Lake Charles Personal Injury Law Blog

Sharing the road with commercial trucks is an inevitable part of life for residents of Louisiana and the United States, but for many motorists, navigating their way around these large, heavy vehicles can be an anxiety-inducing experience. When cars and trucks collide with one another, the smaller vehicles typically find themselves on the losing end, which is why it is especially important that truck drivers stay sober, drive safely and otherwise exercise care when traveling. There is a hidden danger that appears to be affecting truck drivers’ performances nowadays, however, and it involves the long trucker commute.

According to TruckerInfo.com, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is concerned enough about the potential effects long commutes have on truck drivers that the administration wants a survey conducted to determine just how much of a danger exists for other motorists. The agency notes that, as population increases continue and many truck drivers find themselves priced out of major housing markets, these same truckers must move long distances away from their company headquarters, which can hinder job performance.

Did you know that many Louisiana residents, especially seniors, are in a state of polypharmacy? This practice of taking many prescription drugs at the same time is not necessarily injurious all by itself, but each new pharmaceutical you take could increase your risk of experiencing serious side effects. You probably depend on doctors, pharmacists and nurses to keep an eye out for potential interactions. Unfortunately, sometimes your trust in these professionals could turn out to be misplaced.

Here at the office of Lee M. Schwalben, M.D., J.D., LLC, our team is ready to decode the complex jumble of prescriptions, treatments and caregivers that our clients bring to us. We want to make sure that failed practices or unethical practitioners responsible for injuries are brought to light and dealt with responsibly.

When Louisiana residents receive a prescription, they usually expect that their doctor has written them an appropriate dosage for the correct medicine. Sometimes errors happen, though, and it is important for people to know what they should do when they learn there is something wrong with their prescription.

Medication errors can happen for a number of reasons. The World Health Organization says that some medicines have similar names and packaging and this can cause some pharmacists to reach for the wrong medication. Additionally, sometimes medical professionals may need to process several prescriptions in a short period of time and if they are distracted when filling out prescriptions, they may make a mistake. Additionally, medication errors can happen if doctors and their patients do not have good communication. Some doctors may also not understand all of the risks of certain medicines or they may not have enough knowledge of a patient's medical background. In this situation, a medical professional might prescribe the wrong medication or dose.

When Louisiana residents get in the car to run errands, they may sometimes bring their pets with them. While many people enjoy their pet's company, they may not consider what might happen to their pet if another vehicle hits their car. It is important for people to understand how they can keep their pets safe if they are involved in a collision.

Many people regularly bring their pets on errands. According to Pet Pro Supply Company, one survey found that more than 80 percent of pet owners typically bring their dog on car rides. Most of these pets usually do not wear harnesses or sit in a crate. The same survey reports that a pet restraint is used by roughly 16 percent of dog owners.