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Breast Cancer Malpractice Statistics | Michigan Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Daniel Buckfire — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:47:00 GMT

Breast cancer is an increasingly common problem that affects hundreds of thousands of women and their families each year. In 2004, for example, over 186,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Of these, 40,954 women died from breast cancer.

More than one in ten women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. Yet despite the great familiarity doctors must have with the increasingly common disease, misdiagnosis or mistreatment of breast cancer is the cause of more medical malpractice claims than any other disease.

Breast cancer responds well to early detection and early treatment. Unfortunately, too often doctors and other medical professionals fail to order tests, misdiagnose, and fail to treat breast cancer. Such errors can give rise to successful medical malpractice claims. Common errors include:

Failure to identify an obvious lump during a breast exam
Failure to perform a breast exam while treating a patient for other reasons
Failure to arrange a mammogram, x-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc
Failure to classify a tumor as malignant
Failure to evaluate properly test results when tests are performed
Failure to notify patient of test results
Failure to order future tests
Failure to recognize common symptoms

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Esophageal Cancer Malpractice | Michigan Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Daniel Buckfire — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:36:00 GMT

Esohageal cancer develops in the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the throat with the stomach. It is often slow to grow and symptoms may not present themselves until relatively late stages. The National Cancer Institute predicts that over 15,500 new cases of esophageal cancer in the U.S. alone during 2008. Deaths from esophageal cancer are projected to exceed 14,500.

Esophageal cancer remains rare, but as the cancer with the highest rate of increase in the U.S., doctors are increasingly familiar with it. As a consequence, misdiagnosis or mistreatment of esophageal cancer is a growing cause of medical malpractice claims.

Esophageal cancer may respond well to early detection and treatment, but unfortunately, too often doctors and other medical professionals fail to order tests, misdiagnose, and fail to treat esophageal cancer. Such errors can give rise to successful medical malpractice claims.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Michigan Stroke Malpractice Lawyers | Michigan Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Daniel Buckfire — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:52:00 GMT

A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks and the flow of blood to the brain is interrupted. Lack of oxygen from your blood causes brain damage as brain cells die. This can cause symptoms as light as weakness in an arm or leg or as severe as paralysis, mental disability, and even death. Although some people can recover from strokes, the fact is the overwhelming majority either will die or will be left with some form of disability. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in American and are the number one cause of adult disability.

Although strokes are very serious, more than 80% are preventable. The first step to preventing a stroke is to recognize risk factors and develop a strategy for controlling them with your doctor. Some risk factors are out of your control. For instance, people over age 55, men, and people with a family history of strokes are at greater risk. African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Pacific Islanders are at higher risk than Caucasians. However, other risk factors can be treated and controlled with medical attention. Monitoring blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol are three things doctors can do to reduce your risk of stroke. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol use have also found to reduce the risk of stroke. Finally, excessive obesity correlates to higher risk for stroke, so losing weight can often help reduce your risk.

Medical malpractice can occur when a doctor fails to diagnose the possibility of a stroke. This can occur when a doctor fails to order proper tests to measure blockage or blood clots. Misdiagnosis of stroke risk factors can be another form of medical malpractice. Failure to prescribe anti-coagulation treatment to limit blood clotting is another common form of medical malpractice.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Lake St. Clair Drowning| Michigan Boater Safety

Daniel Buckfire — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:43:48 GMT

I just read about a drowning accident on Lake St. Clair that has resulted in the death of Paul Berkholz of Warren. Mr. Berkholz and his brother were boating on Lake St. Clair Tuesday evening. The two decided to go swimming in the lake and were swept away by the current. The brother was found floating the lake. He was four miles offshore and had been floating for about a half hour. The Coast Guard used night-vision goggles to find Paul Berkholz. Unfortunately, he was already dead by the time he was rescued.

This is a terrible accident and I am very sorry that it occurred. My sympathies are with the Berkholz family at this time.

This serves as a reminder that boater safety is very important. As summer winds down and Michiganders try to squeeze in their last few days on their boats for the year, it is important to remember to always use life jackets and personal flotation devices when on the water. Michiganders should also remember to teach boater safety to teenagers and other inexperienced boaters. Boater safety resources are available through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer| Proposed Dog Bite Ordinances

Daniel Buckfire — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:35:20 GMT

Proposed dog bite ordinances are being considered in several Metro-Detroit suburbs. Several cities are considering dangerous or vicious animal ordinances, like the recently-enacted Farmington Hills Dog Bite Ordinance, while others are considering breed-specific ordinances targeting pit bulls and similar dogs. Both sets of ordinances create additional duties for dog owners. Some require dog owners of dangerous animals to carry insurance for their dogs up to a specified amount. These ordinances aim at decreasing the possibility of injuries from dog bites and dog attacks. I encourage anyone interested in living in a safer community to contact their city, village, or township councils and tell them you support a tougher dog bite ordinance.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Tragic Romeo Car Accident

Daniel Buckfire — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:01:47 GMT

Today I read about a tragic Romeo car accident in which Chelsea Pascoe, a Romeo High School student, was killed. She was driving at the intersection of Campground Road and 31 Mile Road in Washington Township, Michigan when her car was struck by a pick-up truck driven by one of her fellow students. Three of her friends who were passengers in her car were also injured but are expected to survive. Police have not released the results of their investigation determining who was at fault in the accident.

