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18 Year-Old Driver Involved in Fatal One-Car Accident Charged with Negligent Homicide

Margaret Embry — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:25:11 GMT

On April 30^th in Wallingford, an eighteen-year-old male was involved in a one-car accident that killed one seventeen-year-old high school student who was riding in the front seat and injured another eighteen-year-old passenger who was riding in the back seat.  The 1999 Volkswagen GTI hatchback went out of control near Mac Kenzie Reservoir and struck a tree on the north side of the road. The front-seat passenger died May 4 from his injuries.

The driver recently turned himself in to police after learning there was a warrant for his arrest, according to Record-Journal.  He has been charged with a negligent homicide, traveling unreasonably fast, and failure to drive in the proper lane, as well as possession of steroids, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After his arrest, the driver was release after posting $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on August 18^th.   Negligent homicide is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of either six months in prison or a $1,000 fine.

Although steroids and marijuana were found in the car, police said toxicology reports showed the teen driver was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.  The driver was, however, traveling at least 17 miles per hour above the posted limit of 30 miles per hour.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Margaret Embry

Peanut Butter Recalled For Salmonella

Chrissie Cole — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 10:16:00 GMT

A string of peanut butter recalls has been traced back to the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). The latest recall includes all peanuts, peanut paste, granulated peanut and peanut meal made by PCA dating back as far as Jan. 1, 2007.

Hundreds of products have been recalled by food makers in the wake of this salmonella outbreak which has sickened 500 people in 43 states and may be linked to eight deaths.

PCA products are not sold directly to consumers but distributed to food companies and under private label. Peanut paste, made from roasted peanuts, is an ingredient found in many cookies, cakes and other products that can be found in the supermarket.

The FDA recently released an inspection report which outlined unsanitary conditions found at PCA’s Georgia plant – including mold and roaches – and confirmed the company shipped peanut products despite knowing they were contaminated with salmonella.

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12–72 hours after infection and the illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment, but those with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

The FDA Web site maintains a current list of recalled peanut products linked to the salmonella outbreak.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Motorcycle Deaths On The Rise

James Sabatini — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:56:06 GMT

The number of motorcyclist deaths jumped in 2007. One out of every eight vehicle deaths on our roads invovled a motorcycle. Deaths of people in cars, trucks and on bicycles declined in 2007. The jump in motorcycle deaths is being blamed on multiple factors. One, certain states have eliminated the helmet law. Two, more people are riding motorcycles due to high gas prices. Three, middle age riders who may have stopped riding while they had young kids in the house are now getting on their bikes again and riding the bikes as if there still have the reflexes and skills of a 20 year old. With these statistics, be safe out on the road and wear a helmet.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Sabatini

Insulin Pumps for Teens Have Been Linked to Injuries and Deaths

Jenny Albano — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:59:55 GMT

A federal review from the FDA found that insulin pumps used by teenagers with Type 1 diabetes can be dangerous and have been linked to injuries and deaths.

Researchers from the FDA did not advise against teens using the devices, but said that parents should watch their children's use of the pumps while safety concerns are addressed.

The federal review of use by young people over a decade found 13 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries connected with the pumps. At times, the devices malfunctioned, but other times, teens were careless or took risks, the study authors wrote. Some teens didn't know how to use the pumps correctly, dropped them or didn't take good care of them. There were two possible suicide attempts by teens who gave themselves too much insulin, according to the analysis.

These pumps are popular because they allow teens to give themselves insulin discreetly in public and up to 100,000 teens may be using them. The pumps are used for Type 1 diabetes, which is also called juvenile diabetes.

The FDA study, which appears in the May issue of the Journal Pediatrics, reports injuries and deaths related to the pumps from 1996-2005. The report analyzed reports from patients 12 to 21 years old.

While some teenagers want to switch from insulin injections to pump therapy to gain more flexibility in their lives, doctors said device problems such as a blocked tube can lead quickly to dangerous episodes of high blood sugar.

