Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
Cerebral Palsy Causes and Development
Every parent looks forward to the birth of their child. They assume that the physicians and hospital staff assigned to their care have the best interests of the mother and baby at heart. Unfortunately, medical negligence on the parts of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals can contribute to neurological disorders that can have a lasting effect on not only the baby, but the entire family. Cerebral palsy is one of these conditions.
Cerebral palsy affects the cerebrum and can occur during pregnancy, during childbirth or after the birth up to approximately the age of three. It is a non-progressive affliction which means that the condition itself will not improve or worsen; however, it may lead to other disorders. There are several causes of the condition such as asphyxia before birth due to umbilical cord entrapment, exposure to radiation or infection while still in the womb, trauma during labor and delivery, and shoulder distocia, to name a few. In cases where a child is entrapped by the umbilical cord or develops shoulder distocia, the primary care physician has an extremely limited time to act before cells in the baby’s brain begin to die and the chances of developing cerebral palsy increase.
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DePuy Announces ASR Hip Implant Recall
After receiving complaints about the product, orthopedic manufacturer DePuy has issued a recall of its ASR hip implants. This hip system has a shockingly high rate of failure, and many of the victims of these failures have had to undergo a second, painful surgery to remove and replace the defective hip.
Due to a fairly high percentage (12-13%) of five year revision or secondary hip surgeries DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. reported based on this year’s data from the National Joint Registry (NJR) of England and Wales, the manufacturer announced this week it is voluntarily pulling the ASR™ XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System from the marketplace. DePuy has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies globally of the voluntary recall.
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Oklahoma Single Car Crash Leaves Shawnee Woman Dead
A 70-year old Shawnee woman was killed in a single vehicle crash in Oklahoma when she lost control of her vehicle. According to an article on NewsOK.com, the woman was driving northbound on a county road about five miles north of Earlsboro when the accident occurred. The vehicle caught fire and the woman was trapped inside. Officials say that the driver sustained massive injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. In addition, it was unclear as to whether or not the deceased was wearing a seat belt.
There are a number of reasons that this Oklahoma auto accident could have happened including hazardous road conditions, debris in the road, or perhaps there was a faulty mechanical component on the car. If an investigation determines that a defective vehicle part played a role in the woman’s death, her family could hold the negligent party accountable and seek restitution. Millions of motorists place their trust in auto manufactures and designers to ensure that the vehicles they make are safe, reliable and free of defects. Should this responsibility be overlooked or ignored altogether, serious injury, or, as this accident demonstrates, death, can occur.
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I-40 Motorcycle Accident Involves Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper
An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper was injured when his motorcycle lost control, causing him to slide nearly 290 feet across I-40, an article on NewsOK.com stated. The 44-year old trooper was one of two who were merging onto the highway from the Choctaw Road on-ramp. According to the report, something caused the trooper to swerve and hit the other trooper’s motorcycle before sliding across the westbound lanes of traffic. The second trooper was able to keep his bike upright.
The 44-year old man sustained abrasions, scrapes and possibly broken bones, though his condition was not included in the article. He was flown to OU Medical Center for treatment.
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Fatal Oklahoma City Rollover Crash Kills 20 Year Old Woman
A 20-year old woman from Oklahoma was tragically killed when the SUV in which she was a passenger lost control and rolled over, ejecting her from the vehicle. According to NewsOK.com, the woman’s two young children, aged one year and three months, sustained minor injuries and the driver of the vehicle has been booked into the Oklahoma County jail for DUI, manslaughter, child endangerment and driving without a license. The crash occurred on the victim’s birthday.
Police are investigating the Oklahoma fatal car crash and have reported that the victim was not wearing a seat belt. According to officials, the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed; however, it is unclear exactly what caused the vehicle to lose control. If high speed or alcohol played a role in causing this tragic accident, the driver could be held liable for the wrongful death of the woman.
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New Law Requirements for Nursing Home Closure
With more reports of nursing home abuse surfacing far too often, it is possible, depending on the circumstances and track record of the nursing homes in question, that these homes may be forced to close. Elderly abuse and neglect from nursing home caregivers is a serious issue, especially when family members already have to make a difficult decision of whether or not to put their loved one in a nursing home in the first place. While many nursing homes and elder care facilities go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their residents, there are some who consistently violate rules and regulations, subjecting their elderly residents to abusive and oftentimes humiliating treatment.
The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. In reference to nursing home closure, there are new rules that a facility must follow when the establishment is forced to close such as:
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Minimizing the Hazards of Tire Blow-Outs in Oklahoma
During the summertime, most people tend to take more vacations, which usually means driving longer distances than in comparison to the winter months. The increased travel results in greater rates of wear on vehicle tires and engines, and potentially an increased risk of accidents resulting from tire blow-outs.
Transportation authorities have reported that women are more likely to neglect vehicle inspections, especially with respect to the condition of their tires, because they often hold preconceived notions that car maintenance is primarily the concern of a man. Unfortunately, such out-dated notions can increase the risk of danger while driving, since they inhibit women from proactively taking precautions with their vehicles.
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Deadly Washington DC Train Crash Caused by Careless Inspections
According to an article in the Oklahoman, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that a Washington D.C. Metro 2009 train crash that occurred nearly a year ago was caused by a defective electrical circuit. The NTSB found that the electrical circuit did not alert the oncoming train that another train remained stationary on the track.
The train crash killed 8 passengers as well as the train’s conductor. When the stopped train became visible to the moving train, the conductor attempted to brake, but the train conductor only had 3 seconds to react, which was not enough time to avoid the collision. The entire train accident could have been avoided if the Metro’s signal system had been functioning properly that day.
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How to Bicycle Safely When Sharing the Road with Cars in Oklahoma and the U.S.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 51,000 bicyclists have died in traffic collisions dating back to 1932. Oklahoma, as well as the rest of the nation, experiences its fair share of accidents involving bicycle riders.
In 2006, NHTSA reported that 44,000 people were injured in bicycle accidents and 773 people died as a result of bicycle collisions with automobiles. While the state of Oklahoma has passed helmet laws to reduce the risk of bicycle fatalities and to reduce personal injury cases related to bike accidents, bicyclists should still take additional precautions to limit their risk of injuries when sharing the road with cars.
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Accutane & Crohn’s Disease – Side Effect Information
Accutane is a medication intended for the treatment of severe acne. It was first introduced in 1982 and has been used by more than 16 million patients worldwide. Citing growing competition from generics and a string of Accutane lawsuits, the makers of the drug pulled it from the U.S. market in 2009. However the medication continues to remain in use in other countries.
Throughout its history, Accutane has been linked with several severe side effects including birth defects and suicide. It has also been linked to inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease, a chronic illness that affects the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease is often characterized by the following symptoms:
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