Gaar Law FirmGaar Law Firm2023-10-16T04:53:16Zhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1303109/2020/06/cropped-Gaar-Logo-Emblem-512-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=520272023-10-16T04:53:16Z2022-08-25T23:01:45ZAn attorney can make a major difference in your legal case. Typically, you expect them to help you to find yourself from criminal charges or hold someone accountable in civil court. Unfortunately, sometimes attorneys fall far short of basic professional standards.
They might take a client's case despite having a conflict of interest or allow their substance abuse issues to affect how they perform in court. Legal malpractice
is the technical term for when an attorney's personal failings are so significant that they no longer meet the basic standard of service for the industry. If another lawyer agrees that your attorney should have acted differently and that their actions directly impacted your case, you may have the basis for a legal malpractice claim. What kind of justice can you seek after your lawyer commits an act of legal malpractice?
You could qualify for an appeal
In scenarios where attorneys make major mistakes or compromise their clients' legal situation, an appeal may be possible. For example, someone convicted of a criminal offense because of poor representation may be able to secure a new trial because of their attorney's failure. Typically, to obtain an appeal, there needs to be a direct connection between the attorney's poor performance and the outcome of the case. You can seek financial compensation. You likely paid quite a bit for the representation that failed you so spectacularly. Every lawyer typically carries legal malpractice insurance that covers them if someone brings a valid claim. You may even be able to take the lawyer to court if necessary. Holding an attorney who provided inadequate representation accountable can lead to justice and possibly financial compensation for the losses you suffered.]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=520222022-08-09T20:26:38Z2022-08-09T20:26:38ZSome studies have found that doctors often struggle to listen to their patients. In many cases, they will interrupt them or talk over them. One study discovered that this happened in 11 seconds in a typical case.When you go to the doctor, you clearly expect them to pay attention to your concerns and suggest the right treatment. If they fail to listen to you, you may not get the treatment that you need. If they interrupt you, they may miss out on key information that you could have provided to help with the diagnosis. So why does this happen?
The doctor may be making an assumption
Some doctors just see so many cases that they make assumptions or jump to conclusions. For instance, you could complain about chest pain and the doctor may assume that you’re having a heart attack, even though that’s not the actual cause of your pain. But heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and heart attacks are very common, so doctors tend to think of them first.
The doctor is in a rush
Another potential reason is simply that the doctor is in a rush. Appointments are often scheduled in very short windows and so doctors know that they only have a few minutes to talk to you. If they feel like they can get through it more quickly by talking over you or making quick assumptions, they may be tempted to do so. They can feel outside pressure from their own schedule.Needless to say, if the doctor doesn’t listen to you and you get substandard care, you may rightly assume that that is not the type of care that you deserved. If you’ve suffered serious injuries or even life-altering changes, make sure you know how to seek financial compensation.]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=520202022-07-27T17:40:52Z2022-07-27T17:40:52ZMany jobs have unique dangers that you won’t see in any other line of work. Part of working as a mechanic is knowing a serious injury could cause them more work and pain for your future. The best way to avoid injuries is to know what dangers a mechanic can expect on the job.
1. Back injuries and pulled muscles
There’s a lot of heavy lifting and forceful actions as a mechanic. Lifting a tire or moving a car part can put a lot of stress on a mechanic's back, knees and muscles – using the right stance can greatly take the stress off the wrong muscle. While eclectic tools are great at reducing strenuous labor, not every tool is right for the job. Some jobs require mechanics to get down and dirty, using the right tool and a little elbow grease, but if a bolt just won’t budge, a mechanic may be putting unnecessary tension on their body, causing them to pull a muscle or worse.
2. Chemical and fume exposure
Cars use all types of fluids to stay in top shape. Many of these fluids can spill onto a mechanic when they start working on them. Some of these chemicals, if exposed to the skin for too long, could be harmful. These chemicals could lead to burns, rashes and irritation. Even if a mechanic isn’t in direct contact with a chemical, there may be lingering exposure in the air. Inhaling toxic fumes could cause respiratory issues. Some respiratory issues could cause lung issues and long-term breathing issues.
3. Burns and explosions
Mechanics work around a lot of flammable solvents that may be left on the floor, on tools, on clothes or on their hands. There may be times when tools spark or there’s a need for torches to finish a job. If a solvent came in contact with an open flame, there could be fires, causing mechanical third-degree burns. If you were injured on the job, then you may need to know your options to ensure your injuries and time away from work are covered. While workers' compensation covers many incidents, there are some situations that may open the door to third-party claims. If your injury was caused by a contractor, a manufacturer or a supplier, you may have a viable claim.]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=520182022-06-29T20:53:38Z2022-06-29T20:53:38Zmillion people every year go to the emergency room due to same-level fall incidents.
