Robbins & Associates, PC

Common Medical Mistakes Resulting in Medical Malpractice

2010-07-23T13:03:00.000-04:00

You may be reluctant to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against your doctor or other health care provider, because you feel that they did not do it on purpose. That may be true, but if a caregiver acted negligently and caused further injury, they should be held accountable.

Georgia medical malpractice laws are in place to protect you from harm and hold doctors, hospitals and other caregivers accountable for their actions. If you suffered any injury or worsened condition due to a medical mistake, Atlanta medical malpractice attorney Laurie S. Robbins will help you get started with your claim.

In order to prove your claim, you must establish that you had an established relationship with your doctor and that you suffered an injury to some degree as a result of negligent behavior. They may not have done something on purpose, but they may have failed to meet a recognized standard of care that put you at risk.

Some common medical mistakes that can lead to a malpractice case include:

Misdiagnoses or delayed diagnosis
Surgical errors
Medication errors
Birth injuries
Other complications

Doctors and hospitals are required to carry medical malpractice insurance to cover the costs of claims filed against them. Their insurance companies are armed with the best lawyers available in order to pay as little as possible on those claims. You need someone on your side, familiar with Georgia laws to help you establish you case. To get started on your claim, please contact an Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at Robbins & Associates, PC today.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

2010-07-22T13:01:00.000-04:00

When you are involved in a car accident, everything happens so fast, it is often impossible to prepare for every eventuality. There are many common causes of car accidents, which it would be advisable to avoid, if possible. Car accidents are the leading cause of serious injury in the Georgia today. If you suffered an injury in an accident, Atlanta personal injury attorney, Laurie S. Robbins, can help you sort through all the details of your accident to prepare for a personal injury lawsuit.

Some of the common causes include:

Excessive speed
Faulty parts or equipment
Adverse weather conditions
Alcohol or drugs
Driver distraction

You can control your own driving behavior and limit issues that may lead to an accident. A properly maintained vehicle, attention to road conditions, and limiting distractions will help keep you safe. Unfortunately, you cannot account for other people with whom you are sharing the road. You must drive defensively in order to protect yourself and your family.

Should you find yourself in an accident, admit no guilt to anyone. You do not want any statement you make to be used against you. Write down your version of the events, this, in conjunction with the police statement will be important to winning any personal injury case.

To find out more about the common causes of car accident and how to prepare for an accident, please contact an Atlanta, Georgia personal injury attorney at Robbins & Associates, PC today.

Causes of Truck Accidents

2010-07-21T12:48:00.001-04:00

Truck accidents are some of the most serious motor vehicle accidents that occur on Georgia's highways. If you or someone you know was involved in a truck accident, chances are high that serious injuries were involved. An Atlanta personal injury attorney at Robbins & Associates, PC can help ensure your personal injury claim against the responsible parties, regardless of the causes of the truck accident, holds them liable for damages.

There are many factors that will help swing a personal injury lawsuit in your favor. One of the keys to bringing a successful claim is to establish the cause of the accident and showing that the driver or some third party was responsible.

Some of the common causes of truck accidents include:

Excessive speeds
Improperly loaded vehicles
Poor maintenance
Drug or alcohol abuse
Driver fatigue

In many cases, outside factors contribute to a trucking accident. While the driver will be mostly culpable for the accident, in some cases, a third party may also be found negligent. The trucking company for example, may be pushing their drivers too hard or failing to maintain their vehicles. Truck loaders may make the truck unsafe for highway speeds by loading the truck improperly. A skilled attorney, familiar with Georgia laws can help ensure you file a successful case against all responsible parties.

To help you pinpoint the causes of a truck accident in which you were involved, please contact an Atlanta personal injury lawyer at Robbins & Associates, PC to get started on you claim.

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2010-07-15T12:29:00.000-04:00

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Wrongful Death After a Workplace Injury

2010-06-28T15:09:00.000-04:00

No family can ever be truly prepared for the sudden loss of a loved one, especially if the loss resulted from an accident in the workplace. When our loved ones go off to work every day, we trust that they will return home safely and that we will see them again. For those whose lives have been touched by the tragedy of a death caused by workplace injury, no amount of money can ever fill the emptiness left by that loss. However, if your family's loss was the result of someone else's negligence or unsafe working conditions, you may be entitled to compensation that will at least limit the financial impact on your family.

At Robbins & Associates, P.C., our Atlanta wrongful death lawyers are dedicated to helping the families of those lost to workplace injuries cope with the financial burden they face. With personal attention and support, we will help you recover damages for the loss of your loved one's income, funeral expenses, as well as pain and suffering.

Tragically, victims of workplace injuries sometimes require long-term, expensive medical treatment before eventually passing away. In these cases, the financial impact on the family can be especially devastating. Our goal is to hold the negligent party responsible for your loss and financial burden, recovering fair compensation for your family's future.

If you have lost a loved one following a workplace injury, the Atlanta wrongful death lawyers of Robbins & Associates, P.C. are ready to schedule a compassionate consultation to discuss your legal options. We understand that you may be overwhelmed by the prospect of filing a lawsuit, and we will be patient and supportive as we guide you through the legal process.

To schedule a compassionate, complimentary consultation with our Atlanta wrongful death lawyers, please contact Robbins & Associates, P.C. today.

Car Accident Statistics in Georgia

2010-06-23T10:28:00.001-04:00

Motor vehicle accidents are a danger faced every day by Georgia drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. We hear about fatal accidents in the news, but it can sometimes be difficult to see the full impact of these crashes on families around the state. From 2004-2008, motor vehicle accidents took the lives of 8,190 people in Georgia alone. Though fatal crashes happened all over the state, more than one hundred people die in motor vehicle accidents just in Fulton County every year.

For every person killed in a car accident in Georgia, still more are victims of car accident injuries, which range from minor injuries to those causing permanent disability. Families of those injured or killed in Georgia car accidents often find themselves in dire trouble as medical bills pile up and threaten their financial future. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in the year 2000, medical expenses from car accidents nationwide totaled more than 32 million dollars.

Defending Georgia Car Accident Victims

The law firm of Robbins & Associates, P.C. is dedicated to helping Georgia car accident victims and their families get the financial compensation they deserve. Our Georgia car accident lawyers want to relieve your family's financial pressure caused by medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. For years, we have been holding negligent drivers responsible for the injuries and damage they cause.

The loss of a family member in a car accident can be devastating, both emotionally and financially. Victims of fatal car accidents often require expensive medical care before they die, leaving their family with huge medical bills on top of their emotional pain. In addition, the loss of that person's income can threaten the family's financial future. If your loved one has been killed in a tragic Georgia car accident, our wrongful death lawyers will hold the negligent party accountable and secure proper compensation for your family.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a Georgia car accident, please contact Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

2010-06-16T16:07:00.000-04:00

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a medical condition that causes mild to severe motor dysfunction, including spastic movements, posture and gait problems, skeletal deformation, and difficulty with language. These symptoms are the result of the brain's inability to correctly control the muscles. The severity of CP symptoms varies widely, causing extreme physical disability in some individuals while affecting other individuals only mildly.

Though people with Cerebral Palsy are a bit more likely to deal with learning disabilities, this does not always denote diminished intellectual ability. Actually, people with Cerebral Palsy show an IQ range comparable to the general population, ranging from genius to developmentally delayed.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

The direct cause of Cerebral Palsy is most often an instance of extreme lack of oxygen in a baby's brain, which interferes with normal development of motor functions. Oxygen deprivation emergencies during pregnancy, childbirth, and up to age three can cause CP. Because their organs have not finished developing, premature babies face an increased risk of brain-oxygen deprivation and therefore are more likely to develop Cerebral Palsy.

When a baby is born, human error by medical professionals in a few rare instances can cause Cerebral Palsy if the baby's brain is deprived of oxygen. If there is evidence that the negligence of a doctor or other medical professional directly contributed to the occurrence of Cerebral Palsy, it may be possible to sue for damages with the help of Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys.

Dealing with Cerebral Palsy

Each individual diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy faces unique challenges and will sometimes need extra medical and therapeutic treatment throughout his or her lifetime. For example, some people with CP need custom-built crutches or walking aids to get around. Others may need speech and physical therapy to be able to speak and walk effectively. These special medical needs can be financially stressful for the families of people with CP. Therefore, if you have reason to believe that negligence on the part of a doctor or medical professional caused your child to develop Cerebral Palsy, an Atlanta medical malpractice attorney can help you plan a legal strategy.

However, if you choose to sue someone for medical malpractice to recover damages, it is important to understand that treating Cerebral Palsy as something someone did to your child comes with serious risks for your child's emotional development. Fair compensation for the financial impact of a medical accident is your right as a parent, but treating your child as a victim can severely interfere with his or her ability to cope with the unique mental, emotional, and physical challenges of living with CP.

For more information about Cerebral Palsy-related medical malpractice lawsuits in Atlanta, please contact Robbins & Associates, P.C. to schedule a consultation.

The SSDI Process Following Workplace Injury

2010-06-14T16:01:00.002-04:00

If you or someone in your family is a victim of workplace injury or illness, you may be aware that getting compensation for medical treatment and loss of income is not as easy as it should be. While employers carry insurance to cover Workers' Compensation payments for injured workers, it may take an experienced Workers' Compensation lawyer to get the insurance company to pay the full amount you deserve.

Applying for SSDI Benefits

If you cannot work because of your work-related illness or injury, Workers' Compensation may not be enough to provide financial security for your family. Though the government provides disability benefits to injured workers and their families, those funds are not available to everyone. The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program operated by the Social Security Administration is supposed to help those who can no longer work, but the application and approval process is extremely difficult to navigate without a Social Security disability lawyer.

In order to stop fraudulent disability claims, there are very strict criteria that must be proved with medical documentation in order to receive SSDI benefits. To be approved, you must have significant evidence that proves:

Your mental or physical condition prevents you from engaging in "substantial gainful activity."
Your condition is severe and expected to last at least a year or cause death.
You are no longer able to perform work you previously did.
You are unable to find any other work in the economy with your condition.

Hiring a Social Security Disability Lawyer

Because the above conditions can be very difficult to prove, only about 10% of SSDI applicants are successful on their first try. If you are unable to work because of a work-related injury or medical condition, you have a much better chance of qualifying for SSDI benefits with the help of an Atlanta Social Security disability lawyer from Robbins & Associates, P.C.

Our Social Security disability lawyers know how the SSDI system works, and will help you compile all the necessary evidence to prove your disability claim. Even if you are denied at first, we will be there to help you file an appeal and to fight for your rights until your denial is overturned.

If you or a family member may qualify for SSDI benefits due to a workplace injury or illness in Georgia, please contact the Atlanta Social Security disability lawyers of Robbins & Associates, P.C. to schedule a consultation.

Getting Social Security Disability Insurance

2010-06-01T09:39:00.000-04:00

The process for receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is very time-consuming and complicated. In order to be approved you must present extensive medical documentation of your condition that satisfies several strict qualification requirements. Without detailed knowledge of how the SSDI system works, it can be nearly impossible to prove your disability claim without making mistakes that result in being denied. Actually, only one in ten applicants for Social Security disability benefits are approved the first time they apply.

When Your Claim Is Denied

If, like most SSDI applicants, your claim is denied on the first try, do not give up. The Georgia Social Security disability lawyers or Robbins & Associates, P.C. know how to help you put together your evidence for an appeal. We understand how the Social Security disability bureaucracy works and how to best present your case. Through every step of the process, we will support and defend your right to Social Security disability benefits. In many cases, we have been successful in overturning the denial of SSDI benefits for disabled individuals, who can sometimes be entitled to back-payments as well.

The Social Security Administration is extremely strict in their approval process for Social Security Disability Insurance in order to prevent fraud and abuse of the system. Fraud prevention saves the government millions of dollars and is supposed to ensure fairness in the system. Unfortunately, the rigorous standards for medical evidence can often exclude those with legitimate Social Security disability claims from receiving the benefits they deserve. Our Georgia Social Security disability attorneys will help you compile the necessary documentation so that this does not happen to you.

If you or someone you love cannot work because of a medical condition or injury, or if your Social Security disability claim has been denied in Georgia, please contact Robbins & Associates, P.C. to schedule a consultation.

