Personal Injury Law Blogs

Protecting your Driving Record: Lose Your Bad Driving Habits

As your years as a driver multiply, your sense of comfort with doing multiple tasks behind the wheel may increase. However, if you aren’t careful, you can develop bad driving habits. And bad driving habits can lead to a traffic citation, time and money spent on court, and even worse, a collision or accident. These days keeping your eyes on the road is becoming more and more essential not only to preserve your driving record, but possibly, your life.

While you may feel confident that you can juggle two things at once while driving, it’s bad practice for you to become so distracted that you lose focus on the primary reason for being in the vehicle: Driving.

Are you guilty of these bad habits?

All drivers make mistakes every now and then, but below are some of the bad habits that can be detrimental to a driver at any given time:

1. Talking and texting

If your mobile phone rings, it’s difficult to resist the urge to let it go into voice mail. If someone sends you a text, you feel you have to respond, but actually, you do not. These days cell phones have a lot of hands free options as well, such as voice recognition and speaker phone.

2. Eating and drinking

Eating food and sipping a soda or coffee requires taking at least one hand off of the steering wheel, although some drivers can manage driving with no hands! Eating and drinking, while manageable, is not advisable.

3. Speeding

Of all the infractions that can get you cited, “speeding is the most common infringement,” says one Orlando speeding ticket attorney. Crank up your CD player or MP3 player and it is easy to speed down the road in sync with the drum beats of your favorite tunes. Be conscious of your music choices and pick something that doesn’t cater to your aggressive side. Running late to work or to an appointment is another reason why drivers feel a need to speed. Give yourself plenty of time to make it to scheduled appointments or engagements.

Are those flashing lights behind me?

These and other bad driving habits can prompt police to give you a citation or possibly worse. In some states, texting and driving is a secondary offense, which means that the police officers have to stop you for a primary offense, such as speeding. So if a police officer actually witnesses you speeding and texting, you are going to get at least one ticket, maybe two.

But there are times when police officers cite you for reasons that you may want to challenge, such as making a prohibited left turn, but the “No Left Turn” sign was hidden by tree leaves.

Getting a ticket means that points will go on your driver’s record, and your car insurance company will increase your insurance costs. If you received a ticket but had a legitimate reason for driving the way you did, you can challenge the fine in court.

How do you challenge a traffic ticket?

Your issued citation will have the date, time and location of the court in which you can challenge the ticket. But, you must be prepared to go into traffic court and defend yourself. If going at it alone places too much stress on you, consider hiring a traffic ticket attorney to represent you.

Traffic ticket attorneys can explain to a judge your situation and state of mind that caused you to react the way you did. For example, you may have been speeding to get a pregnant passenger to the hospital before she delivered her baby in your car. Whatever the issue, any experienced defense attorney, whether it’s an Orlando speeding ticket attorney or one from Seattle, will search for ways to either reduce the penalty or get the ticket dismissed.

In the meantime, determine to become a safe driver by eliminating your bad habits. Resist the urge to text and talk. Slow down and maintain your speed. If at all possible, eat and drink before you leave home. Keep your eyes on the road and you will avoid having to see flashing lights in your rear-view mirror.

 

 

 

 

 

Derek Sheely: A Case of Brain Injury and Wrongful Death

Football-related brain injuries continue to be a subject of contention recently. A woman is suing the NCAA, Schutt Sports company, and two college football coaches for the wrongful death of her son, Derek Sheely, who died due to brain injuries sustained during Division III preseason practices in 2011. A fullback for Maryland’s Frostburg State University died due to a combination of factors. Kristen Sheely, Derek’s mother, claims an ill-fitted helmet, barbaric drills forced by coaches, and the coaches’ negligence all contributed to her son’s death. She said, “Utter incompetence, egregious misconduct, false hope and a reckless disregard for player health and safety lead to the tragic death of Derek Sheely.”

When a death occurs, finding out who pays wrongful death damages is vital for family members. When a person or organization is responsible for a person’s death, affected family members may have a right to compensation.

