Wednesday, January 31, 2007

What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?

By: Peter Lenkefi

Personal injury attorneys and lawyers typically represent clients (plaintiffs) who have been injured either financially or physically due to the fault of another. A personal injury lawyer is usually experienced in a wide variety of personal injury topics, ranging from automobile accidents and medical malpractice to drug litigation and defective products. Personal injury attorneys often work on a contingent basis, acquiring no fees unless a recovery is made in a case.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO FILE A PERSONAL LAWSUIT

Personal injury lawsuits are filed by the victim of a personal injury against the liable party in order to seek compensation for damages. Personal injury lawsuits can be brought against a party for negligence, strict liability or intentional wrongs. A party can be charged in personal injury lawsuits for negligence if they failed to Personal injury lawsuits can be brought under a variety of circumstances. Personal injury lawsuits can be filed for car accidents, work injury, drug injury, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, slip and fall injury, exposure to toxic materials, dog bite injury, and in cases of wrongful death prevent injury.

In personal injury lawsuits, a victim seeks compensation for the injuries they have suffered. Compensation can include medical expenses, disability or deformity, loss of income and pain and suffering. Most personal injury lawsuits can be settled out of the court system through negotiations with an adjuster from the defendant 's insurance company. If negotiations cannot be reached in this manner, a Complaint of Law can be filed in the appropriate civil court. The laws regarding personal injury lawsuits in each state are different. All states have a statute of limitations which places a time restriction on when personal injury lawsuits can be filed.In personal injury lawsuits, two things must be proven by the victim. The first thing that must be established is that the defendant was, in fact, responsible for the injuries that were incurred by the victim. The extent of the damages also must be proven in personal injury lawsuits.

HOW A INJURY LAWYER HELPS IN SETTELING A PERSONAL INJURY

Personal injury settlements are the awards given to the victim in a personal injury case. A personal injury case is governed by tort law which protects individuals from civil wrongs committed by another, either intentionally or as a result of negligence. Personal injury settlements can include compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages in personal injury settlements are intended to place a victim in the same position they were in before the injury.

Personal injury settlements may be possible in three different types of personal injury that occur in a variety of circumstances. Personal injury claims can be filed for negligence, where victims are injured because the responsible party failed to prevent injury. An experienced and qualified personal injury attorney protects the rights and interests of the injured victims and works to insure that they are justly compensated in personal injury settlements.

For more more information about Injury Lawyers please visitwww.injury-lawyer-help.com

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What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?

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Monday, January 29, 2007

Personal Injury Compensation Claims

By: John Pawlett

Accidents do happen, but if you feel you had a slip trip or fall that was due to someone else's negligence, you have the right to claim compensation. Personal injuries because of slipping, tripping and falling are a fact of life, but sometimes they are the result of carelessness on the part of individuals or municipal councils who are liable to pay compensation for it. Though most public areas in the U.K. conform to the highest safety standards, occasionally a poorly maintained road, pavement, car park or shopping area can become the cause for personal injury. One could trip on a warped or pitted road, pavement, walkway or car park.

One could also slip on dangerously polished floors, fall down poorly constructed or maintained stairs or trip over worn floor coverings or obstructions. In the case of slips and trips in public areas like roads, walkways and pavements, the local authorities responsible for their upkeep can be held liable if negligence is established. The authorities are expected to carry out frequent inspection and maintenance, especially in areas of high foot traffic.

Shops and occupiers of other similar public places are duty-bound to keep the premises safe for their customers. They are required to have staff locating and removing items customers might have spilled or dropped on the floor in order to prevent injury to other visitors. If you should sustain injuries after taking a fall or slipping in another person's home, you are entitled to compensation if it was the result of the occupier or proprietor's negligence. It is the occupier's responsibility to keep the house safe by picking dropped objects like toys off the floor and wiping off spilt liquids so that no one is hurt.

Slips, trips and falls are also common in the workplace and liability in such cases rests with the employer. When a slip trip fall claim is filed, the law takes into consideration whether the owner/caretaker of the premises where the accident occurred takes reasonable care of the property. Reasonableness here relates to a regular inspection and maintenance regime.

The claimant will also be questioned about whether he/she was distracted at the time of the accident or was careless in any way that might have led to the slip, trip or fall. One is expected to watch where he/she is going. If there were warnings of hazards that went unheeded or if the claimant was careless, the claim will fail. Legal Claim UK is a network of no win no fee accident compensation claims lawyers operating across the United Kingdom.

When our personal injury specialists handle your claim, you get the damages in full if you win. At no point of the process are you required to pay. The legal fee is taken care of as part of the settlement/verdict in case of a win and you get the entire sum awarded as compensation. Our network includes experts on slip trip and fall claims.

For more information on our services, Injuries Reports runs an informative Injury site that looks into all aspects of Reporting Injuries from Lawyers to Settlements. To find out more visit Injury Reports

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Personal Injury Compensation Claims

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Friday, January 26, 2007

Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer

By: Lee Jackson
Copyright 2006 Webpresence

When you’ve been injured in an accident or at work you’ll want to find the best personal injury lawyer you can so that you can receive the funds for the medical care you’ll need. However, the process of choosing a personal injury lawyer may take a little time, especially if you’re not sure what you should be looking for in a personal injury lawyer.

