Posted on March 14, 2023 in Defective Products

Most federal employees work at government agencies that facilitate various interests which influence the American experience. Among these agencies are several that help to ensure that the raw materials, agricultural products, and goods that are sold to businesses and individuals are safe. Without the efforts of various safety-related agencies, the rates of non-fatal and fatal injuries resulting from defective products would skyrocket.

With that said, far too many defective and dangerous products do slip through the cracks of the system and ultimately need to be recalled in the interests of public safety. When auto parts are recalled, consumers receive a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). When it is food or medication that has become hazardous, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes an announcement. For virtually all other products, it is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that sounds the alarm.

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 Posted on March 06, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

In 2016, when researchers from the famed Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine revealed that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., the media, the medical establishment, and the general public were stunned. The fact that medical mistakes occur was not a secret. But their prevalence and the extent to which they cause catastrophic or fatal harm were not yet widely understood.

As this reality has been public knowledge for several years, it probably should not be surprising that researchers from the same institution recently revealed that emergency room misdiagnosis errors are made approximately 7.4 million times every year in the U.S. Yet, this news is, nevertheless, shocking.

What Is Going On?

After reviewing close to 300 medical studies released between 2000-2021, researchers determined that 2.6 million patients suffer preventable harm as a result of the more than 7 million emergency room diagnostic errors made annually. An additional 370,000 patients either die or suffer permanent disability as a result of these errors.

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 Posted on February 27, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

While medical malpractice cases are comparatively rare, they are common enough that they make up between 2 and 3 percent of annual healthcare spending and constitute around 60 billion dollars in payouts and legal expenses. The vast majority of these cases arise from preventable errors or mistakes and the effect on the person to whom the malpractice happens can be deeply physically and psychologically damaging. In some cases, medical malpractice can threaten or take a patient’s life.

If you suffered or have a loved one who passed away in a medical malpractice incident, it is important to know that you may have legal options for recovering well-deserved compensation. And if you are not sure whether your case involves medical malpractice, understanding more about common malpractice cases and scheduling a free consultation with an attorney can help.

Common Medical Malpractice Cases

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 Posted on February 13, 2023 in Car Accident

Generally speaking, the transit system in Illinois works fairly well. City buses, trains, and other government vehicles help get people where they need to go in addition to carrying city employees about their business. However, the people operating these vehicles are subject to the same flaws as anyone else, and careless or negligent behavior on their part can lead to serious accidents with civilians. If you have been involved in an accident with a government vehicle, whether it was an accident on public transit or a car crash with a government car, make sure you speak to an Illinois personal injury attorney right away.

Who Can Recover Compensation in a Public Transit Accident?

Because so many people ride public transit, the risk of being involved in an accident or seeing someone else involved in an accident is quite high. Examples of people who have successfully recovered damages in public transit accidents include:

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 Posted on February 02, 2023 in Car Accident

Every year around this time, sleet, snow, and ice make for dangerous driving. Most drivers slow down and take the roads carefully, but not everybody drives safely enough to prevent serious car accidents from happening.

One such accident recently occurred on the Illinois-Wisconsin border that sent nearly 30 people to the hospital and involved several dozen vehicles. Accidents like this cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage, threaten lives, and often lead to many victims who require expensive, long-term medical care. However, determining who is responsible for such an accident can be very difficult, especially with so many cars involved. If you were hurt in an Illinois multi-vehicle pileup accident, a personal injury lawyer could be very helpful to you.

Who is Responsible for Causing a Pileup Crash?

One of the cardinal rules of driving is making sure that you leave enough room between yourself and the car in front of you to come to a sudden and complete stop if necessary. However, multi-car pileups complicate this factor, because getting hit from behind by another car can cause you to lurch forward and hit the car in front of you.

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 Posted on January 30, 2023 in Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents

Various parts of Illinois are bustling with pedestrians rushing to get to work or simply enjoying the day. But pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable people on the roads. They have to share the streets with fast-moving cars and big trucks and the obvious disadvantage is that they lack protective equipment when taking a stroll. A recent study shows that pedestrian accidents lead to a high number of knee injuries. Being injured in any type of accident can lead to long-term physical disability and impairment. At Newland & Newland, LLP, we are dedicated to helping you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Why is The Knee Such an Easy Target?

