Bergen County Personal Injury Lawyer - All Topics

Two Killed When Carjacked SUV Plows Into Bus Stop

Chrissie Cole — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:28:00 GMT

A woman waiting at a bus stop was killed this morning when an SUV carjacked in Leonia struck a utility pole and lost control in Bergen County.

According to a report in the Record, the male driver of the SUV was also killed in the crash. Police told the Record that the SUV was traveling at high speeds south on Grand Ave. just after 5:00 a.m., when it struck a pole, spun around and stroke another before driving into the bus stop.

Power was knocked out in the area due to the accident. Police expect the road to be closed most, if not all of the day.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Is S Chip the Beginning of Socialized Medicine?

Karen Gatlin — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:32:42 GMT

Congress recently enacted S Chip, a program that provides medical coverage for a large percentage of American children. The legisatlion had been vetoed by Former President Bush on two occasions. Critics claim that the costly program is simply a means of expanding government control of health care, easing America into a system of socialized medicine. Medicare provides medical coverage for persons over 65, and Medicaid covers the low income population. After expanding coverage of children, the next step would be creation of a program to cover the remaining population. Sen. Tom Daschle, proposed, Secretary of Health and Human Services, has proposed requiring coverage to all Americans as well as creating of a board to oversee medical decisions. Whether this board would limit the kind of medications or treatments available for a particular disease or medical condition remains to be seen. Should medical practitioners now worry that government will control many medical decisions? Should we?

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Karen Gatlin

Nursing Home - Lack of Medical Care

Donald Caminiti — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Elderly nursing home residents receive relatively few cancer care services, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Few studies have examined cancer treatment and care among elderly patients residing in nursing homes. Yet, as the population ages, more people will move into nursing homes, many of whom will later be diagnosed with cancer. Cancer risk increases as people age.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071226004314.htm

Congress has introduced the "Nursing Home Transparency and Quality of Care Improvement Act of 2008." The bill increases the transparency of nursing home ownership, ensures that residents and their families have information about the quality of care at these facilities, and strengthens enforcement of nursing home compliance with quality of care standards.

The Nursing Home Act enables nursing home residents and government regulators to better know who actually owns the nursing home and who controls the decision-making that impacts the quality of care provided. In addition, the bill improves the reporting of information on staffing levels and direct patient care expenditures.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Donald Caminiti

Severe Injury/Death - Automobile Accidents

Donald Caminiti — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Driving on congested highways can raise anyone's stress level. Unfortunately, stressed out drivers often become enraged. Presently, the state government does not track the number of road rage incidents on New Jersey roadways, but legislators consider the problem serious enough to stiffen the penalties when it leads to accidents that leave people injured according to an article published recently in the Star Ledger.

On November 13, the Assembly Judiciary Committee unanimously approved legislation that would make road rage a specific type of assault by auto and would increase the punishment for anyone convicted under the law. The potential prison sentence would be increased from no more than 18 months to up to three to five years and fines up to $15,000.

The measure (A1561) is named "Jessica's Law" for Jessica Rogers, 20, of Hamilton, who was severely injured in a road rage incident. She and her father, Scott Rogers, were at the committee meeting to push for changes in the current laws that would toughen the penalties.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Donald Caminiti

Insurers Squeeze Consumers to Boost Profits

Donald Caminiti — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:35:24 GMT

LawyersUSA (11/13, Atkins) reported that a study by the American Association for Justice indicated that "insurance companies are putting the squeeze on consumers in an effort to boost profits" as the economic turmoil increases. The AAJ report contends that insurers' "tactics include denying more claims, using confusing policy language, discriminating based on credit score and retroactively canceling healthcare policies for consumers with serious illnesses," policies which "hurt consumers." Jon Haber, AAJ CEO said, "Insurance companies are preying on cash-strapped consumers with tough tactics to increase profits." He added, "The current challenges facing American families are only compounded when their insurance company plays hardball in their greatest time of need."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Donald Caminiti

Medical Malpractice: The Risks of Prescribing Accutane

Karen Gatlin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:03:14 GMT

Accutane is a drug commonly used to treat acne, a troublesome but non lethal skin condition. Therefore, the benefits of Accutane must be carefully weighed against its risks. Both precribing physicians and their patients must appreciate the dangers of the drug which the FDA has documented. Among the risks are: miscarriage, severe birth defects; liver, colon and lung injuries; and heart and brain injuries such as heart attack and stroke. Indeed, Accutane has been described as one of the most dangerous drugs available. See Green, J. Babies, Blemishes and the FDA: A History of Accutane Regulation in the United States, Harvard Law School, March 2002.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Karen Gatlin

Dangerous Flammable Products - Mattresses

Donald Caminiti — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of approximately 6,100 Serta Zipper-Covered Foam Core Mattresses. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Manufacturer: Serta International Mattress Co., of Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Hazard: The mattresses fail to meet the mandatory federal open flame standard for mattresses, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Donald Caminiti

Identifying Nursing Home Negligence

Donald Caminiti — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

A new, five-star system which helps consumers searching for a nursing home is scheduled to go online at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Compare Web site by the end of 2008. The ratings will be posted on the agency’s Nursing Home Compare Web site by the end of this year

The innovative new system rates America’s nursing homes by giving each a “star” rating similar to that used in the hospitality industry.

CMS hopes the system will provide patients and their families with an easy-to-understand assessment of nursing home quality, making meaningful distinctions between high performing and low performing homes.

The five-star rating system will mark the first time CMS has offered such a rating system for the fee-for-service or traditional Medicare program. Currently, through the Compare Web site, CMS assists beneficiaries and their families in making nursing home choices by providing information on individual quality-of-care measures, staffing and survey inspection information.

Information on patient and family satisfaction with services at a facility may also be added to Nursing Home Compare site. The “Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home,” a publication which includes information about the types of long-term care, local nursing home comparisons, and how to pay for nursing home care can also be found on the site.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Donald Caminiti

Medical Malpractice Resulting in Brain Injured Child

Donald Caminiti — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:18:00 GMT

The AP recently reported that a jury has awarded the parents of a brain-damaged boy $11.4 million following a three week trial in a medical malpractice case.

The injured boy's parents claimed in a 2006 lawsuit that negligent care by a nurse and nurse midwife resulted in brain injuries to their son during his birth in 2005.

The jury sided with the plaintiffs and, on Oct. 17 awarded $11.4 million. Although the hospital issued a statement saying it believes the care was appropriate and that the award was excessive, the parents' attorney noted that the award is barely compensation for the life long medical care the young boy will require.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Donald Caminiti

Underfunding Leads to Nursing Home Negligence and Reduced Access to Care

Donald Caminiti — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:10:00 GMT

A recent study revealed that Medicaid is underfunding state long-term care efforts by $4.2 billion this year, according to a new analysis of Medicaid financing released Wednesday by the American Health Care Association.

The funding shortfall, combined with the crippled economy and almost guaranteed state budget cuts next fiscal year, could threaten access to care and/or lead to substandard care at nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities.

Hardest hit by the under funding are New York and Illinois, who came up short by $548.1 million and $379.3 million respectively. Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey filled out the top five.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Donald Caminiti