Baton Rouge Louisiana Personal Injury Law Blog

You have rights when a car wreck kills your parent or spouse

On behalf of MGM Attorneys on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

Certain family relationships are so close that your life becomes irrevocably intertwined with that of the other party. The relationship between parent and child is often this intense and important. The same is true for the relationship between spouses in many marriages. There may be a financial and social dependence of one party on the other.

That interdependence means that when a sudden accident, like a motor vehicle collision, claims the life of a parent or spouse, the people dependent on that individual may find themselves in a very difficult position. Not only do they have to deal with the grief that comes from losing a loved one, but they also have to deal with the financial realities of a death.

Emotional challenges of spinal cord injuries

On behalf of MGM Attorneys on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.

A spinal cord injury impacts just about every aspect of your life. Some people might choose to think about only the physical side of the matter, but there are also emotional ramifications that must be factored in when you are making plans for your future. It isn't uncommon for people who have this type of injury to suffer from depression and other mental health problems.

There are many reasons why you might have to deal with these types of issues. The first is that there are a lot of negative adjustments that you will likely have to make. The second is that you might feel a range of emotions that are difficult to handle. The third is that you might feel like a burden to your loved ones. Addressing these must be a priority so that you can move forward with your life.

Military precedent prevents malpractice suits

On behalf of MGM Attorneys posted in medical malpractice on Monday, July 8, 2019.

People in Louisiana who give of themselves to serve their country in one of the branches of the armed forces deserve to receive the best medical and dental care possible. The same is true of their family members. Unfortunately, medical errors can and do happen even in military facilities. Even more unfortunately, there is a current legal precedent in effect that prevents military personnel and their relatives from pursuing compensation for these errors.

The precedent dates back to 1950 and is called the Feres doctrine. Military.com explains that this precedent was meant to prevent service personnel from suing the government for alleged errors that occurred directly as part of their service and related to care provided in a combat zone or other situation. The law has since been used to bar family members from seeking compensation after the death of a new mother at a military hospital in the U.S., among other situations.

States continue lawsuits regarding opioids

On behalf of MGM Attorneys posted in medical malpractice on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

People who live in Louisiana have no doubt become aware of the tragic state of the opioid epidemic facing the United States today. This situation is horrible in many respects, including the fact that it may well have been preventable and the fact that pharmaceutical manufacturers consciously contributed to it. More and more states today are taking legal action against companies and even individuals for their roles in this problem.

Becker's Hospital Review shows that Mississippi was one of the first states to file a lawsuit against the maker of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, back in December of 2015. Louisiana filed a suit in the fall of 2017. CBS News interviewed one of the men leading the fight for justice against drug companies and note that he played significant roles in reaching settlements with tobacco companies and a major oil company after a spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Driver in ICE custody after hitting, killing seven bikers

On behalf of MGM Attorneys posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.

Most people in Louisiana assume that someone who holds a commercial driver's license is held to a high standard for safety and that their driving record is carefully monitored and reviewed. Unfortunately, it seems that there are several loopholes that allow a negligent person to continue to drive commercially. An example can be seen in a case involving the recent death of seven motorcyclists at one time.

The incident occurred in New Hampshire and involved a truck being operated by a 23-year-old man from Massachusetts. USA Today explains that he worked for a hauling company and was on duty at the time that he drove into the group of bikers, killing seven and injuring others. The man is from Eastern Europe but does have legal permanent resident status in the United States.

Drunk driver's original conviction to stand

On behalf of MGM Attorneys posted in drunk driving accidents on Sunday, June 30, 2019.

People who live in Louisiana know that their state is famous in part for its alleged joy of celebrations, many of which often include the consumption of alcohol. That, however, does not negate Louisianans love and devotion for their friends and family members and their respect for safety. When an intoxicated person chooses to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, they should be held accountable for that decision and any actions that result from it.

In the spring of 2011, two women and three young boys were all killed in a horrific and fiery accident caused at least in part by the actions of a drunk driver. According to a report by The Advocate, a man who was later found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.10% was driving a truck along a stretch of Interstate 10 and engaging in a bit of a cat-and-mouse game with a driver in a sport utility vehicle. In his attempt to pass the SUV on the shoulder, he collided with it which pushed him into another vehicle carrying the women and children.

The length of an average doctor visit

On behalf of MGM Attorneys posted in medical malpractice on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

When you go to the doctor in Baton Rouge, you likely hope that the visit will not linger. At the same time, however, you expect that the doctor will dedicate all of the time that is necessary to identify what is wrong with you and prescribe the best course of treatment. You should never feel as though you are being rushed through a visit. Yet more and more of those that come to see our team here at MGM Attorneys say that is exactly what they experience. So how long, then, should your doctor be spending with you?

To answer that question with an exact number is impossible as each medical case is different. The most appropriate response is exactly the amount of time that is needed in order to correctly diagnose you. A standard visit to the doctor (outside of an annual checkup) should include the following:

An overview of your medical history
A review of your major body systems
Careful consideration of your current signs and symptoms
Diagnostic testing to support informed decision-making

Detailing the dangers of eating while driving

On behalf of MGM Attorneys posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

Common types of driving distractions have been detailed on this blog in the past. One that might immediately jump out to many in Baton Rouge is eating and drinking while driving. These acts are likely considered to be so natural that few might actually classify them as distracting. Yet the statistics detailing the dangers of eating while driving cannot be overlooked. According to information compiled through a joint effort between The Auto Alliance and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, those who eat behind the wheel are 3.6 times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who do not.

How is eating and drinking while driving distracting? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies driving distractions into the following three categories:

Manual distractions
Visual distractions
Cognitive distractions

Louisiana DUI conviction rate below national average

On behalf of MGM Attorneys posted in drunk driving accidents on Sunday, June 23, 2019.

People in Louisiana are known for their hospitality and enjoyment of celebrations with friends and family members. This, however, does not mean that all people in Louisiana are reckless or that they do not care about their safety and the safety of others. Louisianans treasure their loved ones and most people therefore make it a priority to be safe and make wise choices when driving a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, there are enough people out there who still put their own pleasures above public safety.

Drunk drivers continue to plague Louisiana streets and highways, claiming lives every year across the state. As the laws have become stronger in this area over the last several decades, family members of those who are killed by these negligent drunk drivers should be able to believe that justice will be done. A new report issued by Mothers Against Drunk Driving shows that the vast majority of people charged with driving under the influence charges are never convicted.

Common types of drug errors

On behalf of MGM Attorneys posted in medical malpractice on Saturday, June 22, 2019.

People in Louisiana who are prescribed medication or given prescription drugs while in the hospital should be aware of the most common types of errors involving these substances. Some of the errors involve the method of administration or other clerical issues while some errors highlight specific substances most frequently involved in instances that cause patient harm or death.

According to Becker's Hospital Review, prescribing medications to people with known allergies to them is one problem that happens all too often. Other errors happen when an initial high dose is given before dropping to a maintenance level, when prescriptions are not administered in a timely manner or are forgotten or when multiple medications negatively interact with each other.