CALL NOW!

(612) TSR-TIME

CALL 24/7

Author: Steve Terry

Steven Terry is the co-founder and current managing partner of TSR Injury Law. His practice consists solely of representing injured people and pursuing justice against wrongdoers. He has handled thousands of injury claims over a 20-plus-year career. Steve continues to exceed his clients' expectations and hold insurance companies responsible for the damage their insured's cause.

Spinal Cord Injuries

By Steve Terry |

Spinal cord damage can be the result of a medical condition such as spina bifida or Friedrich’s Ataxia, but it is often the result of a serious injury. The most common causes of spinal damage include:

All too often people suffer painful and life-changing injuries through no fault of their own. A person who suffers a spinal cord injury may be facing years of physical challenges, medical bills, and emotional stress.

Common Back Injuries

The spine is made up of a column of 33 vertebrae, and tissue extending from the skull to the pelvis. These vertebrae enclose and protect a cylinder of nerve tissues known as the spinal cord. Between each of the vertebra is an intervertebral disc that serves as a shock absorber between the vertebrae. The discs make up 25 percent of the length of the spinal column. The types of vertebrae are:

  • cervical vertebrae: the upper most seven vertebrae of the neck
  • thoracic vertebrae: the 12 bones between the neck and the lower back
  • lumbar vertebrae: the 5 largest and strongest vertebrae in the lower back
  • The other nine vertebrae are in the sacrum and coccyx, and located at the base of the spine. The sacrum is a section of 5 fused vertebrae, while the coccyx (tailbone) is four vertebrae fused together.

Most of the back injuries occur in either the cervical or lumbar regions. A back injury may be sustained in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or slip and fall accident. There are many types of back injuries, including:

  • herniated disc / bulging disc / ruptured disc / slipped disc
  • compression fracture
  • facet joint injury
  • burst fracture
  • spinal stenosis
  • soft tissue injury

A back injury can be life-altering, leading to chronic or acute pain, as well as muscle weakness, lack of muscle coordination, numbness and/or tingling in the extremities.

(Chronic pain is defined as deep, aching, dull, burning pain that lasts a long time and is not relieved by standard types of medical management. Acute pain is a very sharp pain or a dull ache that can be intermittent, but is usually constant, and ranging in severity.)

Consequences of Spinal Cord Damage

The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves that runs from the base of the brain to just below the waist. It acts as the center of communication for the nervous system, carrying information between the brain and the rest of the body. Because of the important role it plays, damage to the spinal cord is a very serious medical issue.

The long-term medical consequences depend partly on the severity of the injury. An injury can be complete, meaning a complete loss of sensation or function, or it can be incomplete, meaning a partial loss of sensation, function, or both.

The location of the injury also has an effect on the long-term consequences for the patient. Areas of the body below the injury are the ones that will be affected. For example, a severe injury at the top of the neck can result in quadriplegia, or loss of the use of all four limbs. Injuries located closer to the ribcage can damage functioning in the hands and arms, while injuries closer to the waist affect leg functioning.

Seeking Justice

It is not fair for a person injured by someone else’s negligence to suffer the physical, financial, and emotional losses associated with spinal cord injury. Filing a suit against the responsible party is one way for victims to gain compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. It is also a way to see justice done against the parties who hurt them.

Contact a Minnesota Spinal Injury Lawyer

To speak with an experienced Minneapolis injury lawyer, contact TSR Injury Law at (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form. There are no upfront fees if we take on your case and we are ready to help you today.

Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Man Awarded over $1 Mil in Levaquin Lawsuit

By Steve Terry |

The victory by a plaintiff in his Levaquin lawsuit against the manufacturer has brought about some very interesting details regarding the prescribing of the drug.

John Schedin was awarded over $1 million by a jury after he had experienced two ruptured Achilles tendons days after he started taking Levaquin with a steroid. The doctor who wrote the prescriptions to the man, then 76, stated that he was aware of the potential tendon issues with Levaquin, but he was not aware that there was an increased risk to the elderly population when the drug was taken in combination with a steroid.

Now Schedin has to crawl up his stairs at night in order to go bed. As for the doctor, he is mortified because of the role he played in Schedin’s disability.

The trial consisted of a lot of back-and-forth arguing as to what was known about the drug and what wasn’t. The manufacturer claimed that all of the pertinent information was made available to doctors and patients in the form of a medication guide that comes with the drug. Schedin countered that the information was so buried within the document that not many patients are going to read it, let alone doctors that are extremely busy on a daily basis.

