Every time you bend your wrist, raise your hand, or shrug your shoulders, you’re making use of your brachial plexus, a bundle of nerves centered in your spinal cord. The brachial plexus is responsible for controlling the movement of your entire arm! If a doctor or mid-wife uses force or twists a baby’s head during labor and delivery, it can result in injury to the baby’s nerves and chronic arm paralysis. This condition is known as Erb’s Palsy or Brachial Plexus palsy. While some children will make a full recovery as toddlers, other children move into their teens and adulthood not being able to enjoy full use of that arm. The condition will then continue through their lifetime. Treating Erb’s Palsy as soon as diagnosed can include a combination of physical therapy and nerve grafts. That oftent leads to a better lifetime outcome.

If you wonder if your child’s disability could be the result of a medical error, it’s important that you talk with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, can provide you with the professional legal guidance you require, at no charge. To reach our New York office, call us at (516) 684-2900.

Responsible for an estimated 1 out of every 4 deaths in the U.S., heart disease is America’s deadliest health problem. There are a number of steps you can take to lower your risk of developing heart problems, including maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, and getting plenty of exercise every day. One of the biggest risk factors for heart disease is high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high, effectively controlling it could be a life-saving change for you. Don’t forget to remind your loved ones to have their blood pressure checked by their physician on a regular basis. High blood pressure can be asymptomatic, yet its danger lies in its connection to stroke and other serious vascular diseases. Given this aspect of high blood pressure, it is especially important to make sure your healthcare provider hears and responds to your concerns in a manner you are comfortable with—and, should your expectations go unmet, it is critical to speak up.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, has been fighting to protect the rights of patients who have suffered due to medical malpractice for nearly half a century. If you or a loved one has suffered cardiac arrest because your concerns were not treated seriously, call our Long Island legal office at (516) 684-2900 to schedule a consultation.

Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women? Causing one in three deaths, heart disease kills about one woman each minute. February is heart health month, so it’s a great time to think about the risk factors, as well as preventive measures to protect women’s heart health.

In women, heart disease can present differently than it does in men. As an example, consider how women experience heart attacks. Rather than the crushing chest pain most people associate with a heart attack, women tend to report pressure or discomfort in the chest. In fact, women sometimes have heart attacks without any chest pain at all, instead experiencing symptoms like:

• Discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdomen
• Shortness of breath
• Arm pain, occurring in one or both arms
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Unfamiliar fatigue

Women often show up at the emergency room with some of these symptoms, and are incorrectly diagnosed with other issues, like heartburn, indigestion, or even psychological or emotional problems. Because of a lack of awareness about women’s heart health, many women have already suffered significant damage to the heart muscle by the time they are diagnosed correctly. Sometimes, by the time symptoms get bad enough to compel a woman to go to the emergency room, it’s already too late to save her life.

Who is at risk? For women, risk factors for heart disease include smoking, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, menopause, mental stress and depression, complications of pregnancy, and a family history of heart disease. The best defense against heart disease, then is to stop smoking, eat a heart healthy diet, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and try to reduce your stress. It’s important to be proactive in regard to your health, and see a doctor regularly, so that you are less likely to be misdiagnosed if you do have a problem

Why are women so often misdiagnosed when it comes to heart disease? Many women die of heart disease, simply because their condition went undiagnosed. This may be because doctors fail to see the subtler signs exhibited by women, or it may be because women tend to downplay their own symptoms. Whatever the reason, it’s important to take charge of your own health, and pay attention to what your body is telling you. Don’t immediately accept a diagnosis, but push for a thorough examination if you feel that something is truly wrong.

If you are dealing with an instance of medical malpractice, contact Pegalis & Erickson, LLC for capable legal representation in the area of Long Island, New York. For almost 45 years we have advocated for people of all ages, in order to help our clients financially and make healthcare safer for everyone. You can reach us today by calling (516) 684-2900.

Receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for an infant can be a devastating blow for any parent. Understandably, the most urgent question most parents have is what the likely outlook is for their child. In most cases, it won’t be clear what a child’s long-term prognosis will be until the age of 2 or 3. It is statistically highly probable, however, that your child will have some level of intellectual disability, be unable to walk, or have a chronic condition such as epilepsy. It’s important to keep in mind that physical therapy and other forms of treatment may improve your child’s prognosis and make it easier for him or her to enjoy a better quality of life despite the disorder.