The Helmet

The helmet Derek was wearing, which was made by Schutt Sports, was not accurately fitted to protect the young player from withstanding brain injuries. However, Kristen Sheely claims the University and its players were given a false sense of security with the “protective” gear. She suggests that the sportswear company did not take appropriate measure to test the helmet, and it ultimately failed to protect her son. As a result, the accuser claims Schutt Sports is responsible for the fatal injuries her son endured.

The Drills

Kristen Sheely describes the drills performed during the preseason practices as “a gladiatorial thrill for the coaches” instead of a learning experience for the players. The brutal “Oklahoma Drill” that caused Derek’s death is considered completely useless and extremely dangerous by many National Football League teams, and many refuse to accept it as an effective way to hone player skills. The deadly drill forced the Frostburg State University players to take thirty to forty blows to the head without the ability to defend themselves. Why would a Division III NCAA team adopt such a treacherous drill that most NFL teams won’t even use?

The Coaches

Within a three day period, Derek Sheely was forced to attend two-a-day practices in which he sustained continuous head injuries, yet the school’s athletic trainer never stopped to check Derek, or any of the other players, for signs of concussion. Derek displayed two obvious signs of head injury– a change in behavior and physical wound. According to Derek’s teammates, his behavior became increasingly lethargic and he was bleeding from the head. Still his coaches did nothing to help him. Instead, Derek was verbally abused and forced to continue the fatal drill. Coach Shumacher yelled at Derek when he informed him of his condition. He said, “Stop your bitching and moaning and quit acting like a pussy and get back out there!” Derek succumbed to his brain injuries when a final collision with another player sent him into a coma to which he never returned.

As a result of Derek’s death, Kristen Sheely filed a lawsuit seeking compensation and punitive damages for her son’s wrongful death, product liability, and negligent hiring. She has also started The Derek Sheely Foundation that campaigns for awareness and prevention of sports-related concussions and head injuries through their Concussion Awareness Kits. This is an extremely sad case of brain injury claim, yet it shows the importance of a personal injury attorney not only to seek damages, but to raise awareness and force people to change their harmful ways.

Byline: Kristen Valek is a writer for Alamo Injury Attorneys, a San Antonio firm that specializes in Personal Injury Law. Kristen felt extreme sorrow while writing this post, it is such a sad story.

What Do You Do, If You Have An Accident At Work?

If you’ve had an accident at work, it’s wise to keep your wits about you. You must follow certain procedures and look out for your own interests. Here’s what to do, when your employer is negligent and you sustain a personal injury:

Health and Safety

Your employer must tick all the health and safety boxes. One of your company’s requirements is to keep an accident book. You must your report your accident – even if it’s small – to your employer and get the incident written up, as soon as you’re well enough to do so. Your employer has a duty of care over you and your co-workers, so they should do everything in their power to keep you safe at work.

Obtain Evidence

You don’t have to go Sherlock Holmes on your place of work, but try to amass as much evidence as you can that your employer was negligent. If it’s impossible to do this yourself, then see if you can enlist a co-worker to collect evidence for you. Focus on getting photographic evidence and eye-witness accounts. Without evidence, you’ll struggle to get together a case.

It often helps to get perspective, so try to include a ruler or a penny in the photo.

Receive Medical Care

Even if your injury is minor, immediately go and see a doctor about it. Your diagnosis is important and you should follow your doctor’s instructions. Even small injuries can turn out to be completely debilitating with time. Plus, you will need this document to support your case.

Be On the Right Side Of The Law

First off, you need to know your rights. It’s advisable to seek out a solicitor for advice, as soon as you’re well enough. Time is of the essence. The longer you leave it, the less likely you are to be successful with your claim. You should aim to claim within three months of the accident.

It’s best to deliver the legal work to your solicitor. Often, your representative will go through mediation with your employer and will come back with a satisfactory amount of compensation – many companies prefer to settle cases like this amicably. Sometimes, an agreement can’t be reached, and you have to prepare to go to court. Listen to your solicitor’s advice at this junction.

