2010 November Archive

From an early age, people are taught to believe that doctors, physicians, nurses, and other medical staff have a patient’s best interests at heart when diagnosing a medical condition. The majority of the time, this is true; however, there are instances where a medical misdiagnosis in Oklahoma can decrease a patient’s quality of life or even prove to be fatal.

We trust medical professionals will listen to our complaints and health concerns in order to properly diagnose a medical problem so that we may begin the recovery process as soon as possible. However, medical errors do occur and sometimes the proper diagnosis isn’t given. Perhaps the doctor didn’t interpret the symptoms correctly, mistaking one possible health condition for another and prescribed the wrong medication. Another example could be if a doctor misreads test results, such as those from a mammogram or X-ray.

The harm that a patient could endure as a result of a medical misdiagnosis in Oklahoma could alter not only their life, but their family’s as well. When a patient dies because of a misdiagnosis by a physician, the family that is left behind may find themselves questioning if anything else could have been done or it was just simply time for their loved one to pass. A doctor’s medical misdiagnosis of a patient isn’t excusable, and those medical professionals whose negligence contributed to the deteriorating health or death of a patient should be held legally accountable. While no amount of money can bring a loved one back or restore the health of someone whose life has been permanently altered because of a misdiagnosis, it can help ease the financial stress of medical expenses, funeral costs, pain and suffering and more.

Ray Maples, dedicated Oklahoma City medical misdiagnosis attorney and founder of The Maples Law Firm, understands how difficult a misdiagnosis and its effects can be for a patient and their family. If you have been misdiagnosed by a doctor, you have legal rights. Mr. Maples has years of experience and the necessary resources, including relationships with medical experts, to build a strong case on your behalf to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. Call Ray Maples at The Maples Law Firm today to learn more about how he can help at 1-888-429-0609. We offer free consultations.

A traffic accident involving a pickup truck and a school bus carrying 16 students occurred in the north-central town of Kildare on November 9, according to Nebraska.tv. At least seven people, including five students, were injured in the Oklahoma school bus accident. Police officials say that the pickup, driven by a Kansas resident and carrying one passenger, failed to yield at a stop sign, crashing into the school bus on Pecan Road. The students were taken to a local hospital and were later released, while the driver of the pickup was listed in critical condition and his passenger is reported to be in stable condition.

It is the responsibility of all motorists to pay attention to traffic laws and obey traffic signs. When a driver is distracted, whether it is by the use of a cell phone, texting, another passenger, changing the radio station or other distraction, they can potentially cause a serious traffic accident in Oklahoma that can lead to injury or, in some cases, even death. Further investigation will determine why the pickup truck driver did not stop at the stop sign; however, if it is found that negligence contributed to the Oklahoma school bus crash, parents of the injured students and other parties may be entitled to compensation.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident or school bus crash in Oklahoma, you deserve to know your rights and options. At the Maples Law Firm, founder and dedicated Oklahoma City car crash attorney Ray Maples has the experience necessary to build a strong case and garner you the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, pain and suffering, rehabilitation and other damages. To learn more about how we can help, call the Maples Law Firm today at 1 (888) 429-0609 for a free and confidential consultation of your Oklahoma car accident case.

With more and more people concerned about the environment and their own overall health, many people are beginning to utilize cars less and walk more. However, millions of people still drive more than they walk or bike, which means that the risk of getting into an Oklahoma pedestrian accident is still fairly high.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 69,000 pedestrians are injured by motor vehicles every year in the United States, with roughly 5,000 of those injuries being fatal. In 2008, 51 of those fatalities were residents of Oklahoma.

Anyone who operates a motor vehicle has a responsibility to drive carefully and pay attention to all traffic signals and signs. Many Oklahoma pedestrian crashes occur at intersections and crosswalks, and oftentimes driver inattention is the cause of those crashes. Pedestrians are at a much higher risk of injury because they have nothing to protect them in an accident, unlike the driver of a motor vehicle. In addition, children are especially at risk for involvement in a pedestrian accident because of their impulsiveness and short stature. Some injuries that can be sustained in an Oklahoma pedestrian crash include:

• Amputation;
• Broken bones;
• Fatal injuries;
• Head/brain injury;
• Internal bleeding;
• Paralysis; and
• Spinal cord injury.

