Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers Blog
by | March 10th, 2014
March 10, 2014
There are countless hazards that workers in the manufacturing industry face each day they show up for work, but one of the greatest dangers is the risk of coming into contact with objects or equipment on a job site. In fact, the Norfolk Workers’ Compensation Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that in 2012, these incidents accounted for roughly 15 percent of all workplace fatalities.
More recently, a worker at a James City County, Virginia, manufacturing warehouse was left seriously injured as a result of an accident involving contact with a forklift at the facility. According to an article from WAVY 10 News, the incident occurred at approximately 11:15 a.m. this morning at the Nicewood Enterprises, Inc., facility located on Westmont Drive.
Reports indicate the 30-year-old victim was performing his job duties when he fell off the piece of machinery. His hand became caught in the machine, crushing his fingers.
The incident leaves many workers wondering what they can do to stay safe while on the job. The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain there are several steps that can be taken, which include:
- Always obey safety rules and regulations
- Wear proper safety equipment
- Report any problems or defects that could cause an accident
- Speak with a qualified attorney if an accident does occur while working
by | March 3rd, 2014
March 3, 2014
Brain injuries are a health condition that affect as many as 1.7 million Americans each year. To help educate the public about the problems brain injuries can pose, the Brain Injury Association of America has declared March Brain Injury Awareness Month.
The Norfolk Brain Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say one of the most common questions they receive is what are the most typical causes of brain injuries today. The team points to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that listed the following contributing factors as the most common causes of brain injury today:
- Falls– Accounting for 35. 2 percent of all brain injuries, falls were the leading cause of such head trauma today. Falls accounted for more than half of the injuries sustained by young children and the elderly.
- Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes- A total of 17.3 percent of reported brain injuries were sustained in collisions. These incidents also accounted for the largest number of brain injury-related fatalities, with 31.8 percent.
- Struck By/Against Events– These accidents accounted for 16.5 percent of all brain injuries and include incidents that occur while playing sports.
- Assault- Roughly 10 percent of brain injuries are caused by the violent act of another person.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley and his team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers recognize the dangers posed by brain injuries and ask citizens to be aware of these risks as well.
by | February 24th, 2014
February 24, 2014
Motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians and bicycles are a serious problem in Virginia. In fact, a total of 2,790 such crashes occurred in 2012 alone. The Norfolk Car Accident Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain the severity of the danger posed by these accidents was highlighted over this past weekend when a cyclist was left seriously injured as the result of a hit-and-run accident he was involved in with a vehicle. According to an article from WAVY 10 News, the crash happened at approximately 1 p.m. this past Saturday afternoon near the intersection of Route 17 and Owl Trap Road in Gloucester County. Reports indicate the victim was riding his bicycle north along the highway when what is believed to be a tan Toyota pickup truck with a camper cover attempted to pass the cyclist and struck him.
The driver responsible for causing the crash turned around and observed the victim before speeding away north on the road. Witnesses called for help and the victim was taken to a local hospital, where he continues to recover from injuries sustained in the crash. Investigators say they are continuing to search for the truck and driver involved in the crash.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley know how difficult overcoming injuries sustained in a crash can be. That’s why the firm would like to wish the victim a full and speedy recovery.
by | February 18th, 2014
February 17, 2014
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with the law firm of Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley know that when a person’s life is on the line as the result of an accident, rendering aide to the victim as soon as possible can mean the difference between life and death. That is why learning the skills that are necessary to saving a life is so important for all citizens to know.
Learning Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a basic skill that is necessary to reviving a person who has stopped breathing and whose heart has stopped beating. Being able to render this type of aide to an accident victim can prevent serious harm, such as Brain Injury from a lack of oxygen.
Those wishing to learn CPR can do so by participating in a course that being offered through the Adult Learning Center of Hampton Roads. Classes are also available through the Eastern Virginia Medical School, with the next training session being offered this coming Wednesday. During the 5-hour class, participants will learn how to perform CPR on both adults and children in accordance with guidelines provided by the American Heart Association. Students will also learn to use Automated External Defibrillators.
The attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley recognize how vital these skills can be when put in a life or death situation. That is why the firm urges all who are available to attend one of these upcoming safety courses.
by | February 10th, 2014
February 10, 2014
Manufacturers of the medications we take have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the products they put on the market. Any failure to do so can lead to the drug being deemed defective and thus, subject to recall and costly court battles. The Norfolk Product Liability Attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain such allegations may be in the future for medications used in testosterone therapies after studies showed use of the hormone could increase the chances of heart attacks in patients.
The data was culled from information gathered by Truven Health Analytics and examined the cases of roughly 55,593 men who were undergoing testosterone treatments because they suffered a condition known as “Low-T”, where a man’s testosterone levels drop off with age. The large study concluded that men undergoing the therapy who had a history of cardiovascular disease had a risk of suffering a heart attack that was two times greater than other participant’s risk levels. The study also showed the risk was directly related to the medication and not to engaging in sexual behavior.
The study was not the first to reach these conclusions though. Three years ago, a smaller study was published that found testosterone treatment could increase the chances of adverse cardiovascular events. Read more about the study here.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell Stanley say we are the hammer and dangerous medications, along with the doctors who prescribe them, are the nails. Let us help you hold those who have caused you harm responsible for their actions!
by | February 3rd, 2014
February 3, 2014
Manufacturers of the medical devices Americans use on a daily basis are required by law to ensure the safety and integrity of the products they release to the market. Failure to do so can result in patients being harmed, which can lead to costly recalls being implemented. The Norfolk Product Liability Attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain such a recall was launched due to a malfunction with the software that runs the Covidien Puritan Bennett 840 Series Ventilator.
