Miscellaneous

• Espresso Makers Causing Burns

  Ed Smith | November 09, 2006 9:36 AM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  On November 8, 2006, "Espresso Express" Espresso Makers, has had to recall more than 50,000 espresso makers because they are causing burns and other injuries. What is causing these incidents? Well, apparently the machine's heating element can forcefully seperate from it's base during the brewing cycle causing the burns. It has also been reported that consumers have been hit by parts of the...

• Laptop Batteries and Fire Danger: Sony recalls own batteries

  Ed Smith | November 08, 2006 6:12 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  Sony, in cooperation with the Consumer Products Safety Commision, and following the lead of many other companies that sold products which incorporated Sony's batteries, has announced that it, too, is recalling some 340,000 battery packs manufactured by Sony, due to the significant risk of catching fire.As stated in the Recall Notice issued October 26, 2006: Incidents/Injuries: There have been 16...

• Burn injuries: Plastic surgery evaluations often necessary

  Ed Smith | November 08, 2006 6:01 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  When someone is injured in a fire (house fire, car accident, gas station fire, etc.) oftentimes persons sustain severe burn injuries. When resolving cases like these, it is important to keep in mind that any settlement must include past damages, current damages, and future damages as the carrier involved will often require that the person receiving a settlement sign a Release of All Claims. ...

• Classsification and treatment of Burn Injuries

  Ed Smith | November 06, 2006 5:20 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  Burn injuries can be caused by electricity, chemical agents, radiation or thermal sources. It's important for Doctors to classify burns by degree so that they have a working paradigm on how to treat the injury. Most people have heard of first, second and third degree burns..and believe that third degree burns are the most serious.Actually, however, there are six degrees of burns...Third Degree...

• Fire Litigation

  Ed Smith | November 06, 2006 4:12 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  A great book for attoney's handling fire lawsuits is FIRE LITIGATION HANDBOOK by Dennis Berry. The Chapter outline is as follows:** The Investigation** Negligence** Basic Fire evidence** Products Liability** The Civil Action Case** Fire Loss Data** Characteristics and Behavior of fire** Fire Hazards of Liquids and Gases** Building structures and fire** Life Saving Considerations** Building...

• Research Sources for Pedestrian accidents

  Ed Smith | October 31, 2006 3:33 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  Those attorney's handling pedestrian accidents may recall a 1994 book by Jerry Eubanks entitled Pedestrian Accident Reconstruction. I have used it over the years and found it to be a omprehensive text including formulas, examples, day/night photography, etc. It was clearly written and well illustrated.It's with some excitement therefore that I await Mr. Eubanks updated work entitled Pedestrian...

• Arthritis Foundation publishes new Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy FAQ

  Ed Smith | October 29, 2006 11:32 AM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  RSDS or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome is an abnormality of the central nervous system which often results from relatively minor trauma. It is also known by many other terms including causalgia, Sudeck's atrophy, complex regional pain syndrome and shoulder-hand syndrome.Whatever name it is called by, the main symptom is a severe burning pain often accompanied by limited movement of an...

• Fracture patterns and mechanisms in pedestrian motor-vehicle trauma

  Ed Smith | October 24, 2006 9:26 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  Pedestrians involved in motor vehicle accidents have the highest mortality and morbidity rates of all motor vehicle trauma. In an article studying the pattern of pedestrian injuries, of 115 patients, the most common fracture wasthe tibia-fibula (39 patients), followed by pelvic fractures (35 patients) and femur fractures (31 patients). 90% of long bone fractures were caused by a direct blow...

• Fracture of the femur secondary to motor vehicle accidents in children

  Ed Smith | October 24, 2006 9:15 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  A recent review of the medical records of 149 children below the age of 18 who were in motor vehicle accidents, and who suffered fractured femurs found 159 fractured femurs of which over 89% were closed.Associated fractures were common (50.3%) The loswer limbs were most often the site of the associated fractures.The incidence of intra-abdominal injury was 5% with liver lacerations most...

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In Children

  Ed Smith | October 20, 2006 12:25 PM | 0 CommentsSacramento, CA

  Studies show that one-third of children involved in a motor vehicle accident display symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).The degree of the accident is not relevant, though if the child perceived the collision as life threatening the child would more likely develop PTSD. Also females tend to be more prone to this disorder compared to males. How can the needs of these children be...