The Court Case

More often than not, you will have to see an independent medical professional, to confirm your injury. Your accident at work solicitor will assess all the financial losses incurred by your injury, such as lost wages. He or she will also give you an idea of how much compensation to expect from the hearing.

 

Don’t Be Afraid

Many people don’t claim against their employers because they’re frightened that they might lose their position. However, it’s against the law to be fired for making a claim, and you’ll be within your rights to take them back to court to claim unfair dismissal.

Claiming compensation for loss of taste and smell

If you’ve recently lost two of your five senses – the ability to taste and smell things, it can be a difficult and traumatic experience as you become accustomed to facing the variety of practical problems this creates.

While there are many ways that a person can lose their sense of smell or taste, it’s usually caused by some kind of head trauma, nasal or sinus disease, respiratory infection or botched surgery. While it could be temporary or permanent, it can have a big impact on your life and even make you less able to detect possible dangers in the event of a gas leak, smoke or being able to tell if food has rotten.

This can cause a decline in the quality of their life as a person can no longer enjoy the simple pleasures in life such as eating good food or enjoying pleasant smells. As a result, a person can develop depression and even psychological issues and in some cases, a worker may have to give up their job entirely as they are unable to use these two important senses.

The loss of these two senses is usually caused by head injuries and if permanent, it’s likely that the frontal lobes in the brain, particularly the first cranial nerve will be damaged. Jobs where a person can sustain serious head injuries are more likely in physically demanding roles such as warehouse work or construction industries which require working at height and within confined spaces.

Any number of incidents could occur, for example a fall from a ladder, scaffolding or machinery onto hard surfaces. A head injury could be sustained from a trip where the head carries most of the impact, or if the worker runs the risk of objects falling from a height. In all of these instances, hard huts should be provided to staff by their employers along with other protective equipment so as to reduce the risk of head injuries.

It’s also possible to lose your smell or taste if exposed to toxic fumes which are inhaled on a regular basis in excessive qualities. You could have even lost these senses through invasive surgery which has damaged the nerves around the nose and mouth, or experienced an allergic reaction while under anaesthetic.

If you believe that your loss of taste or smell is the result of any of these instances of negligence, then you may be eligible to claim compensation. While the compensation awards will vary widely due to each individual being affected by loss of taste or smell differently, the awards are usually high.

If you’ve lost both your sense of smell and partial taste, compensation awards are often in the region of around £22,650, while complete loss of smell and partial taste regularly produce awards between £19,000 and £23,000. For loss of smell independently the figures are around £14,000 and £20,000 and compensation for loss of taste on its own is worth around £10,000 and £15,000.

It’s worth noting that these awards are reflective of the cost of medical care and the impact this will have on your loss of senses along with any current jobs or future employment possibilities.

To determine your claim’s worth, get in touch with a personal injury solicitor who can assess your claim and advise you on any compensation awards which you may be able to receive.

Tim Bishop is senior partner of Bonallack and Bishop, specialist accident compensation claim solicitors. For more information about claiming compensation, visit their specialist site at http://www.how-to-claim-compensation.co.uk or call them directly on 01722 422300.

 

What types of damages can be recovered in a personal injury claim?

For people who have been injured in an accident in Washington State, the law states that the injured party is entitled to be compensated for their losses, inasmuch as this can be accomplished with money. In general, damages in a personal injury claim are awarded for the purpose of placing the victim in the position that they would have been in if the injury had not taken place.

The attorneys of Brett Murphy have been handling major personal injury and wrongful death claims for more than four decades. They have created an information video that explains the different types of damages that can be recovered in a claim. They have also created a video with information on how the insurance claims process works, so that folks have a good idea of what to expect as they move through the process.

Compensation in a personal injury case comes in six different forms:

1. Property damage – This includes the full repair or replacement cost of your vehicle that has been damaged in the crash, as well as any other equipment or property that is damaged.

2. Medical expenses to date – If your health insurance plan has been paying your medical bills, you do have to pay them back out of the settlement or verdict you receive. While a good attorney can often negotiate with the insurance company to reduce the amount you need to pay back, the basic rule is that you are entitled to have your medical bills to date paid in full. Often an injured person is still undergoing medical treatment when a claim is made or a lawsuit is filed. In this case, medical expenses continue to grow and their cost needs to be evaluated and included in any settlement or verdict.

