Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLCInjury Lawyer Philadelphia | Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLC2024-01-17T19:39:39Zhttps://www.yrchlaw.com/feed/atom/WordPressOn Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=490502024-01-17T19:39:39Z2024-01-17T19:38:36Zbut also the brain's emotional parts. The person's emotions may go a bit out of control or cause the person to change, even at their personality level.
Some changes that a person who suffered a brain injury can look like are:
Sadness and confusion
Frustration and anger
Feeling isolated and alone
Changes in personality
Anxiety and fear
Ways to support people who show these symptoms include:
Patience and support
Understanding
Offering help and resources
One of the most unfortunate aspects of emotional complications after brain injuries is that they are often invisible. Many times, the person who suffered the injury does not know that how they are feeling is because of the brain injury, so they do not seek help or talk to their doctor. However, emotional symptoms are very common.
It is critical to remain alert to any emotional changes. Not only immediately after the brain injury but also for a long time after the traumatic event. Emotional changes in the brain can be gradual, taking time to develop, and many times people associate the symptoms with something else.
Many experts have provided an abundance of information on the topic of brain injuries. The emotional consequences of a brain injury are not as commonly talked about as other topics related to brain injuries, which is why it is key to keep them at the forefront.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=490482023-09-25T16:27:06Z2023-09-25T16:27:06ZSimilar symptoms
Kidney cancer and kidney stones often produce similar symptoms. Both conditions can cause lower back pain, blood in the urine and frequent urination. This overlap in symptoms can lead doctors to initially consider kidney stones as the more likely diagnosis.
Lack of routine screening tests
Unlike some cancers, kidney cancer does not have routine screening tests for early detection. Kidney stones, on the other hand, are identifiable through imaging studies such as CT scans or ultrasounds. This lack of specific screening tools for kidney cancer makes it challenging to identify the disease at an early, more treatable stage.
Imaging confusion
Many physicians rely on imaging studies to assess kidney-related issues. However, both kidney stones and kidney tumors can appear as masses on these scans. It can be challenging to differentiate between the two, leading to misdiagnosis.
Underestimation of risk factors
Some doctors may also underestimate the risk factors for kidney cancer, such as a family history of the disease, smoking or exposure to certain chemicals. Failing to consider these risk factors may play a role in misdiagnosis.
Per a study chronicled in Medical News Today, about 45% of patients with kidney cancer initially had their doctors misdiagnose them with something else, so it is important that patients understand the risk of misdiagnosis and advocate for their health.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=490462023-06-26T20:25:40Z2023-06-26T20:25:40ZInattention during surgery
Patients under general anesthesia require constant monitoring by the anesthesiologist during surgery. A distracted or inattentive anesthesiologist increases the risk that patients might wake up in the middle of surgery and suffer emotional trauma. Sometimes, symptoms of a complication or negative anesthesia reaction get overlooked due to inattention until the reaction becomes severe and potentially life-threatening.
Improper use of equipment
Anesthesia equipment varies in different hospitals and unfamiliarity with the equipment can lead to over or under-administration of anesthesia. When care providers fail to express their uncertainty or seek clarification about the use of new equipment, mistakes can be dangerous.
Failure to review medical files
A patient’s medical files include details about any known drug allergies as well as the medications that the patient currently takes. Failure to review that file for allergens or contraindications could leave a patient vulnerable to complications from anesthesia.
Lack of informed consent
Patients must receive information about the risks and potential complications of anesthesia and consent to its use. Failure to obtain informed consent constitutes malpractice as well.
Recognizing the most common causes of anesthesia mistakes makes it easier for you to identify a potential malpractice situation after your surgery. If you experienced unnecessary complications, consider protecting your rights and seeking compensation.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=490452023-03-25T01:56:13Z2023-03-25T01:56:13Zwrongful death claim.
Who can file?
Different states have their own statutes about who can file a wrongful death claim. In Pennsylvania, only spouses, children and parents can file a claim. However, some states also allow grandparents, aunts and uncles or siblings to pursue claims. In Pennsylvania, the estate administrators, executors or personal representatives may seek wrongful death damages if there are no eligible claimants. Domestic partners or partners in civil unions may also have rights. Minor children tend to depend on their living parent to file their claims. Even adult children may seek compensation in some states.
Who you can sue?
