Georgia Personal Injury Blog

February is “Heart Health Month” in the United States. If you have risk factors for heart disease, or don’t know your heart disease status, now is a great time to see your doctor, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). It’s also a good time to get a second opinion if you suspect your heart disease has been misdiagnosed or isn’t being treated properly.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, especially those over age 55. Each year, heart disease takes more lives than every form of cancer combined. Heart disease occurs when the heart or the blood vessels that feed it are damaged, often by the buildup of plaque that narrows the blood vessels. Narrow blood vessels means the heart gets less blood in and out with each beat, forcing it to work harder.

If heart disease isn’t treated properly, the heart may fail, resulting in a heart attack. Blood clots may also occur, causing stroke, pulmonary embolism, or other potentially fatal conditions. Even people who survive a heart attack or stroke may suffer permanent disabilities. Although there is no cure for heart disease, early diagnosis and treatment can keep it under control, decreasing your risk for heart attack or stroke.

Heart disease can cause serious health problems, especially if it is not properly diagnosed or treated. If you or someone you love has suffered a heart attack or other serious injury or illness due to a failure to diagnose or treat heart disease, the experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help. Call us today for a free consultation at (404) 995-3955 to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Super Bowl parties will be taking place all over Georgia this weekend, as people gather together to enjoy food, drinks, and the big game. While you can make smart choices to prevent yourself from driving while impaired by alcohol, you can’t make all other drivers make the same smart choices.

To raise awareness of drunk driving and the serious auto accidents it can cause, the NFL (National Football League) offers the following facts:

• Over 10,000 people lost their lives in drunk-driving accidents in 2010. These accidents involved both car drivers and motorcyclists.
• A designated driver should be over the age of 21, have a valid driver’s license, and promise not to drink alcohol before or during the game. Showing your appreciation for a designated driver by picking up the tab or offering to pay for gas is one way to encourage people to volunteer as designated drivers in the future.
• Making sure everyone has a sober ride home before breaking out the alcohol can help protect not only your friends, but others on the road as well.
• So far, a record 175,000 NFL fans have pledged to be designated drivers as part of the NFL’s “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” program. It’s not too late to join them!

Car accidents can cause serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Georgia car accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. We can help you protect your legal rights and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. For a free consultation by phone, give us a call today at (404) 995-3955.

Endoscopes are used to examine the workings of the digestive system and other organs to make sure these systems are healthy or to check on the progression of certain diseases. While uncomfortable, an endoscopy is far less invasive than surgery, especially when physicians only need to observe conditions inside the body. When endoscopes and similar equipment are not properly cleaned, however, serious consequences can result.

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine tracked cases in which patients developed various infections after undergoing an endoscopy or similar procedure. The study looked at cases in which the disease could be tracked to improperly sterilized equipment. The most common type of infection transmitted was salmonella poisoning, followed by tuberculosis caused by improperly-sterilized bronchoscopy equipment used to examine the inner workings of the lungs. One case of hepatitis B, a liver disease, was also documented in the 400 cases the researchers examined

The researchers noted that endoscopy equipment can be difficult to clean properly, making it more likely than other types of equipment to transmit infectious bacteria. They recommended a multi-step sterilization process designed to double- and triple-check equipment so as many bacteria as possible are neutralized before each procedure.

Proper cleaning and sterilization of medical equipment and facilities is key in providing patient care that minimizes the risk for secondary infections, some of which can cause serious complications. At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our experienced Georgia medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to representing those who have been injured by medical negligence. To learn more, call us today at (404) 995-3955 for a free telephone consultation.

Steelcase, Inc. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced a product recall of about 11,000 Steelcase office chairs. The pivot pins inside the chair’s control mechanism can fall out easily, which can lead to a nasty fall if someone is sitting in the chair. So far, neither Steelcase nor the CPSC has heard of any cases in which a person was actually hurt, however.

The recall applies to the model 482 Series Steelcase Amia desk chair, sold between March and June 2011 by various Steelcase retailers for $350 to $700 each. The chairs came in a variety of fabric or leather covering options. Information about the model of each chair and its manufacturing dates appears on a sticker on the underside of each chair. Only this particular series of chairs is affected by the recall.