3. Future medical expenses – You are entitled to a sum of money which will be sufficient to pay your estimated future medical bills. Included in your settlement is a one-time lump sum payment for all anticipated future medical care. A good attorney has methods to estimate the cost of future care, including obtaining from a doctor a diagnosis, a prognosis (what is likely to occur in the future), and a treatment plan, and then convert that to a dollar figure representing future medical care.

4. Lost wages to date – Your employer provides this information to be factored into your claim. This is more challenging when you are self employed, but typically this is mainly a matter of collecting your earnings data.

5. Lost future earning capacity – If you are temporarily or permanently, partially or completely unable to work, you are entitled to a lump sum representing the difference between the amount you could have earned before the injury and the amount you can earn now. This is determined by hiring experts who conduct a physical capacity evaluation and vocational rehabilitation, and then quantify the impact of the injury on your employment by obtaining a written opinion from an expert in economic loss.

6. General damages for pain, suffering, disability, and disfigurement – This is the most difficult item to evaluate. You are entitled to be compensated for a life changing injury, but what is the appropriate monetary value to be compensated for ongoing pain or life-changing disability? Your lawyer will have to convince the insurance company – or a jury – of the impact of the injury on your life, and will need to determine what dollar amount is fair, to enable you to reduce your general damages as much as money is able.

Dealing with the aftermath of an accident is very difficult, especially when serious injuries are involved. Whether someone decides to try to handle the insurance claim process personally or decides to hire an attorney, these different types of compensation need to be evaluated and included in any settlement negotiation.

Lessons To Be Learned From Michael Jackson’s Wrongful Death Case

Some people grab the public spotlight and hang onto it for dear life, even after death, and not always in a good way. Such is the case with Michael Jackson. Love him or hate him; everybody knows who he was. The King of Pop’s untimely demise in 2009 made international headlines, and the ensuing criminal and civil trials threaten to drag on into 2014. The wrongful death case, which is directed at concert promoter AEG as opposed to the criminally charged doctor, can teach us all some hard truths about wrongful death cases.

Facts of the Case
The long journey that is the Michael Jackson wrongful death suit began in June 2009 when the music star died after taking a surgical anesthetic, propofol, to help him sleep. Dr. Conrad Murray was Jackson’s personal doctor, and he assisted the star in getting propofol during what was to be Jackson’s comeback tour. Sadly, this tour never came to fruition since Jackson was found dead in a mansion that he was renting in Los Angeles.

Dr. Murray was eventually found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but this wasn’t the end of the legal aspect of Jackson’s death. Promoter AEG eventually came under fire and found itself in a wrongful death lawsuit against the star’s mother and children. AEG is accused of negligence because they hired Dr. Murray as Jackson’s physician. The suit seeks up to $2 billion in damages.

What can be learned

There are an array of lessons that can be taken away from Jackson’s death, and many of these lessons are related to the wrongful death case that AEG is facing. Many people would say that Jackson’s own actions led to his demise, and even the Jackson family lawyer concedes that the star was partially at fault for his death. As can be seen from the fact that the case has progressed, however, partial negligence doesn’t always revoke a family’s right to recover damages.

Wrongful death suits are brought forward, just as in Jackson’s case, when an entity displayed some form of negligence that led to death. The Jackson family attorney claims that the star was 20 percent at fault for his own death, but he also asserts that the remainder of fault lies with the defendant. Since most states are considered “comparative negligence” states, this means that AEG could be held liable for 80 percent of the losses caused by Jackson’s death.

Though AEG didn’t directly kill Jackson, wrongful death looks at negligent actions rather than actual criminal intent. This is basically what happened with Dr. Murray. Manslaughter occurs when a person dies in part due to another person’s negligence. This is the same with wrongful death cases. The only difference is that AEG may have to provide compensation rather than face jail time like Dr. Murray did.

