Lake Charles Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Law Blog

Study: Patients face medical malpractice in MS misdiagnosis

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Medical Malpractice on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

Louisianans who are having medical issues and seeking treatment from a doctor are doing so under the belief that they will be diagnosed accurately and receive the necessary treatment to improve their condition. Unfortunately, it is not unusual for misdiagnosis to take place. If the initial medical assessment suggested that the person was suffering from a serious condition and they do not really have that condition, then they might receive unnecessary treatment for it or the wrong treatment entirely. This can cause serious injury and a worsened condition. For those who have been impacted by this type of mistake, having legal advice is imperative if they hope to impose liability and recover compensation for the harm caused to them.

This may be the case for several people who were diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis and were found to have been misdiagnosed at an alarming rate. In a recent study, around one in five people who received the diagnosis at two Southern California medical centers that specialize in MS did not have the condition. The study had 364 patients, 241 of whom received a referral for treatment from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. However, 17 percent at one medical center and 19 percent at the other received a misdiagnosis and were treated for MS for, on average, four years.

Auto accident statistics for trucks stay flat even with new rules

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Friday, February 15, 2019.

With so many semi-trucks on the road and the potential hazards they can cause, these commercial vehicles and their operators face additional government rules and regulations. Safety measures are constantly implemented in an attempt to reduce the chance of these crashes, but it takes time to determine how successful they are.

In recent years, the amount of time truckers spent on the road was an ongoing concern and rules were enacted to try and regulate it. A new study, however, indicates that these implementations have not impacted safety and reduced truck accidents.

Nurse's medical mistake leads to patient death

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

One of the biggest responsibilities Louisiana medical professionals have is to dispense medication. In a hospital, where there is a litany of medications that are designed to treat a variety of ailments, it is not unusual for there to be a mistake when these are given. Some of these mistakes are especially dangerous and can cause a patient to suffer permanent damage and even die.

As an illustration of this risk, a Tennessee nurse was arrested recently after a patient's death was determined to have been due to her egregious medication mistake. The investigation began in late 2018. There were concerns over the female patient's death when it occurred at the end of December 2017. The patient had been admitted to the hospital complaining of headaches, brain swelling and other health issues.

Motorcycle rider dies in accident, vehicle driver arrested

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Wrongful Death on Monday, February 11, 2019.

Motorcyclists in Louisiana are known to be vulnerable to injuries and death when involved in a crash. If drivers of conventional vehicles lack the vigilance and care needed to ensure that riders are safe when they share the road, it is unavoidable that these accidents will occur. To compound these incidents, the driver of a passenger vehicle who has just been in a crash with a motorcyclist will often try to flee the scene and avoid responsibility. People who have been hurt or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident must put aside their grief and anger and think logically about the future by pursuing a legal claim in hopes of recovering compensation. This very well may be the situation for one motorcycle accident victim and the family of a man who was killed in that wreck.

There, a 25-year-old man died and his 27-year-old female passenger was seriously injured when the motorcycle they were riding on was hit by an SUV. The accident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. According to the investigation, the motorcycle was heading south. The victims were riding a 2003 Honda Shadow 750. According to reports, a driver in a grey SUV turned left in front of the bike, causing the accident. The riders were thrown from the bike. When emergency personnel arrived, they declared the man dead. The passenger was hospitalized. The driver of the SUV, a 30-year-old female, was caught and arrested on multiple charges including felony hit-and-run, vehicular homicide, failing to stop at a stop sign, and more. The investigation is continuing.

Auto accident between car and school bus injures students

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Saturday, February 9, 2019.

Lake Charles residents and people throughout Louisiana place trust in school bus drivers.

Children can be easily hurt and even lose their lives when they are in a school bus crash. Despite relief parents might feel when they are told that there were no injuries or minor injuries, it is wise to remember that there can be damage unseen and undiagnosed in the immediate aftermath.

Childbirth complications increase in the U.S.

