Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog

Facts about spinal cord injuries

Published on: May 3, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Spinal cord injuries are always treated as severe due to the fact that they involve one of the most sensitive parts of the human body. A person suffering from such an injury in New York may not immediately understand the condition or the complications that may arise. Not understanding can be one of the scariest parts of this type of injury. Knowing some facts about the spinal cord and related trauma can help people to feel a little more in control.

According to GB HealthWatch, the spinal cord is fairly well protected by the bones in the spinal column. However, injuries can easily occur when the vertebrae get dislocated. Once broken, the cord cannot be repaired. Not all injuries, though, will cause permanent damage or break the cord. The extent of the injury depends on whether nerves were damaged and the location of the injury. Minor injuries may heal with time, while major injuries can cause complete paralysis.

Not only can an injury in this area affect a person’s ability to use their arms and legs but it also can lead to other issues in the body. This includes making it difficult to breath, swallow and control the bladder. An injury may also affect the heart, causing it to beat too slowly or erratically.

Does a helmet help in a motorcycle accident?

Published on: April 27, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

There are many rumors and misconceptions that a motorcycle helmet can do more harm than good. If you are riding in New York, though, you should understand that a helmet is your best defense against severe injuries if you are involved in an accident. There have been studies and there is solid proof that helmets save lives.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation explains exactly how a motorcycle helmet protects you in a crash. The main parts of this safety gear are each designed with a specific purpose in mind. The padding and straps are made to ensure the helmet fits your head correctly and firmly. This will keep the helmet from sliding around and stop it from flying off or shifting in the event of an impact. The inner core is made of cushioning foam that absorbs shock and compresses to prevent direct hits to your head. The outer shell is made to be hard and firm, yet it also gives a little on impact to prevent it from breaking and allow it to provide complete protection as you hit a hard surface.

The most severe risk you face in an accident is a head injury. Protecting your head with a helmet only makes sense. If you are in a crash and fly off your bike, when you hit the ground, it is much better to have your helmet make impact rather than your skull. The helmet will absorb the shock and distribute it so your head does not get the brunt of it. This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.

5 things to remember if you are in a car crash

Published on: April 24, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

The stress of a car accident can make it difficult to remember the basic steps you should take after the crash. Of course, you probably know that you need to contact the authorities so they can come out to make a report and evaluate the scene. There are also other steps you should take.

#1: Gather evidence

You should try to get evidence at the crash scene. Snap a few pictures with your phone so that you can show the actual scene if you plan to seek compensation. Take notes about what you see around the scene. Make notes of the weather and any other points that might come into the picture. Writing things down as quickly as possible can help you to accurately remember later. Get the names and contact information for anyone involved in the crash and witnesses. You might not be able to do this if the accident leads to injuries.

Collision avoidance systems and rear-end collisions

Published on: April 21, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

There are many ways accidents can happen on New York roadways. However, one of the most common types of accidents is rear-end collisions. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, rear-end accidents are typically caused by driver inattention. In addition, this type of accident led to more than 1,700 deaths from 2012 to 2014. It is a serious issue that needs a solution.

The NTSB believes that it has found a solution that can help to greatly reduce the number rear-end crashes while also decreasing the severity of them. The answer seems to be collision avoidance systems. These safety systems are installed in vehicles and feature alarms and automatic breaking technology that enables the vehicle to react to a traffic situation and prevent a collision from occurring. They have been shown through studies to be very effective, which has led to numerous recommendations by the NTSB to have them installed as standard equipment on all new vehicles.

Unfortunately, according to USA Today, vehicle manufacturers and the U.S. government have not climbed on board with the NTSB’s push to ensure all vehicles come equipped with collision avoidance systems. Manufacturers cite the fact that consumers should be the ones to choose if such technology is included when they purchase a vehicle. It is currently offered as an upgrade option that adds to the vehicle’s purchase price. The government just has not been able to get the needed support to instigate legislation. The public is not aware of the benefits of these systems and there are no real incentives to mandate they be a requirement for manufacturers.

Can heavy military weapons cause brain injury?

Published on: April 14, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Soldiers across New York and the United States hold inherently dangerous jobs, and new concerns are being raised about your risk of suffering a brain injury due to repeated use of certain heavy military weapons. According to NPR, the military began having its soldiers wear sensors known as blast gauges to get a better sense of how you may be affected by your surroundings while in battle, but that the sensors are no longer widely used.

Initially intended to assess the effects of being near roadside bombs, the sensors indicated that certain weapons, such as the Carl Gustaf, a bazooka-like rifle, also resulted in considerable blast exposure to the person firing it. When you fire this particular weapon, it redirects a sharp burst of hot gas backward, which is why soldiers are supposed to be trained to stand on the side of the weapon before using it.

A study conducted last year as part of a five-year Office of Naval Research endeavor already revealed that your use of certain heavy military weapons can affect your memory and your ability to learn and retain new information. As a result, some legislators are pushing for additional research to determine whether long-term brain injuries are also related to repeated use of heavy weaponry.

