Posts

What do You Need to Know in a Slip and Fall Case?

Slip and fall accidents can be dangerous and can lead to injuries ranging from minor knee scrapes and cuts to severe back and head injuries. These injuries can result in expensive medical treatment, therapy, and lost wages in the event that you have to miss work while you recuperate. If you have fallen on someone else’s property and sustained injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. It is always a good idea to seek legal advice if you find yourself in this situation. If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, contact an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney so that you can strategize about the best possible outcomes for your case.

What to Know in Slip and Fall Cases

In Maryland, a slip and fall case is a personal injury claim that arises from a person slipping or failing, usually on the property of another, and often, that property owner was negligent in his or her upkeep of the property. In Maryland, property owners are held accountable for the state of their property and any injuries that occur as a result of their negligence regarding their property. However, it is equally important to know that Maryland follows the doctrine of contributory negligence in which if you contributed to your harm or injuries, such as failing to pay attention to where you were going, wearing inappropriate footwear, or being on a part of the property where you were not allowed, then your personal injury slip and fall claim may be dismissed without compensation. Also, for a slip and fall case to be successful, you must be able to prove the elements of negligence – duty, breach, causation, and damages, and bring the claim within three years of the injury occurring. Because personal injury claims can be complicated, it is invaluable to seek the assistance of a personal injury attorney to help you with your case.

Need Legal Advice?

When you fall on someone else’s property due to their negligent up-keeping of the property, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. Whether your injuries are considered minor or major, these falls almost always result in injury, some being consistently problematic while others may aggravate a current injury. Regardless of your situation, you deserve to have someone on your team who will fight for your rights and get you the compensation that you deserve. At Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA we will advocate on your behalf, help you strategize about the best possible outcomes for your case, and assist you in the personal injury claims process. Contact our office today if you have been injured in a slip and fall case for a consultation regarding the facts of your situation.

Social Media Risks for Personal Injury Clients

Social media has made itself an integral part of most people lives. Whether it is Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter, social media is a huge platform for many people’s personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, because these social media platforms are so common, many people post to them without thinking about the unexpected effects their posting may have on their personal and professional lives or even a legal case. For those who have been in an accident and are pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, social media can be your worst nightmare and poses great risks for personal injury attorneys. If you or a loved one have been injured at the fault of another and are considering a personal injury claim, contact an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney to help you with your case.

Social Media Risks

Studies conducted by The Pew Research Center show that over 70% of people within the United States utilize some platform of social media. This includes people of all races and ethnicities, old and young, rich and poor. Unfortunately, when you have a personal injury claim, this could pose a huge problem. Most insurance companies have insurance defense attorneys who search social media looking for information to gather in a claim against you in the event you decide to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. If information that could be used against you is found, many courts have found that these writings are admissible in court and can be used against you because any posting can be deemed as waiving your attorney client confidentiality.

It is important to know that comments that people make on your social media accounts can also be evidence used against you in a personal injury claim. Lastly, it is important to note that insurance companies and their defense attorneys look to see if you are engaged in your regular activities, if you have shared information about your personal injury claim, or if you are or have been engaged in activities that could aggravate your injuries. Again, this information could pose a potential risk to you and your personal injury claim and result in you not being compensated for the injuries you sustained in an accident.

Need Legal Advice?

Social media can be fun and exciting to use. It allows you to keep in contact with people who you generally would not keep in contact with, and to share ideas and photos with people who may or may not think like you. However, social media also allows the world to have access to you and anything that you choose to post on your accounts; if you are a personal injury client, then this could be a potential hazard. Because of this, speaking with an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney at Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA can be in your best interest if you are thinking of pursuing a persona injury claim against someone who has caused you injury. Contact our office today for a consultation.

Failure to Diagnose and Misdiagnosis Medical Malpractice Claims

When you go to the doctor with an ailment, you expect to be thoroughly examined, informed of your diagnoses, and then prescribed treatment so that you can be made better. What you do not expect is for a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose to occur, resulting in further injury to you and your body. When your doctor fails to diagnose you or misdiagnoses you, the consequences of such actions can be life threatening. When this happens, if you are further injured as a result, you have the right to be compensated for your injuries. Therefore, if you or a loved one has been injured due to your doctor failing to diagnose a medical condition or misdiagnosing a medical condition, you should speak with an experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorney who can help you determine whether you have a case.

Failure to Diagnose or Misdiagnose

When you have a failure to diagnose claim, this claim occurs as result of a medical practitioner not detecting or not using the necessary tools and equipment to detect a disease even though there was a reasonable suspicion of such. If your doctor was negligent in the above and as a result, the injuries you had worsened or you sustained new injuries, then you may have a medical malpractice claim. Some of the more common misdiagnosed injuries include:

  • Infections
  • Skin cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Colorectal cancer

The person who was responsible for the misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose will be deemed the negligent party and a claim may be made against him or her. In Maryland, once you have discovered an injury, you generally have three years to file a medical malpractice claim before you are barred from bringing an action against your medical provider. Because of this, seeking an attorney right away is most beneficial to ensure that you are compensated for your injuries.