What kinds of injuries might result in someone needing emergency trauma care after a fall?
Head injuries
The worst-case scenario in a slip-and-fall situation is that someone hits their head on the floor or on nearby furniture or fixtures. Brain injuries can drastically alter someone's life or even kill them. The symptoms can range from memory issues and sensory perception changes to problems with balance and changes in personality.
What's worse is that brain injuries often don't show concerning symptoms right away, so people who hurt themselves at a store might leave without ever reporting the incident and then need medical care the next day.
Broken bones
A significant portion of people who suffer noteworthy injuries in a slip-and-fall will break a bone. The efforts that people make to avoid hitting their heads or falling at full speed can easily result in broken arms, fingers, legs or even collarbones. Adults over the age of 65 are at particularly high risk for fractures in a fall, and they may take longer to heal from a broken bone as well.
Soft tissue injuries and in rare cases spinal cord injuries are also possible when people fall after slipping. There may be premises liability insurance available for the person who got hurt. If the business does not have adequate insurance, then a civil lawsuit could be necessary for the person hurt. Recognizing the possible consequences of a slip and fall incident may motivate you to pursue a premises liability claim after getting hurt.]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=520122022-04-27T18:54:09Z2022-04-27T18:54:09ZYou spend every weekend touring your favorite stores with your family. This has been a tradition for years, and it’s usually a lot of fun and goes by without incident.
However, your most recent day out is different. You’ve suffered a fall down a stairway, resulting in serious injuries. You’re going to need a long time to recover, meaning that you cannot work and earn a steady income.What are the most common causes of stairway accidents like this and what can you do about it?
Inadequate lighting
The owners of public premises have a duty to ensure that buildings are safe for consumers. Stairways are at the top of the list of priorities. A fall down a stairway can be devastating, and they frequently occur due to inadequate lighting. Cost-cutting and energy efficiency are no reasons to sacrifice consumer safety. There are ways to reduce costs that still leave stairways suitably litten. Customers in public spaces should never be confronted by a staircase where they cannot see what is going on.
Safety rails
Not only do handrails or safety rails make stairways much safer, but they are also a legal requirement in public buildings in Louisiana. The purpose of these handrails is to guide consumers up and down the stairs safely. They are also a backup if a fall does occur. Mid-fall, a person can grab the handrail and regain their balance, potentially managing to stop themselves from tumbling down the stairs. A lack of a handrail or an ill-fitted handrail means that a stairway fall becomes much worse. Your safety should not be sacrificed when you’re out in public. If you have been injured during a stairway fall, make sure you check out your options in terms of obtaining legal compensation. ]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=520042022-04-26T21:30:57Z2022-04-26T21:30:57Zleaps to 107.6. The most common categories of injuries are:
Sprains, strains and tears
Cuts, lacerations and punctures
Bone fractures
Many of these injuries are more or less unavoidable, such as repetitive stress injuries caused by lifting and carrying food or drinks to customers dozens of times a shift over several years. But negligent third parties can also cause or contribute to dangerous situations for workers. For example, a poorly manufactured or repaired grill can start a fire, burning a worker or forcing them to inhale smoke. A drunk driver could crash into a food truck, injuring the employees inside.
Third-party claims based on work accidents
When someone else's misconduct is a factor in your workplace injury, you could be able to seek compensation from a third-party claim. This is a form of personal injury litigation that supplements workers' compensation benefits in cases of third-party negligence. Third-party liability is not a factor in every workplace injury. It depends on the particular facts of what happened to you. Discuss your injuries with your attorney to determine if a third party contributed to them in some way.]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=520022022-04-21T19:20:21Z2022-04-21T19:20:21ZDistractions include all kinds of multitasking
Your brain can't really focus on two tasks simultaneously. If you try to do something else during your daily commute or while driving the kids into school to make use of that time in the car, those activities are probably distractions.
Quizzing your child on their spelling words will mentally distract you and possibly visually distract you as you glance back at your child to acknowledge they just did a good job. Drinking a cup of coffee or eating a breakfast burrito on your way to work will require that you take at least one hand off of the wheel and risk spilling something and having an involuntary reaction.