Common Workplace Injuries in Atlanta

2010-05-29T11:54:00.000-04:00

There are some occupations that seem inherently dangerous. Construction and manufacturing are two types of industries that you would expect would have a higher incidence of work related injuries. While the hazards might be more prominent in those environments every type and location of work has its own hazards and injury rates. Many of the most common workplace injuries can happen anywhere in any industry, company and location. Statistically, workplace injuries happen in Atlanta with the same frequency as in other places.
The most common workplace injuries across industries include:

Overexertion from activities such as pulling, pushing, lifting and carrying (note: this is the number one type of workplace injury)
Trips, slips and falls, and Falls from an elevated area
Being struck by an object (including falling objects)
Repetitive motion (carpal tunnel, etc.)
Violent acts

Government regulations and insurance requirements are two factors that impact business' emphasis on safety. By providing adequate training on safety related topics and monitoring work processes to ensure that safety procedures are observed, companies work to reduce the number of injuries. Employees in all types of industries and occupations can work to reduce injuries by making sure that they comply with policies and procedures that are designed to keep them safe in the performance of their job.

Even if your employer does everything possible to prevent them, accidents will happen. You hope that they don't happen to you but if you are involved in a work related accident you need help to make sure that you are taken care of. Please contact the Atlanta Workers' Compensation attorneys at Robbins & Associates, PC.

What to Do If You Are Denied Workers Compensation Benefits

2010-05-27T12:30:00.001-04:00

Many people who are injured in the workplace trust that their employer will provide full Workers' Compensation benefits and do not seek legal help. Unfortunately, some employers and their insurance companies will deny your claim or cover only a small portion of your expenses. If your Workers' Compensation claim is denied, the Atlanta Workers' Compensation lawyers at Robbins & Associates, P.C. will help you receive the full amount you deserve.

Our Georgia Workers' Compensation attorneys will help you build your case and compile documentation of your work-related injury. We will not be intimidated by insurance company lawyers who seek to protect corporate profits by denying legitimate Workers' Compensation claims.

Claims That Are Difficult to Prove

Some workplace injuries and illnesses, such as repetitive stress injuries and illness from exposure to chemicals, qualify for Workers' Compensation benefits but are more difficult to prove than injuries caused by a specific accident. Often, employers and insurance companies will claim that your condition was caused by something that occurred outside of work.

At Robbins & Associates, P.C., our Atlanta Workers' Compensation attorneys know exactly what you need to do in order to fully document your condition and treatment and prove that it is work-related. We will also advise you of your eligibility for compensation for ongoing and future medical expenses, helping to provide for your family's financial future.

If you or a loved one has been denied Workers' Compensation benefits in Georgia, please contact the Atlanta Workers' Compensation Lawyers of Robbins & Associates, P.C. to schedule a consultation.

Choosing a Workers' Compensation Lawyer

2010-05-24T11:50:00.000-04:00

If you have been injured in the workplace or developed a job-related illness or medical condition, you may be eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits under Georgia Workers' Compensation law. This can include injuries that result from accidents as well as repetitive stress injuries or exposure to dangerous chemicals. However, getting the financial compensation you deserve can be a difficult process as employers and insurance companies often attempt to deny legitimate claims in order to save money. If your Workers' Compensation claim is denied or only partially approved, you may need to hire an Atlanta Workers' Compensation lawyer.

Finding a Workers' Compensation Lawyer in Your State

Because each state has slightly different regulations governing Workers' Compensation, the success of your case can depend on choosing a Workers' Compensation attorney who has experience representing injured workers in your state. In addition, a Workers' Compensation lawyer in your area may have experience dealing with the same employer or insurance company who is trying to deny your claim.

Insurance companies in general, including those who provide Workers' Compensation insurance to employers, frequently maximize profits by attempting to reduce the number and size of claims paid out. This often means that the insurance company has a team of lawyers whose only job is to fight every Workers' Compensation claim in the hope that injured workers do not hire their own Georgia Workers' Compensation attorney.

Insurance company lawyers are very familiar with the loopholes and legal tricks they can use to deny compensation in your state. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a Workers' Compensation lawyer who is also experienced in your state. For example, the Atlanta Workers' Compensation attorneys of Robbins & Associates, P.C. have plenty of experience appearing before the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation.

If you or a family member has developed an injury, illness, or medical condition on the job in Atlanta, please contact Robbins & Associates, P.C. to schedule a consultation.

What is Plaintiff Law?

2010-05-19T11:48:00.001-04:00

Essentially, Plaintiff Law is the section of the legal field that deals with representing the rights of the plaintiff, victim of an injury or condition resulting from someone else's negligence. The word "plaintiff" is a legal term referring to the party who brings a lawsuit against another party, who is called the "defendant." Plaintiff Lawyers stand up for the rights of victims and help them begin litigation to hold the negligent defendant accountable for the costs associated with their injury or illness. The experienced Georgia Plaintiff Lawyers at Robbins & Associates, P.C. defend the rights of injured people in Atlanta and all over the Southeast.

Areas of Plaintiff Law

Accidents and injuries are a risk of everyday life, even in situations that do not seem dangerous at first. Because accidents and injuries occur in a wide range of circumstances, there are also many types of personal injury and negligence litigation that fall under the category of Plaintiff Law. Some of the most common Plaintiff Law cases are those involving:

Auto and Truck Accidents
Medical Malpractice
Workers' Compensation
Brain Injury
Social Security Disability
Dangerous Premises
Defective Products

Robbins & Associates, P.C. has successfully won fair compensation for victims in each of these Georgia Plaintiff Law practice areas. Our Plaintiff Lawyers can help you recover the cost of medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other monetary damages.

Plaintiff Lawyers Help Victims

Plaintiff Lawyers perform a crucial function in society because they make sure that individuals and institutions are held responsible when their negligence results in injury, illness, or death. In fact, lawsuits brought by Plaintiff Law firms like Robbins & Associates, P.C. are responsible for many safety precautions now common in public places and in the workplace.

If you would like to learn more about legal options for injured people under Georgia Plaintiff Law, please contact Robbins & Associates, P.C. in Atlanta to schedule a free consultation.

What is needed for a successful premises liability case in Atlanta?

2010-05-01T13:05:00.001-04:00

When someone is responsible for injury that you suffer they should be responsible for paying for the costs associated with the injury. Costs can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and others. Premises liability cases are invoked when you are injured on someone else's property typically due to an unsafe condition. Accidents happen, and they certainly happen in Atlanta like everywhere else but when something happens to you that could have been prevented or is due to someone's negligence they should be held accountable.

Capturing and preserving information is an essential ingredient in prevailing in premises liability case. If you or a loved one are injured on someone else's property gather as much information as you can. Contact information of witnesses and photos of the accident scene and injuries suffered are invaluable in proving liability. Keeping track of the costs related to your injury is also very important. If you have to miss any work, visit a hospital or doctor, attend physical therapy or incur any other related cost you deserve to be reimbursed and good record keeping will help.

The most important ingredient in receiving the compensation you deserve after suffering an injury on someone's property is having an advocate who understands premises liability cases. If this has happened to you it's important that you have someone on your side with a proven track record for getting victims the compensation awards they deserve.

For that kind of proven experience, please contact the experienced premises liability lawyers at Robbins & Associates, PC.

What to Do if you are Hit by a Drunk Driver in Atlanta

2010-04-30T12:53:00.001-04:00

Getting into an accident is always upsetting. When you realize that you've been in an accident and the person who is at fault has made a decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs without regard for their safety or anyone else it's infuriating. In spite of the efforts to reduce drunk driving it continues to impact the lives of people in Atlanta and across the state of Georgia.

When you get into an accident sometimes it can be difficult to sort out the details of fault and compensation. Getting into an accident with someone who is under the influence means you know that they should be held accountable for their choice to drink and drive. The drunk driver will face legal consequences which should include compensating the victims of their actions. It can be very complicated and to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve when you have been hit by someone driving under the influence you will need legal help.

Of all the things you need to do when you are hit by a drunk driver getting an attorney is certainly one of the most important. Retaining an experienced auto accident attorney who can help you get justice is essential. If you live in the Atlanta area or anywhere in Georgia and have been impacted by a drunk driver don't hesitate.

Please contact Atlanta car accident attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

Car Accident Statistics in Atlanta

2010-04-29T12:51:00.001-04:00

Each year an average of 873,800 people are involved in a motor vehicle crash in the state of Georgia. That number includes drivers, passengers and pedestrians and accounts for nearly one in ten people in the state. Georgia roads provide great diversity in driving conditions and rural vs. urban accident statistics are quite different. The number of accidents can be frightening but if you live in the Atlanta area it may be comforting to learn that twice as many people are killed in rural Georgia crashes every year than in the five metropolitan Atlanta counties.

The miles of two lane roads across the state are a factor that impacts the statistical differences between rural and urban accidents. If you live in the Atlanta area the numbers can be comforting but they should also serve as a point of warning to anyone who drives the rural roads. It can be difficult to reconcile the differences in population and geography but the numbers clearly show that you are much less likely to be involved in a serious accident if you live in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

While statistics can be either frightening or comforting it's important to remember that accidents happen where ever you live. No one wants to become a statistic but if you have been in an accident it's important to have someone on your side to help you get the compensation you deserve. Please contact the Atlanta auto accident attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today.

What to Do if you are Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Atlanta

2010-04-28T13:05:00.001-04:00

Approximately one in six drivers in the U.S. is driving without insurance. In recent years the trend had been improving but the current economic conditions have triggered an increase in the uninsured motorist rate. There don't appear to be any areas of the country that are not impacted by the increase and people in Atlanta are affected just like everywhere else. The volume of traffic and incidence of auto accidents are now compounded by the high likely hood that the other party may not have insurance. Most of us can understand the need to make hard choices in these economic times but when you've been involved in an accident with someone who has chosen to drive without insurance it's hard.

Georgia law requires insurance carriers to offer uninsured motorist coverage. With the number of uninsured or underinsured drivers on the road it makes selecting the coverage a desirable point of protection for your family. If you have the coverage and are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist you will likely have to rely on the coverage under your policy. But, what if the cost of the injuries suffered exceeds the amount of your insurance coverage? That's when it's complicated and you will need assistance to help you get the compensation you are due.

The legal implications of dealing with injury caused by an uninsured motorist are complicated. If this has happened to you get the advice and support you need as soon as possible from a qualified auto accident attorney.

Please contact Atlanta car accident attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a no-cost, confidential consultation.

Cerebral Palsy Questions in Atlanta

2010-04-27T12:48:00.001-04:00

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy raises a lot of questions. If you have a child who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy or know someone who does you may be looking for some answers. Because cerebral palsy is a brain injury, one way to look for those answers is with the help of a brain injury lawyer. State boundaries can't contain things like the questions we ask when we need answers. The questions asked by someone living in Atlanta are the same as those asked by parents living elsewhere. So what do you want to know?

Are there different types of cerebral palsy?

There are four types of cerebral palsy: Spastic (most common) - characterized by stiff muscles and jerky movements, Athetoid - makes the person have uncontrolled, involuntary movements, Ataxic - affects balance and sense of movement, and Mixed - a combination of the others.

Can cerebral palsy be cured?

There is not a cure because the damage is not repairable. Research is ongoing to try to reverse the damage. Treatment is focused on lessoning the symptoms for the patient.

How many people have cerebral palsy?

About 5000 cases are diagnosed each year. Statistics show that nearly a half million people are affected with cerebral palsy.

If you have a child who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy you probably have many more questions than this. A qualified medical malpractice attorney can help you find the answers you're looking for especially if you think that the injury was caused through the actions or inaction of an attending physician or another caregiver.

If you live in the Atlanta area, please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

Teen Cell Phone Use and Car Accidents in Atlanta

2010-04-26T13:03:00.001-04:00

In our society teens are usually proficient at using a cell phone long before they are old enough to get behind the wheel of a car. Talking and texting are integral to their daily communication with friends and family and most would consider the skills required to use their phone second nature. That can make it difficult for them to understand the inherent danger of cell phone use behind the wheel. 21 states ban all cell phone use by young drivers and another nine prohibit them from texting. There are no such restrictions in the state of Georgia so if you live in the Atlanta area and see young drivers on their phones it's not an illegal behavior, unsafe but not against the law.

Nearly sixty percent of high school students say that their parents are the biggest influence on their driving. Almost two thirds of the students surveyed said that their parents talk on cell phones while driving. With all of the press on this topic and mixed signals to our youth, it's understandable that the incidence of teen driver accidents with cell phone use as a contributing factor continues to rise.

Understanding that you're not alone in the injury you've suffered isn't always comforting. The fact that the numbers of these types of accidents are on the rise makes you wish that something had been done before you were impacted.
If you've been injured by a teen driver who was distracted by their cell phone at the time of the accident please contact Atlanta car accident attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C. today.