Wrongful death claims can result from product liability, worker injuries on the job, poorly maintained roadways, motor vehicle accidents or medical malpractice. Therefore, you may file claims against government agencies, medical professionals, employers, drivers who caused car accidents or manufacturing companies.
However, the case is dependent on proving negligence. This means the defendant needed to have a duty to protect the deceased and they breached this duty. This breach needs to have caused the death, resulting in you experiencing financial or other challenges as a result.
Are there filing deadlines?
Like most other matters of law, wrongful death claims have deadlines. Although states have different statutes of limitations, the earliest is two years. Therefore, you need to file your claim within two years of the death of your loved one. In Pennsylvania, you have two years.
If you have the legal right to file a wrongful death claim, prepare your evidence and determine the damages you seek.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=490282022-12-14T15:46:22Z2022-12-14T15:46:22ZWhat is POEMS syndrome?POEMS syndrome is an autoimmune disease that is a rare blood disorder. Autoimmune conditions cause the immune system to attack normal, healthy cells in the body by incorrectly interpreting them as foreign substances. It causes damage to the nerves and affects various areas of the body. The acronym “POEMS” stands for the symptoms the condition causes:
Polyneuropathy causes numbness, tingling and weakness of the legs and sometimes, the hands and breathing difficulties.
Organomegaly causes an enlarged liver, spleen or lymph nodes.
Endocrinopathy, or edema, causes hormonal level problems that result in sexual issues, fatigue, diabetes, hypothyroidism, limb swelling and metabolism problems.
Monoclonal protein, which is abnormal bone marrow cells, produces a type of protein in the bloodstream. The bones can abnormally harden or thicken as a result of this symptom.
Skin changes can result in thicker skin, red spots, increased facial or leg hair and more pigmentation than normal on the skin.
Cause of POEMS syndrome
The cause of POEMS syndrome is unknown, but those who are affected have more plasma cells than normal. Those cells produce excess amounts of a specific protein, which leads to other parts of the body suffering damage. However, it can often lead to misdiagnosis because of the similarity of the symptoms to those of other conditions.
Usually, when a doctor diagnoses a person with POEMS syndrome, they look for the presence of two symptoms: polyneuropathy and monoclonal protein. They will also check for lesions on the bone and organomegaly, endocrinopathy or skin changes.
It’s possible to treat POEMS, but there’s no cure. Radiation, chemotherapy, and, sometimes, a stem-cell transplant might be needed. Treatment could potentially alleviate painful symptoms and lead to a quality of life improvement. A medical misdiagnosis could delay treatment and lead to unnecessary pain and suffering in the patient.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=490262022-09-19T19:31:36Z2022-09-19T19:31:36ZTypes of scars
The type of scarring you might experience depends on the size of the injury, the location of your wound, your genes and your age. Keloid scars form after an overly aggressive healing process. This type of scar is usually very visible as they extend beyond the boundary of the injury. A keloid in certain areas may also diminish your ability to move.
Hypertrophic scars are still raised, red scars but overall are a less severe type of scar as they do not grow past the original injury. Contracture scars describe scarring from burns. These scars may go deep enough to affect your nerves and muscles. The tightness experienced from contracture scars may hamper your movement.
Claims involving disfigurement
If you experienced a permanent physical alteration of your appearance due to someone else’s negligence, you meet the damages element of a torts claim. A disfigurement claim can arise from a variety of personal injury situations:
If you suffer from severe scarring or another substantial disformity, seeking medical attention and documenting the status of your wounds may help in any future personal injury action.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=490252022-06-18T16:13:13Z2022-06-18T16:13:13ZWhy do doctors use forceps?
If labor is not progressing and your safety or your baby's safety is at risk, your obstetrician can use forceps, a metal tool that resembles a pair of curved tongs, to reposition or guide the baby's head.
Forceps deliveries are uncommon, occurring in only 1.1% of vaginal births. However, they are still an important tool that can prevent the need for a C-section when your baby is stuck or in distress. They can also help if you are unable to continue pushing due to exhaustion or a medical condition.
What injuries can forceps cause?
Most forceps injuries are minor. These may include bruising and swelling, which subside after a few days.
However, in rare cases, serious complications may occur, such as:
Skull fractures
Internal bleeding
Seizures
Nerve damage
You should discuss the risks with your obstetrician before consenting to forceps delivery.
What precautions are necessary?
Before using forceps, your doctor should evaluate your baby's size, heart rate and positioning and ensure that you have adequate anesthesia.
