The Plavix lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. have been investigating potential cases against Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myer Squibb for failing to warn about the dangerous side effects of Plavix for over three years, and potential Plavix lawsuits are continuing to be evaluated for individuals who suffered a:

• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Cardiovascular Death
• Internal Bleeding
• Ulcers
• Blood Disorder: Thombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpora (TTP)

The new Plavix black box warning is the strongest type of cautionary statement that can be placed on a prescription medication. The FDA mandated the warning to ensure that doctors and consumers are aware that Plavix may be ineffective in users who are poor metabolizers of the drug, which could affect up to 14% of the population.

There is a genetic test available that can identify which potential Plavix users have reduced functioning of the CYP2C19 liver enzyme, making them poor Plavix metabolizers. If the drug makers had properly warned about this risk earlier, it could have prevented many users from suffering heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular injuries. It also could have allowed users to avoid unnecessary exposure to Plavix side effects.

PLAVIX LAWSUITS

If you, a friend or family member have taken Plavix and suffered a heart attack, stroke, internal bleeding, ulcers, TTP or death, request a free consultation and claim evaluation to determine if compensation may be available through a Plavix lawsuit. All cases are reviewed and evaluated on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.

>>REQUEST A FREE PLAVIX CASE EVALUATION<<

>>INFORMATION: Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuits

According to the BIAA, about 1.4 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury every year as a result of car accidents, sports, falls and other incidents.

Problems caused by a brain injury trauma can vary widely, potentially impacting the person’s motors skills, cognitive ability and sensory perception. They could result in difficulty thinking, speaking, learning and remembering. Emotions, sensation and ability to function in day-to-day activities could also be adversely affected.

A brain injury may also increase the risk for chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and other brain conditions.

Last month a study was published by the medical journal The Lancet, which indicated that children and young adults who suffer a traumatic brain injury could face an increased risk of epilepsey even more than 10 years after they suffer a head injury.

>>PRIOR POST (2/24/2009): Traumatic Brain Damage in Children

The Brain Injury Association of America provides information, education and support which is available to assist the estimated 5.3 million Americans who have suffered a brain injury trauma which impacts their daily activities.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY LAWYERS

In many cases a traumatic brain injury is caused by the negligence, recklessness or carelessness of another person, and financial compensation may be available to help provide for the life-time of care and assistance that may be required.

The traumatic brain injury lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential head injury lawsuits throughout the United States. Free consultations are provided to help families determine whether they may be entitled to compensation and there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.

If you, a friend or family member have suffered a traumatic brain injury, request a free claim evaluation.

>>INFORMATION: Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers

In addition to the range of physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral effects of a traumatic brain injury which can surface immediately following a head injury, a Danish team of researchers warn that the long term effects may not surface for many years.

According to the study released online Monday by The Lancet, the risk of epilepsy is more than two times higher after a mild brain trauma or skull fracture, and the risk increased to almost seven times when there is a serious brain injury. The risk remains even 10 years later, especially among teens over 15 years old, females and those with a family history of epilepsy.

“Traumatic brain injury is a significant risk indicator for epilepsy many years after the injury. Our data suggests a long time interval for potential, preventative treatment of high-risk patients,” the authors of the study concluded. “Drug treatment after brain injury with the aim of preventing post-traumatic epilepsy has been discouraging, but our data suggest a long time interval for potential, preventive treatment of high risk patients.”

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY LAWYERS

The personal injury lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of another person’s negligence throughout the United States. It is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident or injury to make sure that all steps are taken to protect the victims right to compensation through a traumatic brain injury lawsuit.

To review a potential case for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data from death certificates, workers compensation claims, medical examiner reports and police reports as part of an article published June 6, 2008 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Between 1992 and 2006, there were 11,303 work injury deaths among Hispanics, which accounts for 13% of the total number of work deaths during these years. The states with the highest number of fatal work injuries among Hispanics were California, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia and Tennessee.

Hispanic workers are the fastest growing segment of workers in the United States. In 2006, reports indicate that there were 19.6 million Hispanic workers in the United States, with 56% of them foreign born. About 95% of the work related deaths for the Hispanic population involved males, and 34% of the deaths between 2003 and 2006 involved those working in the construction industry.

Researchers suggested that much of the increased risk of death among Hispanic workers could be attributed to holding high-risk jobs, such as construction, waste services, agriculture, transportation and warehouse work. However, even when compared to non-Hispanic workers in the construction industry, Hispanics were found to have a higher work related injury death rate.