5 symptoms of a spinal cord injury after a crash

Published on: April 12, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

You were on the highway when it happened: A truck driver didn’t see you in his blind spot and slammed into your vehicle. Your vehicle flipped over, and now you’re unsure what to do. You’re in pain, but help has been called for. Should you get out of the vehicle? Could you injure yourself more by moving?

There are many signs that you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury and should not be moved until emergency help arrives at the scene. While the most common thing people think of with spinal cord injuries is paralysis, spinal injuries don’t always lead to paralysis or numbness.

There are two kinds of spinal cord injuries. The first, an incomplete injury, is one where you still have some sensation beyond the point of the injury. You may feel your feet, for example, but feel they are more difficult to move than before.

Study: Misdiagnosis occurs more often than some may think

Published on: April 5, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

While people may believe they are leaving the emergency room or outpatient clinic with a diagnosis and treatment plan, they may be surprised to learn that they have received the wrong diagnosis. Medical misdiagnosis occurs at an alarming rate in these types of medical settings, and this can be a real cause for concern. When physicians misdiagnose patients, or fail to provide a diagnosis at all, people run the risk of developing a worse condition or undergoing treatment that would otherwise be unnecessary.

The study, which was published in BMJ Quality and Safety, found that one in 20 adults in the U.S. who are seen in community health clinics or emergency rooms leave these facilities with the wrong diagnosis. This equates to approximately 12 million Americans each year. In at least six million of those cases, people were at risk of being seriously harmed because of the wrong diagnosis. For example, patients may have been diagnosed with pneumonia when they actually had lung cancer.

One possible reason for these acts of medical negligence is the chaotic environment of these facilities. Physicians and nurses see multiple patients, and may not have an accurate and comprehensive medical history of the patient. Furthermore, physicians are often unable to spend an appropriate amount of time with each patient, as they are often rushed from one room to the other. Physicians may order the wrong screening tests or misread reports, leading to medical errors as well.

Preventing birth injuries

Published on: April 4, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Having a baby is supposed to be a joyous time, but for some New York parents, this wonderful time turns into sadness because of a birth injury. According to HealthcareBusinessTech.com, around 30 percent of birth injuries are preventable. Prevention starts with good care plans developed by caregivers.

A group of hospitals came together to start using something called the Premier Perinatal Safety Initiative. Under this initiative, the focus was placed on increasing team communication between all the caregivers working with a pregnant mother. In addition, each team worked using a care bundle, which included a set of four directives. These directives outlined specific things each team must do during the care of the mother. These could be things like performing certain exams before administering medications known to cause complications or carefully assessing the baby’s weight.

Among the hospitals that participated in the initiative, saw a reduction in birth traumas of 22 percent with a 15 percent decrease in injuries to mothers. Claims for injuries went down by 39 percent in a four-year period, too.

Essential Tips to Detecting a Brain Injury

Published on: March 31, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Sustaining a brain injury is widely considered to be a catastrophic outcome, if not fatal in the U.S. Mainly arising from various forms of accidents, sustaining a brain injury can adversely affect your life in a variety of ways. In a nutshell, a Brain injury refers to a range of head trauma, from minor concussions to damaged brain tissues caused by a damaging blow to the skull. Whether it’s a sharp or blunt object, you might want to seek medical immediately. As a potential victim, it is advisable to exercise vigilance on the following symptoms:

Confusion
Dizziness
Headaches
Personality changes
Memory loss

Sustaining a brain injury courtesy of negligence from a car driver is surely guaranteed to adversely alter your life. Apart from the possibility of permanent disability, seeking accident compensation and footing medical expenses can be a tall order, to say the least. In most cases, rehabilitation can be a daunting task especially in the absence of medical support to aid you in the process. Unlike other medical conditions, a brain injury can be quite challenging to analyze effectively. Fortunately, the presence of imaging tests, the Glasgow Coma Scale Test and proficiency from qualified specialists should be enough to diagnose such conditions efficiently.

Brain injuries are mainly manifested in two forms; they are either closed or open. The latter relates to bruises related to skull fracturing mostly due to accidents leading to direct contact with a hard surface. The former mainly revolves around incidents of swelling which ultimately result in blood clots. Whether open or closed, a brain injury should be taken seriously and immediate medical attention can spell the difference between life and death. A brain injury doesn’t necessarily arise from a high-speed object. It could simply be the product of a sudden fall on a hard surface.

Motorcyclists killed in New York accident

Published on: March 29, 2017 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Riding a motorcycle is a double edged sword. Yes, it gives you a beautiful sense of freedom and makes you look cooler than anyone else on the road. But, and it’s a big “but,” you have to deal with motorists who don’t see you and even ones who are openly hostile toward you. You’re completely exposed, so when an accident does happen, catastrophic injuries usually follow. Now throw drunk or distracted drivers into the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Those elements came together with tragic results one night in late January. A 47-year-old motorcyclist was heading south when he was hit by a man driving a Lincoln northbound. The motorcycle rider was thrown from his bike. Emergency rescue crews arrived at the scene and transported the man to a nearby hospital, but he was unable to recover from his injuries.

During an investigation, authorities discovered that the driver of the Lincoln was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He is now facing charges of operating under the influence.