Common Car Accident Injuries Can Cause Long-Term Pain & Suffering

If you drive regularly, your chances of experiencing a car accident in your lifetime are 1 in 77. Car accidents are one of the most common causes of serious injuries in the United States. Any person who experiences a serious car accident and injury is entitled to compensation according to the law. Many car accident victims receive settlements for the cost of medical bills, lost wages, future loss of wages, ongoing medical treatment, and pain and suffering. Here, we’re going to discuss the most common car accident injuries and the long-term impact they can have on your life.

Head Injuries

The most common type of head injuries caused by car accidents are Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Minor TBIs affect your brain temporarily and cause side effects such as headaches, migraines, and short-term memory loss. Major TBIs, however, are more severe and have the potential to cause long-term brain damage and even death. Symptoms of TBIs include:

• Nausea & vomiting

• Fatigue

• Inability to speak (slurred speech)

• Disrupted sleep patterns

• Dizziness

• …and more

If you hit your head during a car accident, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible to rule out a traumatic brain injury.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are one of the most common injuries associated with car accidents. From minor fractures to compression breaks and even compound fractures, the complications associated with broken bones are endless. Some people who experience broken bones from car accidents suffer for the rest of their life from pain, loss of use, or even loss of limb. If a broken bone impedes your ability to work after your car accident, you can fight for compensation to replace your lost income.

Whiplash

Although many people believe whiplash is a minor, common injury, it can be severe. Side-effects of whiplash include:

• Loss of range of motion

• Headaches or migraines

• Chronic back pain

Whiplash is extremely painful and frequently requires long-term treatment from a physical therapist or chiropractor. Some car accident victims who experience whiplash do not feel relief from their pain for months.

PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common, serious, non-physical car accident injury that can cause long-term pain and suffering. Symptoms of PTSD include:

• Flashbacks

• Unexplained fears

• Heightened anxiety

• Stress

• Night terrors

• Mood swings

• Depression

• …and more

Car accident victims who experience PTSD should see a therapist for treatment as well as their medical doctor. PTSD is extremely serious and requires a comprehensive, long-term treatment plan to keep symptoms and side-effects at bay.

You Are Entitled To Compensation For Your Car Accident Injuries

If you’ve been the victim of a car accident, you should not have to suffer because of someone else’s negligence. An experienced attorney can help you fight your case and win you the compensation you deserve.

In New Hampshire, a trusted source of car accident representation is Patch & FitzGerald Attorneys at Law. Our team has decades of experience fighting and winning cases for people just like you. To schedule a free consultation, call 603-647-2600 or contact us online today.

School Bus Safety

Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car. That’s because school buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road; they’re designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries; and in every state, stop-arm laws protect children from other motorists. To learn more, read this article by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

You might have a case, so let’s video-chat

Have you been injured?  Do you have a question about a potential claim? Despite the COVID-19 precautions, Patch & FitzGerald is fully staffed and available for you, using the latest telecommunications options.

You may not be able to sit down in front of us in person, but videoconferencing is almost the same thing. And, rest assured that you will be chatting with one of our highly trained staff paralegals or attorneys, not a call center in the Midwest or offshore. Call Patch & FitzGerald when you need hard-fought winning results, not fluffy promises. Reach us at 603-647-2600.

Patch & FitzGerald:  Relentless Advocates, Winning Results.    

Ways To Reduce Your Risk of Workplace Injuries

When you have a physical job, the probability of experiencing an injury on the job rises. Broken bones, back injuries, head injuries and more are devastating and can put your life on hold causing you to miss weeks or months of important events. Fortunately, there are ways you can prepare your body and equip yourself to reduce your risk of injury. Most of the preventative techniques we discuss here can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. 

Always Warm-Up

As soon as it’s time to get to work for the day, you should warm-up your body before doing anything else. Properly warming up your muscles prepares them for strenuous activity and makes injury less likely. Effective warm-up techniques include:

• Stretching

• Taking a short walk

• Practice expected tasks

If you know you are going to lift heavy objects throughout the day a great way to warm-up your body is to lift the smallest boxes first. By easing into a strenuous activity you slowly increase the capacity your body has to perform difficult tasks.