Singing along to the radio, making calls, even using hands-free technology reaching for something in another seat or adjusting the vehicle control, like your built-in GPS device, could all these sources of distraction that increase your reaction time and affect your decision making.
Safety should be your first priority
The more time you spend in the car every week, the more reason you might have to what to make use of that time. However, for every mile traveled, you have a certain degree of crash risk. Engaging in distracted driving will only increase that risk.
Not only how you more likely to get into a crash, but you may have financial liability for it instead of the right to make a claim against another driver. You can protect yourself by avoiding the impulse to multitask or otherwise distract yourself. Recognizing and avoiding distracted driving protects you physically and legally from the dangers of motor vehicle collisions.]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=519872022-04-12T22:53:17Z2022-04-12T22:53:17ZAny accident on the roads or highways in Louisiana can cause serious damage and life-changing injuries. However, being involved in an accident with a large truck puts passenger vehicle drivers at a higher risk of devastating injuries.
While this is true, you can protect yourself by learning how to drive safely around large trucks. Part of this involves learning what mistakes you should avoid, which can be found here.
Mistake: Being distracted
Distracted driving is a top cause of car accidents. They can also lead to truck accidents. If you are looking at your phone, radio, talking to passengers or doing anything else that takes your eyes or mind off the road, it increases the likelihood of a serious accident. If you are driving near large trucks, this is even more of a risk due to the severe injuries you may experience.
Mistake: Not giving large trucks enough space
Large trucks take up more room on the road and when they turn. Because of this, you need to make sure you leave them plenty of room to operate. Never ride too closely to a truck and if they are turning, remember they need a wide berth. If you see a truck that is about to turn, it’s best if you wait and stay back.
Mistake: Driving in blind spots
Large trucks have a lot of blind spots. If you are riding around a large truck, it’s best to avoid these if you can. After all, if a truck driver can’t see you, the potential of an accident increases. Big trucks are everywhere. This is a fact of life. While they have a responsibility to drive safely, other drivers must also take precautions. Avoiding the mistakes above can help reduce the potential of a truck accident. If you are in a wreck with a big rig, make sure that you learn more about your legal options.]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=519842022-04-03T18:41:46Z2022-04-03T18:41:46ZIt may sound far-fetched, but it’s not: Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for over 250,000 deaths every year. For some of the victims who have to live with the aftermath of medical negligence, life is never the same.
Medical malpractice can result in permanent or disabling injuries which can turn your life around. Depending on the extent of the damage caused, your career could stall, and your social life may be affected too. In general, your quality of life will go down.
How safe are you?
The statistics are not so comforting, and chances are that you are likely to be a victim of medical malpractice at some point. In some cases, people don’t even know that they are victims of medical malpractice.For instance, about 21 million Americans are misdiagnosed annually, with thousands of surgical errors and other forms of medical malpractice occurring every year. It means that you can be a victim of medical n whenever you seek medical care.
Protecting your rights
If you or your loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, you need to protect your rights. The doctor or healthcare practitioner owes you a duty of care whenever they are discharging their duties, and malpractice is a form of negligence.You can hold them accountable and bring a medical malpractice claim against the responsible party.
Navigating a medical malpractice claim
A medical malpractice claim is slightly different from other types of personal injury claims due to the complex nature of the field of medicine. Therefore, you need to handle your claim carefully to avoid any mishaps that might affect your settlement package.Learning more about such cases will help you make informed decisions and increase your chances of getting adequate compensation.]]>On Behalf of Gaar Law Firmhttps://www.gaarlaw.com/?p=519602022-03-24T21:42:41Z2022-03-24T21:42:41ZThe foreseeability of the crime matters
A court cannot hold a business owner liable for every random crime that someone commits on their property. In most cases, a premises liability suit against a property owner will fail if it is based on the occurrence of a crime on their premises committed by someone who wasn’t associated with the business at all.
However, sometimes courts will decide that a company should have been on alert for a crime and should have taken steps to prevent it. The failure to take precautions when a crime is foreseeable could give rise to a valid cause of action for premises liability.
Reasonable security measures
For example, if a business knows that there have been several occurrences of mugging in a particularly isolated and unlit stairwell or corner of their parking lot, they must take measures such as hiring more security, installing lights and cameras, or both. If they don’t, then they may be liable to victims of future muggings in that location.
Sometimes the perpetrator of a crime gets away, leaving the victim without the ability to recover compensation from them. In cases like these, sometimes holding a negligent property owner liable is the only way for the victim to get what they need in order to recover from their traumatic event.]]>