July 2017 -

I suffered a finger/toe amputation after a visit to a nail salon. What can I do legally?

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I am so sorry to hear about your amputation. You are not alone. Amputations due to the negligence of nail salons is very rare, but it does happen. Recently, there have been a rash of beauty salons in Indiana that were fined and placed on probation after they used razor devices and scalpels to remove calluses from the feet of their customers. One of those customers developed an infection in his foot, which resulted in the amputation of his right big toe after receiving a pedicure at a salon.

Under the laws of some states, salons are not allowed to use razor devices to shave, reduce, or remove calluses, because they can cause bleeding and infection. Those devices can also remove healthy skin. In a separate incident, another customer developed an infection that almost caused his leg to be amputated, as well as his death. He was hospitalized for three weeks and had five surgeries after his toe was gouged by an unclean instrument during his pedicure.

Legally, any customer who is injured during a pedicure can sue the nail salon for negligence. The plaintiff must prove that the nail salon did not act with reasonable care during the procedure, and that the conduct caused the injuries to the plaintiff. If you can prove that the nail salon was negligent, you can receive damages, including compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and more.

Call me, Conal Doyle, Amputation Attorney, at 310-385-0567 if you have suffered injuries because of the negligent conduct of a nail salon. I am also an amputee and I have a passion for helping other amputees with their injury claims. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

What is electromyography? Can I sue if my procedure does not go well?

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Electromyography (EMG) is a procedure that is used to assess the health of the muscles and motor neurons. Motor neurons transmit electrical signals that cause muscles to contract.

An EMG uses tiny devices called electrodes to transmit or detect electrical signals. There are a couple of ways EMGs can be performed. Some are done with needles – a needle electrode is inserted directly into a muscle and records the electrical activity in that muscle. Another type of EMG called a nerve conduction study uses electrodes taped to the skin to measure the speed and strength of signals traveling between two points.

EMGs are used to diagnose a number of conditions. EMGs can diagnose disorders that affect the nerve root, muscle disorders, disorders that affect motor neurons in the brain or spinal cord, and disorders of nerves outside the spinal cord.

The good news is that EMG is very low risk. It’s rare for patients undergoing an EMG to have complications. Most complications, when they occur, are nerve injury, bleeding, and infection. If the muscles along the chest was are examined with a needle, there is a chance that the needle could cause air to leak into the area between the lungs and chest wall, which can cause a lung to collapse.

If you have been harmed by an EMG, call me, Conal Doyle. I have experience in handling cases involving types of medical monitoring, such as EMG. Call my office today at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

I had a limb amputated and the anesthesia was not administered correctly. Can I take legal action against the doctor?

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An amputation can be stressful enough, but when the anesthesia is botched, it can turn a bad situation much worse. Medical errors such as anesthesia issues are very common – in fact, it’s been estimated that medical errors are the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer. Anesthesia errors account for about three percent of all medical malpractice cases filed.

When a patient is injured because of the negligent care of a doctor or anesthesiologist, the patient may be entitled to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the negligent individual or hospital responsible. Normally, to bring a lawsuit against a medical professional, the plaintiff must prove a few things: that there was a doctor-patient relationship, the doctor owed the patient a duty of care, the doctor breached that duty, the patient suffered harm, and the doctor’s breach of duty was the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.

Although there may be a number of errors made in medical settings, normally in order to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit a patient must have very serious, life-changing injuries. A case likely does not make any sense unless there are serious injuries. When a patient is able to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit, there are a number of damages that can be sought. The patient may ask for his or her medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, and wrongful death.

If you have been injured by a doctor or a hospital, you may wish to speak with an attorney. An experienced attorney can help review medical records, determine who the responsible parties are, negotiate a settlement, take the case to court, and a number of other things.

Call me, Conal Doyle, Amputation Attorney at 310-385-0567. I am not only a personal injury attorney, but I’m also an amputee. I enjoy helping other amputees receive compensation for their injuries. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

I am a worker who was injured in an accident at a loading dock. Who can I sue?

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Los Angeles is a massive transportation hub for large trucks. There is a huge population in southern California, and many interstate miles. Many large trucks come through Los Angeles, and must be loaded or unloaded at some point.

Loading docks can be very dangerous. Employees who work on loading docks are at a high risk for injuries. Some of those injuries may be minor and may heal quickly, but in other cases the employee may be permanently disabled.

