Author: YostLaw

Maryland Drivers Ignore School Buses’ Red Flashing Warning Lights, Needlessly Endangering School Children

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) boasts that students are 70 times more likely to get to school safely than traveling by car. Buses are also equipped with many safety features bright yellow paint, flashing red lights, and stop sign arms to direct and navigate traffic.  But Maryland drivers are often ignoring the bright red flashing lights and driving by school buses as they pick up or drop off students.

The law in Maryland is clear, drivers must come to a complete stop when the flashing red lights on a school bus are activated and wait until the lights have been turned off before proceeding forward.  This always applies to all traffic traveling in the same direction as the stopped school bus. It also applies to vehicles traveling in the opposite direction except where there is a divided median.  Only where there is a is a concrete median or grass median dividing the lanes, can traffic traveling in the opposite direction of the bus proceed.  Violators of this Maryland Motor Vehicle Code can be given a fine of up to $570.00 and have three points assessed on their driving record.  The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is encouraging police to better enforce this law designed to protect children while getting on and off school buses.

The MDSE has conducted surveys in all 24 counties to determine the extent this law is being violated.  In the latest survey for the 2017-2018 school year, there were 3,812 school bus driver reports of vehicles not stopping when students were being loaded or unloaded from school buses.  However, the real numbers measured by bus cameras are much higher.  Counties are beginning to expand school bus camera enforcement programs where school buses have cameras that take pictures of vehicles as they pass school buses with their flashing red lights on. Under the program, the owner of the vehicle which passes a stopped bus with flashing red warning lights is given a $250 ticket.

Montgomery County school bus camera enforcement program cited 4,800 car owners for violations in the 2016 school year when only 12 buses had cameras installed. In the 2018 school year, 500 of its 1,200 buses had cameras installed to record dangerous motorists who did not stop for school buses.  Montgomery County counted 19,566 citations issued to the car owners where their vehicle dangerously and illegally passed a school bus with red flashing lights.  Expanding the school bus camera enforcement program is critical to making reckless drivers aware of their obligation to stop at red flashing lights. Student safety depends on drivers following the law to permit them to travel to school safely.

If you or a loved one has been harmed as a result of a serious school bus accident, call the school bus accident lawyers at The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529).  The Yost Legal Group has extensive experience in handling school bus accident claims in Baltimore and throughout the state of Maryland. We will review every detail of your situation at no cost to you and help provide answers you seek. And, there is no fee or expense unless you recover.

The Yost Legal Group – Experience. Compassion. Results.

Preeclampsia, Placental Abruption and Birth Injuries

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It is estimated that every 1 in 100 births is affected by preeclampsia and placental abruption. These conditions can not only cause harm to the baby, but to the mother as well. Often times these birth injuries can have an impact on the child for the rest of their life.

Preeclampsia occurs when an expectant mother develops high blood pressure, usually after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and this complication of pregnancy can also affect other organs such as the liver and kidneys. The earlier in the pregnancy that preeclampsia occurs, the greater the risk it creates for both mother and baby. One of the biggest signs that an expectant mother may have preeclampsia is if her blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.  Preeclampsia can also cause organ damage and a drop in blood platelets.  In addition to checking blood pressure, diagnosis of preeclampsia can include blood work (to check for low platelets or thrombocytopenia), and urinalysis (to check for an elevated level of protein in urine, or proteinuria).

The developing baby, too, is at risk from preeclampsia, with its complications including reduction of blood flow to the placenta, which can restrict the baby’s growth (fetal growth restriction) or separation of the placenta from the uterine wall (placental abruption) which can cause life-threatening bleeding to both mother and baby, and loss of oxygen to the baby.  If there are any signs of a placental abruption an immediate delivery, usually by caesarian (c-section), may be required. Failure to promptly deliver the baby can result in permanent brain damage due to loss of oxygen (hypoxic brain injury).

If your child suffered a brain injury at birth, contact The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (800-403-7259). The birth injury attorneys at The Yost Legal Group are experienced and caring professionals ready to investigate your claim with compassion and determination. Call us today to receive a free, confidential consultation about your possible case.

We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front, and you owe us nothing unless we win your case.

Vulnerable Children and Adults in Group Homes Face Risk of Abuse

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Many questions and concerns should be considered when an individual and their family members or guardian explore long-term residential care options. The terminology used to describe these residential facilities varies. For example, they may be referred to as group homes, care homes, or residential care facilities.  Sadly, one consideration concerns whether placing an individual in such a facility exposes them to the risk of abuse.

