California Injury Lawyers Blog

This week, an appeals court revived a Los Angeles County slip and fall complaint against Rose Hills Company. Eileen Norwood is suing for injuries she sustained after she was impaled by a pipe while visiting Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary on Mother's Day 2005.

Norwood claims she was injured when, while walking away from a trash can that was sitting on a concrete pad, she slipped on a wet patch and fell on a pipe that was 17 7/8 inches tall. She punctured her liver and lung during the impalement accident. In her Los Angeles County premises liability lawsuit, Norwood accused Rose Hills of negligence.

The cemetery moved for summary judgment, arguing that the wet concrete where the California slip and fall accident happened was not dangerous and that on a clear, bright day a reasonable person would have noticed the wet spot and either exercised extra care when walking on it or chosen around to go around it. Norwood, in her opposing motion, contended that mud, algae, and water from a leaking faucet that is located on a sloping, concrete walking surface, next to an unprotected pipe, and near a trash can that pedestrians frequent is a dangerous condition that the premise owner failed to remedy.

The trial court's tentative ruling in 2008 granted the defendant's motion and then entered an order denying it. Rose Hill proceeded to submit a motion for clarification. The court then granted summary judgment in favor of the defense and the two parties entered into a stipulation judgment.

However, appellate court Judge Richard D. Aldrich says the trial court erred in its decision since clearly there was reasonable time for the property owner to determine the growing algae on mud next to a pipe that lacks protective covering is a dangerous condition that should be remedied.

Immediately after Norwood's slip and fall accident, her husband had taken photos of the accident site and her shoes, which had algae and mud on them.

Los Angeles Slip and Fall Accidents
Slipping on a slippery or wet surface or on an object on the ground can lead to painful, debilitating injuries. This is why a premise owner must make sure that there are no slip hazards on a property.

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, you should take photos of any evidence, as well as the accident site, and consult with a Los Angeles injury lawyer about your case. Hip injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other serious personal injuries can occur.

Court of Appeal Revives Suit by Woman Impaled by Pipe at Cemetery, Metropolitan News-Enterprise, March 31, 2010

Slip and Fall, Justia

Related Web Resources:
Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary

Slip and Fall, Nolo

Marcelino Moreno Jr. has filed a Placentia dog bite injury claim against the city. He is asking for $1 million. The 40-year-old Placentia resident contends that while hiding from cops, because there was an outstanding warrant in his name, Anaheim police dogs attacked him even though he wasn't resisting arrest and the officers were looking for someone else.

Moreno claims that he is the victim of excessive use of police force and his civil rights were violated, which is why he has filed a similar Orange County, California personal injury claim against the city of Anaheim. He says he submitted his Placentia injury claim because he wants to make sure the statute of limitations for filing one doesn't expire while he determines whether local cops should be held liable for the Anaheim police brutality incident.

Moreno says he was hospitalized for several days because of his dog bite injuries.

Dog Bite Injuries
While most dogs make great pets, there are those that cause serious injuries when biting, attacking, or mauling someone. In 2009, 30 people died from dog bite injuries. 368,000 dog attack victims end up in the ER every year because of their injuries.

California has a strict liability law when it comes to dog bites. A dog owner can be held liable for a dog attack even if he/she did not act negligently and the animal had never bitten anyone before. In certain cases, premise owners, including landlords, commercial property owners, and residential property owners, can also be held liable for a dog mauling that took place on their property even if they don't own the animal that was involved.

It is important that you speak with a Placentia dog bite attorney that knows how to handle California animal attack cases. For example, a liable party may argue that you were trespassing, engaged in conduct that provoked the dog attack, or that your injuries were not caused by the dog.

Man wants $1 million from Placentia for dog bite, OC Register, March 29, 2010

Related Web Resources:

Animal & Dog Law, Justia

Dog Bite Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This week is Teen Driving Safety Week in California. Throughout the week, law enforcement groups, parents, teenagers, and teachers and the IMPACT Teen Driver's Campaign have been holding activities to promote safe driving among teenagers.