Here are some suggestions that will help you to find just the right lawyer for you in a timely manner;

Before you settle on a lawyer, you should do some research to find out just how creditable the personal injury lawyer is, and how much experience he or she has. Many people simply search through the Yellow Pages to find a lawyer, thinking that the bigger the ad is, the more professional the lawyer will be. Of course, this is not necessarily true. One of the best ways to find out which personal injury lawyer is right for you is to talk to friends and family members that may have had a similar experience to yours, and have needed the services of a lawyer in the past. This way, you’ll know first-hand which law firms will be able to help you. It’s also a great idea to get a background check on the lawyer(s) you’re considering hiring to handle your case.

The background check should include credentials, state bar records, years of experience and verdicts and settlements, so that you’ll know how long the lawyer has been working, as well as how many cases the personal injury lawyer has won. A personal injury attorney that can give you good advice and listen to your needs and requests is also ideal. While you do want a lawyer that is qualified to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries, you also want to know that if you have any questions about the progress of the case, or want to handle the case in a certain way because of special circumstances, your lawyer will be understanding and willing to listen to what you have to say.

Making sure that your personal injury lawyer knows how to schedule and/or take on clients is another plus. When a lawyer makes sure that he or she does not have an overwhelming amount of cases to take on per day, you can be sure that your case is getting the attention it deserves. This can also be an indication that the lawyer’s ethics are intact; when he or she is willing to concentrate on each case separately, instead of hiding behind a big name or lots of paperwork when it comes to handling your case, this can be a sign that he or she is not afraid to be personable with you.

A lawyer that takes the time to talk to you one-on-one about how the accident occurs, who is at fault, and what you are entitled to as far as compensation is concerned will definitely make you feel more at ease about winning the case. If you need more information about hiring a personal injury lawyer in your area, you should talk to some of the attorneys at local firms in your area. This will give you a chance to informally interview some personal injury attorneys to get a feel for their professionalism and work ethic. You can also ask your employer about personal injury lawyers that may be affiliated with your company if you are injured whilst working, since you may be able to receive more compensation this way in some cases.

Or, if you’ve been injured in a road accident or another type of accident, make sure that you select an attorney that can help you to determine what it is you’re entitled to as far as health insurance and medical coverage may be concerned. It is important that you know exactly what you can expect from winning a case with a personal injury lawyer so make sure you are informed about how much money you can receive for your case based on the nature and severity of your injuries (i.e. if you are injured and can not work for an extended period of time).

For more tips on selecting a personal injury lawyer or to make a personal injury claim in the UK visit http://www.personal-injury-uk.com/. About the Author; Lee Jackson, Webpresence on behalf of www.personal-injury-uk.com

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Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

A Personal Injury Compensation Case Requires Professional Help

By: Aretha Singh

It is often difficult to make a personal injury claim, as most of us are unaware of our rights related to personal injury claims. This is why you often require the services of compensation attorneys. Qualified compensation attorneys have a thorough understanding of the legal system related to personal injury claims. Using their knowledge, they can guide you by suggesting practical solutions to your personal injury case.

Most of the companies and institutions deliberately include such clauses in their contract which cannot be comprehended by laymen. Their legal jargon is very difficult to understand. This makes it important for us to hire a compensation attorney will assist us to understand the contract. They extract our rightful claim from the companies or institutions, in a professional and legitimate way.

As far as possible, always try to get a compensation attorney who is well qualified to render the level of professional service required for your personal injury case. Such compensation attorneys have the requisite experience in handling personal injury cases, hence you will feel comfortable in working with most of them. They will make sure that your rights are fully protected and that companies do not take undue advantage of your ignorance of the law. Compensation attorneys will offer professional advice and use their resources to conduct research work required for your personal injury case.

Personal injury cases have been on the rise, which is why so many personal injury attorneys are coming to meet this demand. Society is getting help to improve conditions because of these personal injury attorneys. No case is shushed off as irrelevant.

A compensation attorney will make available all the legal information that you need for your personal injury case. This will help you in getting the requisite amount of compensation due to you. With the compensation amount, you can improve the lives of your family members and dependents. Professional services offered by compensation attorneys will certainly help you in getting your compensation, as it is obvious that if you win, they will win too.

Aretha Singh is a frequent contributor to Reef Attorney, and First Compensation. These are excellent sources for good articles on compensation and legal issues.This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

A Personal Injury Compensation Case Requires Professional Help

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Sunday, January 21, 2007

Personal Injury Lawyer - Surefire Way To Success

Author: Mumtaz Shah

Regardless of any or all precautions you take, an accident can happen to just about anyone, even to an injury lawyer. People neither choose to have an accident nor decide when and where it should occur.

