articles.swaneylawfirm.com » Personal Injury

St. Louis Car Accident Attorney Discusses Pitfalls In Personal Injury Claims That Will Cost You Money

tni_adm — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:47:41 +0000

How can you lose money after a car accident? Sometimes we make a mistake in trusting other people to treat us fairly, rather than getting help when we need it. Insurance companies start building a case against you from day 1! Adjusters are taught to believe that everyone involved in a car accident is dishonest ,or at a minimum,is exaggerating the extent their injuries.Yet injury victims assume that they are going to get everything they deserve if they can showthe adjuster that they are a nice person. Adjusters wont tell you that your mistakes will cost you money and keep you from being fairly compensated.After an accident, be sure to contact the police so that a report can be done.Make sure that you get treatment,or atleast get evaluated, when you feel that you may be injured.Do not give a recorded statement right after the accident because you may not realize the extent of your injuries.Also, make sure that you choose a doctor who understands that you have a right to be fairly compensated for your injuries and who will be cooperative in documenting your injuries.Finally, do not discuss settlement of your claim until you are finished with your treatment. CONTACT JEFF SWANEY AT 314-481-7778 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

St. Louis Injury Attorney Cites Debate Over Helmut Missouri Safety

tni_adm — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:00:46 +0000

As a personal injury attorney, I would welcome comments from bikers. JEFF SWANEY FREE CONSULTATION 314-481-7778

Missouri could change motorcycle helmet law

10:06 AM CDT on Thursday, April 30, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Legislation modifying Missouri’s motorcycle helmet law is on its way to the governor.

The bill would allow those 21 and older to ride without helmets on all Missouri roads except interstate highways.

The House gave the bill final approval Wednesday on a vote of 93-65. It cleared the Senate earlier.

Proposals to repeal the mandatory helmet law have been controversial in the past. But this year’s measure, to simply modify the law, received little debate in either chamber.

Supporters of Missouri’s existing helmet law say the protective headgear keeps motorcyclists safer during a potentially dangerous activity.

But some motorcycle enthusiasts contend it’s more fun to ride without a helmet. They’ve argued that the state should micromanage their lives.

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St. Louis lawyer Posts Information On Spinal Fusion Surgery

tni_adm — Sun, 17 May 2009 04:45:42 +0000

Font SizeA A A Spinal fusion (arthrodesis)
Spinal fusion (arthrodesis) is a surgical procedure that joins, or fuses, two or more vertebrae. Spinal fusion is major surgery, usually lasting several hours. There are different methods of spinal fusion.

Bone is taken from the pelvic bone or obtained from a bone bank. The bone is used to make a bridge between adjacent vertebrae. This bone graft stimulates the growth of new bone.
Metal implants are secured to the vertebrae to hold them together until new bone grows between them.
What To Expect After Surgery
You will need to be watched in the hospital for a few days after spinal fusion surgery.

Bed rest is not usually necessary during your recovery period at home.

Your doctor may recommend that you wear a back brace during recovery.

Rehabilitation can be a prolonged process and includes walking, riding a stationary bike, swimming, and similar activities.

Why It Is Done
Spinal fusion may be done by itself or in combination with decompression to treat painful symptoms caused by misalignment or instability of the vertebrae, such as spondylolisthesis.

Spinal fusion may also be done as a follow-up to decompression and debridement procedures done to treat spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spinal injuries, infection, tumors, and deformities.

How Well It Works
This surgery was originally developed as a way to stabilize the spine and treat deformity or fractures of the spine. Its use has now spread to treatment of degenerative bone or disc changes and spinal stenosis. 1

Spinal fusion is often necessary to stabilize the spine after a traumatic injury, infection, or tumor. There is no solid body of research supporting the effectiveness of spinal fusion for various other spinal conditions. One study showed no clear difference between spinal fusion surgery and intensive rehabilitation for treating chronic low back pain. 2 In addition, the surgery is expensive and has significant risks. Therefore, although this type of surgery is common, it is controversial, and there is no guarantee of treatment success.

Risks
The risks associated with this procedure vary depending upon your age and overall health, diagnosis, and the type of procedure that is done.

Spinal fusion procedures frequently cause other problems. Risks include:

Pain at the bone graft site.
Failure of the fusion process and/or breakage of metal implants.
Deep venous blood clots that may also lead to pulmonary embolism.
Nerve injury.
Graft rejection.
Superficial infection.
Deep infection.
What To Think About
Because there are so many things to consider when spinal fusion is recommended, seek a second opinion before making a decision.

Complete the surgery information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.

Citations
Deyo RA, et al. (2004). Spinal-fusion surgery-The case for restraint. New England Journal of Medicine, 350(7): 722–726.

Fairbank J, et al. (2005). Randomised controlled trial to compare surgical stabilisation of the lumbar spine with an intensive rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic low back pain: The MRC spine stabilisation trial. BMJ, 330(7502): 1233–1239.

Author Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD – Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Robert B. Keller, MD – Orthopedics
Last Updated February 6, 2008
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated: February 06, 2008
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.