If the head is too large or too high in the birth canal, forceps delivery may not be appropriate. If your baby has a disorder that affects his or her bones, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, it is not safe to use forceps.
Forceps are unlikely to cause serious injury to your baby, and they can prevent more severe complications. However, as with any procedure, it is important to understand the risks so you can give informed consent.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=488342022-03-23T20:52:43Z2022-03-23T20:52:43Zthese mistakes cause between 7,000 and 9,000 deaths each year in the U.S.
The number of drugs, lotions, supplements and herbs on the market make distribution more complicated than it used to be, which could make errors more likely. Here are some issues you should be wary of.
Prescription mistakes
When your doctor prescribes medication to you, you should understand why you are taking it and what it does. It is important to ask questions if anything in the discharge instructions is confusing, or if you hear from another source that there could be dangerous side effects. You should also always remind your doctor about other medications you might be taking in case they do not combine well; this is especially important if you have different doctors who have prescribed different medications.
Order mistakes
The NCBI reported that about 50% of medication errors come from ordering issues. A simple miscommunication between your doctor and your pharmacy can lead to disastrous consequences. If your medication is ever in a different package than normal, or if a dosage changes without anyone alerting you, you should check with your doctor to make sure that everything is correct.
It is good to have faith in your healthcare providers, but it is also good to keep them in check. Most medication errors are preventable if you know what to look out for. By taking the right precautions, you may protect your health and wellbeing.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=487592022-03-03T04:12:15Z2021-12-17T21:27:20Z30-year high in trucking accidents.
With winter being here, you can expect more ice and snow on the roads, making accidents more likely. The consequences of a truck accident can be devastating, so here are some things you can do to stay safe around some of the largest vehicles on the road:
Give trucks extra space
Usually, a semi-truck that is full of cargo takes about 600 feet to come to a complete stop on a freeway. If there is ice on the road, they can need twice as much distance or more. To keep yourself from getting in a sudden crash with these trucks, double the distance you would typically keep between yourself and a commercial truck.
Slow down on winter roads
Speed and work against you while driving. The faster you are going, the less time you have to react to a sudden obstacle or come to a complete stop. This is especially true during the winter when we drive on roads covered in snow and black ice. It is better to arrive late than never arrive at all, so be sure to practice some patience this winter.
Avoid blind spots
Truck drivers have a difficult time seeing vehicles immediately next to them. They typically cannot see a car within 30 feet of the front or back, anything on the front half of their left side, and any car on their immediate right for the length of the truck. It is best to remember that if you cannot see the truck driver, they cannot see you.
Trust your instincts
If you feel unsafe around a truck, you probably are. Instead of speeding past a truck to get to a safe spot on the road, allow the truck to pull ahead of you. By remaining a safe distance behind a truck, you can keep an eye on it and properly react to any accident it may get into with an unsafe driver.]]>On Behalf of Young Ricchiuti Caldwell & Heller, LLChttps://www.yrchlaw.com/?p=487492021-09-20T19:03:33Z2021-09-20T19:03:33Zsuffer an avoidable crash.
1. Plan ahead
If you are traveling to a new destination, look up directions ahead of time. Do not depend solely on your devices. Have an idea of where you are going before you leave. Check the weather and traffic reports if you have a long journey, and plan for extra time to avoid the temptation to speed.
2. Limit distractions
Get a hands-free device if you must have access to your phone while driving. Turn it off or put it out of your reach if you do not need it. Set your radio stations before you leave. Keep snacks and beverages to a minimum and easily reachable without taking your eyes off the road.
3. Give space
Leave enough space between your vehicle and the one in front of you so that you have time to react to any sudden braking or swerving. When possible, leave even more space so that you have a wider field of vision. If you can see traffic up ahead, you will have more time to slow down or respond to any hazards.
4. Use extra caution at intersections
Intersections are dangerous. We must rely on other drivers to pay attention and obey the lights or stop at stop signs. Always take an extra moment before proceeding when a light turns green to make sure the traffic you are crossing has stopped. Always look both ways before stopping at an intersection with stop signs for the same reason. Make sure your path is clear before proceeding.
Make every effort to keep your eyes and focus on the road at all times. Accidents happen in the blink of an eye. Those few seconds your attention diverts while you answer your phone or reach for a snack may be costly. Defensive driving is about taking responsibility for your own safety.]]>