents While Pregnant
Having a baby can be one of the most exciting experiences in a person’s life. For a woman, especially, giving birth is both exciting and frightening. During the nine-month period, there are many safety measures that women must take in order to protect herself and her baby. One of the most common injuries that pregnant women and their unborn babies endure comes from slip and fall accidents, potentially causing serious complications to both parties.
What Can Happen After a Slip and Fall Accident?
Pregnancy has a massive change on the woman’s body. Since her center of gravity adjusts so significantly, she often has difficulty maintaining her balance. Slightly over 25 percent of all pregnant women experience a fall at some point in their pregnancy. Even though there may be few complications after some falls, some of the potential complications to look out for include but are not limited to:
Symptoms of Concussion after a Car Accident
A car accident can be a very life-changing event. As scary as car accidents always are, there is always the risk of developing physical problems following an accident. One of the most common injuries following a car accident is a concussion. If you have been injured in a car accident, you may not always know that you are suffering from a concussion, as this type of injury is often difficult to diagnose.
Signs of a Concussion
Symptoms of a concussion may not appear for weeks following a car accident. Research has shown that one incident of mild brain trauma or concussion is sustained every 21 seconds in the United States. Even though a concussion is fairly common, it is important to fully understand the signs of a concussion to properly treat the injury. Some of the symptoms of a concussion include but are certainly not limited to:
Keeping Children Safe in Car Crashes
Having a child is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. To make sure that your child is safe in your car at all times, it is very important to understand when to use booster seats and when to remove the booster seats. If your child is very young and not in a booster seat, the chances of him or her being seriously injured in a car accident are greater than that if he or she is in a booster seat.
The Benefits of Booster Seats
If a child is only protected by someone else’s lap or by a shoulder harness, the chances of him or her being injured in a car accident is 59 percent greater than if the child is appropriately strapped in a five-point harness or booster seat. Booster seats have the advantage of raising the child up and giving him or her room to sit comfortably with no slouching. Booster seats also give the benefit of having the lap belt across the upper thighs and not the abdomen. Restraining force is then kept away from the abdomen by increasing the lap belt angle at the time of a car accident.