Steps to Take

If your loved one dies due to another’s negligence, the first thing your family should do is contact a wrongful death attorney. This isn’t like a car accident where it’s possible to secure a positive outcome simply by filing a claim. Wrongful death cases are complex and often difficult to prove.

A legal professional, such as a New York wrongful death lawyer, will know the exact steps to take. In many cases, for instance, it is important to bring forth a wrongful death suit after a criminal trial. A conviction in the trial could actually make it easier to recover compensation. Even if the specific negligent party isn’t found guilty of a crime, however, such as is the case with AEG, the evidentiary burden in civil cases is much lower than in criminal cases, and this means a family can recover monetary damages even if the negligent party isn’t criminally liable.

The death of Michael Jackson is viewed as a tragedy by many throughout the world. His death was untimely, but it has certainly left many lessons in its wake. Unfortunately, people die every single day due to the negligence of others, and even if the decedent was partially at fault for their own demise, this doesn’t negate the negligence of others. This is why the best thing that a grieving family can do after negligent actions lead to a loved one’s death is seek out a New York wrongful death lawyer such as The Perecman Firm, or legal professional local to their area, who will be able to help pursue a claim for damages.

Five Steps to Follow When Making a Personal Injury Claim

There will come a time in your life when you are unfortunate enough to be involved in some type of an accident. If you are the victim and the accident wasn’t your fault, you make be entitled to make a personal injury claim and receive some compensation.

There are thousands of victims who do not get the compensation that they deserve because they are not aware of their rights when it comes to making a personal injury claim.

Below are the five steps to take when making a personal injury claim:

  1. First you have to think does your case make you eligible for a claim?

Before you consult the services of a personal injury solicitor, you must determine whether or not your case makes you eligible to make a claim. The following are a number of questions you can ask yourself when deciding whether or not to take your case to the next step:

  • Has your quality of life altered in a negative way?

  • Has your ability to go to work been affected in any way?

  • Has your financial situation become worse as a result of the accident?

If your accident took place through the fault of someone else and you have answered yes to any of above questions, you have a valid case for making a claim.

  1. What’s the next step?

So, now you’ve decided that you’re going to make a claim, the next step in the process is sourcing a good personal injury solicitor. Having the right solicitor dealing with your case will prove to be your greatest asset when making a claim. It is important to find an experienced and qualified solicitor that will deal with your claim from the best possible angle. In general, it is a good idea to use the services of a solicitor who specialises in the area of personal injury claims.

  1. Gather necessary evidence

Presenting adequate evidence is the key to getting the most from your claim. It is essential that you have satisfactory evidence to prove that someone else was at fault for the accident. Witnesses are probably the most powerful type of evidence that can be used as a means of backing up your story. Every individual case varies and your injury claim solicitor will be able to provide you with detailed advice regarding what evidence you need.

  1. Make a statement of losses that you have incurred as a result of the accident

When making a personal injury claim, you can claim any financial losses that you have incurred as a result of your accident or injury. If your situation has changed dramatically and you’re not able to go to work anymore, you need to be compensated for your loss in earnings. It is important to keep any statements or receipts you may have as you will most likely be asked for them when your solicitor is building your case.

  1. Be ready for a long process

You should brace yourself and prepare for a long and drawn out process. No claim is settled overnight and in most cases it will be several months, or even years for a settlement to be reached.

Evolution Legal Concierge Ireland is a reliable provider of fixed fee legal services as well as a top class expert in personal injury claims management. If you are unfortunate enough to have suffered an injury as a result of someone else’s actions, their trained legal advisors will provide you with the assistance, information and direction that you may need.

Are Volvos Considered Reliable Vehicles?

