Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers Blog
by admin@gotechark.com | November 23rd, 2015
For years, statistics have shown the benefits of wearing your seat belt. Despite these numbers, data from Virginia’s Smart, Safe & Sober program shows a little less than 25 percent of Virginians chose not to buckle up last year.
With Thanksgiving and the influx of traffic the holiday can bring just around the corner, knowing the causes of car accidents and the importance of wearing your seat belt can help you stay safe on the road. One of the methods to raise awareness is the “Click It or Ticket Mobilization” campaign.
The program launched on Nov. 20 and will continue through Nov. 26. During that time, officers, deputies, and troopers will not only focus their efforts on enforcing Virginia’s seat belt laws, while also making an effort to provide the public with information about how seat belts can save lives.
Officials say they hope the campaign can help contribute to boosting Virginia’s seat belt compliance from around 77 percent this year to 82 percent in 2016.
The National Safety Council has announced that if everyone wore seat belts, it could an estimated 164 lives this Thanksgiving holiday. Programs like this could have a significant impact on achieving these numbers. That’s why the Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers are happy that efforts are being made to protect motorists from accidents by providing them with information to help make safe choices.
by | November 16th, 2015
Hockey players are at high risk of suffering brain injuries because of the hard hits and slick playing surfaces associated with the game. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say hockey produces the second highest number of head and brain injuries in the United States each year, coming in just behind football.
Wearing a helmet is the best way to prevent brain injuries, but a new study shows they may not offer as much protection as once believed.
A report from WAVY 10 News examines research conducted at Virginia Tech’s School of Bio Engineering and Mechanics. A team of researchers placed each helmet through a series of 48 separate impacts to test performance. The study took 32 different helmet models into consideration and found very few offered a noteworthy level of protection.
Data indicates nine of the helmets failed to receive a single star, suggesting the models offered players little to no protection from a potential brain injury. Furthermore, no helmet received four or five stars—the highest ratings available.
As a Norfolk personal injury lawyer, Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers is committed to helping athletes protect themselves from injury. That’s why we ask young hockey players to consider these precautions:
- Check helmet safety ratings- Take a look at the reviews and testing on a helmet’s functionality. This can provide you with the information you need to choose a safe helmet.
- Ensure a proper fit- Once you have a helmet that can help prevent a brain injury, it’s important to make sure it’s the right size. A helmet should sit just above the brow line and the strap should fasten securely under the chin.
- Learn proper technique- Experts say that learning safe methods to make contact on the ice is the best way to prevent players from suffering brain injuries.
We hope these tips help keep you and your loved ones safe on the ice this season!
by | November 9th, 2015
Making ends meet after being injured on the job can be difficult due medical bills and lack of incom. Luckily, employees injured in the commonwealth are often entitled to Virginia workers’ compensation benefits. And now, at least one new study shows these payments are among the highest in the nation.
The Workers’ Compensation Research Institute examined payments, prices, and utilization of benefits in 17 states. Researchers were able to conclude that while Virginia had higher medical costs for non-hospital providers—roughly 13 percent more than average—the commonwealth also received above-average medical payments. According to the Insurance Journal, when a worker in Virginia was out of work for seven or more days, they receive one-third more in medical payments than the median payment in the other 16 states involved in the study.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we recognize the vital role Virginia workers’ compensation benefits can play in an injured workers’ recovery—both physically and financially. Our Norfolk personal injury lawyers are glad to see Virginia’s injured workers getting the help they need. We also encourage anyone hurt on the job to consider applying for the benefits that they need.
by | November 2nd, 2015
As Americans, we’re lucky to have access to medications that can treat many of our ailments. Still, it’s pertinent to keep in mind that certain medications can cause serious side effects, including harm to internal organs like the liver. That’s why our Norfolk drug injury lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers would like to point out several medications that have recently been tied to serious liver damage in some patients.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a drug that is found in more than 100 medications, and it’s used to treat pain. Experts have shown that taking too much of the drug can cause serious harm to the liver.
Data indicates that as many as 50,000 patients are treated in the emergency room for Acetaminophen liver damage each year. Another 500 die as a result of the drug injury.
Viekira Pak and Technivie
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warnings regarding two Hepatitis C medications that pose a risk of liver damage in some users. The Wall Street Journal reports that since the beginning of the year, the FDA has received 26 reports of patients suffering serious liver damage after using the medications.
Getting Help
If you’ve suffered liver damage as the result of taking a medication, you have rights that need to be protected. We’re here to assist you. You can learn more about the options and resources an attorney can provide by visiting our website.
by | October 26th, 2015
There are countless factors that can lead to car crashes, but some causes are reported more often than others. That’s why the legal staff at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers would like to point out some common causes of car accidents in our area:
- Driver Distraction- The chances of being involved in an accident are 23 times higher when engaging in behaviors such as texting or talking on the phone while driving. Other behaviors that can cause a driver to become distracted include eating or drinking, adjusting the radio, and talking with passengers in a vehicle.
- Drinking and Driving- In 2014, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reports that 251 people were killed and another 5,003 motorists were seriously injured as the result of a crash caused by a drive under the influence of alcohol.
- Speeding- Driving faster than the posted speed limit is listed as a contributing factor in roughly one-third of all fatal collisions.
