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Thursday, September 20, 2012
Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis is one of the most common medical errors leading to fatal complications. Although we would like to trust our doctor's skill in any diagnosis, with more than 200,000 people killed every year by medical errors, it’s important to be alert to signs that you may have received a misdiagnosis.
Here are things to look for:
• Prescribed treatment doesn't help. This is the first sign that you should begin researching your condition and consider looking for a second opinion.
• Your diagnosis doesn't match symptoms. When researching symptoms online, make sure you're using reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic. If your diagnosis is associated with symptoms that differ what you experienced, you may have been misdiagnosed.
• Your diagnosis is based on one lab test. Lab tests are essential to a diagnosis, but they are also often sources of error. If there's no corroborating evidence for the diagnosis, suspect misdiagnosis.
• Your diagnosis is based on tests you never got. How can this happen, you may ask. It does. Other people's test results may be misfiled and associated with you. Other times, doctors just get confused and think you are somebody else.
• Your doctor didn't pay attention to symptoms you reported. Doctors are supposed to listen, but they often have little time to pay attention to your description of symptoms. They are skipping ahead and making assumptions so they can quickly finish up with you and get on to the next patient.
Misdiagnosis leads to unnecessary treatment, but it can also mean that the actual condition you have has not been diagnosed and is not being treated. If some or all of the above points describes your situation, it's time to get a second opinion.
And if misdiagnosis has led to additional injuries, you should talk to a lawyer about compensation with a medical malpractice lawsuit.
For a free consultation about your rights and legal options after a misdiagnosis, please contact The Cochran Firm today.
Here are things to look for:
• Prescribed treatment doesn't help. This is the first sign that you should begin researching your condition and consider looking for a second opinion.
• Your diagnosis doesn't match symptoms. When researching symptoms online, make sure you're using reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic. If your diagnosis is associated with symptoms that differ what you experienced, you may have been misdiagnosed.
• Your diagnosis is based on one lab test. Lab tests are essential to a diagnosis, but they are also often sources of error. If there's no corroborating evidence for the diagnosis, suspect misdiagnosis.
• Your diagnosis is based on tests you never got. How can this happen, you may ask. It does. Other people's test results may be misfiled and associated with you. Other times, doctors just get confused and think you are somebody else.
• Your doctor didn't pay attention to symptoms you reported. Doctors are supposed to listen, but they often have little time to pay attention to your description of symptoms. They are skipping ahead and making assumptions so they can quickly finish up with you and get on to the next patient.
Misdiagnosis leads to unnecessary treatment, but it can also mean that the actual condition you have has not been diagnosed and is not being treated. If some or all of the above points describes your situation, it's time to get a second opinion.
And if misdiagnosis has led to additional injuries, you should talk to a lawyer about compensation with a medical malpractice lawsuit.
For a free consultation about your rights and legal options after a misdiagnosis, please contact The Cochran Firm today.
posted by Admin at 7:52 AM
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Insurance and Car Accidents
Cars are dangerous machines, and because even the best drivers are sometimes involved in car accidents, car insurance is a legal requirement to operate a car in most states. The rationale for requiring car insurance are that most people are unable to pay expenses related to a car accident at any given time, and without the ability to predict when accidents occur, the only way to avoid putting the burden on drivers who are not at fault is to require insurance before the car accident.
There are two types of car accident laws, and local insurance policies are written to coincide with these laws. In no-fault states, insurance policies are written so that your insurance covers you, no matter who is at fault for an accident. Typically, no-fault insurance includes a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP), property protection, and liability protection, which protects you from lawsuits due to injuries caused by your car in an accident. Twelve states have no-fault liability insurance: Florida, Michigan, New York, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Utah.
In states with tort liability laws, legally required insurance is to cover personal injury and property damage to other drivers in an accident. Your insurance pays when you are responsible for an accident, making it crucial for drivers to collect evidence and documentation to show who was at fault in a car accident.
However, in many cases, it doesn't matter when an insurance company is supposed to pay, because they will try to avoid their payment obligations.
If you are having trouble getting an insurance company to pay compensation owed after a car accident, an attorney can help. Please contact The Cochran Firm today for a free case evaluation.
There are two types of car accident laws, and local insurance policies are written to coincide with these laws. In no-fault states, insurance policies are written so that your insurance covers you, no matter who is at fault for an accident. Typically, no-fault insurance includes a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP), property protection, and liability protection, which protects you from lawsuits due to injuries caused by your car in an accident. Twelve states have no-fault liability insurance: Florida, Michigan, New York, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Utah.
In states with tort liability laws, legally required insurance is to cover personal injury and property damage to other drivers in an accident. Your insurance pays when you are responsible for an accident, making it crucial for drivers to collect evidence and documentation to show who was at fault in a car accident.
However, in many cases, it doesn't matter when an insurance company is supposed to pay, because they will try to avoid their payment obligations.
If you are having trouble getting an insurance company to pay compensation owed after a car accident, an attorney can help. Please contact The Cochran Firm today for a free case evaluation.
posted by Admin at 7:49 AM