Portland Personal Injury Attorney | Accident, injury, accidents, personal injury

16 year old teen on his bicycle hit by a Jeep Cherokee

website admin andrew — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 02:28:31 +0000

Woodburn teen on bicycle hit by Jeep Cherokee

A local Oregon teen was hit by a Jeep while riding his bike on November 2 at 9:15am. The 16 year old teen was taken to a Salem hospital with serious injuries. Javier Luevano-Plascenchia of Woodburn has been identified as the bicyclist injured in the bicycle accident. The accident happened on Oregon 99E near the milepost 40 section of the freeway.

State police said that the Jeep hit the teen while he was riding on the gravel median off the side of the road. The 2004 Jeep Cherokee crossed the center line. The driver hit the teen, and then drove away, before returning back to investigate the scene.

The suspect is identified as 60 year old Sherry W. Smead of Woodburn, OR. Ms. Smead was not injured during the incident. Police are still investigating at this time.

The law offices of Robert Le represents clients who have been injured due to the negligence of others. If you need representation or have questions on an injury related to a car accident, bicycle accident, dog bite, wrongful death, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Truck Accidents, Motorcycle Accident, Pedestrian Accidents, Construction Accident, Neck & Back Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries, Premises Liability, Defective Products, Medical Mistakes, or Nursing Home/Elder Abuse, give Robert a call at (503) 667-2350.

-via Oregonlive

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Meningitis Outbreak at 21 deaths and 271 cases

website admin andrew — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:44:58 +0000

Update:

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have released figures on October 19 that show the current deaths from the meningitis infection outbreak that is linked to a fungus is now 21 with 271 confirmed cases. This breakdown of the deaths and cases are located at the CDC website.

Investigation:

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced that unopened vials of methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml) from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) contained the fungus Exserohilum rostratum. NECC has stopped distributing products and the steroid has been recalled and removed from shelves.

A total of 47 patients have confirmed meningitis. Of those 47, only two have a fungus that is not from Exserohilum rostratum but from Aspergillus fumigatus and one with Cladosporium. CDC stated that the last two fungus species are commonly found in the environment and rarely cause meningitis. So far, CDC has not confirmed that other products besides methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml) were contaminated with fungus.

Background:

CDC has said that this meningitis outbreak is not contagious. Approximately 14,000 patients may have received injections with the medication from NECC and approximately 97% of these patients have been contacted according to CDC.

States showing the case count and deaths breakdown are located on a map on the CDC website.

The healthcare facilities who have received lots of the recalled steroid methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml) from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) can be viewed on this map from the CDC.

A clinician guide was put out by the CDC on October 15, 2012.

The law firm of Robert D. Le, with offices in Portland and Lake Oswego, Oregon, represents only individuals who have been hurt by the negligence of others. Robert’s law firm addresses injury from medical mistakes, defective products, car accidents, and other areas.

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Reviews

website admin andrew — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:47:21 +0000

Hello Client:

If Rob has helped you, please let Rob know that he is doing a good job. We love having positive feedback! Take a moment and write a review at the sites below.

We rather spend the money on our friends then spend it on an advertisement. Who better to advertise for us then our clients!

Please accept our thanks for taking the time out to write us a review, and have a cup of Starbucks coffee on us afterwards. Just email us the link to your review and we will make sure you receive a $5 Starbucks Card eGift on us (available at all participating Starbucks).

Thank you for your time and please come back for any future needs.

Please click the picture below to go to the Google review site.

Photo Courtesy of Star Bucks

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Disclaimer

website admin andrew — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:04:18 +0000

Disclaimer

The information contained in this Weblog (Blog) is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. No recipients of content from this site, clients or otherwise, should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in the site without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from an attorney licensed in the recipient’s state. The content of this Weblog (Blog) contains general information and may not reflect current legal developments, verdicts or settlements. Robert Le, PC expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this Weblog (Blog).

Any information sent to Robert Le, PC by Internet e-mail or through the Weblog (Blog) is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis. Transmission of information from this Weblog (Blog) does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Robert Le, PC, nor is it intended to do so. The transmission of the Weblog (Blog), in part or in whole, and/or any communication with us via Internet e-mail through this site does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship between us and any recipients.

Some links within the Weblog (Blog) may lead to other Weblogs (Blogs), including those operated and maintained by third parties. Robert Le, PC includes these links solely as a convenience to you, and the presence of such a link does not imply a responsibility for the linked site or an endorsement of the linked site, its operator, or its contents.

This Weblog (Blog) and its contents are provided “AS IS” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

Furthermore, Robert Le, PC does not wish to represent anyone desiring representation based upon viewing this Weblog (Blog) in a state where this Weblog (Blog) fails to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state.

