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Suffering a deep laceration on the job can be scary. Not only does this require immediate attention, but you realize that it could have a long-lasting impact on your physical wellbeing as well as your appearance. There are many first aid steps you can take to treat a laceration. Above all else, you need to know when it’s a good idea to call 911: — If blood is spurting out and can’t be stopped. — If a cut is bleeding uncontrollably. — If the bleeding can’t be stopped within five to 10 minutes of firm pressure. Since it’s better to be safe than sorry, don’t hesitate to call 911 if you have any concerns about the injury. First aid steps for treating a laceration include: — Immediately stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure. — Clean the area and protect it until a medical professional can provide treatment. — Immediately visit a health care professional who can provide treatment and advice on follow up steps. There are many things that can lead to a deep laceration injury at your place of employment. For example, if you work with heavy machinery, this could happen at any point in time. If you find yourself in this position, get the help you need without delay. Along with this, remember that the injury may keep you away from your job in the future. For this reason, you will want to learn more about filing a workers’ compensation claim. This will allow you to receive money while you recover from your injury. Source: Web MD, “ Cuts or Lacerations Treatment,” accessed Jan. 27, 2017

A scar can make you feel self-conscious, be unsightly or even feel painful. No scars are exactly alike, and there are many kinds you could be dealing with. When your scar is the result of an injury that someone else caused, that person should have to provide you with a way to pay for the necessary treatments to help heal this condition. Scarring itself occurs when the body heals after an injury. However, some do not heal cleanly, leaving dark marks, raised formations or painful, tough skin. Keloid scars, for example, form when the body heals in an overaggressive manner. A keloid scar can actually make it difficult to move in some cases, which could require surgery to correct. Smaller keloid scars can be treated with freezing therapies. Another kind of scar is a hypertrophic scar. These red, raised scars are like keloids but don’t extend beyond the boundary of the injury itself. These scars can be treated with steroids or silicone to help flatten them. Contracture scars also cause some trouble. These occur most commonly after burns and cause the skin to tighten. This makes it hard for you to move in some instances, depending on where the scarring is. Some of these scars go deep into the tissues, muscles and nerves. After you suffer an injury that results in scarring, you may need additional treatments to recover. Laser treatments, surgeries to remove scar tissue and other techniques can be used, but they may be costly. It’s important to reach out and look into your legal options if your injuries are a result of someone else’s negligence. Source: WebMD, “ Cosmetic Procedures: Scars,” accessed Dec. 23, 2016

When an employee is killed on the job, it is very tragic. It affects not only the family of the deceased worker, but his or her coworkers, friends and community. Workers’ compensation death benefits are in place to help the family financially during this difficult time. However, there are certain requirements that must be met. Because it can be very confusing to know what an eligible family member is entitled to when it comes to a loved one’s death benefits, it is advisable to have the experience and guidance of a workers’ compensation attorney on your side. For example, the total amount of death benefit payments is dependent on many factors. These include: — The deceased worker’s Average Weekly Wage — The State Average Weekly Wage — The deceased worker’s family income — The number of dependents The maximum benefit limit as of January 2016 is $69,177.00. The death benefits from worker’s compensation in Maryland also include reimbursement for funeral expenses. In order to receive reimbursement, a form must be completed and sent to the Workers’ Compensation Commission. The loss of a working family member can cause a financial hardship for the remaining members of the family. This is on top of the devastating grief the family is already dealing with. The death benefit is not meant to replace a life insurance payment; however, it will help with the family’s finances until they can learn how to live without their loved one’s full income. As you can see, workers’ compensation death benefits are very complicated and the advice of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can be very helpful. Source: wcc.state.md.us, “Maryland Workers’ Compensation Rates,” accessed Dec. 22, 2016