Legal Malpractice in Atlanta, Georgia

2010-04-25T12:45:00.001-04:00

The relationship between an attorney and client is one that requires you trust your lawyer. When you retain an attorney to ensure your rights and obtain a remedy that you deserve they are protecting you. But, what do you do if something goes wrong and the person who you are trusting to protect you has either let you down or worse, done something that causes harm. With the volume of legal cases in the Atlanta area it's reasonable to assume that mistakes will happen. It's also reasonable to expect that if you suffer from legal malpractice that there is someone to protect your rights then too.

Legal malpractice can take many forms and can be difficult to identify. The different types include: Breach of contract, Breach of ethics, Conflict of interest, Fraud, and others. This definition will help you to understand what might be legal malpractice "A negligent or wrongful act committed by an attorney that causes damage to his/her client." In addition to being hard to identify it is also very hard prove. For you to have a legal malpractice claim three conditions have to exist: 1. An attorney - client relationship has to be established 2. You have to present and prove the damage you have suffered 3. You have to prove the damages are the result of legal malpractice.

Because of the sensitive nature of legal malpractice if you believe that you have been wronged you will need an attorney who is experienced in handling this type of injury claim. To find out if you've been a victim of legal malpractice and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, please contact Atlanta legal malpractice attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C. today.

Cerebral Palsy occurrences in Atlanta

2010-04-23T12:43:00.001-04:00

Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury that occurs before, during or shortly after birth. Hearing a diagnosis of cerebral palsy raises the immediate question "why does my child have cerebral palsy?" That is likely only the first of many questions that a parent will ask. The answer to the question is simple but difficult to hear "because your child has brain damage." This answer raises the next question "why does my child have brain damage?" That question opens up a discussion and discovery process that is less clear. There are a number of factors that can contribute to an injury of the brain and produce cerebral palsy but geography isn't one of them. Unfortunately these brain injuries affect people living in Atlanta like they do people living everywhere else.

There are two types of conditions that can cause cerebral palsy; neurological damage and developmental malformation. Within those two condition categories there are a number of contributing factors. With developmental malformations the fetus may fail to develop the usual number of brain cells or they may not migrate to the appropriate area of the brain. When a brain malformation occurs in an area of the brain that controls motor function it can cause cerebral palsy.

If your child has cerebral palsy caused by neurological damage it raises a number of other questions about the cause. Injuries causing cerebral palsy are typically caused by complications related to premature birth, trauma to the brain, or difficult labor and delivery. Knowing the causes forces you to ask "did I do everything that I could?" "Did the doctors and nurses?" Understanding what happened and maybe what should or shouldn’t have can be difficult to sort out.

If you're struggling with these questions you need the help of an experienced brain injury lawyer. If you live in the Atlanta area, please contact the Georgia personal injury attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a no-cost, confidential consultation.

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2010-04-22T15:25:00.001-04:00

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Cell Phones and Car Accidents in Atlanta

2010-04-22T13:00:00.001-04:00

You're driving down the street and notice a car just ahead swerving. As you keep your distance you wonder if maybe it's a drunk driver. At the next light you look over to see the driver is engaged in a conversation on their cell phone. It happens thousands of times every day in Atlanta and across the country and it's a prominent cause of distracted driving auto accidents. That's why more states are looking at prohibiting or at least restricting cell phone use by drivers. Currently there are six states with complete bans on hand held cell phone use. In Georgia the only drivers who are banned from cell phone use behind the wheel are school bus drivers.

Restricting cell phone use like many other freedoms people enjoy can be a political hot button. Finding a balance between the rights of the user and the rights of those whom they may injure when their use isn't conducted in a prudent manner is difficult to prove and to balance. Just because cell phone use behind the wheel is a legal activity in Georgia doesn't mean that someone who causes an accident while talking or texting shouldn't be held accountable.

You may have seen the other party on the phone just before the accident but it may be difficult to prove. But if you've been injured by someone talking or texting while driving they should be responsible for paying for the damages and injury you've suffered.

If you've been a victim of a distracted driver, please contact Atlanta car accident attorneys, Robbins & Associates, P.C., today for help getting the compensation you deserve.

Failure to Diagnose Cancer in Atlanta

2010-04-21T12:41:00.001-04:00

Early detection is the number one factor that impacts a positive outcome for cancer treatment. That's why the discussion of a delay or failure to diagnosis cancer is so important to anyone who is suffering from cancer or has a loved one who is. The 'C' word, cancer, is something you never want to hear from your physician. If you have received a diagnosis of cancer and it's not in the beginning stages, it's normal to question what your doctor could have done to find the cancer sooner. The prevalence of delayed diagnosis or failure to diagnose raises questions about physicians everywhere including in Atlanta and elsewhere in the state of Georgia.

Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases. Even with all of the different types of cancer medical advances make the ability to detect and diagnose it more effective all the time. Because of the advancements in detection ability, it is even more difficult to accept a doctor's failure to diagnose or to diagnose in a timely manner, but still it happens.

Some of the types of cancer that doctors commonly fail to diagnose include: Cervical, Colon, Breast, Prostate, and Esophageal. Each of these types of cancer has either very distinctive symptoms, established effective detection methods, or both. Another thing that each of these types of cancer has in common is that with early detection the prognosis is good. That's why timely and accurate diagnosis is essential. If you or a loved one have received a diagnosis of cancer and you think that the outcome isn't as good as it could be because of a delayed or misdiagnosis please contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Robbins & Associates, PC.

What is Qui Tam?

2010-04-20T10:21:00.001-04:00

The justice department recently announced that two companies headquartered in Atlanta were among five defendants ordered to pay $14 million to settle a qui tam lawsuit. Qui tam (Latin for whistleblower) provides a mechanism for combating government fraud. In these economic times citizens are more attuned than ever to issues of fraud, waste and abuse that steal the resources of our tax dollars from their intended purposes.

Qui tam provides an avenue for someone who has information on fraud to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in award. If you are an employee or former employee of a government or government contractor organization and you have knowledge of goods or services charged for but not received, negotiating or pricing manipulations, or other circumstances that you believe are defrauding the government you may have a basis for filing a qui tam action. Others who can initiate a qui tam action include competitors and subcontractors who have knowledge of the fraud.

If you think that you have knowledge about fraud that could result in a qui tam action your actions are very important. The essential first step is contacting an attorney who has experience in prosecuting these cases. News reports and movies have documented many cases of whistleblowers and the challenges of fighting big business and government. One ingredient in each of the stories that's consistent is that the "whistleblower" initiates a series of events that is much more complex than they are prepared to deal with alone.

Please do not hesitate to contact Atlanta qui tam attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C. if you think you have information that could result in a qui tam lawsuit.

Surgical Medical Malpractice in Atlanta

2010-04-19T12:39:00.001-04:00

They say that the fear of public speaking is the number one fear that people have. It's a safe bet that they probably didn't survey people who are facing a need for surgery. The fear of surgery has also been touted as number one. When you consider what a surgical procedure entails and how many people you have to count on to do their jobs just right it’s understandable. Add to the inherent anxiety the stories you hear in the news about surgical malpractice cases in Atlanta and around the country, and many people might rather live with their condition. Unfortunately, with most surgeries that's not an option.

If you've been diagnosed with a condition that requires surgery what should you do? Getting a second opinion is always a good idea and something that most insurance companies require. Of course, it's not an option if you need emergency surgery but if it's not an emergency situation get one even if it's not required by your insurance. The second opinion gives you an opportunity to validate the diagnosis and recommended treatment. If there's a difference of opinion between the surgeons you might even consider a third opinion. Through the process you will become more comfortable with the decision to have the surgery and will have exposure to more than one surgeon so that you can make an informed choice of who you are going to entrust your life to.

Even the best surgeons make mistakes. Becoming a victim of surgical malpractice can happen even if you've done your homework. If you live in the Atlanta area or anywhere in Georgia and this has happened to you please contact the surgical medical malpractice lawyers at Robbins & Associates, PC.

Medication Mistakes in Atlanta

2010-04-17T12:37:00.001-04:00

Every year 1.5 million people are injured or made sick by medication mistakes and 100,000 of those people die. Those numbers include mistakes made by physicians and other medical caregivers, pharmacists, and the patients to whom the medications are prescribed. With that high an incidence of medication mistakes, you can deduce that there are a huge number in Atlanta and throughout Georgia.

It is the responsibility of the physician to ensure that the right meds in the right dosage are prescribed. The pharmacist and others administering the medication also have an essential responsibility to ensure patient safety. Even if the medications are to be self administered by the patient, it's up to the physician, pharmacist and other caregivers to ensure that the patient is aware of the proper use of the medications, including side effects, food and drug interactions and other factors.

There are some common mistakes that you should be aware of that can result in physical harm or death. Among those most common are: Double dosing (the patient takes a name brand and generic of the same drug at the same time); taking prescription meds and over the counter drugs without assessing and informing the patient how they interact; negative interactions between medications and diet; taking medication not safe for your age; confusing two medications with similar names; getting the dosage wrong. These and other medication mistakes can have serious and even deadly effects.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to these or other mistakes please contact Atlanta, Georgia area medical malpractice attorneys, Robbins & Associates, P.C. today.

What to Do if You Are in a Car Accident in Atlanta

2010-04-16T12:58:00.001-04:00

Getting into a car accident creates a lot of things that have to happen. There are vehicles to repair, visits to hospitals and doctors, police reports to file, and insurance and legal claims to initiate. One thing that is fairly constant is that most people think it won't happen to them. But what if it does? What if you are involved in an accident? You may live in a great place like Atlanta but accidents happen here just like everywhere else.

If you're in a car accident in Atlanta there are some things that are important to remember. The most important thing to do if you're in an accident is take care of people. Cars will fix but if you have a family member or others in your vehicle (or the other vehicles involved) that are injured they have to be the first consideration. If it's an emergency call 911 and then do what you can to help. Once the victims are cared for you can focus on the other things you should do. Here are a few reminders:

Gather all the info you can on everyone involved including witnesses
Take pictures with you camera or cell phone
Call the authorities to initiate a report if they're not already involved
Get the advice of an experienced auto accident attorney
Notify your insurance company

There's a lot to do and a lot to remember. Don't try to figure it all out alone, there's too much. Please contact the Atlanta auto accident attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.

Emergency Room Medical Malpractice in Atlanta

2010-04-15T12:33:00.001-04:00

The incidence of medical malpractice in an emergency room is much higher than many other medical settings. That's true in Atlanta just like any other city. An ER can be a hectic environment with long lines and crowded waiting rooms. When you arrive at the ER, you often find caregivers who are overwhelmed trying to identify those most in need of care, in the midst of the chaos.

Failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are the three main causes of emergency room malpractice and account for over 50% of ER related malpractice suits. The two most prevalent conditions that are not appropriately diagnosed and treated are heart attack and appendicitis. A variety of ailments and injuries bring people to the emergency room. These are just two conditions that are serious and need appropriate attention to save or preserve the quality of someone's life.

You or a loved one has a condition that may be serious and you go the emergency room for treatment. When you arrive it's crowded, hectic and you have to wait your turn, what do you do? In the midst of the experience, you have to be your own advocate. If you think it's serious make sure that you or your loved one get’s the attention you need and deserve. After that experience if you believe that you have suffered because of a wrong or delayed diagnosis, you will need another advocate.

Please contact Robbins & Associates, PC, Georgia's emergency room medical malpractice attorneys, today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

Causes of Car Accidents in Atlanta, Georgia

2010-04-14T12:55:00.001-04:00

Car accidents happen all too frequently in Atlanta and across the state of Georgia. An evaluation of all types of accidents reveals that there are some consistent causal factors. One cause of accidents that gets a lot of attention is impaired driving (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol). You've seen and heard the statistics and maybe have even been personally impacted by a driver under the influence.

Another cause of accidents that is getting a lot of attention these days is distracted driving. You may or may not have been personally touched by an impaired driver but every one of us has been impacted at some level by a distracted driver. Distracted driving has always been an issue but has risen to a place of prominence for individuals and government agencies because of the increased use of cell phones by drivers. It is estimated that more than 260 million people in the United States use cell phones. Even though many states are taking steps to preclude drivers from using them while driving, cell phone use causing auto accidents continues to escalate.