Know When To Rest

Working while tired is a top cause of workplace injuries that can result in serious injuries or even death. If you work more than four hours per day, you are entitled to paid breaks. When you are on break it is important to:

• Eat a small snack

• Drink plenty of fluids

• Rest your muscles

• Treat any ailments

When you take proper rest, you not only improve your physical state but your mental state as well. 

Understand Your Own Strength

Some physical jobs require you to be able to lift 50lbs. or more on a daily basis. Although lifting heavy objects or performing intense physical labor might be a job requirement, it is still imperative to know your own strength. For example, if you are fatigued, it is important to ask for help on difficult tasks or use tools that make completing the task easier. When you understand your own strength or lack thereof, you are able to work longer and more effectively without the risk of injury.

Use The Proper Equipment

Most workplaces are equipped with tools to help you complete physical tasks. Devices such as forklifts, pallet jacks, carts, dollys and more can all reduce the amount of physical force it takes to move a heavy object. The majority of workplace equipment requires training to operate but once you know how to use it safely, it can save your body from pain in the future. 

Knowledgeable Attorneys For Your Worker’s Compensation Claim

If you have suffered from a workplace injury, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of your missed work, medical bills, and any permanent impairment. In New Hampshire, Patch & FitzGerald are your top choice for worker’s compensation claim representation. To schedule a free consultation call 603-647-2600 or contact us online today.

Can You Receive Compensation For A Car Accident Injury If You Don’t Have Insurance?

One of the biggest costs associated with driving and owning a car is auto insurance. Car insurance exists to protect the finances and livelihood of drivers if they are involved in an accident. Serious injuries can force a person to take time off work, lose pay, and miss important life events. Some injuries are so bad that the victim is unable to ever return to life as they knew it before their car accident.

There are measures in place to help car accident victims recover lost finances and receive compensation to help them mend their broken lives. If a person doesn’t have car insurance, however, can they still receive compensation? Here, we’ll find out.

New Hampshire Car Insurance Laws

Laws regarding car insurance vary from state to state. Most states require drivers to carry specific limits of liability and coverage on their automobile. New Hampshire is unique in the fact that it does not require drivers to carry auto insurance. However, if they choose not to carry auto insurance, residents of New Hampshire are required to cover the cost of property damage and bodily injury for accidents they cause.

It is always in a driver’s best interest to purchase auto insurance – even if they don’t believe they will get into a car accident. If an individual chooses to purchase auto insurance in New Hampshire, they must get the minimum limits of liability which are:

• $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person

• $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident

• $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident

• $1,000 in medical payments per accident

Paying an insurance premium for a policy with these limits works to ensure that drivers will not have to pay for property damage or medical expenses of an accident they caused out of their own pockets.

No Pay No Play States

Some states including Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Alaska, California, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Oregon are considered “No Pay No Play” states. Meaning, if a person does not carry auto insurance, they are not eligible to receive compensation for injuries from a car accident.

Due to the nature of New Hampshire’s laws, individuals who choose not to carry auto insurance do not have to worry about such situations. The most notable risk involved in not carrying car insurance is being forced to find a way to pay for the damages you caused in a car accident out of your own pocket.

In New Hampshire, the minimum limits of liability are also designed to protect you if the person responsible for the accident wasn’t carrying insurance and doesn’t have the money upfront to cover your medical bills.

Reliable Car Accident Attorneys Near You

If you were recently involved in a car accident in New Hampshire, there’s no better time than now to reach out to a trusted attorney. Our attorneys, claims administrators, and paralegals have one focus in mind: getting you the best settlement possible so that you can return to the business of living your life. Call Patch & FitzGerald if you have been injured and let us fight for you and your family.

NO FEE UNLESS YOU WIN!

You don’t have to suffer because of someone else’s negligence. Call our office at 603-647-2600 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Legislative Update

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

NH Senate Bill 547 (Prefiled Legislation) Relative to an electronic prescription drug program. https://legiscan.com/NH/text/SB547/id/2082061

In preparation for the 2020 legislative session, SB 547 has been prefiled in the New Hampshire Senate. The bill would mandate the use of electronic prescriptions for all controlled substances and become effective just a few months after passage.

The bill is currently before the Health and Human Services Committee and will likely be taken up when the session begins this week.

IRS ISSUES STANDARD MILEAGE RATES FOR 2020

Effective January 1, 2020, the standard mileage reimbursement rate for transportation expenses as set by the IRS will be 57.5 per mile (down from .58 cents in 2019). This new rate applies to reimbursement payable under RSA 281-A: 23 Medical, Hospital & Remedial Care.

