August 04, 2010
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
In the past few decades, it's estimated that Americans' exposure to radiation has increased six times. A lot of that exposure comes from CT perfusion scans, commonly called CAT scans, and can lead to serious consequences. This is a topic that I think everyone should learn about – as a patient, you are your own best advocate, and knowledge is an essential tool in your fight for quality treatment. Current estimates are that over 400 patients in eight hospitals have suffered from radiation overexposure during CT scans, particularly when diagnosing a stroke, though the Food and Drug Administration thinks the real number is higher. In many cases, patients who were overexposed suffered hair loss, burns, and memory problems. What's more, experts think that overexposure can lead to serious complications in the future, such as brain damage and cancer. I encourage you to check out this article on CT perfusion scans for more information, including theories on how and why the overdoses occurred. Knowing as much as possible will help you know what warning signs to look out for and what questions to ask your doctors.
June 17, 2010
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
My law firm usually posts news about dangerous drugs, but today I'm here to tell you about an up-and-coming drug that may help people injured in accidents. It's still being developed, but this medication could potentially save 100,000 lives a year. The drug is called tranexamic acid (TXA), and it helps stop blood clots from breaking down. For an accident victim, this could be a matter of life and death, and TXA could stop thousands of people from losing dangerous amounts of blood after an accident or injury. Researchers tested the medication on 20,000 adult patients from 40 different countries in 274 different hospitals. At random, they administered one gram of TXA by injection and another gram through a drip over the course of eight hours. Other patients were given placebos in the same way. After four weeks, researchers found that TXA decreased the risk of death by 10 percent. Furthermore, there was no evidence of TXA causing unwanted blood clots. TXA could be a new mainstay in emergency rooms nationwide as doctors treat accident victims. Research is still in its early stages, but these findings are an exciting new medical development and one that my law firm will monitor closely as new information emerges.
June 10, 2010
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
New findings are proving what many of us already know: sometimes bad things seem to happen one right after another. A recent study done by a doctor from the University of Washington has found that if a child is injured seriously enough to be hospitalized, other children in the household have a significantly higher risk of unrelated injury for the next three months. Children can be left feeling anxious and jittery after serious accidents, and these feelings make them more likely to have an accident of their own. So, if someone in your home is seriously injured, talk to your kids about the accident and help put them at ease. There are also ways to safeguard your family. Experts say the most effective strategies are also some the simplest: seatbelts, bicycle helmets, and pool safety. Make sure everyone buckles up in your car. If you have a pool, take necessary safety measures, including fencing around the entire perimeter. And bicycle helmets should always be worn by the entire family while biking. You can check out my firm's Summer Safety Tips and Home Safety Tips pages for more information on keeping your children safe. Have a safe and happy summer vacation!
May 20, 2010
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
My law firm is all-too-familiar with the repercussions of traumatic brain injuries. We've seen the devastating effects they have on victims and their families, the medical treatment they require, and the way they can change lives forever. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined one of these changes, one that you may not be familiar with: over half of all people who suffer a traumatic brain injury become depressed in the year following the injury. This rate is eight times higher than in the general population. Furthermore, only 45% of those people who become depressed receive treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries every year. Most of the people in the journal's study were injured in falls, car accidents, or other accidents involving vehicles. The study authors also noted that head injuries are the "signature" injury of soldiers, with as many as 360,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan having experienced these injuries, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Please read CNN's story on this if you'd like to learn more – this is a very serious issue that deserves more attention.
January 28, 2009
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
We all know that cell phones and driving don't mix. There's another dangerous trend that's becoming more and more common, however - kids talking on cell phones while they cross the street. Check out this ABC News story on the subject.
December 18, 2008
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
For many of us, the next couple of weeks are going to be busy with gift shopping and attending and hosting holiday gatherings. In areas like Pittsburgh, where ice and snow frequently cover sidewalks and parking lots, getting around, even if it's just from someone's front door to the car, can be treacherous. Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents do happen, and at my law firm, we've helped people who have suffered serious injuries from falling on ice and damaged surfaces. People have questions about premises liability during the winter months in particular, so here's a quick summary of the conditions that lead to legal responsibility for injuries sustained due to a slip or fall: • The owner of the premises or an employee must have caused the dangerous condition.
• The owner of the premises or an employee must have known about the dangerous condition but did nothing to correct it.
• The owner of the premises or an employee should have been aware of the dangerous condition. In general, property owners are held accountable for falls that result from conditions like snow, ice, water, abrupt changes in flooring, and inadequate lighting. You can check out my firm's detailed premises liability page for more information on topics like homeowner's insurance and dangerous property conditions. As you celebrate the holidays, please make sure you keep your home or business safe for guests and patrons to avoid unnecessary, and sometimes tragic, injuries.
March 06, 2008
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
One of the biggest news stories this week in Western Pennsylvania has been the explosion of a house in Plum, PA. Due to this unfortunate incident, a man passed away and his 4-year-old grand-daughter was seriously injured. This accident falls under the category of one of the leading causes of death in the United States – unintentional injury. More than half of all fatal unintentional injuries, also called accidental deaths, occur in the home. Could the accident in Plum have been prevented? It’s not clear. The remaining parts of a gas pipe believed to have a leak that caused the explosion are being analyzed in labs right now. I think the important lesson to take away from this tragic event is that accidents happen fast and they can happen anywhere – even in the places we believe to be completely safe.
March 03, 2008
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
Many of you may have heard about the struggle of Bob Woodruff, a television reporter who was seriously injured by a roadside bomb while on assignment in Iraq. Due to his accident, Bob suffered a traumatic brain injury and currently lives with the residual effects to this day. A traumatic brain injury (TBI, for short) can occur when the head strikes a hard surface or when material damages the brain tissue. In the case of Bob Woodruff, his skull and brain were peppered by shrapnel from the roadside bomb blast. It’s estimated that 20,000 American war veterans have suffered brain trauma while in the military during the Iraq War. The effects of a TBI may vary, from Bob Woodruff’s frustrating language impairment to coma or paralysis if the brain is injured more severely. Everyday people experience brain injuries in car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and work-related accidents. The results of can be life-changing. Bob Woodruff is now working hard to educate Americans about this serious form of injury. I applaud his work and encourage everyone to better understand the devastating effects of TBIs.
August 01, 2007
Posted by: Attorney Edgar Snyder
One recent story in the news caught my attention – the brave men and women who went to work to clear the rubble and debris from the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks have never received a dime of the $1 billion in insurance money the government granted them. The ground zero workers have filed a lawsuit seeking coverage for serious on-the-job injuries, including many who were hurt from breathing the toxic dust created by the buildings’ collapse. Even though a special company was created just to handle these claims, not one injured WTC cleanup worker has been compensated yet under this plan. At my law firm we see the damage that can be caused by work-related injuries. I’ve seen hardworking men and women hurt on the job that desperately need help to pay for expenses that may have never been a problem if they were not injured while doing their job. That’s why I was so taken aback to learn that these courageous ground zero workers now have to fight just to get work comp benefits the government already set aside for their needs. On-the-job injuries mean high medical bills, lost wages, and even death. That’s why I sincerely hope these brave men and women are rewarded the fair coverage they deserve.
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