Recent Wins & Updates
Insights, Stories, and Successes
The ability to remember things is essential to our everyday lives. Suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an accident may result in long-term memory problems and increased difficulty learning new things. A grant was recently awarded to teams from The Kessler Foundation and Montclair State University to develop treatments to aid those who suffer long term memory impairment due to TBIs. While brain injuries can affect people in many ways, memory issues can have a particularly detrimental effect on the quality of life. Memory is essential to carry out your job Think about the job you currently do. How many times each day does someone tell you something that you need to act upon? If you cannot remember what they said, how will you take action? Or consider how many tasks you perform, without really thinking about what you are doing, because you have built up the knowledge of how to do it over time. Without that recalled knowledge, you will be starting from scratch each time. Memory is essential to your home life, too Depending upon the severity of your TBI, you could struggle to remember the route you drive to pick up the children from school. You could get to the shops and forget what you went there for or find it harder to remember vital appointments. How do TBI’s occur? They can occur due to an accident or aggression at home, in the street, or in your workplace. Here are some potential causes of brain injuries: Falls Car crashes Blows to the head Big tackles on the sports field Bullets or shrapnel from an explosion If you suffer an accident, be sure to get checked by a medical professional to ensure you do not have a brain injury . TBIs do not always present straight away and could have a considerable effect on the rest of your life. An attorney can help you receive adequate compensation.
In many rear-end accidents, the front driver has no idea what is happening until it happens. They never see the car behind them. They could be stopped at a light, for instance, watching to see when it turns green. Then they hear the screech of brakes and feel the impact. But what if you do see the other car coming? Say you look at your rear-view mirror while you’re waiting at that light, and it’s clear that the driver behind you is not going to stop in time. What should you do? Plan for rear-end collisions by giving yourself space to escape There are really only a few things you can do , and you should start by leaving yourself extra space. If there is another car ahead of you, don’t pull up to within a few feet of the back bumper. Leave the length of a car or more between your vehicles. Next, find an escape route that you can use if needed. You may not have one, unfortunately, if there is traffic all around you. Never drive into the oncoming lanes. But you may have a simple escape route if there’s a shoulder or emergency breakdown lane next to your car. If you know where to go and you have the space to do it, you may be able to instinctively pull your car out of the way as soon as you identify the oncoming hazard. If you get hit by a driver from the rear Clearly, this does not prevent all accidents. Getting hit from behind is almost never your fault, so make sure you know how to seek the financial compensation you are due for your injuries and losses.
If you have a loved one who is residing in a nursing home, they will be vulnerable either physically, emotionally or both. Therefore, it is vital that you take extra precautions to ensure their safety and security, and that you do not blindly trust the nursing home to protect them. If the physical and emotional needs of your loved one are not met in the nursing home, you may be able to take legal action and gain back damages for the pain and suffering caused. This could not only help you get justice, but it may also prevent other vulnerable people from going through the same traumatic ordeal. The following are some ways in which you can successfully protect your elderly loved one. Be observant Issues in a nursing home may not be initially apparent. However, if you are observant and understand what to watch out for, you may be able to detect signs of a problem. For example, your loved one may not tell you that anything has happened, but you may be able to notice a shift in their behavior and a change in their character. They may start to become more withdrawn and depressed, easily startled and timid. Changes such as this could indicate that your loved one is being physically or emotionally abused. Know the red flags Any change, from a change in sleeping patterns , noticeable bruises and bedsores, or a reduced appetite could be a sign of nursing home abuse or neglect. Therefore, even if you have only a slight concern, you should be proactive in asking questions, looking for signs and speaking to the management about your concerns. If possible, keep your conversations in writing so that they can support any future legal case. If you are concerned that your loved one is not being given the care that is necessary in a nursing home, take the time to understand the possibilities for taking legal action.
