Maryland Personal Injury Blog

Infected Faucet Gives Man Legionnaires Disease at OSU Medical Center

By injuheis on March 12, 2010

Facility owners have an obligation to provide a safe environment for all individuals who enter their buildings. This is never more important than in the case of hospitals and other care facilities where individuals are already susceptible to illness. Unfortunately, not all medical premises exercise the same precautionary measures in protecting their patients. According to a Columbus Dispatch article, the Ohio State University Medical Center may be proven to be one such facility.

Reportedly, a man lost his life to Legionnaires Disease in April 2007 after contracting the disease from drinking water out of an infected faucet at the Ohio State University Medical Center. The man’s wife proceeded to sue the medical center for failing to warn her husband of the danger of Legionnaires Disease, and was recently awarded a settlement amount of $1.2 million. The wife’s case was strengthened by the fact that hospital staff was allegedly aware of the risks of illness being contracted. In fact, the hospital staff had agreed to avoid using water from the infected faucet and instead decided to only use bottled water for both drinking and making ice cubes.

Failure to warn individuals on a premises of any kind of potential risk, be it Legionnaires Disease or any other kind of illness, can be labeled as premises liability. In all instances where an individual in Maryland succumbs to illness or some kind of harm at the hands of a negligent property owner or facility manager, it may be in their best interest to speak with an experienced Maryland premises liability attorney.

If you or a loved one has been afflicted with Legionnaires Disease due to another person’s negligence or lack of care, please contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. As a skilled Legionnaires Disease attorney, Steven H. Heisler will fight to ensure that your rights are upheld in a court of law. Mr. Heisler has recently obtained successful settlements in Legionnaire’s Disease injury cases, one of which amounted to $600,000.00 for a man in his 60s who contracted Legionnaire’s Disease while a guest at a large Hotel in the Southeast part of the United States. To learn more about what can be done regarding your potential Legionnaire’s Disease case, please call 877-228-4878 today.

Source:http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/02/12/OSU-settles-for-$1.2-million-in-Legionnairesx-death.html?sid=101

Posted in Legionnaire's Disease, Personal Injury |

Texas Drilling Rig Topples Over, Pins and Injures Worker

By injuheis on March 3, 2010

Certain dangers come along with working on any construction site, particularly when usage of large and heavy machinery is involved. According to a news8austin.com article, a Texas construction worker sustained non-life threatening injuries when the drilling rig he was operating inexplicably toppled over, pinning him between the vehicle and a nearby tractor-trailer. While the cause of the accident is still unknown, authorities are investigating the matter to get a better idea of exactly what happened. After the man was extricated from the vehicle, he was taken to a local medical center for treatment.

Operation of large machinery is not easy, and requires extensive training in order to properly and safely do so. It is the responsibility of construction site foremen to make sure that their employees receive the proper and necessary training to safely maneuver heavy equipment so as to avoid injury. When an employee is injured on the job, the worker has a right to file a workers’ compensation claim against the employer. If negligence of a third party is involved, the worker can file a negligence claim against the third party as well. In such instances, an employee injured may be able to seek monetary compensation for damages resulting from injuries sustained while on the job. Such compensation can be used to help cover the costs associated with an on the job accident, such as medical bills, physical therapy, and even wages lost as a result of injury.

If you or a loved one has been injured while on the job in the state of Maryland, please don’t hesitate to contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. As a knowledgeable and experienced Maryland on the job injury attorney, Steven H. Heisler will help you file your Maryland workers’ compensation claim and examine the circumstances of your accident to help you appropriately attribute negligent action to guilty third parties. Call “The Injury Lawyer” today for more information on your possible Maryland work-related injury case.

Source:http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=267725

Posted in Injuries, Personal Injury, Work-Related Injury, Workers Compensation |

Six Necessary Steps to Take if Involved in a Maryland Work Accident

By injuheis on February 19, 2010

It is every employee’s expectation that their employer creates and maintains a safe working environment in adhering to state and federal laws requiring them to do so. However, employers who fail to properly train employees or disregard dangerous working conditions do a huge disservice to employees, thus putting them at risk of enduring injury, illness, or even death. If you or a loved one has recently endured work related injuries in Maryland, here are six necessary steps to take that you may want to consider.

