O'Connor Law

Friday, December 28, 2007

What to Do If You Are Involved in a Truck Accident

If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer truck, there are a number of things you should do to protect your rights. First, you should obtain the following information:

· Information about the truck driver, including name, license number, insurance information, and contact information for the driver and the trucking company
· Truck information, including names and license plate numbers on the cab and trailer
· A copy of the police report
· Names and information for any witnesses
· Condition of truck

Once you have gotten that information, you should get an examination by a medical doctor, even if you feel fine. In addition, you should try to take photos and/or measurements of:

· Skid marks (if present)
· The truck
· The scene of the accident
· The condition of your vehicle

Then make sure you contact an experienced truck accident lawyer. You can guarantee that the trucking company has a stable of lawyers chomping at the bit to minimize your claim. You need someone equally eager to protect your rights. If you have been injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer, contact the experienced truck accident lawyers at the law firm of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates, LLC.

posted by Peter at 8:04 AM

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Truck Accidents - Tire Blowouts

Tire technology has come a long way. Truck tires today are heavily-reinforced, designed to withstand tremendous forces for long periods, with mileage ratings that continue to increase while performance also improves. However, they are also designed with cost in mind to fit a very specific set of parameters, including amount of continuous mileage, temperature, pressure, weight, and instantaneous performance demands. When a truck is overloaded, it puts undue stress on the tires. When a trucker is pushing himself and his truck for almost a thousand miles a day to meet the company's unrealistic schedules, it puts undue stress on the tires. When a fatigued trucker responds slowly to road conditions and tries to compensate by stopping or turning his truck suddenly, it puts undue stress on the tires, and the tires can fail.

When tires on semi trucks fail, the truck goes out of control. Tire debris scatters on the road, forcing other drivers to react and leading to other cars going out of control from panic or tire punctures. In short, chaos ensues, and in that chaos people are hurt or killed. If you or someone you love has suffered as a result of a truck tire blowout, contact the experienced truck accident lawyers at the law firm of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates, LLC.

posted by Peter at 8:00 AM

Friday, December 21, 2007

Pennslyvania Truck Accident Statistics

Truck accidents are a tragically common occurrence on Pennsylvania highways. In 2006 alone:

· 5726 Large trucks were involved in crashes in Pennsylvania
· 2930 Large trucks were involved in serious injury accidents
· 4342 People were injured in accidents with Large Trucks
· 183 Large trucks involved in fatal accidents
· 193 People killed by large trucks in accidents

For the victims, these statistics represent a tragic change of life, for which no amount of money can compensate them. For the trucking industry, this is business as usual. If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, do not let the company write you off. Contact the experienced trucking accident lawyers at the law firm of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates today.

posted by Peter at 7:56 AM

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

ADD/ADHD Drug's Popularity Grows

Adderall and Adderall XR (extended release) are pharmaceutical amphetamines manufactured by Shire and used to treat attention-deficit disorder/attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and narcolepsy. These drugs have also been used to treat severe cases of depression. Adderall was first introduced in 1997; Shire later introduced Adderall XR, a gradual release form of the drug. Adderall is prescribed most often to children and adolescents to treat their attention disorders and may produce several side effects including decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, emotional instability, headache, and weight loss. Serious adverse effects of the drugs are aggression, abnormal thoughts/behaviors, mania and growth suppression.

Adderall and Adderall XR are often misused, abused and used recreationally by individuals who do not have a valid doctor's prescription for the drug. Tolerance, psychological dependence, and social disability can occur when amphetamines are not used properly. Because Adderall helps the user concentrate for long periods of time, many students request the drug from their doctor as a study aid, and the drug is becoming increasingly popular on college campuses for study purposes. Because the drugs suppress the appetite, individuals trying to lose weight often seek the drug out illegally.

If you would like more information about the dangers involved with the prescription drugs Adderall and Adderall XR, contact the Law Offices of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates at 800-518-4529 or visit our website to fill out one of the contact forms (http://www.oconnorlaw.com/). The initial consultation is free and the firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

posted by Michael J. O'Connor & Associates at 9:29 AM

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Seroquel Produces Laundry List of Adverse Effects

Seroquel is a drug manufactured by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis, such as visual and auditory hallucinations. Seroquel has also been prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder and is in the group of drugs called atypical antipsychotics, which were developed to avoid the loss of motor control caused by the older antipsychotic drugs. Seroquel has recently been linked to several very serious side effects including diabetes, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), and tardive dyskinesia (TD). NMS is a life-threatening nervous system disorder whose symptoms include high fever, stiff muscles, irregular heartbeat, changes in blood pressure, and confusion. TD is a disorder characterized by muscle movements that cannot be controlled.

To date, Seroquel has not been recalled and there is no black box warning for the drug; however, in 2004, there was an FDA warning regarding all atypical antipsychotics due to their link to diabetes and hypoglycemia. If you have taken Seroquel and have experienced any of the serious side effects discussed here, you should contact your physician immediately.

For more information, contact the Law Offices of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates at 800-518-4529 or visit our website to fill out one of the contact forms (www.oconnorlaw.com). The initial consultation is free, and the firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

posted by Michael J. O'Connor & Associates at 1:53 PM

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Permax and Dostinex Pose Serious Heart Problems

The New England Journal of Medicine has published two new studies that confirm that the Parkinson's drugs Permax (generic pergolide) and Dostinex (generic cabergoline) increase the risk of heart valve damage. Permax and Dostinex have also been prescribed to treat the tremors associated with restless leg syndrome. Permax is manufactured by Ili Lilly & Co. and Dostinex is manufactured by Pfizer, Inc. The type of heart valve damage these drugs cause is the same problem that led to the recall of the diet drug combination known as Phen-Fen.

In a study conducted in Great Britain, the medical records of over 11,000 patients showed that patients taking the highest doses of Permax had a 37 times greater risk of developing heart valve damage than those who took other drugs. The patients taking the highest doses of Dostinex had a 50.3 times greater risk of developing heart disease.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Permax was withdrawn from the market in March 2007; Dostinex has not yet been recalled and carries only the precaution of heart valve damage.

For more information, contact the Law Offices of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates at 800-518-4529 or visit our website to fill out one of the contact forms (www.oconnorlaw.com). The initial consultation is free and the firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

posted by Michael J. O'Connor & Associates at 6:21 AM

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