Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog

GM SUVs recalled due to power gate issue

Published on: July 13, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Having a SUV with an automatic lift gate is a tremendous luxury. Being able to open the back door with just a push of a button is a welcome convenience when you have your hands full. But while we have written in a number of our posts that the recalls will keep coming for automobiles, the latest recall from General Motors is a testament to that foresight.

GM recently announced that it would be recalling more than 700,000 SUVs with power lift gates, citing problems that can lead to the gates falling unexpectedly. According to a recent ABC News.com report, the company indicated that it reported 56 injuries due to this defect.

The problem is ostensibly based on dirt that can get into the gas struts that hold up the rear gates. This could cause the struts to wear down and eventually fail. Apparently there is software that could detect these problems that is prevented from doing so.

Outbreaks of bacteria borne diseases can be prevented

Published on: July 10, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

While we haven’t posted on the dangers of disease and infections in hospitals in a while, it does not mean that other disease-borne threats are not growing. The latest edition of the ECRI Institute highlights that outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have been on the rise. The outbreak of infections has been associated with the increased use of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography procedures (ERCP).

For the uninitiated, ERCP’s are used to treat a number of gastrointestinal problems, including gall bladder problems, kidney stones and bowel obstructions. With these procedures, the risk of infections can occur because the instruments used in them may not be completely sanitized. Investigations have found that staff may not be following protocols established by the manufacturer.

The outbreak alert also noted several processes that could be used to limit the possibility of infected instruments being used in future procedures. They included, but were not limited to:

Who could be held liable in a deck collapse accident

Published on: July 9, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Imagine you are at a beach house at the Hamptons or at a lake front home in central New York enjoying a holiday barbeque. The host asks everyone to gather on the deck for a picture, and everyone obliges. While everyone poses, the deck gives way, sending everyone to the ground below. While this is a nightmare scenario, it actually happened at a home in North Carolina over the weekend.

According to an ABC News.com report, a family from Virginia was visiting the home where about 14 people were gathering for a family photo when the deck they were gathering on collapsed. A 12 by 12 section of the deck gave way, sending the people nearly a 12 feet to the surface below. Family members suffered a variety of injuries, from cuts and scratches to broken bones.

Due to the number of injuries, several emergency response agencies were called in to treat all the people injured. It remains to be seen how some of the injured parties will recover, but the more immediate questions surround who may have been at fault for the accident.

How truck drivers can reduce the risk of an accident

Published on: July 8, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

It is no secret that driving a semi-truck is a dangerous job. With how large these vehicles are, and how many people are hurt in truck accidents each year, drivers must be careful about how they operate their vehicles around big rigs. At the same time, truck drivers must be vigilant as well. There are a number of things they can do to reduce the risk of being in an accident. This post will highlight a few of them.

Check blind spots before lane changes – Just like drivers must check their blind spots for smaller vehicles (i.e. motorcycles), truck drivers have to use additional care in looking for cars that may be in their “no zones.” A wrong move by a truck driver in these instances can have devastating consequences.

Slow down in work zones – Indeed, most highways and streets call for vehicles to slow down in work zones, but sometimes people just don’t do so. If you need a reminder of how devastating a work zone accident can be, look no further than last year’s truck accident involving comedian Tracy Morgan; who still has not recovered from his injuries.

What can help in proving Fourth of July injuries

Published on: July 7, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

The Fourth of July weekend was an epic celebration of civic pride and patriotism where scores of people enjoyed fireworks displays and individual shows at residential homes. While most went off without a hitch, some people were injured. They ranged from minor injuries to severe ones. Also, there were also reports of homes being damaged because of fireworks being set off.

When these things happen, it is important for accident victims to understand that they have rights. If a homeowner failed to use reasonable care while setting off fireworks and a guest was injured because of such a failure, the homeowner could be held liable for the guest’s injuries. This means that the guest could seek compensation for their injuries.

While this is the basic concept behind negligence cases, proving negligence is not always simple. The following information could be helpful in proving your case should a lawsuit be needed to assert your rights.

