Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Cleveland Nursing Home Attorney Advice on Spotting Nursing Home Abuse

In many cases of nursing home abuse, the signs are obvious. Glaring bruises, bed sores, signs of deprivation all read like writing on the wall. Other warning signs may be more subtle. Know what to look for. If you suspect your loved one is not being properly cared for or your loved one’s injury is a direct result of negligence, consult a Cleveland nursing home attorney. Advocate for the ones you love by being aware of abuse and negligence symptoms.

• Dehydration
  Potentially lethal, dehydration is one of the more subtle forms of nursing home abuse. It can result from dementia or just plain nursing home negligence. It can be simply avoided through a regular nursing schedule, with a staff member actually witnessing the resident drink water. If necessary, hydration tubes may be recommended and provided. If your loved one is frequently dehydrated, make sure they get the special attention they need to make sure they’re drinking the proper amounts of fluid. In cases of obvious neglect, even dehydration should be reported to a Cleveland nursing home attorney.

• Bedsores
  Bedsores can naturally result from spending extended periods in bed, and isn’t itself a sign of neglect. It depends on the severity. Bedsores can range from the benign to lethal. Most mild bedsores are red irritations that can quickly be relieved through medical remedy. In more severe cases, bedsores can become more serious wounds penetrating the skin and sometimes even digging into bone. The more severe cases are clear signs of neglect, and may require the legal advice of a Cleveland nursing home attorney.

• Emotional Abuse
  Nursing home abuse does not need to be physical. Mental or emotional abuse is also common, and can be just as devastating as physical neglect. Your loved one’s mental state needs to be discussed during any conversation you need to have with a Cleveland nursing home attorney.

Call Linton & Hirshman LLC to arrange a free consultation to assist with your understanding of the legal options available, when nursing home abuse or negligence is suspect. If they believe that your loved one has suffered as a result of nursing home negligence, their attorneys will recommend an immediate investigation into your case.

Linton & Hirshman LLC, attorneys in Cleveland, Ohio, are committed to asserting the rights of nursing home abuse and negligence victims. They posses the resources, with medical sources with knowledge and attorneys with legal experience to strongly assert the rights of victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Contact Linton & Hirshman LLC today for a free consultation. Nursing home, hospital or home appointments are available.

Linton & Hirshman LLC is conveniently located in the warehouse district in downtown Cleveland, near the state and federal courthouses.

Advice from a Cleveland Birth Injury Lawyer: Obtain an Estimate on Care

Raising children is naturally expensive, but a lifetime care for a child that’s suffered a birth injury requires much more care – not only by the parents, but medical and support staff as well. Parents need to know what lies ahead, so they can be prepared for the future. Calling a Cleveland birth injury lawyer really comes down to caring for the potential financial needs of your child. Knowing what those are ahead of time, will help you and your family prepare for the future and your child’s daily needs.

Lifelong care for someone with cerebral palsy, for example, can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your home may require special accommodations, and so will your vehicle. Your child may require special care to go to school or make a living as an adult. There are also medical costs to consider, which may or may not be covered by insurance. You’ll also have to pay for doctor office visits, hospital stays, and any rehabilitative therapy as well.

Will your child be able to work as an adult, or will he or she require lifetime care as well? Though the Internet has opened career opportunities to many of those with cerebral palsy, there is still may be nursing care to consider, as well as special equipment to accommodate the individual’s needs. In addition, there may also be need for emergency room visits and/or 24 hour nursing care.

Naturally, the expenses will vary with the birth injury. A Cleveland birth injury lawyer can help you determine the other costs for your child’s care. In cases of birth injury, truth is power. Meet the special needs of your child head on by proactively preparing for their life long needs. Make an appointment for a free consultation with Cleveland birth injury lawyers at Linton & Hirshman LLC. With a combined 90 years of experience, give our experts the opportunity to advocate for your loved one.

Overmedication May Be Reason to Contact a Cleveland Nursing Home Lawyer

It’s a simple fact as we get older – pill bottles collect like birthdays. The older your loved one gets, the more medication they’ll need in order to live comfortably. From high blood pressure to medication to counteract dementia to simple vitamins, keeping your loved one medicated requires a regular schedule. As nursing homes cut staff, however, residents don’t always get the medication they need or in the timely fashion directed. This can be quite serious, resulting in stroke, serious illness or even death. Over or under medication is certainly enough cause to consult with a Cleveland nursing home lawyer.