While many pedestrians take the proper precautions to ensure their own safety, such as watching for other cars, only crossing the street at designated crosswalks and wearing reflective gear, oftentimes those precautions aren’t enough. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Oklahoma, you would be well advised to contact Ray Maples, dedicated Oklahoma City pedestrian accident injury attorney and founder of The Maples Law Firm. Mr. Maples has successfully handled a wide variety of pedestrian accident cases over the years. You deserve to know your legal rights and be compensated fairly under Oklahoma law. Call Ray Maples at The Maples Law Firm at 1-888-429-0609 to schedule a free and comprehensive evaluation of your Oklahoma pedestrian accident case.

Texting while driving is a serious problem nationwide, and Oklahoma officials are cracking down to prevent car crashes related to texting not only involving teens, but for motorists of all ages within the state. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, over a dozen Oklahoma City high school students and safety advocates helped the governor launch an awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of texting and driving. The governor stated that about 700 Oklahoma car accidents, 30 of which were fatal, have involved a motorist who was either sending or reading a text message. Parents of teens lost in Oklahoma auto accidents also came out to show support and spread awareness of the tragedies that can happen because of drivers texting while driving.

Driver inattention is one of the most common causes of car crashes in Oklahoma and across the country. Taking one’s eyes off the road for even a split second can cause an accident with irreparable damage and alter the lives of all motorists involved in a crash permanently. Serious injuries such as brain damage, broken bones, amputation, nerve damage, disfigurement, burns and death can all occur due to an Oklahoma car accident caused by texting while driving.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Oklahoma City car accident, or if you have lost a loved in a crash and you suspect that driver inattention was a contributing factor, please get in touch with the dedicated Oklahoma auto accident attorneys at The Maples Law Firm. Losing a loved one or suffering a debilitating injury due to someone else’s negligence is never easy on a family. Not only is the pain physical, but mental and financial as well. Mounting medical bills or funeral expenses, the loss of income, loss of love, pain and suffering and other damages may be incurred as a result of the Oklahoma car crash. While no amount of money will take back what happened, damages may lessen the burden so that you and your family can focus on healing. The experienced lawyers at The Maples Law Firm will carefully examine the details surrounding the Oklahoma car accident to ensure that your rights are upheld and you are compensated fairly for your losses. To learn more about how we can help, call our firm today at 1(888) 429-0609 for a free consultation.

People purchase insurance coverage in order to protect themselves in the event of an accident or situation that could yield costly medical bills, property damage expenses and other unforeseen monetary losses. Consumers expect that their claims will be handled fairly and that the expenses they incur in these types of situations will be covered by their insurance. However, sadly, this is not always the case.

Insurance companies are in the business of making money and may try to settle claims for less than the amount that is actually owed or covered in the insurance policy. This occurs frequently is cases of Oklahoma auto and truck accidents. Insurance adjusters are paid and promoted based on how little payout the company has to make, therefore, the insurance companies may try to low ball or deny claims altogether, citing fraudulent or false reasons for their decisions. When a policy holder’s trust is violated and they are not treated fairly by the insurance company, this is called “bad faith”.

It is highly advisable to consult an Oklahoma City insurance claim attorney when dealing with an insurance company. Many consumers feel that they must accept a claim denial and that they have no recourse. This is absolutely untrue. Keeping record of all expenses and documentation related to the accident or situation can help significantly when fighting for fair compensation. Additionally, a lawyer who has extensive experience in this area of law knows the ins and outs of how insurance companies work as well as what is legally acceptable and what is not.

At The Maples Law Firm in Oklahoma City, founder and dedicated attorney Ray Maples had worked for insurance companies and now works to help those whose rights are being violated by them. If you or a loved one think you may have an insurance “bad faith” claim, you do not have to face the fight alone. In a free and confidential consultation, Mr. Maples can help you understand your rights and your best options to ensure that you earn the compensation you deserve. Call The Maples Law Firm today at 1(888) 429-0609 to learn more.

A motorcyclist was exiting the Muskogee Turnpike into the westbound lanes of the Creek Turnpike when he crashed into some hay bales that had accidentally fallen from a semi-truck, according to NewsOn6.com. Luckily, the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet and was reported in stable condition. The state trooper who arrived at the scene cited the driver of the semi-truck with not properly securing the load. The article states that the motorcyclist was only thrown five feet, which could mean that he was already slowing down to attempt to avoid the bales when the Oklahoma motorcycle accident occurred.

Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported by either party involved in this Oklahoma motorcycle crash; however, that is not always the case in motorcycle collisions. Oftentimes, motorcycle crashes leave the motorcyclist with serious or even fatal injuries since they are not protected by the metal exterior like occupants of a passenger car or large truck are. In addition, according to the American Motorcyclist Association, motorcycle helmets are only required for persons under 18 years of age in the state of Oklahoma. With fewer people wearing helmets, serious injury is more likely to occur.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Oklahoma motorcycle accident due to another individual’s negligence, it would be highly beneficial to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. The Oklahoma City motorcycle crash lawyers at The Maples Law Firm have the knowledge and resources necessary to handle a wide variety of motorcycle and other personal injury cases. Our attorneys will examine every detail of your accident and build a strong case to ensure that you’re compensated fairly for your injuries. Some damages that may be awarded include, but are not limited to pain and suffering, medical bills, loss of income, property damage and more. To learn more about The Maples Law Firm, call 1 (888) 429-0609.

Cal-Maine Foods has voluntarily recalled about 288,000 eggs which may have been contaminated with salmonella, according to The Los Angeles Times. The company issued the recall after a routine sample tested positive for the bacteria. At the time the article was written, no cases of salmonella infection linked to the recalled eggs had been reported. Citations were issued by the FDA.

When a person contracts the bacteria salmonella enteritidis, they may experience symptoms similar to the flu, such as nausea, fever, vomiting, headaches and chills. In more severe cases or in those with weakened immune systems, gastroenteritis or typhoid fever may develop, which can be fatal.

Consumers who recently purchased eggs under the Sun Valley, James Farm, Springfield Grocer or Sunny Meadow brands should check their egg cartons to see if they are included in the recall. Cartons with the plant number 1457, expiration or sell by dates of 11/07/10, 11/09/10 or 11/24/10, or “Julian” (packing) dates of 282, 284 or 285 should be returned to the retailer they were purchased from for a full refund.

It is the responsibility of all businesses, particularly those who produce food, to ensure that their products are safe for consumer to use. Strict guidelines are in place in order to keep consumers safe; however, when these regulations are overlooked or simply ignored altogether in order to make a higher profit, it is consumers who pay the price for dangerous products.

If you or a loved one has become ill after eating contaminated food products, you deserve to know your legal rights. Ray Maples, a dedicated Oklahoma City personal injury attorney and the founder of The Maples Law Firm, has represented a wide range of dangerous product cases and has the experience necessary to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. An illness or injury can have devastating effects on a family not only physically, but mentally and financially as well. Depending on the severity of the illness or injury, the afflicted individual may not be able to work, causing loss of income, skyrocketing medical bills and unnecessary pain and suffering. Ray Maples can help take the burden off of individuals who have been harmed by dangerous products and the businesses that produced them. Call The Maples Law Firm today at 1(888) 429-0609 for a free and confidential consultation.

Two Oklahoma high school students were killed in a fatal car crash on Sunday, October 24 according to The Sand Springs Leader. The 16-year-old driver of a 2001 Mercury Cougar was heading east on 61st Street South when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle didn’t stop at a stop sign. Also in the Cougar were two 15-year-old passengers and one 14-year-old passenger. Heading north on 161st West Ave. was the 20-year-old driver of a 1998 Dodge Dakota. Upon entering the intersection, the pickup truck struck the second vehicle on its right passenger door. The two 15-year-old female passengers were killed.

Depending on what the investigation concludes, the parents of the deceased high school students may be able to hold the auto maker, the brake manufacturer or a third party liable for wrongful death in Oklahoma if it is found that the brakes were defective in some way. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, there were 30,797 fatal crashes resulting in 33,808 deaths. Of those fatalities, 738 occurred in Oklahoma.

If you have lost a loved one due in an Oklahoma auto accident and you think a defective auto part may have contributed to the crash, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. Manufacturers of vehicles and vehicle components have a responsibility to all motorists to provide safe, durable vehicles which are free of any defects that could cause harm. When auto makers place profit ahead of safety, serious injury and wrongful death can occur. The dedicated Oklahoma City accident attorneys at The Maples Law Firm have years of experience handling a wide variety of personal injury cases, including auto product liability, wrongful death, auto accidents and more. You deserve to know your rights and our lawyers can ensure that those rights are not violated in a court of law. To find out more about The Maples Law Firm, call us today at 1-888-429-0609.