Arkansas Injury Lawyer Smith Advises Bruises May Be Sign Of Elder Abuse In Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are meant to be places of safety. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

“If you’re in the situation where you need to place a loved one in a nursing home, you want to know they will be safe, treated with respect and dignity and will be well cared for. The last thing you want to find out is that they are being abused. While you might not want to think about that, this does happen in a great number of nursing homes. Your loved one may be facing physical or emotional abuse on a daily basis. Are you aware of what is going on in the nursing home?” asked Michael Smith, an Arkansas injury lawyer.

Those who aren’t certain what is going on in a nursing home and whether or not their relative is indeed safe should watch for the sometimes-subtle warning signs. This is actually a very significant responsibility for those with family members in a home, as seniors are not throwaway people to be ignored and treated badly. They are people who deserve respect and protection. If they are not getting what they deserve, it’s crucial to consult with an Arkansas injury lawyer to put a stop to the abuse.

Physical abuse tops the list of atrocities that seniors may face every day; abuse that inflicts physical harm. This may involve slapping, hitting, pinching, shoving or other forms of direct physical contact. There is also a more subtle form of indirect abuse that may involve food deprivation or withholding needed medications. This kind of abuse virtually ensures long-term trauma for seniors who have to rely on the help of others while in the home.

“While it might seem obvious to say look for bruises, I don’t necessarily mean bruises on their hands and arms, although that is a common location. There may be bruising and welts in other locations as well. Be aware of their physical condition at all times, as any change may signal they are being abused. For instance, inner leg bruising may indicate sexual abuse. If you don’t know, don’t waste time arguing with management, contact a skilled personal injury lawyer and find out what can be done,” Smith said.

In some cases, abuse manifests itself as broken bones, sprains and dislocations in the hip area; usually a result of being shoved and pushed about by a caregiver. This causes hip dislocation and a possible fall. Shoulder injuries may also arise from rough handling.

“Look for broken glasses that may be a result of someone applying force to their face. Also be alert for rope marks on wrists, a sign of illegal restraint. The bottom line is, if the nursing home isn’t happy to have you visit your mom or dad or grandparents alone, be wary and alert,” Smith said.

Learn more by visiting http://www.Arkansaslawhelp.com

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Don’t drive with a suspended license

This 18-wheeler and truck accident should never have happened. The driver at fault had a suspended license.

If there was ever a case where someone with a bad driving record should not be driving with a suspended license, this would be it. This accident involved an 18-wheeler and a truck and the resulting melee shut down a major U.S. highway for over an hour. It’s a wonder there weren’t more injuries that would involve contacting an Arkansas accident lawyer for assistance to recover compensation for personal injuries.

The driver of a Dodge 2500 pickup decided, for some unknown reason, to turn in front of a northbound big rig. The Dodge driver was trying to get into a parking lot at his local dollar store. Whatever possessed him to turn in front of an oncoming semi defies logic, but the end result of this smack-up was an out of control semi sliding into a power pole. The offending Dodge squeaked by a gas line and just missed a home. You can picture the mess that would have been if the gas line had ruptured.

The trucker wasn’t injured in the crash, but the Dodge driver and his children did receive minor injuries, which could have been a lot worse. No one went to hospital, but they were checked over by EMS crews. Evidently, the Dodge driver had not been drinking and driving, but he was ticketed for turning when it was unsafe to do so and driving with a suspended license. With a suspended license, it’s safe to assume his driving record was not exemplary. In addition, his lack of judgment and driving skills would seem to point to yet more reasons why he should not have been driving, period, let alone with two children in his truck.

Accidents are never a lot of fun, but unfortunately, they can and do happen at the drop of a dime. All it takes is just one miscalculation about speed or distance, and things like this situation can happen. Thankfully, it turned out well for those involved, but it could have been a nightmare in the making.

If you have been involved in a situation such as this, or something similar, it’s a wise move to call an Arkansas accident lawyer. You never know when minor bumps may turn into major brain trauma. It has happened and people have lost their lives because of it. Never hesitate to ask legal questions, as you need to know your rights to determine how to proceed in your particular case.

Michael G. Smith is anArkansas personal injury lawyer and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law and veteran’s benefits in Arkansas. Learn more by visiting Arkansaslawhelp.com

Tags: Arkansas accident lawyer, Arkansas injury attorney, Arkansas injury lawyer, Arkansas malpractice lawyer, Arkansas personal injury lawyer, Arkansas wrongful death attorney

Arkansas Accident Lawyer Smith Sees Drop in Lawsuits When Doctors Say Sorry

Something as simple as an apology may reduce the number of medical malpractice lawsuits. It’s an innovative approach to a touchy problem.

“If your doctor said that he or she was really sorry about what happened to you, would you perhaps make the decision to not sue them for medical malpractice?” asked Michael Smith, an Arkansas accident lawyer. It seems that might just happen in some instances.

This is a new approach to doing medicine being implemented in the University of Michigan health system and is a deceptively simple program that has resulted in a dramatic drop in medical malpractice lawsuits. “What does it involve? Well, oddly enough, the program promotes medical professionals taking complete responsibility for any medical error they made and acknowledging it was an error. Evidently, malpractice suits have dropped by 60 percent,” Smith said.

This new way to practice medicine is patterned after the Texas program dubbed “Sorry Works,” and it seems to be working well for the University of Michigan. The program sees those who have made medical errors admit to the error, say they are sorry for the mistake, implement procedures to avoid it happening again and offering reasonable compensation for any harm caused. This simple, yet effective approach has diverted a lot of malpractice suits.

“Stop and think about that one for a minute. If you had come to harm at the hands of your doctor and they in turn denied responsibility and liability for the error, how would you feel? Most patients would feel victimized and want to sue to recover compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, etc,” said Arkansas accident lawyer Smith.

“On the other hand, if the doctor came to you and said right upfront that they made a mistake and were very sorry for it and worked to ensure it never happened again and even offered you compensation, what would your reaction be?” he asked. Chances are, if a patient injured at the hands of a medical professional gets a heartfelt apology, they won’t sue. Human beings appreciate sincerity and honesty, even when it comes to medical mistakes that may have harmed them.

This kind of an open approach to dealing with malpractice is a refreshing change from the deny everything routine and hiring the best defense lawyers going to squash the claim and the claimant. All victims really want is for someone to take responsibility for their mistakes, and that includes medical professionals – who are, after all, human beings who can and do make mistakes.

When it’s evident a mistake has been made and the doctor/nurse denies it, many patients seek legal redress out of desperation and a sense of being wronged. “Which, when you mull that over, makes perfect sense. It’s being betrayed by someone you are supposed to trust and when they don’t take responsibility for their screw up, it hurts, angers, aggravates and drives people to sue,” Smith said.

Learn more by visiting http://www.Arkansaslawhelp.com

Tags: Arkansas accident lawyer, Arkansas injury attorney, Arkansas injury lawyer, Arkansas malpractice lawyer, Arkansas personal injury lawyer, Arkansas wrongful death attorney