1. Notify Your Supervisor Right Away– If you don’t alert the company in a timely manner, it’s treated by the company like it didn’t happen.
2. Demand That An Accident Report Be Written– If the company refuses to write a report, write one yourself and submit it to your supervisor. Make a copy for yourself and have a witness observe you giving it to the supervisor.
3. If You’re A Member Of A Union, Notify Your Union Rep As Soon As Possible – You pay union dues so make sure the union goes to bat for you and protects your workplace rights.
4. If Anyone Witnessed Your Accident It Is Important That You Get Their Name And Number Right Away – If a witness confirms your story your case is easier to prove.
5. Seek Medical Attention At Once – If you are hurt and don’t see a doctor or wait a long time before seeing one, the company might deny your claim and argue that if you were really hurt you would have gotten medical attention as soon as it happened.
6. Call A Lawyer So A Claim Can Be Filed – In Maryland, your case has to be filed on a Maryland Worker’s Compensation claim form that can be obtained ONLY from the Worker’s Compensation Commission or a Maryland Work Comp lawyer. DON’T LET THE COMPANY MAKE YOU THINK OTHERWISE!!! Failure to file this claim form with the Worker’s Compensation Commission within two (2) years from your accident could result in you losing all of your Worker’s Compensation rights and benefits.

Being involved in a work-related injury in Maryland can seriously affect a worker’s physical well-being, emotional health, and financial balance. Contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” today for a free consultation of your Maryland work accident. He will examine the details of your work related accident and help determine where negligence action caused your injury.

Posted in Accidents, Injuries, Personal Injury, Work-Related Injury, Workers Compensation |

Auto Accident Proves Fatal

By injuheis on January 13, 2010

A fatal car crash took the life of a motorist on Route 10 in Cabell County, West Virginia. According to wvgazette.com, the accident took place in the Salt Rock area, and involved two vehicles traveling in opposite directions. The driver of a white car lost control of the vehicle, sliding off the road. The driver of a red truck then broadsided the sliding vehicle. In addition to the fatality, one other person was injured in the crash.

While more specific details surrounding the crash were not mentioned in the article, the circumstances of any vehicular accident need to be carefully examined in order to ensure that the cause is accurately determined. In cases where one driver is deemed responsible for the accident, that driver may be held liable for damages stemming from the accident, such as property damage, medical bills pertaining to injury recovery, and other compensatory damages. Some accidents may not even be caused by motorist error, with dangerous road conditions, faulty auto parts, and other third party factors playing major roles in an accident’s occurrence. In any event, car accidents, whether they take place in West Virginia or Maryland, can be caused by a number of reasons, but negligent action is almost always at the root of an accident’s cause.

If you have been injured in a Maryland car accident, or have lost a loved one due to another person’s negligent action, please do not hesitate to contact the experienced Maryland auto accident lawyers at the law office of Steven H. Heisler for a free consultation of your personal injury case. We will examine the details surrounding your accident, and will help determine where negligent action caused your injury. Call us today to ensure that your rights are upheld in your Maryland car accident or personal injury case.

Source:http://wvgazette.com/News/200911150547

Posted in Accidents, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death |

SUV-Bus Accident in Baltimore County Injures Motorist

By injuheis on January 6, 2010

According to The Baltimore Sun, an auto accident involving a school bus and an SUV took place in northeastern Baltimore County. The crash occurred shortly before 8AM. While the specifics of the accident were not discussed, it was determined that it was the SUV that crashed into the bus, an indication that the driver of the SUV may have played more of a determining role in the crash.

The driver of the SUV was taken to Franklin Square Hospital Center with non-life threatening injuries. An update on the man’s condition was not made available at the time of the article. Luckily, none of the students that were being transported to the Maryland School for the Blind in Parkville were injured.

While accidents of all kinds are dangerous, those involving school buses are especially problematic, given that a large number of children are present on a school bus and are typically not wearing seatbelts. If it is determined that a school bus driver is at fault for an accident, then that driver and the school district responsible for employing the driver can be held liable for damages resulting from the accident, including costs associated with injuries and recovery.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please don’t hesitate to contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will examine the details surrounding your accident, and will hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. If you’ve sustained an injury in an auto accident, contact our skilled Maryland auto accident attorneys today, and we’ll ensure that your rights are upheld in a court of law.

