One of the nation’s largest health insurers was accused of overcharging millions of Americans for healthcare. The company, UnitedHealth Group, has agreed to pay a $50 million settlement after investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s office. The investigation arose after hundreds of patients complained to the state about…
Virginia Injury Law Blog
Defective Swimming Pools Still Prevalent
The danger of children being trapped by defective drain suction remains a problem for about 80% of the nation’s public pools. In 2007, Congress passed legislation requiring safe drain compliance within one year. The National Swimming Pool Foundation reports that approximately 240,000 pools across the nation will fail to comply…
Colon Cancer Difficult to Diagnose with Colonoscopy
Early detection of colon cancer by colonoscopy may be more challenging than prior studies have shown. A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine concludes that nearly 30 to 40 percent of colorectal cancers may not be detected by a colonoscopy. This is a prevention rate far less than…
Failure to Diagnose Skin Cancer/$5.8 Million Verdict in Wrongful Death Case
On Friday, November 14, 2008, after deliberating for approximately six hours following five days of testimony, a Rockville, Maryland, jury found Dr. Michael Albert, formerly with the dermatology practice of Norman A. Lockshin, M.D., P.A., liable for attorney Richard Semsker’s death from malignant melanoma and awarded damages to the patient’s…
Settle Your Personal Injury Claim or Go to Trial?
You feel like you have an open and shut Virginia personal injury claim where you or your family member has been seriously injured by a negligent driver. The negligence is clear; the injuries are undisputed. A settlement offer is made, but you think the case is worth more money. You…
Deaths at Home from Drug & Medication Errors on Rise
The use of multiple pain and other prescription medications is leading to deadly results for patients. A recent study indicates that there has been a 700% increase in the number of at-home deaths caused by medication overdoses or errors. The age group most affected were baby boomers in their 40s…
Unfit Truck Drivers on Virginia Highways
A recent government watchdog organization’s report estimates that approximately 563,000 commercial drivers (about 4% of commercial license holders nationwide) have medical conditions that would qualify them for full disability benefits. The medical disabilities include impaired vision, hearing, seizures, heart attacks, sleep disorders, or periods of unconsciousness that could lead to…
Skin Cancer on the Rise for Young Women
In Virginia Beach and across Hampton Roads, summer is synonymous with going to the beach or pool and catching rays. However, the dangers associated with unprotected sun exposure have been once again highlighted by a government cancer study released yesterday. The study from the National Cancer Institute found that the…
Brain Damaged Child & Parents Win $19.6 Million in Negligent Delivery Case
A jury recently awarded nearly $20 million to a child and his parents. The medical negligence did not occur in Virginia, but in New York. The child was born in 1998 with cerebral palsy after an oxygen-deprived delivery which resulted in the child being born lifeless. The doctor who delivered…
Navy Seeks to Reduce Virginia Motorcycle Accidents and Fatalities with Training Program
Anyone who drives on Route 264 in Virginia Beach and Norfolk knows about the prevalence of motorcycles, many of them sport bikes operated by young Navy personnel. Some sport bike models can reach a top speed of 200 mph. Motorcycle accidents, not surprisingly, almost always result in serious injury or…