We need good systems of accountability for our hospitals and medical care facilities. In a country in which medical mistakes rank among the top three causes of death each year, we more than ever need ever-improving methods for identifying and fixing weaknesses in our state and national medical systems. Ranking and scoring hospitals on quality of care is one way to help hold medical institutions accountable. Although a shining report card does not eliminate the possibility of medical malpractice, it is an effective way to encourage responsibility, and a way for current and future patients to learn about a facility’s history of patient care.

There is a general public misconception that loss of consortium in a personal injury claim always refers to a relationship between spouses, and usually one of a sexual nature. But loss of consortium is a much wider term. So what does “loss of consortium” include? Loss of consortium covers several types of social and emotional benefits, and, in addition to relationships between spouses, can also include relationships between close family members, such as between parent and child. In short, loss of consortium is when someone is deprived of the vital benefits of a family relationship.

Let’s look more closely at the meaning of this term and how it applies to personal injury cases—in most situations, wrongful death cases.

Roughly 5 to 6 million people are involved in car accidents in the U.S. each year. Think about it—that number is higher than the number of people who are born (less than 4 million), die (less than 3 million), get married (2 million), or earn a bachelor’s degree (less than 2 million) in the United States each year. And the number of car accident cases continues to climb. Chances are, someone close to you will be involved in a car crash at some point in your lifetime.

How do you comfort someone after a car accident? What do you say to someone recovering from an injury? Being present, being willing, and being a good listener is a good place to start. It’s not always easy to know how to be the best friend you can be to someone who was hurt in a car accident. Remember—there is no one-size-fits-all solution, no one right thing to do or say that makes every recovering car accident victim feel better. But understanding your friend better than most people do, you know what will be the most benefit to them as they recover from an accident. We’ll discuss tips in the following article that can help you prepare ways to support your friend.

In your workplace, you should feel safe and respected at all times. When that doesn’t happen and you’re discriminated against or face harassment in your workplace, you file a complaint with your Human Resources department. Even though they’re supposed to be there to help you, and complaints are intended for you to see change and justice, the opposite might happen.

Car accidents can be caused by many different individual factors on their own, or multiple of those factors combined. When you’re a victim of an auto collision, you might think that the other driver is solely responsible for what happened, but they might not be the only one at fault, or they might not be at fault at all.

After being injured by another negligent party, you might be interested in filing a legal claim to hold them responsible for the damage they’ve caused you. But if you’ve never done that before, you might be hesitant because you don’t know how to go about it or don’t know how long it will take.

When you’re ill or injured and go to the hospital or get seen by a doctor, you expect what’s ailing you to get better. If your health declines and you think that your doctor or another medical professional was the one who caused it to worsen, then you might have a medical malpractice claim on your hands. However, you might be unsure if it constitutes as med mal.

When you’re riding your motorcycle, you want to focus on how open and free you feel with the wind whipping around you. You probably try not to think about the negative things that could happen, like getting into a collision. Even though you want to focus on the positives and have a good time, it’s important to consider what could happen if things go wrong.

After an accident where you suffered injuries and damages, you likely will want to file a claim with your insurance company to get coverage for your costs. If someone else was at fault, you’ll use their insurance policy to cover the bills for the damages that you suffered. You might think that this will be straightforward, and they’ll give you exactly what you’re owed, but that might not be the case.

More often than not, insurance companies will fight to protect their bottom lines, which means shorting you in the compensation that you should receive. Let’s take a look at the ways insurance companies will try to reduce your compensation for your claim.

When you experience an accident that causes injuries, and they are supposed to be covered by your insurance, you’ll likely want to file a claim with the company so that you can be compensated for your damages. Under your policy, your insurance company owes you, but what if they try to find a way to avoid paying you?

At DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC, we understand how frustrating it can be when your insurance company doesn’t act how you think they should. We’re dedicated to representing our clients and ensuring that they get the most favorable outcome. Let’s take a look at what bad faith insurance is and how insurance companies act in bad faith.