Considering that teen drivers get more tickets and are killed and injured in larger numbers than any other driver demographic, this initiative is necessary. Some common causes of teen driver accidents:

• Drunk driving
• Distracted driving, including texting, talking on the cell phone, and chatting with other passengers
• Driving under the influence
• Speeding
• Driver inexperience
• Lack of driving skill
• Low risk perception
• Poor hazard detection
• Drugged driving
• Driving at night

Also, it doesn't help that teenagers are less likely than adult drivers to wear their seat belts.

When teen drivers engage in negligent or careless driving, they place themselves and others at risk of serious injury or death. Just last February, 17-year-old Brent Sirignano sustained catastrophic injuries when the 2006 Scion he was a passenger in, driven by 17-year-old Parker Kalmen, crashed into a tree. Both teens are from Lake Forest.

Sirignano had to be placed into a medically induced coma following the Mission Viejo car accident and he has had to undergo multiple surgeries. It wasn't until this week that he was brought out of the coma and transferred out of the critical-care unit. Today, police are confirming that Kalmen's blood test results show that there was THC in his system when the collision happened.

Pot drug found in teen driver's blood, Orange County-Register, March 26, 2010

Teen Driving Safety Week, DMV.ca.gov

Related Web Resources:
Teen Drivers, NHTSA

Teen Drivers, CDC

IMPACT Teen Driver's Campaign

Continue reading "Attention Orange County, California Teenagers: It's Teen Driving Safety Week" »

Two people sustained injuries after they were injured during an Anaheim Hills head-on car crash on Santa Ana Canyon Road. The Orange County, California traffic collision happened on Monday evening when a Toyota Sequoia that was going west ended up in the east lanes. The vehicle then struck a Toyota Highlander.

The Highlander's motorist was seriously injured and was transported to a Santa Ana hospital. Meantime, the Sequoia's driver sustained minor injuries. Between the two autos, there were three child passengers. All of them sustained minor injuries.

Car accidents continue to be a leading cause of injuries and deaths. In addition to the physical injuries, the emotional trauma and the financial burden can take their toll on victims and their families. This is why you should speak with an Orange County, California motor vehicle crash lawyer right away.

Last year, according to the US Department of Transportation, there were 33,963 US highway deaths--an 8.9% decrease from the 37,261 traffic fatalities that occurred in 2008. The NHTSA credits the decline to efforts by the federal government and the states to combat distracted driving, drunk driving, and riding in a car without a seatbelt. The continuing decline in traffic fatalities is good news, but there is still a lot of work hat needs to be done so that people stop dying and getting hurt in traffic crashes that could have been prevented.

Common causes of Anaheim car accidents:

• Drunk driving
• Text messaging
• Talking on the cell phone
• Products liability
• Speeding
• Driver inexperience
• Distracted driving
• Failure to obey traffic laws or traffic signs
• Driver inattention
• Road defects
• Drugged driving
• Drowsy driving
• Driver fatigue
• Aggressive driving
• Poor driving conditions

2 hospitalized after head-on collision, OC Register, March 23, 2010

Traffic Fatalities for 2009 Reach Record Low, NHTSA, March 11, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2009, NHTSA (PDF)

California Department of Motor Vehicles

Continue reading "Anaheim Hills Car Accident Sends at Least Two to Hospital" »

Fall accidents can cause serious injuries to anyone--especially babies and toddlers, who are at high risk of breaking their bones and sustaining head injuries. It is the responsibility of product manufacturers to make sure that they don't design any defective products that could make the chances of a fall injury more likely, which is why Graco Children's Products, along with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling approximately 1.2 million Graco Harmony™ High Chairs.

The possible fall hazard can occur if the screws that hold the chair's front legs come lose or fall out or the plastic bracket on the back legs crack. When either of these product flaws are present, the high chair becomes unstable and is at risk of tipping over without warning. This is a product defect and our Orange County, California products liability lawyers want to join the CPSC and Graco in warning parents and guardians to stop using this high chair immediately.

