According to CBSnews.com, on Friday, June 25th, Michael Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor charged with giving the pop superstar a lethal dose of sedatives last year, accusing the Nevada doctor of negligence, poor training, and secrecy.

Joe Jackson sued Dr. Conrad Murray in a Los Angeles federal court on the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. The complaint seeks more than $75,000 and accuses Dr. Murray of professional negligence for providing Michael Jackson with a mix of sedatives – including Propofol, an anesthetic – which authorities say killed him.

Propofol is usually only administered in hospital settings; however, Dr. Murray had been providing Michael Jackson with the drug in the bedroom of the singer’s rented mansion in Los Angeles. Michael’s father contends the physician tried to conceal his administration of the drug after Michael’s death.

The lawsuit also names the medical clinics which Dr. Murray operates in Las Vegas and Houston, claiming they did not properly supervise or train the doctor. The lawsuit was filed in federal court, because Dr. Murray’s clinics are located in other states and the doctor lives in Nevada.

Dr. Murray pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge filed in February. His attorneys said he did not give Michael Jackson anything that “should have” killed him.

Joe Jackson’s lawsuit claims Dr. Murray repeatedly lied to paramedics and doctors about giving Jackson the Propofol. Based on hospital records obtained earlier this year, the lawsuit claims Dr. Murray told an emergency room doctor that he had only provided Jackson two medications: Valium and Flomax. It also claims the doctor changed the story he told to police. However, Dr. Murray’s attorneys have stated that detectives misinterpreted parts of Dr. Murray’s statements, and their official timeline differs from what he says occurred.

Additionally, the lawsuit faults Dr. Murray for not keeping adequate medical records, and for using his clinics in Nevada and Texas to obtain drugs that were then given to Michael Jackson.

The Jackson family patriarch is seeking damages for a variety of issues, including loss of income and support, pain & suffering, and emotional distress.

Wrongful Death Liability Considerations

When a person dies due to the negligence of another, his or her family would benefit from speaking to a California wrongful death lawyer about the incident and the wrongful death liability issues involved. An experienced wrongful death attorney can help the family members of the victim get answers as to exactly what happened and who is responsible, as well as explain what the family members’ legal rights and options are should they wish to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Joe Jackson’s Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Dr. Murray is a post from: Dolan Law Offices, P.C.

For anyone who has visited an overcrowded emergency room, this story will ring out as a worst-nightmare-turned-real, if the claims prove justifiable in a court of law. The parents of Martha Barr, age 25, recently filed a lawsuit against PeaceHealth Hospital Group and Sacred Heart Medical Center for negligent care of their daughter during an emergency medical situation.

According to JusticeNewsFlash.com: “Martha Barr, 25, reported to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend after 12 p.m. on December 23, 2008. Triage personnel at the hospital apparently evaluated her, subsequently deeming her condition to be a Level 3 on the triage scale of 1 to 5. Her symptoms were reportedly included “shortness of breath, anxiety, fatigue, abnormally fast heart and respiration rates and low oxygen saturation”.

However, Martha was left waiting for imperative emergency room (ER) medical attention for nearly six hours after the initial evaluation. When a doctor evaluated the patient around 6:25 p.m., he deduced Martha seemed to be suffering from pulmonary embolism. The doctor then commanded a CT angiogram be performed to confirm his suspicions.

Unfortunately, the CT scan was never performed given that by 7:15 p.m., Martha went into respiratory and cardiac arrest. CPR and life support were methods used in an attempt to revive the woman, but to no avail. Martha was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:33 p.m.”

It is claimed by the plaintiffs that it was the gross negligence of the hospital that took a very treatable situation and turned it into a fatality. The parents will be suing for $500,000 in economic damages as well as $500,000 in pain and suffering damages. That will be placed on top of a $1 million dollar loss-of-love compensation claim.

This case is on-going and we cannot render judgment on either party at this time as the facts need to be assessed properly. However, this case does not take a far stretch of the imagination to understand how a situation like this might have occurred. Individuals are frequently left waiting for hours in ER’s, and even longer once they eventually get to a treatment room. It is not uncommon for an emergency patient to go an entire night without seeing a doctor or nurse more than once.