The development of group homes resulted from a societal need to provide care to vulnerable people with complex care needs. Care homes are designed to help such people by providing a communal environment where health and social care providers meet the cognitive and physical needs of the residents on a 24-hour basis. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as many residents suffer from the harmful effects of neglect or abuse.

Statistics regarding the amount of abuse that goes in these facilities shocks the conscience. An organization based in Los Angeles called The Disability and Abuse project, a group whose focus aims at combating physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of people with developmental or intellectual disabilities collected important data concerning this issue. In conducting a recent nationwide survey, they gathered more than 7,200 responses.

The results of the survey found that 70% of those with developmental disabilities in group homes had been neglected, assaulted, or otherwise physically or sexually abused. More than 50% of these individuals alleged suffering physical abuse, while 41% reported sexual abuse. Similar studies have shown that people with developmental disabilities are more likely to be victims of abuse by someone they know. Unfortunately, they are also more likely to remain in abusive conditions. Although these statistics may appear to be alarming, experts believe they are actually understated, as a considerable amount of the abuse that takes place is never reported. Regrettably, the abuse occurring in these residential facilities often affects victims who are less likely to have access to the justice system, such as being able to consult with an attorney.

If you suspect your loved one has suffered and been the victim of abuse within a group home, call The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (800-403-7259), for a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.

Complications from Fetal Macrosomia

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A baby born weighing more than 8 pounds 13 ounces (or 4,000 grams) weighs significantly more than the average baby, and so meets the definition for macrosomia, or “big baby syndrome”, which carries with it the risk of injury during delivery.   If the baby’s birthweight is even greater – 9 pounds 15 ounces (or 4,500 grams) and above – the chance of injury during birth is even higher. Roughly 10% of all babies born within the United States are born with fetal macrosomia.

Among the greatest risks during delivery of a baby with macrosomia is the possibility the baby will be too large to safely navigate the birth canal and will suffer injury from complications such as shoulder dystocia (baby’s head emerges, but a shoulder remains trapped behind the mother’s pubic bone, preventing completion of delivery of the baby), brachial plexus injury (stretched or torn nerves in the baby’s affected shoulder and arm) and interruption in the baby’s supply of oxygen, which can cause permanent brain damage to the child.  There are also risks of injury to the mother delivering a baby with macrosomia, including excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) and uterine rupture.

A mother is at an increased risk of delivering a baby with fetal macrosomia if she has gestational diabetes (diabetes which begins during pregnancy); if she has previously given birth to a baby that had fetal macrosomia; if she gains more than the average amount of weight during her pregnancy; if her baby is born more than two weeks beyond the due date; or, if the expectant mother is over 35 years old.

Management of macrosomia includes delivery of the baby via C-section to prevent the baby from suffering a shoulder dystocia and related complications (nerve damage, loss of oxygen and/or permanent brain injury) of vaginal birth, or attempted vaginal birth, of a baby with macrosomia.

If your child suffered a birth injury, contact The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (800-403-7259). The attorneys at Yost Legal Group are experienced, caring professionals ready to investigate your claim with compassion and determination. Call us today to receive a free, confidential consultation about your possible case.

We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front, and you owe us nothing unless we win your case.

Increasing Motorcycle Fatalities in Maryland

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The Governors’ Highway Safety Association’s most recent report indicates that nearly 5,000 people are killed in motorcycle accidents each year.  Even with Maryland’s strict helmet laws, motorcyclists are still dying at a higher rate than other motorists. When a motorcycle rider does survive a crash, their injuries can be life-changing.  Injuries such as fractures, loss of limbs, and traumatic brain injuries are common in motorcycle crashes. Frequently the motorcycle rider is left with large medical bills and lost time from work.

Reliable statistics show that most of the collisions involving motorcycles are the fault of the other driver and not the rider. Car and truck drivers usually pull out in front of the motorcycle or turn in front of them taking the motorcycle rider’s right-of-way. This is true in daylight and at night. The issue becomes one of conspicuity. Although the motorcycle is there plain as day to be seen, the other driver just does not see them. Many drivers are not looking for motorcycles and miss them when they expect to see only a large car or truck.