Consumers who are using these chairs should stop using them immediately and contact Steelcase, which will provide a repair kit free of charge. Consumers can call Steelcase at (800) 391-7194 or email retrofit@steelcase.com to request a repair kit.

We use a wide range of consumer products every day, from light bulbs and toothbrushes to motor vehicles and computers, and we assume that these products aren’t going to harm us out of the blue. When a defective product causes a serious injury, you have certain legal rights and options. At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, our experienced Atlanta product liability lawyers are dedicated to helping injured people and their families secure the compensation they need and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. Call us today at (404) 995-3955 for a free consultation.

Accidents of all kinds can result in injury, but not all injuries require a person to stay in a hospital for treatment. Certain injuries are far more likely to result in a hospital stay than others, according to data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Common injuries that require a hospital stay include: fractures, brain injuries, poisonings, and injuries caused by slip and fall accidents.

Fractures are the most common injury that causes hospitalization, accounting for over 52 percent of hospital stays, according to AHRQ. Hip and leg fractures most often require a hospital stay, but fractures of the pelvis, ribs, spine, or arms also make the list.

The second most common injury for adults was poisoning, often from being prescribed the wrong medication or accidentally taking too much or the wrong combination of medications. The AHRQ study did not separate out poisonings from hospital malpractice, but these can also occur, and often lengthen a hospital stay if they do.

The most severe and expensive types of injuries requiring hospital stays were traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries were by far the most expensive, and they had the highest death rate for hospitalized patients at 13.5 percent. About 10 percent of TBI sufferers did not survive their hospital stays, often due to swelling of the brain that shut down vital body functions.

At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our experienced Georgia personal injury lawyers are dedicated to helping those who have been injured by another’s negligence. To learn more about how we can help you protect your legal rights and seek compensation, call us today at (404) 995-3955 (Atlanta) or (478) 742-5454 (Macon) for a free consultation.

Wearing a motorcycle helmet reduces the chances that the rider will suffer a head or face injury in a crash and reduces the severity of these types of injuries when they do occur, according to a recent study published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The NHTSA study examined data from 104,472 motorcycle accidents in 18 states over three years. By crunching the numbers, researchers revealed some interesting facts that should encourage any rider never to get on a bike without a helmet.

For instance, while 15 percent of motorcyclists suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in accidents when they were wearing a helmet, that number shot up to 21 percent among those who were not wearing a helmet. TBIs are a particular concern among motorcyclists because, when they do occur, they can cause serious impairment or even death. In the NHTSA study, TBIs accounted for only 17 percent of the reasons motorcyclists injured in crashes were admitted to the hospital; however, they accounted for 54 percent of the causes of death.

In addition to avoiding or mitigating the severity of a TBI, a motorcycle helmet can also help prevent serious facial injuries, which can cause impairment or scarring. Only 5.5 percent of riders who wore helmets suffered serious facial injuries in the study, while 6.1 percent of riders without helmets suffered them. The NHTSA recommends using a helmet with a proper face shield to further reduce the risk of facial injuries.

Motorcycle riding can be thrilling, but when an accident occurs, the thrill can turn to tragedy in an instant. If you or someone you love has been injured in a bike crash, the experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (404) 995-3955.

Two more cases have been filed in Atlanta by former National Football League players and their families seeking compensation for serious brain injuries, bringing the total number of players represented in the Atlanta court up to 28, according to a recent article from the Daily Report Online. Over 125 players and their families have filed similar cases nationwide.

The cases claim that the NFL failed to adequately protect players from repeated concussions during football games. Repetitive head trauma, like concussions suffered on top of concussions that haven’t fully healed, is linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. CTE can cause conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and it is also linked to serious changes in personality, mood, and cognitive and emotional functioning. One of the families that filed suit in Atlanta is that of a former NFL player who recently committed suicide after being diagnosed with CTE and suffered severe psychological symptoms.