Docks can be very dangerous places for several reasons. Docks are typically elevated and have a lot of trucks leaving and arriving. There is often a lot of heavy equipment in warehouses, and they can be very busy and loud. The most common accidents involving loading docks are slips and falls, exposure to deadly chemicals, injuries caused by heavy lifting, and accidents caused by forklifts.

Injured workers may be able to seek workers’ compensation from their employers or may be able to sue a third party for their injuries. Employers have a duty to provide a safe work environment for their employees. They must have good safety gear, the necessary training and equipment, as OSHA requires. Workers’ compensation normally provides money for medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, and can provide money for a worker who is permanently disabled.

If you have been injured on a loading dock, it is time to speak with an attorney. An attorney can help protect your legal rights. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles workplace injury attorney, at 310-385-0567. We can help. Call us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

What should I do if I have been injured in a Los Angeles construction zone? What are my legal options?

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Los Angeles has a huge number of visitors and heavy traffic, which can contribute to the need for road construction. Most drivers are accustomed to seeing and driving through construction zones, and they pay careful attention. Other drivers are driving while distracted or driving recklessly, and may pose a danger to construction workers and other workers driving through the construction zone.

A number of campaigns aimed at alerting drivers to the presence of construction workers have helped to decrease the number of construction zone accidents over the last few years. The biggest causes of construction zone accidents are driving while distracted and speeding.

Often Los Angeles drivers do not reduce their speed for a construction zone, or they may fail to watch the traffic patterns around them. It’s important for drivers to be alert and aware of construction zones. It’s important for a driver who drives through the same construction zone regularly to be aware that traffic patterns throughout the work zones can change. Construction zones at night can be especially dangerous, so it’s important to use caution when driving through them, even if no workers are present. Drivers should also be aware that many work zones are on the move, so it’s important to drive carefully through all construction zones.

Safety officials estimate that about 1.5 percent of work-related fatalities occur in construction zones on road projects. If drivers fail to drive safely through construction zones and they cause an accident, they can be held liable. If you or a loved one has been injured because a driver failed to drive safely through a construction zone, you should speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles automobile accident attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help to ensure you get fair compensation. Call today to learn more.

Fetal Strokes in California

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Very rarely, before, during, or after childbirth, a fetal stroke will occur in the baby. A fetal stroke can happen when the blood flow to the baby’s brain is blocked. In some cases, fetal stokes can occur naturally and the medical team is not liable. In other situations, the medical team may actually be responsible for the stroke. Some common causes of fetal strokes are trauma to the head during delivery, diabetes, blood clots, and preclampsia.

Some fetal strokes may be minor, and the child may make a total recovery. Other fetal strokes are very serious and can affect the rest of the child’s life. One important factor in how serious a stroke is is how quickly the stroke is diagnosed and treated.

Fetal strokes can occur way before delivery, or even during or after delivery. Fetal strokes can cause cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental retardation, and other similar problems. The care for a child who has been affected by a fetal stroke can be shockingly expensive. Caring for the child and paying for his or her care can place huge pressures on the family.

If your child has been injured as a result of a fetal stroke, it’s important to speak with an attorney. Your doctor may be liable for medical malpractice if the doctor failed to diagnose the stroke, or if the doctor actually caused the stroke.

Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles medical malpractice attorney at 310-385-0567 if your child has suffered a fetal stroke and you believe a doctor’s negligence may be to blame. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

My child was injured in an accident. What type of compensation can he/she receive?

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I’m sorry to hear about your child’s accident. In general, a child and/or his or her parents or guardian can receive compensation for any expenses related to the injury, as well as for his or her injuries. “Injuries” includes physical, mental, emotional, and other forms of harm the child suffered.

Generally, the parents or guardians sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the children. In some cases another family member or unrelated individual may sue. In many cases, the parents can also receive compensation as a result of the accident. Normally, the parents will ask for compensation for all of the ways in which the injury impacted the child’s life, including a loss of self-esteem, physical and emotional pain, and more, in addition to compensation for past and future medical expenses.

To recover for your child’s personal injuries, normally you must prove that a person acted wrongfully, and that his or her actions caused the injuries. If the accident is an automobile accident case, normally you would show that the driver was driving negligently (not using reasonable care behind the wheel). In a medical malpractice case, you would prove that the healthcare provider failed to provide reasonable care to your child.

An attorney can help with child injury cases. An attorney can allow you to focus on your child and his or her recovery while the attorney pursues the case for you. It’s important that you reach out to an attorney soon after the accident occurs. There are statutes of limitation and other deadlines in place, and a case is normally easier to pursue the more quickly it is brought.

