Articles Posted in Burn Injuries

| by

On May 20, 2011 MOEX USA and BP reached an agreement on a $1.06 billion payment for MOEX’s involvement in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico which led to the devastating oil spill. MOEX continues, however, to deny liability for the accident. The parties agreed to release each other from mutual fault arising from the accident, although punitive damages, civil, criminal, or administrative fines, and penalties are not included in the indemnities. The companies jointly recognized the findings of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon which concluded that the explosion of the rig was the result of various risk factors, as well as, outright mistakes by multiple parties. BP claims it will apply the $1.06 billion payment to the $20 billion trust it has established for the payment of claims resulting from the explosion, oil spill, and damage to natural resources.

| by

The Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal issued a News Release regarding fireworks safety issues this holiday season. Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning said, “Due to the fire hazard as well as the inherent risk of injury involved in fireworks, citizens are urged to use extreme caution when handling fireworks to ensure a safe, fire-free holiday”. “The few moments of pleasure consumer fireworks bring are not worth the risk of property loss, injury, or death”. “Avoid needless risks”. “When things go wrong, they go wrong very fast, and often with disastrous consequences.” “Permanent scarring, loss of vision, dismemberment – these are all too often the harsh realities of amateur fireworks use.”

The News Release reminds us that:

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), amateur firework usage endangers not only the users, but also bystanders and surrounding property and structures. Pyrotechnic devices ranging from sparklers to aerial rockets cause thousands of fires and serious injuries each year.

In recent years, fireworks have been one of the leading causes of injuries serious enough to require hospital emergency room treatment. Fireworks can result in severe burns, fractures, scars, lifelong disfigurement or even death. The thousands of serious injuries each year typically harm the eyes, head, or hands and are mostly reported in states, such as Louisiana, where fireworks are legal. Even sparklers, which are considered by many to be harmless, can reach temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees F.

The Louisiana Fire Marshal’s Office offers the following fireworks safety suggestions:

— Always read and follow the label directions carefully
— Always have a garden hose or water bucket nearby for medical emergencies and/or to douse spent or misfired fireworks.

— Adults should always supervise fireworks activity.

— Fireworks should be placed on a hard, smooth surface prior to ignition. NEVER light fireworks in your hand.

— Quickly light one firework at a time, and move away quickly after lighting.

— Never point or throw fireworks at people, pets, cars, or buildings
— Keep fireworks away from small children.

— Do not alter or make your own fireworks.

— After displays, never pick up fireworks that may be left over. Fireworks that have been ignited and fail to immediately explode or discharge can cause injury, as they may still be active. Children should always tell an adult if they find fireworks rather than picking up smoking or charred fireworks themselves.

Continue reading

| by

For the third time in four years, Louisiana’s largest medical malpractice insurer, LAMMICO (Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company) is issuing a large dividend of approximately $5.1 million to its Louisiana and Arkansas policyholders (including individual physicians and other health care professionals, groups & healthcare facilities). LAMMICO’s Louisiana doctors will get back 10 percent of their written premiums, bringing the total amount of premiums returned to around $25.5 million. So much for the medical malpractice crisis we keep hearing about!!!!

| by

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana personal injury law firm of Dué Guidry Piedrahita Andrews Courrege L.C. was selected for first tier (those firms that scored within a certain percentage of the highest scoring firms) inclusion in the 2010 inaugural rankings of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”, in the practice areas of Personal Injury Plaintiffs and Product Liability Plaintiffs. “The selection involved surveying thousands of law firm clients; leading lawyers and law firm managers; partners and associates; and marketing officers and recruiting officers. Each were asked what factors they considered vital for clients hiring law firms, for lawyers choosing a firm to refer a legal matter to, and for lawyers seeking employment.”

