Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Cyclist Who Suffers from Brain Injury Competes in First Race

September 10, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

Brain injuries can be devastating because of the sudden and lasting effects it has on one’s life. In many cases, the victim will lose the ability to perform as they once could, to the extent of falling into a vegetative state or even death. As a Personal Injury Attorney in Sacramento, California, I have seen the difficulty that people face when coping with a brain injury after an accident. Although these situations often seem bleak, there is always hope.

I read an article today about a man named Saul Raisin. Saul, a world-class bicyclist, was injured when he was preparing to compete in a bicycling competition in Italy. The young 24-year old’s life was suddenly turned upside down. Falling off of his bike, Saul suffered a traumatic brain injury and fell into a coma within a day. Waking from his coma, Saul found himself paralyzed on the left side of his body and was told he would never walk again. As for his dream of cycling, that was completely out of the question.

Incredibly, about a year and a half later, Saul finds himself not only walking, but back in cycling competition. This month, he even completed his first race since the accident, and although he came in last place, he sees himself as a winner.

Heart Attacks A Common Medical Malpractice

September 8, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans today. In the United States, one-fourth of all Americans have heart disease, accounting for about 64 million people. In our home of Sacramento, California, about 450,000 people suffer from heart disease. Each year, about 7 million people will go to the hospital complaining of symptoms associated with heart attack. Each minute, one person will die from a heart attack. Every 20 seconds, one person suffers from a heart attack.

These numbers are truly staggering. Heart disease and heart attacks are a huge concern for the United States. One of the most vital things for a person to do is go to the hospital immediately when showing symptoms of a heart attack. Some common symptoms of a heart attack are: unusual shortness of breath, chest pain (tightness, squeezing, pressure), nausea and vomiting, cold sweats, and pain in other upper areas of the body.

Heart attacks are one of the top five misdiagnosed diseases in terms of dollar awards. Misdiagnosis of heart attacks can often happen in atypical circumstances. The person may not have the most common signs of heart attack, such as severe chest pain, or they may not fit the typical mold a heart attack victim, for example a younger individual. Because the outward signs do not show through, some doctors may forgo the necessary tests and procedures.

Assault on Employee Brings Case Against Wendy’s

September 3, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

I read an article in the news today about a Wendy’s employee suing the company in a personal injury suit. As a Personal Injury Attorney in Sacramento, I think it is always interesting to learn about cases going on throughout the United States, especially if they are not your typical story.

The article states that the woman, Janet Brandon, was attacked and injured in the Wendy’s parking lot as she tried to take the morning deposit to the bank. Janet was an assistant manager and it was her responsibility to take the morning deposit to the bank. Unfortunately for her, Wendy’s had apparently not created any secure guidelines in how to do so. To protect herself, Janet placed the money in a Wendy’s sack to disguise it and planned to give the bag to a co-worker who, in turn, would pass it to her as she came to the drive-thru window.

As she left to get in her car, however, Janet was hit in the head and knocked unconscious. She lay there for 30 minutes, until workers at the Exxon next door saw her on the ground.

Dangerous Trampolines Causing Spinal Cord Injuries

August 26, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

We all know how much fun trampolines can be. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy it. We even had one of our own at our house in Sacramento, California a couple years back. Recent studies have shown, however, that trampolines, although fun, may not be as safe as we would hope. One of the most dangerous effects of trampolines is the potential

One of the most dangerous effects of trampolines is the potential it has to cause spinal cord injury. At our Personal Injury Law Firm, we know that this is no small injury. A spinal cord injury, especially in children, can be a hard battle to face for those who are involved.

Recent reports have shown that actually falling off trampolines will often result in “crippling injury and/or death including paralysis from spinal cord injury”. Other factors that led to these types of injuries occurred from colliding with others on the trampoline and trampoline somersaults or stunts.

Spinal Cord Injury and Paraplegia from Rear-Ended Motorcycle

August 24, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you are bound to know how dangerous I feel motorcycles can be and also how difficult spinal cord injuries can be for the victim and family. I know sometimes this may sound a bit too much, but we have seen in our law practice in Sacramento, California, how lives change after a spinal cord injury, especially if this injury results in paraplegia. And the costs resulting from the medical costs can be quite overwhelming for those involved. Truth is, many of these cases we witness are derived from motorcycle accidents, one way or another. In this particular case, the events take even more drastic proportions.

I read a news report today about a motorcyclist that was rear-ended. A 21-year old woman was driving her Jeep Cherokee, when she was distracted for a moment by one of her four dogs riding with her. As she glanced off the road, a man driving a motorcycle in front of her slowed down to make a turn. The woman rear-ended the man, sending him flying up onto her car and slamming him against her windshield. At the hospital, he was diagnosed as suffering from broken bones and a spinal cord injury, which has left him paralyzed. This just proves it doesn’t really matter how good of a driver you are, you are not entirely in control of what happens on the road. Staying cautious is vital.

