Lake Charles Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Law Blog

You can avoid pain and suffering in your offshore oil rig job

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm on Sunday, August 12, 2018.

When you signed up for a job on an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana, you probably expected it to be tough work in hazardous conditions. Deckhands, mechanics, operators and other crew on fixed platforms and offshore drilling rigs can suffer permanent and life-threatening injuries. Although your employer is responsible for your safety, it might be smart of you to gain knowledge of the most common safety risks and look out for your own safety.

Statistics show that most of the fatalities in the oil and gas industry occur during the preparation of the site, drilling, and servicing of the well operations. You could prevent permanent disability or worse by taking precautions to avoid the most significant risks, which include struck-by hazards and caught-in hazards.

Studies show risk of auto accidents is high in August

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Louisianans who head out on the road might not think about the possibility of being in a car accident, but accidents happen every day and it is wise to be cautious and aware of the potential risks. In fact, there are certain dates that are more dangerous than others.

According to statistics, August 2 is the worst day to be on the road. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that the most fatalities happen on that day. The IIHS assessed auto accident deaths between 2012 and 2016. On August 2 of those years, more than 500 people died in crashes. The reasons for this are not obvious. Other days that saw an increase in crashes include July 4, October 25, May 3 and November 1.

Woman suffers serious injuries from boat propeller

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Admiralty & Maritime Law on Wednesday, August 8, 2018.

For many in Lake Charles, the height of summer enjoyment is water-based activities. While this is generally viewed as a safe activity, there are still dangers. Any vehicle carries a certain amount of danger. It is vital that boaters obey the law. Unfortunately, many do not, and accidents with injuries and fatalities happen. But, a lawsuit can be useful to recover compensation to pay for medical costs and other damages.

For example, recently, a boating accident led to a woman suffering serious injuries due to a boat propeller. The accident happened at night, and the woman was attending a party on the water with others.

Lake Charles car crash sends 2 to hospital

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Friday, August 3, 2018.

There are many causes of auto accidents in Lake Charles. When a driver makes a wrong turn, does not account for the diminishing speed of vehicles ahead of them, operates the vehicle at excessive speeds, is reckless or makes other mistakes in judgment or poor decisions, there can be a car crash. Any auto accident can result in injuries and fatalities. Those who have suffered injuries in an accident should remember that a legal filing can help with recovering compensation for all that was lost.

A crash resulted from a driver failing to stop for slow traffic. The driver was trying to leave the interstate but failed to stop for backed up traffic on the exit ramp. The car struck another car in front of it and caused that vehicle to flip over. The vehicle that flipped hit another vehicle and a fourth vehicle was hit by debris. Two drivers were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. The driver who rear-ended the first vehicle was given a citation for careless operation.

Louisiana tops list for serious injury leading to maternal death

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Medical Malpractice on Friday, August 3, 2018.

Having a child is an exciting time. This often obscures the reality that there are many of the same dangers involved with having a baby as there are with other medical procedures. Even more problematic is the number of maternal fatalities in the United States. Although perceived as one of the most, if not the most technologically advanced country in the world, recent research found that the U.S. is the riskiest place to give birth of all the developed countries.

The investigation by USA Today says that there are 700 deaths and more than 50,000 serious injuries when giving birth. The number of fatalities during childbirth has been rising. It is believed that the injuries and deaths are happening because of a failure to adhere to time-tested safety procedures. An estimated half of the fatalities are preventable. Hemorrhaging and a severe form of hypertension are the most prominent causes of death.

Vehicle hits trucker inspecting blowout, causing wrongful death

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

When there is an accident in Louisiana, there is never an excuse for fleeing the scene no matter the circumstances. With a crash, the decision to flee will make the situation exponentially worse. Law enforcement is vigilant about catching hit-and-run drivers and the family of the person who was hurt or died in these accidents must protect their interests with help from a lawyer when the fleeing driver is caught.

A truck driver died in what is believed to have been a fatal hit-and-run. According to the investigation, a 57-year-old trucker had a tire blow out and stopped his vehicle near an exit ramp. When he exited his truck to survey the damage, he is thought to have been hit by a vehicle that subsequently fled the scene. When he was found, he had injuries to his upper and lower body. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. The investigation to find that vehicle is ongoing.

Men suffer workplace injuries after falling while removing sign

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Workers' Compensation on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.

There are certain jobs in a municipality that must be done so it can be run efficiently and safely. Louisiana is no exception. Many of these jobs, however, place workers in danger. This could be a job that requires the worker to be stationed high above ground, near electrified cables and using heavy equipment. When there is an accident, there is a chance for serious workplace injuries and death.

For example, recently, two brothers who were working on a roadway sign above ground were injured when they fell. The incident occurred at around 11:20 a.m. The sign collapsed causing the men to fall. One landed on the ground. The other was hanging from power lines that were close by. When emergency responders arrived, they assisted the man who was hanging by using a bucket truck to free him. Neither appeared seriously injured. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Medical malpractice incidents linked to burnout in doctors

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Medical Malpractice on Friday, July 20, 2018.

When those in Louisiana visit a medical professional for treatment, they believe they will receive the correct diagnosis, be given the proper medication, and be treated well so they can get better. However, reality says that medical mistakes will happen. Mistakes can lead to a worsened condition, serious injury, long-term damage and even death. Those involved in an accident will often question how and why it happened. One new study shows that doctors in America might be making errors due to burnout.

In the survey, in which 6,700 physicians took part, they were asked various questions related to workplace safety, medical mistakes and other indicators of burn out. These include being depressed, fatigued, and contemplating suicide. Greater than 10 percent of the participants admitted to having made one major medical error in the three months before they took part in the study. It was found that doctors who had burnout were twice as likely to have made a mistake. Researchers state that burnout is preventable and should be addressed.

Study shows frequency of parents engaging in distracted driving

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Friday, July 20, 2018.

If it seems as if texting and driving and other distracted driver behaviors are mentioned frequently when referring to auto accidents in Louisiana and across the nation, it is not a mistake nor is it an unnatural focus on these crashes. It is a major problem that is growing to epic proportions and causing serious injuries and fatalities. Research is examining this issue and it consistently brings up surprising and worrisome information with distracted drivers.

A new survey in a combined study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia showed that around half the parents who took part in the survey admitted to talking on their cellphone while driving with a child between the ages of 4 and 10 in the vehicle. 33 percent admitted to reading text messages. One out of seven were using social media. Since distracted driving has been shown to be a cause of approximately one out of four accidents, this is a growing trend that those who are in a crash should be aware of as a possible cause.

Legal assistance is needed for head-on and rear-end car accidents

On behalf of Damon Beard of The Townsley Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Sunday, July 15, 2018.

For Louisianans who are in a car accident, some accidents place them in greater danger of being injured or killed than others. For example, when the driver is in a head-on crash or is rear-ended, they are naturally vulnerable and can suffer worse injuries than in other types of crashes. When there is an auto accident of this category, the victims and their families must think about the future and consider their right to seek compensation in a legal filing.

A head-on car accident often occurs because another driver went the wrong way on the roadway. However, it can also happen when a driver is under the influence or was behaving recklessly and lost control of the vehicle. Regardless of how it happened, when a car crashes head on into another car, there can be head injuries, brain damage, and broken bones. This can cause long-term damage, an extended hospitalization and the inability to work. Simply being in a crash where the airbags deploy can cause injuries.