A recent study looked at pedestrian accidents and people’s knees. It found that the front bumper in low passenger cars often strikes the knee joint or just below the knee joint. The most vulnerable part of the knee is the MCL ligament and menisci. The severity of the injury often depends on how fast the car was going at the time of impact and exactly what part of the knee was struck. The knee joint is supposed to bend and rotate smoothly as the bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons work in tandem. If you experience knee pain after a car accident, it can certainly be due to one of these areas being injured.

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 Posted on January 25, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

X-rays are crucial in diagnosing an illness. But despite advances in technology, error rates in radiology remain almost the same as they did back in 1949. New research found that radiologists are missing significant problems in about 30 percent of chest x-rays while looking for disease. Radiologist mistakes continue to happen and, in some instances, they can lead to irreversible damage. Responsible parties must be held accountable because injuries from a misread x-ray can lead to lifelong disabilities or even death.

X-Rays and Neurocognitive Flaws

Typically, x-ray technicians and doctors review the images to determine if there is a cause for concern. This is often the time when errors occur. In many cases, radiologists do not notice potential health problems leading to worsening health conditions for the patient.

One of the most significant findings of this study is that radiologists actually looked at patient abnormalities in the x-rays, several times, but they were not mentally aware of it. X-rays are imaging tools that look at different parts of the body, specifically hard tissues, to-determine irregularities or disease. Physicians rely on a radiologist’s reading of an x-ray to determine if additional measures must be taken to protect a patient’s health. X-rays are usually taken of a patient’s bones, lungs, and digestive tract. But this recent study shows that radiologists are not seeing the issues that are right before their eyes.

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 Posted on January 13, 2023 in Birth Injuries

The most common injury at birth is a newborn’s fractured collarbone, which can lead to the development of Erb’s palsy (also known as brachial plexus birth palsy), a nerve condition that affects the shoulder and arm. The mere thought of that happening to your newborn is upsetting and painful to parents. Unfortunately, some 12,000 babies are born with Erb’s palsy. If your child suffered a birth injury you could be entitled to financial compensation for medical malpractice.

How Can Childbirth Trigger Erb’s Palsy?

During a difficult vaginal childbirth or a cesarean section, a doctor may have to move the baby’s head if it is in a breech position. This condition is most common in larger babies who may need to be pulled out during delivery. In some cases, the stretching of the nerves causes damage and tears. The injury leads to weakness or loss of muscle function. Medications such as oxytocin or an epidural during labor can also be contributing factors. There are four types of brachial plexus injuries during childbirth:

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 Posted on December 31, 2022 in Catastrophic Injuries

Medical errors are a serious public health problem and a leading cause of death in the United States. At least 4,000 surgical mistakes occur each year in the United States, causing catastrophic harm to patients. The Joint Commission, which drives quality improvement and patient safety, acknowledges that surgical errors are preventable. If a surgical error caused you serious harm, you may be entitled to compensation.

What Triggers Surgical Mistakes?

The impact of surgical errors can range from life-altering injuries to loss of life. Surgical mistakes seem to be more common before and after the actual surgery rather than errors made in the operating room. However, there are some errors that occur frequently. Some of the causes of surgical errors include the following:

• Inadequate surgeon training and education

• Absence of standardized rules and regulations

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 Posted on December 23, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Unfortunately, many colon cancers are not detected in time, and this is especially true among younger patients who are increasingly being misdiagnosed. The risk of getting colon cancer increases with age which is why it is so puzzling to be seeing so many younger people in advanced stages of this disease. This year, nearly 18,000 people in the United States under 50 years of age will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. If you had a colon cancer misdiagnosis or if treatment was not prompt, you may be entitled to compensation.

Missed Diagnosis

Colon cancer can be mistaken for many things. Oftentimes, a mass in the intestine develops and eventually becomes cancerous. Doctors may see a younger healthier person and dismiss cancer. The other problem is that colon cancer may appear to be a gastrointestinal issue, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, or Crohn’s disease when it in fact is something much more serious like colorectal cancer. More research is needed to understand exactly why this cancer is not being caught in time among younger people.

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