An accident is both a painful and an expensive experience ? the injury makes you suffer and the medical treatment costs quite a bit. A personal injury claim is a way to compensate many of your losses and its importance should not be understated. You can't turn back the time but you can minimise the bad consequences of your injury.

Let's Ask An Injury Lawyer How can you handle a compensation claim if you are injured and the bureaucratic procedures are not considerate about your condition? A surefire solution is to ask a personal injury lawyer.

Their job is to make an injury claim in your name, and a case to win your accident compensation. They are professional and experienced and what is most important ? you don't pay anything for their services, regardless of your claim's final result. The injury lawyer's service is based on a 'No Win No Fee' method. Which means if you lose your accident claim, the lawyer is responsible for such loss, i.e. you don't pay them a penny. After all, why should you, if their job is to win your claim and don't? If your injury compensation claim succeeds, the lawyer recovers all their fees or bills (payments, costs of injury assessment, medical examinations, court fees, etc.) from the losing side or their insurance company and you should get 100% of your injury compensation.

It's a very fair deal that the injury lawyer takes all the risk, so for you it's safe and stress-free solution ? it reassures you that the lawyer will do their best to win, as at the end of the day they want to get paid as well. Choose Wisely! You have a free right to decide if you want to make use of personal injury lawyer and it should be fully respected. Companies harassing and hassling injured people, asking them for their money, are no more than a relict of the shameful history. If you feel that you need advice or help, you look for it, not otherwise.

If you need an accident lawyer's service, you call for it. If you have any questions and you are not sure about anything, look for a free assessment, without strings attached.

Why A Personal Injury Lawyer's Service Is So Important?
Of course, you could try to handle your injury claim all by yourself, but let's think about it for a moment.

How solid is your knowledge of the laws concerning accidents and accident claims?
Do you know how to make all the necessary preparations?
Do you know how to avoid all the legal tricks, so you don't fail because of some small detail?
And finally, can you do all of it and not forget anything as for being in an injured state, poor health and the case becomes personal and emotional?

If your answer for any of the questions above is 'no', then here's another one: is there any reason to reject the services of experienced, professional personal injury lawyer if it improves your situation and costs you nothing? An injury lawyer is there for you! They have all the necessary knowledge and skill to handle your compensation claim. The accident injury is a problem itself and it can be just a tip of the iceberg, but it doesn't mean that you have to sink into trouble ? a compensation claim can help you financially and an injury lawyer will do that for you.

About the Author: Claim injury compensation in 7 days or less using our injury lawyer to gain maximum results without the hassle, costs and confusion. Discover the 12 revolutions of using personal injury lawyers at http://www.100Percent-Compensation.co.uk/articles/injury-lawyer.html

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Personal Injury Lawyer - Surefire Way To Success

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Thursday, January 18, 2007

Brain Injury Lawyer: When Do You Need One?

by Jitendra

When do you need a brain injury lawyer? It depends.

First, there are several symptoms that point to brain injury such as..

*Persistent headache and neck pain
*Ringing in your ears
*Sensitivity to light and/or blurred vision
*Poor memory
*Slow speech or reading skills
*Lack of energy or sex drive
*Change in sleep patterns, like insomnia or oversleeping
*Mood swings
*Loss of balance and/or coordination skills

The ability to successfully bring a lawsuit for compensation for traumatic brain injuries depends on a number of factors. One important factor is the cause of the injury. If a defective product causes an injury, such as an automobile, many states have laws that place responsibility on the manufacturer and distributor of the product to compensate the injured person.

If another person is at fault in causing a traumatic brain injury, that person can also often be held responsible for compensating the injured person. Speaking with an attorney who is experienced in representing people with personal injuries and is knowledgeable about traumatic brain injuries is recommended.

Of course, many of these symptoms might be attributed to something else, but if you've sustained any type of head trauma, then it's quite possible that you might need a brain injury lawyer. Usually a brain injury lawyer will conduct an interview with you. Essentially, you tell the story of how you believe you sustained the injury, and they decide whether it was neglect on someone else's part, be it an individual or a company.

Brain injury lawyers tend to take on everything -- slip and falls, car accidents or work-related injuries -- that resulted in you experiencing the head trauma. While many brain injury lawyers provide free consultation (that means they don't charge an hourly fee for you to discuss your problem) some, however, do. If money is a concern because you've been unable to work due to your current state, double check before scheduling any interviews with a brain injury lawyer.

Depending on your case, some law firms that specialize in brain injury might not take any money at all unless you win the case. Then they take a certain percentage of your settlement to cover their services. Again, this rate might vary depending on the brain injury lawyer you choose. It's always best to shop around, meaning that you want to find someone to take your case who won't take most of your collections in the process. But also keep in mind that you need a brain injury lawyer who is competent so you win your case. Visit: Halfvalue.com(A Unique Shopping Website) Other Useful Website:Halfvalue.co.ukLookbookstores.com

About the Author
Jitendra, Email- blog_jitu@halfvalue.com

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Brain Injury Lawyer: When Do You Need One?

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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Personal Injury Lawyer - Do We Need Them?

