Richard N. Shapiro (Rick) is a personal injury trial attorney, American inventor, and international award-winning fiction author. One of his co-authored legal treatises was published in the American Jurisprudence “Trials” Law Encyclopedia.
The highway death rate increased in 2005 for the first time in about 20 years, according to recently released federal statistics. Although more people are using safety belts and there have been various national campaigns against drunk driving, 43,200 people died in motor vehicle wrecks in 2005, acco
The news media seems to be reporting on all kinds of cases of wrongful death, serious injuries, and sexual abuse at nursing facilities. Seniors at nursing homes are so vulnerable to malpractice and poor medical care in the first place. Most states have specific statutes covering medical malpractice
Everyone knows the story of Jeffrey Wigand, “the insider” who blew open the truth about the tobacco industry “conspiracy” of silence relating to cancer and diseases caused by tobacco. But have you ever heard of David Nelson, the railroad industry “insider” who blew the whistle on CSXT’s rail crossin
Norfolk Southern Railway Company and other major Railroads are always patting themselves on the back about their safety records. The railroad industry has historically been one of the most dangerous occupations in America. As a result of the dangers, a separate federal law covers railroad workers wh
As current chairman of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s “Railroad Law Section” I have closely followed the argument by the nation’s railroads that adding simple stop signs to highway grade crossings makes them safer, reducing the risk of injuries or deaths. The railroad arguments seemed
It is whispered that the nurses that really “care” about their patients will only go so far to protect a negligent doctor or hospital from “whistleblowing” –when they know malpractice has occurred. Will a nurse “whistleblow” even when they worry that they could be fired or disciplined for notifying
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
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
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
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
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
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
