Minnesota trying something new to prevent traffic deaths: a memorial Web site for victims
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on February 28th, 2011
Across the United States, motor vehicle accidents claimed the lives of 24,474 people in 2009, plus another 4,462 motorcyclists and 4,872 pedestrians and bicyclists, according to federal statistics. The numbers are sobering, and at least one state – Minnesota – is trying to do something to make people more aware of the human carnage happening everyday on the state's roadways. In an announcement today, the state's Department of Public Safety (DPS) unveiled a new Web...
Red light cameras: safety boon or police revenue enhancer?
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on February 24th, 2011
In communities across the U.S., red light cameras in highly-traveled intersections continue to cause controversy. Are they great devices that help to save lives by making drivers less likely to speed through intersections against red lights, knowing that they can be ticketed and subject to hefty fines? Or are they revenue-enhancing tools used by police departments to bolster their ticket-writing coffers at the expense of privacy and due process for motorists? [caption id="attachment_1119" align="alignright" width="201"...
Protecting yourself from insurance “bad faith”
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on February 18th, 2011
We've been trained as consumers to believe that if we're injured in a vehicle accident, our insurance company – the one that's been collecting all of our costly premiums for coverage – will be there to help us in our hour of need. Sadly, though, it doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes, it turns out that a driver's biggest nightmare after an accident begins when they have to sue their own insurance company to...
What to do if you are injured in a workplace accident
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on January 31st, 2011
Every day, people across the U.S. are injured in workplace accidents, in factories, in retail stores, in construction sites and a myriad of other locations. They're injured by defective equipment, unsafe procedures, faulty building designs, vehicle accidents and in many other ways. And when they are hurt, the most critical steps they can take are getting proper and rapid medical diagnosis and treatment, adequate long-term care and competent legal advice that protects their rights. [caption...
Lessons learned: how to choose your legal team after a vehicle crash
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on January 6th, 2011
Auto accidents happen all the time, but they are not always accidents. In most cases, vehicle crashes are the result of the negligence or poor decisions of others. The problem is that such negligence and poor decisions can have grave impacts on others – including you and your family members – causing horrific injuries, pain and suffering and even death. [caption id="attachment_1053" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Image credit: © iStockphoto.com/Svenler"][/caption] Such was the case of a 36-year-old...
Birth injuries and your legal rights
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on October 26th, 2010
The birth of a child is a joyous and wonderful event as a new life comes into the world and into our lives. Sometimes, though, complications and medical errors can arise, with catastrophic consequences for a family. Doctors can make critical mistakes, hospitals and nursing staffs can introduce errors in patient care and other problems can arise during births, leaving a family unsure of their legal options and responsibilities. Last week, a Pennsylvania Superior Court...
Medical misdiagnosis: What you need to know to protect your loved ones
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on October 18th, 2010
When you go to a doctor because something isn't feeling right, you should expect excellent care, diagnosis, treatment and ultimately positive results. But sometimes, the care that you receive is marred by mistakes by medical professionals, from misdiagnosed illnesses to conditions that are simply missed by doctors and hospitals. That's when you need a lawyer to help you fight for damages from medical professionals who have not done their due diligence in protecting your health...
What to do if you are injured in an accident: take notes, get witness corroboration and talk with a competent attorney
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on October 12th, 2010
Life is uncertain, and accidents do happen. But if an accident happens to you and results in a serious injury, then you need to be your own best advocate and get the help and support that you need to collect damages for your medical bills, lost wages and for your pain and suffering. That means taking all the right steps right after a serious injury so that you protect your rights and any future legal...
U.S. traffic accident deaths down, but there is still plenty of room for improvement
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq. on September 9th, 2010
For the first time in almost 60 years, fewer people died in traffic accidents on U.S. roadways last year than in any year since 1950, according to new statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The death toll for 2009 was 33,308 people, which was a 9.7% decline from 2008 when 37,423 people died on U.S. roads, according to the NHTSA figures. The 2009 death toll was the lowest in our nation since...