Treatment for Burn Injuries

Severe burn injuries caused by car accidents or workplace accidents, often require hospitalization. Burn injuries are treated with a variety of types of treatment. For example, treatment may include: 

• Topical treatments with antibiotics. Patients with severe burn injuries are susceptible to viral and bacterial infections. Topical antibiotic medications may be applied to the skin to speed the healing process, to minimize scarring, and to prevent infection. 
• Bandages. Serious burns typically need to be bandaged to prevent infection, and to allow the wound to remain clear of fluids and pus. Bandages also help reduce pain and keep the skin and body part immobilized during healing.
• Pressure garments. Pressure garments are often worn on a burned area during the healing process to help prevent excessive scarring. 
• Elevating burned areas. Elevation helps minimize swelling of the affected limb. In severe burns, fluid often accumulates in the wounded area, causing swelling. Swelling can complicate a burn injury because the affected area can develop high levels of pressure and blood flow problems. 
• Surgical cuts or escharectomies. This procedure helps reduce excess pressure under the skin in a burned limb. 
• Skin grafts. This procedure involves transplanting a piece of skin from one area of the body to another. 
• Synthetic skin grafts. If a large portion of a victim’s skin is burned, synthetic skin may be used instead of the victim’s own skin. 
• Physical therapy. During healing, scar tissue is formed. To help keep the newly formed skin flexible for normal movement, burn victims may participate in rehabilitation and physical therapy. If the burn extends through the skin into the muscle tissue, more intensive physical therapy may assist in a patient’s recovery. 
• Dermabrasion. This is a surgical procedure to improve or minimize the appearance of scars, restore function and correct disfigurements as a result of a burn. 

If you’ve suffered burns as a result of a motor vehicle accident, in Minnesota, your auto insurance company is obligated to pay for up to $20,000.00 for your medical expenses. These are known as personal injury protection benefits. In addition to claims for your past and future medical expenses, you may be able to make a claim for past and future wage loss and past and future pain and suffering as part of a civil liability claim against the at-fault driver.

If you suffered burn injuries as the result of a workplace accident, you may be eligible for Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and rehabilitation benefits.

If you’ve suffered a burn injury as the result of a car accident or workplace injury, a Minnesota personal injury lawyer or workers’ compensation lawyer can help you through the process of making sure you get the benefits you’re entitled to. For a free, no-obligation consultation, contact Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Avoiding Parking Lot Accidents During Holiday Shopping

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, shopping at malls and stores can be a nightmare. Frayed tempers, lack of parking spots, and heavy traffic can result in parking lot fender benders and pedestrian accidents. During the holiday season, it’s wise to exercise some extra caution during holiday shopping when parking and pulling out of parking spaces. The holidays can be stressful—don’t add more stress by having a parking lot accident.

1. Park far away from the store. During holiday shopping, parking spots are hard to find, and impatient drivers can be dangerous when you’re trying to get in and out of a spot. Remote areas of the parking lot see less traffic, making it easier for you to safely back your car out when it’s time to leave. 
2. Be observant on your way to your parking space. On your way back to your car after completing your shopping, watch for dangers, such as parents with small children and nearby cars. Seeing these dangers ahead of time can help you anticipate them when you’re backing out of your parking space. 
3. Check your blind spots. When pulling out of your spot, check all your mirrors and blind spots. Be mindful that parents are out and about with their children who can run behind your car as you’re backing out. Use extra caution in busy parking lots. 
4. Drive slowly. Slowing down allows you to react to in time to avoid accidents. Driving slowly when driving in parking lots, and when backing out of your space is particularly important if the weather is bad or when it’s dark out. 
5. Be a responsible pedestrian. As you’re walking through a parking lot, stay in pedestrian-designated areas and make sure drivers see you. Avoid dashing in front of cars or behind cars that are backing out without looking. 

Even low-speed parking lot accidents can result in injuries. If you sustain injuries as a result of a parking-lot accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to Minnesota No-Fault Benefits, and you may be able to bring a claim for damages against the at-fault driver. For a free, no-obligation case evaluation, contact Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to speak with one of our attorneys.

Top 25 Property/Casualty Insurance Companies of 2010: How Does Your Insurance Company Rate?

A.M. Best released its annual list of the top 25 insurance companies in terms of net premiums written in 2010. Is your auto insurer or workers’ compensation insurer on the list?

