Kirkwood Missouri Woman Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Hoffman & Gelfman

A Kirkwood Missouri resident has been charged in the death of a bicycle rider in University City this February. She is charged with both driving under the influence and involuntary manslaughter. The driver, Emily C. Hagan, was well over the legal limit in Missouri.

Awareness of the heartbreak caused by drunk driving has been responsible for reducing the rate of fatalities involving alcohol impaired drivers. However, those rates have only decreased ever so slightly and the fact remains that most accidents resulting in fatalities continue to be alcohol related.

Auto accidents and bicycle accidents are preventable. Anyone in the St. Louis area who has seen a loved one fatally injured by a careless or impaired driver should contact an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney immediately. A careless or impaired driver who has caused a wrongful death or devastating injury must be held accountable for their actions.

If you are suffering the emotional pain of a wrongful death or the financial burden from injuries suffered by your loved you need to contact the St. Louis injury attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman at toll free 866-298-1020. Our experienced St. Louis wrongful death attorneys will be there to fight for your rights and insure that a proper settlement is achieved.

 

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Missouri Wrongful Death Attorney

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Steve Gelfman

The death of a close family member changes your entire life in an instant. Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy, but it is especially difficult when the death results from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Surviving family members are not only dealing with grief and emotional turmoil, but also may be facing serious economic difficulties if they relied on the deceased family member for financial support. If you have lost a loved one in an accident that was caused by the negligent or reckless conduct of another, you may be entitled to file suit for wrongful death. Although, nothing can make up for the loss of a loved one, wrongful death suits help family members seek justice for their loss and receive monetary compensation for the income the deceased would have earned if not for the wrongful conduct.

Wrongful death claims stem from a variety of different types of accidents, including medical malpractice, workplace accidents, and property owners’ failure to maintain premises in a safe condition. Some of the many types of accidents that result in wrongful death include:

  • Airplane, train, or bus accidents
  • Animal attacks
  • Defective products
  • Drowning accidents
  • Medical malpractice
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Nursing home abuse and neglect
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Workplace accidents

The majority of wrongful death cases arise out of accidents caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or employer. If your loved one has been killed as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact the Missouri injury attorneys Hoffman & Gelfman Attorneys, P.C. at (314) 241-1020 today for a free initial consultation regarding your case.

Posted in Car Accidents, Construction Site Injuries, Injuries at Work, Malpractice Lawyer, Medical Malpractice, Medical Product Liability, News, Nursing Home Neglect, Personal Injury, Personal Injury Attorney, Product Liability, St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney, St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death | Leave a comment

Victim of School Bully Settles Case for $4.2 Million Dollars

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Steve Gelfman

A school district in New Jersey agreed to settle a lawsuit for $4.2 Million Dollars brought by a student who was paralyzed when a known bully punched him.  The attack caused a clot in an artery that supplies blood to the spine, resulting in paralysis from the waist down.

Prior to the attack, the victim, Sawyer Rosenstein, and his family complained to the school district about being bullied, emailed school officials to report the incidents and requested action be taken.

The family of Sawyer Rosenstein also settled a claim against the boy who attacked their son. Terms of this portion of the settlement are confidential.

Each day an estimated 160,000 students in the USA refuse to go to school because they dread the physical and verbal aggression of their peers.  Many more attend school in a chronic state of anxiety and depression. It’s reported that 6 out of 10 American youth witness bullying at least once a day.

Bullying can result in reluctance to go to school and truancy, headaches and stomach pains, reduced appetite, shame, anxiety, irritability, aggression and depression. Bullying is a direct attack on a student’s status, sense of belonging and core identity, and often results in low self-esteem. The effects of bullying often continue many years into adulthood. In the most extreme cases, targets have taken out their anger and despair through school shootings or by committing suicide.  While the target of the bullying bears the brunt of the harm, there are negative consequences to everyone as well.

With the popularity of social media including Facebook, Twitter, texting and e-mails, bullying no longer occurs just face to face.  To address these concerns, Missouri requires school districts to put the terms “cyber-bullying” and “electronic communications” into their anti-bullying policies, which have been required since 2007.

