We put our trust in a medical professional to diagnose and treat any ailment or injury. However, just because we trust a doctor and their staff doesn’t make them infallible. A study from Johns Hopkins University found that 250,000 patients die annually from medical errors. That number surpasses the deaths attributed to respiratory illnesses. Those statistics are the reasons for the establishment of the seven national patient safety goals.

Every hospital must undergo a stringent accreditation process. The Joint Commission is the organization charged with making those assessments, and it has vetted over 22,000 health care organizations nationwide. State governments recognize that accreditation is a condition for practitioners to receive Medicaid and Medicare payments.

As part of their overview process, the Joint Commission established the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) to improve patient health care. Along with a panel of safety experts, the Patient Safety Advisory Group (PSAG), the Joint Commission established seven goals that doctors and patients should put into practice. All of the safety recommendations are designed to reduce the risk of injury due to instances of medical malpractice.

Close your eyes and count to five. That might seem like a short time, but that is how long it might take you to type and send a text. If you’re driving at 55 mph, those five seconds would be equal to driving the length of a football field, and a lot of destruction can happen in that time. That is why West Virginia is one of 48 other states that have some form of texting-while-driving laws. As a responsible driver, you need to know if you can use hands-free devices while driving in West Virginia.

If you ever get into an accident, you need to notify three groups of people. First, you have to tell your family that you’re okay. Next, you should call the police to generate an accident report. Lastly, you have to report a car accident to your insurance company. How long you wait to make those reports depends on several factors.

A devasting car accident can happen in the blink of an eye. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,308 car fatalities were attributed to distracted driving in 2022. Unlike collisions caused by weather conditions, distracted driving incidents are entirely preventable. When you understand the most common types of driving distractions, you can take proactive measures to keep them from happening while driving.

Here are the most cited distractions a motorist encounters while driving:

When it comes to car injury cases, your legal team needs to build a strong case that centers around the facts. One way to establish fault and show causation for your injuries is with the help of expert witnesses.

These knowledgeable professionals play an important role in unraveling the intricacies of accidents, injuries, and liability. At DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC, we have worked with many expert witnesses to help with our clients’ cases. These individuals can be invaluable resources when it comes time to take your claim to trial.

Here are a few points to know about the role of expert witnesses in car injury cases.

After you have been injured in a car accident, you might think that you have plenty of time to file a claim. Unfortunately, that is not true. There is a time limit to take legal action, and if you miss that deadline, you could lose your opportunity to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC, we understand these deadlines. For that reason, we always ensure that our clients don’t lose out on much-needed compensation for their cases.

If you would like to learn what is the statute of limitations for car accident claims in West Virginia, let’s take a closer look at the law.

Medical malpractice is a serious concern for many patients. When you visit a health care provider, you expect to be properly treated for illnesses or injuries. If these professionals fail to live up to their duty, they may be accountable for their actions.

While doctors and surgeons may seem like the most negligent providers, nurses also bear responsibility for caring for their patients. If they neglect their duty of care, they could also face legal repression.

Let’s look into whether nurses can be sued for medical malpractice.

Everyone gets frustrated on the road. But what happens when that turns into road rage? We have all heard stories about angry drivers causing havoc on the streets. Is there a way to de-escalate the situation so you don’t end up in an accident?

Our lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC, have handled many car, truck, and motorcycle accident cases over the years. Most of the time, the fault is due to another driver’s actions.

When it comes to dealing with an aggressive driver, do you really know how to handle drivers with road rage? Here are a few tips to help avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

You were involved in a trucking accident here in Charleston or elsewhere in West Virginia. As someone who may have been in a crash before, you may think you know the basics of what to do after one, including calling 911 to make a police report, seeking medical attention, taking pictures, and writing down information about witnesses and the other motorists involved. While those same steps apply in trucking accident cases, there are other things you need to do.

No one wants to get the news that they have cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, around 2 million Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis.

But what happens if your cancer is not detected right away?