Personal Injury

Just a decade ago, a firefighter would not have survived suffering burns over 95 percent of his body. Nor would a forklift operator who had sustained a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord trauma and a fractured pelvis. Today, dramatically improved outcomes can be achieved for people suffering these devastating injuries. Experts say these improvements came about from a combination of factors. First, lessons have been learned from treating a large number of military service people for serious burns, amputations, brain trauma or spinal cord injuries. Researchers and practicing doctors have made

Continue reading Catastrophic injuries becoming more survivable with tech advances…

No one wants to let down a child during the holidays. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends rush around from store to store (or from website to website) to find just the right thing. It may seem like your biggest worry is whether your beloved tot will enjoy the gift. Unfortunately, it’s not. Unsafe and defective toys are being sold right now, hiding in plain view on your store shelves. What should you watch out for? Every year, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund puts out a report called “Trouble in

Continue reading Holiday shoppers: Beware of these toy, balloon & battery hazards…

A traumatic brain injury is often the result of a Maryland motorcycle or bicycle accident. Getting an early diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury is very important so that people are better able to recover. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.5 million people suffer from traumatic brain injuries each year, and many of the injuries happen in vehicle collisions. Victims may be left with permanently disabling conditions. An early diagnosis may help improve the quality of a patient’s life while also stopping secondary injuries that

Continue reading Motorcycle or bicycle accidents and brain injuries…

Dogs are the companions of a large number of people in Maryland and across the country. In fact, between 33 and close to 50 percent of all US households own a dog. However, along with the joy of owning a dog is the possible danger of the dog biting a child in the household. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2014, more than 50,000 children six years of age or younger have been injured because they were bitten by a dog. Studies show that small children are likely

Continue reading The dangers family dogs may pose to young children…

Behavioral changes among drivers in Maryland and advances in autonomous vehicle technology could improve safety on U.S. roads. At least that’s what the U.S. Department of Transportation believes. The problem of traffic fatalities and injuries has spiked in recent years. According to the National Safety Council, 2015 saw a 7.2 percent rise deaths, and the first six months of 2016 have already produced a 9 percent increase compared to the same period from the year before. The DOT has responded to the problem with a plan to eliminate all deaths and injuries

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Maryland residents may have heard about the fatal train crash that occurred in New Jersey on Sept. 29. One person was killed and over 100 other people were injured when a train crashed into the station platform during the morning commute. On Oct. 2, the National Transportation Safety Board held a press conference to discuss what happened and answer questions. According to the NTSB, the engineer who was operating the train when the fatal accident occurred has no recollection of what happened. The 48-year-old man was reportedly well rested when

Continue reading Train engineer sheds no light on reason for train crash…

Spinal cord injuries can cause a variety of issues for individuals from severe pain to paralysis. Maryland residents with spinal cord injuries may be interested to know that graphene nanoribbons and a certain polymer may be used to repair damaged spinal cords. Researchers at Rice University have used a special chemical process to isolate graphene nanoribbons from multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Having long since been used to improve materials for batteries and parts used in airplanes, graphene nanoribbons are now being developed for medical use. Specifically, a substance referred to as Texas-PEG, derived

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On Aug. 22, the FDA announced that it was going to allow two devices to be marketed as tests aimed to diagnose cognitive function after a brain injury. They are called the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) and ImPACT Pediatric. They are designed to allow doctors in Maryland and around the country to diagnose the signs and symptoms of a head injury as part of an overall diagnostic process. On their own, these devices are not designed to diagnose a concussion or any other head injury. However, they collect

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It is against the law to drive without insurance in all 50 states. Still, approximately one in 10 motorists in Virginia is without valid insurance, according to research by the Insurance Research Counsel. Drivers who are uninsured often simply fail to secure insurance, have a lapsed policy, or may be driving on a suspended or revoked license. Victims of a hit-and-run are also dealing with uninsured motorist issues. The takeaway is that if you are in an accident through no fault of your own, there is a significant possibility the

Continue reading Your legal options when hit by an uninsured driver…

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, refers to brain dysfunction that develops due to a violent blow to the head. TBIs may commonly occur as a result of a car accident, fall, or severe sports injury. Due to the serious complications that can result from head trauma, there is currently a significant amount of research being done regarding the possible causes and treatment of TBIs. For example, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center will soon begin to study secondary injuries which may occur after suffering a blow to the head.

Continue reading A traumatic brain injury may lead to secondary injuries…