If you were injured in a Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, or Hampton Roads car accident that wasn’t your fault, you have legal rights. Learn more about your potential rights to compensation by exploring our website.
by | October 19th, 2015
The diabetes drug, Actos®, has been linked to the development of bladder cancer in some patients. Many victims are seeking compensation for their losses with lawsuits against the maker of the drug. Now, many of those cases are beginning to come to a close.
In April, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Inc. offered more than $2 billion to settle a majority of the Actos bladder cancer lawsuits. It didn’t seem as though the deal would be closed in August, considering only 75 percent of the victims had agreed to the terms of the settlement. However, the company announced last month that they had reached settlements with 96 percent of the drug’s victims for an estimated $2.4 billion. This laid to rest seven of the nine remaining lawsuits the company is facing in connection with Actos bladder cancer cases.
Now, it seems as though another of those cases has been settled as well. Fierce Pharma reports a case involving to Nevada patients who developed bladder cancer after using Actos® has been settled. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we are aware of the struggles many Actos bladder cancer victims face along their road to recovery. That’s why our drug injury lawyers are hopeful the settlements reached in these cases brings a sense of closure to those whose lives were affected by the dangers of the drug.
by | October 12th, 2015
Millions of children use a high chair each day. The Norfolk defective product lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers point out that if your child is using a high chair designed by Safety 1st, he or she may be at risk of injury.
According to WAVY 10 News, child product manufacturer, Safety 1st, has recalled three different models of high chairs due to a fall and injury risk the units pose. Reports indicate children can remove the trays that attach to the 35,000 affected high chairs, which allows the child to fall from the seat. Injuries that have been associated with these falls include cuts, bruises, and chipped teeth.
So far, the company says it has received 68 reports of children removing the trays, with 11 of those cases resulting in a child being injured.
The affected units include model numbers:
- HC144BZF
- HC229CZF
- HC229CYG
If you are own one of the affected units, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated you should stop using the high chair immediately and contact Safety 1st for a free repair kit.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we know the dangers using a defective product can pose. That’s why our Norfolk personal injury lawyers applaud the efforts being made to correct the problems with these high chairs and are hopeful more injuries can be avoided in the future.
by | October 5th, 2015
Heavy rains have fallen in recent days around Norfolk, Virginia, and much of the city is covered in water. Such flooding can make traveling along the region’s roadways extremely dangerous. The Norfolk car accident lawyers at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers have several tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe until floodwaters subside.
- Stay Home– If you don’t have to be on the road, refrain from driving.
- Know Your Route– If you must drive, know the road conditions along your route. WAVYTV 10 News created a list of the roads that are closed due to flooding in our area. If these roads are along your route, find an alternative way to get to your destination.
- Turn Around– If you are approaching standing water in a road, never attempt to drive through it. Your vehicle could become flooded, putting you and your passengers’ lives in danger. Instead, turn around and find another route.
- Communicate– Let others know of your intention to drive and when you should be expected to reach your destination. Once you’ve arrived, call and let those individuals know you’re safe.
Keeping Virginians safe and protected is one of our top priorities at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, and our Norfolk personal injury attorneys hope these tips help to keep you and your loved ones safe on the road until the flooding dissipates.
by | September 28th, 2015
The automobile industry in the United States is heavily regulated in order to ensure the safety of the vehicles on the American market; however, our Norfolk defective product lawyers with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers explain allegations have arisen that car manufacturing giant Volkswagen (VW) may have attempted to hide problems with the emissions systems of 11 million vehicles worldwide.
In December 2014, VW sent letters to owners of certain diesel-powered Audis and VW’s saying an update was needed to the vehicles’ emission systems in order to function properly. The letters prompted an investigation that has uncovered some disturbing evidence.
VW may have attempted to hide the fact they had knowledge of the emissions problems and failed to properly fix it. Reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate officials found VW had installed a “defeat switch” in hundreds of thousands of American vehicles that allowed software to manipulate the data collected during emissions tests.
An article from WAVY 10 News explains that an investigation has been launched into the VW emissions scandal by several states and now Virginia has joined the fight. Attorney General Mark Herring told reporters on September 24 that he is working to make sure Virginians who are affected by the VW emissions problems get the compensation they deserve.
Defective car parts and systems can be extremely dangerous to everyone who is on the road, which is why our Norfolk personal injury attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers are hopeful the investigation that is currently under way can bring the public some answers on how this issue will be resolved.
by | September 22nd, 2015
Tens of thousands of women undergo surgery each year to treat conditions like urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. One of the many devices used in these procedures is transvaginal mesh—a sling that can support a woman’s internal organs; however, reports of these devices failing have surfaced over the years and have led to thousands of lawsuits being filed in response. Now, many of these transvaginal mesh failure lawsuits could soon be resolved.
One of the largest transvaginal mesh manufacturers in the U.S.—C.R. Bard, Inc.—has offered to pay $200 million to settle roughly 3,000 transvaginal mesh failure lawsuits that have been filed against the company. According to an article from Bloomberg Business, this would bring an end to roughly 20 percent of all current litigation stemming from a transvaginal mesh failure.
If the terms of the settlement receive final approval, it means that each plaintiff could receive as much as $67,000 in damages. This amount would fall in between a $43,000 settlement that was reached with one victim and the $2 million the courts ordered the company to pay to another.
Our legal staff at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers have seen first hand the struggles that many transvaginal mesh failure victims face along the road to recovery, which is why our Norfolk defective product lawyers are hopeful the terms of this settlement will bring peace and closure to the matter for each of those who were affected.
