Archives for July 2014

Common Excuses Insurance Companies Use to Deny Your Claim

July 31, 2014 By stuartplotnick

Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit, and that means they are more concerned with their bottom line than getting you the compensation you deserve for your injuries after an auto accident. They are notorious for limiting or denying valid claims, and these are the most common excuses you may hear:

The accident was your fault.
Someone else is to blame, usually a third party.
Your injuries are not as severe as you say they are.
You have a pre-existing condition so the accident did not cause your injury.

Stuart Plotnick litigated cases for insurance companies for many years. He knows how the “other side” operates and how they will try to get you to settle for less than your case is worth. Trust your personal injury case to an experienced attorney.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident, please call 301-251-1286 or contact the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick for your consultation with an experienced Maryland accident lawyer.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

National Bike Race Underscores Auto Accident Attorney Expertise

July 7, 2014 By stuartplotnick

An English socialite pedaled through Maryland this month as part of the Race Across America, the national cycling event that for years was dominated by Jure Robic, the Slovenian rider who died in 2010 after being hit on his bike during an auto accident.

At the time of his death nearly four years ago, cycling fans widely regarded Robic, who was 45, as the world’s best ultra-endurance cycler. The athlete was a five-time winner of the Race Across America, the same event in which Pippa Middleton, sister of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, is currently competing.

While drivers around Maryland and the Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area may quickly recognize the need for an auto accident attorney after a crash, pedestrians and bicycle riders are especially at risk of incurring life-threatening and even fatal injuries should they collide with a car. Despite his robust athleticism, Robic died at the scene of his accident four years ago. His injuries reportedly resulted from a head-on collision with a car while he was cycling near his home, according to local police reports.

If you have been seriously injured in an auto accident or a car-bike collision, or if you lost a loved one as the result of such tragedy, make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for your losses. Please call 301-251-1286 or email the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick today for a free case evaluation. We serve clients in Maryland, northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Filed Under: Blog, Car Accident

Maryland Sports Fans Monitor Olympian’s Spinal Cord Injury Progress

July 3, 2014 By stuartplotnick

Instead of traveling cross-country to the renowned Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program at the University of Maryland, Olympic swimmer and six-time gold medalist Amy Van Dyken-Rouen has opted to continue recovering in her hometown from the back injury she sustained earlier this month in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident during a personal trip in Arizona.

No word yet on whether Van Dyken-Rouen and her family will consult a personal injury attorney as a result of the ATV mishap, which severed the athlete’s T11 vertebra and nearly resulted in a fatal rupture of her aorta.

The swimmer, 41, is married to former Denver Broncos punter Tom Rouen. She’s a native of Colorado and checked into that state’s private, not-for-profit Craig Hospital, which specializes in the treatment of spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.

It may be too soon to tell whether Van Dyken-Rouen will make a full recovery from her injuries.

“I feel great,” the swimmer told The Denver Post after arriving at Craig Hospital on June 18th. “I can definitely feel the thoughts and prayers” of fans and supporters.

But she also reported having “no feeling” in her legs.

Approximately 12,000 Americans a year sustain spinal cord injuries, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center in Birmingham, Ala. When those injuries happen as the result of someone else’s negligence, it is imperative to consult with a personal injury attorney in order to ensure victims receive appropriate protections and compensation.

If you live in Maryland and would like a free consultation with a personal injury attorney, please contact the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick. We also serve clients in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Filed Under: Personal Injury

Lawsuits for Medical Malpractice Promote Patient Safety

July 2, 2014 By stuartplotnick

When a patient is treated by a doctor or in a hospital, they’re hoping they’ll leave in better condition than when they arrived. Unfortunately, up to 98,000 people die and at least 300,000 are injured from medical malpractice each year. It’s alarming how many people are severely injured or die due to medical malpractice.

UCLA law professor Joanna Schwartz surveyed hospital risk managers and found that 73% of surveyed respondents reported that medical malpractice lawsuits or claims were useful in identifying and then addressing safety issues in healthcare facilities. Scharwtz’s study found that the threat of financial loss due to these lawsuits, has sparked a stronger interest in creating an environment that’s constantly improving patient safety. It was also found that sometimes facilities get comfortable in accepting a certain level of mistakes and fortunately, medical malpractice lawsuits keep them aware that negligence is never acceptable.

Medical malpractice lawsuits force the wrongdoers to take responsibility for their negligent actions and allows the injured to hold them accountable. These important lawsuits not only help the victims, they help prevent future victims. It reminds healthcare providers and the facilities that patient safety should be number one.

If you or someone you know is a victim of medical please call 301-251-1286 or contact experienced medical malpractice attorney Stuart Plotnick. We represent clients in Rockville, Bethesda and throughout the state of Maryland.