Unfortunately, we cannot predict when or where the next mining accident will occur. However, there are specific things that can be done to limit the risks of a mining accident. — Train, train and train some more: Miners must have extensive safety training and there is a lot of not only mandatory training for minors, but optional training, too. — Simulation: Many of those in charge of mining operations make use of high-tech tools to train miners correctly. Some of these tools include virtual reality simulators and machinery simulators. When miners can see what can happen in emergencies, the skill and progress of the miner can be easier to pinpoint. — Safety legislation: Governments, professional organizations, labor organizations, mine operators and many more academia are likely to make up the rules to mining. Many international mining groups have pushed their exploitation and health and safety standards. When these are implements, it becomes safer. However, There are other things to consider, too, such as personal protective equipment, safer explosive products and the replacement of workers for operations that are the most dangerous. If you have a workers’ compensation claim because of a workplace accident, you may benefit from the knowledge of an experienced attorney. Your attorney can work to provide you with a strong defense, including one that can handle all of the ins and outs that your case will have. You deserve to be compensated when you are injured in a workplace accident. Such compensation can include medical expenses, emotional distress and lost wages, all of which can be of importance when you are injured and unable to work. Source: The Balance, “ What Can Be Done to Prevent Mining Accidents?,” Emily A. Gardner and Michael Belcher, accessed Dec. 07, 2016

One of the most frequent citations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for construction work involves scaffolding. The hazards associated with the use of scaffolding are significant, accounting for fatalities each year in the construction industry. The Safety Standards for Scaffolds Use in the Construction Industry is OSHA’s rule, in place to protect those who work with scaffolding. There are several provisions to this rule, including: — Inspections: Before each shift or after something happens that could affect the scaffold’s structural integrity, it must be inspected for defects by a competent person. –Fall arrest systems and fall protection: Every employee who is over 10 feet above a lower level must be protected by a fall arrest system or guardrails. — Capacity: Scaffolds and related components must be able to support at least four times the maximum load. Rigging must support at least 6 times the maximum load. — Training: Each employee must go through training on the possible hazards and how to best control them. — Guardrail height: For scaffolds used after Jan. 1, 2000, the height of the toprail must be between 38 inches and 45 inches. There are specific instances when the person inspecting the scaffolding must a competent person, a qualified person or an engineer. The instances are quite complex and are listed in OSHA’s scaffold law. If you have been injured in a scaffold accident or you lost a loved in a scaffold accident, you have a right to pursue workers’ compensation benefits or workers’ compensation death benefits. If your claim is denied, an experienced attorney can help you file an appeal. Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry,” accessed Nov. 08, 2016

Tractor roll bars are an important safety tool that help save lives on farms. Farmers who used tractors without a roll bar risk being crushed if the tractor rolls over. Roll bars can cost upwards of $2,000 a piece, while those for John Deere tractors may be sold for $1,200 or less. Is there any help for farmers who want to purchase this safety equipment? In some states, those who purchase these roll bars can receive rebates since they are being safer than other users. It’s worth reaching out to the manufacturer and a legal professional to find out of the local government or manufacturers are offering rebates. How effective are rollover systems? Rollover systems are 99 percent effective for preventing injuries and deaths when a roll bar is used with a seat belt. When seat belts aren’t being used, the system is still 70 percent effective. How many rollover deaths are a result of poor training? Around 80 percent of all tractor rollover deaths involve experienced farmers. Without the system in place, it’s possible to break legs, suffer head injuries, break arms, suffer lacerations or be crushed under the weight of the tractor as it rolls. It should be required to use a seat belt when you have a roll bar installed, because it keeps you in position if you roll. The roll bar protects you from crushing injuries that would take place if there was no structure above you, but it can also cause injuries if you’re not strapped in when your tractor rolls. With the right safety equipment, you can stay safer on the farm. If you are an employee who has to work with equipment that doesn’t have all the necessary safety equipment and you get hurt, you should be able to seek workers’ compensation payments. Source: Inforum, “ Tractor roll bars help save lives in most common farm accidents,” Don Davis, accessed Oct. 26, 2016