Already, there have been 24 reports of related injuries, as well as 464 reports of the brackets cracking or the screws falling or coming loose. All Harmony™ High Chairs are affected by the recall. These chairs are no longer being manufactured.

According to a 2008 Podcast presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Fall accidents is the number one cause of injuries to children.
• About 8,000 kids/day are seen in US ER's for fall injuries--that's nearly 2.8 children annually.

Fall accidents involving kids can lead to head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, broken bones, bruises, cuts, and sprains, while causing unnecessary pain and suffering to your child. Unfortunately, even if parents and guardians take preventive steps to prevent fall accidents from happening to their children, there are product manufacturers that continue to make furniture that are a fall hazard.

Graco Recalls Harmony™ High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard, Consumer Product Safety Commission, March 18, 2010

Podcasts at CDC

Related Web Resources:
Head injuries, KidsHealth.org

Graco

Consumer Reports

Continue reading "CPSC and Graco Recall Harmony™ High Chairs After Product Defect Causes Fall Injuries" »

According to a California Senate report released today, a computer tracking loophole within the state's Health and Human Services Agency allowed nursing assistants who had committed nursing home neglect, abuse or theft to get hired as caregivers even after they had lost their certification. A Senate subcommittee intends to hold a hearing on this matter next week.

While criminal background checks are routine, not all prospective employers check administrative actions. The state discovered 20 incidents involving nursing home assistants whose certification were taken away by the Department of Public Health but were then cleared for work by the Department of Social Services.

According to the Los Angeles Times:
• One nurse assistant's certification was revoked after she threw a softball at one client's stomach and used a puzzle to strike a developmentally disabled, blind person.

• A nurse assistant that stole from nursing home patients was approved by Social Services to work as a housekeeper in another California nursing home

Unfortunately, not all of California's approximately 140,000 caregivers and 197,000 nurse assistants have the training, experience, skills, or desire to provide their patients with the proper care. You may have grounds for filing an Orange County, California nursing home neglect lawsuit if you were abused or neglected by a nursing home worker. If your loved one was abused or neglected by a private professional caregiver, your relative may have grounds for a Los Angeles, California nursing home negligence case.

Acts of nursing home abuse and neglect can include:
• Rape
• Physical assault
• Sexual assault
• Depriving a patient of water or food
• Overmedication
• Not giving a patient his/her medication
• Unexplained cuts, bruises, wounds, or welts
• Restraint without cause
• Psychotropic or chemical restraints
• Ignoring a patient's request for help
• Failure to regularly change sheets
• Medical neglect
• Unsanitary conditions
• Failure to remove safety hazards
• Failure to provide required medical help in a timely manner
• Verbal abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Threats
• Isolating the patient from others
• Elder financial abuse

Report: Loophole allows Calif. nurse assistants to be rehired after abuse, other misconduct, Los Angeles Times, March 19, 2010

Read the Full Report (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
California Department of Public Health

California Department of Social Services

Continue reading "Despite California Nursing Abuse Allegations Offending Nurse Assistants Were Still Hired, Says Senate Report" »

Kasandra and Juan Canon have filed Orange County, California personal injury claims against the county, as well as against the cities of Orange and Irvine. Juan sustained serious injuries on September 16 when he was involved in a head-on crash on Santiago Canyon Road.

In addition to head trauma, fractured legs, hip fractures, and rib fractures, Juan also broke his back. His medical expenses are expected to exceed $400,000.

The Orange County, California car accident happened as a woman motorist accidentally crossed the double yellow lines while swerving to turn on a curve. According to the Canon's California injury claims, the county and the two cities are to blame for the road's poor maintenance, design, and construction.