© Copyright 2005 Mumtaz Shah

Following an accident you'll hear a person say that they don't need to see a personal injury lawyer, TOO expensive!

In this article we will set out for you some reasons why NOT seeking, at minimum, a consultation with an accident lawyer could end up costing you a lot of money! More often than not, regardless of whether you caused the accident or are its victim, if you do not seek a consultation with an accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident you may well end up regretting your decision.

The overriding reasons for saying this are two-fold: - the insurance company you will be making your claim against are trying to minimise their losses; and - you most probably don't know what you're entitled to.

As A Victim Of An Accident
Let's assume you are the victim of an unfortunate accident. Let's further assume that your insurance company has come through and has agreed to pay all your medical bills. Now, you may well be feeling that your insurance company are the good guys and you don't need a lawyer's advice. Wrong! What's happened is nothing less than what the insurance company is obligated to do under the terms and conditions of your accident policy. Moreover, the insurance company is hoping to play on the fact that you feel somewhat indebted to their generosity.

Profitability
That way, they hope, you'll not bring about a bigger claim for what you are rightly entitled to. In the long run that means that they don't have quiet as big an insurance claim loss and they can still make a profit from your policy. In short, they are protecting their financial wellbeing at the cost of your entitlement rights. But, unless you have spoken to a personal injury lawyer you'll not know this and you'll feel that everything is fine. So, the next time you are in an car accident or accident, ask yourself this question: 'Is my insurance company interested in protecting me and my rights, or are they more concerned with paying a dividend to their shareholders?'

Non-Profitability
On the other hand, a professional compensation lawyer is normally an ethical impartial third party who knows what your rights are. Aside from possibly being paid a fee, not from or by you, he's also likely to have another job to help a victim better than its' insurance company, (and, keep in mind, if any court proceedings occur, these fees are reclaimed from the opponent side). So, why shouldn't they tell you the truth about what accident compensation you are entitled to? What's more, even if he does have a financial interest in your case, surely the better compensated you are, the better compensated he is?

As such, if anything, he has even more interest in making sure that you know exactly what your rights are and of making sure that you claim for those rights according to what you are entitled to. Looked at it like this, it not too difficult to see who the interested party is and who the independent party is. Now ask yourself: 'Do you want to take advice from someone who is interested in minimising your claim, or someone who is interested in maximising it?'

Cause Of An Accident
Now let's look at it from the point of view of, you being the person at fault in the accident. You may well feel that you have nothing to fear, as your insurance company will pay for the damage done. You may even find that initially your insurance company agrees with this. But why...? Unless you see an accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident you'll never know. Why? Are you 100% sure that it was your fault...?

Being Polite
The insurance company has to be polite, you're their customer! However, once the claim is over and you're thrilled with their service, you're definitely going to renew your policy. But the extra couple of hundred they ask for will justify the accident? 'Sir/ma'am, you had an accident and your premium has increased!' Knowing exactly what your rights or obligations are after an accident can be extremely tricky.

In most cases it will depend on what happened to cause the accident in the first place. As such, seeking the advice of a compensation lawyer as soon as you can following an personal injury is the only independent way you can really determine and know exactly what you are entitled to or what you may be liable for arising from the accident. It's easy to proceed with a compensation claim and gain maximum results without the hassle & costs.

Discover the 12 revolutions of using personal injury lawyers at http://www.100percent-compensation.co.uk/articles/personal-injury-lawyer.html

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Personal Injury Lawyer - Do We Need Them?

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Saturday, January 13, 2007

Why we need Personal Injury Lawyers

Author: karen nodalo

If you have a loved one who has suffered from an injury because of somebody else's carelessness, it will just be normal that the person will suggest compensating for your losses and personal injury. They will also make sure that the company who is involved will do what is necessary and should offer a fair settlement. However, that hardly happens.

Most of the time, some people will not take the liability for their actions and some of the insurance companies earn from under compensating the injury victims. Lawyers from insurance companies are aware of the principal law that goes with it. They are also aware that most of the non-lawyers have no clue about the legal rights and the remedy that they possess.

In handling your personal injury case, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer who is capable of building your case. He should stand for you in negotiating your case up to the trial. He should be able to bring up your case with an insurance company for the compensation and benefits that you ought to have. While you are making contact with your personal injury lawyer in handling your case, the insurance companies are averagely doing everything they can to take advantage of your case. They are also attempting to draw out statements from your case that will break your disposition if you eventually make a decision to sue.

A lawyer is always in a good position to assist you in getting hold of a favorable statement that even with the deduction of the attorney fees, considerably go beyond what you can attain on your own. A good lawyer is one that stands for your case fairly and responsible. Some people think that getting a lawyer is worthless because they think that lawyers are only after the fee. This has been a misconception because lawyers are dedicated to their jobs and they consider it not only as a part of their profession but their life as well.

In the first place, you cannot stand for your case alone. If you want to put your case into trial, there are certain measures and steps that only a lawyer can. Going to trial is not as easy as reporting to a police officer for a certain damage or loss. It takes more than that so it is just necessary that you hire a lawyer so that you are sure to win your case.