Need Legal Advice?

Even though doctors are human, and sometimes make mistakes, we expect them to know everything. When you go to your doctor seeking medical treatment and he or she fails to diagnose your symptoms or misdiagnoses your symptoms, the harm can be that much more impactful. If an injury occurs as a result of your provider’s negligence, you have a right to be compensated for the injuries that you have sustained. If you or a loved one have sustained injuries as a result of a misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose, contact Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA so that we can evaluate your claim and help you strategize about the best possible outcomes for your case.

Back or Spinal Cord Injuries from Medical Malpractice

Anyone who has ever hurt his or her back knows the amount of pain, injury, and suffering that can result. For some, simple medication suffices, but for others with more extreme conditions, a back injury can keep you out of work, keep you from enjoying moments with your family, and can become mentally draining. So, when your back injury occurs due to the negligence of a medical practitioner, the harm is even more damaging and you deserve to be compensated for the damages that you have incurred. If you or a loved one have sustained a back injury due to the negligence of a medical practitioner, contact an experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorney to help you determine whether you have a case.

What Should You Expect?

Back and spinal injuries are some of the worst injuries that your body can sustain. This is because your spinal cord carries nerve impulses to and from your brain to the rest of your body. These nerve impulses include different physical sensations as well as control and movement of your body. When injured, you can expect a series of health problems, high medical costs, and loss of compensation if you must be put out of work until you are healed.

Back and spinal injuries can happen at work, from slip and falls, and from vehicular accidents. Some back and spinal injuries occur as a result of medical malpractice. When these types of injuries occur, you deserve to be compensated, and an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you with your potential case. When back or spinal injuries are due to medical malpractice, you can expect a medical malpractice attorney to thoroughly review your case, speak with any potential witnesses, examine your medical files, and speak with medical experts. Medical experts can help establish what should have been done in your situation, what other practicing medical practitioners would have done, and any permanent physical damage that has resulted from your injuries. A medical malpractice attorney will help you receive the compensation you deserve as a result of your medical practitioner’s negligence.

Need Legal Advice?

Sustaining a back injury due to the negligence of a medical practitioner can be a devastating experience. Not only are the medical costs high, but the pain and suffering, loss of work and compensation, and mental drain can also be costly. Though you may feel alone, you are not; we are here to help you fight for your rights and be fairly compensated for any injuries you have sustained due to the negligence of another. If you or a loved one have been injured due to the negligence of a medical practitioner, contact an experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorney at Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA to help you strategize about the best possible outcomes for your case.

Have You been Injured in a Baltimore Bicycle Accident?

A bicyclist was injured in Ocean City, Maryland in a bicycle accident, according to an August 2017 CBS Baltimore report. The bicyclist, a student from Slovakia, was seriously injured when her bicycle was hit by a passenger vehicle. Police said the driver of the vehicle did not stop after the bicycle crash. The accident happened in the early morning on a Wednesday. The 21-year-old student was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

Police have identified the alleged hit-and-run driver. They are consulting with the state regarding filing criminal charges. The alleged suspect will not be identified until criminal charges are filed.

It is not known whether the student will file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver of the vehicle that hit her. An accident victim can file a claim against the driver even if criminal charges are not filed against the at-fault driver.

Proving Negligence in a Baltimore Bicycle Accident Involves Establishing Four Elements

Negligence is the failure of an at-fault party to act as a reasonable person would in the same and/or similar circumstances. In this situation, the reasonable person is another driver who follows traffic laws and does not endanger anyone by causing an accident.

To obtain damages like lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering, a plaintiff, or bicycle victim must prove four elements:

  • The driver had a legal duty to protect the victim from an accident. The driver has the responsibility not to cause an accident that harms the plaintiff.
  • The driver breached the legal duty to protect the plaintiff. This breach can happen in a variety of ways in a bicycle accident.
  • The driver was the direct or indirect cause of the bicyclist’s injuries. The driver can hit the bicyclist and be the direct cause. Even when there is no actual collision between the driver and bicyclist, the driver can still be the indirect cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. For instance, a driver could crash into another object that then falls into the road in front of a bicyclist, who hits it and is ejected from the bike.
  • The bicyclist is owed damages. At trial, a judge or jury determines how much a plaintiff will receive in damages.

The most common causes of a bicycle accident include:

  • Driver failing to look out for a bicyclist at a stop sign
  • Driver pulling out of the parking spot or driving in a parking lot and not looking for bicyclists
  • Driver turning directly in front of a bicyclist
  • Driver running a red light or a stop sign and hitting a bicyclist

Contact Hassan, Hassan & Tuchman, PA About Your Baltimore Bicycle Accident

Your automobile insurance policy may cover your bicycle injuries. However, you have the right to file a personal injury claim and hold the at-fault party responsible for paying your damages. Contact us today for assistance with your personal injury claim.