If you were injured in an Irvine car accident, you should contact an experienced Orange County, California attorney immediately. In addition to the negligent motorist, you may have grounds for filing a claim against the city if poor roadway design or maintenance contributed to the motor vehicle crash happening. Also, depending on where the traffic collision occurred, you may be able to hold the county liable for failing to clear debris, remove obstructions, trim trees, install pedestrian lights, traffic lights, and/or other stop signs, repair potholes, or set up safety parameters for highway construction zones.

Example of other road defects:

• Inadequate striping
• Dangerous road design
• Malfunctioning traffic control devices
• Improper embankment
• Inadequate shoulder area
• Lack of median barriers
• Poor drainage system
• Inadequate bridge railing
• Speed limit is too high or too low for road conditions and regular traffic
• Inadequately marked roads
• Poor sight lines
• Inadequate curbing
• Glare from street lights
• Poor visibility for drivers

Claim: Poor road conditions led to Santiago Canyon crash, Orange County Register, March 17, 2010

Related Web Resources:
City of Orange, California

City of Irvine, California

County of Orange

Continue reading "Cities of Irvine and Orange, and Orange County, California Blamed for Poor Road Conditions that Contributed to Santiago Canyon Road Car Accident " »

A Temecula boy is seeking over $500,000 in Orange County, California personal injury compensation from the city of Huntington Beach. Chad Kanon claims that he tripped and fell on a sand covered-fire pit at the Huntington State Beach last September.

As a result of the accident, Kanon, who sustained third- and second-degree burn injuries on his foot, suffered disfigurement and permanent scarring. He is accusing the city of failing to clean, maintain, and landscape the beach and the fire pits.

City officials say they will turn down the Huntington Beach trip and fall claim. They contend that the accident happened on a state beach, which the city is not required to maintain.

Kanon is not the first person to allege that a beach fire pit caused his injuries. The parents of a 2-year-old boy filed their Huntington Beach injury claim last February after their son climbed into a fire pit and suffered serious burns. Autumn Williams, the 13-year-old girl who rescued the toddler from the pit, also sustained burns. Her parents, Lesslie and Lisa, are seeking Orange County, California injuries to children damages on her behalf.

Premise owners must make sure that there are no hazards on a property that can cause injury. Otherwise, they can be sued for Orange County, California premises liability.

Burn Injuries
Fire, heat, hot liquids, sunlight, chemicals, fire, steam, electricity, flammable liquids/gas, or radiation can cause burn injuries.

Kinds of Burn Injuries:

First-Degree Burns
Second-Degree Burns
Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns are the most serious kind of burn injury and involve damage to the skin and tissue. Blistering, scarring, swelling, shock, disfigurement, and death can occur from burn injuries, which can be extremely painful. Serious burn injuries may require skin grafts and other painful treatments.

If your injury occurred because you believe another party was negligent, you may have grounds for an Orange County, California burn injury lawsuit.

Boy burned in H.B. fire pit wants $500,000, Orange County Register, March 17, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Burn Injuries, Burn-Recovery.org

City of Huntington Beach, California

The family of Caesar Cruz has filed an Orange County, California wrongful death claim against the city of Anaheim. They claim that the 35-year-old Fullerton man was executed on December 11, 2009 by police while he was in his car in the Wal-Mart parking lot at the Anaheim Plaza shopping center. Cruz was getting ready to pick up his kids from school.

Police had followed his SUV to the lot. They had been searching for an ex-parolee who reportedly been carrying a gun while driving around in a green Chevrolet. After boxing Cruz's car in, at least four cops reportedly shot at his vehicle.

At the time of the shooting, Cruz, who had been convicted of one count of drug possession with intent to sell in 2002 and had already served his time, was not on parole. The family's Anaheim police brutality claim accuses the cops of killing the victim by "police execution" even when he showed "no resistance." A handgun was found in the vehicle. The Orange County District Attorney's Office is looking into whether criminal charges should be filed against the cops over the fatal shooting incident.

