Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers Blog

Swimming Pool Injury? You May Be Eligible for Compensation.

For many people, swimming pools are the ultimate summertime escape. They’re great places to cool off on hot days for both kids and adults alike. However, in addition to the ever-present threat of drowning, swimming pools can also put people at risk of other serious injuries.

Common swimming pool-related injuries include:

• Slip and fall injuries—Whether it’s from splashing or dripping swimmers, every surface near a swimming pool is likely to get wet while the pool is being used. It’s up to pool owners to ensure that those surfaces don’t become slick and dangerous when they get wet to prevent slips and falls.
• Chlorine and chemical injuries—Maintaining an optimal level of chlorine and other cleaning agents in swimming pools is mandatory to keep them free from bacteria and safe for swimmers. When there’s too little, swimmers can get sick, and when there’s too much, they can suffer health problems.
• Cuts and abrasions—People walk around swimming pools with bare feet, and they come into contact with metal and rough surfaces such as ladders, diving boards, slides, and liners. Hazards such as broken glass, sharp edges, and broken equipment can put swimmers at risk of serious injuries.

The Virginia personal injury attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers are here to help if you or someone you love suffers a serious swimming pool injury this summer. All swimming pool owners are required to take many steps to ensure their property is safe for swimmers, and when they fail to do so, we hold them accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation to find out how we can help.

Take Medications? Keep Tabs on Their Recall Status.

All consumer products, whether it’s food, vehicles and their components, household products, and pharmaceutical medications, are supposed to be thoroughly tested and proven to be safe. And while most products that are sold to consumers meet all safety criteria, some don’t—including potentially life-saving prescription drugs.

When medications are defective, patients can experience severe side effects and complications. Unfortunately, patients aren’t always aware of recalls until weeks or months after they occur, especially if they receive large amounts of pills or tablets and don’t need refills for long periods of time.

While your doctor or pharmacist should contact you when a drug recall occurs, that may not always happen in a timely fashion or at all. Thankfully, there’s an easy way for people to keep tabs on the status of prescription medications: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s drug recall database.

In addition to listing the dates, names, and reasons of recently recalled medications, the database also includes a search function. That makes it easy to look up any medications you’re taking to determine if they may pose an unnecessary risk to your health.

If you find out that any medications you’re taking are recalled, never stop taking them without first speaking to your doctor. Many recalls are issued due to minor problems with labels or packaging, and even more serious recalls should be handled carefully under your doctor’s supervision.

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Virginia drug injury attorneys work hard to help people who were harmed by dangerous drugs. If you or someone you love had a bad outcome after taking a recalled medication, contact us today for a free consultation.

Many Accident Types Can Result in Traumatic Brain Injuries

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we know that all injuries have the capacity to change victims’ lives forever. Whether it’s broken bones, cuts and contusions, or soft tissue damage, injuries can result in big medical bills and pain that makes it difficult or impossible to work. However, few injuries affect victims as profoundly and permanently as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

TBIs can occur in a wide variety of accidents. They can happen during car accidents, even when victims are protected by seat belts and air bags. They can occur when victims slip and fall on wet, slick, or uneven walkways. They can affect motorcyclists, even those who wear DOT-approved helmets. They can even change the lives of patients undergoing medical procedures when doctors and surgeons don’t take proper precautions.

Our Virginia brain injury lawyers know how devastating TBIs can be today, tomorrow, and 30 years from now. For many victims, the expenses never stop adding up. They need lifetime care, and they’re permanently disabled. Getting a quick one-time settlement from the insurance company simply isn’t enough to cover their expenses, and yet that’s what adjusters believe is fair. Of course, their goal is to protect their profits—not pay victims the money they need.

Don’t let that happen to you. Our legal team is ready to take your call and put our experience and dedication to work for your family. Contact us today for a free consultation. Your family has suffered one of the most devastating injuries, and it’s our job to get you the money you deserve.

What Scenarios Can Lead to Wrongful Death Claims?

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our legal team works hard to help injured victims and their loved ones get compensation after accidents. But what happens when those accidents result in someone’s death?