Both dehydration and malnutrition can be signs of neglect in a nursing home. Dehydration happens when a person isn’t getting enough fluids, while malnutrition happens when they’re not getting the nutrients they need. An older adult who is living in a nursing home may be at risk of receiving inadequate nutrition and becoming dehydrated if they are subjected to neglect or abuse. How common is malnutrition in patients in nursing homes? In 2015, a study called Aging: Biology and Nutrition, Malnutrition in the nursing home reported that around 20% of those in nursing homes have at least some form of malnutrition . While there are some natural reasons for malnutrition, such as poor absorption in the body, many cases are a result of not receiving enough nutrients in food. To address that problem, the study suggested interventions such as dietary supplements or better food choices. How common is dehydration in nursing homes? It’s believed that around 75% of Americans in and outside nursing homes are dehydrated. For those who are less mobile or who do not have quick access to fluids, the rates may be higher. Dehydration can be prevented in some cases by giving patients different drink options. When older patients cannot drink, then it is important to consider intravenous fluid options. This helps support good hydration as well as an appropriate electrolyte balance. Dehydration and malnutrition in the elderly can both lead to serious consequences. They could lead to urinary tract infections, which can be fatal if left untreated, as well as other complications such as sleepiness, confusion, fainting and death. No patient should have to be at risk due to these issues. If they are, then the nursing home may be accused of negligence or abuse.
It can be worrying as a parent when your child first starts to drive alone. During the first few years, they run a greater risk of injury as they do not have the experience to anticipate other driver’s actions. You can reduce the danger to your teen by carefully electing when you allow them to drive. When are the most dangerous times on the roads? Certain times of day, days of the week and days of the year can be much more dangerous than others. Here are some times to watch out for: Holidays: When people get in the festive spirit, they may be more likely to drink and drive. The Fourth of July is the single most dangerous day on the roads. Thanksgiving and Christmas are also high-risk times. There is a large amount of traffic on the road and a high likelihood that other drivers have been drinking. Weekends: Many people drive to bars on Friday and Saturday nights. Youngsters may fill the car with friends who could distract them or spur them on to unwise behavior. Many drivers are still under the effect of alcohol on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Rush-hour: Peak traffic leads to agitated drivers. With the roads full of traffic, there is also less room for error. Nighttime: It is harder to spot hazards during the night. Dusk and dawn can also be challenging, especially if the sun is in your eyes. Even if you decide to allow your teenage child to drive at these high-risk times, you should explain they need to take extra care. As important as giving adolescents their freedom is, you want them to come back home safely and not get injured by other drivers’ imprudent actions .
It seems like service animal discussions are popping up more than ever in the media. Often, these animals (typically, dogs) are confused for emotional support animals. However, they are not the same. A service dog has received specific training to serve and support someone with disabling injuries or special needs. Victims of car accidents often suffer from an array of disabling injuries. Examples include spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries, which may leave victims with special needs. In many cases, acquiring a service dog or other animal can significantly improve a victim’s life , but how can you pay for such an animal? Options to cover service animal expenses after a car accident Getting a service dog is not cheap, with initial costs often reaching as high as $30,000 to $50,000. These costs reflect the training and abilities of the animal, which is why they are so expensive. You can also expend to spend thousands of dollars annually to care for the dog. Out-of-pocket : paying to purchase or adopt the dog out of your finances. Loans : some people must take out expensive loans to acquire a service animal. Crowdfunding : creating an account on GoFundMe or other platforms can help. Grants : several organizations exist to help cover the costs of getting and training a service dog. In our years helping car accident victims in Lawrenceville, we have worked with many people who needed service dogs. Unfortunately, they often cannot afford such animals even when using the options above. With this in mind, we want to suggest one more option worth exploring . It may be possible to receive enough compensation in a car accident lawsuit to help you get a service animal. We recommend asking an attorney about this option. If your car accident occurred because of negligence, you have a good chance of getting the maximum amount of compensation possible. You can find more car accident and injury topics on our website and blog. We invite you to continue reading.
Listen to Our Podcast
Join Derek Hayes as he dives deep into the world of personal injury law, sharing insights, stories, and expert advice to help you understand your rights and navigate the legal landscape. Each episode features real-life cases and interviews with industry professionals.
"Injury Insider with Derek Hays” answers legal questions and debunks personal injury myths with insight and expertise. For 25 years, Derek has exclusively represented injured parties in Georgia. Now, he’d like to put that knowledge to work for you!