2011 March Archive

Federal investigators have determined that 90 percent of U.S. nursing homes have at least one or two employees that have been convicted of one or more crimes. It was also shown that 5 percent of all nursing home employees have been criminally convicted at least once. This poses many dangers to nursing home residents who, because of their age and condition, are already vulnerable.

Although there is no federal law specifically requiring federal and/or state criminal background checks on nursing home employees, this study demonstrates that some more regulated form of employee screening is needed. Only ten states require that F.B.I. and state records be checked before hiring, and only 33 require a check of state records. Without a consistent system of background checks for potential nursing home employees, it is much too easy for potentially dangerous or reckless individuals to slip through the hiring process undetected. Once hired, they’ve secured a paying job that provides them with the opportunity to abuse, assault and steal from defenseless elders.

Abuse and neglect can come from various sources in an Oklahoma nursing home. Although abuse and neglect may occasionally come from other nursing home residents and relatives, the addition of convicted criminals poses a great threat to their safety. Many older people decide to move into nursing homes to be better cared for, but oftentimes, they are not. If you have a loved one who is a victim of Oklahoma nursing home abuse, a knowledgeable nursing home attorney can help.

The experienced Oklahoma nursing home neglect lawyers at Maples Law Firm, LLP, will professionally and compassionately work with you and your family to obtain the case result you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-888-226-6159.

Two car wrecks within days of each other demonstrate how dangerous the Sara Rd. and Northwest Expressway intersection is, according to KFor.com. Earlier last week, there was an Oklahoma 4-injury car crash where 3 people were left in critical condition, and, on Friday March 25, a tanker truck, loaded with 8,000 gallons of fuel, exploded when it collided with a car driven by a teenage girl. Neither the truck driver nor the teenage girl was seriously injured though both tanker truck and car were on fire. The fire burned for 90 minutes before it was extinguished by firefighters. Both car wrecks occurred because a driver, attempting to cross the Northwest Expressway, was hit by oncoming traffic.

The manager of nearby Sundance Airport requested that Oklahoma City install a stoplight at the intersection of Sara Rd. and the Northwest Expressway 3 years ago. In 2008, the city completed a study, after which the stoplight was approved, however never installed. It is on the City Traffic Engineer’s “to-do” list, pending proper funding. Finding the money necessary to increase safety should be a priority.

It is the responsibility of a city, and its Department of Transportation, to ensure the safety of their citizens, and drivers. It is believed that many accidents, injuries, and fatalities could have been prevented had the city installed the Northwest Expressway and Sara Rd. stoplight when approved in 2008. Not only are drivers liable for accidents, injuries, and fatalities caused by their actions, but city officials or departments can be just as liable for injuries and fatalities should they be found negligent.

The experienced Oklahoma City car crash lawyers at Maples Law Firm, LLP, work with Oklahoma auto accident injury victims and their families to ensure compensation for financial, and non-economical, losses and damages caused by your accident. There is no fee if there is no recovery. Call today for a free consultation at 1-888-226-6159.

An evening high-speed car crash on March 11 resulted in multiple injuries and the near splitting in half of the high-speed driver’s car. According to NewsOK.com, a police report, released today, identifies text messaging as a possible contributing cause of the auto accident.

Investigators determined that the high-speed driver was travelling north at approximately 95 mph before he crashed on Rockwell Ave. south of Wilshire Boulevard. Eyewitness accounts described the car as having veered into southbound lanes and subsequently hit a sport utility vehicle. The high-speed driver was thrown from the car, which was wrecked. His teenage passenger and the occupants of the SUV were taken to hospitals with less serious injuries. The high-speed driver is currently in good condition at OU Medical Center where he remains hospitalized.

According to the original police report, the high-speed driver was cited with complaints of reckless driving, speeding too fast for road conditions and failure to keep on the right side of the road. According to a police report issued today, the teenage passenger in the car had repeatedly told the driver to slow down and stop texting before the accident. The driver has not yet been formally charged.

