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The Role of the Legal Nurse Consultant in a Personal Injury Case

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: October 10, 2009

I have been very fortunate to meet a group of Legal Nurse Consultants whose passion, knowledge and expertise are of great benefit to my clients and my Personal Injury Law Practice. As you may or may not know, I represent people who have been injured in a myriad of different ways — vehicular accidents, slip and falls, dog/animal bites or attacks, assault and battery, defective products /product liability and more. In order to best represent my clients, I need to have a complete understanding of all aspects of their case including, of course, the injuries that they sustained as a result of the incident for which I’m representing… Read More

The Perfect Storm: Reducing Waiting Times in Emergency Departments and Diagnosing Heart Attacks by Jean M. Klingenberger, RN

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: October 8, 2009

Thanks to Guest Blogger, Legal Nurse Consultant Jean M. Klingenberger, MBA/MHA, BSN, RN, who took the time to write the following article. Legal Nurse Consultants (LNC) play an important role in personal injury and medical malpractice cases by reviewing and analyzing the client/patient’s medical records. Due to their extensive educational background and great practical experience in hospital and medical settings, LNC’s are able to review records and put together a comprehensive medical picture of the client’s case. This picture helps the lawyer deal with the medical issues and interact effectively with treating doctors, expert medical witnesses and the opinions of… Read More

Are You Entitled to Compensation For Your Car’s Loss in Value After an Accident?

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: October 2, 2009

What happens when you’re in an accident, it’s the other driver’s fault, their insurance fixes your car but now your car is worth less than it was before the accident? In legal terms, this decrease in value is called Diminution in Value. The vehicle looks okay but disclosing that it was in an accident will certainly decrease the amount a buyer is willing to pay. So, it begs the question “Can I ask to be paid for this decrease in my vehicle’s value?” The answer is a qualified “yes.” The law in the State of California (it may be different in different… Read More

Internet Crime: Fraudsters on Social Networking Sites

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: October 1, 2009

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has prepared a report entitled “Techniques Used by Fraudsters on Social Networking Sites.” Basically, the fraudsters hijack accounts in order to spread malicious software via various techniques: Use of spam to promote phishing sites, claiming a violation of terms of agreement or some other issue that needs to be resolved Asking you to download an application or view a video Some spam appears to come from a friend’s e-mail, thereby giving the appearance of legitimacy Some involve applications advertised on social networking sites, again giving the appearance of legitimacy. INFECTION! Once the victim responds to the phishing site, downloads the application, clicks the video… Read More

Jury Awards Truck Driver $9.5 Million for Permanent Damage from Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: September 29, 2009

This absolutely fascinating story comes out of Georgia where plaintiff John Henry Howard (a Georgia truck driver) sued defendant Boston Men’s Health Center, Inc. for damages suffered after treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). A Dekalb State Court Jury of his peers awarded Howard $750,000 in compensatory damages. However, the jury also found that the defendant acted with an intent to cause harm and further awarded Howard $8.5 Million in punitive damages. Howard was brilliantly represented by attorney W. Fred Orr II, who himself received bear hugs from 10 of the 12 jury members after the trial was over. Howard went to the clinic in an… Read More

Choosing to Sue in Small Claims Court: When Is It Appropriate?

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: September 26, 2009

Small Claims Court handles civil cases where the plaintiff (person or entity who sues) is asking for $7,500 or less from the defendant(person or entity being sued). Disputes are resolved quickly and inexpensively in Small Claims Court.* Although you can ask a lawyer’s advice before or after the court hearing, in California you are not allowed to have a lawyer represent you at the Small Claims Court Hearing. The hearing is relatively informal: no lawyers, no rules of evidence, no juries. A judge, or a judge pro tem, will hear and decide your case. Why Do I Occasionally Advise Clients To Go To Small Claims Court? Why… Read More

Medical Billing & Legal Records A Legal Nurse Consultant’s Perspective by Guest Blogger, Susan van Ginneken, RN

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: September 18, 2009

Many times I have to ask Legal Nurse Consultants to review an injured client’s medical records and the related bills. I’m fascinated by the complexity of this process. Guest Blogger, Susan van Ginneken, a Legal Nurse Consultant, was kind enough to write the following article to help illustrate what it is that she does when reviewing the billing and legal records. Medical Billing and Legal Records by Susan van Ginneken, RN Harried Nurse As if attorneys and nurses do not have enough to be aware of in the medical record, now someone tells us that billing codes are being misused… Read More

Auto Insurance Coverage from A Personal Injury Lawyer’s Perspective

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: September 12, 2009

A friend, Johnny, asked me to evaluate his auto insurance coverage. He lives in Los Angeles and drives an Audi TT, a small sports car. Although my often tongue-in-cheek responses are geared for California auto coverages and, in particular, Los Angeles, this should give you an idea of what to look for in your own venue. Most importantly you must be aware that if you do not have insurance coverage that is sufficient to compensate someone for injuries sustained in an accident that is wholly or partially your fault, you could be on the hook personally for that amount which exceeds… Read More

Motorcycle Accident Leads to Traumatic Brain Injury, $8M Settlement

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: August 26, 2009

Just when you think you have no case, you may have a case. I was asked to take a case where Billy, a motorcycle rider who on first impression was thought to be partially, if not all, to blame for an accident from which he suffered catastrophic injuries. Billy was a vibrant, young 20 something motorcycle rider who was not expected to live. Turns out a lady turned left in front of him in a road construction zone. Upon further investigation, I discovered that there were potentially many reasons why this accident happened – not all of which could be… Read More

Is Your Home a Former Drug Lab? What Can You Do?

Author: Lowell Steiger

Published On: July 20, 2009

Earlier today I read an article in the New York Times about a family that, unbeknownst to them, purchased and moved into a home which was formerly a methamphetamine lab. So? They moved in five years ago, what’s the big deal? The big deal is, as it turns out, that these houses are contaminated by the meth. The contamination can permeate drywall, carpets, insulation and air ducts. And? Well, this contamination can cause respiratory ailments and other health problems. The case in point is described in the NYT article Illnesses Afflict Homes With a Criminal Past which describes the Rhonda and Jason… Read More

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