What brought this issue to the fore is not the fact that March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness month, but rather a gruesome incident in an NHL game last Sunday. During the third period of a game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins was knocked unconscious by a check to the head administered by Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke. Savard, one of the team’s star forwards, was taken off the ice on a stretcher, wearing a head-brace. According to ESPN he has been diagnosed with a grade 2 concussion and is widely expected to be out for the remainder of the season.
What has outraged hockey fans – and not just in Boston – is the league’s decision not to punish Cooke for the infraction, despite the fact that he has been suspended on three previous occasions for unnecessarily rough play (two of those suspensions involved hits to the head). Even one of Cooke’s own teammates, Bill Guerin, “expected Cooke to be suspended”, according to the Boston Globe, and expressed incredulity when he was not. “If a guy gets hurt like that with a shot to the head, there’s got to be something,” the Globe quoted Guerin saying.
The lone bright spot in this story comes from reports that the hit on Savard – coming on the heels of several similar incidents this season – has prompted the League’s general managers to give serious consideration to changing NHL rules to outlaw all hits to head when the 2010-11 season begins next October.
Though Oregon has some of the country’s stronger laws concerning student athletes and head injuries, the ongoing debate in the NHL is a reminder that sometimes the legal system has to step in when the rules of the game are inadequate. If you or a loved one has sustained a concussion and believes an Oregon traumatic brain injury may have resulted, consulting with a Portland head injury lawyer is a prudent step. An experienced Oregon brain injury attorney can advise whether you are entitled to damages or other compensation as a result of the injury.
ESPN: GMs frame rule for hits to head
Boston Globe: Guerin: NHL should outlaw hits to head
According to CBS, the teenaged Tahoma, Washington linebacker “writhed on the ground” after an initial hit near the end of the first half of a 2006 game. He returned to the field after halftime, but as the game ended collapsed in pain, his eyesight gone because swelling in his brain was cutting off an optic nerve. The teenager was rushed to the hospital where he spent a month in a coma, and another 20 months on a feeding tube. Today, “he has very little feeling and movement on his right side and remains dependent on a wheelchair,” according to CBS.
As he recovered Lystedt became an advocate for stronger rules governing student athletes and potential traumatic brain injuries. Last year Washington’s legislature passed a law, named in his honor, establishing “the most stringent return-to-play protocols of any state in the country,” according to CBS. Among other things, the law bars student-athletes who suffer a suspected concussion from returning to the playing field until they have been examined and cleared by a licensed medical professional. Lystedt now spearheads an effort to get similar legislation adopted in all 50 states, and possibly at the federal level.
The lingering effects of an Oregon traumatic brain injury can be devastating for friends and loved ones, as well as for the victim him or herself. If you, or a loved one, falls victim to an Oregon traumatic brain injury consulting with a Portland traumatic brain injury attorney at your earliest possible opportunity is an important early step toward protecting your rights and examining the legal implications of the injury and the circumstances surrounding it.
CBSSports.com: Young player helps turn trauma into action on concussions
Brain Injury Association of America: 2010 Brain Injury Awareness Month Homepage
Expert opinion is coalescing around the idea that children should face backwards until they are at least two years old, the Bulletin reports. Oregon’s Public Health Service adds that “children under the age of two are 75% less likely to be killed or severely injured in a motor vehicle crash is they are riding rear facing rather than forward facing.”
There is an especially great danger of Oregon traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries when young children are not properly restrained in an approved car seat. The Bulletin, citing child emergency physician Dennis Durbin, notes that “young children have weaker neck muscles than older children and adults. Their ligaments are looser. And the bones in the neck aren’t locked together in the same way as an adult’s.” These physiological factors put small children at a significantly higher risk of traumatic brain injuries when they are in a forward-facing car seat. Rear facing seats are safer because in a crash they tend to provide more support for a child’s neck and back.
In the horrifying event that your child suffers an Oregon traumatic brain injury as the result of a Portland, Beaverton or Corvallis auto accident the assistance of a Portland traumatic brain injury lawyer can be essential in helping you sort through the accident’s legal and financial consequences. An Oregon brain injury attorney can help address questions of fault and financial responsibility, and advise on compensation to which you may be entitled.
Bend Bulletin: Rethinking Car Seat Safety
Oregon DHS Public Health Office: Link to August 25, 2009 newsletter on car seats
The Oregonian reports that the cyclist was seriously injured in the incident, and that the driver has been charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault and felony hit-and-run. Bail was set at $250,000.
