Lawsuit lottery. Jackpot Justice. Runaway juries who award astronomical verdicts to the clients of ambulance chasing lawyers who have unfairly (and frivolously) sued a good doctor over a bad (and unavoidable) result. This is the narrative that the American Medical Association, in conjunction with conservative political messaging, has convinced the American public to be true. [...]
Oct
5
2011
5
2011
Aug
4
2011
4
2011
Same song, different tune…. big business chooses profits over your safety.
It seems almost common place to hear big corporations promoting “corporate responsibility” and claiming to make “safer products” for consumers. Talk, however, is often cheap and actions usually speak louder than words. According to the Consumer Product Saftey Commission, Black & Decker Inc., a Maryland based power tool manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $960,000 civil [...]
Mar
10
2011
10
2011
Crash Worthiness: How does a highly rated car stack up against a semi truck?
A recent article by AOL Auto Correspondent Kevin Ransom highlighted an ongoing highway safety issue. According to recent statistics, crashes between a passenger car and the “underride guards” on the backs of tractor-trailers prove fatal at even lower speeds. These rear guards are the primary countermeasure for reducing deaths and injuries when a passenger vehicle crashes [...]
Mar
7
2011
7
2011
Check Your Pantry: Skippy Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter Recall
According to the Associated Press, the company that makes Skippy peanut butter is recalling two of its spreads that may be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been linked to the recall of the Skippy reduced fat creamy and reduced fat chunky brands. Unilever United States Inc. did not specify how many jars have been [...]
Feb
10
2011
10
2011
Set for Kick-Off: Political Football with Victims’ Rights
Elections have consequences. How many times have we heard that recently? Amid front-burner discussion topics such as the national debt, health care, and foreign affairs, Congress has already begun singing one of its favorite refrains: we need to end “frivolous” lawsuits to bring health care costs down. According to The Hill, the House Judiciary Committee is [...]
Dec
30
2010
30
2010
New Year’s Resolutions – Client Edition
As we approach the end of another year, I thought it would be fitting to end with a list of New Year’s Resolutions geared toward clients. If you’ve followed our Personal Injury postings, these resolutions should sound familiar. 5. Resolve to remember the important role organized labor played in making the modern work and family [...]
Nov
18
2010
18
2010
Wake Up! – The Dangers of Drowsy Driving and How to Prevent Them.
Drowsy driving is a serious problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates there are 100,000 sleep-related crashes in the United States every year, causing 1550 deaths and 71,000 injuries. Last week was Drowsy Driving Awareness Week, a public awareness campaign promoted by the National Sleep Foundation. Everyone on the road should be aware of [...]
Oct
26
2010
26
2010
It’s not just happening to you. Insurance companies regularly deny, delay, and defend legitimate claims to prey upon accident victims.
I often see clients who tell me its the first time they have ever talked to a lawyer. Most people think that personal injury lawyers are only for people who are trying to enhance–or outright make up–an injury claim. Most people think that the insurance company will treat them fairly because their claim is legitimate. So it [...]
Sep
17
2010
17
2010
Insurers Behaving Badly
The Ohio Supreme Court recently heard arguments in connection with the tragic 2007 bus crash which took the lives of seven people, including five members of the Bluffton University baseball team. In keeping with the standard insurance company practice of avoiding accountability, the university’s primary insurer, Hartford Insurance, is seeking to avoid its obligation to [...]
Aug
12
2010
12
2010
Study Indicates Medical Errors Cost U.S. Economy $19.5 Billion
A recently released report states that medical errors and the complications that result from them cost the U.S. economy $19.5 billion in 2008. The study was reported on in the Wall Street Journal’s Health Blog, and found that medical errors were responsible for more than 2500 avoidable deaths and over 10 million lost days of [...]