Cruz leaves behind his parents, his wife Jennifer, and children Mando, 7, Cisco, 10, Sonny, 12, Chad, and Michael 18. On Thursday, three months to the day that he was fatally shot, family and friends protested outside the Anaheim police headquarters to let them know that they hadn't forgotten what happened to the slain man.

Police Brutality
Intentional use of excessive force to apprehend a suspect is considered police brutality and misconduct. Even if criminal charges aren't filed against the cops that were involved, an experienced Anaheim personal injury law firm can help you prove that you or your loved one is entitled to compensation for the physical and emotional harm suffered, as well as for the violation of one's civil rights.

Family: Man killed by 'police execution', OC Register, March 11, 2010

Related Web Resources:

Anaheim Police Department

Shielded from Justice, Police Brutality

Huntington Beach bicyclist Anita J. Newman has filed an Orange County, California personal injury claim against the city. The 61-year-old claims that she sustained a head trauma, lost her sense of smell, and experienced memory loss, vertigo, and depression after she was hit by a parking lot gate arm.

Newman told the Orange-County Register that the accident happened on September 6 close to the First Street parking lot. The gate arm struck her arm, before bouncing up to strike her chin. She fell off her bicycle and that is when her head struck the ground.

She says that not only was she hospitalized for a week but there was bleeding in her skull and she can't remember the accident. Newman says that there should have been a warning to let her know that the gate arm was coming down. She also points out that the sign barring bicycles from the area is small and hard for cyclists to read.

Huntington Beach Premises Liability
Property owners must exercise reasonable care to ensure that all hazards on a premise are either fixed or taken off the property. If anything is a possible hazard, then adequate warning signs should be put up to prevent injury or death. Victims of property hazards may have grounds for filing an Huntington Beach, California personal injury lawsuit.

Examples of Premise Hazards:

• Inadequate security
• Falling merchandise
• Wet liquids on the ground
• Debris on the floor
• Poorly lit hallways
• Broken steps
• Electrical hazards
• Swimming pools that lack covering
• Unsecured, heavy objects
• Sidewalk defects
• Toxic substances
• Defective machinery, equipment, or furniture

Unfortunately, premise hazards can exist anywhere, including in restaurants, parks, private homes, apartment complexes, offices, hotels, bars, amusement parks, offices, grocery stores. To file an injury lawsuit against an Orange County, California city for premises liability, you must first file a claim notifying of your intent to sue.

Claim: Bicyclist hit with gate arm lost sense of smell, The Orange County Register, March 10, 2010

Related Web Resources:
The Basic Liability Rules for Premises Accidents, Nolo

City of Huntington Beach, California

A Los Angeles Triathlon volunteer who became a paraplegic after he sustained a spinal cord injury while helping officiate the bicycle segment of the 2007 race in has settled his California personal injury lawsuit with the city of LA for $7 million. Steve Albala was in the hospital for over two years following the 2007 Los Angeles motorcycle accident.

Albala was flung some 20 feet from his motorcycle when he was struck by a vehicle that had entered an intersection, per a traffic officer's guidance.The then-60 year old fractured his vertebrae and had to undergo numerous surgeries. Police blamed the traffic collision on Albala, who they say was speeding.

The city also settled a Los Angeles injury case with the race official who was riding with Albala for $250,000. The motorist that struck Albala has settled his Los Angeles car accident case with the city for $500,000.

Spinal Cord Injuries
Motorcyclists are at risk of sustaining serious injuries during a collision. A SCI can lead to permanent disability and paralysis, and the injured biker may become a quadriplegic or a paraplegic. A person with an SCI may also experience bowel problems, sexual dysfunction, bladder control issues, respiratory issues, pneumonia, osteoporosis, heterotopic ossification, spasticity, decubitus ulcers, autonomic dysreflexia, deep vein thrombosis, cardiovascular disease, syringomyelia, and neuropathic pain.

Losing the ability to use the lower and/or upper half of your body can be traumatic, and the SCI patient will likely require costly, ongoing care and specialized equipment for life. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, just 15 days in a hospital can cost an SCI patient about $140,000. A lifetime of medical care for a serious SCI costs approximately over $1,000,000.