For more related articles, you may visit http://www.socialsecuritylawattorney.com

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Why we need Personal Injury Lawyers

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Thursday, January 11, 2007

Errors in medications to children are avoidable

by Stephanie Felzenberg

Parents, family, and caregivers devote themselves to the welfare of children. Yet, even with love and devotion, 80 percent of deaths of children under five-years of age are avoidable. More then half of those deaths are caused by mistakes in the administration of medications given to benefit the child. An even greater number of children are injured or suffer serious side effects from inadvertent errors of common health aids found in most homes.

Before giving any medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter, (OTC), child care providers must know the weight, age, allergies, and sensitivities of the patient. Plus, it is vital that caregivers know what and when other medications and foods have been ingested by the child. An up to date list of medications and dosages should always be available. A great way to record food and medications given to children is with a daily log kept in a visible place for all adults, (parents, family, baby-sitters, and nannies), to use and communicate with one another.

Before administrating any prescription medication to a child, the caregiver must assess the child's needs: know what to give, why the child needs it, how to contact the professional that is prescribing it, when to give it, how to store it, where to refill it, and at what cost the medication can purchased.

- Be aware of probable side effects and how to manage them if they occur.
- Know whether to give the medication until it is finished or only until symptoms abate.
- Keep the phone number of the prescribing physician and pharmacy visible in the event of questions regarding reactions or directions.
- Since each person has a unique chemical composition, side effects and each individual's reaction to a medication cannot be anticipated.
- Unexpected reactions must be reported to a licensed medical provider.
- No medications that have expired should be given to anyone at any time.
- Do not follow the advice of a friend, neighbor, or grandparent, however well meaning, regarding the treatment for a child. Seek the best advice from a trained professional and not merely from a convenient source.

OTC preparations pose a special challenge for child care providers. They require no prescription, are widely available, and are relatively inexpensive. Yet, they can be hazardous if used inappropriately. Child care providers must carefully read and understand the labeling found on every package.

The following categories are found on every medicine package label:

Active Ingredients:
The first panel on the label lists the active ingredients and their purposes. This section provides the chemical name of the active chemical and how it is intended to work for the patient.

Uses/Indications:
This section explains which symptoms the active ingredient is supposed to treat.

Warnings:
The warnings section alerts the caregiver to conditions, or people, that should not use the particular medication without the specific advice of a physician.

Directions:
The directions explain the dosage and administration of the medication. Always use a manufacturer provided measuring device and not a kitchen teaspoon, tablespoon, or dropper. Household goods vary widely in size and cannot be depended upon for proper dosage.

Other Information:
Other information listed often notes proper storage and gives pertinent information about how and when the product should be taken.

Inactive Ingredients:
The inactive ingredients listed on the medication label are the chemicals in the compound that are presumed to have no effect on the body. Dyes, preservatives, fillers, and food colors are among the compounds listed on this part of the label. A child may be allergic or sensitive to any of these ingredients, even though they are called "inactive." Kids are not small adults. Do not dilute or reduce the dosage of adult products and dispense them to children. Pediatric oral medications are often sweetened to make the palatable.

However, they are not candies and like all medications, should be kept out of the reach of children. Adult medications that are especially dangerous to children are analgesics, anti-depressants, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. Safety caps should be used and tightly secured, whether prescriptions or OTC preparations.

Some common ailments and popular products used as treatments may cause problems for children. Runny noses, stuffed noses, and post nasal drips are among the conditions that prompt a doctor to prescribe an antihistamine or a decongestant, or a combination of the two. Dry coughs and incessant coughs typically require expectorants and/or cough suppressants.

Some common side effects include: Antihistamines generally cause fatigue, loss of appetite, and dryness of the mouth and throat. Overuse can cause respiratory failure and weight loss. Decongestants can cause nervousness, sleeplessness, and heart palpitations. Expectorants can cause nausea and vomiting. Suppressants can cause chest pain and lethargy. Paradoxical side effects may occur at anytime. That means that for a small minority of patients, what normally causes lethargy, may cause excitation in a particular patient. Any instance of overdose of any medication requires prompt emergency medical care. Be aware that any sudden change in behavior or health requires medical attention.

The side-effects cited in this article are representative only and not nearly a complete list of all possible problems medications can pose for children. Parents may give certain herbs to children due to the inaccurate belief that they are all natural and cannot hurt, and might help, children.

The most popular herb is Echinacea.
According to the German government, only one of the four species of Echinacea is useful as a cold preventative. That form is not even available in the United States. Some children, especially those who are allergic to ragweed, may be allergic to Echinacea. The alcohol-based tincture form of Echinacea can be irritating to mucus membranes. Further, recent studies find no benefit from the use of Echinacea. Some people use large doses of Vitamin C to prevent or to treat a cold. Large doses of Vitamin C can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and heartburn.