Every driver is responsible to make sure that they are paying attention while behind the wheel. Whether it's a cell phone or a sandwich doesn't matter. If a driver makes a choice that causes them to be distracted and it impacts you, they should be held responsible. Holding responsible parties accountable for their actions is what the auto accident lawyers at Robbins & Associates, PC do every day. Please contact us today.

What Determines How Long Benefits can be Collected in Atlanta?

2010-01-08T18:12:00.004-05:00

You can collect Workers' Compensation benefits until your doctor says you are able to return to work. In some cases you may be able to return to work, but with limited ability to perform your duties, or you may have to work in a different position. If your injury causes you to earn less than you did before you were injured, you can collect partial benefits even though you are working. Both total and partial disability benefits can be temporary or permanent.

That sounds pretty good, but the problem comes in with doctor approval. Insurance companies will do everything they can to prevent paying out. Both your employer and its insurance company may send you to a doctor who will say you are able to go back to work when you are not, to avoid paying you. Insurance companies have been known to hire private investigators to try and catch you doing physical activities, such as moving, playing sports, etc., that indicate your are not truly disabled.

Collecting the Workers' Compensation benefits you are entitled to should be simple. Workers' Compensation laws were created, in part, to ensure that work-related injuries would not rob workers of their income. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. An experienced Workers' Compensation attorney can help you collect the benefits you are entitled to, and keep collecting them for as long as you truly need them. Just knowing that you are working with an attorney will make some employers and their insurers think twice before trying dishonest and illegal methods to cut your benefits short or avoid paying at all.

If your employer is trying to cut your Workers' Compensation benefits short in the Atlanta, Georgia area, Robbins & Associates, P.C. can help. Please, contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you, and find out how you can continue to draw the payments that you and your family need and deserve.

Slip and Fall Accidents at Work in Atlanta

2009-12-28T17:20:00.003-05:00

When the subject of slip and fall comes up you may immediately think of personal injury lawsuits. However, when you are injured at work you should file a Workers' Compensation claim right away.

Unlike in a personal injury lawsuit, you do not have to prove fault in order to receive Workers' Compensation benefits, even in a slip and fall case. If a customer or another non-employee were to be injured in a slip and fall accident at your place of work, they would have the right to sue and would have to prove negligence on the part of your employer, the property owner, or whoever was responsible for maintaining the safety of the premises. As an employee, you can collect Workers' Compensation benefits for your injuries without having to determine who is responsible or prove that anyone was negligent.

If you have a slip and fall accident while performing your job duties somewhere other than your employer's place of business, such as while making a delivery or while travelling on business, you may be entitled to Workers’ Compensation or it may be appropriate to file a slip and fall personal injury lawsuit against the party who was responsible, such as the owner of the establishment in which your accident occurred. These types of case are more complicated. An attorney who has experience with both Workers’ Compensation and personally injury lawsuits can review the facts and determine which kind of case you should pursue.

If you work in or near Atlanta, Georgia, and have been injured in a slip and fall accident while on the job, please contact the Workers' Compensation attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. We will schedule a confidential consultation, at no cost to you, to determine what type of compensation you may be entitled to.

Pedestrian/Vehicle Accidents in Atlanta

2009-12-20T10:49:00.003-05:00

About 5,000 pedestrians are killed in auto accidents every year, roughly 11% of auto accident fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 70,000 pedestrians were injured in auto accidents in 2007. The human body stands little chance against a moving vehicle, and survivors often sustain life-altering injuries. Hit and run victims who could have survived often die due to delayed treatment. A hit and run victim may not be found for days.

Driver Responsibility

Poor visibility and dangerous behavior on the part of pedestrians play a role in many pedestrian accidents, but drivers have a responsibility to be on the lookout for pedestrians and are often at fault due to:

Failure to use turn signals
Failure to observe crosswalks
Speeding
Intoxication
Distractions such as cell phone use

Hit and Run
Injuries in hit and run accidents may be worse than they would have been with immediate medical attention and may even result in wrongful death. Finding drivers responsible for hit and run auto accidents requires extensive investigation, but in many cases they can be found and held responsible both criminally and in a personal injury lawsuit.

Recovering From Your Injuries
The injuries incurred in a pedestrian/vehicle accident can require extensive medical treatment and survivors may be permanently disabled. Just compensation for your injuries may be the only way that you can afford the treatment that you need. You may also be entitled to compensation for income lost during your recovery and future losses if you are not able to return to work; income that you and your family depend on to survive.

If you or someone you love has been hit by a car in the Atlanta, Georgia area, please contact the experienced auto accident attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. to schedule a consultation today.

Delayed and Misdiagnoses of Cancer in Atlanta

2009-12-17T17:15:00.002-05:00

A diagnosis of cancer used to be equivalent to a death sentence. While it is still terrifying to hear, today a timely diagnosis can save your life. Many types of cancer respond well to treatment when they are caught in the early stages, but can be fatal when left untreated or if treatment is delayed. Delayed and misdiagnoses of cancer are forms of medical malpractice.

Delayed treatment that is not fatal can still mean significant damage to quality of life, involving more invasive, painful, and expensive treatments. More invasive and radical treatments can, in themselves, do significant damage to you health and shorten your life. Some types of cancer that respond well to treatment in the early stages include:

Skin cancer
Breast cancer
Cervical cancer
Prostate cancer

Failure to Respond to Symptoms and Warning Signs
When a patient is not at risk and does not show any warning signs or complain of any potential symptoms of cancer it can come as an honest shock to everyone involved if the cancer is detected in an advanced stage.

All too often, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of cancer is due to a doctor’s failure to properly respond to a patient’s symptoms. Various types of cancer have red flag symptoms that every doctor should respond to with standard cancer screening procedures.

There are many reasons why a doctor may fail to respond. Some doctors are rushed or distracted and not listening, others do not take their patients seriously. Sadly, there are doctors who hear and recognize the symptoms, but do not order tests because they believe they patient cannot afford the test or the treatment.

If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of delayed or misdiagnosis of cancer, in the Atlanta Georgia area, please contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today.

Car Accidents in Parking Lots in Atlanta

2009-12-15T16:33:00.002-05:00

Parking lots are a common setting for slow, low-impact car accidents. Those involved often do not feel that there is any need to report the incident, and vehicular damage may be very minor or non-existent. Noticeable injuries at the time of the accident are rare. However, these low-impact crashes can cause debilitating soft tissue injuries that do not produce immediate symptoms, are difficult to diagnose, and very hard to prove in court.

If you are involved in an auto accident in a parking lot you must treat it like any other auto accident to protect your rights. This includes:

Reporting the accident to the police and your insurance company
Trading contact and insurance information with the other driver
Taking down the license plate number of the other vehicle
Getting contact information from any and all witnesses
Talking to an auto accident attorney

Responsibility in Parking Lot Auto Accidents
Most parking lots are private property, so laws that apply on the road may not apply in your accident. This does not relieve drivers of a basic duty of care. Basic rules of the road still apply.

Car accidents in parking lots are sometimes caused by dangerous conditions that are the fault of the parking lot owner. In those cases your auto accident case may turn out to be or include a premises liability lawsuit. A premise liability lawsuit for a parking lot accident requires expert investigation to prove dangerous conditions. A history of accidents in the parking lot can strengthen your case.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in a parking lot in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. can help. Please contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you. We will examine the facts in your case and help determine what type of lawsuit you should pursue to obtain just and fair compensation for your injuries.

Can You Sue and Collect Workers’ Compensation at the Same Time in Atlanta?

2009-12-13T16:30:00.003-05:00

Yes and no. You cannot collect Workers’ Compensation and sue your employer at the same time. However, it may be appropriate to sue someone else, a third party, for your injuries while you are collecting Workers’ Compensation benefits.

Workers’ Compensation law protects both you and your employer. It protects you by requiring your employer to carry an insurance policy that provides coverage for your injuries without requiring you to sue your employer or prove fault. This means that you are much more likely to receive benefits, and much sooner. Unfortunately, it means that you will probably receive less than you would if you did win a lawsuit.

It protects your employer because it does not allow workers to sue employers if they collect Workers’ Compensation benefits. This means that your employer does not have to pay out-of-pocket for your injuries or be found negligent.

You May Still Have a Lawsuit
If your injury was caused by someone other than your employer, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. For instance, if you were injured in a work-related auto accident, you may have a case against the other driver, and have the right to pursue that case and drawn Workers’ Compensation benefits at the same time. Equipment malfunctions, a common cause of very serious on-the-job injuries, are often caused by a defective product.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia, or the surrounding area and have been injured on the job, please contact the experienced Workers’ Compensation attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. to schedule your free consultation today. We can help you obtain your Workers’ Compensation benefits and determine if you should also file a third party personal injury lawsuit to truly cover your losses.

Back Injuries Following a Car Accident in Atlanta

2009-12-09T16:27:00.002-05:00

Back injuries are a common result of auto accidents, and are not always apparent at the time of the accident. You should always seek medical attention after a car accident, even if you do not feel that you were hurt. An examination may reveal a back injury, but not all back injuries show up in standard tests. Back injuries sustained in car accidents can include broken bones, soft tissue injuries and spinal cord injury.

Types of Back Injury

Spinal cord injury is not in itself a back injury, but can be involved when there is a back injury. Back injuries that may be sustained in an auto accident include:

Fractured or broken vertebrae
Herniated disk
Stretched or torn muscles and tendons
Whiplash

People tend to think of whiplash primarily as a neck injury and sometimes including injury to the back. Whiplash also causes brain injury.

Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries can be painful and debilitating. They can be caused by low-impact crashes. Unfortunately, they are hard to detect and prove in court. Soft tissue injuries do not show up on X-Rays. Insurance companies still try to deny the validity of soft tissue injuries.

Living with Back Injuries
Back injuries cause chronic pain in most victims. After the initial recovery period, when pain may improve, the pain tends to get worse over the years with age. Back pain may also be intermittent, making it impossible to hold a steady job, but difficult to prove disability.

If you were involved in an auto accident in the Atlanta, Georgia area and are experiencing symptoms of back injury, please contact the experienced auto accident attorneys at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule your free confidential consultation and find out if you may be entitled to compensation.

Anesthesia-related Medical Malpractice

2009-12-04T16:24:00.001-05:00

Going under general anesthesia is what many of us fear most when anticipating surgery. That fear tends more of an emotional, non-specific fear, not particularly tied to the inherent risks involved. Countless surgeries are performed everyday using anesthesia with no problem. However, anesthesia error can make your worst fears come true.

Anesthesia administration is very delicate and complicated. It is performed by a specialist whose only job during surgery is to handle that aspect, constantly monitoring the patients and making any necessary adjustments. There are risks involved every time anesthesia is used. Anesthesia-related complications are not always the result of medical malpractice. Anesthesia errors are a form of medical malpractice.

Victims of anesthesia-related medical malpractice are usually not informed that their injury was caused by malpractice rather than an inherent risk of the procedure. Depending on the nature of the injury, you may not even be told that it was anesthesia-related at all. Anesthesia errors can have serious and even fatal consequences including:

Brain injury
Birth injury
Heart attack
Stroke
Paralysis
Nerve damage
Coma
Anesthesia awareness

Determining the cause of surgical complications, and whether medical malpractice was involved, requires complex investigation. An experienced medical malpractice attorney has the knowledge and resources to properly investigate your case. Recovery from anesthesia errors can require extensive medical treatment. In cases where recovery is not possible, expensive life-long care may be necessary. Compensation for medical malpractice may be the only way you and your family can afford life-saving medical treatment.

If you suspect that your or your loved one's poor outcome from surgery was the result of medical malpractice, please contact the Atlanta, Georgia office of Robbins & Associates, P.C. We will schedule a confidential consultation, with an experienced medical malpractice attorney, at no cost to you, so you can get the compensation that you need and deserve.

Wrongful Death as a Result of Medical Malpractice

2009-12-01T16:21:00.001-05:00

Losing a loved one for any reason is painful and often devastating to families. When medical malpractice is the cause, you also have the pain of knowing that it could have been avoided. Adding insult to injury, you may be hounded by bill collectors insisting that you shell out money you do not have to pay for the medical “care” that caused your loved one’s death.

A wrongful death lawsuit stemming from medical malpractice is not the same thing as a medical malpractice personal injury lawsuit. Regardless of the underlying cause, a wrongful death case is meant to compensate the family of the deceased for the damages they incur as a result of losing their loved one. A medical malpractice personal injury lawsuit is brought on behalf of the direct victim of the medical malpractice to compensate that person for the harm that was caused to them.