The attorneys at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC have been representing parents in cases involving birth injuries for more than 40 years. For a free consultation at our law office in Long Island, New York, contact us today at (516) 684-2900.

Even the simplest medical errors can cause serious and even irreparable harm. If you believe that you have been treated negligently by a medical professional, it’s important to seek legal advice from a professional right away. If you are currently receiving treatment, however, there are some steps you can take in order to reduce your risk of being harmed by medical malpractice.

Keep complete records.
You should be careful to keep all of your personal medical records, for your personal reference as well as that of any healthcare providers that you see in the future. You should also make a note of every visit you make to a physician’s office, hospital, specialty clinic, and any other medical facility.

Make a note of your symptoms.
If you’re experiencing symptoms regularly, it’s smart to start keeping a record of them. This doesn’t have to be a diary; it can be as simple as buying a desk calendar and making a quick note whenever you experience a certain symptom. The more details you provide, however, the more useful these notes will be.

Bring someone with you.
It’s never a bad idea to bring somebody along with you to your medical appointments. Along with providing support, the person accompanying you can help you remember any questions you have been meaning to ask. This is especially important if you have a chronic medical condition and need to visit your physician frequently.

Seek a second opinion.
If you are concerned about your diagnosis—or lack of diagnosis—for any reason, you may want to find another medical professional and get a second opinion. Don’t bring up the original diagnosis you received—in order to be as objective as possible, a second opinion needs to be formed without reference to the first opinion.

At Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, our dedicated team of experienced attorneys works to provide all of our patients with the capable legal guidance they deserve. If you or a loved one has been hurt by the negligence of a healthcare provider, you can contact our office in Long Island, New York, at (516) 684-2900 to arrange a free consultation.

Regular handwashing is critical for preventing the spread of germs, especially in a medical setting. In order to protect patients, healthcare providers should wash their hands as frequently as possible, particularly when they move from one patient to the next. Failure to perform routine handwashing can expose patients to hazardous germs and viruses and place their health in extreme danger. Patients themselves should also be alert to the need to clean their own hands frequently. Studies have shown that using alcohol-based hand sanitizer is more effective in many cases than soap and water, although there are some infections that it does not work against. Soap and water are most strongly recommended before eating, as well as after using the restroom.

If you are dealing with an instance of medical malpractice, contact Pegalis & Erickson, LLC for capable legal representation in the area of Long Island, New York. You can reach us today by calling (516) 684-2900.

Lake Success, NY, January, 10, 2018… Pegalis and Erickson, LLC is proud to announce that Pegalis & Erickson, LLC has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America© among only 5% of all US law firms. Additionally , founding partner Stephen Erickson is named the only 2018 LAWYER of the Year in Long Island, NY for Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation, by Best Lawyers©. Stephen Erickson, Esq. is the only plaintiffs’ personal injury lawyer on Long Island to receive this honor. He is one of the nation’s foremost medical malpractice trial lawyers. As an advocate across New York State for seriously injured victims of avoidable medical harm, he obtains some of the highest jury verdicts and settlements in New York State history.

The firm itself has also been listed in the coveted New York 2018 Best Law Firms list, as a Tier One Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Litigation and Plaintiffs’ Medical Malpractice Law Firm. In addition, six of our attorneys have been named to the Best Lawyers© list, of which only 4% of all attorneys in the US have been named. Best Lawyers® recognized Steven Pegalis, Stephen Erickson, and Annamarie Bondi-Stoddard for Personal Injury Litigation and Plaintiffs’ Medical Malpractice Law. Attorneys Sanford Nagrotsky, Robert Fallarino, and Linda Oliva, were recognized for Plaintiffs’ Medical Malpractice Law.

“Being named Lawyer of the Year means a great deal in our region of admirable competition, and as a firm we are proud to be named year after year among a handful of U.S. law firms,” said Stephen E. Erickson. “Our dedication to injured patients allows us to succeed on behalf of clients of all ages and backgrounds.”

Firms included in the “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence by peer and client review. There are no fees associated with receiving a ranking. Receiving the Tier One designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned in their industry from the same communities and practice areas.

About Pegalis & Erickson, LLC

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC is a New York law firm that represents seriously injured people that suffer avoidable medical negligence. We are advocates for patient safety and medical accountability to ensure safer medical practices for better patient care. In our 45 years of practice, we have won some of the largest verdicts in New York State history for birth trauma, misdiagnosed cancers, and surgical errors, and have obtained justice for construction and serious accident victims. We have helped thousands of people obtain funds for services they need to survive day-to-day living. Visit us at www.pegalisanderickson.com. For health news you can use follow us on Twitter , Facebook and YouTube .