The doctor said in his testimony that he did not remember the Levaquin representative ever mentioning tendon problems when she visited his office. The sales rep did testify that she included an information packet with the basket of free samples that she provided the doctor. She did not, however, recall whether or not she had verbally referenced the tendon issue with Levaquin.

The rep further stated that she may not have had time to mention the tendon issue to the doctor. She said that with doctors having such high caseloads, she is lucky if she is able to speak to a doctor for 30 seconds. She said speaking to a doctor that long would make her feel “lucky.”

If you have suffered serious side effects after taking the drug “Levaquin”, contact a personal injury lawyer in Bloomington, MN at TSR Injury Law for your free consultation. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Playground Injury Lawsuits in Minnesota

By Steve Terry |

Playgrounds are fun and exciting areas for children to play, interact with other kids, and exercise their imaginations. However, unsafe playground equipment or facilities can turn a fun afternoon at the park into a dangerous injury very quickly.

As such, it is critical that you carefully examine your neighborhood playground to make sure that it is a safe place for your children and their friends. There are a number of elements you will want to consider when determining the safety of a local playground.

What material serves as the “floor” of the playground?

Children should never play on a playground that is paved with cement, as this increases the likelihood of broken bones and head injuries should a fall occur. You will want to make sure that there is some sort of “cushioning” material provided, like shredded rubber or sand, that will give your child a safe landing place should they happen to fall from the playground structures.

How far apart are the various playground elements?

You will not want to let your children play on a playground where the various pieces of equipment are located too closely to one another. The reasoning for this is that if a child should happen to fall or be thrown from one of the pieces of equipment, they will not injure or endanger any other children accidentally if they are located a safe distance away from the other kids.

Are there any dangers present on the structures themselves?

To help prevent cuts, you will want to carefully monitor and inspect the playground equipment for any unsafe elements, such as:

  • exposed nails / screws
  • sharp edges
  • splinters

Common Types of School Injuries

There are a number of aspects of school life that can lead to an injury if a child is not properly protected or supervised. TSR Injury Law is here to answer any questions you have and to represent you if your child has been affected by:

  • Teacher negligence
  • School district negligence
  • Failure to supervise
  • Sexual assault

Contact TSR Injury Law Today

If your child has been injured because of unsafe or poorly maintained playground equipment, contact a Minneapolis personal injury attorney at TSR Injury Law today by calling (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Elderly Couple Injured in Bus Crash

By Steve Terry |

A tour bus carrying Minnesota baseball players and coaches crashed when a white 4-door Buick heading southbound turned in front of the northbound bus on 34th Street in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The police report says that the elderly female driver and her elderly male passenger were transported to a local hospital as trauma alerts. Approximately an hour after the accident, police released a statement that said the woman had died as a result of her injuries.

What police later found out was that the woman had “coded,” but she was brought back. Police were then told that the woman was alive, but was not expected to survive. She died on March 20.

The elderly man in the vehicle is still in the hospital as a trauma alert, but he is expected to survive.

According to police, the couple’s Cocker Spaniel was unrestrained in the back seat of the car. The dog had sustained minor injuries and was transported to a veterinary clinic for treatment.

On the bus there were 41 people from the Rochester Community and Technical College. Police say the baseball team and coaches were in town for a baseball tournament at the Walter Fuller Park.

School Bus Accident – Mendota Heights, MN

By Steve Terry |

Tuesday morning started out cool and rainy on Hwy 110 in Mendota Heights. After 30 students had been picked up, Raymond Baar, the driver of a Monarch Bus Service school bus, was driving eastbound and needed to turn left onto Charlton Street. He failed to see a westbound vehicle approaching, turning in front of the Pontiac Gran Prix, resulting in a collision.

Justin Kalenberg, 24, driver of the Pontiac, was transported to Regions Hospital and is in serious condition. Six children were taken to Regions Hospital, as well, where they were treated and released.

The accident occurred about 9 a.m., according to Minnesota State Patrol records. The bus was transporting students to Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy, a K-8 Inver Grove Heights charter school. The impact resulted in the bus going into the ditch. The roof of the car had to be removed, with the “jaws of life”, to get the driver out. State Patrol reported that the driver was conscious and talking by the time he was extricated.

State law requires a bus driver to pass a written test, road test, and physical exam. Additionally, their criminal history and driving record are pulled and checked each year. Minnesota State Patrol will review the bus driver’s records to determine whether he was qualified to drive. Baar is on leave pending the investigation.

Do Passengers Have a Claim?