Distracted driving can have disastrous results. Speeding is already dangerous, as it cuts reaction time while increasing breaking time and distance; but when paired with text messaging, losing control of the vehicle is imminent. Texting while driving or using a cell phone for making calls while at the wheel has become the most common causes of distracted driving. Major Oklahoma car accidents, and the injuries that result, are often caused by drivers who are distracted. A driver who causes a crash and injures other drivers and/or passengers can be held liable for their injuries as well as any emotional hardships that resulted from said crash.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driver car crash, you have legal rights. The knowledgeable Oklahoma auto accident attorneys at Maples Law Firm, LLP, know how difficult a car crash injury can be and are prepared to work with you to recover any financial or emotional losses and other damages you have suffered as a result of your accident. Contact the Maples Law Firm, LLP, today for a free, confidential consultation at 1-888-226-6159.

A recent night-time auto accident on the Northwest Expressway and Sara Road resulted in the hospitalization of 4 people, 3 of them in critical condition, according to KFOR.com. A pick-up truck heading southbound on Sara Road stopped at the Northwest Expressway stop sign properly, but proceeded to pull out directly in front of a minivan that was traveling westbound on the Northwest Expressway, resulting in a violent crash. All passengers and drivers were injured, one even being ejected from the vehicle.

Although the speed limit on the Northwest Expressway has already been lowered to 55 mph, from 65 mph, multiple accidents continue to occur in the same manner. Vehicles at the stop signs do stop, but pull away without watching for oncoming traffic. The comparatively high speeds of oncoming expressway vehicles make an Oklahoma City auto accident injury inevitable, and potentially fatal. The results of such an accident can include expensive hospital and rehabilitation bills, as well as emotional suffering, for the victim and their family. If there is a responsible party, then they can be held liable for those costs and damages. If you or a loved one have been involved in an auto accident, it is important to seek the advice of a knowledgeable Oklahoma auto accident attorney.

The experienced Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers of Maples Law Firm, LLP, are dedicated to recovering any losses or damages associated with your auto crash. There is no fee without recovery. Call today for a free consultation at 1-888-226-6159, or, if you are from Oklahoma City, you can also call 405-551-8864.

A 21-year-old waitress from Oklahoma City was killed recently when the dumbwaiter she was operating malfunctioned and caused her to the fall down the lift shaft, according to NewsOK.com. Investigators believe that the waitress was either loading or unloading the dumbwaiter when the workplace accident occurred due to a mechanical malfunction. The woman was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, and died from her injuries three days later.

Dumbwaiters are designed to carry lightweight items. The shafts must be inspected each year; however, the dumbwaiters themselves are only required to be inspected upon installation. The restaurant was built in 1947, and the article states that the dumbwaiter likely was installed at that time. OSHA is launching a full investigation of the fatal Oklahoma City workplace accident.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009, there were 140 total fatalities in the food service industry, with 13 of those fatalities resulting from falls. The total fatality rate spanning across all reportable industries was 4,340.

If you have been injured in a workplace accident in Oklahoma, you deserve to know your rights. The dedicated Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys at The Maples Law Firm have the skill and knowledge to help you understand your legal options and ensure that your rights are not violated in a court of law. Our lawyers can build a strong case on your behalf to garner you the compensation you deserve. While no amount of money can take back the accident, it can help with medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. Contact The Maples Law Firm today for a free and confidential consultation at 1-888-226-6159 today.

Oklahoma is considering a new law that would ban texting while driving, according to KRMG. AAA Oklahoma has decided to endorse the bill in an effort to make the roads safer and create awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. House Bill 1316 was created by Rep. Danny Morgan and has already been passed by the House Public Safety committee. It will now be voted on by the full House, with the decision deadline being March 17. If the anti-texting bill is not voted on by then, it will die.

So far, 33 states in the U.S., Washington, D.C., and Guam have passed anti-texting laws. AAA Oklahoma cites the two main reasons for the bill: their members have reported that they consider texting and emailing while driving a very serious threat to their safety; and results from a 2009 Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study, which concluded that motorists who text and drive are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, 5,474 people were killed on America’s roadways in accidents that were reportedly due to distracted driving, with another 448,000 people injured. About 18 percent, or 995 people, of those fatalities were in car accidents that involved reports of cell phone usage.