Honey is popularly used to relieve sore throat, or to mix with lemon to relieve colds. Honey should not be given to any child under one-year-old because of the risk of infant botulism. Multivitamins can be toxic to children. Iron-containing vitamins are a threat to children and should not given to children without the advice of a physician.

Headaches, sore throats, and other pain should be treated with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but never aspirin. Aspirin should not be give to anyone under 19-years-old since it is a salicylate that can react with a virus that can cause the dangerous Reyes Syndrome. The adult formulation of Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate, and willow bark are also salicylate-containing compounds and must be avoided by infants, children, and teenagers.

Use ibuprophen or acetaminophen in forms designed for pediatric use, rather than smaller doses of adult formulations. Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea are all potentially dangerous conditions that may lead to dehydration. Pediatric electrolyte replacement drinks are appropriate. Diluting adult electrolyte replacement drinks will give the patient a drink that is too acidic for a child.

There are many effective strategies to relieve the discomfort of teething but Anbesol to be used by adults and liquor may burn the gums and should be avoided. Cold gel pacifiers are a better choice. Intestinal gas and heartburn are treatable with a large variety of safe products. Use those made for the age of the child. Too much antacid can cause constipation, diarrhea, or stomach cramps. Over dosage of acid blockers can inhibit digestion. Track the diet of children with stomach or digestive discomfort for a few days to check if there is a sensitivity to some food.

Among the most effective methods to prevent the spread of illness is careful and frequent hand washing. Plain soap and water are all that is necessary. If a child is cranky because of fatigue, do not give medication to quiet the child. Most complaints are temporary and self-limiting and do not require medication. Sufficient sleep and a nutritious diet often allows the body to heal itself.

References: For complete contact information for resources contact Be the Best Nanny Montly Guide.
1. American Botanical Council
2. AMA Family Medical Guide 3rd ed.
3. National Council on Patient Information and Education
4. City Futures, Inc.
5. Integrative Medicine Communications
6. Courtroom Television Network LLC
7. dt.gov.uk
8. Family Health and Medical Guide
9. Griffith, H.W. Complete Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements.
10. Institute for Safe Medication Practices
11. KeepKidsHealthy.com
12. KidsSource.com
13. Merchant, Anne. M. The Nanny Textbook.
14. The PDR Family Guide to Prescription Drugs.
15. pediatrics.aappublications.org
16. Physicians' Desk Reference.
17. Prevention Magazine's Nutrition Advisor.

About the Author
Stephanie Felzenberg has been the Executive Editor of the nanny trade publication,Be the Best Nanny Monthly Guide, for more than five-years. She volunteered as the International Nanny Association newsletter editor for four years and has edited a nanny text book that will be published this year.

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Errors in medications to children are avoidable

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

The Last Line of Defense Against Wrong Medication

by Timothy McNamara, MD, MPH

This is a true story.

Yesterday, I picked up a new antibiotic prescription for my daughter from my local pharmacy.
(We recently adopted my daughter from India where she had recurrent ear infections resulting in severe hearing loss. And, she is about to undergo the second of several planned surgeries in order to try to repair the damage.)

Before putting her to sleep, I got the new medication out of the bag, glanced at the instructions, and prepared to give her the drug according to the instructions on the label.

Just before doing so, I had a quick double-take.

Something seemed to be wrong. I looked at the instructions again, and thought to myself slowly, "What's going on…this doesn't seem right." Then, it hit me that the dose seemed awfully high for her.

It took me a minute or two to put the pieces together (it had been an unusually tough fight getting her ready for bed, I was tired, I was confident in my daughter's physician, and I was thinking perhaps less critically that I should have). And then I noticed it. The label had a stranger's name on it.

After another moment or two, I saw what had really happened.

The medication came in a box. Each side of the box had a different label...one label was for my daughter and one label was for a stranger. And, the stranger's dose was more than double what my daughter's surgeon had recommended.

(This error didn't happen in a mom-and-pop pharmacy. It happened in a modern new chain pharmacy whose name you would recognize from advertisements on TV.)

I'm not a surgeon…and I'm not a pediatrician…but I am a physician trained in internal medicine and I have spent most of the last twelve years writing about, speaking about, and developing systems to reduce the frequency of medication error and improve the safety of pharmacy practice.

This pharmacy error brought the topic of drug safety home to me…literally.

What I can tell you is that this sort of error occurs all too often in the United States (and around the world). And, that it can have devastating consequences for the people involved.

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that 25% of patients who take one or more prescription medications will experience an adverse drug event within three months--and 39% of these are preventable or avoidable.

The Harvard Medical Practice Study found reported in JAMA in 2001 that 30% of patients with drug-related injuries died or were disabled for more than 6 months.

And, what almost everyone who studies this problem agrees is that current systems for selecting drugs, dosing them, communicating a prescription to a pharmacy, dispensing drugs, and instructing patients on their safe use are woefully inadequate.

In this series, we are going to take a close look at the processes that cause medication errors (some things that your physician and pharmacist may not even want you to know) and what steps you can specifically take to make sure that you and your love ones are protected from this hazard.

