Latest | Virginia Beach Legal Examiner

Virginia Fails At Policing Its Doctors

Virginia continues to have a lower rate of serious disciplinary actions against its doctors than most states. According to the non-profit research group, Public Citizen, the rate of serious disciplinary actions against doctors in Virginia has fallen consistently over the last four years. The organiz

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 10 May 2006

Whose Side Are They On?

The thought of a surgeon taking a scalpel to the wrong limb or patient sends chills down the spine of anyone who has been admitted to the hospital. Eighty-four cases of what’s known in the business as “wrong site surgery” were reported in the United States last year. But that’s just the “tip of the

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 24 Apr 2006

Nursing Home Injury Cases-Maintaining Inadequate Insurance Is a New Troubling Tactic

Cases of nursing home abuse and neglect are quite common these days. The main reason is that many of these facilities are run with an eye towards the bottom line for the owners and not the benefit of the patients. Some corporations which own nursing home facilities will squeeze every last dime out o

By Richard Shapiro

/ 24 Apr 2006

Automobile Accidents Involving Cell Phones-A Growing Problem

So many drivers these days are talking on the phone while driving. Studies have shown that talking on the cell phone while driving is very close to the danger of driving while drunk. The reason is that your mind is taken up with your conversation and not 100 percent focused on the road.It is the sli

By Richard Shapiro

/ 23 Apr 2006

Virginia Medical Negligence Law Now Requires Certification

Virginia recently changed its laws related to medical malpractice cases. The new law requires that the lawyer certify that he has an expert witness in the appropriate specialty who will testify that the defendant violated the standard of care before serving the lawsuit. This law is actually a good t

By Richard Shapiro

/ 21 Apr 2006

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Suits Against Postal Carriers for Creating Tripping Hazards

Long ago, the federal government and its agents could not be sued for torts (a civil wrong). However, the federal government passed an act called the Federal Tort Claims Act many years ago that allows suits for negligence against federal agents, including postmen, if they are negligent and the negli

By Richard Shapiro

/ 21 Apr 2006

Medical Mistakes: Worse Than We Thought?

Five years ago, the Institute of Medicine issued a startling report that acted as awake-up call to hospitals, health care providers, and patients: As many as 98,000people die each year in hospitals in the United States from infections, drug mix-ups,and other mistakes–mistakes that could have been pr

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 20 Apr 2006

ï»¿FDA Weakens Victim's Rights

The Bush Administration has taken yet another step to weaken the rights ofvictims of medically related mistakes. The latest effort to protect the drugmanufacturers in the United States is the issuance of a new rule by the Food and DrugAdministration pertaining to labeling requirements by drug manufa

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 20 Apr 2006

DEA Agent Shoots Himself And Then Sues DEA In Aftermath

The ultimate embarrassment: An experienced DEA agent demonstrates gun safety to children in Orlando, Florida, and during the videotaped safety discussion he accidentally shoots himself in the foot! In the aftermath, he is now suing the DEA! Why?Paige alleges that the DEA intentionally leaked the tap

By Richard Shapiro

/ 15 Apr 2006

Is The Highway Shoulder Really A Safe Stopping Place?

Is it safe to pull over on the shoulder of a highway to change a tire, change drivers, get something out of the trunk, or even to be pulled over by a police officer?Based on my experience as an injury lawyer, the answer is a resounding "no." If you can, get off the busy highway first, or at least pu

By Richard Shapiro

/ 15 Apr 2006

Vehicle Air Bags: Friend Or Foe?

For years, the automobile manufacturers of the world have touted air bags as soft pillows that will greatly reduce injuries and deaths on our nation’s highways. While it is true that air bags have reduced deaths and injuries, these achievements have come at a high cost. Due to the manufacturer’s dec

By Legal Examiner Staffer

/ 13 Apr 2006

The Most Dangerous Days of The Year Are??

Monday, April 3, 2006 was a dangerous day on the road. Every Monday following the conversion back to daylight savings time in the Spring is a heavy day for traffic accidents. The problem is that everyone is an hour short of sleep and in a rush. This results in a statistical increase in the number of

By Richard Shapiro

/ 12 Apr 2006