Many doctors screen teens before prescribing a pump and some refuse refuse pumps to immature young patients. Teenagers need to be able to monitor their glucose or else the pump can increase the risk of getting sick more quickly compared to injections.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Connecticut Places Hartford Hospital On Probation

James Sabatini — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:38:45 GMT

Hartford Hospital, the state's second-largest facility in terms of licensed beds, is on probation for a year after complaints arose about its emergency and operating rooms. State officials discovered 28 complaints over a two-year period based on patient surveys. The Department of Health found serious issues during the course of its investigation. There were a number of patient care issues on a system-wide basis ranging from psychiatric care, to emergency department care, to psychiatric issues, to infection control issues. The hospital must take corrective actions or the probation will be extended. Hartford Hopsital has issued an apology to patients and their families where patient care was inadequate.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Sabatini

Avoiding Car Accidents In Bad Winter Weather

James Sabatini — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:12:00 GMT

Bad winter weather is all too common for drivers in Connecticut and throughout the Northeast. Obviously, the best safety tip in avoiding a car accident in bad winter weather is to stay off the roads. But, this is not always a viable option. Many of us need to get to work or reach an important destination such as a pharmacy or hospital, so if you are out driving in winter weather keep these practical safety tips in mind.

1. Watch out for shaded areas on the road. Due to the lack of sun exposure, these shaded areas typically will have snow and ice where the rest of the sunlight roadway is clear of snow and ice.
2. For older cars, check your battery, cable connections, alternator and drive belts. Check your cooling system to make sure that you have the right mix of fresh antifreeze and water. Check hoses for cracks or leaky connections. These checks can prevent an engine from dying on the roadway leaving you stranded in bad weather.
3. Make sure the tires on the car are winter tires or all-season tires. Furthermore, make sure the tires still have good tread. Worn tires will not grip the roadway causing the car to slip and slide.
4. Keep a half a tank of gas in the tank. If you get caught in traffic or in a snowbank, you want sufficient gas to keep the car running and heated.
5. Keep a safety kit in your car that includes a bottle of water, candy bar, flashlight, gloves, jumper cables, and flares.
6. Keep a bag of sand and shovel in the trunk. If you get stuck in snow, you can use the shovel for the snow and then lay down the sand to give your tires traction when getting out of the snow.
Following these safety tips will hopefully prevent a car accident or car breakdown during bad winter weather, but if a car accident does happen, these tips will make the accident a lot more manageable.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Sabatini

Negligence Lawsuits Filed Against St. Francis Hospital - Failure to Supervise Dr. Reardon

James Sabatini — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:36:34 GMT

Two men who say they were sexually molested by Dr. George Reardon filed lawsuits Thursday against St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, claiming the hospital was negligent in its supervision of the doctor during the 30 years he practiced there. In the latest suits, the men say Reardon fondled and photographed them in his private St. Francis office during the 1970s or early 1980s. One suit claims Reardon took as many as 1,000 "sexualized" pictures of the plaintiff, both alone and posed with his three brothers. The lawsuits assert that St. Francis bears responsibility for the abuse because it failed to properly supervise Dr. Reardon, who was an employee of the hospital. At least 80 people so far have come forward with allegations of sexual molestation by Dr. Reardon during the time that he was employed by St. Francis Hospital.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Sabatini

Connecticut Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations

James Sabatini — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:24:42 GMT

Connecticut law requires that a medical malpractice lawsuit be initiated within two years from the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered. The law also requires that it be initiated within three years from the date of the act or omission complained of (CGS Â§ 52-584). (The courts typically refer to the two year period as the statute of limitation and the three year limit as the statute of repose). Thus, a person who believes he has been injured because of medical malpractice must initiate the lawsuit within three years of the act of malpractice even if he does not discover and could not have reasonably discovered the injury and its link to the alleged malpractice until more than three years have passed.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Sabatini

Many Injured In Train Collision

James Sabatini — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:59:17 GMT

At least five Amtrak crew members were critically or seriously injured Friday when their train collided with a freight train traveling on the same track. About 100 or 150 passengers have been injured in this train collision in Chicago. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Sabatini

Nursing Home CEO Funds Record Label, But What About The Nursing Homes

James Sabatini — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:31:46 GMT

In late 2005, Haven Healthcare CEO Raymond Termini decided to pursue a longtime dream: He launched a record label in Nashville to produce both little-known and established country musicians. Within in a few months, the company gets the cash to sign major artists such as Travis Tritt. Back in Connecticut, residents of his nursing home in Jewett City spent a cold December night. After months of not being paid, the company that supplied heating oil to the nursing home had suspended deliveries. Is there a connection between the financial problems at the Connecticut nuring homes and the record company?

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by James Sabatini