The New Hampshire Department of Labor generally adjusts this rate on January 1 of each year.

Workers’ Compensation Carriers should use this rate for reimbursement for eligible Workers’ Compensation travel expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2020.

Below is the mileage reimbursement rates since 2005.

Call Patch & FitzGerald For Your Worker’s Comp Injuries

If you have been injured in a workplace accident and want to seek compensation for your injuries, the attorneys at Patch & FitzGerald are here for you. In New Hampshire, they are the top choice for worker’s compensation and personal injury claims. With decades of experience, they understand what it takes to win a claim and do all the work so that you can focus on what matters most, healing.

To schedule a free case evaluation, call 603-647-2600 or contact us online today.

5 Ways To Prepare Your Vehicle For The Cold Weather

The winter months are quickly approaching and everyone knows that means one thing – cold weather. In New Hampshire, the temperatures regularly reach below freezing from December to February. Those types of temperatures are not only uncomfortable but can pose a serious threat to your vehicles as well. This winter, use these five tips to prepare your vehicle for cold weather and avoid being a hazard on the road.

1.  Check Your Tire Pressure and Treads

When it’s snowing and sleeting, driving is dangerous. One precaution you can take to avoid accidents is to make sure you have properly maintained tires. When it gets cold, tires typically deflate causing them to lose traction. Likewise, over time, tire treads fade and make it harder for your car to grip the road. Before the cold weather hits, make sure your tires are properly inflated and that they have the right amount of tread. Most experts recommend a tire tread of 6/32”.

2.  Refill The Antifreeze and Engine Coolant

When the temperatures get low, antifreeze prevents your engine from freezing and engine coolant keeps your car from overheating when it’s working hard. Before the first snowfall, it is essential to check the levels of these substances so you don’t find yourself stranded on the side of the road.

3.  Get An Oil Change

Carmakers recommend that car owners get an oil change every 7,500-10,000 miles. However, it is always a good idea to get your oil changed no matter how long it’s been when the weather turns cold. A fresh oil change helps ensure that your car is in its best working condition when it needs to work the hardest.

4.  Create An Emergency Kit

Everyone should have an emergency preparedness kit in the backseat of their car for accidents and bad weather conditions. If its snowing and your car is stranded, it is recommended that you stay inside your vehicle so help can find you. Recommended items for emergency car kits include:

• Bottled water

• Matches

• Jumper cables

• Extra coolant

• Blanket

• Hats and gloves

• Flashlights

• Snacks

• Salt (to melt the snow)

A kit with these items will help you combat the cold weather and help you survive a situation where you are stranded.

5.  Replace Your Wiper Blades

Once it starts snowing, fresh and clean wiper blades are essential for driving. Dirty wiper blades are ineffective at clearing snow and can easily create poor visibility. If you are not able to see through the snow, sleet or ice, you are more likely to get in an accident. New wiper blades can be purchased at almost any auto parts store and you can install them yourself. Or, you can take your car to the repair shop or dealership and they will install the new blades for you.

At Patch & FitzGerald, we want you to have a safe and happy winter season. However, if the weather turns bad and you find yourself in a car accident, we’re here to help. Our attorneys are experienced in personal injury cases and can help you win the settlement you deserve. Call 630-647-2600 for a free case overview or contact us online today.

Independent Medical Exam: What Is It?

After sustaining an injury in an accident, it is understandable if you feel as if you have been poked and prodded enough to last you a lifetime; however, when it comes to your independent medical examination (IME), for the sake of your personal injury or workers’ compensation case it is essential that you keep this appointment. The results of your IME can help you build a solid personal injury case. When it comes to workers’ compensation, your IME results help determine whether you receive a lump sum of money for your injuries.

What Is An Independent Medical Examination (IME)?

An IME is an examination that is performed by a physician who is alleged to be impartial to the case or insurance claim. Typically, independent medical exams are associated with workers’ compensation; however, they are also used in personal injury cases. The goal is for the IME doctor to provide his or her unbiased medical opinion as to the individual’s current medical condition and future prognosis, as it relates to the injury(ies) sustained.

Preparing to Have an IME

Prior to your appointment, you will meet with your attorney so as to go over what you should expect during your independent medical examination.