As parents and grandparents of school aged children our attorneys are sensitive to the devastating effects bullying can have on a child.  Combined with our over 50 years of experience and knowledge of the law, call us today toll-free at 866-298-1020 and let our  St. Louis bullying attorneys and Missouri cyber bullying lawyers answer your important questions.

 

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Former Prosecutor Continues to Fight Elder Abuse

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Hoffman & Gelfman

Marie-Therese Connolly worked for years with the federal government investigating and prosecuting nursing homes for mistreatment of the elderly. Connolly left her post as head of the Elder Justice and Nursing Home Initiative but she never stopped working to help the elderly.

In 2007 she founded the nonprofit group Lifelong Justice to help detect and rectify elder abuse.   Now the former prosecutor, who started working in the field in 1999, is prepared to release a book about those who help the elderly after they have been victims of abuse.

Connolly says a major drawback to the effort of curbing elder abuse is there is not much research being done on the subject. She also cites the fact that abuse takes many forms and can be hard to detect. She would like to see social workers and others trained to identify the difference between common bruises and injuries inflicted by others.

If you are living in the St. Louis Area and have a loved one in a nursing home and suspect abuse you should contact the attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman.  If a family member has been injured in a nursing home you need to schedule an appointment with our expert St. Louis personal attorneys to get justice for your elderly loved one.

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Springfield Man Fatally Injured in a Rolla Missouri Accident

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Hoffman & Gelfman

The Rolla Daily News reported April 13, 2012 on an auto accident on Interstate 44 that resulted in fatal injuries. The state police are not sure if the inclement weather that day acted as a cause of the accident but it was definitely contributed to many others that day.

State trooper Sgt. Dan Crain described the day as one that saw wreck after wreck. He advised to always stay a safe distance behind cars when the weather is bad and drive at a reduced speed. Inclement weather can lead to many accidents that could have been avoided if the above simple steps are taken. There are many St. Louis auto accidents caused by impatient and sometimes distracted drivers.

These accidents may not always be fatal but they can cause serious injuries that require months of rehabilitation and leave you in debt to Doctors and physical therapists. A person causing an auto accident must be held accountable for your injuries and the financial and emotional damage that they have caused. Any St. Louis auto accident victim should contact the legal experts at Hoffman & Gelfman to find out the best course of action to follow after being involved in an accident caused by another driver.

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Trek, GT and Giant Bicycles Recalled

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Steve Gelfman

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission along with bicycle brands Giant, GT and Trek announced a recall of the bicycles listed below that are equipped with the SR Suntour Suspension Forks.  Owners of these bicycles should stop using these bicycles immediately unless otherwise instructed.

The suspension fork, manufactured by SR Suntour, of Taiwan and Vancouver, Wash,  has  internal support tubes that can break and cause the rider to lose control, fall and crash.   There have already been reports of injuries associated with this product.

Bicycles in this recall are the Giant Revel 1  &  Revel 1W, manufactured in 2011-2012, the GT Avalanche 4.0 & Avalanche 4.0GTW, manufactured in 2012, and the Trek 3700D & Trek 3900D with suspension fork codes CK110301 through CK110731.

These Trek bicycles, GT bicycles and Giant bicycles were sold nationwide from April 2011 through March 2012, ranged between $400 and $600 and were manufactured in China.

If you own one of these bicycles or are unsure, stop using it and contact an authorized GT, Giant or Trek dealer for a free repair.

For additional information, you can contact SR Suntour directly at toll-free at (855) 205-2453, or visit the company’s website at: www.srsuntour-cycling.com.

If you or someone you care about has suffered a serious injury as a result of a dangerous product our team of experienced Missouri defective product attorneys can assist in reviewing all aspects of your claim and obtain fair and just compensation for your losses. Contact Hoffman & Gelfman Attorneys, P.C. toll free at (866) 298-1020 for a free consultation.

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Court Rules Pfizer on the Hook for Some Asbestos Claims

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Steve Gelfman

Quigley Co., a non-operating bankrupt entity of Pfizer Inc. produced products for the steel industry for 30 years beginning in the 1940s that contained asbestos. Pfizer purchased Quigley in the late 1960s and Quigley filed for bankruptcy in 2004.