Volvos have long held a reputation for being one of the most reliable cars on the market. This reputation has been earned over a long period of time, but late-model Volvos are made differently. To find out if Volvos are reliable, one must consider actual facts. Irv Gordon’s story is one such fact. Irv Gordon, a retired schoolteacher, is breaking every automobile record with his high-mileage Volvo. He turned over three million miles in his 1966 Volvo, and he said while he is confident the car could get to four million, he’s not so sure that he is capable. Since 1966, automakers have all been through major revolutions. Cars are not what they were before. However, the use of a car covers was key in the durability of this vehicle, since a good cover will help with the body and the engine, avoiding scratches that sometimes are inevitable when driving so many miles Volvo was sold to a Chinese manufacturer in 2010 and since that time, Volvo’s reputation has frequently come into question. Volvo sales were down in the beginning of 2013 compared even to 2012, but sales may pick up in the second half of the year. August Volvo sales already show an improvement.

Volvo Recall

This September, Volvo issued a recall for 7767 sedans, citing software glitches. The company stated that no injuries were reported from the malfunction. Back in 2007, Volvo had to recall more than 46,000 vehicles for faulty fuel pressure sensors on some models and left door assembly on others.

Specialty Mechanic Training

Volvo mechanics are specially trained, and the company pays for specialty certifications. Most mechanics believe that Volvos are great cars to have for the family. They are reliable and they last. The problem is, when something does go wrong, Volvos are very expensive to fix. The trade-off is that fixing a Volvo is an investment in a car that you can keep for a long time, whereas putting that same kind of money into a lower-quality vehicle might not make the most sense in the long term. With a Volvo it makes sense to go ahead and make those repairs. 

Safety Ratings

Since, for the most part, mechanics either work for Volvo or likely do not work on Volvos at all, a true unbiased opinion should come from media services that test all types of cars. The 2013 Volvo S60, one example of Volvo’s craftsmanship, received the highest safety rating levels issued by US News, but in reliability it only got 3.5 out of 5, lower than most upscale mid-size vehicles. Car and Driver’s testing of the 2012 Volvo S60 was disastrous: the vehicle broke down and needed dealership repairs twice during the test. This incident resulted in some unfortunate reviews for Volvo, which could have been different had the car that the reviewers used to test actually been reliable. The concerning factor in this review was that the car was not reliable.

In 2006 in a listing of the top 100 most reliable cars of the decade showed the first Volvo to come in at 15th place. This was below several models of less prestigious cars. A 2013 list of the 18 most-reliable cars does not even include a Volvo.

Award-Winning Remote Diagnostic Service

Volvo Trucks won an award for diagnostic service. The 2012 award was for Commercial Vehicle Repair and Maintenance from Frost & Sullivan.

Historically, Volvo cars have shown themselves to be very reliable and safe. But recent models have not lived up to the company’s standards.

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Byline

Martin Meriwether writes on car mechanics, car functionality, car repair & maintenance, car upkeep, car upgrades, car technology and other such topics. For issues pertaining to Volvo vehicles, Martin knows it’s best to consult with a reputable and established Volvo mechanic.

Tips for Reducing DUIs Throughout the Country

It’s no secret that the United States has a problem with people driving their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol. Driving while impaired is not only irresponsible and illegal, but it is extremely dangerous to the driver, their passengers, and any innocent bystanders or drivers. As such, the US is constantly on the lookout for new ways to reduce DUIs throughout the country. As it currently stands, roughly 10,000 people die each year in America as a result of drunk driving. So what are some of the steps that can be taken to help reduce this common and dangerous crime? Here are a few.

Lower the illegal amount

As it currently stands, most states require their drivers to operate a vehicle with less than 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC). However, many people believe that myriad drivers are impaired even when their BAC registers at less than 0.08 percent. The National Transportation Safety Board wishes to lower the illegal BAC level across all 50 states to 0.05 percent.

The effect of this would be twofold. First, people attempting to stop drinking near the legal limit would do so with a lower amount of alcohol in their system. And second, because the limit is lower, more people would abstain from drinking any amount at all before driving. A lower punishable level means that drivers will be less inclined to push the limits.

Breathalyzers for all motorists

Some groups such as the National Transportation Safety Board believe that all cars should come required with a device that tests a motorist’s BAC before allowing the vehicle to be turned on. If a driver is impaired the car won’t start.

This also serves two purposes. First, it would make it much more difficult for drivers to drive drunk, thus lowering how many would choose to do so. Second, it would provide reality checks for those who don’t realize how much alcohol they’ve imbibed. While many people who get DUIs are simply making bad decisions, others are simply unaware of how much they’ve actually consumed. This would alert them.