If your child was injured in Los Angeles, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney, at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call my team today to learn more or to schedule your free consultation.

I suffered whiplash in an automobile accident in Los Angeles. What should I do?

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Whiplash is painful condition that is normally associated with automobile accidents. Whiplash happens when an individual’s neck is thrown back and then forward. Whiplash can cause damage to both bones and soft tissues in the neck. In some cases, whiplash can be mildly painful and can heal itself in a short period of time, while in other cases whiplash may be a very serious condition that can cause lifelong problems.

In most cases involving whiplash, a rear-end automobile accident is involved. There are other types of accidents that can cause whiplash, such as falls. One problem with whiplash is that the victim may not know they have it immediately. Symptoms usually manifest within a day, however. Some common symptoms of whiplash include a stiff or painful neck, headaches, fatigue, an inability to move the neck fully, memory loss, and dizziness.

To diagnose whiplash, normally x-rays are taken, and the victim may be required to wear a neck brace. Medications can help treat whiplash as well. In some cases, chiropractic care and physical therapy can help.

Most people with whiplash have expenses as a result of the whiplash. Compensation is available for those expenses. Compensation can include payment for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Unfortunately, whiplash can be hard to definitively diagnose, and many accident victims are reluctant to pursue compensation, feeling that they may be accused of trying to obtain money for a condition that doesn’t exist. Although that is an unfortunate stereotype, you should not let that discourage you if you have faced legitimate injuries as a result of an automobile accident.

If you have suffered from whiplash, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles whiplash attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

I had an accident in my apartment. Can I sue my landlord?

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I am sorry to hear about your accident. Whether you are a tenant or a guest, you have legal rights. There is a duty of care that is owed by the owner of the apartment building to visitors and guests to the apartment. If you are injured in an apartment building accident, you may be able to sue the apartment’s owner for negligence, if the owner’s failure to exercise a duty of care resulted in your injuries.

Apartment building accidents often occur when owners fail to make repairs to structures in the building. Broken steps may not be repaired, and a guest could trip and fall. Smoke detectors that fail may not be replaced, which could lead to a deadly fire. A deck that became unsteady may not be fixed, which can lead to a fall.

In many cases, an apartment owner may not want to spend the money that is needed for proper repairs. The building’s owner may know about the repairs, but could be too lazy to make them. The owner may also be very “hands-off”, and may not take the time to investigate to see what repairs need to be made to the property. Some other common types of accidents that can occur in apartment buildings because of an owner’s failure to take the necessary steps include the collapse of the building, falls because of poor lighting, accidents in broken and dangerous parking lots, accidents in elevators that are not properly maintained, assaults in poorly secured buildings, and falls because of dangerous floors.

Accidents that can be easily prevented should never occur in apartment buildings. Residents have the right to live in areas that are safe, and guests have the right to be safe on the premises. If an accident occurs because of an unsafe condition, the responsible parties should be held accountable. An attorney can help determine who the responsible parties are, and the steps that should be taken as a result.

If you are in the Los Angeles area, and have been harmed because of a dangerous property condition in an apartment building, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles premises liability attorney, at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

My doctor recommended I have my surgery monitored using intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM). Is that necessary in all surgeries?

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Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is not done with all surgeries. It is normally done with any surgeries in which there is a risk to the nervous system. That doesn’t mean that the surgery has to be performed on the nervous system – instead, the surgery may involve a risk to the nervous system.

IONM involves measuring the integrity of the nerves, brain, spinal cord, and other structures during surgery. The goal is to reduce damage to the nervous system, as well as to provide guidance to the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. IONM normally involves hooking electrodes to the body which will read signals from the nervous system, which can help let the surgeon know how the body is responding during surgery.

In most cases, neuromonitoring is done by spinal surgeons, but many other types of surgeons may use neuromonitoring as well, including neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, urology surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons. During any surgery involving the spinal column, there is risk to the spinal cord. In most cases, neuromonitoring goes well and can help to reduce the risk of danger to the patient. However, in a few cases it can go badly, and may actually cause damage to the patient by leading a surgeon to be more aggressive, believing that the surgery is going well when it is not.

If you have been seriously injured during a surgery that was monitored by IONM, it may be time to speak with an attorney. You have legal rights, and you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Call me, Conal Doyle, IONM attorney at 310-385-0567. We can help. My team has experience in handling cases involving injuries during IONM, and we are happy to talk with you about your case. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.