Baton Rouge Personal Injury Blog

A delayed or missed diagnosis of cancer can alter your life

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law posted in medical malpractice on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Cancer is one of the most common health problems people can face. According to government statistics, more than 1.7 million people will be diagnosed with cancer each year, and more than 600,000 will die.

A timely diagnosis gives a cancer victim the best possible shot at recovery -- anything less is a major disadvantage. A late diagnosis can turn what might have been a simple surgery to remove a tumor into something that requires intensive, long-term treatment. In other cases, a late diagnosis can be fatal.

What types of damages can I claim after a car accident?

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

A car accident can leave you battered and bruised for a considerable amount of time -- or living with long-term injuries. When that happens, it's only natural to want to know more about the types of damages you can request.

Here's how it generally works when you file a claim for damages with an insurance company or move to a lawsuit:

Louisiana intersections are high-risk areas for collisions

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law on Friday, April 5, 2019.

As you travel Louisiana roadways, you'll likely have to navigate an intersection at some point. In fact, it's difficult to avoid crossing through intersections as you make your way through your normal daily route. Since you travel them on a routine basis, you are probably already aware that intersections are among the most dangerous places on the road.

You might approach a four-way stop with vehicles opposite and adjacent to your position on the road. The intersection might be secure with stop signs or traffic lights. If you're in a rural area, a crossroads might be completely unmarked, thus increasing the danger even more. If you suffer injury in an intersection collision that another person's negligence caused, you should not have to stress over medical bills and other expenses related to the situation. Always know where to seek support in the aftermath of an accident.

Louisiana sees 16.2 traffic deaths per 100,000 people

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Wondering what the risks look like every time you get on the road? While the risks are different for everyone, depending on factors like age, experience, time of day and much more, it is worth noting that Louisiana sees a traffic death rate of 16.2 people for every 100,000 people living in the state.

That number comes from 2017, as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Electronic health records are causing chaos, danger to patients

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law posted in medical malpractice on Thursday, March 28, 2019.

If you're 40 or older, you probably remember a time when every doctor's office had shelves of paper files that contained the important medical records of each patient who passed through the doors. Somewhere along the line, that changed. It gradually became the norm to keep patient records on computerized files.

Eventually, an industry was born that was designed to modernize the entire system -- complete with what were supposed to be enhancements that would keep doctors from making mistakes with diagnoses and medication errors. However, it didn't work.

Hospitals keep denying responsibility for maternal deaths

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law posted in Birth Injuries on Tuesday, March 26, 2019.

In modern-day America, there are some troubling statistics about maternal death rates during and just after childbirth. In general, women are dying far too often -- but black women are dying as many as four times as often and suffering complications that lead to lifelong consequences at twice the rate that white women do.

So, what do hospitals say about this?

Medical malpractice is still a problem in the United States

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law posted in medical malpractice on Friday, March 22, 2019.

Many personal injury attorneys say that there's a perception that medical malpractice cases are overblown. That perception sometimes affects the way that a jury sees a case.

Once upon a time (way back in the 1960s), Americans put a lot of faith in their medical providers. Today, only 34 percent of patients can say the same -- and the drop in support for medical providers isn't unfounded. Medical negligence is now the third leading cause of fatalities in this country.

What does it take to get fair compensation following a car crash?

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

If you or a loved one suffered injury in a car accident that resulted from someone else's negligence, you may seek compensation for your losses. If the responsible party has insurance, his or her insurance provider will likely contact you in a matter of weeks to offer to settle your case. Know that this initial offer will likely not be enough to cover all of your losses. Insurance companies count on car crash victims taking these low-ball offers, though, because they need the money right away.

What some Louisiana residents fail to realize is that they do not have to accept an insurance settlement offer. They have the right to decline and request more. Some people are not willing to go through the negotiations process, but if you are, it could be to your benefit.

The troubling rise of pedestrian deaths

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

A preliminary report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has some grim news for pedestrians and drivers alike: Pedestrian traffic deaths are climbing -- again. In fact, the number of pedestrians killed in 2018 was higher than any year since 1990.

According to the study, the news was fairly grim overall:

There were a total of 6,227 pedestrians killed in 2018. That is four percent more than were killed in 2017.
Even though 23 states managed to decrease the number of pedestrian deaths, 25 other states saw increases.
In Louisiana, there were approximately 77 pedestrians killed in the first half of 2018 -- compared to 69 killed in the same period of time in 2017, reflecting a 12 percent increase in deaths.
From 2008 through 2017, pedestrian deaths increased by a horrifying 35 percent -- even as other traffic deaths decreased by six percent during the same period.

Giving birth? You're in more danger than you probably realize

On behalf of Vincent J. DeSalvo, Attorney at Law posted in Birth Injuries on Friday, March 1, 2019.

Women in America are dying to give birth -- and nobody is doing much about it.

An in-depth study by USA Today found that America's maternal death rates are staggeringly high. Approximately two mothers die in childbirth every single day -- and uncounted thousands are put at risk of death during their pregnancies and deliveries.