It’s understood that the medical staff in ER’s are placed in busy and high stress situations, but that can be no excuse for the gross neglect of patients in need. Perhaps cases like this, should they prove to be legally justifiable, will help tip the scales of attention and correction of broken emergency room policies.

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This guest post has been provided by DreamLegalTeam.com. If you have been injured and are a resident of the United States, you can utilize DLT’s free lawyer consultation service to find the absolute best attorneys in your area and receive an inside introduction. Don’t leave your legal case to chance!

Hospital Sued For Letting Patient Deteriorate Until Death is a post from: Dolan Law Offices, P.C.

During a conference in my Panama City, Florida, office, an auto accident client asked if he did the right thing when he moved his car out of the road after a wreck. His car, which was still drivable, was partially blocking traffic on Highway 98 at Panama City Beach. He decided to move it when some of the other drivers, rubbernecking as they drove through the wreck scene, were nearly involved in collisions. I assured him that he had done the right thing.

Most people think they have to leave their vehicles exactly where they come to rest until the police arrive. They fear moving it, because they might be tampering with evidence showing who was at fault. That may be correct, but for the safety of the drivers involved and other people who are trying to get through the area, Florida law requires a driver of a disabled vehicle to make every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it removed if two conditions are met:

• the vehicle is driveable
• there are no injuries

If both conditions are met, neither the police nor an insurance company will assess a penalty for moving the vehicle.

Studies in Florida show some interesting things. Collisions cause more than half of the state’s street and highway congestion. Depending on the type location where a wreck occurs, thirteen to thirty-three percent of crashes are caused by earlier wrecks. Why? Because of the rubbernecking I mentioned a minute ago. Drivers passing through a wreck scene should go through without slowing unnecessarily. If they do, the chance of their being rear ended goes up astronomically.

The studies also show that for every minute spent on the scene by fire and rescue personnel or police, five minutes of traffic congestion results. And injury to those who respond to a wreck is significant, accounting for fifty-nine percent of police casualties in Florida. It’s easy to see why getting a wrecked vehicle out of the way will improve response and clearance times at accident scenes. That in turn will reduce congestion, reduce subsequent collisions, and improve safety conditions for the drivers and responders like police, fire and rescue personnel.

A major part of my practice is devoted to educating people about how to recognize and avoid dangers. I would rather they be safe than to get calls from them after a wreck, so follow these tips after a collision:

• Check for injuries. If someone’s hurt, call 911 immediately, and wait for emergency personnel.
• If there are no injuries, move the vehicles off the road to a safe place.
• Now call 911 to report the wreck. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
• Follow law enforcement’s directives when they arrive, and report the wreck to your own insurance company.
• Finally, remember this. Don’t ever, ever talk to the other person’s insurance company without first talking to a lawyer. That insurance company is the absolute enemy.

Is It Legal To Move Your Car After a Wreck? is a post from: Dolan Law Offices, P.C.

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about car repair after an accident:

Q. The insurance company gave me a list of their Direct Repair Shops. Do I have to use one?

A. No. You are the vehicle’s owner and can choose any repair facility. Your insurance company cannot require you to go to any particular shop.

Q. The insurance company told me if I use a shop of my choice, I may have to pay more for repairs and may not get a lifetime guarantee. Is that true?

A. No. All repair shops work with the insurance company to negotiate the proper repair of your vehicle.

Q. Are there differences in repair estimates from one shop as compare to another?

A. A lower initial estimate may not have included all the necessary work. Once the car is taken apart during the repair process, the insurance company is called to look at the vehicle in order to authorize the payment of additional work. This is fairly common.

Q. What are some important points I should look for in a repair facility?

A. Make sure the shop has the proper equipment:

• Unibody frame repair bench;
• Three dimensional measuring system;
• Compression resistance spot welder to duplicate factory welding techniques;
• Computerized four wheel alignment machine to complete the repair by discovering damage to the suspension system that was caused indirectly by the accident;
• Proper paint mixing that is able to color match your vehicle; and,
• Factory, ASE, certified or I-CAR trained technicians.