The lawsuits claim that the NFL downplayed years of research into CTE and the effects of head injuries on players. It also claims that the NFL’s Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee, a body purportedly created to help protect players, was staffed with hand-picked individuals who would misrepresent or conceal medical evidence so that players would be kept in the game even after a head injury should have sidelined them.

The long-term results of repeated concussions are beginning to be fully understood, and the damage can be severe and even life-threatening. If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury, the experienced Atlanta traumatic brain injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help. Call us today at 404-995-3955 for a free and confidential consultation.

Many U.S. states have banned texting while driving, as has the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). But texting isn’t the only thing that can distract a driver enough to cause an accident. Eating, talking, and even personal grooming can all take a driver’s eyes and mind off the road and hands off the wheel – increasing the risks of a motor vehicle crash.

According to a 2010 report from the National Safety Council, approximately 1.4 million accidents per year are caused by drivers who are distracted by cell phones. This number doesn’t include distractions from texting – just those whose conversations on a cell phone resulted in a crash. A 2009 study performed at Virginia Tech found that texting while driving was even more dangerous than previously assumed. The study found that the risk of an accident goes up a stunning 23 times when a driver is texting.

In the face of increasing research exploring the dangers of distracted driving, many employers have banned the most common forms of driving distractions when their workers are on the road. Many companies have policies requiring drivers to pull over if they need to call or text and to avoid eating or using other electronic devices, like laptops or GPS units, while driving.

Distracted driving can cause serious injuries. At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our experienced Georgia distracted driver accident attorneys are dedicated to helping those injured by distracted drivers seek the compensation they need to move forward after an accident. To discuss your case with us, call our office today at (404) 995-3955 for a free and confidential consultation.

Traumatic brain injuries include any injuries to the brain caused by an accident or other event. One of the most talked-about and highly common types of traumatic brain injury is the concussion, in which the brain is bruised from a blow to the head. New research on traumatic brain injuries could lead to new awareness, prevention, and treatment options for these life-altering injuries, according to a recent article in Chicago Magazine.

In 2011, researchers began examining the results of years of studies of the effects of repeated blows to the head on athletes. They found that untreated traumatic brain injuries can lead to chronic conditions and/or serious problems with memory, concentration, chronic headaches, and even personality changes. Repeated concussions are linked to brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia in later years. It seems researchers have little doubt that traumatic brain injuries can have serious, lifelong consequences.

A traumatic brain injury can occur in almost any type of circumstance. A car accident can easily cause a concussion or similar brain injury. So can a workplace accident, if a worker is hit on the head or hits his or her head on a stationary object. Slip and fall accidents are a common source of traumatic brain injuries as well.

If you or someone you love has suffered a concussion or other head injury in an accident, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Georgia traumatic brain injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. We will help you investigate your case thoroughly and fight to hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. For a confidential consultation, call us today at (404) 995-3955 or toll-free at (866) 249-5513.

Bugaboo Americas, the makers of Bugaboo baby and child strollers, have recently recalled their Bugaboo Bee stroller because of the risk that children might fall out of it, according to a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada.

The stroller’s front wheels can lock while the stroller is in motion, making it much easier to tip the stroller over. So far, the company has received four reports of babies and toddlers who were in a Bugaboo Bee stroller when its front wheels locked and it tipped. The young children suffered minor injuries from the falls.

The recalled strollers were sold in the U.S. and Canada between January and September 2011. They were available at toy stores, such as Toys R Us and Buy Buy Baby, as well as online from bugaboo.com.

Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using the Bugaboo Bee strollers and contact either Bugaboo or the store where the stroller was purchased to receive free replacement wheels for the stroller. More information on the recall is available by calling Bugaboo at (800) 460-2922, by emailing serviceus@bugaboo.com, or by visiting the company’s recall page online at http://www.bugaboo.com/non-swiveling-wheels.

Strollers are for getting out of the house and enjoying the wider world, especially when children are young, and no caregiver wants their child to get hurt in a stroller. At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our dedicated Atlanta product liability attorneys can help you seek the compensation you need if you or someone you love is hurt by a defective product. Call us today at (404) 995-3955 or toll-free at (866) 249-5513 for a confidential consultation.