The accident is a reminder of the importance of both cycling safety, and of the need for the strict enforcement of laws requiring motor vehicles to share the road with law-abiding Oregon bicycle riders. Drivers who intentionally run down cyclists are, mercifully, rare. Far more common, however, are careless motorists who simply do not pay as much attention as they should to Oregon bike riders. A Portland bicycle injury lawyer can advise cyclists who have been hit by cars – whether accidentally or intentionally – on their legal rights and whether they are entitled to damages to cover expenses incurred as a result of an Oregon cycling accident involving a car or truck. Such accidents can be especially dangerous, since Portland cyclists hit by a car stand a significant chance of suffering an Oregon traumatic brain injury.
Oregon’s high quality of life is based, in part, on our state’s bicycle-friendly reputation. Bikes are entitled to share the roads with cars, and the legal system offers remedies for bikers who find that motorists are not holding up their end of the law.
The Oregonian: Portland-area man accused of deliberately running down a bicyclist on U.S. 101 near Seaside
KVAL.com: Oregon man accused of intentionally hitting cyclist with car
According to the tech site TMC News the application is currently available only for handsets running Google’s Andriod operating system, though versions for other platforms are anticipated. The site reports that the application is being marketed to parents as a way to promote safer driving habits among teens. A number of studies in Oregon and nationwide have shown distracted driving – specifically texting or talking on the phone while behind the wheel – to be a growing problem. The legislature has sought to crack down on Oregon distracted driving by banning texting by Oregon drivers, as well as the use of phones without a hands-free device.
As TMC points out, in its early form Textecution has some bugs that may need to be worked out. It reportedly uses a phone’s GPS capabilities to determine whether the phone is in a moving vehicle. That does not, however, make it capable of distinguishing between a phone whose owner is driving the car and one whose owner is merely sitting in the passenger seat (or riding on a bus).
Still, it seems likely that as is so often the case in the world of personal technology a clunky early version will be followed within a year or two by something that does the same thing much more efficiently. It also is an indication of the seriousness with which citizens and policy-makers alike are coming to view Oregon distracted driving (were there no perception that people are taking the issue seriously there would be no incentive for software developers to try to find a market).
Even with technology striving to help fix this problem, the legal system remains a significant deterrent to dangerous behavior. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a Portland distracted driver, consulting with an Oregon distracted driving accident attorney should be a top priority. Even if the police have not cited one party to an accident for Oregon driving and texting, if such behavior played a role in the accident you may be entitled to significant compensation to replace lost wages and salary, or to help with medical bills.
TMC News: Textecution Disables Texting, Email and Web Browsing While Driving
According to a recent Oregon government report on animal bites, “each year, nearly 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs, and nearly 25% of those bitten require medical attention.” In the Florida case, two officers answered a call after local residents reported dog attacks. The Sentinel quoted police official reports which stated that upon arriving at the address the officers tried to capture the dog, but were forced to shoot it after it attempted to attack them. It was, the paper reports, the second such incident in the Orlando area in a month.
Though dogs are often beloved pets, owners have a responsibility to keep them under control, lest they become a danger to the wider neighborhood. Last year, an Oregon state study using data from June 2002 to July 2003 found records of 636 Multnomah County dog bites – a surprisingly high number, even for Oregon’s most populous county. Boys age 5-9 were the most likely to be bitten, according to the survey. This Portland dog bite data highlights the importance of strong legal representation by an experienced Oregon dog bite attorney should you or a member of your family become the victim of an Oregon dog attack.
Dog bites, according to the State public health division, account for 85-90% of all animal bites requiring emergency room treatment. A Portland dog attack attorney can be a key ally in winning the compensation you deserve in the wake of a biting incident.
Orlando Sentinel: Pit-bull attack: OPD officer shoots, kills attacking dog
Oregon Department of Human Services – Public Health Division: May 2009 Newsletter on Animal Bites
According to The Oregonian, Siclovan was arrested and taken to the Columbia County jail. He has been charged with felony attempt to elude, reckless driving, criminal mischief and second degree kidnapping. The last charge relates to a female passenger who he let out of the vehicle after crossing onto Sauvie Island. The woman later told police that Siclovan had refused to let her out of the car as he attempted to escape from the police. She was not arrested.
It is fortunate that no one appears to have been harmed in the incident. The chase is a reminder, however, of the damage a reckless driver can potentially cause. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a Portland reckless or high speed driver consulting with an Oregon auto accident injury lawyer at the earliest possible opportunity is a prudent course of action. An experienced Portland personal injury lawyer can offer valuable assistance, and help you determine whether your situation merits a claim for injuries or other damages suffered in an Oregon auto accident.