All of us want our children to be safe while they are being transported. School bus accidents are very scary for everyone involved, especially for the children onboard. It is vital to have qualified drivers, driving well-maintained buses, and obeying the traffic laws.

The Minneapolis personal injury lawyers at TSR Injury Law are compassionate, caring fathers who aggressively pursue justice where the system has failed. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free contact form.

Lakeville, MN Man Killed in Auger

By Steve Terry |

A 49 year-old man, working at Country Stone and Soil, a Lakeville, Minnesota company, died in a work-related accident Saturday. His name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

The man was feeding mulch into a hopper leading into an auger assembly. The auger became clogged. While attempting to clear the clog, he fell into the auger and was killed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident will continue to be investigated by a wide array of departments, including Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, the M.E., and work safety and health officials.

Product Liability Cases and Third Party Claims

We are saddened that these tragic accidents continue to happen at work. Unfortunately, these cases are quite common. There are safety rules that require guards so that a person can’t get too close to the moving parts. Some of these cases fall under product liability if the manufacturer did not provide adequate protective features and had previous complaints or injuries associated with that piece of equipment.

These cases are complicated. They are called third party liability cases. When you are hurt on the job, you cannot sue your employer. The exclusive remedy against the employer is workers compensation. However, you can sue a “third party” that caused the injury.

In these cases, we will investigate if any third party did anything to cause the injury. That could be the product manufacturer or a prior owner of the equipment that removed the safety guards, etc. It is very important to get legal representation involved quickly so that a thorough investigation is done before any evidence is compromised.

Have Questions? Contact Us Today

TSR Injury Law is available to assist anyone who has suffered a job injury or has lost a family member in a workplace accident or a product liability accident, including third-party claims. Our partners are skilled, personal injury attorneys with years of experience and they are consistently named Super Lawyers and Top Lawyers by Law & Politics and Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine. Call (612) TSR-TIME for legal advise or submit our free consultation form.

This is a poignant example of the importance of job training, equipment safety features, and working in tandem when working with dangerous machinery.

Food Poisoning Passes from Mother to Newborn

By Steve Terry |

A newborn became sick after acquiring a type of E. coli from his mother as she was delivering him. This is a bacterium that is associated with food poisoning.

The mother had acquired a strain of E. coli that produces what is called the shiga toxin. This is a toxic substance that can cause kidney failure and diarrhea.

While the mother was asymptomatic, the boy began vomiting two days after he was born. This resulted in the development of seizures and kidney failure. He was then diagnosed by a condition caused by the shiga toxin called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Stool samples from both the infant and mother showed that they had the same shiga toxin strain and this is the first time it had been known to cause disease in people, which is why the mother carried it without showing symptoms. However, it did pass to the gut of her newborn baby, which is to remain germ free until birth. Due to lack of competition from other bacteria, the bug was able to proliferate in the sterile environment.

It is not certain how the mother acquired this particular strain of E. coli. It can be spread through uncooked meat, raw milk, contaminated produce, or direct contact with an infected animal. However, it has been known to spread in other ways, such as person-to-person, especially through daycare facilities due to fecal contamination. This is according to an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, Dr. James Johnson.

Currently, there have only been a few cases of mothers passing shiga toxin on to their newborn babies. The first time it was reported was in France in 2005.

The other types of bacteria that tend to pass from mother to child during birth include group B streptococcus and herpes, according to Johnson.

If you unknowingly consume a product that is contaminated with E Coli, you may be eligible for financial compensation. To find out if you have a case, contact the Minneapolis personal injury attorneys at TSR Injury Law today for a free consultation. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Anisocoria Due to Blunt Trauma

By Steve Terry |

Air bags save many lives. They are also the cause of many injuries – including permanent disfigurement to the eyes. If this has happened to you, call a law firm that cares. Call 612-TSR-TIME or submit our contact form. Our Minnesota Anisocoria Eye Injury Attorneys can help you through the legal maze. We will answer your questions, handle all of the paperwork, and file your claim.

There are three main types of injury from the extreme force of an air bag explosion:

  • anisocoria – difference in pupil sizes
  • concussion – which is a form of brain damage
  • tinnitus – ringing in the ears

Anisocoria

Suffering a blunt trauma to the head or eye area may tear the pupil sphincter causing a permanently dilated pupil, termed anisocoria. This condition has become more prevalent since air bags have become standard features in motor vehicles.

Initially, anisocoria may present as retina damage or even sudden vision loss. The vision usually returns completely within 4-6 weeks, leaving the disfiguring dilated pupil.