Source:http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bal-schoolbus1111,0,6647128.story

Posted in Auto Accidents |

Contaminated Water Culprit in Maryland Legionnaire’s Outbreak

By injuheis on December 29, 2009

Premises liability is an issue that often isn’t discussed until some sort of problem arises. Properly maintaining building structures and ensuring that all inhabitants and visitors are safe should be the primary concern of building owners everywhere. However, according to the Chicago Tribune, a senior living facility in Maryland that was recently the site of a Legionnaire’s disease outbreak may have a contaminated water source that is causing people to fall ill. Clearly, this is an indication that necessary safety precautions may not have been put into place in order to fully protect residents.

According to the article, the afflicted senior living facility is 10 years old, and stands on the former site of Memorial Stadium. Initially, it was believed that the incident may have been confined to only a few rooms, possibly due to an infected heating and air-conditioning unit (each room has its own such unit), but that theory has become less likely considering that the number of infected individuals increased as time passed. The incident sparked much concern amongst elderly residents, especially considering that building management, usually quick to respond to such incidents, has been relatively lax in dispensing information to worried seniors.

Legionnaire’s disease is an affliction that generally affects individuals that are 65 years of age or older, or those individuals who already have underlying health conditions. In a facility that caters specifically to seniors, one would think that more rigorous safety measures would be taken, or at the very least regular inspections for testing the water would occur to ensure that the water supply has not been tainted in any way. When property owners fail to provide safe living conditions for their tenants, those property owners may be held liable for damages that result if their tenants become afflicted with an ailment that could have been prevented on the part of the property owner.

If you have fallen ill due to Legionnaire’s disease or any other ailment that may have been caused by negligent behavior on the part of another individual or entity, contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. Personal injury claims should not be ignored, and those responsible for your injuries or illness should be held accountable for their actions. Please call our Legionnaire’s disease attorneys today for a case consultation.

Source:http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/bal-md.hs.legionnaires16oct16,0,7986418.story

Posted in Legionnaire's Disease |

House Explosion Injures Six

By injuheis on December 23, 2009

An explosion at a Greenbrier County home resulted in at least six injuries to West Virginia residents. According to a register-herald.com report, the six individuals sustained injuries that ranged from minor to critical. The accident victims were transported to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center before being stabilized and transferred to other local area hospitals. Further updates on their conditions were unavailable.

Investigators are looking into whether or not more people were injured by the explosion, the cause of which is still unknown to investigators. If negligent action of any sort led to the accident, then the party responsible for said negligence can be held liable for damages resulting from the accident.

In the above mentioned case, if the explosion occurred due to reckless action, then the person responsible for that action may have to pay compensatory damages to individuals that were injured as a result of the accident. Only further investigation will eventually reveal the true cause of the Greenbrier explosion. In all cases of personal injury where an individual or group is responsible for an act that leads to another person’s injury, the party responsible for the act should be held legally responsible for the accident in a court of law. This does not only apply to the state of West Virginia.

If you have suffered personal injury in an explosion in Maryland, please do not hesitate to contact the experienced Maryland burn injury and explosion attorneys at the law office of Steven H. Heisler for a free case evaluation. Our skilled personal injury legal team will examine the circumstances surrounding your accident, will help determine where negligent action played a role and will hold those responsible for your injury accountable for their actions. Call Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” today to ensure that your rights are protected, and that you receive the compensation that your deserve.

Source:http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_327123944.html

Posted in Burns & Explosion Injuries |

Emergency Copter Crashes in Prince George County, 4 Killed

By injuheis on December 21, 2009

Once accidents occur, we entrust our well-being into the hands of emergency medical personnel to administer the care we need in order to recover. However, medical personnel aren’t immune to the dangers associated with emergency air transport, as a recent article in the Washington Post illustrates. According to the accident story, a Maryland State police helicopter crashed in Walker Mill Regional Park when the craft’s pilot chose to fly into foggy conditions, and adequate assistance was not provided by air traffic controllers. As a result, the Prince George’s County crash took the lives of four passengers (one of whom was being transported with injuries) and injured another.

It has been determined by the National Transportation Safety Board that the probable cause of the crash was pilot error. However, it has also been determined that weather information relayed to the pilot by air traffic controllers was not current, which certainly could have contributed towards the pilot’s decision to maneuver the craft through foggy conditions.

Ultimately, error on the part of state-run programs that results in injury to others may be deemed negligence on the part of the state, and damages associated with negligent behavior may be deemed the responsibility of the state or other entity responsible for the negligent action.