10 Tips to Help You During Your IME

1. Dress Appropriately

Avoid wearing clothing that makes it look like you have been out engaging in physical activities that your injury would prevent you from participating in. Even if you are just wearing these clothes to be comfortable, it could raise suspicion.

2. Arrive 30 Minutes Early

Unless paperwork was sent to you ahead of time, you never know how many forms you will need to fill out. If your injuries relate to your head, neck, shoulder, arm or hand, it could take you longer than expected to complete the paperwork at the office.

3. Consider Bringing A Copy of Your Medical History With You

There will be a lot of forms to fill out that ask about your medical history. If you have a relatively long history, consider typing it up and making copies to hand out to your physicians. This is much easier than filling out the paperwork when you have extensive medical information to provide.

Most physicians do not mind placing a copy in your file. The information you need to provide includes current medications — both over the counter and prescription, surgical procedures, ongoing medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.).

4. Be Honest About Your Injury

You are about to be evaluated for your injury. Answer the questions truthfully, without exaggerating. Doctors can usually tell when patients are lying and if additional test are run, it could reveal that you are not being truthful, which puts your case in jeopardy. If you are untruthful in the hopes of attaining more money, you could actually get less because you damaged your credibility.

5. If You Have Previous Injuries, Be Sure You Know How to Address These

Part of an IME physician’s job is to determine how much the new injury has aggravated any past injuries you have. Be honest with the physician and avoid exaggerating. Tell the doctor about any new symptoms that have started since you sustained the injury for which you are being evaluated. Talk about the limitations, pain and sensations you are experiencing now that you were not having before.

6. If a Treatment is Working, Admit It

Some patients are hesitant to say that they are feeling better or to say a treatment is helping. They are afraid that saying a treatment is helping will damage their case; however, claiming that nothing is helping relieve your pain can actually hurt your case, honesty is always the best policy.

7. Tell the Doctor Everything

Be sure to tell your IME doctor the entire story of your injury. The story should be consistent with the one that was provided in your claim as well as the one that is in your medical records. Any inconsistency could damage your credibility.

8. Tell the Doctor When You Are in Pain, Avoid Exaggeration

Most physicians ask patients to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. Rating your pain a 10 is probably not a good idea, especially because 10 is usually meant for people who feel as if they need to head for the hospital because of the amount of pain they are in. If you do say 10, the physician may think you are either attempting to mislead or you cannot assess your pain level accurately.

9. Do Not Talk About Your Workers’ Compensation or Personal Injury Case

Even if the physician brings up your case, mention that you have hired an attorney and then change the topic. Avoid talking about other parts of your case, if you make negative comments about the other side, you could hurt your case.

10. Stay Positive and Have Goals

Do not present yourself as someone who is in despair or self-pitying, emphasize to the doctor that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get better. In addition, make it clear that you look forward to returning to work. These things will be written in your report, which makes you more likable while it is being read by others.

NH Worker’s Compensation Law

Under RSA 281-A:38 & 39, failure of the employee to attend an independent medical examination (IME) or obstruct that examination shall result in the suspension of your weekly indemnity benefits until the examination has taken place and no compensation shall be payable during and for such period.

The employee can be scheduled to attend no more than two IME’s per year.

The IME must take place within a 50-mile radius of the employee’s home unless approved by the Department of Labor.

The Independent Medical Examination Report

Once the IME is complete, all parties have the right to review the report. In the introductory section, there will be some basic descriptive data as well as a summary of the doctor’s conclusions. The report will also describe the conversation that occurred between the examiner and the patient. The doctor’s findings will be documented (in detail) and the diagnosis/prognosis will be given.

Whenever you are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, it always pays to talk to an experienced attorney. Your case is much more likely to be successful if you work with an attorney you trust.

Call us today for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. Let our experience work for you. 603-647-2600.

John B. FitzGerald, III Receives 2019 10 Best Workers’ Compensation Attorney Award

Patch & FitzGerald is proud to announce that The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys has named John B. FitzGerald, III as a 2019 10 Best Workers’ Compensation Attorney.

If you have sustained an injury while working, you should contact an attorney who has experience in workers’ compensation and third-party claims in New Hampshire. Patch & FitzGerald handles Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury claims. Please feel free to call us at 603-647-2600. Always a free initial consultation.