While many people wrongly believe that all motorcycle riders tend to be careless or reckless, this is often not the case.

L.A. settles accident lawsuit for $7 million, Los Angeles Times, March 9, 2010

Possible complications, SpinalInjury.net

Related Web Resources:
Motorcycle Accident Overview, Justia

City of Los Angeles

National Spinal Cord Injury Association

Six months after off-duty CHP Officer Mark Saylor, his wife, teenage daughter, and brother-in-law Christopher Lastrella were killed in a California car accident involving a runaway Lexus ES 350, their relatives have filed a wrongful death lawsuit suing Toyota Motor Corp. for damages. In their California auto products liability complaint, the plaintiffs claim that the vehicle was defective and that no proper warnings were given about this. Other defendants named in the complaint are the automaker's US division, the Lexus dealership that lent the vehicle to Saylor while his car was being serviced, and a number of other corporate entities.

The Saylor family and Lastrella were fatally injured on August 28 when their Lexus accelerated to up to 120 mph before driving off the freeway, rolling over, and catching fire. Just before the deadly collision happened, Lastrella called 911 to plead for help. The vehicle occupants thought the brakes had stopped working when in fact, the gas pedal had gotten caught in the driver's side floor mat.

This shocking and preventable cause of the tragic California car wreck has prompted Toyota to recall over five million vehicles so that the gas pedals and ill-fitting floor mat defects can be fixed. Since then, Toyota has recalled other vehicles over brake problems and sticking gas pedals. At least 34 car accident deaths are now allegedly linked to the Toyota acceleration problem that have caused motorists to lose control of their vehicles that then accelerate to high speeds before crashing.

Although Toyota has apologized for these defects that have cost people their lives, the automaker's reputation for safety has taken a huge dent. Of course, for those that have either died or lost loved ones in runaway Toyota car accidents, a mere apology is not enough to make up for such devastating losses.

Toyota sued over deaths in key California crash, Reuters, March 4, 2010

Gov't: 34 Deaths Reported From Toyota Vehicles, CBS2.com, February 15, 2010

Related Web Resources:
NHTSA's Advice to Toyota Customers, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Toyota Motor Corporation

Continue reading "California Auto Products Liability Lawsuit Filed Against Toyota in Lexus Acceleration Accident that Killed CHP Officer and Three Family Members" »

The Los Angeles County wrongful death trial involving the city of Glendale and filed by a widow whose elderly husband died after he fell at Casa Adobe de San Rafael is scheduled to begin this month. Hasmik Khanbabayan claims that premises liability and inadequate security contributed to her husband's fall accident injuries that eventually led to his death.

Vahan Karapetian allegedly fell while stepping down from the historical building's porch. He fractured his shoulder. After over two months at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Karapetian, who was in his 80's, died.

In her Glendale wrongful death complaint, Hasmik Khanbabayan alleges that the porch wasn't safe and that due to a lack of security patrols, Karapetian was on the ground bleeding for 45 minutes. She is seeking compensation for funeral expenses, medical costs, and distress.

Meantime, Glendale officials claim that negligence did not contributed to the elderly man's death. Instead, they cite the victim's age and medical history as causes of his death.

Fall Accidents
If you or someone you love got hurt during an Orange County, California fall accident on someone else's property, you may be able to file a premises liability lawsuit. Poor lighting, uneven stairs, uneven pavements, holes in the carpet, lack of stair or balcony railings, and other hazards can increase the chances that a fall accident may occur.

Fall injuries can be very painful and may force the injured party to take time off work and spend time in the hospital and/or at home in bed. This can lead to costly medical expenses and lost wages. If the fall accident victim lives alone, he or she may have to get someone to move in during the recovery period. Rehabilitation, which can take months, can also be very expensive.

For older people, fall injuries can lead to bedsores, infections, broken hips (possibly requiring hip replacement surgery), and even death.