As a patient, it’s always important that you can get the drugs you need when you need them. If you get hurt at work and need to get a prescription, the first thing you do is look for a generic. It’s cheaper and as effective as branded drugs. If a company tries to take away your ability to access this generic, then it can be charged for malpractice, fraud and other crimes. Maryland is among a majority of states now suing the makers of the heroin addiction treatment drug, Suboxone, for antitrust violations. The lawsuit claims that Reckitt Benckiser, which is now known as Indivior and MonoSol RX, worked to block generic competition for Suboxone by creating a dissolving film version of the drug instead of a tablet. As a result of that switch, consumers have had to pay artificially high prices for the drug since 2009, when a generic would have been able to have been put on the market otherwise. The company claims that the allegations are without merit, and that as a small company in New Jersey with manufacturing in Indiana, they have patented technologies and high-quality items that they provide to caregivers and patients. The company’s chief executive officer claims that Suboxone as a sublingual film is a product that has saved numerous lives since its approval in 2010. Originally Suboxone was a tablet. They came out in 2002 and were placed under a patent that prevented other companies from developing generics for at least seven years. Before the patent expired, the companies Reckitt and MonoSol worked together to create a new version of this drug and then shifted the market away from the tablet, indicating that it would be better to use the film. Once most of the consumers had changed to using the film instead of the tablet, Reckitt took the tablet off the market. For patients, this kind of negligence cost them an extensive amount of money. Health care providers also have to absorb the cost, and in some cases, when a cheaper generic alternative is not available, patients don’t get the drug that they need. Source: The Baltimore Sun, “ Maryland among 36 states suing makers of heroin addiction treatment drug Suboxone for antitrust violations,” Sarah Gantz, Sep. 23, 2016

In March 2013, a man was admitted to the University of Maryland Medical System due to kidney problems. While in the hospital, his potassium levels became high and his doctors prescribed Kayexalate. Kayexalate pulls potassium from the patient’s blood and moves it to the colon. A bowel movement then releases the excess potassium out of the body. The man’s wife noticed he had blood in his stool after taking the drug. This was several hours before the medical staff ran tests and determined the there was something wrong with the man’s colon. When the man went into surgery, his family members believed that part of his colon had to be removed. After surgery, they learned that surgeons had to remove the man’s entire colon. The next day, the man died. In 2015, the family sued the health care system, saying that the doctor who prescribed Kayexalate was not aware of the complications the drug can cause. The family’s lawyer told the court that dialysis could have been used to reverse the high level of potassium and it would have been much safer. The University of Maryland Medical System issued a statement after the jury awarded the man’s family $10 million. That statement said that the medical system plans to file an appeal in the case. When the wrong drug is prescribed to a patient, there can be tragic results. Medical malpractice cases are complex and require medical experts to detail exactly when the standard of care was not met and what could have been done differently to save the patient from serious injury, illness or death. If you or a loved one has suffered due to medical negligence, you have a right to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages other damages. An experienced attorney can provide you with more information on your legal options. Source: The Baltimore Sun, “ UMMS must pay family $10 million in malpractice suit,” Andrea K. McDaniels, Sep. 22, 2016

No matter how hard a company tries, there will be times when an industrial accident happens. While this isn’t always serious, there are situations in which the end result is injury or death. There are many potential causes of an industrial accident. This includes but is not limited to contractor negligence, lack of safety requirements, and faulty equipment. If you’ve been injured in an industrial accident, the first thing you should do is receive medical treatment. You want to have your injuries examined to ensure that you implement the right treatment schedule moving forward. From there, you can review the accident to determine who was at fault. For example, you may find that a third party contractor is responsible because they left debris at the work site that caused your injury. Or maybe you find that the equipment you were using is defective. In this case, it’s the product manufacturer that may be responsible for your injury. When you work in an industrial capacity, you know that you could be involved in an accident at some point. Furthermore, even when you do your best to avoid trouble, you could still find yourself in a bad spot. If you or a loved one has been injured in an industrial accident, you need to know what to expect in the weeks and months to come. You don’t have to face insurance companies and your employer alone. Instead, you have the right to hire an attorney to protect your rights in Maryland. Our law firm knows what it takes to assist those who have been involved in an industrial accident. We make it our goal to help our clients make a full recovery.

