Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Among the elderly, bone fractures and even some spinal cord injuries are often the result of slip and fall accidents. In many cases, these accidents so easily cause injury because the victim’s bones are not in excellent shape. Healthy bones among the elderly do not prevent slip and fall accidents, but healthy bones can prevent serious personal injury in the event of a slip and fall accident.

Osteoporosis is a common condition that contributes to serious injury among the elderly. The disease makes bones thin and therefore more likely to break. For men and women with this condition, even a minor fall can lead to serious fractures. Luckily, there are many things that you can do to help prevent the disease and to strengthen your bones:

1) Eat enough calcium. If you are over age 50, you need 1,200 mg of calcium daily. Dairy products, orange juice, fortified cereals, dark green vegetables, sardines, salmon, soybeans, tofu, and almonds are all very good sources of calcium. If your diet does not include enough calcium, you may also want to speak to your doctor about a calcium supplement.

2) Eat enough Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important because it assists your body in absorbing calcium. Many younger people get their Vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, but eating foods rich in vitamin D (such as salmon, herring, and sardines) and taking supplements can be important if you spend much time indoors. If you are between ages 51 to 70, you need at least 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D each day. If you are over age 70, you need at least 600 IU daily.

3) Exercise. Half an hour of exercise a day can delay the onset of Osteoporosis and can make your bones stronger.

4) Maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. Smoking and drinking can reduce bone density, so you might want to eliminate these bad habits. Being underweight can also cause you to experience more bone fractures and more serious personal injury if you do fall.

If you are worried about your bone health and are fearful of falling, talk to your doctor about getting a bone density test to determine your bone health. After this test, your doctor may recommend treatment or prescription medication to safeguard your bone health.

Any of the more than a quarter million patients in the US with spinal cord injuries have a difficult time adjusting to their injury. Arguably, though, Florida patients may suffer from being in a naturally pleasant environment that they no longer experience the same way. Before a spinal cord injury, Florida residents can enjoy staying active in the mild climate of Florida. After such an injury, however, sports and many other activities become challenging or not possible.

For many people, no matter where they live, a spinal cord injury (SCI) is simply traumatic. Often caused by a car accident, violence, or some other injury that is traumatic of its self, a SCI can hamper a person’s movement and sensation. Plus, many SCI patients also develop complications and other health problems as a result of their injury. Most patients also need to develop a great deal of strength just to perform daily activities after a SCI.

As a result of the trauma that most patients face, most victims of a SCI experience a great deal of emotional upheaval and stress. Many grieve for their lost mobility and movement. Many also react with denial and extreme sadness. A number of patients fall into a deep depression and require therapy or counselling in order to deal with their grief. Others react with anger, especially in cases where someone’s negligence or recklessness caused the injury. These emotional upheavals can contribute to high blood pressure – already a concern for SCI patients -- and stress. The emotions that patients experience can also place a strain on the relationships that patients need for support after their injury.

Recovering from a brain injury takes both emotional and physical healing. It is important to give yourself time to recover and to give yourself realistic personal goals to achieve. If you have been injured for a year or more and have not yet recovered emotionally or started to cope with your injury, you may want to seek help. Many therapists use Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as well as other therapies to help people with serious personal injury and permanent injury recover emotionally. REBT is based on the idea that it is not the events that we experience so much as our beliefs about these events that cause our emotional states. Therefore, if you are telling yourself that normal life is over for you because of your spinal cord injury, a therapist trained with REBT may help you find alternative ways of thinking about your injury and about the contributions you can still make.

It is especially important to keep an eye on possible unhealthy behaviour after a serious spinal cord injury. If it is taking you some time to recover, you may be tempted to isolate yourself, deny yourself healthy and fun activities, or even deny yourself proper medical care. Some patients with serious spinal cord injuries turn to substance abuse. In fact, the rate of alcoholism among SCI patients is twice as high as among the non-injured population. Some patients grow so depressed that they attempt to injure themselves or even commit suicide. If you suspect that you may be addicted to alcohol or drugs or if you think you are engaging in unhealthy behaviours, it is important to seek help immediately. Drugs, alcohol, and other forms of risk-taking can slow down your recovery progress and can even lead to new injuries.

If you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence or recklessness, it can be especially hard for you to adjust to life with a spinal cord injury – particularly if the person responsible for your injury is unharmed. You may wish to speak to a qualified Florida attorney about your situation. A good Florida lawyer can investigate the circumstances that led to your injury and can help you get closure as well as the help you are entitled to under the law. An attorney can ensure that you have the resources you need to recover as fully as possible. To speak to a qualified Florida attorney, call 1- 800-535-2962 (1 800 5 FLAXMAN). You can set up a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your situation.

