On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in Wrongful Death on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The Louisiana State Police are still confounded by what could have caused a recent accident in Metairie. After culling through witness statements, troopers have eliminated several factors such as speed and impairment as the cause. To be thorough, they have now decided to bring in a mechanic to determine if the scooter the woman was driving at the time of the fatal accident suffered some sort of mechanical failure.
The woman was driving the 2009 Citycom 300i scooter on the flyover ramp that leads from Causeway Boulevard south onto Interstate 10 east. For an as yet and still unknown reason, the woman ended up colliding with the right side of the ramp. When she did, she was thrown over the side and landed on Interstate 10 below.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in workers' compensation on Friday, May 17, 2013
The head of the Louisiana Cemetery and Parks Department was killed recently. It's not yet clear exactly what happened, but a riding lawn mower was found on top of him. Due to the fact that the man died in the performance of his duties, his family may qualify for workers' compensation death benefits to help them with finances as they cope with his loss.
From what has been pieced together so far, the lawn mower was on a ramp built by the man inside the work shed at the cemetery. It was approximately 14 inches above the ground to allow access to the underside of the lawn mower. It is believed that he was going to replace a hydraulic line when the accident occurred.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in medical malpractice on Monday, May 6, 2013
There may be surgical patients in Louisiana whose surgery was performed using the da Vinci robotic surgery system. The system is said to have many advantages over traditional laparoscopic surgery. However, there have been a handful of deaths and injuries reported that happened during surgeries using the da Vinci system. Some in the surgical field that believe the deaths and other injuries associated with the da Vinci robotic surgery system are due to doctor negligence.
The system is meant to be used in laparoscopic procedures in order to reduce recovery time, bleeding and the need for patients to use pain medication after surgery. A traditional procedure involves three incisions. With the da Vinci, there are normally two or three more incisions made to insert additional equipment that is usually handled by the surgeon or surgical assistants. The surgeon then controls the system from a computer. The robotic arms perform the surgery under the direction of the surgeon.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Louisiana State Police are looking for any information about a light colored vehicle that is either an SUV or a truck that fled the scene of an accident recently. The car accident caused the death of the driver. The passenger that was in the car with the deceased driver suffered only minor injuries.
Preliminary details of the accident indicate that the deceased driver was traveling westbound in the left lane of Interstate 20. Another vehicle that was in the right lane swerved into her path. The deceased driver swerved to the left to avoid a collision and ended up losing control of her vehicle. The vehicle then traveled crossed the highway, off of the right shoulder of the highway and into a tree.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Louisiana State Police are looking for any information about a light colored vehicle that is either an SUV or a truck that fled the scene of an accident recently. The car accident caused the death of the driver. The passenger that was in the car with the deceased driver suffered only minor injuries.
Preliminary details of the accident indicate that the deceased driver was traveling westbound in the left lane of Interstate 20. Another vehicle that was in the right lane swerved into her path. The deceased driver swerved to the left to avoid a collision and ended up losing control of her vehicle. The vehicle then traveled crossed the highway, off of the right shoulder of the highway and into a tree.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in medical malpractice on Monday, April 22, 2013
According to a Brown University study of approximately six million senior citizens on Medicare, Alexandria, Louisiana is the number one city in America for prescribing medications to senior citizens that are considered to be "high risk" drugs. As a matter of fact, patients that live in the south are far more likely than patients in New England to be prescribed these high risk medications. It is not entirely clear why this is the case, but there is the possibility that medical malpractice could be a reason.
Even if a doctor has a patient's best interest at heart, it is possible that the doctor may incorrectly prescribe a medication to that patient. The Food and Drug Administration cautions patients about blindly taking medication just because it was prescribed to them. Even if it is properly prescribed, it is also possible that the prescription can be improperly filled at a pharmacy.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, April 19, 2013
A Louisiana woman is facing several charges including vehicular homicide in connection with the death of the owner of a car dealership in Baton Rouge. She is being held at the Livingston Parish Prison on a bond that exceeds $100,000. The fatal accident took place on Interstate 12 near the Juban Road exit.
The woman's blood alcohol level at the time of the accident is reported to have been 0.15 percent. The legal limit in Louisiana is 0.08 percent, making the woman's blood alcohol level nearly two times that limit. As a result, the woman has also been charged with driving while intoxicated.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in Wrongful Death on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
When turning onto a freeway with potential passing traffic, it is important for drivers to make sure the road is clear of other vehicles. Failure to do so might result in a traffic violation, but it could also cause an accident involving personal injuries. In the worst case scenario, this type of carelessness can even cause or contributed to a fatality. Unfortunately, this is what happened in a recent fatal accident in Louisiana.
The deadly crash happened early one morning in early April when an 18-wheeler truck tried to turn onto Louisiana 10. As the 18-wheeler was pulling out from a private driveway, it was struck by a 2007 Freightliner that was heading west on the roadway. The collision happened west of where the Interstate meets Louisiana 467. The authorities responded to the accident at approximately 5:30 a.m.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in Truck Accidents on Friday, April 5, 2013
Most anyone who has driven on a major road or Interstate can attest to the fact that such travel is dangerous. A truck accident is a fear that most everyone has. Quite possibly, no one knows the danger of these types of accidents more than the actual drivers of the trucks. Two drivers in Louisiana know firsthand the dangers that are inherent to a job involving such large equipment.
Early on a morning in April, an 18-wheeler was traveling west on a Louisiana road. It contained the driver and a passenger. The vehicle was just beginning to go over a hill when a second 18-wheeler attempted to enter the highway from a private road, causing a collision.
On behalf of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC posted in workers' compensation on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Construction accidents can occur at many types of Louisiana construction or work sites. Often, these accidents result is serious injuries, or even death. Unfortunately, there are a myriad of reasons why construction accidents can occur. Recently, one out-of-state construction accident was the result of a large slab of concrete being poorly secured as workers worked around it. This construction accident may cause the injured workers to lose wages and incur medical expenses, which make their actions toward potential workers' compensation benefits vital.
According to reports, two men were working in a trench under a concrete slab that they were cutting when the slab fell and pinned both men. The slab reportedly fell on the ankles of both workers, trapping them for nearly two hours while rescue crews worked diligently to free them. It reportedly required large machinery lifting the concrete slab off of the workers in order to free them.