KPTV.com: High speed chase ends in Sauvie Island crash
The Oregonian: Police arrest Vancouver man after tag-team chase to Sauvie Island
The focus of the case is former Portland TV host Ken Ackerman. According to The Oregonian, Ackerman contends that a botched 2003 operation to repair a bulging spinal disk has left him in near constant pain, reduced his dexterity in one hand and reduced his sensitivity to hot and cold on one side of his body. Ackerman sued for $5 million and was awarded $1.4 million after a 2006 Portland medical malpractice trial. His suit also challenged a law limiting damages against state employees performing their official duties to $200,000. The question of whether the law protected the doctor and hospital from damages above that figure was effectively resolved when the State Supreme court overturned the limits in a separate 2007 case.
Ackerman’s latest victory is good news for anyone who has been the victim of Oregon medical malpractice and is seeking compensation for his or her injuries. A Portland medical malpractice attorney can advise clients on the best ways to approach a case, based on the victim’s own particular experiences. In addition to medical bills and lost wages or salary, compensation can include awards for pain and suffering, and for lost potential income. The state’s moves to revise the old caps on liability awards is an important acknowledgement that in this age of ever-rising medical costs the value of damages associated with Oregon medical malpractice claims should also rise accordingly.
The Oregonian: Court rules that former Portland TV personality should get $1.4 million from doctor, OHSU
Portland Business Journal: OHSU will appeal $1.4M ruling
The driver of that vehicle also sideswiped the car he was trying to pass. According to the Creswell Chronicle, Clayton was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The paper reported that he was wearing neither a helmet nor any reflective clothing, though it is worth emphasizing that he was riding as he was supposed to: with traffic, along the right-hand side of the road.
Clayton’s tragic and preventable death is a reminder of how important it is for Oregon drivers to take special care when they are around cyclists. Our state, and the city of Portland, are widely considered to be among the most bicycle-friendly places in America, but that does not mean every driver on the road uses the care and discretion one would hope for when they are around cyclists.
If you are a Portland cyclist who has been injured – or the loved one of an Oregon cyclist who has died – in an Oregon bicycle and car collision it is important to seek the advice of a Portland bicycle injury lawyer as soon as possible after the incident. Drivers are obliged to share the road with law-abiding Oregon cyclists. Those who fail to do so leave themselves open to significant civil, or even criminal, judgments.
The Oregonian: Police identify Cresswell man killed in car vs bicycle crash
Creswell Chronicle: Fatal vehicle/bicycle crash on Hwy. 99 near Creswell
As the newspaper writes: “The biggest difference is on checks to the head. While the N.H.L. continues to debate whether some hits to the head should be penalized, the I.I.H.F. (hockey’s international governing body) has outlawed them.”
Another obvious difference: international hockey – like college hockey here in the States – shows no tolerance for on-ice fighting. More subtle differences include rules requiring visors and the use of chin straps on players’ helmets, and mandating that a player whose helmet comes off leave the ice immediately.
Taken collectively, the rules demonstrate a pronounced concern for player safety and a desire to prevent traumatic head injuries. The result will be games that, while hard-hitting, more closely resemble what one sees regularly in Oregon and elsewhere at the college level, as opposed to the NHL or other North American professional leagues.
These rule differences will come as a relief to anyone who has ever contemplated the effects of an Oregon traumatic brain injury and the effect it can have on a loved one’s life. If a loved one has been the victim of a Portland brain injury, whether through sports or as the result of an auto or bicycle accident, consulting with a Portland, Oregon traumatic brain injury attorney is a painful, but essential, step in the process of rebuilding a family’s life. Depending on the nature and circumstances of the injury your family, or loved one, may be entitled to compensation that will help cover medical bills, lost wages or other expenses.
New York Times: At Olympics, an NHL rink, but not an NHL style
The newspaper reports that the Portland area traffic accident took place on Arndt Road, near the intersection with Airport Road around 7 am on Wednesday shutting down traffic on Arndt road in both directions during morning rush hour. One of the drivers, 49 year old Michael Lee, was treated at a Portland hospital and was cited for both reckless driving and driving while suspended. A second driver, Hector Estrada-Vargas, was treated at a hospital in Tualatin.
The Herald, quoting police officers, reports that the accident began when Lee, who was traveling eastbound on Arndt Road, illegally passed another vehicle on the right. In executing the pass he lost control of his pick-up truck, careened into the westbound lane and collided with three oncoming vehicles, including the one driven by Estrada-Vargas.
Incidents like these remind us why it is important that our justice system offers injured parties recourse beyond the criminal citations issued by police at the scene. Victims of Oregon reckless driving or a Portland area auto accident of any kind should consult with a Portland personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the incident. Compensation for injuries and damages you suffer in an Oregon car accident can be substantial, depending on the nature of the crash. Seeking advice from an Oregon car crash lawyer at the earliest opportunity is the best way to protect your rights.
