Posted on January 30, 2023 in Personal Injury Attorney

Various parts of Illinois are bustling with pedestrians rushing to get to work or simply enjoying the day. But pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable people on the roads. They have to share the streets with fast-moving cars and big trucks and the obvious disadvantage is that they lack protective equipment when taking a stroll. A recent study shows that pedestrian accidents lead to a high number of knee injuries. Being injured in any type of accident can lead to long-term physical disability and impairment. At Newland & Newland, LLP, we are dedicated to helping you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Why is The Knee Such an Easy Target?

A recent study looked at pedestrian accidents and people’s knees. It found that the front bumper in low passenger cars often strikes the knee joint or just below the knee joint. The most vulnerable part of the knee is the MCL ligament and menisci. The severity of the injury often depends on how fast the car was going at the time of impact and exactly what part of the knee was struck. The knee joint is supposed to bend and rotate smoothly as the bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons work in tandem. If you experience knee pain after a car accident, it can certainly be due to one of these areas being injured.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 25, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

X-rays are crucial in diagnosing an illness. But despite advances in technology, error rates in radiology remain almost the same as they did back in 1949. New research found that radiologists are missing significant problems in about 30 percent of chest x-rays while looking for disease. Radiologist mistakes continue to happen and, in some instances, they can lead to irreversible damage. Responsible parties must be held accountable because injuries from a misread x-ray can lead to lifelong disabilities or even death.

X-Rays and Neurocognitive Flaws

Typically, x-ray technicians and doctors review the images to determine if there is a cause for concern. This is often the time when errors occur. In many cases, radiologists do not notice potential health problems leading to worsening health conditions for the patient.

One of the most significant findings of this study is that radiologists actually looked at patient abnormalities in the x-rays, several times, but they were not mentally aware of it. X-rays are imaging tools that look at different parts of the body, specifically hard tissues, to-determine irregularities or disease. Physicians rely on a radiologist’s reading of an x-ray to determine if additional measures must be taken to protect a patient’s health. X-rays are usually taken of a patient’s bones, lungs, and digestive tract. But this recent study shows that radiologists are not seeing the issues that are right before their eyes.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 13, 2023 in Personal Injury Attorney

The most common injury at birth is a newborn’s fractured collarbone, which can lead to the development of Erb’s palsy (also known as brachial plexus birth palsy), a nerve condition that affects the shoulder and arm. The mere thought of that happening to your newborn is upsetting and painful to parents. Unfortunately, some 12,000 babies are born with Erb’s palsy. If your child suffered a birth injury you could be entitled to financial compensation for medical malpractice.

How Can Childbirth Trigger Erb’s Palsy?

During a difficult vaginal childbirth or a cesarean section, a doctor may have to move the baby’s head if it is in a breech position. This condition is most common in larger babies who may need to be pulled out during delivery. In some cases, the stretching of the nerves causes damage and tears. The injury leads to weakness or loss of muscle function. Medications such as oxytocin or an epidural during labor can also be contributing factors. There are four types of brachial plexus injuries during childbirth:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 31, 2022 in Personal Injury Attorney

Medical errors are a serious public health problem and a leading cause of death in the United States. At least 4,000 surgical mistakes occur each year in the United States, causing catastrophic harm to patients. The Joint Commission, which drives quality improvement and patient safety, acknowledges that surgical errors are preventable. If a surgical error caused you serious harm, you may be entitled to compensation.

What Triggers Surgical Mistakes?

The impact of surgical errors can range from life-altering injuries to loss of life. Surgical mistakes seem to be more common before and after the actual surgery rather than errors made in the operating room. However, there are some errors that occur frequently. Some of the causes of surgical errors include the following:

• Inadequate surgeon training and education

• Absence of standardized rules and regulations

  Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 23, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Unfortunately, many colon cancers are not detected in time, and this is especially true among younger patients who are increasingly being misdiagnosed. The risk of getting colon cancer increases with age which is why it is so puzzling to be seeing so many younger people in advanced stages of this disease. This year, nearly 18,000 people in the United States under 50 years of age will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. If you had a colon cancer misdiagnosis or if treatment was not prompt, you may be entitled to compensation.

Missed Diagnosis

Colon cancer can be mistaken for many things. Oftentimes, a mass in the intestine develops and eventually becomes cancerous. Doctors may see a younger healthier person and dismiss cancer. The other problem is that colon cancer may appear to be a gastrointestinal issue, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, or Crohn’s disease when it in fact is something much more serious like colorectal cancer. More research is needed to understand exactly why this cancer is not being caught in time among younger people.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 13, 2022 in Personal Injury

Circumcisions are commonly performed on babies. Having your son circumcised may be a personal decision that conforms to a religious ritual or perhaps it is for preventive health care purposes. Although the circumcision rates in the United States have declined, there are still complications that can arise.