If you have been in a car accident or have witnessed a slip and fall accident or other accident in which someone may have sustained a back injury, spinal cord injury, or neck injury, it is important that you avoid moving the patient. Serious complications can occur if you try to move someone with a spinal cord injury. In fact, permanent paralysis could occur. Instead, you should:

1) Evaluate the situation. The victim may have a spinal cord injury if he or she exhibits the following symptoms:

*Severe pain in the back or neck area.
*Weakness and/or numbness
*Loss of control of the bladder, bowel, or limbs
*Odd positioning of the neck or back
*Loss of consciousness
*Inability to move the neck

It is important to keep in mind that not every victim will display these symptoms. Therefore, it may be best to treat any case of severe head injury or any situation in which substantial force has impacted the back or head as a possible spinal cord injury.

2) Call 911 or other local emergency medical assistance.

3) Keep the person still. The main aim in a spinal cord injury is to prevent further injury, and this means keeping the person still. Placing heavy towels around the neck or even holding onto the head and neck can help prevent someone from moving their head and causing further injury.

4) If appropriate, provide basic first aid, being careful not to move the head and neck. If the victim needs CPR, for example, you must administer this without moving the head and neck. If the victim is vomiting and is in danger of chocking or if the victim must be moved from immediate harm, make sure that at least two people move the victim. While moving the patient, keep the neck, back, and head as aligned as possible to prevent further injury. However, only move the victim when no other alternative is present.

If you or a loved one has experienced a spinal cord injury as a result of someone’s recklessness or negligence, contact a Florida attorney. Florida law may entitle you to compensation that can help ensure that you get the best quality medical care possible. If you need to speak to an attorney, you can arrange for a free, no-obligation consultation with a qualified Florida attorney simply by calling 1- 800-535-2962 (1 800 5 FLAXMAN).

More than 250 000 people in the US today live with spinal cord injuries. In most cases, the injuries are a result of trauma. In fact, 44% of all spinal cord injuries are caused by automobile accidents alone. Sports and violence are also very common causes of these injuries. 8% of spinal cord injuries are caused by sports, and 60% of sport-related injuries are caused by diving accidents. In persons over the age of 45, slip and fall accidents are in fact more likely to cause spinal cord injuries than automobile accidents. More than 80% of spinal cord injury victims are men.

Patients with a spinal cord injury usually have a loss of sensation and partial or full paralysis. Many also experience bladder and bowel complications. Spinal cord injuries also often have many additional complications. For example, men’s fertility is often affected by this type of injury. If the spinal cord injury occurs high on the body, the patient may have difficulty with normal respiration. Other complications include high blood pressure, low blood pressure, chronic pain, problems with body temperature, and an inability to sweat in the area where the injury occurred and below that level. In addition, a patient can experience acute emotional suffering, depression, and other upheavals during the treatment of a spinal cord injury.

Although more treatments are available today, many people are affected by a spinal cord injury for the rest of their lives. Many cannot return to work, while others require home care or extended hospital stays. Most patients require years of rehabilitative work and many never recover motor skills fully. A spinal cord injury simply affects every area of a person’s life, often permanently. The costs associated with this sort of injury are also very high, especially in cases where a patient needs care at home. Nevertheless, medicine has allowed many spinal cord injury patients to survive. Five decades ago, most patients with this type of injury were not expected to survive.

Recent developments in spinal cord injury research have been promising. For example, some scientists have found that a drug called Cethrin may help people with spinal cord injury. The drug works by inhibiting Rho, a part of the body that triggers cell death after a spinal cord injury. In many cases, patients who experience a spinal cord injury may continue to worsen after the initial impact because cell death occurs, inhibiting neural regeneration. This drug promises to help decrease this problem, possibly leading to better recovery.

If you or a loved one have sustained a spinal cord injury, your first priority should be to get the best possible medical care. Prompt medical attention and good care can help ensure a better probability of recovery. An important part of recovering from a spinal cord injury, too, is often to meet with a qualified Florida lawyer. A good lawyer can explain your legal options and can help ensure that you have the financial resources to get support and medical attention. Unfortunately, many insurance providers do not consider the full-term costs of a spinal cord injury and patients who sign insurance papers without consulting a Florida attorney may find that they do not have adequate compensation for basic medical necessities.

If you or a loved one has experienced a spinal cord injury as a result of negligence, a Florida attorney can help ensure that you get the best quality medical care possible. If you need to speak to an attorney, you can arrange for a free, no-obligation consultation with a qualified Florida attorney simply by calling 1- 800-535-2962 (1 800 5 FLAXMAN).