Why doctors should be careful when using IVs

Published on: July 3, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In a hospital setting, a common way to receive pain relievers and other medications is through an IV. Known in the medical profession as a PICC line, they are helpful in delivering medicines to people who are unconscious or need medication to take effect quickly.

While this method is largely effective, it can create unforeseen complications. According to a University of Michigan Medical School report, the risk of blood clots can increase with the overuse of IV devices. Also, physicians should be wary of using IVs with certain patients with a history of clotting issues, especial deep vein thrombosis.

According to the report, doctors should monitor for clots, make sure that patients continue to take asprin and statins that were previously prescribed, and make sure to remove the PICC before any surgical procedure that takes place. Further, patients are encouraged to ask questions about the PICC and why it is being used.

What to do after an accident

Published on: July 2, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

For many people, today is a travel day so that they can avoid the traffic and chaos that comes with trying to get out of town for a holiday weekend. Among the many headlines ahead of the holiday: gas prices are at a five-year low for this time of year and more than 40 million people across the U.S. are expected to travel at least 50 miles away from home.

With more people on the road, the chances of being in an accident inherently increases. Indeed, people don’t expect to be in a crash, but it is always helpful to be prepared in the event of one. This post will highlight a few things an accident victim should do.

Check on everyone in the accident – If the people you see are conscious, try to move them to a safe place and call to get medical attention. If they are unconscious, be very careful about moving them. The same applies if a person complains of neck or back pain.

Common injuries suffered in car accidents

Published on: June 30, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

With the Fourth of July weekend approaching, it is likely that people across central New York will be travelling to their favorite vacation spots. In fact, with gas prices considerably lower than they were last year, it would not be surprising if more people were on the road this week. With higher traffic volumes comes the greater chance for an accident.

Of course, no one expects to be in an accident, but they inevitably happen. When they do, the possibility of being injured is always a consideration. With that, this post will highlight some of the common injuries suffered.

Back and neck injuries – These are very common injuries in accidents. Depending on the severity, they may manifest themselves differently. For rear end collisions, the likelihood of whiplash is high. Also the violence of a crash can lead to back injuries. So if you experience soreness in your back or neck directly after the crash, or in the days after it, you should inform an experienced personal injury attorney.

Motorcycle safety during the Fourth of July holiday

Published on: June 29, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

It may seem like it has come so fast, but the height of the summer is almost here. No, we are not talking about the vernal equinox (i.e. the longest day of the year). Instead, it is the Fourth of July holiday weekend. This time of year is ripe for riding motorcycles. If you are a driver, you should expect to see more riders than usual. If you are a motorcycle rider, it is important for you to take the following tips to heart next weekend.

Don’t ride and drink– There are likely to be additional patrols out to catch drunk drivers. Keep in mind that the police will be looking for impaired motorcycle riders too. Besides the criminal implications, riders should be mindful that alcohol affects one’s judgment and balance; two things that are essential for safely riding a motorcycle. So don’t drink and ride.

Obey the speed laws – The quick acceleration and high speeds are what drive some people to ride motorcycles. However, the faster you go, the likelihood increases that you will be in an accident. After all, you may be skilled rider, but some skills may not help in avoiding an accident with a bad driver.

Key pieces of evidence in car accident cases

Published on: June 26, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

With all the miles that you may drive in a certain year, you hardly expect to be in an accident. Nevertheless, no matter how careful you may be, an accident may happen. In these instances, it is helpful to have as much information as possible so that you can resolve the case without having to resort to legal action.

But in the event your situation does not resolve itself, it is helpful to know what information will be helpful in bolstering your case. This post will identify some key pieces in that regard.

Police reports – The officers that respond to your accident may issue a citation to the other driver (or to you), but keep in mind that officer will also be responsible for preparing a report that details what he or she saw at the scene. The key pieces of information in a police report include observations about the other driver being impaired drugs or alcohol or skid marks in the street.