Syracuse Personal Injury Law Blog

Parents should beware of toxic toys

Published on: December 21, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

With this weekend being the last before Christmas, toy retailers such as Toys R Us are pulling out all the stops to get consumers into stores for one last shopping push before the big day. Basically, some stores pledge to be open continuously until Christmas Eve.

With all the focus on last minute shopping, we find it prudent to warn our readers about toys that may be hazardous to a child’s health. After all, more than 250,000 children wind up in emergency rooms each year because of injuries due to toys. Despite federal bans on hazardous chemicals that are included in some toys, there are still a number of products on the market that have lead, phthalates and chromium; all of which can be hazardous to a child’s health.

Also, there are a number of toys that can pose hazards to small children. Examples are toy pieces that toddlers can put in their ears and small magnets that can be swallowed, and loud toys that can damage a baby’s ears.

Super Saturday could be harmful to consumers

Published on: December 20, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In what is poised to be the biggest shopping weekend of the holiday season, retailers appear to be ready to pull out all the stops to bring out shoppers. A number of stores are advertising their willingness to stay open continuously until Christmas Eve, and others are rolling out big discounts to get people off of their couches and into the stores.

In essence, it is almost like retailers are trying to top Black Friday sales, since this year’s bonanza appeared to fall flat given the additional spending money consumers should have given lower gas prices. But given the hype about “Super Saturday” we feel it prudent to discuss the obligations that retailers have to keep consumers safe.

Essentially, retailers are charged with taking reasonable care to ensure that consumers are not harmed as they shop on a retailer’s premises. This means that they must keep aisles free of debris and spills, heavy merchandise should be placed in areas where they will not fall on unsuspecting consumers and crowd control must be in place to ensure orderly ingress and egress from the store.

Can midwives testify against nurses in birth injury cases?

Published on: December 19, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In medical malpractice cases, expert testimony is critically important. After all, an expert must testify as to the standard of care expected out of a medical professional and what a reasonable physician, nurse or attendant should have (or would have) done in a given situation. As such, a surgeon would likely serve as an expert witness in a matter involving a surgical mistake. A sports medicine physician would likely testify in a matter involving an athlete’s malpractice claim.

When it comes to malpractice cases involving birth injuries, would it be appropriate to have a midwife testify about the expectations of nurses in a delivery room? The Georgia Court of Appeals recently dealt with this question, and found that it would be proper for a licensed midwife to testify about the conduct and expectations of attending nurses.

At issue was whether the nurses were negligent when misinterpreting a fetus’ vitals before birth. The baby experienced a period of prolonged oxygen deprivation during labor, causing it to be born with severe brain damage.

Helpful tips to avoid being in a truck accident

Published on: December 18, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Depending on whom you ask, this week is arguably the height of the holiday shopping season. The frenzy of Black Friday is a distant memory, and the last minute shoppers have not graced the entrance of a shopping mall. Meanwhile trucks carrying merchandise are travelling across the state of New York to keep stores stocked in anticipation of end-of-year sales.

It is no secret that the recent stretch of good weather will be coming to an end. With so many trucks on the road, drivers must be vigilant in order to avoid being in an accident when conditions deteriorate. With that, we offer the following tips through this post.

Stay out of a truck’s blind spots – If you haven’t heard (or seen) warnings about a truck’s “no-zones,” you should be familiar with them. Because of the size of a truck’s trailer, there are significant blind spots, and you do not want to be in them.

Could overzealous prostate screenings lead to malpractice?

Published on: December 17, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

A common tenet in the pursuit of curing and preventing cancer is that you have to go to the doctor regularly. This message is regularly directed at men over the age of 30 and younger than 55, because this is the age group that is less likely to see a physician. With prostate cancer being one of the most prominent killers of men, prostate cancer screening is very common for men of a “certain age.” However, a new study suggests that not every man actually needs the screening.

A recent study published by the Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care suggests that screenings using a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) may not be the best way to check for cancer. The study indicated that between 11.3 and 19.8 percent of men tested through PSA would receive a false-positive diagnosis. Essentially, the test results would indicate that cancer would be present, when it is actually not.