Unfortunately, many motorists in the U.S. drive and use their cell phone at the same time, paying no mind to the potentially serious or even deadly consequences of their negligent actions. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in an accident that was due to a distracted motorist, you deserve to hold them legally accountable.

At The Maples Law Firm, our Oklahoma City auto accident attorneys understand how difficult an injury can be, particularly if it could have been prevented. With skyrocketing medical bills, loss of income due to time off of work and other expenses, a family’s financial stability can weaken significantly. Our skilled lawyers have the necessary resources to build a strong case on your behalf to earn you the compensation you deserve. You don’t have to face this uncertain time alone. Call The Maples Law Firm at 1-888-226-6159 to learn more about how we can help you during this difficult time. We offer free consultations.

Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects the part of a child’s brain that controls muscle tone. There are seven different types of the condition, each of which depends on the limitations of the child and which body parts are affected. The medical condition can occur when the baby sustains an injury before, during, or after birth. While cerebral palsy can be a confusing diagnosis, there have been instances where medical negligence contributed to the child’s injury and subsequent disorder.

The seven different types of cerebral palsy in Oklahoma include:

• Ataxic: This is the least commonly diagnosed type of cerebral palsy. The child’s motor skills will suffer and they may have trouble with tasks such as tying their shoes, cutting with scissors, or buttoning their shirt. Uncontrolled shaking after a voluntary movement may also occur. For instance, if a child reaches for an apple, the arm or wrist may begin to shake and worsen as the child gets closer to the object.
• Athetoid Dyskinetic: The child will have problems with their muscles and may experience tightness which may present trouble walking, sitting, or speaking. They may drool as controlling the facial muscles can be difficult. Children who are diagnosed with this kind of cerebral palsy oftentimes have normal intelligence.
• Congenital: This type of palsy is not inherited by the child’s parents or caused by healthcare professional error. The defect was developed in the womb during development.
• Erb’s: This type of palsy is attributed mainly to error and occurs when the nerves in the brachial plexus stretch or tear. As a result, an affected child will have no muscle control or feeling in their arm.
• Hyptonic: The baby will have muscle control issues early on in life and may have delayed development issues.
• Mixed: Some children may exhibit symptoms of multiple types of cerebral palsy. This is a common diagnosis.
• Spastic: This is the most common type of diagnosed cerebral palsy. The child’s muscles may be jerky and rigid and getting around can be difficult.

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you believe that medical negligence contributed to the injury, the dedicated Oklahoma City cerebral palsy attorneys at The Maples Law Firm can help. Call 1-888-226-6159 for a free consultation and to learn about your rights and options.

A dentist from Tulsa, Oklahoma has voluntarily given up his license after multiple accusations of negligence, medical malpractice, and unnecessary dental procedures, according to NewsOn6.com. The dentist gave up his license only a few short days before the dental board was likely to revoke it. The article states that the dentist ran infomercials advertising a procedure that he had created, but patients who received the procedure complained of teeth that didn’t fit, breaking resin, intense pain, and dental work that needed to be redone. Some patients reported having trouble even eating such foods as apples and corn on the cob.

Because the dentist in question did not have Oklahoma medical malpractice insurance, many of his patients may be out of luck when it comes to recovering the procedure expenses. Only one patient was able to with a judgment against him. Depending on the extent of dental work was for each patient, the cost of the procedures varied between $15,000 – 50,000.

With the loss of his license, the man will not be able to practice dentistry in the state of Oklahoma for five years. Additionally, all complaints and previous instances of negligence (he had been in trouble twice before) will be available for review should he apply for a license elsewhere.

Professionals in the healthcare field, no matter the practice area, have a responsibility to provide the best possible care to their patients. When that responsibility is overlooked, either intentionally or inadvertently, all negligent parties can be held legally responsible for a person’s decline in health and/or injuries and related losses.

At The Maples Law Firm, our Oklahoma medical malpractice attorneys understand the frustration and difficulty that patients face when medical professionals do not properly perform their duties. If you or a loved one has been injured due to medical malpractice, we can help you understand your rights and build a strong case on your behalf. With an extensive network of resources, our lawyers have the knowledge and skill needed to earn you the compensation you deserve. Contact The Maples Law Firm at 1-888-226-6159 for a free and confidential consultation.