Diagnosing Anisocoria

After blunt force trauma to the head, as in an air bag deployment which can snap the head back, a neurological examination should be performed. The exam should include checking the corneal reflex and manual palpation of the eyeball. A CT scan is also helpful in diagnosing the extent of the injury.

There have been cases where there were no symptoms or signs of spinal or brain injury, where the patients have had a Glasgow Coma score of 13-15 (where a 3 is severely brain damaged and 15 is very mild brain damage), but then during neurological examinations anisocoria was discovered. At this point an MRI needs to be done on the patient. It will usually show more damage than was originally diagnosed — possibly a spinal cord compression or spinal cord contusion requiring surgery.

Minnesota Anisocoria Eye Injury Attorney

If you have suffered an eye injury due to blunt force trauma, you may be eligible for compensation. At TSR Injury Law, our personal injury attorneys are skilled, aggressive litigators and have been named Super Lawyers many times by Law & Politics. Partner Chuck Slane was named to the prestigious list of Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Attorneys. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Christmas Eve Drunk Driver Killed 88-Year-Old Man in Lakeville, MN

By Steve Terry |

Jeffery Arthur Martin, 37, was charged for driving drunk and causing a collision that led to the death of an 88-year-old man on Christmas Eve.

The serious auto accident took place at Dodd Blvd and Gerdine Avenue, Lakeville. Martin was driving a Dodge Durango, and turned left onto westbound Dodd, crashing into the Cadillac driven by Susan M. Shaffer, 69, of Prior Lake.

Shaffer was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where she is still in serious condition. Her husband, Everett Letterly, 88, was taken to Regions and died on Christmas Day. Martin was not injured nor was his 9-year-old child, who was in the car with him.

Martin failed the preliminary breath test and was arrested at the scene. Monday he was charged in Dakota County District Court with drunken driving and child endangerment in connection with the collision. Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said more charges may follow.

The accident is under further investigation by Dakota County Officers.

Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Sherburne County

By Steve Terry |

There was a fatal motorcycle crash on Tuesday in Sherburne County. Jeff Skoglund, 49, of Anoka, was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a flat-bed tow truck being driven by Brett Johnson, 44.

The accident happened at the intersection of County Roads 38 and 19. Mr. Skoglund was driving northbound on County Road 19. The tow truck was going east on County Road 38. The accident occurred about 12:05 p.m. The truck driver was not injured according to the County Sheriff’s Office.

The accident is still under investigation.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Statistics from 2006 showed that the fatality rate for bikers was 5.5 times that of motorists. Nationwide that year, 4,810 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents, most of them preventable. The Minneapolis motorcycle accident lawyers at TSR Injury Law believe that one way to reduce the rate of these accidents is by holding negligent drivers responsible for their actions. We believe this will send a clear message that drivers need to be more alert on the road.

Contact a personal injury attorney at (612) TSR-TIME. Partner Steve Terry is an avid motorcyclist. He knows how to get victims of motorcycle accidents the compensation they deserve. He will fight for justice in your motorcycle accident case.

Batteries Plus Recalls Batteries

By Steve Terry |

If you have any RAYOVAC replacement battery packs in your home, you may want to take a look at them and determine whether or not they are one of the packs recalled by BatteriesPlus and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at the end of August.

This comes after a recall of 111,800 units in December 2011. This time 65,300 of the NI-CD and NI-MH Cordless Tool Battery packs have been taken off of the shelves. This is due to the battery pack exploding unexpectedly. This can pose a significant risk to the customer, resulting in a product liability issue for the company.

The packs that are involved have part numbers that start with “CTL.” So if you have a RAYOVAC battery pack that starts with a part number that starts with those letters printed in white and is “NI-CD” or “NI-MH,” you may have a recalled pack. The voltage of the affected packs range from 2.4 and 18 volts and they come in different shapes and sizes. They were sold as replacement batteries for the following tool brands: Makita, Bosh, DeWalt, Black and Decker, Milwaukee, Lincoln, Skil, Panasonic, and Ryobi.

The packs were sold at BatteriesPlus retail stores around the country and online on the BatteriesPlus website at batteriesplus.com between June 2008 and July 2012. The cost of each pack ranged from $60 to $70. They were manufactured in China.

If you have one of these packs, you should stop using it immediately by removing it from the tool. You can then return the pack to a BatteriesPlus store for store credit.

If you have been injured by an exploding battery pack, you must seek immediate medical care. After seeking medical care, contact a personal injury attorney regarding the injury so that the incident can be properly investigated and you can be notified of your rights. The parties responsible for the problem can also be notified of the incident.