Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog

Could the spring thaw lead to hydroplaning on roads?

Published on: March 10, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

According to weather experts, this winter has seen more snow than any time in the last decade. It has certainly made for an “interesting” winter and challenging driving conditions. With the calendar turning to March and warmer temperatures, there are some concerns that a rapid melt could lead to flooding.

Where there are flooding concerns there are also hydroplaning fears (or at least there should be). Hydroplaning refers to the act of a car losing contact with the road and basically floating on the moisture on the road (like a hydroplane). In these instances, a driver could be potentially lose control of their vehicle and crash.

With spring coming and warmer weather expected, the possibility of pools of melting snow collecting on roadways cannot be ignored. Even though it remains to be seen how quickly the snow melt will be, drivers must use reasonable care in avoiding situations where hydroplaning can occur. After all, you don’t need a deep puddle in order for a car’s tires to lose contact with the road.

Family of child determined brain dead sue doctor, hospital

Published on: March 9, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Losing a child is tough enough. To find out that it could have been entirely preventable is enough to make a parent see red. In these instances, it is natural for a parent to want to hold everyone involved accountable; from the physician who treated the child, to the nurses who were supposed to be checking vital signs, to the hospital that incorporated policies that eventually led to the child’s demise.

This is the scenario facing a California family who lost their teenage daughter after she was declared brain dead while on life support. The girl was undergoing treatment for sleep apnea when complications occurred that caused her heart to stop beating.

The lack of oxygen to her brain ostensibly caused further damage, but it touched off a huge legal battle that led to a California judge determining that the child could be moved from a Bay Area hospital to a long-term care facility in New Jersey. In a surprising twist of fate, the girl’s mother reported to ABC News that she could respond to basic commands by moving her hands and feet.

Does an injured person need to mitigate their damages?

Published on: March 4, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

A number of our posts have focused on who can be held liable in an accident, and what the injured person may be able to recover in terms of monetary damages. But in the midst of pursuing compensation for an injury, many plaintiffs may not realize that there may be a continuing duty for the plaintiff to mitigate their damages.

Essentially, this means that a person who has been injured due to someone else’s negligence has an obligation to take reasonable steps minimize the effects of the injury. This may include getting medical treatment and following a doctor’s advice regarding rehabilitation regimens. It may also include restricting one’s employment duties (i.e. not lifting a certain amount of weight while recovering or limiting the number of hours standing up). It may also include having a particular surgery to reduce the damage of an ailment.

What qualifies as reasonable steps is determined by what a reasonable prudent person would do to avoid the ongoing damages of an injury, or to expedite the recovery process. If an injured person fails to mitigate damages, he or she could be denied the entire amount of compensation they could be entitled to.

Could multiple defendants be sued for superbug outbreak

Published on: March 3, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Last week we highlighted the “superbug” outbreak at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center, where two people died and several others were infected with an antibiotic resistant bacteria called CRE (known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae). We highlighted the need for hospitals to use reasonable care in sanitizing equipment and cleaning surfaces that may harbor bacteria, and how the failure to use such care in doing these things could lead to a lawsuit.

But when it comes to litigation and multiple culpable parties, it may be difficult to determine which party is actually liable. And the superbug incident may be no different. According to a recent claimsjournal.com report, the manufacturer of the endoscope at the center of the controversy may be at odds with the hospital as to who would be responsible for the outbreak.

After all, the endoscope is reportedly notoriously hard to clean, and the hospital claims that it followed the manufacturer’s protocols. Meanwhile, the manufacturer maintains that meticulous manual sterilization is necessary; which suggests that it believes that the hospital may not have been thorough in cleaning the instruments. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned doctors about the difficulty of completely cleaning these instruments.

Nurse who contracted Ebola to sue hospital where she worked

Published on: March 2, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

While a majority of our hospital negligence posts focus on the diseases and ailments that patients may contract, it is not uncommon for nurses and hospital staff to contract diseases when proper treating procedures have not been established, or when the proper equipment is not available to protect nurses and other workers.

This may have been the case when a handful of nurses contracted Ebola last fall. In what was a highly publicized event, two nurses from Texas Presbyterian Health System in Dallas were sickened after caring for a patient who exhibited symptoms and fell ill. The patient died, but the nurses (after being treated at a different hospital) eventually recovered.

One of the nurses is expected to file suit against Texas Presbyterian accusing the hospital of being negligent for not having the proper equipment or providing the proper training so that nurses can effectively treat patients who have Ebola. She is seeking money damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of future earnings.