Researchers were concerned that 40 to 56 percent of those screened would be subject to over-diagnosis, which could lead to unnecessary invasive treatment.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries

Published on: December 15, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

The holiday season is known for family get togethers, elaborate light displays and shopping extravaganzas. Unfortunately, the holiday season is also known for accidents. Whether it is slipping on ice or being involved in auto accidents, spinal cord injuries are common during this time of year.

A spinal cord injury can occur when the spine suffers a severe, sudden trauma or when the vertebrae are compressed or fractured. A spinal cord injury can cause a disruption in nerve fibers, which can cause a lack of sensation in many areas of the body. For example, a person may lose their range of motion in their arms or legs, or they may not be able to move them at all.

Because of this, spinal cord injuries are taken very seriously. This post will highlight some of the common ways that a person can suffer such an injury.

Tips for handling a mall parking lot crash

Published on: December 12, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

In our last post, we highlighted the dangers that await consumers in shopping mall parking lots. Essentially, the crush of shoppers makes prime parking spots scarce. Motivated shoppers may have little patience for discourteous drivers and may take chances that they usually don’t take in trying to get a parking spot. As such, the chances for accidents can increase.

Nevertheless, drivers should know what to do should they be involved in a parking lot crash. This post will highlight some helpful tips.

Trade insurance information – It may seem obvious, but exchanging insurance information is an important aspect of handling an accident. However, if there is some reason why the other driver does not provide his or her information, this may be indicative of another problem (such as lack of insurance).

Beware of mall parking lot shenanigans

Published on: December 11, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

If you’re going out to the mall to finish (or begin) your holiday shopping, you are certainly not alone. Given the improvement in the nation’s economy and the recent drop in gas prices, it is likely that more people will spend money this holiday season. It is reasonable to believe that retailers are banking on this, so it would not be surprising to see more sales to draw shoppers to the mall.

But with more consumers at shopping centers, the more crowded the parking lots will likely be; which increases the chances for an accident. A recent MarketWatch.com report indicates that more than one in five car accidents occurs in a shopping center parking lot. This number is likely to increase during the holiday season.

Indeed, the holiday season is supposed to be festive and bright, but that may not apply in parking lots where shoppers compete for the best spots. It is likely that drivers will get agitated when a driver sneaks by to grab a spot, or cuts a driver off to prevent a spot from being taken. When emotions run high, it is possible that drivers will take unusual and aggressive measures to land a spot.

What is a doctor’s duty and why it is important to patients

Published on: December 10, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

We have written many posts on the different types of damages an injured patient may seek in a medical malpractice case. However, we have not touched upon the different elements in such cases that lead to successful claims. Before a medical malpractice suit may be commenced, a physician (or hospital staff member) must owe a duty to a patient.

What exactly is a duty? Essentially a doctor must carry an affirmative responsibility to care for a patient before his actions (and competency) may be judged in a medical malpractice case. This comes by a patient either being assigned to doctor or by a patient seeking out a physician for a particular procedure or an examination.

Keep in mind that this is different from a doctor who sees a stranger in distress in a restaurant. In these situations, a doctor is under no legal duty to act (even though it would be a good and kind gesture to do so). Conversely, once a doctor decides to examine or advise a patient (whether assigned or sought out) a duty attaches.

How important are accident investigations?

Published on: December 9, 2014 | By Jeff DeFrancisco

Accidents during the holiday season are especially tough. The end of the year is typically when people hold holiday parties and family get-togethers. This is also a time where alcohol consumption can increase and lead to disastrous results. Such was unfortunately the case on a road in West New York.

Late on Saturday night, a woman from Clifton was driving her car west on Hillside Road when a driver coming from the other direction lost control of his car. The two cars collided, with the eastbound car careening through a fence and into the hillside. Authorities found the driver trapped in his car and critically injured. He was extracted from the vehicle and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities have not completed an investigation, but early indications suggest that speed, road conditions and alcohol may have played a part in causing the crash. An accident investigation is also important because it can answer lingering questions surrounding fault. This is important not only in establishing potential criminal liability, but for civil liability as well.