Several cases were recently reviewed, shedding light on 47 problems that tend to surface from circumcision surgeries. As with any surgery, mistakes by medical professionals can cause serious problems. If your child has been injured as a result of a botched circumcision, you could be entitled to compensation.

Circumcision Complications

If you agree to have your child circumcised, you have every right to expect that the procedure is done according to acceptable medical standards. Mistakes during the procedure may be considered medical malpractice and could result in serious injuries to your child. The list of 47 complications involving male circumcisions included the following common errors:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 22, 2022 in Personal Injury Attorney

Getting the news that you will be losing a limb can be devastating, especially after a car accident that is not your fault. Yet traffic accidents are the second leading cause of amputations. Sometimes you may not even have time to digest the horrible news because it happens in a violent car crash. Other times, a doctor may say they need to amputate to save your life. Amputation injuries can have a profound impact on your life and for that reason are considered catastrophic injuries.

Common Amputation Injuries

Trauma caused by car crashes, sports injuries, and workplace accidents accounts for 45 percent of all of the limbs lost each year. While a severed finger, for example, can sometimes be reattached by medical professionals, these procedures are not always successful. If a limb develops an infection or is too damaged it will need to be removed. A physician may also determine that an arm or a leg crushed in a car accident may need to be amputated to save a life. There is a wide range of amputation injuries you can sustain in a vehicle, motorcycle, truck, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents. These are the most commonly reported types of amputations:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 15, 2022 in Car Accident

Every day people are injured in vehicle accidents. Many are fortunate enough to walk away with minor bumps and bruises but serious injuries can lead to lifelong health issues. Fibromyalgia happens to be a chronic musculoskeletal disorder that can be triggered by the physical and emotional trauma that comes from a car accident. The impact can also aggravate or worsen this severe condition.

Understanding Fibromyalgia

If you have fibromyalgia, you will experience pain throughout your body. That is because this condition affects the way the brain processes pain signals, prompting pain sensations to multiply. Fibromyalgia can not only be physically debilitating but it affects your capability to work and handle tasks that require memory function. The inability to do what you were once able to do very easily can lead to depression, frustration, and anxiety.

Who Is At Fault for My Injuries?

Most medical professionals prescribe medications, exercise, and behavioral techniques for fibromyalgia but the effects are still life-changing. For this reason, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia due to another driver’s negligence or misconduct can result in compensation. Negligence is the failure to act reasonably to prevent injury and to make sure everyone is safe. Someone who causes an accident due to negligence could be held responsible for damages including property damage and bodily injuries. A driver could be held at fault for engaging in some of the following behaviors:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 07, 2022 in Personal Injury

Nearly 300,000 people have a spinal injury in the United States and most people sustain spinal cord injuries through no fault of their own. For the last seven years, vehicle crashes have led to about 39 percent of all spinal cord injuries. After a spinal cord injury, things you may take for granted, such as driving or cooking, become more difficult and, in severe cases, impossible.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Whenever there is a stressful situation, we have a fight or flight response. At the time of a violent crash, back injuries are not always obvious right away. If the symptoms are delayed, you may not even link the pain to the car accident. But spinal cord injuries could cause problems if left untreated, including the following:

• Paralysis – Numbness, and paralysis occur when there is swelling and bleeding in or around your spinal cord

  Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 27, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

When you first learned that your child had cerebral palsy all you wanted to do is care for your baby day and night. But the required level of care day in and day out can be challenging and expensive. Medical negligence can lead to a lifetime of problems for both the child and the family.

Medical costs for children with cerebral palsy are 10 times higher compared to children without this disorder or other intellectual disabilities. If the realization of long-term financial expenses is setting in and you are considering filing a medical malpractice lawsuit you have to act quickly.

Statute of Limitations for Cerebral Palsy

Damage to the brain during childbirth or shortly afterward can result in cerebral palsy. It has a major impact on the child’s ability to move. So you must file a medical malpractice claim promptly.

A statute of limitations is a deadline to file a lawsuit. Once that period expires, a legal claim is no longer valid. It can sound harsh but the reasoning behind it is so that records, key information, and documents are still available when you file a lawsuit. Here are key points to understand around these time-sensitive cases in Illinois:

Continue Reading ››