Wrong Bottle

Healthcare is in crisis, and nursing homes are not exempt. Too many facilities are drastically understaffed, which means those on call are usually overworked on long, extended hours, with many on overtime. This leads to fatigue, which can result in simple mistakes that have serious repercussions. If someone receives diabetes medicine instead of a prescription for dementia, for example, both patients lose out on their needed medication, and may suffer serious, perhaps even life threatening side effects as a result.

Wrong Dosage

Ask any Cleveland nursing home lawyer. Over medication is far more common than you think, and it can have serious consequences. With physical restraint now against the law, some facilities secretly use overmedicating to control patients so they’ll be more docile. Aside from seriously affecting the quality of life your loved one enjoys, overmedicating can result in overdose and even death.

If your loved one seems to be behaving erratically, often appears zonked out and incapacitated, overmedication or the wrong type of medication may be the problem. If any of these occur, that’s reason enough to consult a Cleveland nursing home lawyer. Your loved one deserves advocacy. That’s what families are for.

When a Birth Injury is Suspect – Contact a Cleveland Birth Injury Attorney

Before Calling a Cleveland Attorney: Reasons to Suspect a Birth Injury

Not every birth injury is noticeable immediately in the hospital. Indeed, while some birth injuries are instantly obvious following delivery, others may not appear until months if not years later. Spotting the birth injury as soon as possible is very important in protecting your child legally and financially. Let’s look at some of the common signs of birth injury, and at which stage of development each may present itself. If you suspect a birth injury, it is wise to consult a Cleveland birth injury attorney as soon as possible.

Signs

Obvious signs of birth injury include abrasions, bruises or swelling in the baby’s face, head and shoulder. Other signs are limp limbs or loose muscle tone. Seizures in the first 24 hours may be another sign. If the infant requires a feeding tube or breathing apparatus following delivery, this can be an indicator as well.

Late Development

Some birth injuries that tend to occur later in the child’s development and may include a lack of muscle coordination, ability to reach, a delay in cognitive abilities or the ability to sit up, roll over or walk.

Talk to a Doctor

Long before you consult a Cleveland birth injury attorney, talk to a doctor first. Some signs may simply be slow development. We all grow at different paces. If developmental disabilities are apparent, the next thing it to determine is if it is a result of negligence or malpractice. This is best handled by a Cleveland birth injury attorney experienced in such matters.

Call Linton & Hirshman LLC to arrange a free of charge consultation which will help explain your legal alternatives. If we believe that your child suffered a birth injury caused by medical negligence, our attorneys will recommend and start a direct investigation of your case. We will work with specialists, consult with eyewitnesses and maintain all necessary evidence for your claim.

Linton & Hirshman LLC, Attorneys in Cleveland, Ohio, is committed to upholding the rights of birth injury victims and their families. We have the legal experience, resources and medical contacts to strongly defend the rights of victims of birth injury. We are available at your convenience for a free consultation on birth injury – with in the hospital or home appointments available. Linton & Hirshman is located in the warehouse district of downtown Cleveland, near the state and federal courthouses.

Driving Tips that Just Might Save You a Call to a Cleveland Car Accident Attorney

The highway may be a fast way to get to work, but it’s also one of the most dangerous places we spend our time, right up there with the kitchen and the shooting range. Being aware of our surroundings helps us to avoid accidents, not to mention a phone call to a Cleveland car accident attorney. No matter how safe you think you drive, you can always be safer through a simple sharpening of daily driving habits. Safety happens . . . one turn signal at a time.

Keep Cell Phone Use to Emergency Only

Although cell phones provide everyone with the tremendous reassurance of immediate contact in an emergency situation, you should refrain from the distraction of talking or texting via your cell phones while driving. It’s evident that those driving and using cell phones often fail to view the entire roadway, which includes traffic lights, other cars, bicyclists, animals, pedestrians and construction detours.

Leave Life in the Fast Lane to the Speed Nuts

The center or right lane of the highway leaves you more options, and keeps you out of the path of the speed racers. In the center lane, you have more places to go. The far right lane makes it easy to pull over. The majority of highway accidents tend to happen in the left lane. Keep it safe in the center, or near the berm. Always keep several optional escape routes open.