Reproduction, distribution, republication, and/or retransmission of material contained within Robert Le, PC Weblog (Blog) is prohibited unless the prior written permission of Robert Le, PC has been obtained.

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Meningitis disease outbreak case count stands at 64

website admin andrew — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 03:11:28 +0000

Latest News Meningitis Steroid Outbreak

So far, the CDC has identified 75 facilities in 23 states that received the recalled doses. The CDC has requested doctors and clinics to identify patients who ha received the injections between July 1 and September 28. According to CNN, the Greenspring Surgery Center in Baltimore, Maryland reported that 300 patients had received steroid injections from the recalled product. All the cases, so far, have received epidural steroid injections, commonly given for back pain. Note, this is not the same epidural given to pregnant women.

Millions of people get steroid injections every year to treat their pain. Doctors state that the drug and procedure is considered safe. The CDC has stated that the steroid and procedure are safe. This meningitis disease outbreak has been linked to fungal spores and steroid injections from a pharmacy in Massachusetts. Regulators found one sealed vial contaminated with the Aspergillus fungus spore, at the manufacturing facility.

New England Compounding Center

The pharmacy at the heart of the matter is New England Compounding Center (NECC) located in Framingham, Massachusetts. The pharmacy makes drugs for pharmaceutical companies. NECC has voluntarily shut down all production lines and cooperating with health officials according to a company statement. The company had previously been inspected by Massachusetts regulators in 2006, which resulted in an agreement allowing full inspections of its compounding operations.

Incubation Period

According to the Tennessee Department of Health’s chief health officer, the incubation period of this disease is not yet known. It could be weeks before you know you have meningitis. At-risk patients are encouraged to seek medical consultation and be vigilant of any symptoms related to meningitis. At-risk patients include patients with immune compromised systems, the elderly and currently sick individuals.

Symptoms

According to CDC, these are the symptoms of meningitis fungal infection which is very similar to other forms of meningitis. The following are known symptoms: headache, fever, nausea, and stiffness of the neck, people with fungal meningitis may also experience confusion, dizziness, and discomfort from bright lights. Patients may have more than one of these symptoms.

Mortality/Morbidity

This is the latest information available from the CDC as shown in their meningitis map:

Total case count: 64

States affected: 9

Deaths: 7

Florida: 4 cases
Indiana: 5 cases
Maryland: 3 cases, including 1 death
Michigan: 8 cases, including 2 deaths
Minnesota: 1 case
North Carolina: 2 cases
Ohio: 1 case
Tennessee: 29 cases, including 3 deaths
Virginia: 11 cases, including 1 death

Recap:

States that are affected are:

California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, and West Virginia

Hotline:

The FDA has asked anyone who has had problems with this product to call their hotline at: 1-800-FDA-1088 or on line at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm

Help:

Contact your local health department for further information.

We, at the law firm of Robert Le, located in Portland and Lake Oswego, OR, are personal injury attorneys who understand and represent clients who have been hurt or injured due to the negligence of others, and represent clients in medical malpractice and product defect cases.

References:

Tennessean cases reported

CNN meningitis exposure

USA Today CDC meningitis outbreak rises

CDC meningitis outbreak

NBCNews steroid shots safe

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Meningitis Outbreak hits Minnesota

website admin andrew — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 03:15:49 +0000

Latest Development
In the continuing case of the meningitis outbreak that was first reported in Tennessee, and spread to 7 other states. It has now added another state to the growing list, Minnesota. Four patients of pain clinics in Minnesota came down with symptoms of meningitis. The pain clinics are part of a network of clinics under Medical Advanced Pain Specialists which owns the Minnesota Surgery Center clinics. Over 700 patients are being notified for the potential of their contracting meningitis. All 700 were injected with the steroid for back and neck pain. The clinics received their medication on July 3 and stopped using it on September 26. The steroid was manufactured by a Framingham, MA pharmacy. The product has been recalled.

Health Impact
The steroid has been linked to 35 cases in six states so far. Five patients who have received injections have died.

Medication
The steroid, while considered safe, may have been made by a contracted pharmacy which may not have the stringent standards that a pharmaceutical company may have in quality control and quality assurance. That pharmacy is located in Framingham, MA.

Cause of the Outbreak
While authorities are still investigating the outbreak. It is believed that the fungus, Aspergillus, spores may have contaminated the steroid during production. Aspergillus is the genus name of over 200 species of Aspergillus fungus that causes molds. Normally, these spores are destroyed by the body when it is inhaled. Doctors received bad batches of the medication from the pharmaceutical company.

Conclusion
For more information about the outbreak. Consult the Centers for Disease Control for more information or WebMD for signs and symptoms of meningitis.

