Harrisburg Medical Malpractice Blog

How often do truck drivers abuse drugs and alcohol?

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP posted in Truck Accidents on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

As a Pennsylvania resident, encountering large commercial trucks on state roadways is likely a common occurrence, but you may, like many others, feel uneasy when navigating your way around them. While the sheer size and weight of modern semi-trucks make them inherently dangerous, they become even more potentially deadly when the people commandeering them abuse drugs or alcohol on the job.

Regrettably, per the American Addiction Centers, substance abuse among truckers is a far more common occurrence than you might like to think. In fact, a series of 36 studies on truck driver substance abuse conducted over a 13-year period revealed some sobering statistics about just how many truckers are turning to drugs and alcohol while at work.

What are some common birth injuries?

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP posted in Birth Injuries on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

The process of labor and delivery is very natural. It has been happening since the beginning of humankind. However, not every birth in Pennsylvania goes smoothly and without issues. Sometimes, birth injuries occur to the baby. The most common of these, though, are generally temporary issues that clear up without any long-lasting effects.

According to Stanford Children's Health, a birth injury is any type of injury that occurs when a baby is born. They can happen to you or your baby. Typically, if your baby has injuries, they will not be severe. For example, a broken collarbone is a common occurrence due to the shoulders being compressed as the baby comes through the birth canal. In babies, fractures heal quickly. Bruising is also common due to the general trauma of the birthing process. While they may look bad, they should clear up fast.

What are frequently asked questions for post-crash victims?

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP posted in Auto Accidents on Friday, November 2, 2018.

As a resident of Pennsylvania who has either lost a loved one in a crash recently, or experienced a traumatic one yourself, you likely have a lot of questions that you want answered. Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski, LLP, will help you get the answers that you deserve.

If you have been injured beyond the ability to work or lost a loved one who was the primary source of household income, you likely have a lot of financial-related questions. For example, who will pay for the vehicle damage? How will you make up for lost wages? Can your medical bills be covered?

What are some winter safety tips for driving on the PA turnpike?

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP posted in Auto Accidents on Wednesday, October 24, 2018.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a well-traveled road. As such, it is prone to many accidents throughout the year. While accidents may happen anytime, it is winter that poses the highest risk to you as you drive on this road. Heavy traffic and bad road conditions add up to serious hazards that make it difficult to drive. There are some things you can do to help keep yourself safer while traveling this route.

According to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, cautious driving habits are your best bet to staying safe when traveling this roadway. You should reduce your speed and increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Also, make sure to turn your headlights on, especially if it is actively snowing. This makes your vehicle more visible.

The misdiagnosis of breast cancer

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP posted in Medical Malpractice on Friday, October 19, 2018.

Misdiagnosis if one of the deadliest forms of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania, as it often results in lack of treatment or inadequate treatment. Misdiagnosis, especially when breast cancer is involved, can result in the need for costlier and more extensive medical care, advancement of the disease and even death.

According to findings published in FindLaw, nearly one in every eight American women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Unfortunately, many of those women will not find out that they have breast cancer until it is in its advanced stages. This is often due to misdiagnosis and lack of diagnosis, which accounts for approximately 61 percent of all medical malpractice claims involving breast cancer patients.

Signs a surgeon left something inside a patient's body

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.

Most surgeries end perfectly with no complications to the patient. However, every year, stories crop up of surgeons leaving foreign objects inside a patient's body. One of the most well-publicized cases of this happening occurred this year when a woman discovered a surgeon left two surgical sponges inside her body. She realized she had an issue when she noticed abnormal stomach bloating.

Surgeons can leave an array of objects inside a body cavity, including scalpels, scissors, tubes, surgical gloves, forceps and other objects medical professionals need during surgery. Objects get left behind for many reasons, and patients should pay attention to any warning signs immediately following an invasive procedure.

Heart attacks often go undiagnosed in women

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP posted in Medical Malpractice on Saturday, October 6, 2018.

If you are like most people in Pennsylvania, you might automatically think about chest pain, especially on the left side of the body, when you think about a symptom of a heart attack. This is certainly a common thing for a person having a heart attack to experience but it is far from the only symptom. In fact, women, in particular, are likely to experience symptoms other than or in addition to chest pain when having a heart attack.

Unfortunately, doctors seem to attribute many of the symptoms in women to other problems and end up not accurately diagnosing a heart attack in a female patient. As reported by Healthline, one study published in a journal called Circulation indicated that female heart attack patients were more likely than men to experience three or more non-chest symptoms. In these patients, doctors did not connect these non-chest symptoms to a heart problem in just over 36 percent of men but in 53 percent of women.

Serious truck crash closes freeway

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP posted in Truck Accidents on Saturday, October 6, 2018.

Every state in the nation, including Pennsylvania, has clear laws governing traffic flow and operation of vehicles. In addition, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has additional rules and guidelines that govern the operation of commercial motor vehicles by those with commercial driving licenses. These rules are intended to ensure that truckers and others who operate large commercial vehicles do so safely and responsibly.

Accidents involving semi trucks, buses, dump trucks or other such vehicles have the ability to be extremely serious given their large size and weight. Also of concern is the risk that the contents of a tanker could be spilled during a crash, further exacerbating the consequences of a wreck or putting even more people in harm's way.

Dealing with grief in a positive way

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP posted in Medical Malpractice on Friday, September 28, 2018.

Many people in Pennsylvania were raised to be tough. Here at Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP, we understand the impulse you might have to project a strong image in the face of adversity. Many of our clients feel the same. That is why we work with each client compassionately and diligently to uncover the truth behind the event and provide an opportunity for closure.

We understand that grief can be complicated, so we strive to present the simplest and most effective legal solutions to our clients. Especially in the case of potential medical malpractice, we focus on uncovering hard facts rather than delivering lengthy explanations.

Delayed car accident symptoms to watch out for

On behalf of Navitsky, Olson & Wisneski LLP on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

Pennsylvania has a rather high car-accident rate. In particular, the state has one of the highest rates in the country concerning car accidents involving deer, says the Observer-Reporter.

Many collisions result in minimal damage and injuries. Some people feel perfectly fine after an auto accident and do not even go to see a doctor. However, seeing a doctor is crucial, because a medical professional can find injuries you are not aware of yet. In the weeks and months after the crash, you need to pay attention to the following symptoms in case they pop up at a later date.