Control Steering Wheel at 9 and 3

It’s always best to have a firm grip on the steering wheel in case you hit a bump or encounter the need to swerve. For the best leverage, try holding the steering wheel at a 9, 3 position. Think of it like a clock. This position provides optimized vehicle control if you need to act fast to avoid a collision.

Drive in Daylight When Possible

Driving at night may be tempting to avoid traffic, but you face bad night vision, not to mention encounters with folks driving under the influence of alcohol coming home from the bar. If you have a choice, stick to daylight. Simply driving at a better time of day can save you the hassle of calling a Cleveland car accident attorney.

Common Birth Injuries that Require a Consultation with a Cleveland Birth Injury Lawyer

The natural process of birth involves a series of mechanical movements. These can include compression, torque, traction and contraction. Birth is naturally a complicated process, and sometimes common procedures can go wrong. That’s why you seek medical assistance in the first place. A birth injury can result whenever any one of these movements is interrupted. Let’s take a look at some of the more common injuries that may require the consultation of a Cleveland birth injury lawyer.

Bruising

Bruising is usually the result of trauma experienced as the baby comes out of the birth canal. Often, it happens when the baby comes into contact with the mother’s pelvic bones. Bruising may also be the result of vacuum extraction or forceps.

Fractures

Far the most common type of birth injury, fractures typically heal quickly, but in some cases may result in lasting damage. If it impedes your child’s life, you’ll need to contact a Cleveland birth injury lawyer.

Cephalohematoma

This is bleeding beneath the cranial bones, and it often looks like a bump to the head. Often, it’s the result of an infant’s body reabsorbing the blood. In most cases, it goes away after two to three months, but in more extreme instances, it can lead to jaundice.

Cerebral Palsy

This is a neurological disorder that appears during infancy or childhood and seriously restricts the coordination of movement. Rather than the result of muscles or nerves, this stems directly from brain damage. In some cases, it’s the result of nature, or may even happen during the development of the fetus. Other cases, it’s the result of neglect and the mother not getting the proper supervision. Always consult a Cleveland birth injury lawyer in the cases of cerebral palsy.

Choosing to contact a Cleveland birth injury lawyer depends on the seriousness of the case and how long it will affect your child’s life. Many require lifelong care. Talk to a Linton & Hirshman LLC Cleveland birth injury lawyer in a free consultation to decide which is the best path for your child.

Cleveland Birth Injury Attorney: Was Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy a Result of Malpractice?

The truth is that many cerebral palsy cases are preventable. CP cases can result from an error in the birthing process that results in the brain damage of your child. While some cases of CP are faultless, always consult a Cleveland birth injury attorney to see if your child’s case was preventable.

When a delivering mother fails to get proper standard care, the doctor is accountable in a medical malpractice claim. Granted, the damage cannot be undone, but taking the offenders to court with the help of a Cleveland birth injury attorney can ensure the same thing doesn’t happen again to someone else. Further, you may gain settlement to aid in the lifelong care of your child.

There are any number of instances of neglect that can result in CP, including failing to monitor the mother or child before, during or after the birth, or failure to take prompt action in the case of infant distress. Inattentive medical staff may ignore a mother during critical points of the birth. The staff may also fail to properly administer medicine to the mother at critical times. This can result in excessive uterine contractility, uterine hyperstimulation, uterine rupture, which ultimately leads to infant brain damage.

Don’t assume CP is the result of a freak accident. It may be the direct result of hospital staff. There are reasons people don’t often give birth at home anymore. Accidents happen. When they result from the actions, or more often the lack of action of the hospital staff, however, it’s negligence, and the hospital should be held accountable by a Cleveland birth injury attorney.

Talk to a Linton & Hirshman Cleveland birth injury attorney. We’ll help you decide if you have a case. Let us advocate for the rights and future care of your child.

Talk with Your Loved One Before Calling a Cleveland Nursing Home Injury Lawyer

Nursing home abuse can come in all shapes and sizes. It can be glaringly obvious, but in many cases almost unnoticeable. It can take the form of physical abuse, verbal abuse or even sexual abuse. It’s not always the obvious signs that give it away. Start with a simple yet honest conversation with your loved one, before you consult a Cleveland nursing home injury lawyer. Listening is often the first step to advocacy.