Wife blames city for death, Glendale News Press, March 3, 2010

Falls in the Elderly, American Academy of Family Pediatrics

Related Web Resources:
Casa Adobe de San Rafael & Park

City of Glendale

The American Academy of Pediatrics want food manufacturers to warn consumers if a food is a choking hazard. The AAP believes that these warnings could go a long way towards reducing the number of child injuries and deaths that are caused by food.

Currently, about one child death every five days occurs from food choking accidents. While some food manufacturers already voluntarily place such warning labels on certain products, there are no federal regulations and laws requiring them to warn about this hazard, which can lead to traumatic brain injuries and fatalities. While kids under age 4 are among the most at risk of accidentally choking on food, choking accidents involving food has been known to injure kids in their early teens. As a matter of fact, thousands of children end up in ER's every year due to accidental choking accidents.

Our Anaheim personal injury lawyers know how devastating it can be to find out that your child was injured or died because someone else was negligent. Food-related defects that can cause serious injuries can be grounds for an Orange County, California products liability lawsuit.

In addition to choking hazard warning labels, the APP is recommending:

• Food recalls for significant choking hazards
• The redesign of certain foods to reduce their choking hazard risk
• Designing new food that pose a low choking hazard
• A nationwide reporting and surveillance system to monitor food-related choking accidents

It doesn't help that some of the foods that kids love to eat, such as nuts, popcorn, and hot dogs are serious choking hazards. Just last week, a 9-year-old boy died after choking on a marshmallow. Pedro Vicente Hernandez was putting together ingredients to make S'mores during a school camping trip when the choking accident happened.

Orange County, California Injuries to Children
A child shouldn't have to choke to death because a food manufacturer designed a food product in a way that makes it dangerous for kids.

Labels urged for foods that can choke kids, CNN, February 22, 2010

Victoria boy dies, apparent choking on marshmallow, Chron.com, March 2, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Kids and Killer Hot Dogs? 3 Tips to Prevent Choking on Food, US News and World Report, February 22, 2010

Food and Drug Administration

According to numerous studies, more than 50% of assisted living facility residents are anemic. This deficiency, which involves low hemoglobin levels, is by no means a normal condition of getting older. Granted, chronic inflammatory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, intestinal bleeding, and nutritional deficiencies among the elderly increases the chances that they can become anemic. However, there is much that can be done to diagnose and treat nursing home patients suffering from anemia--even when they are suffering from unexplained anemia.

In Orange County, California nursing homes, elderly persons are at higher risk of developing anemia because they are less mobile and more physically frail. The weaker a patient becomes, the more likely he/she will become anemic.

Signs that someone is suffering from anemia:

• Weaker grip strength
• Slowing down of physical movement
• Decrease in overall strength
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Pale skin
• Chest pain
• Brittle nails
• Breathing problems
• Cold extremities
• Depression
• Irregular heartbeat

It is important that nursing home workers document any possible signs of anemia so that a proper diagnosis is made and the correct treatment is administered. Tests can be performed to determine whether someone is anemic.

There is no reason why your loved one's health or sense of well-being should suffer from a deficiency, illness, or injury that can be easily treated. You may be able to file an Orange County, California nursing home negligence lawsuit if a facility (or its nursing home workers) did not provide the necessary nursing care that the you or your loved one needed.

While most anemia cases are mild, they can still lead to a decrease physical endurance, fatigue, and the reduction of oxygen being circulated through the blood. If you are an older person who is already suffering from numerous ailments, developing anemia will only make you feel worse.

Anemia is Common for Elderly Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities, National Anemia Action Counsel

Related Web Resources:
Anemia - Complications, HealthCentral.com

The California Nursing Home Guide

Continue reading "Preventing Orange County, California Nursing Home Negligence: With 50% of Long-Term Care Patients Suffering from Anemia, Long-Term Care Facilities Should Properly Diagnose and Treat this Deficiency" »