The CDC released this disturbing report in hopes of educating employers as to the severity of the situation and in an attempt to effectuate change in training and hiring procedures which might help reduce these statistics. Language barriers of Hispanic workers is reported as the number one reason for the increase in work-related deaths as workers are often limited in their selection of occupations and may be unable to fully understand direction or job training from their employer.

WORKERS COMPENSATION DEATH CLAIMS

When an injury is suffered on the job that results in death or injury, financial compensation may be available through a workers compensation claim. The workers compensation lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent injured workers in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania. To review a potential claim, request a free consultation.

The table saws were manufactured by DeWalt Industrial Tool Company, based in Towson, Maryland. Defects could allow the pivot bracket on the saw to separate, leading to a misalignment of the blade and the fence. This could cause a kick back, and poses a severe hazard of lacerations and serious injuries for users of the table saw.

Approximately 13,000 of the defective table saws were sold throughout the United States between April 2007 and January 2008 for about $500 each. The DEWALT jobsite table saw recall only applies to model number DW744 with date codes between 200715 and 200740. The Saws are yellow and black, with the model number and date code located on a name plate on the front. The manufacturer indicates that if an “X” is stamped on the name plate by the date code, the table saw is not subject to the recall.

Individuals who own one of the recalled DeWalt table saws may contact the manufacturer at (888) 742-9178 to obtain the location of a service center where a free replacement saw can be obtained.

DEWALT TABLE SAW LAWSUITS

If you, a friend or family member have suffered a severe laceration or other injury as a result of a defective DeWalt Jobsite Table Saw, you may be entitled to financial compensation. To have a potential DeWalt table saw lawsuit reviewed, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>INFORMATION: Workers Compensation

There were 5,702 work related deaths in 2005, which is about 16 every day or approximately 4 out of every 100,000 workers.  Fatal accidents which were related to transportation were responsible for 43% of the deaths, with 58% of those transportation deaths occurring from an auto accident or truck accident on a highway.

The findings were reported in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, based on data from the annual census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).  Other causes of work injury deaths in 2005 included:

• being struck by an objects or coming in contact with equipment (18%)
• assaults and violent acts (14%)
• falls (13%)
• homicide (10%) 

>>READ THE FULL REPORT: Work Injury Deaths – U.S. 2005

When an injury or death occurs on the job, workers compensation benefits are often available.  However, if third party is also responsible for the fatality, the family may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit as well.  It is important to speak with a qualified lawyer immediately following a work injury

WORK INJURY LAWYERS

Carl Saiontz is a Maryland workers comp lawyer.  Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represents injured workers hurt on the job in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania.  For claims involving wrongful death, our attorneys investigate and review claims in all 50 states.  To speak with a lawyer and review your legal rights as well as the benefits you may be entitled to, request a free consultation.

Currently the legislature requires that Maryland auto accident insurance companies provide at least $20,000 in coverage per person injured, up to a total of $40,000 for each accident.  If a driver elects to purchase this minimum coverage, and their negligence causes serious injuries, the negligent driver may be exposed to personal liability for the damages over $20,000.  This could result in the negligent driver losing their home, their personal assets and their wages to pay for the injuries they caused.

To protect their personal property, many Maryland drivers choose to purchase additional insurance coverage for significantly more than $20,000.  Most insurance companies offer to sell coverage of up to $50,000, $100,000, $300,000 or even over $1 million.  To obtain this additional coverage drivers pay higher insurance premiums.

Although the insurance company receives additional premiums, most Maryland policies contain this exclusion which reduces the amont of coverage to $20,000 if the accident victim is a co-worker in the course of their employment.  The insurance industry attempts to argue that the exclusion is justified since the victim can pursue Maryland workers’ compensation benefits.  However, Maryland workers comp is often an incomplete remedy, and many seriously injured workers elect to pursue collection of the damages they are entitled to from the personal assets of the driver.

James K. MacAlister, one of the Saiontz & Kirk Maryland auto accident lawyers, has been a strong advocate against this exclusion.  He filed a brief in the case on behalf of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association arguing that the insurance companies should not be allowed to reduce the amount of coverage down just because the victim is a co-worker.  Following this recent decision, Mr. MacAlister was quoted in the Maryland Daily Record pointing out how the opinion leaves employees who accidentally injure their co-workers exposed to substantial personal liability, even though they attempted to protect themselves by purchasing additional coverage.

Although the Maryland Court of Appeals found that the current laws do not preclude insurance companies from including such an exclusion, the Maryland legislature could still add language to the statute to require that the same amount of insurance coverage be provided to all accident victims, even if they are co-workers.