These differences do not feel very important when you are grieving for a lost family member, but they do make a difference in how your case is handled, and ultimately you will need to know and understand the differences and what they mean to you. Compensation that you may be entitled to in a wrongful death case includes the contribution that your loved one would have made if they were still alive.

The deceased need not be a breadwinner for the loss of their contribution to be equated to a financial loss in a court of law. Childcare, running the household, care, companionship, and protection are just a few examples of the non-monetary contributions that are considered to carry a monetary value.

No amount of money can replace the comfort a parent gives a child who has a bad dream in the middle of the night, the joy of coming home to a loving spouse, or the happiness and pride you experience watching your child grow and pass milestones such as graduation, marriage, and the birth of a grandchild. However, compensation for your loss can ease some of the practical burdens, such as finding competent child care when a parent has passed.

If you have lost a loved one to medical malpractice in the Atlanta Georgia area, please contact Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule your free consultation with of our compassionate wrongful death attorneys.

Medical Misdiagnosis and Failure to Diagnose

2009-09-29T13:14:00.001-04:00

Medical misdiagnoses, failure to diagnose or a delayed diagnosis are some of the most prominent allegations in medical malpractice cases. Misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, or a delayed diagnosis often results in a delay of the proper treatment, the wrong treatment, or no treatment. This can result in life-altering disabilities and even death.

Statistics show that over 40% of medical malpractice claims are a result of a healthcare provider's failure to diagnose a condition or disease. A misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose can be the result of a failure to conduct a thorough medical history and examination of the patient, a failure to perform the necessary diagnostic testing or a failure to understand the results of diagnostic testing to make a valid diagnosis.

Compensation in the case of a misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose can and does include damages for medical expenses, lost income, loss of future earning potential, pain and suffering and in the event of a death, final expenses and survivor entitlements.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and you or someone you love was the victim of a misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose, please contact the Atlanta office of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with an experienced medical malpractice attorney to protect your legal rights and secure the compensation you are entitled to.

Wage and Hour Violations

2009-09-15T13:22:00.002-04:00

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets basic minimum wage and overtime pay standards that affect most private and public employment. These standards are enforced by the United States Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

The FLSA, the federal law that requires payment of minimum wages, applies to businesses that have $500,000 or more in annual sales

Wage and hour violations are committed by employers who are either unfamiliar with, or do not respect FLSA laws. Unpaid overtime is another common type of disregard for the law. Thousands of workers have lost wages due to unpaid overtime, unpaid meal breaks and being forced to work "off the clock." Our laws are designed to protect workers from these practices.

Although the laws are designed to protect workers' rights, unscrupulous employers do take advantage of their employees. An attorney experienced in wage and hour violation laws will essentially clarify what your legal rights are and provide you with a remedy for your situation.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and you or someone you know has been the victim of FSLA wage and hour violations, please contact the Atlanta office of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with an experienced attorney to protect your legal rights.

Patient Dumping Practices

2009-09-15T10:47:00.001-04:00

“Patient dumping” refers to the practice of discharging or transferring a medically unstable patient for financial reasons. It is a practice of treating paying patients and leaving those unable to pay to government programs or charitable organizations to deal with. More than 40 million Americans are uninsured and are at risk for this practice.

In 1986 the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) was passed to prohibit patient dumping. Before transferring a patient with an emergency medical condition, a physician must certify that the patient is stable enough to be moved or the benefits of being transferred outweigh the risks involved in the transfer. In addition, a patient cannot be transferred without the permission of the receiving facility.

Despite being against the law, patient dumping is still of great concern today. Recent problems experienced by some have emphasized how economic, instead of medical considerations, are playing a major role in medical treatment decisions. Patients are still being denied access to healthcare for financial reasons. Patient dumping is a dangerous and disgraceful activity.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and you suspect you or someone you love has been the victim of patient dumping, please contact the Atlanta office of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced attorney, at no cost to you, to protect your legal rights.

Dealing with Insurance Companies after a Car Accident

2009-08-31T17:14:00.001-04:00

While insurance companies make $30 billion a year in profits, their insurance adjusters are actually trained to delay and deny claims and are handsomely rewarded for doing so.

When you are involved in a car accident, you fully expect your insurance company to honor your claim. Unfortunately, many people tell of having tremendous difficulties when dealing with their insurance companies.

There are some steps you can take to make the insurance claims process smoother and less daunting. Immediately after an accident, call 911 and/or the police in your area, and then contact your insurance company. Take photos of the accident scene and any injuries. Keep track of any expenditures you incur related to your claim. Do not admit fault and do not give a recorded statement.

An experienced car accident attorney with the knowledge and training to properly and effectively represent your interests can make a real difference in the outcome of your claim.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and you or someone you love was involved in a car accident, please contact the Atlanta office of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with an experienced car accident attorney to protect your legal rights and obtain the compensation you are entitled to.

Wrongful Death and Medical Malpractice

2009-08-31T13:56:00.001-04:00

A wrongful death claim asserts a person has died due to the negligence or actions of another, and the victim’s survivors are entitled to compensation as a result of the death.

One of the most common causes of wrongful death is medical malpractice. Medical malpractice refers to errors or mistakes that occur in a medical context that result in injuries or death to the patient. Healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities can all be held legally responsible for medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice is the third most prominent cause of death in this country, with heart disease and cancer in the lead. Over a quarter of a million Americans die every year as a result of medical malpractice. The misdiagnosis of breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, heart attack and appendicitis are the five diseases or conditions cited most in medical malpractice allegations. Misdiagnosis results in delayed treatment or possibly the wrong treatment, often resulting in a wrongful death.

A wrongful death leaves those left behind to cope with a devastating situation, emotionally, financially and legally. The laws involved in wrongful death cases are very complex, and the statute of limitations varies from state to state.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and someone you love was the victim of a wrongful death, please contact the Atlanta office of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with an experienced wrongful death attorney to protect your legal rights and obtain for you the compensation you are entitled to.

How to Choose a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

2009-08-28T12:22:00.001-04:00

Motorcycle accidents historically involve a high rate of injuries and fatalities even though motorcyclists represent a minority of drivers. Since motorcycles do not have the weight of an automobile, or safety features such as a roof, airbags or seatbelts, motorcyclists sustain more serious injuries and more fatalities than those involved in car accidents. As a matter of fact, approximately 98% of all motorcycle accidents result in injuries or death.

Over 80% of motor vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle are not the motorcyclist’s fault. Motorcycle accidents are usually the result of the limited visibility of the motorcyclist to other drivers, road hazards, such as potholes or uneven pavement, motorcycle defects and adverse weather conditions.

If you were involved in a motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another driver, a defective motorcycle or hazardous road conditions, an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who understands the unique problems encountered by those involved in motorcycle accidents, will be very beneficial to you. An attorney who specializes in motorcycle accidents will be able to obtain the best results possible for you.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and you or someone you care about was injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Atlanta office of Robbins & Associates, P.Cs. today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, at no cost to you, to protect your legal rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

Pedestrians and Car Accidents

2009-08-21T17:11:00.001-04:00

Pedestrians and car accidents are a serious problem in the United States. Pedestrian car accidents happen with the most frequency in urban areas where pedestrian activity and traffic are greater when compared to rural or suburban areas of the country.

Over 65% of car accidents involving pedestrians occur at non-intersections. This is especially true for those under 9 years of age because of the propensity of this age group to run out into the street without looking. Pedestrians 65 years of age or older are more likely to be injured or killed at intersections. Older pedestrians have some diminished visual and physical abilities that make crossing a street a challenging proposition at times.

Fatal pedestrian accidents occur typically between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. when darkness and alcohol use become factors. Speeding is another major factor in pedestrian accidents.
Speeding has devastating consequences when a pedestrian is involved. A pedestrian who is hit at a high rate of speed has an 85% chance of being killed. Drivers are also less likely to see a pedestrian and even less likely to avoid hitting one when traveling at a high speed.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and you or someone you love was injured or killed in a pedestrian car accident, please contact the Atlanta office of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced pedestrian car accident attorney at no cost to you to protect your legal rights.

Alcohol, Drugs, and Car Accidents

2009-08-10T17:09:00.001-04:00

Driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a major cause of car accidents in this country. Legally obtained prescription medications also can affect a driver’s ability to drive safely.

Every two minutes someone is injured or killed in an alcohol or drug related motor vehicle accident in the United States. Alcohol or drugs are involved in over 40% of all fatal car accidents. Over 1.5 million people are arrested each year nationwide for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Alcohol, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants and other depressants impair and distort vision, affect motor skills and slow reaction times enough to cause a serious and deadly accident.

Lives are devastated by people driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The decision to drive while impaired is a choice many people make without thinking of the consequences. An experienced car accident attorney will be able to make certain you get the compensation you are entitled to if you have been the victim of an impaired driver.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area, and you or someone you care about has been the victim of an impaired driver, please contact the Atlanta office of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you with an experienced car accident lawyer to protect your legal rights.

Dental Malpractice

2009-07-30T12:47:00.001-04:00

For many, going to the dentist is an unpleasant experience. From fillings and root canals to oral surgeries, dentists tend to have a bad rap. And while, generally speaking, people most often visit dentists for routine procedures, things can go wrong.

So what do you do if something goes wrong while you are in chair? How do you proceed if a procedure leads to complications? From nerve damage in the tongue and gums to painful and uncomfortable implants, dentists, like any other doctor are liable and can be held negligent. And, like any other doctor, if a dentist fails to give quality care and or services, he or she can be held responsible.

Some examples of dental malpractice include:
• Wrongful tooth extraction
• Nerve injuries to the tongue, affecting the patients taste glands
• Complications from oral implants like crows and bridges
• Failure to take thorough medical history that then leads to complications
• Unnecessary dental work

It is important to remember that to file a dental malpractice claim, you must be able to prove long-term damage. Pain in the weeks following a procedure could be normal, but pain months later might not be. For some people, emergency surgery was necessary to correct mistakes made by dentist, if this is the case, dental malpractice is at fault.

If you or a loved one has been affected by dental malpractice, please contact the website of Atlanta, Georgia personal injury attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C. We are experienced case lawyers that can help you collect on personal damages.

Emergency Room Errors

2009-07-25T16:46:00.001-04:00

Working in an emergency room is no walk in the park. The emergency room is, by nature, a chaotic, stressful, antagonizing and emotional place to be. The staff who work there are dedicated individuals who must assess and treat a wide array of issues as quickly as possible. In all high-stress work places, accidents happen. And as it happens, when mistakes occur in the emergency room, they tend to lead to death or permanent injury. Mistakes tend to happen in the emergency room because of:

• Inadequately trained employees
• Inadequate facilities and space
• Faulty patient records procedure
• Unsanitary and unsafe facilities
• Questionable hospital ethic policies

From lab and medication errors to surgical mistakes and delayed treatments, there is a large margin for error in an emergency room. If you, or someone you love, has been hurt due to an emergency room error, there are many areas in which you or the person can collect from. From medical bill help and rehabilitation assistance to lost wages and even burial expenses, the hospital can be liable. If you think medical malpractice is at fault, you have rights. Please contact the website of Atlanta, Georgia personal injury attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C. They have experience handling cases of emergency room errors and can help you collect for damages sustained.

Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers and Car Accidents

2009-07-15T12:46:00.001-04:00

Uninsured and underinsured automobile insurance protects drivers when the other driver does not have automobile insurance coverage or not enough automobile insurance coverage.

Georgia law requires all insurance carriers offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage with their policies. Unless you reject this type of insurance coverage in writing, you probably have, at the very least, minimum uninsured or underinsured driver coverage on your policy.

Uninsured and underinsured driver insurance coverage pays for your injuries and property damage when you are involved in an accident with a driver who is at fault and has no, or the minimum liability insurance coverage.

If you are involved in a car accident, you must obtain insurance information from the other driver and give that information to your insurance company. If the other driver has no insurance or is underinsured, your insurance company usually requires a signed statement from the other driver stating they have no insurance or what their coverage limits are.

Your insurance company may not compensate you to the amount you are entitled to. You need an experienced automobile accident attorney in uninsured and underinsured claims to protect your legal rights and make certain you get the compensation you deserve.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area and you were involved in an automobile accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, please contact an experienced automobile accident attorney at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a confidential consultation at no cost to you.

Settling Versus Going to Trial. What Factors are Considered?

2009-07-09T17:35:00.001-04:00

On August 8, 2008, the New York Times published an article about the differences between settling and taking a case to trial. In special conjunction with victims of accidents and medical malpractice, the author of the article said in general, taking a settlement is more lucrative than going to trial. That is not to say that one should try and settle on their own. Having a lawyer on their side will help ensure that the settlement offer is fair and that the complainant is not being taken advantage of.