Riders need to take as many precautions as possible. Bright colored clothing should be worn and reflective yellow traffic vests can improve the visibility of the motorcycle. Always use your headlight. Loud exhaust pipes can help because if the driver hears the motorcycle, then they will look for one. There is safety in numbers. Riders who travel together make it much easier for drivers to see the bikers. These suggestions make it easier to be seen. There are other safety considerations. Always wear a helmet. Head injuries can be fatal, but even just a mild blow to the head can cause a traumatic brain injury. Road rash is painful and can cause disfigurement. It is important to wear protective clothing and gear to prevent scarring.

If you or a loved one becomes a victim of another driver’s inattentiveness, it is important to get legal advice. At the Yost Legal Group we always provide free initial consultations to injured riders. Call us today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-403-7259) or find us on the web at www.yostlaw.com. There is no fee or expense unless you recover. We have recovered millions for injured riders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Catholic Church’s Sexual Abuse Conspiracy in America

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Few institutions commanded more trust and respect from followers than the Catholic Church. But that is changing. It has been reported that over the last 40 years, the Catholic Church in the United States and its insurance companies have paid out more than $3.8 billion in lawsuits and claims involving allegations of clerical sexual abuse. A recent Pennsylvania investigative grand jury produced a report close detailing credible reports of abuse by the Catholic clergy affecting over 1000 children and adults. The grand jury determined at least 300 priests were to blame. The final report tells of an undisputed culture of sexual abuse and cover up at the upper levels of the church. The question now is whether the state prosecutors will institute criminal actions against the pedophiles and their protectors.

Apparently, this is not limited to the United States. There have also been findings of sexual and psychological abuse in Catholic-run industrial schools and orphanages in Ireland for most of the 20th Century, as well decades of sexual abuse totaling tens of thousands of children, in Australian institutions. The Catholic Church in Chile has been under fire as Chilean prosecutors cited cases of sexual abuse involving 266 victims, including 178 children, and date as far back as the 1960s.

The details of the Pennsylvania grand jury report show a pattern of protecting pedophiles who are priests. The Catholic Church substituted its sacrament of reconciliation for the legal system’s prosecution of criminal acts. But reconciliation can only be given to those who confess and are truly repentant. It has been reported that abusers were simply moved to new parishes, given a fresh start, which included access to children and others. The sentiment today is that no man is above the law. The Catholic Church’s standing in the United States in particular, is in a precarious place.

The limitations to bring criminal actions against pedophiles and rapists varies from state to state. There are also time limits to sue the Catholic Church. The laws providing time for victims of sexual abuse who were minors have changed over time. In Maryland the law for minor sex abuse victims has evolved from requiring a suit to be filed by age 21, then 28, and now 38. There may be other changes in the laws of various states permitting new suits to be filed for sexual abuse. It is also possible the Catholic Church will acknowledge this dark page in its history and do right by the people it did not protect.

If you or a loved one has questions about your right to compensation from sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic church, call the Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW. There is no fee or expense unless you recover. Speak to an experienced lawyer for a free initial consultation. Thousands have been affected. You are not alone.

Injury During Spinal Surgery

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Spinal surgeries can be very long and involved procedures.  Despite the fact that it is not common, patients are at risk of a spinal injury during surgery – such as nerve root or spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis, numbness, loss of bladder and/or bowel function, limited mobility or disabling pain.

Sometimes the hardware implanted during spinal surgery, such as metal screws and plates, is negligently placed and pinches, punctures or severs spinal nerves or the spinal cord.  Negligent placement of surgical plates and screws, or negligent use of a surgical instrument, such as a drill, may also cut or tear the fluid-filled membrane (the dura) protecting the spinal cord, causing both nerve damage and a spinal fluid leak (CSF leak).  Further, the protrusion of the surgical screws, through the bone (vertebra) and into surrounding nerve fibers and other soft tissue, causes damage which often results in the patient needing a revision surgery.

Usually, the symptoms of a spinal injury caused during surgery appear immediately after the patient wakes up from the anesthesia. These injuries often result in the patient having excruciating pain, areas of numbness, limited ability to move a hand, foot, arm or leg or, sometimes, quadriplegia – the inability to move all four limbs.

If you or a loved one were injured during a spinal surgery, contact The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (800-403-7259). The attorneys at Yost Legal Group are experienced, caring professionals ready to investigate your claim with compassion and determination. Call us today to receive a free, confidential consultation about your possible case.

We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front, and you owe us nothing unless we win your case.