At the Law Offices of Robert D. Le, we represent clients in medical injuries from defective products.

-via USA Today

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Meningitis Outbreak Infection Rises to 47

website admin andrew — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 03:13:34 +0000

The meningitis outbreak has risen to 47 nationwide. The outbreak was first found in Tennessee, where the total number of affected individuals has risen to 29 from 25 the day before. Three people have died in Tennessee alone, with a total of 5 deaths nationwide.

The outbreak is not caused by clinicians, according to investigators. The evidence is pointing to a product defect issue due to contamination from Aspergillus fungal spores.

CDC Outbreak Investigation

The CDC reported that Michigan is the latest state to have a case of meningitis related to the outbreak. The total number affected stands at 47 in seven states. According to the CDC, the outbreak is still in the investigative stages. However, they have stated that the meningitis outbreak is not contagious. Furthermore, they have not identified the source of the meningitis fungal infection yet.

Most of the patients who have contracted meningitis received epidural steroid injections, which are injections in the spine that are given to alleviate pain. Several of the patients had strokes that were related to the meningitis disease.

Affected States

The states that have received the contaminated steroid medication from a pharmacy in Framingham, MA include the following: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, and West Virginia.

Patient Information

Meningitis comes from inflammation of the membrane covering the central nervous system comprised of the spine and brain, called the meninges. In this outbreak, a fungus, genus Aspergillus, was introduced into the spinal cord during a steroid injection due to contaminated medicine.

Generally, epidural injections are very safe and are performed by licensed and trained medical specialists, commonly pain management medical doctors. According to the CDC, complications are rare. They also stress that this type of epidural is not the same one used to ease the pain for women during childbirth.

Further Information

For further information, please visit the CDC’s website on meningitis.

If you have a personal injury due to a defective product or bad medical treatment in Portland or Lake Oswego, Oregon, please call Rob Le, personal injury attorney, for a consultation.

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Motorists at Increased Risk of Injury on Gresham Roads in 2012

rob — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:00:25 +0000

You’re most likely to die in a car accident. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of accidental death for Americans. After several years of declining fatality statistics, the government had just about convinced itself that better driver education efforts and increased traffic enforcement were largely responsible.
Unfortunately, statistics released this month revealed that roughly 1,000 more motorists lost their lives on the nation’s roads during the first quarter of 2012, compared to the same period last year — one of the largest increases ever recorded.
Officials are reportedly still debating the potential causes of this rise. Whatever is responsible for the increase, though, drivers are warned. Be careful out there because your risks for being in an accident are increasing!

During the first quarter of 2011, there were less than 6,750 traffic accident fatalities recorded. During the same time in 2012, there were more than 7,600 fatalities recorded, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Particulary alarming is that the first quarter of the year is typically the safest — with traffic deaths building to a crescendo through the summer travel season and the year-end holiday travel periods.
Our Gresham personal injury lawyers understand that this is the second-largest increase ever recorded dating back to modern record keeping in the 1970s.
Some are saying that it’s the weather. We had an unusually warm winter this year, which contributed to more travel by residents. Others are saying it’s the improving economy. “Examination of federal data show that traffic crashes occur more frequently as the number of miles traveled increases,” said Jacob Nelson of the Automobile Association of America.
Whether you are driving across country on summer vacation or just landed that new job, one thing is clear: Driving is likely the most dangerous task of your day. Teen drivers, senior drivers, bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians face outsized risks. Speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving are the most common causes.
Drivers need to be safe out there. As we round out the summer season, we’re only expecting more travel. With more motorists on the roadway, our risks for accidents increase significantly.
“We are disappointed in the news, but not particularly surprised,” Barbara Harsha of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) “Unprecedented gains have been made since 2006 in reducing traffic deaths. So, from that low baseline, an increase is not unexpected.”
Drivers should obey state and federal road laws. Keep distractions out of the driver’s seat and avoid driving while drowsy. The truth of the matter is that most accidents are preventable. It’s a group effort, and that group includes drivers nationwide.

If you have been injured in a traffic accident, contact Attorney Robert Le for a free and confidential consultation today. Call (503) 667-2350.
More Blog Entries:
No Turn Signals? Drivers Causing Car Accidents in Portland, Portland Injury Attorney Blog, May 15, 2012

UPDATE – DRIVER SENTENCED FOR PREGNANT TEEN PERSONAL INJURY IN GRESHAM, OREGON DUI ACCIDENT, Portland Injury Attorney Blog, April 16, 2012

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Happy Fourth of July from Our Portland Injury Attorneys

rob — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:41:40 +0000

In Oregon, state law says that you are not allowed to use fireworks that explode or fly. You’re also prohibited from acting in an uncontrolled manner when handling legal fireworks.
Many residents think that they can buy fireworks from neighboring Washington, but the truth of the matter is that many of these fireworks are also illegal in our state. Prohibited fireworks include M80s, firecrackers, roman candles and bottle rockets. To make sure that you are using legal — not illegal — fireworks, your best bet is to buy them from a licensed and fixed fireworks retail outlet or firework stand, according to the Seaside Signal.