1. State Farm Group—$50,808,635
2. Allstate Insurance Group—$24,796,656
3. Liberty Mutual Insurance Cos.—$21,483,996
4. Berkshire Hathaway Insurance—$21,358,316
5. Travelers Group—$20,594,458
6. American International Group—$19,687,720
7. Nationwide Group—$14,489,531
8. Progressive Insurance Group—$14,476,676
9. Farmers Insurance Group—$14,129,512
10. USAA Group—$10,679,414
11. Hartford Insurance Group—$9,688,760
12. Chubb Group of Insurance Cos.—$8,927,736
13. CNA Insurance Cos.—$6,188,618
14. American Family Insurance Group—$5,324,290
15. Allianz of America—$4,666,301
16. Auto-Owners Insurance Group—$4,485,442
17. Munich-America Holding Corp.—$4,413,834
18. Zurich Financial Services NA Group—$4,400,123
19. Erie Insurance Group—$4,019,273
20. Ace INA Group—$3,705,475
21. Transatlantic Holdings Inc. Group—$3,418,020
22. W.R. Berkley Group—$3,392,330
23. The Hanover Insurance Group Property & Casualty Cos.—$3,053,508
24. MetLife Auto & Home Group—$2,983,236
25. Cincinnati Insurance Cos.—$2,965,462

Keep in mind that bigger doesn’t always mean better. You’ll recognize some of the “biggest” insurers also appear on the American Association for Justice’s list of Top Ten Worst Insurance Companies for consumers. Is your insurer on THAT list?

Insurance companies are businesses. Their most basic goal is to pay out less in claims than they make in premiums. Every claim paid out, whether it is a workers’ compensation claim, a no-fault claim, or an auto liability claim, cuts into their profits.

If you’ve sustained injuries as a result of an auto accident, or if you have a work-related injury, you are a liability in the eyes of the insurance company. Their end-of-the-day goal is to pay you as little as possible. 

Whether you’ve got a Minnesota workers’ compensation injury, or injuries as a result of a Minnesota car accident, an experienced attorney can help make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to. For a free, no-obligation consultation with Jen Yackley or Ron Meuser, workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyers at Meuser & Associate, call us at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email. 

Whiplash Injuries and Minnesota Car Accidents

Whiplash injuries are one of the most common types of injuries we see in our Minnesota personal injury practice. Whiplash is most commonly caused by a rear-end car accident. Whiplash is also known as a hyperextension/hyperflexion injury.

Whiplash is a neck injury that often occurs as the result of a rear-end auto collision, when your head suddenly moves backward, then forward. The extreme forces involved in an auto collision can push your neck muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion. Whiplash can be relatively minor or it can be more severe.

Most whiplash symptoms develop within 24 hours after the injury, and often include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue

Some people also experience:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Sleep disturbances
• Ringing in the ears
• Irritability

You should seek medical care promptly if:

• The pain spreads to your shoulders or arms
• Moving your head becomes painful
• You experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms

Many people recover from mild whiplash injuries within a few weeks, but up to half of people who suffer a whiplash injury continue to have pain for months after the injury.

When you see your doctor, he or she will probably ask how the injury occurred, and he or she may test your range of motion, or how far you can move your neck in various directions. He or she may also check to see if certain areas of your neck are particularly tender to touch. To rule out neurological deficits, your doctor may also check for diminished muscle strength, reflex abnormalities, or numbness. To rule out more serious injuries, your doctor may also order x-rays, a CT-scan, or an MRI.

Whiplash is commonly treated with:

• Medications, such as over-the-counter pain killers, prescription pain-relievers, injections, or muscle relaxers
• Physical therapy, including ice, heat, ultrasound, strengthening, and exercises
• Or, chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, and electrical muscle stimulation.

For more information , visit the Mayo Clinic’s page about whiplash injuries.

Whiplash can be extremely painful, it can limit your ability work, and it can interfere with your ability to do things you enjoy doing. Unfortunately, insurance companies consider whiplash injuries to be very minor injuries. Your No-Fault insurance company will almost invariably seek to discontinue your entitlement to medical expense benefits if you’ve sustained a whiplash injury, and the at-fault party’s insurance company will almost always view these types of injuries as minimal.

If you’ve sustained injuries in a car accident as the result of someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, your wage loss, and your pain and suffering. For a free, no-obligation with one of our Minnesota personal injury attorneys, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email.

Attention Motorcyclists: Be Sure You Have Sufficient Insurance Coverage

According to the Star Tribune, one person was killed and another seriously injured in a Chisago County motorcycle versus mini-van accident on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. According to the article, the minivan ran a stop sign, hitting the motorcycle.

