Blog
- Crash Safety: New and Proposed Auto Safety Standards
Mar 11, 2016
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are once again raising the standards for motor vehicle safety. Among the changes to improve crashworthiness are tougher requirements for achieving the coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation, as well as an improved safety rating system proposed by the NHTSA to begin with 2019 model year vehicles. How Has Top Safety Pick+ Changed? Requirements for both Top Safety Pick and TSP+ “…...Read More - Pedestrian Fatalities Increasing at Historic Rate
Mar 10, 2016
Pedestrian deaths are increasing at the fastest rate ever recorded. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has estimated a 10 percent increase in the number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2015 from the prior year. This first look at 2015 pedestrian fatality trends is based on preliminary data reported by highway safety agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The GHSA suggests that many factors could be contributing to this spike...Read More - The Ins and Outs of Obtaining Your Medical Records
Mar 10, 2016
The Privacy Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that gives patients the right to receive, inspect and review a copy of their medical information held by health plans and health care providers. Below are answers to a few questions about a patient’s right to see his or her medical records. What information is protected? The Privacy Rule protects information that doctors, nurses, and other health care providers put in...Read More - Surgical Fires: A Threat to Patient Safety in the Operating Room
Mar 9, 2016
Surgical fires, though rare, can kill or severely burn patients undergoing a medical procedure. These preventable fires are the result of the negligence of health care providers in various settings ranging from hospitals to urgent care centers to doctor’s offices. The patient safety organization Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) has estimated that 200 to 240 surgical fires occur each year in the United States, while the FDA estimates as many as 650. A fire can ignite...Read More - Steps To Take After a Rental Car Accident
Mar 8, 2016
Rental car accidents can get complicated quickly, especially when they involve injuries and other drivers. The ease in obtaining compensation depends largely on how the rental is covered by insurance. Below are a few points to know about insurance coverage and accident claims before you rent a vehicle. Speak to an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer now for more information about steps to take following a rental car crash. Does my personal car insurance cover my rental? Chances...Read More - Possible Factors Contributing to Seat Belt Failure
Mar 7, 2016
Wearing a seat belt is the most effective thing vehicle occupants can do to protect themselves in the event of a collision. Seat belts save thousands of lives every year – in fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that buckling up saved more than 62,000 lives between 2008 and 2012. It’s no wonder seat belt use in the United States reached 88.5 percent in 2015. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of a seat belt in...Read More - 4 Types of Brachial Plexus Injuries During Birth
Mar 7, 2016
A newborn can suffer nerve damage when his or her shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone during birth. If the delivering physician fails to recognize and respond to this condition, called shoulder dystocia, the infant can sustain nerve injuries ranging from mild to permanent. Call a birth injury attorney at Anapol Weiss if you believe your child suffered during delivery as a result of neglect from doctors and medical staff. The brachial plexus nerves...Read More - Preventing Surgical Instruments from Being Forgotten Inside Patients
Mar 4, 2016
A surgical object mistakenly left inside a patient is a medical emergency that can lead to death or permanent health problems. Shockingly, surgical instruments are left inside patients thousands of times every year in the United States. Surgical sponges account for nearly 70 percent of items left inside patients. Other items commonly found on post-op X-rays include: retractors, sharp objects such as needles, blades and scalpels, towels and other textiles, clamps, guide wires, scissors and more...Read More - 6 Steps to Take After Being Informed of an Infection Control Breach
Mar 4, 2016
More than 200 patients were recently notified that they may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis B or C at Shore Medical Center in New Jersey. Sadly, infection control breaches continue to happen in hospitals across the country, and patients are left with unexpected health problems they never expected to happen. Below are six steps patients should take if they receive a letter from any hospital about possible infection exposure. 1. Get tested right away. Set up...Read More - What to Do if You’re a Passenger in a Bus Accident
Mar 3, 2016
Passengers who ride on a bus entrust the bus driver and the owner of the bus with their safety and well-being. Unfortunately, thousands of buses are involved in crashes in the U.S. every year. Bus accidents have the potential to be much more complex than crashes involving smaller vehicles. There are more victims involved as well as more responsible parties. Due to the lack of airbags and seat belts on buses, injuries can be much more...Read More