For this year’s celebrations, residents are urged to be cautious when lighting legal fireworks. Each year, more than 9,000 people are injured in firework-related accidents in Portland and elsewhere. Roughly 40 percent of people injured by fireworks every year are bystanders, so don’t think you’re safe just because you’re not the one lighting them. Safety needs to be the number one priority of everyone for this year’s festivities!
Our Portland accident attorneys understand that fireworks aren’t the only threat we’re all facing over the holiday period. The Fourth of July serves as one of the most dangerous times of the year to be on roadways. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that more than 170 people will die in auto accidents during the Fourth. An additional 17,000 people are expected to be injured as well. Make sure that you keep safe driving habits as your top priority to avoid a potentially fatal accident.
This year, more people are expected to head out on Fourth of July vacations that any time in the last five years, according to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Because the holiday period is expected to be so hectic, officials with the Oregon State Police are beefing up their patrols to help to keep you safe on the road.
Since April, the price of a gallon of gas has dropped nearly 45 cents. Between that and the placing of the holiday in the middle of the week, officials believe that more residents will be willing to take the time off from work, make it an extra-long weekend, fill up their tanks and head out on a nice little vacation.
During this time, officers will be focusing on nabbing intoxicated drivers as they continue to push the nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
“No warnings. No excuses. If you drive impaired, you will be arrested,” said Oregon State Police Superintendent Richard Evans.
Over the last decade, more than 50 people have died in car accidents over the Fourth of July holiday in the state of Oregon. Countless others have been seriously injured. Be safe out there, handle fireworks responsibly and practice your safest driving habits. Happy Fourth of July!

If you or a loved one were injured or killed in an accident, contact Portland Injury Lawyer Robert Le to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call (503) 667-2350 today!

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Summer Brings Risks for Drowning Accidents in Portland and Elsewhere

rob — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:35:26 +0000

The summer season is here and residents across Oregon will be gearing up and diving in — to the swimming pool that is.
Unfortunately, this is also a time when we face some serious risks for swimming accidents, too. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about 10 people who are killed in drowning accidents in Portland and elsewhere every single day. About 20 percent of these fatalities are children under the age of 15. As a matter of fact, drowning is the fifth most common cause of unintentional death in the country.

The CDC reports that there were more than 3,500 fatal drownings from just 2005 to 2009 in the U.S. That doesn’t count boating accidents.
Our Portland injury attorneys understand that children age 14 and younger are the most likely victims of these kinds of accidents. For this reason, we’re calling on help from parents. With the proper supervision and safety steps, we can all do our part to help to reduce the risk of drowning-related accidents. For each young child who is killed in one of these accidents, another 5 are sent to an emergency room for treatment on nonfatal submersion injuries.
About half of all drowning victims who are taken to an emergency room are then hospitalized or transferred for further care. This is alarmingly high when you consider that less than 10 percent of all unintentional injuries require the same type of treatment. These kinds of drownings can cause serious and permanent brain damage, including permanent loss of basic brain function, learning disabilities and memory problems.
How to reduce these accident and injury risks if you have a pool at home:
-Install a four-sided fence around your swimming pool. Make sure that this fence is at least 4 feet tall, and that it’s locked whenever the pool is not in use. Be sure that the doors of the fence open outward and that children can’t reach the latches.
-Keep all toys away from the pool deck. Keeping the toys away from the pool area will help reduce a child’s temptation to go near the pool area while they are by themselves, alone, and unsupervised.
Tips to help swimmers stay safe in the water:
-Never swim alone. Always bring a friend.
-Never allow children to swim without supervision.
-Avoid drinking when hanging out at the pool. Drinking reduces your ability to make responsible decisions and increases your risks for an accident.
-Consider getting certified in CPR. Knowing this life-saving technique can help to save lives while emergency response teams are on their way to a swimming pool-related accident.
-Enroll in a swim class. Those who have professional training are less likely to drown.
-Check out the weather conditions before scheduling a pool event.
-Never substitute safety flotation devices for floating toys.

If you or your child has been injured in a swimming pool-related accident in Portland, Oregon, or in any of the nearby areas and you need to speak to a Portland personal injury attorney, contact Robert Le, Attorney at Law. Call 503-667-2350 or contact us through our website.

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