Ten years ago, your ability to get current, objective, reliable information on your medications in a quick and easy way was practically non-existent. It probably would have involved a trip to the library and required considerable knowledge about pharmacology to get the answers.

Today, that's not the case. There is a host of on-line tools, databases, and resources that allow you to learn information about medications that even your physician and pharmacist may not know.

We're going to talk about them, show you were to go, tell you the key things you need to know about medications, expose some myths, and let you know the questions you should be asking. It's not as hard as it may seem.

In fact, you need to become the final line of defense in the battle against medication errors.
Throughout, we are going to give you some key rules that should guide your defense.

So, Rule Number 1. Trust, but verify. Never assume that the medication you have received is the right medication for you or that it is dosed correctly for you. Specifically, you should check:
•the name of the patient on the bottle;
•the name of the doctor on the bottle;
•the name of the medication (and cross check it to be sure that it treats a disease or problem you actually have…there are lots of look-alike/sound-alike drug names out there);
•the dose (from an independent source…to make sure that it is a plausible dose for you);
•the "route" (to make sure, for example, that eye drops are being prescribed for the eye, and not the mouth, or the ear…amazingly injuries from drug misplacement occur all the time);
•the expiration date.

We'll talk about some specific resources that will help with each of these throughout this series.
The result, we hope, will be the piece of mind to know that you and your family are getting your 7 rights:
•right drug;
•right patient;
•right dose;
•right time;
•right route;
•right reason;
•right documentation.

Right on!
© 2004 Timothy McNamara, MD, MPH

About the AuthorTimothy McNamara, MD, MPH is a nationally prominent expert in medication safety and healthcare technology. For additional practical steps you can take to improve medication safety and a personalized report of your medication profile, go to: http://www.medicationadvisor.com/art1.asp

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The Last Line of Defense Against Wrong Medication

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Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer

Author: Jeff Lakie

A personal injury is something that we hope never to have to endure. Whether it occurs at work or elsewhere, there is little doubt that such an injury can be traumatic, both in physical and emotional terms. But while you are struggling to recuperate, perhaps enduring physical therapy, and probably requiring time off work, your financial situation cane find itself in even more dire straits. Thankfully, if you have had an unfortunate injury befall you, there is somewhere you can turn for help.

A personal injury lawyer can help you find out whether you are eligible to receive any financial recompense because of the injury you sustained and the difficulties that you encountered because of it. While any lump sum you are entitled to will not negate the effects of the injury, it will at least ensure that you are financially more secure during this difficult time. It is best to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon after the occurrence of the accident as possible - this will help protect your rights, and get moving quickly on establishing what exactly your rights and entitlements are.

Like any area of the law, personal injury can be confusing to the lay person, so it is best to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before you proceed any further with the matter, so that you can fully understand the best course of action. There are also some time constraints involved in certain personal injury situations, so time is of the essence.

Personal injuries occur every day, in a wide range of situations, from vehicle accidents to injuries sustained playing sports, to a simple tripping in the street. These injuries can be upsetting and expensive, involving costs such as hospital and doctors fees, but more importantly they often involve a compromising of the patient's usual quality of life. This important factor is taken into consideration when making personal injury settlements, helping you to bear any costs you might encounter in getting back to normal. Life would be a sad prospect if we were so afraid of injury that we stayed safely at home, participating in none of the things we love to do.

Unfortunately, accidents are a risk that we all must take in life, but thankfully, should an injurious event befall us, there is someone who can help us cope with the aftermath. Contact a personal injury lawyer if you have had an accident, and take at least financial concerns off your mind.

About The Author:
Jeff Lakie is the founder of Injury Lawyer Information a website providing information on Personal Injury Lawyers

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Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer

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Sunday, January 07, 2007

When Do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Author: Natalie Aranda

If you have been hurt in an accident and have suffered not only physical but mental pain, you should consider getting a personal injury lawyer. Instead of going through the heartache yourself, a professional personal injury lawyer could help you win the case. By using their knowledge of the law, speaking with insurance companies and doing the necessary research, it is possible to get the money you deserve.

Although everyone assumes that lawyer's fees are preposterous and hefty to pay, chances are they can be realistic. While some law firms require that you pay a significant amount of money regardless of your results, the majority of personal injury attorneys ask for a contingency fee. This means that if they win the case they will get a percentage of the money you earn. In most cases this percentage still allows you to walk away with a large sum of money. If they do not win the case for you, most major fees are deducted.

Therefore, the ball is really in your court. Since there are dozens upon dozens of personal injury lawyers in your area, it takes time to find a legit and affordable one.

The first thing you should do is ask your friends and family about attorney's that they have used in the past. References are always great because you know people who have used them. Far too often people go to random offices, without knowing any background. This could lead to an abundance of fees, and result in a lost case. If you do not know anyone who knows a great lawyer, try consultations.

By setting up meetings with these personal injury attorneys, you can get a good feeling about who they are and what they're about. For instance, if you are looking for a Boston personal injury attorney, you may want to do a Google search on the people in your area. These Boston personal injury attorneys may have reviews, ratings, or any other type of feedback on particular websites.