The surviving family members of a person who died in a preventable, fatal accident that was caused by another person’s or party’s negligence can file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship. There are many types of accidents and mistakes that can result in valid wrongful death claims, including:

• Car accidents—When drivers break the law, whether it’s by speeding, texting while driving, or driving under the influence, they put others in danger. And when their negligence causes a fatal crash, they should be held liable.
• Medical malpractice—Doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare providers are responsible for ensuring their patients are safe and avoid complications. When they fail to do so, they can be considered accountable for injuries, illnesses, and even deaths.
• Nursing home abuse—Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable members of society. Many are at risk of deadly falls or sudden downturns in their health that can turn fatal. It’s up to nursing home staff members to provide the care, medical treatment, and supervision necessary to reduce their risks.

These are just a few examples of the types of situations that can result in wrongful death claims. If you lost a loved one and you believe it was due to someone else’s carelessness or mistake, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact our Virginia wrongful death attorneys today for a free consultation.

Defective Products Can Cause Debilitating and Fatal Injuries

Consumers drive our society. We use products manufactured by large corporations from the moment we wake up until the moment we go to sleep. And while many products make life easier and more convenient, we also trust product manufacturers to ensure that their goods are safe for everyone to use.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Whether it’s due to a defective design, inferior and cut-rate components, or even hidden safety test results, many products end up on store shelves, in workplaces, or even in hospital rooms every year that put innocent people at risk.

What happens when an airbag explodes instead of inflating to protecting vehicle occupants during a crash? How does a defective joint replacement affect recipients when it breaks down inside their bodies? Or what’s the outcome when a pacemaker, a device designed to regulate patients’ heartbeats, fails to operate properly?

The consequences of a failed consumer, industrial, or medical product can be devastating and often fatal. And in many cases, those consequences could be avoided by more thorough testing or a more proactive recall process. But big product manufacturers want to protect their profits, and that often means skimping on testing and being reluctant to recall cash cow products.

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Virginia defective product attorneys fight for the rights of people who were injured or lost loved ones due to dangerous goods. Don’t wait to get the legal representation you deserve after your defective product injury. Contact us today.

3 Steps to Take if You Get Hurt on the Job

Getting hurt on the job isn’t just painful—it can also be devastating for your family’s finances. On-the-job injuries can require expensive medical treatments and ongoing rehabilitation, the costs of which may be too much for you to afford. In addition, your injuries can make it impossible for you to go back to work. That means no paychecks and even no health insurance if you get laid off.

Because of the potential negative consequences of workplace injuries on employees, almost all employers in Virginia are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance is designed to pay injured workers a percentage of their wages while they recover from their injuries. However, getting approved for benefits isn’t a guarantee, and the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission is notoriously strict when approving or denying applications.

You can improve your odds by taking the following steps:

1. Tell your manager or supervisor about your injury right away—Report your injury to a supervising employee as soon as possible. The less time that passes between your injury occurring and you reporting it, the less chance the review board will believe your injury was caused by something else.
2. Get medical treatment—After alerting your workplace of your injury, get medical treatment for it. Getting medical treatment not only helps kickstart the healing process, but it also creates an official record of your workplace injury.
3. Tell the truth about your injury—Never lie, downplay, or exaggerate the severity of your injury. Always be fully upfront and honest about it, whether you’re talking to your employer, your doctor, or even your lawyer.

After taking these steps, it’s important to contact an experienced Virginia workers’ compensation attorney. At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we know what it takes to help injured workers like you win their claims. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Nursing Home Residents Are Especially Vulnerable Right Now

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Virginia nursing home abuse attorneys are always looking for ways to protect and uphold the rights of nursing home residents throughout the state. Abuse and neglect can occur anytime and anywhere in nursing facilities, especially when they are understaffed or employees are undertrained.

However, a new threat to residents has emerged in recent months: COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. This infection has spread rapidly throughout the U.S., and many nursing homes nationwide have been hit particularly hard by it. To make matters worse, elderly people and people in poor health are most susceptible to developing severe and potentially life-threatening complications from the disease.

It’s important for nursing home staff to take all necessary precautions to protect their residents, their visitors, and themselves from this potentially deadly virus. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes are following protocol when it comes to reducing risks. Failing to abide by recommended precautions, such as not quarantining residents who are suspected to have the virus, or failing to wash hands and wear masks, is both negligent and dangerous.