The first step is to spot the abuse. There are a number of signs to look for. One of the most obvious is a change in behavior. Abuse often takes an emotional toll that manifests itself through depression or sluggishness. Your loved one may unexpectedly lose the enthusiasm they once had, or may even lose interest in visitors. Granted, these can simply be mood swings, but look for the overall effect. Unexplained mood swings should not be ignored. Even in cases of no abuse or neglect, simply taking an interest in your loved one’s well being can greatly improve their mood.

Other signs of abuse may be glaring, such as scars, bruises or scrapes. These may simply result from accidents that the elderly are prone to, but if you’re suspicious, trust your gut instinct. Even bedsores may be a terrible sign of neglect that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Address these issues one on one with your loved one. They may not want to talk about it, either out of embarrassment or even out of fear of further reprisals. Ask him or her if they need help, if there is anything wrong, or if there’s anything going on at the nursing home that you should know about. Listen without judgment, as it is extremely critical to believe in the person. Listen calmly, and don’t express pity or anger or mention calling a Cleveland nursing home lawyer. The truth needs to be addressed.

If you suspect abuse, contact a Linton & Hirshman LLC Cleveland nursing home lawyer for your free consultation. Advocacy for your loved one is a simple phone call away.

Cleveland Car Accident Attorney: Don’t Take Head Injuries Lightly

Not every car accident requires an attorney, a courtroom, or even a call to the insurance company. Luckily, some fender benders are little more than bumper scrapes, settled by a handshake on the roadside and all is well. Many, however, will require at the very least an exchange of insurance information, and in the worse cases, actual court litigation to ensure your rights are met. If you’ve suffered a head injury, however, even if it feels like nothing at the time, always be sure to file an insurance claim. You should also consult a Cleveland car accident attorney immediately. Head injuries, even a minor bump, may be quite serious and have lifelong lasting repercussions.

You can file a medical claim through your automotive insurance, no matter who is at fault. This may be part of your automobile insurance claim, or be covered by your medical insurance. First party injury coverage pays for medical coverage, but if you’re fortunate enough to have personal injury protection coverage, you’ll be covered for time lost from work as well as other rehabilitative services.

If you’re not found at fault in the accident, you should work to obtain a settlement from the responsible party’s insurance company in the form of a bodily injury claim. The amount of the settlement will depend on the severity of the injury, which may not be fully known until a full series of tests have been conducted. Many people have been the victims of a brain injury without being aware. Don’t assume that bump on the head will heal by the morning. Consult a Cleveland car accident attorney, have the proper medical tests done, and advocate your rights from the very beginning.

Call a Cleveland car accident attorney at Linton & Hirshman LLC for your free consultation.

Nursing home injury attorney Cleveland

What To Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse and Need to Call a Cleveland Nursing Home Injury Attorney

Signs of nursing home abuse can be as plain as the writing on the wall, but you’d be surprised how often it goes unreported. Sadly, the elderly and disabled often cannot advocate for themselves. In many cases, the responsibility falls upon a loved one or family member. If you suspect abuse, protect the rights of your loved one with a free consultation from a Cleveland nursing home attorney. As an advocate for the elderly, you protect not only your loved one, but also their friends, neighbors and nursing home community. Abuse should never be ignored.

First, do your research, starting with a non-judgmental conversation with your loved one. Ask them about any signs of abuse, but realize they may be reluctant to tell you the truth. Even if your loved one is mentally capable of recognizing abuse, he or she may be too afraid to speak up. Some may feel a displaced sense of loyalty to the nursing home, as is natural with a care-giver capacity. Others may fear repercussions.

Talk with the housing administration. Listen to their explanations, or get them to investigate your concerns. They may be completely unaware of the situation. The abuse could simply be the result of a bad apple in the staff, or there may be a logical explanation. If you’re not satisfied with the answer, consult a Cleveland nursing home attorney, even before you file a complaint. Tests may need to be done. Charts will need thoroughly researched. Don’t give the nursing home time to cover up their tracks. Proactively seek legal advice if the situation warrants it.

Linton & Hirshman LLC is a Cleveland nursing home injury attorney with a combined 90 years of experience. Let us advocate for your loved one. In most cases, our services are free, as we usually take only a portion of the settlement if you win. We’ll let you know if you have a case. Let us help you advocate for your loved one, as well as their community.