“Client and lawyer surveys collected mostly reputational data. Using a scale of 1 (weakest) to 5 (strongest), clients voted on expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether they would refer another client to a firm. Lawyers voted on expertise, responsiveness, integrity, cost-effectiveness, and whether they would refer a matter to a firm and whether they consider a firm a worthy competitor.”

| by

A St. Charles Parish woman burned last Wednesday in Paradis, Louisiana, has died as a result of her severe burn injuries. The victim was found by the local volunteer fire department outsider her home and was transported to the Baton Rogue General Mid-City Burn Center. Investigators believe natural gas piping in the kitchen leaked, resulting in a gas vapor explosion.

Since 1970, Baton Rouge, Louisiana has been fortunate to be the home of the Baton Rouge General Burn Center. The Burn Center cares for more than 800 burn victims every year suffering from flame, scald, electrical, chemical and other burn-related injuries. The burn center is one of only 125 specialized burn centers in the United States.
Continue reading

| by

Baton Rouge, Louisiana trial attorneys, Randy Piedrahita and Kirk Guidry, of the Louisiana personal injury law firm, Dué, Guidry, Piedrahita and Andrews, obtained a jury verdict in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, in excess of $15,000,000. Multiple members of the same family were burned when their house exploded due to fugitive natural gas that was negligently released into their rent house. The gas utility, CenterPoint Energy, had turned off their natural gas at the meter due to non-payment of their gas bill. After several weeks, a family member broke the plastic lock placed on the meter by CenterPoint with a household wrench, forgetting that he had left an open gas line in the house after removing a gas appliance. Plaintiff Attorney Randy Piedrahita presented evidence to the jury that the plastic lock did not meet industry standards and that a metal lock, as used by many competitors, should have been in place to prevent consumers from turning on their own gas, so as to prevent foreseeable explosions. CenterPoint alleged that in addition to the plastic lock, that it installed a metal blind plate inside the meter to prevent the flow of gas, and that the blind plate must have been removed by the consumer. After deliberating for several hours, the St. Landry Parish jury disagreed, finding CenterPoint Energy 50% at fault for the accident and resulting burn injuries.
Continue reading

| by

On the evening of March 31, 2010, a distracted Louisiana truck driver allegedly caused a nine vehicle accident on Interstate 57 in Illinois, when the 18 wheeler he was operating rear-ended a vehicle in a construction zone. The Louisiana truck driver was allegedly looking down at a map when he encountered the slow moving traffic. Three people were killed when their SUV caught on fire. Thirteen people were hospitalized.

According to the United State Department of Transportation, there are three primary types of distracted driving: 1) visual or taking your eyes off the road; 2) manual or taking you hands of the wheel; and 3) cognitive or taking your mind off what you are doing. Examples of activities that distract drivers include texting, grooming, talking to passengers, eating and drinking, reading (including maps), watching electronic devices, using a cell phone and changing the radio station or other music player.
Continue reading

| by

Law 360 interviewed Baton Rouge Maritime attorney, Kirk A. Guidry, of the Baton Rouge injury law firm of Dué Guidry Piedrahita Andrews Courrege L.C.. The article written by Jesse Greenspan appeared on April 23, 2010, and is entitled Much Litigation Expected After Oil Rig Explosion. Kirk Guidry told Law 360 that any personal injury or wrongful death cases would likely be brought under the Jones Act and would therefore not be removable to federal court. Kirk Guidry also stated that the first big issue that would have to be resolved is the limitation of liability issue, which will be argued in Federal Court.
Continue reading

| by

The Deepwater Horizon oil platform sank into the Gulf of Mexico yesterday after burning out of control following an explosion. Eleven workers are still missing and are not expected to be found alive. At least one lawsuit has already been filed against the rig’s owner, Transocean, Ltd., and contractor, BP. In addition to the devastating loss of life that is expected to result from this preventable explosion, extreme environmental damage is also expected since the oil platform carried 700,000 gallons of diesel fuel and could spill as much as 8,000 barrels of crude oil a day.
Continue reading