For many plaintiffs, going to trail is not solely based on a monetary goal. Some people go to trial because they want to ascertain information. If one were to settle, the settlement would be solely monetarily based and could, as in many cases, involve a confidentiality agreement. If one wanted information, chances are, if they settled out of court, they would not get it.

Going to court involved fees that settling outside does not. Court fees can add up, and between court fees, lawyer fees and time taken off work, people can get frustrated. If you are considering going to court, it is best to consult with a lawyer to make sure that you have a case worth trying. Many times, people go to court, without a lawyer and find that their case gets thrown out due to technicalities they missed because they were not well versed in the law. If, however, you spoke with a lawyer, and he or she recommends taking the case to trial, then it is important to review the costs and the trial’s personal worth to you.

If have a case and are looking for legal aide, contact the website of Atlanta, Georgia personal injury attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C. We can help you proceed with a settlement or trail.

Why do You Need a Medical Malpractice Attorney?

2009-06-29T18:24:00.001-04:00

When dealing with a medical malpractice suit, it is important to understand that every case is unique. A medical malpractice attorney can help you sort through the ins and outs of the legal system.

If a hospital offers you a settlement, a medical malpractice attorney can help you by letting you know whether or not the settlement offer is legitimate. A lawyer can tell you the real worth of your claim and help ensure that you are not being taken advantage of by the lawyers at the hospital you are suing.

In general, hospitals will try to undercut you, the defendant. With a lawyer present, you will be able to ensure that your claim is being processed fairly and not being undercut.

If you decide that you want to represent yourself in court, you will be going up against a line of top-notch lawyers who will now how to manipulate the fact that you are not as familiar with the law as they. If you were to miss even one hearing, your whole case could be thrown out. Furthermore, through a list of subpoenas and other litigating tactics, you could get lost among legal technicalities.

If the case merits serious action, it is always best to take it is serious as possible. By hiring a medical malpractice lawyer you are helping to ensure, for at least yourself, that you did everything possible to write the wrong committed against you or a loved one.

Please contact the website of Atlanta personal injury attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C.; we have over 30 years of case experience and a team of lawyers well versed in medical malpractice suits. We can help ensure that you are treated with respect and get the settlement you deserve.

Financial Abuse and Exploitation of Elderly

2009-06-29T10:46:00.001-04:00

In America, thousands of elderly people are abused every year. Whether it is neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse or financial abuse, the elderly today face quite a few challenges. Typically speaking, elder abuse occurs at the place of residence for the party involved. Whether this is their home, a relative or friend’s home or a nursing care facility, abuse can usually be traced back to the residence.

Financial abuse is common among the elderly. The exploiters tend to take advantage of elderly people’s diminished capacities, lack of understanding and generally trusting nature.

To spot financial abuse, it is important to know what to look for. Typically, a caregiver who is financially abusing someone will:
1. Use the elderly person’s account and/or credit cards
2. Forge their signature on documents
3. Steal cash or checks
4. Steal personal possessions from the elder’s house or room

Another important aspect of financial abuse is to look out for scam artists. And while everyone is liable to be had by a scam artist, elderly people are three times more likely to fall into a scam artist’s trap. Typically, scam artists use four different ‘racketeering’ sets.

• Fake charities
• Investment/pyramid schemes
• Prize winnings that require account numbers to collect
• Banking issues

Financial abuse and exploitation are wrong. Exploiters will take advantage of an elderly person’s state of mind or lack thereof to manipulate and take advantage of them. If you or someone you know is or has been exploited financially, contact the website of Atlanta, Georgia nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys Robbins & Associates P.C.

Medical Malpractice in Nursing Homes

2009-06-26T10:44:00.001-04:00

A common sign of elder abuse in nursing homes is medical malpractice. In general, medical malpractice tends to stem from unqualified health-care professionals or those employees who are overworked, underpaid or overly stressed.

To keep a watchful eye out for medical malpractice, it is important to know what to look for. The following are general indications of medical malpractice:

• Mistakes made during a surgery
• A misdiagnosis-covering both diseases and conditions
• Failure of healthcare professionals to treat a diagnosed disease or condition properly or, more importantly, in a timely manner.
• Improper administration of medication, including over or under-medication

Often, when a relative or friend is at a nursing home, it is harder to look out for signs of medical malpractice. This is due in part to the inability to be around the person everyday and because we, as friends and relatives entrust the care of those we love to the staff in a nursing home. We do not want to think that abuse would be going on.

Signs of abuse and malpractice are also harder to spot because the parties involved usually suffer from diminished capacities or have physical limitations that make it harder to convey what is happening to them. And, because the patients are living with their abuses in their nursing home, it is scary and every more difficult for them to come clean about the abuse.

If you suspect that a friend or relative is the victim of medical malpractice in a nursing home, contact the website of Atlanta, Georgia nursing home abuse attorneys Robbins &Associates P.C.. We have over 30 years of case work and can help answer the questions you have.

Suing the Nursing Home for Employee Negligence

2009-06-25T19:01:00.001-04:00

When a loved one is hurt, either emotionally or physically, in the care of someone else, we tend to want to make the wrong right. For those who have a loved one in a nursing home and employee negligence is at fault for either medical malpractice or emotional problem, legal action is a common path people tend to pursue.

If you suspect employee negligence as the cause for your loved ones injuries or illnesses, a lawyer can help you file a suit. Employee negligence federal acts protect patients against:

1. Employees who fail to give what is deemed quality care and services
2. Employees who do not treat patients with respect and consideration for their feelings. This includes patient’s privacy.
3. Employees who mentally and or physically abuse them. This includes punishments, seclusions and or restraints.

The nursing home bill of rights helps patients maintain their rights and gives them a voice when otherwise, they would be voiceless. By keeping a watchful eye, you can spot the tell-tale signs of employee negligence in your loved ones nursing home. If you notice:

Bruises
Unexplained fear of caregivers
Broken bones
Malnutrition or Dehydration
Unclean living conditions
Unexplained medicated hazes

These are all factors to be considered if you want to file a suit against the nursing home. Be sure that you accurately document any and all evidence of negligence or abuse and contact an attorney who has experience in employee negligence cases, especially those that involve nursing homes.

Please contact the website of the law offices of personal injury attorneys Robbins& Associates, P.C.in Atlanta; we have over 30 years experience dealings with cases, including those related to nursing home misconduct.

Signs of Elder Abuse

2009-06-02T18:18:00.001-04:00

If someone you know, a friend or a relative is in a nursing home, then watching out for signs of elder abuse is important. Generally speaking, elder abuse occurs in nursing homes that are understaffed or have under-qualified employees. Because of the nature of this type of patient care, patience and dedication is very important. If you have noticed the employees at the home looking overly stressed, overworked or frustrated, overly affectionate, these too can be signs of elder abuse in the home.

In 2001, CBS conducted a study citing that in the United States, 1,600 nursing homes had been written up for abuse of their patients. This number, according to the article, accounts for one third of the nursing homes in the country.

As kids, we always want what’s best for our parents so if there are suspect signs of elder abuse, authorities should be contacted immediately.
Generally, signs of elder abuse include:
• bruising
• unexplained cuts of welts
• improper medication distribution
• dehydration and/or malnutrition
• weight loss or gain
• broken bones
• unsanitary living conditions
• fear of caregivers
• unexplained death

Our elders are more subject to abuse due to two factors. According to the National Center for Elder Abuse (NCEA), these two factors are social isolation and an impaired state of mind, like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If you suspect elder abuse, call the NCEA hotline at 1-800-677-1116 and contact the website of Atlanta personal injury attorneys Robbins &Associates P.C; we have 30 years of case experience and can help you right the wrongs that happened to your friend or relative.

Car /Bus Accidents

2009-05-29T14:04:00.001-04:00

Many people assume that because they are in a bus, they are safe. For this reason, people don’t tend to worry about the lack of seatbelts or airbags. And while car accidents are more common, bus accidents are not rare occurrences in our country today. On March 1st, 2009, 6 people were injured when a bus in Los Angeles country in California hit an oncoming car, on January 6th, 2008 a bus in Southern Utah hit the divider, killing 9 and injuring 46. Statistically speaking, the most common bus accidents are between cars and busses, the second are between busses and pedestrians. Every year, over 40,000 people die in car accidents, the numbers are startlingly large.

Bus and car accidents occur for many reasons:
• Driver negligence
• Bad weather or road conditions
• Defective machinery
• Speeding

And while some factors are controllable in accidents, many are not. As a passenger, you have rights. And understanding and knowing your rights is important in this day and age.

As the economy continues to struggle, more and more people are taking public transportation and carpooling. Speculations have been made that with the increased number of travelers, the number or bus and car related injuries could increase. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car or bus accident, contact the website of Robbins & Associates P.C.

Road Construction and Car Accidents

2009-05-21T16:36:00.001-04:00

Summer-time means the work crews are out cleaning up winter’s mess. From potholes and new paint to new lanes and shoulder work, road crews are busy this time of year. And while the safety of the work crews is always important, and drivers should be respectful, there are times when drivers are the ones who end up injured and in a car accident.

Typically, accidents that occur in work zones are due to driver negligence or unseen hazards in the road. When one lane closes and traffic converges, there are always inherent risks. However, private contractors are in charge of roadway construction and they are held responsible when highway safety precautions are not upheld.

These safety precautions include:
• Flagmen
• Warning signs
• Closed lane markers like cones or flashers
• Reflective clothing to help drivers see workers better

As a driver, it is always important to be alert when driving through a roadwork zone. If an accident does occur, it is vital that you try and document what happened. If the road was unsafe to drive on or flagmen were not present then you, as a driver, will have a better case. If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident at a road construction site, contact the website of Atlanta car accident attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C.

SUV Rollovers

2009-05-21T11:18:00.001-04:00

Today, bigger is better: bigger homes, bigger meals, bigger televisions, and bigger cars. Since the 1950’s, the size of families has increased and so has the need for cars that seat more people. Today, 1 in 4 cars purchased is an SUV (sport utility vehicle), and SUVs are the most popular choice for families since they has more room and better safety features than smaller, more compact cars. And while the SUV may seem like the perfect road-tripping, soccer toting vehicle, an estimated 70,000 SUV’s rollover every year injuring or killing passengers. Rollovers are one of the leading causes of fatalities in car accidents.

So what can a driver do to reduce the risk of an SUV rollover?
• Make sure your tires are always properly maintained. Keep them pressurized and make sure the threads are not too bare.
• Avoid overloading the car. SUVs already have a higher center of gravity; this is what makes them more likely to roll. When the car is heavily loaded, the center of gravity is even more unstable, if you car is packed with lots of luggage, gear or people, make sure to take extra caution while driving.
• Take turns slowly and, if you are on bumpy or unpaved roads, take extra caution while driving.
• Always be aware of your surrounding and control your speed. SUVs were not made for racing, so higher speeds make them less stable.
• Avoid swerving the car unnecessarily. If you are driving fast and try to swerve to miss hitting a squirrel or something else in the road, the car’s narrower track width and high center of gravity could cause a rollover. The best thing to do is drive slow. If you have to swerve, avoid panicked swerving.

In you or someone you know was injured in an SUV rollover, the law office of Robbins & Associates P.C. in the Atlanta, Georgia can help; please contact their website to learn more.

Car Accidents at Intersections

2009-05-19T14:01:00.001-04:00

Car accidents happen. Whether or not the accident was your fault, or the fault of the other driver, it is important to know and understand the situation.

Some of the most common car accidents occur at intersections. Intersections can be dangerous because there are many different factors at play. Other drivers, signals, people crossing, turns being made. In fact, according to The Driving Institute of America, 1/3 of all accidents occur at intersections! The most common reasons car accidents at intersections occur are as follows:

• You or the other car ran a red light, or failed to stop at a stop sign.
• A pedestrian was in the crosswalk.
• Emergency vehicles with sirens sped through the intersection, causing other cars to swerve.
• A vehicle made a turn without looking.
• A vehicle failed to yield to right of way.