Harsher penalties

The most successful way to lower the number of DUIs in the country, however, would come in the form of harsher penalties for offenders. As it is, penalties for DUIs are harsh, but simply not harsh enough. The rate of DUIs is still staggering, and the rate of repeat offenders is frightening. Many people believe that all offenders should have their license suspended for the rest of their life if they are caught driving drunk. While this is unlikely to happen, it is possible that states could start issuing harsher penalties, such as 30 days in jail and three years with a suspended license for first time offenders.

As it is, people simply aren’t fazed enough by the penalties not to drive drunk. Harsher penalties would make people think harder about the consequences of making such a poor decision.

Editor’s note – if you’re needing an attorney to help with you, some of the top Car Accident Lawyers Phoenix has are here – this may be helpful for additional reading for you. 

Education

Many people simply don’t understand how little alcohol it takes to impair their judgment and coordination, and many are oblivious to the ramifications of their actions. If every high school gave yearly seminars on DUIs that included how little alcohol it takes to qualify, what the penalties are, and the lives at risk, people would be less likely to get behind the wheel after drinking.

These are a few of the many ways to lower the amount of DUIs in the country.

Donovan Campbell is a freelance writer based in Omaha, Nebraska who traditionally focuses on car mechanics, auto accidents, auto body repair, car modifications and upgrade, traffic law and so forth. To learn more about repair and modification visit the Phoenix fleet repair from Capitol Collision.

Patient Rights When a Doctor is Wrong

Doctors are the magicians we turn to when sniffles become more than a cold, or pain becomes more than we can bear. It’s an impressive title, meant to instill trust and assure us we are in the right hands. But what happens if that trust is broken? When a case of strep lasts too long, or a benign spot seems to be growing? Trust fades and anger or resentment arises instead. If a visit to your physician leaves you with more questions than answers, there are steps you can take to ensure you receive the treatment entitled to you.

Are You Listening to Me?

We’ve all felt ignored by a doctor, but if this feeling is constant it decreases the quality of care you receive and may result in a true case of doctor negligence. How do you know if you’re being ignored or if the doctor is having a bad day? A few signs that a physician is not giving you the attention you deserve are:

The physician discusses themselves rather than your concerns
The nurses are available, but the doctor never seems to appear
Polite yet challenging questions are responded to with anger or defensiveness
A provider decides, before evaluating you, what the diagnosis is and how to treat it

If the above statements sound like your doctor, you have the option to change who provides your care. Though switching doctors may feel unnerving, staying with a doctor who doesn’t provide the care you are entitled to is a betrayal to your health. When deciding to change providers, you must first determine what type of doctor you want to manage your health. Know your choices and research options to ensure you get the care you desire.

Change is Good

Your insurance company can provide you with doctors approved by your coverage plan, then you can visit your state medical board to confirm a physician’s license status, and the county clerk’s office will have records of any lawsuits against them if you’re interested. Healthgrades.com is a site that will provide tips on how to choose a physician, as well as links to doctor profiles and their specialties. Be sure to have the clinic transfer your medical records to your new physician, no explanation is necessary. There may be a fee for the transfer, but your new physician needs all the information to treat you properly.

Malpractice vs. Negligence

When simply ignoring a patient evolves into mistreating a patient, it can cause severe complications for all parties. Medical Negligence and Malpractice are serious issues, not to be taken lightly if you feel a health diagnosis was missed or you or a family member were injured as the result of medical treatment. Trust your instincts to know when something is wrong, and find support to determine if you have a case against a physician, or simply cause to report them to the medical board.

A Healthy Diagnosis

We will all need the help of a physician at some point in our lives. Doctor apathy, negligence, or medical malpractice causes problems for patients and their families, hospital facilities, and other doctors. Be aware of your rights as a patient, and know your responsibilities to ensure you are receiving proper treatment. Awareness and transparency between doctors and patients will result in better medical care and a healthier planet for all to live in.