What You Should Know Before Having Your Car Repaired is a post from: Dolan Law Offices, P.C.

Two days ago, on July 13, 2010, Cook County Judge Donald J. Suriano awarded a $6,250,000 settlement for the benefit of a personal injury victim who suffered severe injuries from a fall.

Luis Vasquez was a roofer for the Knickerbocker Roofing and Paving Co. when he fell through a roof on March 8, 2004 on the premises owned and operated by Metra (also known as the 51st Street Coach House).

Mr. Vasquez was severely injured as he fell through a concrete roofing tile approximately 20 feet to the concrete floor below. He alleged that the contractors for the re-roof project, Walsh Construction Company along with the roofing contractor, Knickerbocker Roofing and Paving Company. CTE, Inc., a.k.a Consoer Townsend Environdyne and Cotter Consulting were jointly responsible for inspection of the panels. Additionally, Defendant Walsh Construction Company was responsible for safety on the job.

In Mr. Vasquez’s case, the Cook County court found the contractors responsible for not properly inspecting the panels which collapsed under Mr. Vasquez causing him to fall, and approved the $6.25M settlement for his benefit to help him cope with his medical bills related to his injuries.

Personal injury victims like Mr. Vasquez, who was represented by excellent lawyers, need the help of experienced injury lawyers to protect them and fight for them.

The Kiley Law Group is a personal injury law firm based in Andover, Massachusetts. The attorneys at the Kiley Law Group represent personal injury victims and their families in the greater Boston area and throughout the state of Massachusetts.

Kiley Law Group
342 North Main St
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 474-8670

Personal Injury is a post from: Dolan Law Offices, P.C.

Represented graphically, the results of these efforts are striking:

Figure 1, represents the number of traffic fatalities per 100 million miles traveled by vehicles. For example, on average in 1988, for every 100 million miles driven in Illinois, 2.4 individuals were killed in a traffic accident. Contrast this with the figure recently calculated for 2008. On average in 2008, for every 100 million miles driven in Illinois, .99 individuals were killed in a traffic accident. That is less than 1 fatality per 100 million miles, a first for Illinois since 1923 when the number of vehicles on the road were an insignificant fraction of the number we have today.

In addition, Illinois has been below the current national average of 1.27 fatalities per 100 million miles since 2004. The Department of Transportation maintains that “the main contributing factors to the reduction in the fatality rate continue to be the effective impaired driving safety belt campaigns.” This claim becomes significantly more salient when represented graphically and compared to Figure 1.

First, note the significant drop in fatalities where the driver responsible for the accident was driving under the influence of alcohol:

Given that traffic fatalities involving alcohol represent nearly half of all traffic related fatalities, it is clear that an increased effort to control impaired driving results in a simultaneous drop in the fatality rate. In addition, increased awareness over the last couple of decades of the safety benefits of wearing a seat belt in addition to new laws requiring their use has resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of passengers and drivers who wear a seat belt. This increase in active driver and passenger safety measures has contributed to the drop in traffic fatalities over the same period.

Note the dramatic increase in seat belt use in Illinois since 1985:

We should note that at this time, data on seat belt use is available for 2009 while data for alcohol related accidents as well as the cumulative fatality rate has not yet been published. Therefore, for comparison purposes, we have indicated the lowest seat belt use rate (1985) in red and the highest rate as of 2008 (which, coincidentally was 2008) in green. In addition, we have indicated the 2009 rate (which was higher than 2008) in blue. If we draw correlative inferences across Figures 1 – 3, we should expect the 2009 traffic fatality rate to be less than 2008 and, therefore, at a new low.

What does it all mean?

As a state, we obviously have a lot to be proud of. We have collectively worked to reduce our traffic fatality rate to a figure below the national average. What is more, we have done this responsibly by reducing the number of drunk drivers on the road and increasing the percentage of drivers and passengers who wear seat belts. Yet, the bottom line is still too high.