Mistakes happen in every walk of life, but when they come in the form of medication errors, the consequences can be devastating. While many of us depend on our healthcare providers to protect us from medication errors, patients also need to be proactive about protecting themselves. These are some of the steps you can take to reduce the risk of medication errors, both at home and when you’re in a medical facility:

Keep a personal medications list.
It’s imperative that you keep a complete list of all medications you are currently taking, and bring it along with you to every medical appointment. Include the name of the medication and your prescribed dosage. You should also include any nutritional supplements or over-the-counter medicines you are taking, any allergies you are aware of, and any other pertinent information.

Review your medications with your doctor.
Before you begin taking a new medication, review its prescribed use with your doctor or nurse. Make sure that a trusted loved one also has access to this information. Don’t forget to update your medications list whenever you need to make a change.

Check expiration dates routinely.
All medications come with an expiration date, and taking expired medicines can result in subpar treatment or even serious side effects. Check the labels of all the medications you are taking on a regular basis, and dispose of any medications that are past their expiration dates. The FDA recommends that you remove any personal information from containers and seal medicines in plastic bags before throwing them out.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, has been providing legal assistance to people whose lives have been disrupted by medical malpractice for nearly 45 years. We have won thousands of verdicts and settlements over the years on behalf of our clients. Call our office in Long Island, New York, today at (516) 684-2900 to schedule a free initial consultation.

As a patient, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to help ensure that your diagnoses are accurate. In fact, there are several steps you can take to fully document the treatment you are receiving and ensure that you have information that you can refer back to later. Here are the answers to some questions you might have:

How many of my medical records should I keep? The simplest answer is “All of them.” If you are being treated for an ongoing health issue, you should keep any and all documents you receive from any medical professionals who treat you, along with other records of your interaction such as receipts. It’s generally advised that you hold on to medical records for at least 10 years.

How can I keep track of my treatment? One of the best ways to ensure that you have a comprehensive record of the state of your health as well as your medical treatment is to keep a health journal. In the journal, make a note of every appointment you have and write down as much as you can remember after each visit, particularly any instructions you get from your practitioner and any information about possible outcomes.

How can I tell if my diagnosis is correct? There are a number of strategies you can adopt in order to increase the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis. Bring a friend or a loved one with you during your appointment for support and to remind you of any questions you want to ask. If the practitioner who diagnoses you seems vague or unclear, get a second opinion. Having a clear record of your treatment and symptom history can also be useful to refresh your memory when you’re talking with your healthcare provider.

Are you in need of a medical malpractice attorney in Long Island, New York? Pegalis & Erickson, LLC is committed to providing patients and their families with the capable legal services they deserve. If you believe that you or a loved one has been affected by medical malpractice, please contact us today at (516) 684-2900 for a free consultation.

When most people go to the doctor, they bring with them the assumption that they will find out if there is anything wrong with their health. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. It is nowhere near as rare as you might assume for medical practitioners to fail to diagnose a serious health problem—or to diagnose it too late. Here are some facts that might surprise you:

Diagnostic errors are extremely common. According to a recent study by the Institute of Health, about 5 percent of all Americans who visit a medical professional in the course of a year will receive a faulty diagnosis. This adds up to about 12 million people. The study also observed that the number of diagnostic errors appears to go up over time, as medical treatments increase in complexity.

Almost everyone will receive at least one wrong diagnosis. While 5 percent may not sound like an enormous amount, the number of people who are wrongly diagnosed multiplies with each passing year. The Institute of Health study found that most people living in the U.S. will experience at least one late—or flat-out wrong—diagnosis at some point in their lives.

Diagnostic errors can be hard to identify. It’s easy to assume that you’ll know when you’ve been wrongly diagnosed—but that isn’t necessarily true. Many people do not discover for years that they have gotten the wrong diagnosis. Diagnosing a patient is a challenging and multifaceted process, and there are many points at which the diagnosis can go astray. In many cases, the issue is lack of proper communication between medical professionals and their patients.

If your life—or the life of a loved one—has been disrupted by a delayed diagnosis, you may have a medical malpractice claim. Talk to one of the attorneys at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, for legal guidance that will help you protect your rights. You can set up a free consultation at our office in Long Island, New York, by calling us at (516) 684-2900.