Medical malpractice occurs when a negligent act or omission by a doctor or other medical professional results in damage or harm to a patient. Negligence by a medical professional could include an error in a diagnosis, treatment or illness management. If such negligence results in injury to a patient, a case could arise against the doctor if his or her actions deviated from generally accepted standards of practice; against the hospital for improper care, such as problems with medications, sanitation or nursing care; or against local, state or federal agencies that operate hospital facilities.

A study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences estimated that as many as 98,000 patients may be killed each year in hospitals alone as a result of medical errors. Earlier studies also found that this was a serious national problem.

Medical malpractice laws are designed to protect patients' rights to pursue compensation if they are injured as the result of negligence. However, malpractice suits are often complex and costly. If you believe you have a medical malpractice claim, it is important to consult with an attorney who can help and advise you. The law firm of Johnson & Placke can help you understand your rights.

Over a million people in the United States wake up every day in nursing homes. Many of these individuals are helpless, vulnerable and completely dependent upon nursing home staff to meet most or all of their needs. After all, nursing homes are supposed to be in the business of providing skilled nursing care to elderly and disabled residents. Unfortunately, the quality of care in the nursing home industry has increasingly declined over the past decade. A number of recent studies indicate that residents in nursing homes increasingly suffer abuse and neglect at the hands of nursing home corporations. In many cases residents have died or have been severely abused as a result of neglect.
Nursing home abuse occurs in different forms. The three most common types are physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Physical abuse includes situations in which a resident is kicked, beaten or otherwise physically mistreated. Sexual abuse most often occurs when a resident is fondled, subjected to sexual contact, or raped.
Neglect is the most prevalent type of elder mistreatment. Several types of injuries are commonly associated with progressive nursing home neglect such as:

• bedsores
• malnutrition and dehydration
• falls and fractures
• malnutrition and dehydration
• aspiration pneumonia
• septicemia from a urinary tract infection
• contractures
• gangrene
• injury from physical or chemical restraint
• exposure from “wandering off”

If your loved one has suffered a serious injury or death while a resident in a nursing home that you feel may be the result of nursing home abuse or neglect, you may have a claim against the nursing home.

Commercial trucks only account for 3 percent of all motor vehicles on the road, but they account for 13 percent of all deaths and/or catastrophic injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents. The reason for this is simple. Commercial trucks, also known as 18-wheelers, weigh between 15,000 and 90,000 pounds, depending on the cargo being transported. When one of these trucks hits a passenger car, the mass of the truck can overwhelm the car, resulting in death or serious injury to the passengers.

Due to the potential danger that commercial trucks pose for the traveling public, Congress passed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). This law is a series of rules and regulations that govern how commercial truck companies and drivers must act. Our experience in commercial truck litigation has enabled us to fully understand, use and uncover violations of the FMCSR to our clients’ advantage.