Archives for August 2015

It is not uncommon to experience back or neck pain after being involved in a motor vehicle wreck, or car accident. Often, the unexpected impact that takes place in a vehicle collision can cause pain in the form of whiplash. The American Chiropractic Association states that whiplash is most commonly seen injury among people involved in motor vehicle accidents. Whiplash injuries involve the sudden acceleration and deceleration of the head in a car crash or other accident. The whip-like movement places tremendous force on the bony structures, tissues and nerves of the cervical spine, often creating micro-tears and other damage. For more information about these injuries, check out this research article.   

Signs of Whiplash

Whiplash most commonly involves pain and stiffness in the neck. However, WebMD identifies the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Blurred vision
• Vertigo
• Ringing in the ears

Experiencing a headache is the most common side effect of whiplash. The resulting headache is often felt at the base of the skull after experiencing the whip-like motion from a sudden impact, typically from a rear-end collision. It is common for individuals to first experience whiplash symptoms hours or even a few days after an incident, rather than immediately after the injury. Depending on an individual’s health and other circumstances, symptoms may not be felt for up to 2 to 48 hours after the injury. This delay in symptoms is not always understood, but may be compared to the delay in feeling sore muscles after working out or other physical exertion.

If you have experienced or are experiencing a nagging headache after a motor vehicle accident, or any of the other symptoms related to whiplash injuries, it is important to you see a medical professional as soon as possible.

If you have suffered a whiplash or head injury after a car accident, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers may be able to help. Contact Brownstein & Nguyen for a free consultation regarding your legal rights today!

Image via Wikimedia Commons

The medical field has come a long way. For example, if we take a trip through history to the nation’s first hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one will find a historic operating theater. From 1804 to 1868, operations were performed there using only sunlight. During this time, before modern anesthesia, patients had one of three choices to reduce pain during surgery. The choices included partaking in opium, whiskey, or being hit over the head by a mallet to mask the pain of the surgical knife.

Fast forward 200 years, and modern medicine and operating standards have advanced significantly. Of course, this includes the practice of anesthesiology. However, even with the advancements in medicine and surgical practices, there are still risks involved.

Anesthesia Errors

When it comes to surgery, mistakes related to anesthesia can be even more dangerous than errors made during surgery. Such mistakes include the anesthesiologist failing to properly investicate the medical history of a patient for potential complications, or not informing a patient of the risks associated with the failure to follow preoperative instructions.

Additional anesthesia errors that occur during surgery may include:

• Vital signs improperly monitored
• Overdose of anesthesia
• Improper placement of breathing tube in trachea
• Use of defective or non-sterile equipment
• “Waking anesthesia” (conscious while under anesthesia)

Any of the above errors could lead to a viable medical malpractice case. If you or a loved one have experienced the improper use of anesthesia during surgery, it is critical to consult with an experienced medical malpractice attorney to review your situation and to navigate the complex rules associated with medical malpractice cases. Contact the medical malpractice law offices of Brownstein & Nguyen today for a free consultation.

Many schools in metro Atlanta opened their doors to students in early August. Among the high school students are those armed with a license to drive! In an effort to help steer students in the right direction, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is ramping up for September’s “It Can Wait” campaign.

It Can Wait

The campaign does not limit itself to students. It Can Wait applies to anyone behind the wheel of a car. With so many distractions in a vehicle, answering texts, emailing, searching the web, dialing numbers, and even using voice-activated capabilities only add to the dangerous mix. The It Can Wait campaign encourage drivers of all ages to remember that the text, call, email, or other task they want to do with their smart phone while driving a car can wait!

Why Is This Campaign Important?

Research shows that drivers engage in so many more activities while driving than just texting. With this data, it is critical to get out the message of stopping texting and other phone-related distractions while driving.

How can you get involved?

You can take the pledge to keep your eyes on the road at itcanwait.com. While there, you can also learn about helpful apps that help keep your eyes and attention on the road while driving to avoid the tragic consequences associated with using a smartphone or other device while driving. We owe it to ourselves, our loved ones and others on the road to stop the dangerous trend of distracted driving.