And while it is always important to know and understand the dangers inherent to driving, it is also important to know what precautions you can take in order to maintain yours and others safety on the road.
• Never assume things about the other drivers on the road. If you are at a 4-way stop, wait until the other cars stops completely.
• Try planning your trips early, so you do not need to speed to get where you are going.
• If you have a cell phone, use a hands-free set you are not as distracted behind the wheel.
• If an emergency vehicle is coming behind you and you are at an intersection, move out of the vehicles way, but try to pull over just beyond the intersection.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident in an intersection and live in Atlanta, Georgia, contact the website of Robbins & Associates, P.C. We have over 30 years experience handling cases and can help you when you don’t know what to do.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

2009-04-15T11:17:00.002-04:00

Medical malpractice is when a physician fails to provide his/her patient with the standard of care as practiced by their peers, resulting in mental, physical and/or emotional harm to their patient. Any physician can be held accountable for medical malpractice, whether it’s a doctor, nurse, paramedic, EMT, dentist, anesthesiologist, hospital employees and even the hospital itself.

Medical malpractice can occur at any point that you’re with a professional health care provider:

Neglect by the EMT and paramedic
In a pre-operative consultation with a surgeon or by the surgeon choosing to delay surgery, resulting in surgical medical malpractice
While waiting in a hospital’s emergency room
By an anesthesiologist failing to adequately review a patient’s history and administering an anesthetic that results in an allergic reaction
During childbirth, resulting in birth injury

Even if you signed a consent form, a physician’s negligence that results in personal injury or death, you might have a solid case against them. At Robbins & Associates, we have experienced medical malpractice attorneys to review your case and determine if you’re entitled to compensation. If you have a valid claim, our staff consults with expert medical witnesses who will also review the facts of your case and testify in court on your behalf.

Proving negligence in a medical malpractice case can take time. If you believe you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, you need to consult with an attorney immediately as time limits exist, restricting the amount of time you may wait before filing a malpractice case.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice in Atlanta, please call or schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Atlanta medical malpractice lawyers today.

Birth Injuries

2009-03-24T16:57:00.002-04:00

Medical malpractice suits stemming from birth injuries are tragic and devastating to those involved. The catastrophic consequences of a doctor’s negligence during labor can cause paralysis, brain damage, infections, damage to the spinal cord and even death.

A birth injury often occurs when a doctor fails to react in accordance with his profession’s standards when a complication arises during pregnancy or delivery, or when they prescribe a harmful drug to the woman during pregnancy.

Some common birth injuries that often have lasting consequences are:

Brachial Palsy, which occurs when the brachial plexus is damaged. Often this occurs during delivery. Consequences of brachial palsy are that the baby is unable to flex and rotate their arm
Erb’s Palsy is when a doctor has difficulty with the baby’s shoulders during delivery. This results in the stretching of nerves around the baby’s shoulders and paralysis of the arm is the usually consequence
Cerebral Palsy can be caused due to brain damage during deliverance. Some cases are devastating while others are mild—it depends on how much and what parts of the brain are affected
Facial paralysis can occur if too much pressure is applied on the baby’s face during labor. Typically the paralysis heals within a few weeks but sometimes surgery is necessary to repair the damage

Having a child is a joyous occasion. A newborn’s health should never be jeopardized due to a doctor’s negligence.

If your newborn was the victim of a birth injury in Atlanta, please contact Robbins & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with one of our medical malpractice attorneys.

Why You Need An Attorney After A Serious Vehicle Accident

2009-03-16T18:21:00.001-04:00

If you were involved in a minor, parking-lot fender-bender, the need for an attorney is unlikely. However, if you’ve been involved in an automobile accident, motorcycle accident, or truck accident that has caused you serious injury or resulted in the death of a family member, it’s essential to contact an experienced car attorney immediately.

Simply speaking with an insurance company won’t cut it. They want to settle and put minor compensation in your hand without delay, so as to provide you with immediate pleasure. In most instances however, you’re entitled to more reparation pay for your injuries than the insurance company would like you to know.

At Robbins & Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, we will review the facts of your case and use our team of experts to gather evidence to build a case that will compensate you for the full extent of your injuries. This includes payment for:

• Mental and physical pain and suffering
• Permanent disability
• Loss of wages and diminished future earning capacity
• Long term care
• Medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
• Punitive damages

Settling a claim before consulting with an experienced car accident attorney limits your compensation. The outcome is final. If you need more physical therapy or surgeries than had originally been anticipated then you’re out of luck—you cannot return for more money. The bottom line is you should never settle a claim before you have fully recovered, thus potentially squeezing you out of your full compensation.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious vehicle accident in Atlanta, please contact Robbins & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Atlanta vehicle accident lawyers.

Legal Malpractice – Am I A Victim?

2009-02-19T18:01:00.001-05:00

Legal malpractice occurs when an attorney fails to perform to the standards of their profession, which includes inadequately representing their client, compromising their client’s case or the amount of compensation received, and/or a breach of contract.

If an attorney is negligent in representation of their client, this means they failed to perform at the “average” level of an attorney in the specified field. Compromising their client’s case and compensation received is also known as “breach of fiduciary duty”. This occurs when an attorney puts their interests or those of another party before their client. Breach of contract is when the lawyer fails to adhere to their role, expectations and obligations, as stated in the contract.

Some red flags that almost always constitute legal malpractice are:

Suing the wrong party or failing to sue all responsible parties
Failure to timely file the lawsuit
Not filing the necessary papers with the court
Lack of compliance with court ordered deadlines
Not serving legal papers
Lack of credible and expert witnesses to back evidence

If a judge has dismissed your medical malpractice, auto accident, or other lawsuit due to your lawyer’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation.

If you’ve been the victim of legal malpractice in Atlanta, please contact Robbins & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys who will help determine if you have a case against your former lawyer.

What To Do After A Car Accident

2009-02-17T13:08:00.001-05:00

The immediate aftermath of a car accident can be frantic and stressful. However, it’s essential that you take the appropriate steps to ensure that fault can be proven and you receive any compensation you’re entitled to, whether it be for injuries sustained during, or as a result of, the accident or damages to your vehicle.

First, stay calm and gain control of your emotions. The immediate rage, anger, fear or guilt you feel following the accident will only add unnecessary stress.

Next, survey the extent of damages and injuries. If a person’s injured, it’s easy to become panic-stricken following an auto accident. But maintaining a calm demeanor will allow you to soundly judge the injuries and damages suffered. Additionally, remaining composed allows you to make sensible decisions regarding the need for emergency paramedics.

Finally, file a report with the police. Even in minor accidents, in order to establish fault you need to have a legal accident report. Never leave the scene of an accident until speaking with the police and a report is filed.

In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to overlook a simple step: get your facts. You need the names, addresses, phone numbers, license plates, insurance company information, and the vehicle identification number of every person and automobile involved. If a commercial truck is involved in the accident, make sure you get the company names written on both the cab and the trailer, and find out if the driver is independent or works for one of the named companies or another company. If cargo spilled, note the type of cargo and how it was secured.

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Atlanta please contact Robbins & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Atlanta auto accident lawyers

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

2009-01-19T13:41:00.001-05:00

When our parents reach the twilight of their lives, careers and the stresses of life do not allow us to provide them with the care they deserve. As a result, there are over one million nursing home beds in the United States. Unfortunately, many workers in these institutions are overworked, under trained and poorly paid, resulting in a shattering of the trust we placed in them to care for those who raised us.

Nursing home abuse is when an employee of a nursing home is negligent and/or abusive to one of its patients and mental, emotional and/or physical harm is inflicted. Many cases of nursing home abuse aren’t reported as its victims are embarrassed and warning signs are subtle. Commonly, nursing home neglect can take the form of medical malpractice in which your loved one receives inappropriate treatment or medication.

Here are telltale signs to look out for if you believe your loved one is or has been a victim of nursing home abuse:

Bruises, broken bones, burns and/or skin abrasions
Unexplained depression that onsets seemingly overnight
Disengagement from the community and/or activities that typically bring them joy
Abrupt change in finances
Bruises or marks around the genitals
Poor hygiene
Unexplained and significant weight loss and/or a change in appetite
Bedsores
Dehydration
Paranoia
Drastic mood swings

Neglect and abuse of your loved ones is a difficult pill to swallow. Emotions of rage, guilt, and anger are common—however, acting on your own rarely punishes those responsible or gets compensation for you and your relative. Immediately contact an experienced nursing home negligence attorney if you wish to see results.

If believe that your loved one is currently or has been a victim of nursing home abuse in Atlanta, please contact Robbins & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

What Is Qui Tam?

2009-01-05T13:39:00.001-05:00

Qui Tam is Latin for “whistleblower” and provides ordinary citizens with the tools to file lawsuits against an individual or a company that has successfully defrauded the United States government. Plaintiffs in qui tam cases are referred to as the “Relators”, and often are former (or current) employees of the company they’re filing against.

Qui tam cases were established by law under the False Claims Act and require extensive knowledge of the law for compensation to be rewarded (the relator receives 15 to 30 percent of the amount compensated to the government, which is three times the amount of the government’s losses). These cases are filed in federal court and the investigation is done in secret, from both the public and the defendant, for the first sixty days. Very often the investigation requires more time and the secrecy seal’s duration can be extended.

The False Claims Act also protects Relators from retaliation by their former employer. This includes job reinstatement and compensation for damages the Relator might have sustained due to retaliation.

If you are aware of any fraud against the government, it’s imperative that you contact an attorney today to begin the lengthy investigation and provide you with protection. Please contact Robbins & Associates of Atlanta, Georgia today to receive the guidance you need.

What Is Wrongful Death?

2008-12-26T17:00:00.002-05:00

The death of a loved one is a tragic and devastating experience. When that death comes prematurely due to the negligence or deliberate misconduct of another party, then the tragedy is also known as wrongful death. For those left behind following the wrongful death of a family member, the financial burden of lost income coupled with the emotional harm is a devastating burden to bear.

There are numerous acts that might have grounds for a wrongful death. Some of these include:

Reckless driving, which results in an automobile accident, motorcycle accident, or truck accident
Medical malpractice, including surgical malpractice, anesthetic malpractice and cosmetic surgery malpractice
Nursing home abuse or neglect in which a nursing home employee is guilty of cruelty or carelessness in their responsibility for your loved one

Losing a loved one due to someone’s carelessness, recklessness and/or neglect is heart wrenching. While emotional harm can often be compensated for, financial loss and injury is where the majority of damages stem from. Entitlement may include loss of potential inheritance, diminished future income, medical expenses and funeral costs. At Robbins & Associates, we have experienced wrongful death attorneys who will review your case and conclude the amount of damages you and your family are entitled to.

Learn more by reading our frequently asked wrongful death questions.

If you feel you are entitled to compensation due to another party’s negligence having resulted in the wrongful death of your loved one in Atlanta, please contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Atlanta, Georgia wrongful death attorneys.

Have You Been Falsely Arrested?

2008-12-17T16:58:00.001-05:00

A false arrest is the illegitimate incarceration of a person because there is insufficient evidence against them. Very often, security personnel or private employees of a company conduct these detentions. Yet it is illegal for a private citizen or employee to detain someone who is not committing a crime before his or her eyes. However, it’s not uncommon for police officers to engage in a false arrest.

False arrests by a police officer are the result of:

The officer relying on faulty information
Probable cause did not exist but the officer conducted the arrest anyway
A warrant never existed
Unnecessary search and seizure

Being the victim of a false arrest can cause a torrent of questions and emotions to rush through your head:

What’s the gravity of the charges?
Is there a basis behind them?
Is my innocence possible to prove?
What are my rights?

It’s important that you remain calm and do not speak without the presence of an attorney. At Robbins & Associates, we have experienced false arrest attorneys who can legally advise and provide guidance.

A false arrest can have emotional and physical repercussions on its victims and you are entitled to compensation for these injuries. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a false arrest in Atlanta, please contact Robbins & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

Truck Accidents

2008-11-23T15:34:00.002-05:00

Truckers work backbreaking hours and are driven by tight, stressful deadlines. These factors make it more difficult for them to concentrate on doing their job, which is to safely and efficiently deliver their cargo. Having a tired and overworked driver behind the wheel of a massive eighteen-wheeler weighing over 80,000 pounds puts innocent people at risk and accounts for one in nine highway accidents, most of which are catastrophic, causing brain injuries or wrongful deaths.

Fatigue and stress of the driver are not the only causes of truck accidents. Due to a company’s greed, very often the truck will be overloaded with cargo or the vehicle is ancient and experiences mechanical failure or has defective parts.

Negligence is never acceptable in any profession. But with truck accidents having a fatality rate of 94% with the victim almost always a civilian, the lines between negligence and murder are blurred.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck accident, you need to speak with an attorney immediately. Trucking companies have highly paid attorneys who will seek to settle the case immediately, often resulting in you receiving immediate pay, but not all the compensation you’re entitled to.