A federal appeals court recently ruled that Pfizer is not entitled to protection from some asbestos claims related to the products produced by Quigley Co.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral composed of thin needle-like fibers that was used in many industries before it was found to cause cancer.  Asbestos was valued for its heat and chemical resistance, and insulating properties.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis or any other asbestos exposure related disease, call the Missouri asbestos attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman at 866-298-1020 for a free consultation.

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St. Louis County Child Hit By Vehicle in Driveway Dies

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Steve Gelfman

Two year old Aaliyah Jones was in a neighbor’s driveway in north St.Louis County when a vehicle being driven by a neighbor was backing out of the driveway and did not see the child.  The child was taken to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and was pronounced dead a couple of hours later.

According to a report on KSDK, “the authorities say this was an accident, and not a criminal investigation.”

Unfortunately tragedies like this are more common than you think.   With the warm weather upon us and many children will be playing outside, it is important for drivers to operate their vehicles with the highest degree of care, keep a careful lookout and not become distracted by texting, e-mailing or using other devices in their vehicles.

If you have any questions about an automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, truck, pedestrian or other roadway accident, give the St. Louis truck injury attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman a call toll free at 866-298-1020 for a free consultation.  An experienced Missouri injury attorney will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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Recall: HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS)

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Steve Gelfman

Thoratec Corportion is recalling its HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System (HM II LVAS) due to a defect which could cause serious complications for heart patients.

The FDA is notifying health care professionals of a Class 1 Recall due to detachment of the bend relief from its intended position around the proximal outflow graft may allow the graft to kink or deform, resulting in reduction of blood flow from the HeartMate II LVAS pump, pump/graft thrombosis, or perforation of the outflow graft.  Additionally, the metal end of the bend relief may be sharp and cause erosion and cutting of the outflow graft.  This product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including death.  Model numbers affected: 103393, 103695, 104692, 104911, 104912.

The HeartMate II LVAS is indicated for use as a bridge to transplantation in heart transplant candidates at risk of imminent death from non-reversible left ventricular failure.  It is also indicated for use in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IIB of IV end-stage left-ventricular failure who have received optimal medical therapy for at least 45 of the last 60 days and who are not candidates for heart transplantation.

The HeartMate II blood pump delivers blood from the dysfunctional left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body.  It is an axial-flow, rotary ventricular assist system and can generate blood flows up to 10 liters per minute (1 beat per minute).  The device is intended to be used both inside and outside the hospital (e.g., at home), or during transportation of ventricular assist device patients by ground ambulance, airplane or helicopter.

Recommendations: The device labeling has been revised to provide instructions on how to verify the bend relief is fully engaged with the sealed outflow graft at the time of implant and new caution statement regarding the bend relief connection are included.  Clinicians have been instructed to follow the revised instructions for use that clarify the recommended procedure for securing the bend relief to the outflow graft.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to their physicians and the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

If you or someone you care about has suffered a serious injury or lost a loved one as a result of a dangerous product our team of experienced Missouri defective product injury attorneys can help you seek fair and just compensation. Contact Hoffman & Gelfman Attorneys, P.C. toll free at (866) 298-1020 for a free consultation.

Posted in Malpractice Lawyer, Medical Devices, Medical Product Liability, Personal Injury, Personal Injury Attorney, Product Liability | Leave a comment

Bungee Strap Injury – Loss of Eye

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Steve Gelfman

The risk of a recoiling bungee cord/strap presents serious dangers to unsuspecting users.  Unfortunately these product dangers are known to the manufacturers and not properly passed along to its customers.

It is not uncommon for a recoiling cord to strike its user in the face or on another part of the body when one end of a bungee strap becomes detached.  There is enough energy stored in a stretched bungee cord to recoil at speeds up to 60 mph – causing serious injuries, including blindness.

With a metal hook at the end of one of some of these straps, the danger is even greater. When one of the hooks comes loose, the hook straightens out, or detaches from the cord, we have seen the devastating results.

At Hoffman & Gelfman we have represented individuals who lost an eye and sustained other significant injuries when a bungee strap that was used for its intended purpose and as per the manufacturer’s instructions came free and struck the user in the face.

If you or a family member has been injured as a result of a defective product, including a bungee cord or bungee strap, call the experienced attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman for a free consultation. We have obtained significant settlements for others in these types of matters and will use our knowledge and expertise for you.  Call us today at 1-866-298-1020.

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