Although COVID-19 can’t be completely stopped or eliminated, it’s essential that public health facilities, including nursing homes, do everything in their power to reduce risks. Was your loved one put in harm’s way via abuse or neglect at their nursing home? If so, we want to hear from you. Contact us today for a free consultation. It’s our goal to help you get the compensation you deserve.

3 Steps to Take Before Leaving the Scene of a Crash

The aftermath of an auto accident can be difficult to deal with. Car crashes are loud, shocking, traumatic, and painful. It can be hard to think straight when you’re still at the scene, especially if you were hurt. Your top priority during this time is making sure you, your loved ones, and other victims get the needed medical attention. But if you’re capable of doing so, there are a few other steps you should take to protect your rights to compensation.

Those steps include:

1. Get contact information from others—It’s vital that you’re able to contact the other driver or drivers. Get their name, phone number, email address, and insurance information. Getting contact information from witnesses is also important.
2. Cooperate with police, but don’t admit fault—Stay at the accident scene until you leave in an ambulance or are told you’re free to leave by police. Cooperate with them while they’re at the scene, but never admit fault, as doing so could make you ineligible to pursue compensation.
3. Take pictures of the crash scene—The position of your vehicle and other vehicles involved will change quickly after the crash as the scene is cleaned up. Taking pictures of their positions from a safe location, as well as damage, skid marks, and other markings can serve as valuable evidence.

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Virginia auto accident attorneys know that it can be difficult to keep a clear head after a crash. But the closer you stick to the steps outlined above, the more likely you may be to get the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.

It’s Important to Pursue Compensation after a Bicycle Accident

The COVID-19 pandemic has the U.S. and most of the world in lockdown mode for the foreseeable future. While many public places are closed, you can still get out and enjoy the beautiful spring weather for exercise and fresh air—provided you respect social distancing guidelines, of course. For many people, that means peddling around their neighborhoods on their bicycles.

If you plan on taking your bike out for a spin, it’s important to remain safety-conscious throughout your ride. And if you’re involved in an accident that causes you to suffer injuries, it’s equally important to consider your rights to compensation. Bicycle accidents can seriously injure riders. Broken bones, soft tissue injuries, concussions, and even life-threatening head injuries are all common in riders who were struck by vehicles.

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Virginia bicycle accident attorneys know that many cyclists are hesitant to file compensation claims after injuries. They may feel like they were partially or fully responsible for their own crashes, especially when they were riding on public roads. But bicyclists have just as many rights as motorists on all roads except interstates and some major highways. That means that after accidents, they’re entitled to pursue compensation.

When you contact us, we’ll collect evidence that proves you weren’t at fault. Then, we’ll calculate how much money you’re owed for your injuries. Finally, we’ll demand the insurance company you what you deserve, and if they won’t, we won’t hesitate to take them to trial. Contact us today for a free consultation—we’re ready to help.

4 Requirements for Medical Malpractice Claims

At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, it’s our goal to help people get compensation after they’ve been harmed by negligent doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare providers. However, it’s important for victims to know that medical malpractice claims require extensive proof to be successful. In addition, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other healthcare facilities are typically well-prepared for medical malpractice claims, and they’re ready to push back when patients file complaints against them.

Successful claims require proving four important facts:

1. You had an established doctor to patient relationship—First, you (or your attorney) must prove that the doctor or healthcare provider who harmed you was indeed assigned to treat you specifically.
2. The doctor was negligent—Poor outcomes don’t always mean negligence occurred. There must be concrete proof that shows the healthcare provider was negligent while treating you.
3. The negligence resulted in your injury—Negligence alone isn’t always enough for a medical malpractice claim. The negligence must also have contributed to an injury, illness, or complications.
4. The injury led to verifiable damages—When it comes to personal injury claims, damages refer to things such as physical, mental, and emotional pain, medical bills, and lost paychecks.

If you believe you were harmed by a medical professional due to negligence, our Virginia medical malpractice lawyers want to speak with you. We’ll investigate your claim and determine if the criteria above can be proven. If it can, we’ll move forward with your case and work hard to get you maximum compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.