According to the National Ag Safety Database, farm machinery is a major contributor to agricultural accidents that lead to spinal cord injury each year. Studies show that tractor overturns, falls, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries on farms. In agriculture, spinal cord injuries are among the most serious personal injuries that occur. Many of these injuries lead to paralysis and even death.

Tractors pose a key hazard on farms. Defective tractors or improper use can result in rollovers or accidents in which the operator is thrown from the machine. Spinal cord injuries can occur if someone becomes trapped under a tractor as well. In addition to tractors, simple farm work such as farm maintenance or chores can result in falls that can lead to spinal injury. Research has proven that falls from as little as three feet can result in injury to the spinal cord.

Agricultural workers are using all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) on farms more often today and these vehicles are still another source of spinal injury and brain injury in the farming industry. Riding ATVs at high speeds, using ATVs on very rough terrain and not adequately protecting the operator are all common causes of ATV accidents.

For farmers, spinal cord injuries cause serious problems. The medical costs of spinal injuries often exceed what farmers can pay. The recovery period for these injuries tends to be lengthy and in most cases, farm chores and tasks must be left undone during the recovery period, which can affect profits for many months to come. In cases of spinal cord injury, agricultural workers must either hire additional workers at their own expense or must relinquish some of their income by not planting crops or completing other farm tasks.

According to the National Ag Safety Database, there are several things that agricultural workers can do to reduce the possibility of spinal injuries:

*When on ATVs or tractors, always use the provided seat belts and roll bars.
*Never overcrowd farm vehicles
*Always start tractors and other farm vehicles from the seat, not from the ground.
*Use ATVs only on known terrain and at reasonable speeds. When operating ATVs, avoid hills and other unsafe areas and always wear protective clothing (including a helmet).
*Stay alert when working and avoid work when excessively tired. Use caged ladders and always only use ladders on an even surface. Wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing when doing any sort of agricultural work.
*Enroll in a tractor safety certification course.

Continue reading "Are Florida Farmers At Risk for Spinal Cord Injuries?" »

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) approximately 200,000 Americans have a disability associated with a spinal cord injury. According to the Center for Disease Control, about 11 000 people in the United States sustain a spinal cord injury yearly. Spinal cord injuries range from injuries that cause discomfort to spinal cord trauma that result in partial or full paralysis.

For people under 65 years of age, the leading cause of spinal cord injury is automobile accidents. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), people who are 65 years of age or older are most likely to sustain spinal injury from slip and fall accidents. Studies reported by NCIPC indicate that 18% of spinal cord injuries are caused by recreational or sports activities.

Whatever the causes of spinal cord injuries, these injuries can create permanent disability and even paralysis. Patients who sustain this sort of injury may require expensive medical treatment and lengthy rehabilitation. Spinal cord injuries may affect a patient’s lifestyle and ability to return to work. In addition, this sort of injury can result in emotional upset, withdrawal, and depression, especially in early stages when the patient is still getting used to the injury. NCIPC also reports that this sort of injury results in secondary negative health outcomes. Specifically, people with SCIs may suffer from urinary tract infections, pressure sores, spasticity, respiratory complications, and scoliosis as a result of their injury.

Studies about SCIs have shown that these injuries cost the country $9.7 billion annually. An incredible $1.2 billion is used to treat pressure sores alone. Everyone needs to be concerned about spinal cord injuries, as everyone may be affected at some point. Although studies have shown that males between 15 and 29 years old are most likely to sustain a SCI, the injury is truly non-discriminatory and can strike almost anyone.

According to the NCIPC and the CDC, there are a number of things that can be done to prevent SCIs:

*Put programs in place to reduce instances of SCIs. For example, programs to encourage safer driving can help prevent SCIs caused by automobile accidents. Greater awareness about the dangers that can lead to SCI may also encourage people to be more cautious with their health.

*Addressing transportation, falls, and firearms specifically. By reducing the number of accidents associated with these three risk factors, rates of SCIs may drop significantly.

*Changing current programs to make the message clearer. For example, providing more real-life examples that illustrate to youth why drinking and driving or reckless behaviour may be dangerous may make the dangers of spinal cord injury more real to target audiences.

*Involve healthcare workers, teachers, the public, and politicians in awareness campaigns. By allowing audiences to hear about spinal cord injuries from a variety of sources, it is more likely that the message will get through.

Ultimately, the best prevention may be an extra dose of caution and awareness. Being careful to check water levels before diving into a pool, slowing down when driving, and generally using common sense can reduce the odds of spinal cord injuries.