If you have been injured in an aviation accident, or have lost a loved one as the result of another person’s negligence, please don’t hesitate to contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. Steven’s experienced attorneys will ensure that your rights are upheld in a court of law. Personal injury claims and cases of wrongful death should not be ignored, and those responsible for such adverse events should be held accountable for their actions. If you’ve sustained injury or lost a loved one, please call our Maryland wrongful death lawyers today.

Source:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/27/AR2009102702111.html?hpid=sec-metro

Posted in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death |

Maryland Seniors at Risk in Legionnaire’s Infected Living Facility

By injuheis on December 18, 2009

According to a Chicago Tribune article, a recent outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease has afflicted residents at a Maryland senior living facility and sparked concern amongst others. Reportedly, one person has already succumbed to the disease, while four others remain afflicted. A current investigation into the cause of the outbreak is underway, with officials from both the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Baltimore Health Department interviewing residents and testing the facility’s water source.

Legionnaire’s disease is a form of bacterial pneumonia that is caused by Legionella bacteria, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is often found in water sources such as hot tubs and air-conditioning cooling towers. Air-conditioning and plumbing systems are breeding grounds for the bacteria, and it is the responsibility of facilities catering to residents and visitors to ensure that such systems are in proper working order and are not harboring the airborne bacteria. Legionnaire’s disease is spread when a person inhales contaminated water droplets, and it cannot be spread from person to person.

Outbreaks of disease in any location where people are in close proximity to one another is always cause for concern. However, when a disease isn’t even spread via human interaction, but through some other more preventable component, it becomes the responsibility of the individual or entity in charge of said component to take the necessary action in order to correct the problem. Negligent behavior and failure to act should never be an excuse for another person’s pain and suffering.

If you have fallen ill due to Legionnaire’s disease or any other ailment that may have been caused by negligent behavior on the part of another person, don’t hesitate to contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case. As an experienced Legionnaire’s disease lawyer, Steven H. Heisler will ensure that your rights are upheld at all times. Personal injury claims should not be ignored, and those responsible for your injuries or illness should be held accountable for their actions. Please call us today for a case consultation.

Source:http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/bal-md.hs.legionnaires16oct16,0,7986418.story

Posted in Legionnaire's Disease |

Frederick County Collision Kills Damascus Motorist

By injuheis on November 10, 2009

Maryland’s local NBC affiliate’s website, your4state.co, recently reported that a two-vehicle crash that took the life of a Damascus motorist is currently being investigated. The accident took place on Bill Moxley Road in Frederick County, and involved a 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier and a 1995 Chevrolet Corsica. Authorities believe the two vehicles struck each other as they were coming over a hill. Five people were injured in the crash, with only the driver of the Cavalier succumbing to his injuries. The other accident victims riding in the Cavalier, a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old girl, sustained injury and were taken to Baltimore Shock Trauma for treatment. The driver of the Corsica, a 51-year-old man, and his female passenger also sustained injury and were also taken to Baltimore Shock Trauma. The conditions of all individuals involved were not made public.

Although this accident is still being investigated, some sort of negligent action will undoubtedly emerge as having contributed towards its occurrence. That is, negligent action that can contribute towards an auto accident can take a variety of forms. Reckless driving is one of the primary causes of all auto accidents. Driving at speeds greater than posted limits, failing to abide to traffic signage and signals, and failure to yield the right of way to other vehicles are all ways in which negligent action can lead to an auto accident. However, negligent action on the part of local municipalities can also contribute towards an accident. Specifically, if roads are not properly maintained, potential hazards are not properly made known to motorists, or traffic signage is obscured or faded to the point that such signage is illegible and, thus cannot, be followed, then the likelihood of an accident occurring is greatly increased. Regardless of the situation though, it is always a good idea to retain the services of a skilled Maryland auto accident attorney in the event that you become involved in an auto accident.

While the cause of accidents varies from one case to the next, the root of that cause is typically steeped in negligence. If you have been injured in an auto accident, don’t hesitate to contact Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” for a free evaluation of your case, and his experienced attorneys will ensure that your rights are upheld at all times. His personal injury attorneys will examine the details surrounding your auto accident, and will hold negligent contributing parties accountable for their actions. Please call us today for your free consultation.

Source:http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=82461

Posted in Accidents, Auto Accidents, Injuries, Wrongful Death |