Personal Injury

Published on: January 28, 2015

To prevent personal injury or death related to defective automated external defibrillators, the FDA just announced that manufacturers will now be required to submit premarket approval applications for their new products

When a person is injured or dies because of an automated external defibrillator failure, it is often the result of a defective design or a manufacturing flaw such as the inadequate quality control of outsourced components. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are usually stored in public places and ready for use if someone suddenly suffers from a life threatening cardiac arrhythmia. Unfortunately these medical devices have a history of malfunctions. In the last 10 years the FDA received more than 72,000 medical reports associated with defective AEDs. During the same period of time, 111 recalls were conducted affecting more than two million defective products.

Therefore the FDA decided to take additional steps to improve the quality of these products. The agency issued a final order that will require AED manufacturers to submit premarket approval applications (PMAs), which undergo a more rigorous review than what was required to market these products in the past.

Read the FDA press release here

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Published on: January 27, 2015

A worker was critically injured after being trapped in a trench on a New York construction site

By GGCRBHS&M

A construction worker suffered serious personal injury after he got stuck in a pit at a construction site on the Lower East Side in N.Y.C.. The worker was working in a 10 to 12 foot trench that had been excavated to repair a leaking pipe when the accident happened. Mud, dirt and debris started to collapse on the man and and he got trapped up to his chest for an hour until he could be rescued.

See video below for more information about this construction accident

Published on: January 27, 2015

How to avoid accidents when children are getting in and out of a school bus?

By GGCRBHS&M

Recently in New York a young boy getting out of a school bus suffered personal injury after being hit by a reckless driver. Unfortunately this type of accident happens too frequently. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration since 2003,119 school-aged pedestrians have died in school transportation related collisions. Among these fatalities 30% of them involved another vehicle.

Drivers need to exercise extra caution when they drive near a school bus. Here is a video that shows how we can all make the road safer for our children.

Published on: January 27, 2015

A mobile medical app allowing for continuing glucose monitoring may help prevent medical malpractice related to failure to manage diabetes

By GGCRBHS&M

Failure to manage diabetes can be medical malpractice that can result in serious personal injury such as loss of a limb, an eye or a kidney. A new medical App that was just approved by the FDA may help improve monitoring patients with diabetes. The Dexcom Share Direct Secondary Displays system’s data-sharing capability allows caregivers to a person with diabetes to monitor that individual’s blood sugar levels remotely through a legally marketed device that is available on mobile devices.The patient wears a small sensor inserted under the skin that constantly monitors the patient’s glucose level. The sensor is linked to an app installed on the patient’s mobile device while another app is installed on the caregiver’s mobile device or another person’s mobile device with whom the patient wants to share the data.

Read the press release from the FDA here

Published on: January 21, 2015

NYPD busted the driver who left a six year old pedestrian injured on the road after striking him when he was getting out of a school bus

By GGCRBHS&M

An unlicensed Queens driver who was trying to drive around a stopped school bus hit 6 year old Vincente Estremera as he was getting out of the bus. The driver first stopped and picked up the young boy and told the mother that her son looked OK but he could bring him to his doctor. He then put the child down, got in his car and left the scene of the accident. Vincente was diagnosed with a broken femur and needed to have plates and screws surgically implanted.

The NYPD busted the driver, 47 year old Garfield A. Myrie, at his home. Myrie is facing felony assault, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless endangerment and driving without a license.

Published on: January 21, 2015

One man died and seven people suffered personal injury in a five alarm fire in Brooklyn, NYC

By GGCRBHS&M

A man who couldn’t reach the fire escape died after he jumped from a fourth floor window and seven other people were injured, including one critically after a fire broke out at the Flatbush Hardware store in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

The man who died is Bassam Awad. He lived on the top floor of the building and owned a deli nearby. He tried to get to the fire escape but the flames were too intense so he decided to jump out of a window. He was married and had two children, ages 18 and 23. Another person is in critical condition and two others suffered serious burn injuries. Two civilians and two police officers were treated at the scene for minor injuries and smoke inhalation.

Read more in the NY Daily News

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Published on: January 19, 2015

A pedestrian plunged to his death in Brooklyn, NYC, after he walked on a cellar door that collapsed under him

By GGCRBHS&M

In New York, poorly maintained cellar doors leading to death or injury can result in premises liability against the owner of a building. It’s the nightmare of every New Yorker. Yesterday a man in his 30’ies fell 12 feet and died after walking on a metal cellar door on Bedford Ave in Brooklyn, NYC. The doors were leading to the basement of an abandoned building.

Red more in the New York Daily News

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Published on: January 16, 2015

The National Transportation Safety Board just released the Most Wanted List that represents the agency’s advocacy priorities to reduce personal injuries and deaths related to transportation accidents

By GGCRBHS&M

most%20wanted.jpg Transportation accidents are killing and injuring thousands of people every year. Many of these accidents are preventable.

To support and increased awareness of the most critical changes needed to reduce these accidents the NTSB is releasing every year its most wanted list.

This year, distracted driving caused by portable electronic devices (PEDs) is at the top of this list, followed by substance impairment while operating a vehicle and helicopter safety. Implementation of train control, improvement of rail tank car safety, increased safety in mass transportation, prevention of loss of control in non-airline flights, medical fitness for duty, strengthening of commercial trucking safety and strengthening procedural compliance among airlines are the other priorities on the NTSB Most Wanted List.

Published on: January 14, 2015

Honda just got fined a record amount of $70 million for not reporting 1729 death and injury claims as well as warranty claims but the fine seems modest compared to the $1.5 billion operating profit the car company recorded between July and September

By GGCRBHS&M

Death, injury and warranty claims can serve as an early warning of defects or other problems in a car and manufacturers are required by law to submit this information to the government. For the last 11 years, Honda consistently under reported these claims and was fined $70 million for not doing so (see Honda Fined for Violations of Safety Law).Even though this penalty is the highest amount ever fined a car manufacturer by the federal regulators it still seems very modest in comparison to the revenue of the giant car manufacturers. The Obama administration wants to raise the maximum fine to $300 million but would that be enough?

Published on: January 13, 2015

When a child suffers personal injury and is hospitalized, pediatric trauma nurses play an important role in helping the family cope with the traumatic event

By GGCRBHS&M

After a child’s injury, both the child and the family may experience traumatic stress reactions that can interfere with the recovery of the child. Pediatric trauma nurses have an important role to play in helping the family and the child to recover physically and emotionally. A recent study led by researchers from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hershey Medical Center surveyed more than 200 nurses in pediatric trauma centers. The researchers found that 90 % of nurses understand post traumatic stress disorder and recognize the importance of responding to the psychological needs of the child and the family. Additionally, 75% to 80% of the nurses are helping the child and the family to cope with pain and anxiety during procedures and encourage parents to turn to family and friends for support. However most nurses do not provide a direct assessment of the child or the parents distress and do not provide specific instructions on how to cope with the trauma.