According to an article from QMed, the recall affects the units that were manufactured April 30, 1998 and March 12, 2010. Reports indicate the affected units have a glitch in the software that can lead to the unit forcing users to breathe on their own. In the event of an emergency, such a failure could result in a patient being seriously harmed, and possibly dying.
Those who are in possession of the affected units have been instructed to contact the manufacturer in order to have their unit serviced with a software upgrade at no cost. Anyone who has been harmed by an affected product should report the incident to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell Stanley would also urge anyone who has been harmed by a defective medical device to hammer the manufacturer with a lawsuit in order to hold them accountable for their negligence. Call us today for a free consultation of your case!
by | January 28th, 2014
January 27, 2014
One of the most difficult parts of a doctor diagnosing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is being able to properly identify the condition, considering many of the symptoms of a TBI are not visible to the naked eye. The Norfolk Brain Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say researchers at the University of Virginia may have developed a solution to this problem.
An article from YottaFire explains the team is using positron emission tomography (PET) scans and immune responses to identify changes in the brain at a molecular level, thus allowing the team to identify changes to brain biology and chemistry that can confirm a TBI has occurred.
Typically, less advanced imaging systems are used on TBI patients, which leaves doctors to heavily rely on patients describing their symptoms to diagnose their conditions. Now, the PET scan allows physicians to note when a compound similar to the structure of a radioactive tracer attaches to a white blood cell known as neutrophils. When a TBI occurs, the neutrophils attach to the brain at the site of the injury, allowing the team to collect images of the injury.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley applaud the advancements being made in the treatment of TBIs and are hopeful to see further research conducted in the field of brain injury treatment in the future as well.
by | January 20th, 2014
January 20, 2014
When a person is killed as the result of a car or truck accident caused by another person’s negligence, the family of the victim has the right to seek compensation for their loss through civil litigation. The Norfolk Wrongful Death Attorneys with the law firm of Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain such a case was recently settled outside of a Virginia courtroom.
According to an article from the Claims Journal, a 27-year-old Newport News, Virginia, woman was killed June 14, 2012, along Interstate 664 in the city of Chesapeake. Reports indicate the victim’s vehicle had broken down along the highway. The driver of a tractor trailer didn’t see the broken down vehicle and plowed into its rear, killing the woman inside.
The victim’s family later filed suit against both the driver responsible for the crash and the company who hired him. The family claimed the company and driver’s negligence was directly responsible for their loss. In order to avoid a costly court battle, an agreement was reached between the three parties that the family of the victim would be paid a sum of $3 million in order to lay the matter to rest.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley and his team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers recognize how difficult it can be to lose a loved one to an unforeseen accident. That is why the firm hopes the settlement brings some sense of closure to the incident for the family of the victim.
by | January 13th, 2014
January 13, 2014
Each year, an estimated 4.7 million Americans are the victims of dog bites. The Norfolk Dog Bite Lawyers with the law firm of Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain these attacks result in hundreds of thousands of victims seeking medical treatment for the injuries they sustained.
Such numbers have prompted the state of Virginia to evaluate what it can do to reduce the number of canine attacks in the state and many feel the state’s dangerous dog registry is the first great step towards that goal. In an article from The Carroll News, Carroll County Supervisor, Sam Dickinson, stated dogs that attack and injure a person or a companion animal are placed on the list. Owners of animals placed on the list can face increases in homeowner’s insurance rates as well as having to face a requirement to keep the animal muzzled in public.
Carroll County District Attorney, Jim Cornwell, went on to point out animals placed on the list are then divided into two categories, those who are dangerous and those who are vicious. Dogs that are considered to be vicious are terminated immediately, while those considered to be dangerous are allowed to live if owners meet certain standards of care.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley’s team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers applaud the efforts being made to better protect the public from dangerous dogs and are hopeful the registry successfully reduces the number of attacks that occur in the state.
by | January 6th, 2014
January 6, 2013
The dangers posed by car accidents are a serious risk the residents of Virginia face each day. In fact, data indicates that in 2012 there were 123,579 motor vehicle collisions reported in the state. These crashes led to more than 67,000 individuals suffering serious injuries, while another 775 lost their lives.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley and his team of Norfolk Car Accident Lawyers explain these numbers often leave many citizens questioning what they can do to help reduce the chances of being involved in traffic crashes. The firm states there are three behaviors that, if avoided, will drastically slash a motorist’s odds of being involved in an accident. These behaviors include:
- Speeding– Research has shown that roughly one-third of all fatal crashes list excessive speed as a contributing factor. Motorists should remember to obey posted speed limits at all times.
- Driving While Intoxicated– According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, alcohol-related crashes claimed the lives of 229 Virginians in 2012.
- Distraction– Failure to concentrate on the road is listed as a contributing factor in an increasing number of crashes in recent years. Many states are creating laws that prohibit the behavior, in an effort to prevent these types of crashes.
Lowell Stanley’s Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers are hopeful motorists will refrain from engaging in these behaviors, creating a safer and friendlier travel environment.