As of the end of July 29 motorcyclists had been killed in Minnesota this year. At the same time last year, there were 26 deaths. The article also notes that August and September are typically the most deadly in terms of motorcycle accidents.

Last year, there were a total of 72 deaths – the most since 1985. All other types of motor vehicle deaths have been on the decline, but deadly motorcycle accidents appear to be on the rise.

Meuser & Associates frequently represents people who are hurt in motorcycle versus car accidents. Unfortunately, regardless of fault, the motorcyclist usually is on the losing end of a motorcycle versus car crash. Invariably, the injuries are severe.

Unlike other vehicles in Minnesota, motorcycle owners are required to carry only liability insurance. Motorcyclists are not required to carry no-fault insurance, uninsured motorist coverage, or underinsured coverage.

It’s an unfortunate truth that motorcycle crashes usually result in severe injuries. As such, I can’t recommend strongly enough that motorcycle owners purchase sufficient no-fault insurance, uninsured motorist insurance, and underinsured motorist insurance to cover medical expenses, wage loss, and pain and suffering in case of a severe accident. Too often we see motorcyclists who suffer significant injuries but the at-fault party either has no insurance, or their insurance coverage is not sufficient to compensate the injured motorcyclist for his or her medical expenses, wage loss, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Even if you are at fault, or involved in a single-vehicle crash, no-fault insurance covers your medical expenses and some wage loss. No-fault insurance is also the first line of insurance that covers your initial medical expenses if you are involved in a crash where the other vehicle is at fault.

If you are hit by an at-fault driver who has no insurance, uninsured motorist insurance covers additional medical expenses, wage loss, and intangible losses, like pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Unfortunately, way too many Minnesota drivers are out there on the roads without legally required liability insurance.

Even if the at-fault driver does have insurance, it’s often not enough to cover your losses. If you purchase underinsured motorist coverage, it provides an additional line of insurance coverage above and beyond the at-fault driver’s insurance. If you’re hit by a vehicle while you’re on a motorcycle, you are almost certainly going to be taken by ambulance to an emergency room. If you have severe injuries, your medical bills can exceed $50,000.00 within hours. Minnesota requires drivers to carry a minimum of only $30,000.00 in liability insurance. The defendant driver’s insurance may not even be enough to cover your emergency room visit.

It’s also important to note that the no-fault, uninsured, and underinsured insurance you have on your car will not provide coverage for injuries sustained while you’re on your motorcycle.

If you or a loved one was injured as the result of a motorcycle accident, contact Meuser & Associates at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers.

Visit Minnesota Workers' Compensation and Personal Injury Law Firm, Meuser & Associates, P.A., at MeuserLaw.com

How Does Your Insurance Company Rate?

In our workers’ compensation and personal injury practice, we constantly deal with insurance companies. Some insurers are better than others when it comes to dealing fairly with claimants.

Recently, one insurance company in particular began employing some rather underhanded tactics against several of our clients. I went online to do some research to see if there were any similar complaints against this particular insurance company.

What I found was a report by the American Association for Justice, formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, identifying the top ten worst insurance companies for consumers. Lo and behold, the insurance company I was looking for made the list.

The American Association for Justice reviewed thousands of court documents, SEC and FBI records, state insurance department investigations and complaints, news accounts from across the country, and the testimony and depositions of former insurance agents and adjusters. When it comes down to it, some insurance companies put profits over policyholders, and the top ten on the American Association for Justice list are the worst offenders. The fact of the matter is, the less an insurance company pays on claims, the more profits it makes, and some insurers go to outrageous lengths to deny or underpay legitimate claims.

According to the American Association for Justice, the top ten worst insurance companies are as follows:

1. Allstate

2. Unum

3. AIG

4. State Farm

5. Conseco

6. WellPoint

7. Farmers

8. UnitedHealth

9. Torchmark

10. Liberty Mutual

To read more about why these insurance companies have earned the dishonorable distinction of being named the top ten worst insurance companies in America, read the full report by the American Association for Justice.

The moral of the story is, if you’ve been in an accident, don’t assume that the insurance company is treating you fairly or acting in your best interest. Remember, the less they pay in claims, the more money they make. If the insurance company is denying your claim, or if you’ve received a settlement offer, it is important that you contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. We’re happy to provide a free evaluation of your case. Call Meuser & Associates at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to schedule a free consultation.

Visit our website at MeuserLaw.com!