This sort of information could be wonderful if you are trying to find a great lawyer. If you have been harmed in any way and feel that you deserve justice, you immediately need to contact a personal injury lawyer.

Avoid all of the common myths surrounding attorney's and focus on your needs. You have been seriously hurt and for that reason, you absolutely are allowed to seek compensation. A personal injury lawyer will not only help you win the case, but he will do it in a respectful way. It is a good feeling to know that someone is on your side, fighting for you every inch of the way.

Occupation: Freelance WriterNatalie Aranda is a freelance writer. She contributes to Ecommerce Guide and Gift Ideas for Wedding and Valentines.http://www.4th-media.com/

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When Do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

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Thursday, January 04, 2007

What you can get from a Personal Injury Lawyer

Author: Karen Ndalo

If you have only just sustained a grievance or injury and consider that you have a case to make, then you have not anything to be beaten by looking for the advice of a personal injury attorney. Because this type of lawyer only works on an incident basis, and will give you free of charge preliminary counsel, the outlay of retaining one will be low.

If you are taking into consideration retaining a lawyer for your case, you need to familiarize yourself with the type of claim that you want to make. You should know what to raise to a lawyer with whom you seek advice from, and be familiar with what to look forward to from his or her services.

An experienced attorney is the perfect person to consult for your case. He should know how to investigate properly for your case and he should know everything with regards to your claim. You may not be very familiar with the legal procedures and processes but your lawyer will.

Of course if your lawyer understands your situation and needs, he will be able to deal with the case accordingly. The good thing about a seasoned lawyer is that even with just a short review of your case, he will have the best suggestions on how you can win your case. If not, it may take a long time to wait and spend for nothing.

It is important to be careful in choosing your lawyer because it will not reflect on him but your case. If anything bad happens, you cannot put your blame to your lawyer and there will be no wiser alternative to treat the case if you lose. Your lawyer will also take care of the benefits and compensation that you deserve to receive from the health plans and the insurance companies that you have associated with.

Whether it is a wrongful death injury, brain injury, traumatic injury or any type of personal injury, the secret to winning and fighting for your right is by consulting a good attorney. If you have encountered a good lawyer, you need to converse with each other properly and give him all the details that are necessary in winning your case.

For more information regarding the author and the article please visit PI Los Angeles Attorneys

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What you can get from a Personal Injury Lawyer

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Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Tips to Hire a Good Personal Injury Attorney

by Jason Hanson

Wondering what to do when you have been in an accident, a slip and fall, or a workplace injury? If you have already spoken with in insurance provider for your insurer, it may be time to consider a personal injury attorney. The danger in running right out and hiring a personal injury attorney immediately after injury is that you will have to pay for their services out of whatever payout you ultimately get.

So, it is typically wise to first speak with the relevant insurance provider and only then turn to legal alternatives. While speaking to the insurance company will in many situations resolve the issue completely, there may be some situations in which the insurance company either denies your claim entirely or decides to compensate you in a matter that is from your perspective insufficient. In such situations, the premium that you pay out to a personal injury attorney will come back to you in settlement damages many times over. Now, once you are convinced that you need a personal injury attorney, you have to put forth the effort of first finding the right person for your case.

Here are a few tips on selecting the right attorney for you:

There are a number of online databases of local and regional personal injury attorneys.

While most of these are pay per listing or free submission, some actually do provide reviewing services. Even here, however, be wary of putting too much stock in a website's recommendation as this information can be easily manipulated. Using this online database and your local yellow pages as a sort of general list, it then becomes imperative to narrow this list by looking at the credentials of a particular attorney. Probably the best way to do this is to call your local legal aid clinic, which is free. While these individuals are not in the business of providing recommendations, the bar in a particular city for personal injury usually consists of about fifty to one hundred attorneys, so amongst attorneys word gets around pretty quickly as to who is good and who is not.

Another good resource is your city bar association.

Your city bar will keep more general information about who has not been sanctioned by courts for malpractice and typically keeps a short list of recommended attorneys. But again, take this list with a grain of salt as there are manipulations going on behind the scenes here as well. Often a better tack is just to have a list of three or four attorneys you are considering and then call the bar association to hear their thoughts on each one. Referrals can be good if you know someone in the legal community. But if not, the best you will get out of a referral is a sort of 'he/she isn't incompetent.' Because let's face it, most clients have no idea whether the settlement they received was in actuality the best they could have.

The final test should always be to meet with the attorney.
In such a meeting you can discuss the payment method (contingency or flat-fee), but more importantly you want to try to assess if this individual seems competent. Note things like, what law school he/she attended? Did they pass the bar on their first try? How long have they been practicing personal injury in your state? Will they let you speak with some of their most recent clients? All of these factors taken together should give you a general impression of whether your personal injury attorney is competent, if not good.

About the Author
Jason Hanson recommends you contact the Law Firm of Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook, and Brickman if you need a personal injury attorney.

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Tips to Hire a Good Personal Injury Attorney

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