Drunk drivers still cause almost half of the traffic related fatalities in Illinois annually. It is a tragic figure because these accidents are accidents that could have and should have been avoided. As long as we drive automobiles, there will be unavoidable accidents. Yet, accidents caused by drunk drivers are not unavoidable. Further, even if the driver responsible for a fatal crash is not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, accidents caused by negligence or a total disregard for the safety of others are just as illegal, despicable and avoidable. Any fatality figure in this category larger than 0 is too high.

If you have sustained injuries, or lost a loved one, in an automobile accident in any city, town or county of Illinois then you need legal representation to make sure that your legal interests are protected.  Contact the experienced Illinois automobile accident lawyers of Dolan Law Offices for answers to your legal questions and to protect your rights.

Seat belts, Alcohol, and Illinois Traffic Fatalities is a post from: Dolan Law Offices, P.C.

Being hurt on the job can create a confusing legal hassle in addition to the pain caused by the injury. There’s paperwork, documentation, potential loss of income. It can be a frightening time. The best way to create a positive outcome is to be as informed as possible, and seek help when you need it.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

Worker’s compensation, also called workers’ comp or workman’s comp, is a form of insurance that provides coverage to employees who are injured during the course of performing their jobs. For example, if someone is injured in a car accident, they are not entitled to workers’ compensation. But if that car accident occurs while the employee is performing a work-related task, then the employee would be able to file a workers’ compensation claim.

The dollar amount provided by a workers’ compensation claim vary based on factors such as the state in which the worker is employed, the amount of coverage provided by the policy, and minimum requirements levied by state law. It can be enough to cover medical costs and loss of income, or it may barely cover hospital bills. You need to know how well covered you are, and your state’s minimum legal requirements.

How Do You Get Workers’ Compensation?

When you are first hired to a new job, your employer should explain whether they offer workers’ compensation, and what to do in the event of an on-the-job injury. If an injury does occur during work hours or tasks, your employer’s human resources department should be available to help you fill out forms and file a claim.

But, you’ll also need to decide whether you want to file a claim at all. Your employer will most likely encourage you to do so because when you enter into a workers’ compensation agreement, it protects the employer from potential litigation related to the accident. Accidents happen, it’s true. But if an accident occurs due to some form of negligence on your employer’s part, you may be entitled to more money than a workers’ compensation claim would provide.

What Should You Do If You’re Injured On The Job?

Even before an injury occurs, you should familiarize yourself with your state’s workers’ compensation laws. But unless you’re well versed in legal terminology, those laws may be very complex and difficult to understand. Also, because laws can vary from state to state, it can sometimes be difficult to determine what you’re entitled to, or how to go about getting it.

Many states try to offer assistance in understanding these laws. For example, to help navigate the ins and outs of workers’ compensation, Colorado has established a Web site that provides information not just to injured workers, but employers and attorneys. Other states have branches of government dedicated to administrating workers’ compensation. But even with sites like this, it can be confusing to understand all the legalities and limitations. That’s where an attorney who specializes in workers’ compensation cases can be very helpful.

How Can An Attorney Help You?

A lawyer who handles workers’ compensation cases will sit down with you and explain, in plain English, what you’re entitled to, what your employer is required to do, and what the best course of action for you is. They’ll help you understand whether your injury is covered by workers’ compensation, and how to file a claim. In addition, a workers’ compensation attorney will be able to tell you whether you may be entitled to more money by filing a lawsuit if your employer was somehow negligent.

Don’t be afraid to explore your options. If you’ve been injured to the point where you’re unable to work, you still have bills to pay, and you still need to put food on the table. You must know what you’re entitled to, and how to go about getting it. Seeking help from an attorney will take much of that pressure and worry off your shoulders, so you’ll be able to recover stress-free while still supporting your family.

Bachus & Schanker, LLC is a personal injury law firm representing victims and their families in Denver and all of Colorado. Bachus & Schanker is committed to protecting the rights of people injured by the negligence of others. Bachus & Schanker on Twitter will keep you up to date on the latest firm news and information.