Traumatic Brain Injury

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A TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) is known to be the leading cause of death from sports injuries.  Even mild TBIs can have serious and long-lasting consequences.  TBI disrupts the normal function of the brain. Normally caused by a blow to the head or a penetrating brain injury,  for example,  a soccer player who falls and hits their head on the ground, or collides with another player could result in a mild or severe TBI.

A mild TBI is often characterized by a brief change of mental state, and often goes undetected.  Following a mild TBI, one might experience headaches, fatigue, dizziness, memory loss or a variety of other symptoms.  More severe TBIs are associated with loss of consciousness, coma or even possibly death.  All TBI’s require medical attention but not everyone who experiences this injury is aware of the severity of their injury or willing to go through the long process of recovery from TBI.

According to All About TBI, nearly 300,000 sports-related TBI’s occur each year in the United States.  Unfortunately, many athletes do not come forward about their injuries so they can continue to play sports.   The failure to detect and treat this kind of injury is especially dangerous for younger athletes whose brains are not fully developed.  Athletes with untreated TBIs are vulnerable to additional injuries.

TBI is a life-changing experience for the victim and their loved ones.  Understanding the symptoms of TBI and the treatment options could save a life. If a family member suffers a TBI, The Yost Legal Group may be able to help. Our experienced brain injury lawyers work closely with victims of closed head injuries to help them get a proper diagnosis and pursue the full amount of compensation for their financial needs. If you or a loved one has suffered brain injury, call 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) to receive a free, confidential consultation about your potential claim.

Seizure Activity in Newborns – Hypoxia

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According to the Florida Neonatal Neurological Network about 20 out of every 1,000 full term births will be affected by a lack of oxygen to the brain (hypoxia) during labor and delivery.  Babies who are born prematurely are at even greater risk, because their lungs are not fully developed and they are unable to fully manage breathing on their own.

Hypoxia is the most frequent cause of seizure activity in newborns and can cause additional damage to the baby’s developing brain.  Neonatal seizure activity can occur within minutes to hours of birth, and is typically confirmed by electroencephalography (EEG) – a test performed by attaching sensors to the infant’s scalp to monitor the brain for any abnormal electrical signal activity.  The scalp sensors are wired to a machine that records the brain’s electrical signals and displays the brain activity on a monitor or printout so that medical specialists are able to observe and interpret any brain seizure activity.

There are several additional tests that can be run to determine if a newborn baby’s seizures are being caused by a hypoxic, or hypoxic-ischemic (HIE) injury to the brain. In addition to EEG monitoring, a newborn baby suffering from seizures will have lab tests to check the blood oxygen level (pulse oximetry) and various blood, urine and spinal fluid tests to check glucose, potassium, bicarbonate and other chemical levels.  Also, brain imaging studies (ultrasound, CT and MRI) will be performed.

If your child has suffered from seizures as a result of an injury at birth, contact The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (800-403-7259). The attorneys at Yost Legal Group are experienced, caring professionals ready to investigate your claim with compassion and determination. Call us today to receive a free, confidential consultation about your possible case.

We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front, and you owe us nothing unless we win your case.

Periventricular Leukomalacia in Newborns

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Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is an injury to the brain which occurs when tissue deep in the baby’s brain, called the white matter, dies away or is damaged.   If a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen during labor and delivery, the brain cells in the baby’s white matter can die or be damaged.  The patches of damaged or dying brain cells which lead to a diagnosis of PVL can be seen on brain imaging studies, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which are tests typically performed on infants whenever there is suspicion the baby did not receive enough oxygen during labor and delivery.

The severity of PVL varies from child to child, depending on the size and location of the damaged brain tissue.   Infants who suffer PVL are more likely to develop cerebral palsy (CP) because the brain injury caused by PVL can damage the nerve cells that control movement.  Nerve cells damaged by PVL can cause the growing child’s muscles to tighten, stiffen and uncontrollably contract and spasm.   Muscle groups in any part of the body may be affected, with involuntary leg spasms and contraction being the most common.  Severe damage caused by PVL can also cause seizures and developmental delays.

There is no treatment for PVL.  Monitoring a baby for development of PVL and managing the problems caused by this brain damage are the responsibility of your baby’s doctors.

PVL can severely impact your child’s development and quality of life.   If your child suffered a brain injury at birth, contact The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (800-403-7259). The attorneys at Yost Legal Group are experienced, caring professionals ready to investigate your claim with compassion and determination. Call us today to receive a free, confidential consultation about your possible case.

We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front, and you owe us nothing unless we win your case.

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