Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

Parents of victim killed by drunk driver sue Viacom

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. posted in wrongful death on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

Viacom has been named as one of the defendants in a wrongful death lawsuit. The media company owns the Comedy Central cable channel that distributes programming throughout Pennsylvania. The parents of the victim claim that the media company bears responsibility for an intoxicated man who left the premiere party for the television show "Lights Out". The man apparently drove away from the party after drinking heavily and caused a fatal accident.

While behind the wheel of a 2018 Infinity Q60S, the man struck an Acura. The collision forced the Acura onto a sidewalk where it killed a pedestrian. According to his parents' lawsuit, Viacom provided the valet service at the party, which resulted in guests choosing to drive their vehicles to the event. The lawsuit also named the production company Free 90 Media as a defendant and stated that both companies involved in the event did nothing to prevent the man from leaving in his car despite his inebriation. The lawsuit asserts that at least one witness said that the drunken man was told not to drive.

Signs something could be wrong during pregnancy and delivery?

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. on Saturday, September 14, 2019.

If this is your first baby, you are probably feeling a bit nervous about the birth process. Even if you have several other children, no two pregnancies or birth experiences are exactly the same. So, although you're a veteran mother, you might still feel anxious as you near your due date.

You are not, however, expected to know everything there is to know about having a baby, especially regarding labor, delivery and recovery. There are certain signs that suggest fetal distress, and while your doctor generally knows how to recognize them, you should also know when to raise concerns and make sure your voice is heard.

FDA pushes for inclusion of men in breast cancer clinical trials

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. posted in medical malpractice on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

Some men in Pennsylvania may not be aware that they run the risk for breast cancer. Less than 1% of breast cancer patients are men, which has led to only limited efforts to come up with breast cancer treatments that are specific to men. The Food and Drug Administration, in its effort to correct this oversight, has issued guidelines for the inclusion of men in future clinical trials of breast cancer drugs.

The FDA guidelines state that investigators must give a scientific rationale for why they want to exclude men from these trials. Where men are excluded or the number of enrolled men is limited, an effort should be made to include men in the FDA-approved indication for the drug, at least where there is no foreseen difference in the drug's efficacy on men and women.

What happens when an unlicensed trucker causes a crash?

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

Truck drivers are some of the most regulated drivers on the road. Despite these facts, many people fear sharing the road with these larger vehicles. While riding next to trucks is generally safe, it’s the horror stories of accidents involving motor vehicles and trucks that tend to stick with people the most.

Even if you trust that a trucker is properly trained and licensed, that isn’t always the case.

Most common types of medical malpractice

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. on Friday, September 6, 2019.

Health care is the fastest growing industry in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Analysts predict that more than 4 million jobs will be created in the 10-year period ending in 2022.

However, while the industry is booming, trust in medical providers here in Pennsylvania and elsewhere is going in the opposite direction. A recent study by the New England Journal of Medicine shows that only 34% of Americans trust medical providers compared to 75% in the mid-1960s.

Pustular psoriasis: an overview

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. posted in medical malpractice on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

Pennsylvania residents should be aware of the great differences that lie between psoriasis and pustular psoriasis. The former is a chronic skin condition that results in patients having red patches of skin with a scaly appearance. With pustular psoriasis, patients develop white, pus-filled blisters surrounded by red skin.

For various reasons, pustular psoriasis is a more serious condition. One type of pustular psoriasis is called palmoplantar pustulosis and appears on the hands and feet, causing pain to patients whenever they walk or use their hands. Another kind appears all over the body and is called generalized pustular psoriasis. Many patients with GPP experience fevers, a rapid pulse and increased white blood cell counts, which may require them to be hospitalized right away.

Five common examples of malpractice

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. posted in medical malpractice on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

Malpractice is all too common in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. Many doctors and nurses fail to live up to generally accepted standards through miscommunication, carelessness, fatigue and other factors. Below are just five of the most widespread forms of medical malpractice.

Diagnostic errors, which are perhaps the most common, include misdiagnoses and delayed diagnoses. Patients may suffer from these errors by undergoing unnecessary treatments and even developing new conditions. Next, there are medication errors, which affect some 1.3 million Americans every year. A doctor may prescribe the wrong drug or dosage or prescribe a drug without thinking how it will interact with other medications the patient is taking.

Birth Injuries

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. posted in birth injuries on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

During labor and delivery, and even in the immediate period after delivery, a baby can receive life threatening or life changing injuries. There can be infections or metabolic, chemical or blood related disorders that go undiagnosed. There can be paralysis from a baby's shoulder being stuck in the birth canal and improper excessive force used to free the shoulder.

Trucking Collisions

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

In 2017, there was a 9% increase in fatal collisions involving large trucks or buses. Why?

Too often, the answer is speed and "speed kills." Companies employ drivers who are paid in such a way that getting to the destination sooner than later may earn more money. Drivers are sometimes paid so little that driving more hours is required to make a decent living.

Minimizing radiology errors in six steps

On behalf of John A. Caputo & Associates, P.C. posted in medical malpractice on Thursday, August 22, 2019.

Many residents of Pennsylvania are the victims of medical errors. In fact, these are behind 10% of all deaths in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University. Radiology plays a big role in such errors. False-positive readings can account for as much as 30% of all diagnoses resulting from CT scans and MRIs.

There are six ways, though, to keep the possibility of radiology errors down. First is to have a peer-review process where radiologists can provide anonymous feedback on each other's work performance. Performance is often compromised by long hours and excessive workloads, including excessive time spent on EHRs and documentation for insurance filings. The second step, then, is to prevent physician burnout.