Like many other kinds of industries, the food industry uses factories and conveyor systems to package, monitor and manufacture products. Some of those facilities, slaughterhouses, can be particularly difficult work. Slaughterhouse workers face injuries on the job; they are exposed to hazardous equipment and face long-term injury due to repetitive motions. Many people are forced to work for many hours and at high speeds to complete daily quotas; they may receive few breaks and have to work in hot or cold conditions for extended periods of time. In a case reported by one worker, she was asked to bag up to 50 hams a minute; she worked 12-hour shifts up to seven days a week. She had great reviews and was awarded employee of the month a number of times. Despite this, when she started to have shoulder issues, her employers told her to go home. Then, when she went to the company doctor, she discovered she had a bone spur. It worsened over time, and she had to have surgery. She was diagnosed with a repetitive motion injury. It’s already documented that beef and pork processing workers are close to seven times more likely to suffer from repetitive motion injuries, looking at 2014 data. In a 2015 report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 76 percent of workers in a plant in Maryland had nerve conditions found in at least one of their hands. If you have worked a job like this, you know how hard it can be on the body. You and workers in these situations do deserve the compensation you need to support yourself when your job directly causes injuries or disabilities that affect you and your family. Source: KUOW, “ Working ‘The Chain,’ Slaughterhouse Workers Face Lifelong Injuries,” Peggy Lowe, Aug. 11, 2016

According to Carnegie Mellon University, 15 percent of all accidental deaths are due to slips, trips and falls. It is second only to fatalities caused by motor vehicles. Is there a difference between a slip, a trip and a fall? For victims, there really isn’t much difference. Pain is pain, right? However, there are some real differences. Slips happen when there isn’t enough traction or friction between the walking surface and your feet. Slips most commonly occur on wet or icy surfaces or when footwear has poor tread. Tips for preventing slips include: — Wearing shoes with slip-resistant footwear. — Walk slowly on surfaces affected by rain, snow, sleet or other weather hazards. — Clean up spills as soon as possible. — When walking on wet surfaces, walk with your feet pointed out slightly, shorten your stride and make wider turns. Trips are different. These accidents occur when you are thrown off balance because your foot strikes an object. In order to avoid tripping on something: — Keep glasses clean of fog. — Don’t let packages you carry to obstruct your view. — Report missing or burned out lights, broken or uneven pavement or broken or missing handrails. — Be conscious of an elevator’s threshold. — Close file cabinet and desk drawers when you’re not using them. Finally, falls occur from one level to another level. Falling down stairs is one of the most common examples. Ways to prevent falls include: — Never using a chair as a ladder. — Use the proper ladder for the job. — Don’t jump from the last step on a flight of stairs — always walk. — Use handrails. — Always report conditions that could be unsafe. No matter how safe you may believe you are at work, an accident can still occur. If this happens to you and is due to the negligence of your employer, you have a right to seek workers’ compensation benefits. If those benefits are denied, an attorney can help you learn more about your legal options. Source: Carnegie Mellon University, “Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention,” accessed Aug. 28, 2016

Crashes caused by recklessness are some of the most tragic, particularly for families who lose a loved one. If you’ve lost someone because of a drunk driver’s negligence or because another driver felt speeding was appropriate, you do have rights as a member of the victim’s family. On top of a civil case, the driver who killed your loved one may be sentenced, like in this case. A federal officer and part-time Uber driver has been sentenced in a case in which he struck another vehicle and left a woman dead. According to the story, the man had been driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .10 percent when he struck a Ford Taurus with his Ford Fusion traveling at around 84 mph. He was traveling in a 40 mph speed zone. When the accident occurred, it was because the 35-year-old drove his vehicle across double yellow lines; the other driver was unable to avoid him. The crash was severe enough that it took the life of the 50-year-old woman, a mother of one. Shortly after the wreck, a 911 call came in from a different driver who witnessed the event. That driver said that the black vehicle, the 35-year-old man’s car, was speeding and that the driver was being reckless. He had run a red light right before the accident. The 50-year-old woman passed away after the collision, leaving her daughter, now 12, and husband behind. In lieu of the events, the 35-year-old man has been sentenced for the crash, and he will spend five years in prison. He has another five years of probation to complete following his sentence as well. Source: NBC Washington, “ Federal Officer and Part-Time Uber Driver Sentenced to 5 Years for Fatal Drunken Driving Crash,” Jackie Bensen and Ellie Hartleb, Aug. 03, 2016