Rolla Personal Injury Law Blog

Falls in nursing homes can often be prevented

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law posted in Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse on Friday, February 8, 2019.

Nursing homes are supposed to care for residents who are unable to safely live on their own. For some of these residents, one of the issues that plagues them is the risk of falling. Nursing homes have to take this risk seriously so that these often-frail individuals don't fall and get hurt.

Any resident who meets the criteria for a fall risk must be clearly identified. In some cases, this means putting a bracelet on them, but it can also be a notice in their chart or a sign on the door. There must be a clear plan for handling this situation. For example, the resident might need to have a walker or handrails in any area they are going to walk. It could even mean needing supervision to walk. It is imperative that the nursing home staff abide by the requirements.

Evaluate your damages carefully after a semitruck crash

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law posted in Truck Accidents on Friday, January 25, 2019.

Semitruck crashes can lead to traumatic injuries, including those to the spinal cord or brain. When you are involved in one of these, your absolute top priority has to be getting the medical care that you need as quickly as possible. With the severity of these crashes, this is probably an emergency. Even if your money is tight right now, you can still seek care at the emergency room. You can't put money over your health right now.

One thing that you need to remember is that you can seek compensation for the accident if the trucker's negligence or issues with the truck lead to the crash. When you do this, you are letting the defendants know that you shouldn't have to be the one who pays the cost of the accident. Instead, you are demanding that they pay for your damages.

Some injuries don't show up right away after a wreck

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, January 10, 2019.

The impact that a car wreck has your body can lead to very serious injuries. In some cases, the effects of the crash on your body aren't going to be noticed for a few days after the wreck. You must ensure that you are watching for signs that something is wrong.

Headaches after a car crash are fairly common but if they don't abate after a bit, this could mean that you have a brain injury or a blood clot on your brain. You should visit your doctor if you have a headache that just won't go away.

3 categories of big rig crash causes

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

Semitruck wrecks stem from a variety of factors. While it is possible that only one of these will be present in a crash, there are often two or more that come into the picture. One thing that you can't do is assume that every big rig accident is the fault of the trucker.

Safety on the road depends on the actions of every driver. In the case of semitrucks, things that happen before the rig gets on the road can also have a direct impact on safety.

Pay attention for signs of negligence in nursing homes

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law posted in Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse on Friday, December 28, 2018.

Taking care of residents is the top priority of the nursing home staff. When they aren't taking care of things in the manner they should, residents can suffer harm due to negligence. It isn't always easy to notice signs of this problem. Being watchful for the signs that show something is amiss is imperative if you have a loved one in a nursing home.

One of the easiest signs that something is wrong is bruising or other outward injuries. These can signal that your loved one is being abused, but it can signal negligence if the injuries are due to the person falling often.

Motorists can't ignore motorcycles in the roads

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Friday, December 14, 2018.

Even though the weather is cooler, motorcyclists might still venture out to enjoy some time on the open road. Unfortunately, drivers might not realize that they are still out and about. This can mean that bikers face an increased risk of injuries due to the inattention of the motorists. This can lead to devastating injuries that change the course of the biker's life. We don't want to think that the motorist can get away with this.

The last thing that a motorcyclist wants to happen at this time of year is to suffer an injury that might take them away from their loved ones for the holiday season. With this in mind, all drivers must take the time to look for these small profile vehicles. Not thinking that they are going to be out isn't a good reason to slam into one.

Falls in nursing homes might be due to negligence

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law posted in Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse on Friday, November 30, 2018.

When you think of someone being mistreated in a nursing home, your mind might turn to physical abuse. This is understandable, but there are other things that you also need to watch for. One thing that might signal that something is amiss in a nursing home is falling among the residents. Some might argue that the elderly population is unstable on their feet for the most part, but this isn't an excuse for falls in nursing homes.

One of the duties of a nursing home is to keep residents safe. An occasional fall by a resident might be understandable, but when falls are frequent occurrences, they can signal chronic neglect of the residents. When a person goes into a nursing home -- and periodically again throughout their time in the facility -- they must be evaluated for fall risks. If they are at a greater risk of falling than a normal adult, special precautions should be established for their care.

Trucker fatigue might increase near the holidays

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law posted in Truck Accidents on Friday, November 16, 2018.

As the nation enjoys the start of the Christmas season, truckers might be dealing with an increase in hours worked and miles driven as they carry merchandise and gifts all across the country. This is probably good for their bank accounts since they might make more money, but it can also be very dangerous for them and the other people who are on the roads with them.

One issue that comes up in these cases is trucker fatigue. While it is true that there are limitations to how many hours truckers can drive and how many they must rest between shifts, the constant strain on the body and mind might be more than what they expected. We know that no trucker gets into their rig with the intention of hurting someone, but it is still possible for them to be negligent if they are driving while fatigued.

4 strategies to avoid becoming a distracted driver

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law on Monday, November 5, 2018.

It's human nature to become distracted. We are juggling so many things at once that it's difficult to give the task at hand our full attention. However, this is an absolute must when driving a motor vehicle. Taking our attention off the road for even a second can result in a fatal accident that claims the lives of countless victims.

Fortunately, when we focus our attention in the right way, we can avoid the biggest risk factors for distracted driving. According to GEICO, here is what you can do to stay safe in this regard:

What's the car accident settlement process like in Missouri?

On behalf of Steelman, Gaunt & Horsefield, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Friday, November 2, 2018.

Most Missouri residents who suffer serious injuries in car accidents caused by the fault of another person may have the ability to pursue a claim for financial damages in court. The recoverable damages in these cases relate to medical costs, pain and suffering, compensation for temporary and permanent disabilities, legal costs and more.

As for the end result of a car accident lawsuit, plaintiffs will often settle their cases before going to trial. A pre-trial settlement like this can be advantageous as it allows both sides of the suit to stay in control and manage the outcome. The plaintiff benefits from settling because there is no chance a judge will unexpectedly deny the plaintiff's claims after the trial. The defendant benefits because a settlement saves money on legal fees and allows the defendant to retain some level of control over how much they will need to spend on the matter.