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

Childbirth is one of the most common and natural medical events in life. Each year, about 4 million parents anticipate the arrival of a new child, and preparations for welcoming a baby can be quite elaborate. However, childbirth is not without its risks, and diligent parents take prenatal care seriously. Expectant mothers may read and research what to expect during the delivery process, and nervous dads may ask advice of seasoned fathers.

While the birth of every child is a unique experience even if you are not a first-time parent, you certainly hope your medical team will not be complacent in the delivery room. A routine birth can quickly turn tragic if doctors and nurses are not alert to signs of distress in you or your baby.

School officer directing traffic injured in workplace accident

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Since Louisiana law enforcement and other first responders willingly put themselves in harm's way as part of the duties of their job, it is easy to forget that they can be injured just like anyone. Workplace injuries apply to people who take their lives into their own hands to help others, and they, too, have the right to seek workers' compensation benefits for injuries suffered in the line of duty. This is even true when there is a car accident and an officer is injured. For those who are injured in a workplace accident, having legal assistance is fundamental to getting workers' compensation benefits for all that was lost.

This very well may be the case for an elementary school resource officer who was injured when he was hit by a car as he directed traffic. The accident happened before 7 a.m. as the 37-year-old male officer was in front of the school. A vehicle that was heading east crashed into him. He suffered serious injuries, but they are not believed to be life-threatening. He was said to have suffered one broken leg, injuries to the other leg, and head injuries, including a concussion. The officer had worked at the school on two separate occasions from 2007 to 2012 and 2013 to the present. He has worked for the sheriff's office for a decade. The driver who crashed into the officer was questioned, but the investigation is continuing.

Distracted driving becoming more prevalent

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Louisianans are reminded regularly of the dangers of distracted driving. The prevalence of auto accidents caused by distracted drivers is worrisome and studies have been conducted to determine if various strategies impact this driver behavior. Those who have been involved in a car crash should determine whether it was because of a distracted driver, as this can be critical when filing for compensation.

One new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that drivers are still using their devices behind the wheel. Nearly 12,000 drivers were studied in Virginia for the study. The study found a 57 percent increase in drivers using cellphones when compared to the numbers from 2014.

Louisiana eighth for fatal workplace accident statistics in U.S.

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Workers' Compensation on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

There are dangers with any kind of job in Louisiana and across the nation, but some types of employment are riskier than others. Since so many people are employed in somewhat dangerous jobs in oil and gas across Louisiana, there are many who are injured and killed in workplace accidents. Adding in the number of incidents that occur in other kinds of employment, Louisiana places in the top 10 in the latest statistics for fatalities on the job. People who have been injured or whose loved one died because of a work injury should be aware of the statistics and know what steps they should take in hopes of recovering workers' compensation benefits, including death benefits.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the latest numbers for workplace fatalities and stated there was a reduction in the most recently completed assessment from 2017, but the number of fatalities has still risen in a troublesome way since 2009. For every 100,000 workers, there were 3.5 deaths. Most often, people died from falls, motor vehicle accidents, exposure to dangerous substances, and workplace violence.

Three vehicles involved in fatal accident that kills man

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

Motor vehicle accidents are a common cause of injuries and fatalities in Louisiana. These can occur at any time and for myriad reasons. Often, it is an innocent bystander who was a passenger in one of the vehicles who ends up as the victim of a fatal accident. Since these accidents are so sudden and come without warning, those who are unexpectedly confronted with the loss of a loved one will be reeling and unsure of what they should do in the aftermath. Although it is difficult to think about as they come to grips with the accident, a legal filing is often necessary to recover compensation for what they have lost.

A crash between three pickup trucks led to the death of a 53-year-old man. The accident happened in the evening. The vehicle the man was riding in, a 1999 Ford, was at the intersection as the driver had slowed to try and make a left turn. Another pickup truck, a Dodge, crashed into the back of the Ford. The Ford was then sent into the lanes heading east where a GMC hit it. The passenger in the Ford was declared dead at the site of the accident. The driver was taken to the hospital and his injuries were said to be moderate. The case is still being investigated.