‘Heads up’ display may not be the best for distracted driving

Published on: March 1, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

The North American International Auto Show in Detroit last month drew more than 200,000 car enthusiasts who were interested in the latest available technologies as well as concept cars that will eventually be on the road in years to come. Indeed, the prevailing talk is about the future of self-driving cars, and how soon they will be seen on the road. However, the current technologies still bring around a great number of fans.

An example of this is the “heads up” display that many automakers are incorporating. Essentially, it is a display where a driver will see information from their display panel basically floating in the air in the driver’s line of sight. So a driver can see how fast they are going, obtain turn by turn directions, and know which direction they are going without looking down at the instrument panel; thus taking their eyes off the road.

The notion behind this innovation is that the less the driver has to look away from the road, the chances of a distracted driving accident can be reduced. However, some safety advocates believe that heads-up displays may not curb distracted driving. In fact, a 2013 study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that additional mental distractions (such as those provided by heads up displays) may lead to the brain being overloaded with information and hamper a driver’s ability to react to common hazards (such as stopped traffic or children running into the street). Regardless of whether this actually is the case, it is a reminder of the duty drivers have to use reasonable care while behind the wheel.

Why review of cleaning standards is important

Published on: February 28, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

When you think about bacteria, chances are that you are trying to avoid the harmful effects that come from it. After all, bacteria is commonly followed by sickness and disease; and if you have something caused by harmful bacteria, chances are that you are being prescribed antibiotics to get rid of it.

Indeed, feeling better is something that we all want, but we may not want to eliminate all bacteria in our bodies. There are helpful bacteria that work with our immune system to keep us healthy. And when beneficial bacteria are eliminated, that can put us at risk.

This is the concern that researchers have when considering the spread of Clostridium difficile (better known as C-diff). It is a germ that can grow in the colon after antibiotics kill of other bacteria. C-diff can cause diarrhea and even lead to death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 450,000 Americans were sickened by C-diff in 2011. In fact, it is blamed for nearly 15,000 deaths each year.

Autism study raises questions about iron intake during pregancy

Published on: February 27, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

The fear of autism in an unborn child is a very real concern for pregnant mothers; especially those who carry the common risk factors along with a child in their womb. Expectant mothers who are over 35 or have weight concerns or other metabolic issues such as diabetes or hypertension are prime candidates for giving birth to autistic children.

However, there is hope for mothers who have these concerns. According to a study published last fall in the American Journal of Epidemiology, taking iron supplements could reduce the risk of giving birth to a child with autism.

According to past studies about autism, iron deficiency (and resulting anemia) is a very common nutrient deficiency that affects almost half of all pregnant women and their children. Since iron is essential to early brain development and neurotransmitter production, and the lack of iron can affect this development, it has been found that autism could be linked to iron deficiencies.

School bus drivers must drive safely

Published on: February 26, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In all of our posts about traffic safety (i.e. driving in inclement weather) we have not discussed school bus safety. It is about time that we do so, given that school bus drivers drive thousands of miles around central New York with children on board every month. Additionally, bus drivers are under a higher level of scrutiny given the precious nature of their passengers.

However, a recent ABC News.com report suggests that bus drivers may not be following the rules of the road. In a number of states, including New York, a number of videos have surfaced showing drivers running red lights, driving above the speed limit and not stopping at train crossings. While the videos do not show drivers in accidents, and not all of them are conclusive in showing children on the buses, they do raise some concerns about bus safety.

While there may be those who believe that children are safer riding on buses than walking to school, this does not absolve drivers of their responsibility to use reasonable care while behind the wheel. This means that they must obey speed limits and traffic laws, avoid unsafe turns and lane changes and must drive without using handheld devices or social media apps. Most importantly, bus drivers must not drive while under the influence of mood altering drugs or alcohol.

What should you do if you hit black ice?

Published on: February 25, 2015 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

If you are tired of snow and icy conditions, chances are that you are not alone. There’s a reason why the weather patterns in our region have made headline news. Nevertheless, enduring the weather is what makes us strong, resilient and appreciative of spring. In the meantime, we must drive in these conditions, and that is not always easy despite the snow plows and salt trucks that patrol our streets.

Despite their efforts, there are still areas where black ice can form and present hazards. As we have noted in some of our previous posts, black ice can form when snow (or ice) melts and then refreezes on the street. It can be virtually invisible to drivers until it is too late. But when you hit black ice, what should you do? This post will provide some helpful tips.

Don’t hit the brakes – The natural inclination is to slam on the brakes to avoid sliding into danger, but ironically, hitting the brakes could lead to losing control and spinning into tragedy. Instead, try letting off the accelerator and coasting back into control.