Canby Herald: Two hurt in four car accident
According to the Durham Herald-Sun the 17 year old high school football player called 911 from home after experiencing stomach cramps following practice. A paramedic and a fourth-year medical student examined him “and advised him to continue to drink fluids.” The two rescue workers then left him alone. The teenager died a short time later. The incident, which took place in August 2008, has now led to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the boy’s parents against the paramedic, county emergency services and the county government. The official cause of death has not been released, according to the Herald-Sun.
It would be wrong to discount the enormously important, and sometimes dangerous, jobs that paramedics and other emergency responders perform every day. This story is also, however, a reminder that when serious mistakes, or negligence, occur it is important that those responsible be held to account.
An Oregon wrongful death can be an especially traumatic event for the loved ones who are left behind. Should your family be unfortunate enough to suffer a situation like this, consulting with a Portland wrongful death attorney can be a first step toward bringing some balance, and peace of mind, back to the lives of family members left behind.
Durham Herald-Sun: Family of late Chapel Hill football player files wrongful death lawsuit
The name of the program to prevent Eugene fatal traffic accidents takes its name from what law enforcement officials cite as the three biggest factors in Oregon auto accidents: “driving impaired, driving too fast and failure to use seatbelts.”
Citing Eugene police department statistics, the paper reports that even though official estimates are that 96% of Oregonians use seatbelts, lack of a seatbelt remained “a major factor in half of Oregon’s traffic deaths in 2008.”
The fact that police feel the need to launch a coordinated, high-profile Oregon traffic safety campaign of this type is a reminder that there are still a remarkably large number of dangerous drivers on the road. If you or a loved one are unfortunate enough to be in an Oregon injury accident it is important that you consult with an experienced Portland or Eugene Personal Injury Attorney as soon as possible. Even if police officers at the scene opted not to cite anyone you may be entitled to civil damages arising from a car, truck or pedestrian accident.
The police are working to make out streets safer, but the justice system also plays a role in making seeing that Oregon reckless drivers pay for the damage they cause.
Eugene Register-Guard: Police to target driving dangers
Fernandez charges that the tree had been marked by the Forest Service for removal and that the logging company failed to cut it down within the timeframe agreed in the company’s contract with the government. He is alleging negligence on the part of the logger for failing to cut down the tree, and on the part of the Forest Service for failing to hold the loggers to their contract.
While unusual in some respects (people more commonly get sued for cutting down a tree improperly rather than for failing to cut it down in the first place), at its core this is a familiar sort of Oregon personal injury case: one that seeks to recover damages caused by alleged negligence on the part of the government and a private company.
Anyone involved in a Medford injury accident is well-advised to consult an Oregon personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An experienced Portland accident lawyer can advise you on the best course of action after considering your particular circumstances, including whether you may be entitled to damages to compensate for medical bills, pain and suffering, damage to your property or lost wages or salary.
The Oregonian: Here’s a twist: southern Oregon man sues Forest Service for not cutting a tree
AP from the Sacramento Bee: Oregon Man Sues Over Tree that Fell and Hurt Him
This is an issue I have written about before (see this post from last November), and one which has caused the NFL a certain amount of public relations trouble in recent months. On CBS, Goodell rejected any suggestion that the NFL has been, as host Bob Schieffer put it, “late to recognize” the seriousness of concussions and brain injuries as a problem at the professional level. The commissioner said the league has been on top of the issue “since the mid-90s”; adding: “Medical science is still trying to determine what are the long-term effects of concussions. How do you treat these?”
This is a position with which some might take issue. As I noted in November, the league is working to counter accusations it ignored or downplayed the seriousness of concussions in football for years. When Schieffer pointed out that the NFL’s own studies show that football players are five times more likely than members of the general population to suffer brain injuries or memory loss and that among 30-49 year olds that figure rises to 19 times the average, Goodell was quick to dismiss the very NFL studies he had been touting as examples of League responsibility a few minutes earlier. “This wasn’t a medical survey,” he said.
Oregon’s leadership on the issue of brain injuries has recently been praised by outside activists. Our new laws, however, are not likely to eliminate Oregon brain injuries entirely. If a tragedy like this befalls a member of your family, or if you believe a sports injury sustained years ago is now manifesting itself in the form of memory loss, it is important that you contact an Oregon traumatic brain injury lawyer at the earliest feasible time. The process of safeguarding your rights begins with an understanding of where you stand in legal terms. Every situation is different, but a Portland sports injury lawyer can help in sorting through the difficulties of your particular circumstances.
Face the Nation web page (includes video of the full interview with Goodell)