This is an extremely tragic accident, especially since the victims are so young. My sympathies go out to the families of all students.

My firm represents injury victims and their families in similar cases. These cases are very sensitive to the victims and their families and are always very emotional for obvious reasons. As an attorney involved in these cases, I am very attuned to the emotions involved in the case.

In investigating a case for a client, I first determine what type of insurance benefits may cover the accident. This includes an analysis of both the liability policies and the Michigan No Fault insurance policies.

Even though there has been no determination of who is at fault, both drivers and all passengers involved are entitled to No Fault benefits, which include payment of all hospital bills and medical expenses, as well as a portion of the funeral expenses.

The injury victims may also have claims for their personal injuries suffered in the accident. Regardless of who was at fault, the three injured passengers would have a claim against either the driver of their car or the pick-up truck. The driver who was determined to be free of fault would also have a claim against the negligent driver. If it was determined that Chelsea Pescoe was not at fault, her family would also have a wrongful death claim against the driver of the pick-up truck.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Daniel Buckfire

Saline Motorcycle Accident Injures Biker

Larry Buckfire — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:20:34 GMT

A motorcyclist was severely injured last night in Saline Township motorcycle accident when he was struck by an SUV on Michigan Avenue near Dell Road. Police are investigating whether the Clinton Township woman who was driving the SUV was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. The Wasthenaw County Sherrifs Department continues to investigate the accident.

My firm represents Michigan bikers in accident cases throughout the State of Michigan. Although the public perception is that bikers are careless and reckless on the road, this is simply not true. The majority of motorcycle accidents are the result of negligent motorists and truck drivers on the Michigan roads. In this particular case, there is no evidence the biker was disobeying any laws of the road.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Larry Buckfire

Florida Man Killed in Michigan Car Crash

Larry Buckfire — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:51:04 GMT

I read a tragic story about a 79 year old Florida , James Weekely, who was killed in Dundee, Michigan when his car struck a tractor-trailer that had stopped suddenly for a downed electrical line. His wife, Hazel Weekley, who was also in the car, suffered significant injuries and is in critical care at a hospital in Toledo. Apparently, the wire that was in the road was pulled down by another vehicle that was excessively tall.

This accident presents a variety of legal issues which may give the relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Weekley the basis for filing a civil lawsuit. Depending on insurance issues, there may be Michigan no-fault insurance benefits available for the accident victims even if they did not have a Michigan auto policy. There may also be claims against both the truck driver and against the owner and driver of the truck that pulled down the power line. Any claim for the loss of Mr. Weekely's death would fall under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act.

When my firm is hired on this type of case, we immediately investigate the accident to determine who was at fault in the accident and the basis for holding them legally liable.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Larry Buckfire

Davison Township & Clayton Township Car Accidents

Larry Buckfire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:57:52 GMT

A tragic start to the holiday weekend. Five people suffered serious injuries in two separate Michigan car crashes yesterday. Police closed Eastbound I-69 to investigate one crash near Nichols Road. The other accident happened in front of Hillside Meadows Condominiums near Lapeer Road when one vehicle crossed the centerline and struck an oncoming car. Police are still investigating both accidents.

The July 4th weekend has always been one of the best weekends of the year. There are parties, fireworks shows, picnics, and other festivities all around the State of Michigan. Unfortunately, it also seems like there are many serious car accidents in Michigan during the weekend, most likely due to the number of people on the road and the number of drivers who had been drinking and partying.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Larry Buckfire

Kroger Beef Recall Expands

Larry Buckfire — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:29:03 GMT

I wrote the other day about the E. coli bacteria outbreak that was traced back to Kroger ground beef. Several dozen people in Michigan and Ohio were reported ill due to the food poisoning outbreak. Now, Nebraska Beef in Omaha has been identified as the supplier of the beef linked to the outbreak. For more information on the Kroger recall, click here.

I handle food poisoning outbreaks, including cases like the Kroger E. coli bacteria outbreak, and often see the devastating injuries inflicted upon those who eat tainted food and beef. Most victims describe their symptoms as the worst feeling in their life and many are hospitalized for their condition. We put our faith and our lives in the hands of stores and restaurants that produce our food and make our meals. Quite often, they fail us and feed us food tainted with bacteria.

Those sickened by the Kroger beef outbreak due have legal recourse and can be compensated for their poisoning. Anyone sickened by Kroger beef should contact me immediately to learn about their legal rights. They should also save any store receipts and beef packaging to prove that they consumed the tainted beef and this caused their illness.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Larry Buckfire