If you or a loved one has been severely injured or killed in a truck accident in Atlanta, please contact Robbins & Associates today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Atlanta truck accident lawyers.

Injured On The Job? Learn How To Receive Workers’ Compensation

2008-11-10T15:27:00.002-05:00

If you’ve been injured while working or have developed a disease or condition as the result of your work, you might be eligible for workers’ compensation. However, your employer and their insurance company will do everything in their power to limit or curb the amount of financial compensation you receive.

In order to secure full compensation for your injuries, you need to fulfill a few responsibilities:

Immediately receive the necessary medical treatment for your injury and inform your provider that your injuries were sustained at, or are related to, work
Inform your supervisor about your injury. Be sure to relate how you were injured in specific detail. By failing to inform your employer in writing within thirty calendar days of the injury, you might lose your right to Workers' Compensation
Read the Workers’ Compensation Article of your contract

If you’ve followed those simple but necessary procedures, you’ve done the most important steps in securing financial compensation. Afterward, be sure to:

Adhere to your doctor’s instructions to ensure a healthy recovery
Stay in close contact with your employer

Click here for Frequently Asked Workers’ Compensation Questions.

If you’ve been injured on the job, you’re entitled to compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, and lost wages (past and future). The workers’ compensation lawyers at Robbins & Associates are dedicated to ensuring you receive all the payments you’re entitled to. Please call or schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys today.

Auto Accidents Are in Decline

2008-10-17T12:43:00.001-04:00

According to studies, gasoline prices are having a positive effect on traffic fatalities, and this year the number of traffic deaths may reach their lowest level since 1961. Preliminary figures on auto accident deaths show that higher gas prices nationwide have lead to a dramatic reduction in those killed. With a gasoline shortage gripping Georgia, Tennessee, and other parts of the Southeast after Hurricane Ike, it's likely that figures will continue to drop.

Traffic fatalities in 1961, when gasoline was less than one tenth its current price--$0.31 per gallon--were just over 36,200. Traffic fatality rates then rose every year, and peaked at 55,600 in 1972, despite the addition of mandatory seatbelt regulations by the federal government. After years of steady decline, the number hovered just above 42,000 per year, despite the fact that people were buying huge SUVs that made them feel safer in the event of an accident. Then last year it dropped to 41,059, and this year the number of fatalities dropped sharply, 22 % in March, and 18 % in April as people stopped driving their supposedly-safe SUVs because of high gas prices. If the trend continues, fatalities will be less than 37,000 this year for the first time since 1961.

The changes are not uniform across age groups. Teenagers and the elderly, who are the most likely to die in traffic accidents, are adversely affected by gasoline prices and tend to change their behaviors first, so the number of deaths among these groups is declining more rapidly than other groups.

With the gasoline shortage, there will hopefully be an even greater decline in traffic fatalities, because many of the very driving behaviors that conserve gas--driving slower, observing proper spacing, and others--are also safer driving behaviors.

But if you have lost a loved one as a result of an auto accident, contact an experienced Atlanta, Georgia auto accident lawyer at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today for a free initial consultation and case evaluation.

Unsecured Loads Cause Accidents

2008-10-03T12:39:00.002-04:00

All truck drivers are responsible for the loads they carry. And carrying different types of cargo to restaurants, stores, and suppliers all over the country is an everyday experience. If you ever drive on the highway, you’ve seen them. However, just because truck drivers are responsible for their loads doesn’t necessarily mean they are responsible with their loads. Sometimes these loads come loose and fly off the truck. And sometimes these unsecured loads hit other cars causing horrific accidents.

An unsecured load accident is more likely to happen if the driver or their employer has not paid careful attention to how their load is stored or attached. Another concern is overloading, which may cause a load imbalance. This then can cause the entire load to come loose. Trucks carrying tires, wood, steel beams, or even other vehicles need to be aware of this. Though a demanding schedule means that they must carry a load many would consider unsafe, the driver needs to take extra care in making sure their load is secured. They must also be sure their vehicle is maintained properly so that the parts that help to secure their load do not snap off or break.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a truck accident due to an unsecured load in the Atlanta, Georgia area, please contact us for an initial evaluation.

Mistakes to Avoid After an Accident

2008-06-25T16:16:00.001-04:00

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, here are some mistakes to avoid. These types of issues can affect your ability to be reimbursed for lost wages, medical expenses and pain and suffering associated with your accident. These recommendations are for any type of accident, whether it involved a vehicle or a personal injury in which a third party was at fault.

Don’t wait to file a claim with your insurance company. Be sure you know how long you have to file a claim. This information should be outlined in your insurance policy.

Don’t wait to file a police report and get a copy of it. If you neglect to secure a copy of the report immediately, it could end up being transferred to another office which will then take months before you can obtain a copy.

Do not report anything but the basic facts of the accident to insurance adjustors for any insurance company, including your own. Many insurance companies are honest, but they are in the business of reducing settlement amounts. Sometimes they do not employ completely honest means to obtain damaging information against your case.

Do not embellish or speculate about any pain you are experiencing, but be honest with any medical care professionals you deal with when you are suffering. Your medical records are evidence that can be used for or against your case.

Do not wait to gather contact information or statements from any witnesses to your accident. Memories fade, people move and in some cases the witness may have decided they no longer care or want to be involved in your case.

Do not believe anyone who tells you that you don’t need to call a lawyer. More often than not, if someone is telling you this, they are afraid you may do just that. You have reason to be suspicious of them.

It is important that you act decisively in the first few days following your accident. You should retain an attorney who is knowledgeable and qualified to handle your case in your best interests. An attorney will deal with all of the people who will be attempting to speak with you and convince you to settle quickly, such as:

Insurance investigators
Law enforcement personnel
Someone else’s attorneys
Someone else’s insurance representatives

To protect yourself and your rights, please retain a qualified attorney immediately by contacting Robbins & Associates.

Common Forms of Property Ownership

2008-06-10T16:10:00.002-04:00

There are a variety of types of property ownership, each involving specific rules relating to ownership.

Sole Ownership - The property is owned entirely by one person.
Joint Tenancy - This type of property is owned by two or more people at the same time and each person owns an equal share. Often referred to as the four unities: Unity of time, title, interest and possession. When one tenant dies, that share is equally vested into the other tenant shares. This form of property ownership is not allowed in every state.
Tenancy in the Entirety - This applies to some states which have a specific form of joint tenancy that relates to a husband and wife as the joint tenants. Each person owns half of the property, therefore neither can sell without the other’s consent.
Tenants in Common - This form of tenancy refers to a property owned by two or more people at the same time. The interests in the property do not have to be equal between the tenants. When one of the tenants dies, that share is passed to whomever that person has named as heir(s).
Community Property - Some states recognize community property. In these states, a special form of joint tenancy can be established. In this form, the husband and wife each own half of the property. Upon the death of one or the other, the decedent’s interest is passed on to whomever that person has named as heir. This is similar to tenants in common, but relates to husband and wife and, in some states and cases, common law partners.

All of these forms of property ownership relate to present and future interests. In other words, who owns it now and who will own it once that person dies. To learn more about property ownership and other real estate law issues, please contact Robbins & Associates today.

Cancer Diagnosis: When is there a Case for Malpractice?

2008-05-29T13:28:00.001-04:00

One of the most common types of medical malpractice lawsuits stems from a medical professional’s failure to properly diagnose cancer. The key to the success of the lawsuit is proving that the failure to diagnose soon enough resulted in further harm to the patient. If no further harm was caused by a delay in diagnosis, the case will fail.

The success of a malpractice case concerning a failure to diagnose cancer relies heavily on what stage the cancer was in when it was initially missed. For example, a lung cancer diagnosis that was delayed for less than six months will likely be difficult to prove as malpractice.

In cases where the physician failed to diagnose breast cancer, the major concern lies in whether or not there have been metastases into the lymph nodes and how many have been effected. A system for determining the stage of breast cancer the patient is in is determined by the number of lymph nodes involved and the size of the tumor(s).

Oncologists are able to trace the cancer growth rates back to the point in time when the negligent act occurred. Negligence factors differ depending on the type of cancer that was overlooked. Different types of cancers have different growth patterns, so some grow faster than others and are much more detrimental if missed at an earlier stage.

If you or someone you love believes that they have a case for medical malpractice in a failure to diagnose cancer, please contact Robbins & Associates today for information on your rights.

Reducing Medication Mistakes

2008-05-23T13:22:00.001-04:00

The use of medical abbreviations all too often leads to medication mistakes that result in patient harm. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) have begun a national campaign to educate medical professionals in the use of proper medical terms to avoid misuse by consumers. The campaign is attempting to promote safe practices in the communication of medical information in order to reduce the amount of mistakes resulting in patient injury.

The FDA is recommending that healthcare professionals consider changing the way medical abbreviations are used. It is important to discern between medical abbreviations that leave room for error and those that are clearly meant for only one type of medication.

The FDA has proposed that a new format be implemented in the labeling of prescription drugs in order to reduce the number of medical errors in prescribing medications. It is estimated that this type of medical error is responsible for approximately 98,000 deaths in the United States each year. The FDA’s proposal will make medical information available in readable, consistent and clear format.

The package insert, which is referred to as the prescription drug product labeling, is the primary means for drug information to be communicated to practitioners. The FDA reviews and approves product labeling proposed by manufacturers through this insert. Many practitioners find the labeling to be complex, lengthy and difficult to use. The result is that crucial information is overlooked or missed, causing medical errors and ineffective treatments to take place.

New labeling will offer highlights to the most important information on the label and an easier reference to the most used information contained therein. It also would provide the location of more detailed information elsewhere on the label. The intent of the proposed changes in product labeling is to increase the effectiveness of medical treatments and decrease the incidence of medical errors.

If you or someone you know has suffered as a result of medical labeling errors, please contact Robbins & Associates today to find out what your rights are.

What is Qui Tam?

2008-05-16T13:19:00.001-04:00

Qui tam is an action brought against someone attempting to commit fraud against the government by someone who has direct and material information about the case. These actions have been in use since the early thirteenth century in England.

The False Claims Act of 1863 was designed to give relators a reason to come forward. The private citizen filing the lawsuit on behalf of the government is known as the relator or plaintiff in the case and is entitled to receive a portion of the awarded amount should the government’s case be won.

In a qui tam case, the private citizen has information showing that the defendant named in the case knowingly committed fraud against the U.S. The relator does not need to have been directly harmed by the actions of the defendant. The information supplied by the relator cannot be a part of public knowledge.

Qui tam allows a private citizen to file a lawsuit on behalf of the United States Government that charges fraud against government contractors or others who attempt to collect funds for work or services not supplied. Some qui tam actions have involved such contractors and government agencies as:

Defense contractors
Health and Human Services
Environmental Energy
Education
NASA
Agriculture and Transportation

For more information about qui tam and what role the private citizen plays, please contact the law offices of Robbins & Associates.

Defective Knee Implants

2008-05-10T13:17:00.002-04:00

Knee replacement surgery is the most popular form of replacement surgery performed in the United States. The current form of this surgery has been around since the 1970’s and has been performed on millions of patients. Approximately 200,000-300,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed in the U.S. each year.

As a patient and the recipient of a new knee implant, you should do your own research along with questioning your physician as to which knee replacement products are reliable and have a good history of quality and longevity.

There have been many cases of patients having detrimental problems due to defective knee implants. Knee implant manufacturer Smith & Nephew voluntarily recalled two types of its knee implant products. The first was the Oxinium Genesis II and the second was the Profix II implants.

The new forms of implants worked better and more efficiently than the cobalt and titanium knee replacements used in the past. By reducing the amount of resistance and rubbing between replacement components that surround tissue areas, the newer replacements were more comfortable and caused less long term discomfort for the recipients.

These cementless knee implants were recalled because they did not bond properly to the bone. Many patients that received these implants had to undergo revision surgeries and risk suffering:

Infection
Joint damage
Tissue damage
Muscle damage
Swelling and inflammation
More rehabilitation

If you or someone you love has undergone knee replacement surgery and are concerned that you may have received a faulty implant, please contact the law offices of Robbins & Associates today for advice.

Welcome

2008-01-24T16:25:00.000-05:00

Whether it’s fighting for compensation for someone who is injured, ensuring the legal rights of workers or defending a criminal charge, Robbins & Associates has helped thousands of people in Atlanta and throughout Georgia have their day in court.