The 21-year old woman, who had been ticketed for speeding and driving without insurance three hours prior, was written up for a felony. Her charge was gross negligent operation of a motor vehicle. As for the young man, he will live for the rest of his life with the consequences of someone else’s negligence. Does compensation truly make up for all of this? Probably not, but it helps to make assure some quality of life, at least. And some relief for the pain and suffering that lie ahead.

Healthy vs. Injured Brain

August 22, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

As a Personal Injury Law Firm in Sacramento, Ca, we know that when someone has been injured in an accident, they have a whole bunch of questions that need to be answered. This is especially true when dealing with complex injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury. To understand more clearly what happens when a brain is injured in an accident, take a look at how a healthy brain and an injured brain are described by the Brain Injury Association:

A healthy brain

To understand what happens when the brain is injured, it is important to realize what a healthy brain is made of and what it does. The brain is enclosed inside the skull. The skull acts as a protective covering for the soft brain. The brain is made of neurons (nerve cells). The neurons form tracts that route throughout the brain. These nerve tracts carry messages to various parts of the brain. The brain uses these messages to perform functions. The functions include our coordinating our body’s systems, such as breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and metabolism; thought processing; body movements; personality; behavior; and the senses, such as vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Each part of the brain serves a specific function and links with other parts of the brain to form more complex functions.

Sacramento Police Officer Back On Job With Two Amputated Legs

August 22, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

I read an incredible story today about a California Highway Patrol Officer from our Sacramento area. The man, Mike Remmel, was severely injured about 2 years ago when a elderly woman ran him over with her car. At the time of the accident, Mike was directing traffic for another car crash. The elderly woman misunderstood where Mike was directing her and ran into him instead!

Waking up in the hospital, Mike found both of his legs amputated, one above the ankle, the other above the knee. The CHP officer of 19 years decided that he was not going to give up on his chance of living a normal life, including doing the job he knew and loved. He began a slow and painful recovery. He pushed himself to walk, then to run, and continued to press towards the goal of once again being a CHP officer.

A year after the accident, he returned to work doing a limited desk job. To be a patrolman once again, he would have to complete 14 rigorous fitness tests which included; sidestepping, running 500 yards in 2 minutes, and sprinting 100 yards in 20 seconds.

Gunshot Causes Paraplegia and Murder 41 Years Later

August 20, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

I came across an interesting story in the news today. A 64-year old ex-policeman has passed away. The cause of death, according to the accusation, was homicide. Now, wait for the interesting part. He died from a gunshot wound he received 41 years ago. That’s right.

It’s not as confusing as it seems. At 23 years old, Walter Barclay was carrying out a burglary investigation on job when in the middle of a gunfight he was shot several times. The gunshots hit his spine, splintering it, and leaving him paralyzed. He obviously survived, but only after an extensive recovery period. What happened then?

41 years later, Barclay developed a urinary tract infection, directly related to his paraplegia, which was directly related to his shooting on that fateful night. Prosecutors are now trying to decide whether or not to charge the shooter, William Barnes, with murder. May seem like a long shot, but they argue there is a direct cause related to the incidents of that night and the complications which led to Mr. Barclay’s death.

Big Skateboarding Fall in Southern California Could have Been Serious Brain Injury

August 19, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

Brain injuries can come from an array of accidents, including extreme sports like skateboarding. We all know how much kids, especially boys, enjoy being out with their friends, scraping elbows and bruising knees. Sometimes, these cuts and scrapes can lead to more serious injuries as well.

As a Personal Injury Attorney, I know full well the dangers of these sports. No, I am not telling you to lock your children inside the house, forbidding them to participate in the games, but simply to be aware and give some helpful advice when needed. It doesn’t harm if you also make an effort to try and inform them on the benefits of wearing good protective gear when out doing physical sports or activities, if the case requires.

One recent skateboarding accident that could have wound up more serious, occurred at the X-Games in Los Angeles, California this month. Skateboarder Jake Brown fell 45 feet off his skateboard at the Big Air event’s quarterpipe, landing feet-first on the flatter part of the ramp. Jake was unconscious for a moment after the fall and suffered from a minor concussion. Had he fallen head first, or had he not been wearing a helmet, well, that would be a whole other story. It could have easily ended up in a more serious form of brain injury that could have had more serious consequences.

Close Call: Airplanes Nearly Crash Into Each in Southern California

August 17, 2007 | by Moseley Collins

Two airplanes almost collided south of our Sacramento home on Thursday at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The first plane, a WestJet, carrying 132 passengers was flying in from Canada. The second, a Northwest jet, carrying 150 passengers, was taking off. Reports state that the Northwest jet was traveling about 150 mph when the WestJet plane got in its way. Luckily, the WestJet plane was able to come to a stop before the two crashed into one another.

The dangerous mistake was made by both the WestJet pilot and the ground traffic controller for LAX. Reports state that the WestJet pilot was on the wrong radio frequency and could not get directions from the air traffic controller. When he was approaching the gate, the ground traffic controller cleared him without checking first with the air traffic controller.

No one was hurt in this close call. This accident could have been detrimental to many. If there was a crash and a subsequent lawsuit, the negligence of both the controller and pilot would probably serve as the cause. Some are questioning if their negligence should be taken into accountability regardless of no great harm happening.