Take a look at our January newsletter!
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JAN 2021
ANIMAL BITES
CAR ACCIDENTS
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
The Internet: An Invention That Changed theWorld
BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
When I saw that Jan. 17 is Benjamin Franklin’s birthday, I couldn’t help but think about everything he’s done. Not only was he a Founding Father but he also invented a number of items we still use and enjoy today, such as the bifocals, swimming fins, and the glass harmonica. His inventions still impact today’s modern world, but many inventions since then have truly shaken our world. The biggest invention that came out in our lifetime is the internet, which truly changed everything. In the 1400s, the printing press was a world-changing invention because it allowed people to collect and share information on a large scale. The internet functions very much the same way, except on a bigger scale. At any given time, someone can reach their hand into their pocket, pull out their phone, and search for any information they want or need, finding it instantly. As a kid, I never had this. In fact, the internet didn’t become “mainstream” until I was nearly in high school. “As a kid, I never had this. In fact, the internet didn’t become ‘mainstream’ until I was nearly in high school.” I remember going on road trips, or even around town, with a paper map tucked in my car because the GPS wasn’t invented yet. There wasn’t even such a thing as text messaging because cell phones were just starting to come out. When I look around today and see how kids are growing up with this readily available resource, it really makes me think. My childhood, and most of my younger years, are almost unrecognizable to how many of the younger generation live their lives today. Since its creation in the 1960s, the internet has completely changed life as we know it, and it continues to evolve. Free online encyclopedias are available at people’s fingertips, and now people can look up how-to videos on YouTube. It has expanded so much and continues to grow — I don’t think anyone knows how far it will go.
With the internet came another invention that I’ve come to realize is incredibly valuable: video conferencing. FaceTime, Zoom, Webex, and other video applications have had a huge impact on today’s modern world. With video conferencing, people no longer have to travel to attend meetings or conferences in a different state. People can work from home and have meetings without worrying about being away from their family, pets, home, or work for any number of days. For attorneys, it has meant that we can do depositions and arbitrations through video conferencing. It’s a new experience but something that has had a permanent impact on the way people do business in the future. And the odd thing is that COVID-19 is the reason video conferencing has become so transparently beneficial. Before the pandemic struck, if I had an expert deposition I had to attend, I would have to book a plane ticket knowing that I could potentially stay overnight at the city I was flying to. I’d travel maybe six hours, complete my deposition, then hop back on the plane to come home. I used to call these my “24- hour depositions” because it was my goal to stay no longer than 24 hours. The trips were hard, not just because they were always a little stressful, but especially because I was away from my family. Now, with Zoom, I can get my depositions taken care of either in the office or right from home. When I’m older and talk to my grandkids or great-grandkids, I’ll be able to tell them, “When I was your age we didn’t have the internet.” That strikes me as funny; I remember when I was younger and my grandparents used to tell me when they got their first television. With how much things have changed in just a few decades, it makes me wonder what my grandkids will have seen throughout their lives, and what stories they’ll tell their own grandchildren.
BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES
BURN INJURIES
CONSTRUCTION INJURIES
NURSING HOME ABUSE
SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS
BOATING ACCIDENTS
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
–Tom Dickerson
PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES
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FOXTROT’S HEROICSWITH THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME Just this past October, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to what can only be one described as one the world’s goodest boys — a dog named Foxtrot, known also to his Instagram followers (of which there are nearly 7,000) as humanitarian_pup. While Foxtrot wasn’t responsible for improvements to auction theory (like Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, who won the Nobel Prize for economics) or for a standout career in writing poetry (like Louise Glück, who won the Nobel Prize for literature), this incredible canine shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the World Food Programme (WFP), for their work in combating world hunger. As the organization’s official mascot, Foxtrot shared in the win with the thousands of other WFP workers worldwide. Foxtrot lives in Bangladesh (one of the most densely populated countries in the world) at a WFP outpost that works to supply one of the world’s largest refugee camps. According to an NPR article that spotlighted Foxtrot and the efforts made by his WFP humans, they worked not only to get food to refugees but also to flatten hillsides to make room for shelters for Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar. The First Dog to Win a Nobel Peace Prize
the responsibilitie
Someone who needs medication, either to heal after a surgery or to help them function throughout the day, depends on that prescribed drug, and they have a right to know what they are putting into their body. Any patient who is prescribed a medication, regardless of what ailment it will treat, has the right to know its potential side effects. Unfortunately, some companies choose to conceal this essential information in favor of higher profit. This is an injustice our team at Dickerson Oxton Law does not tolerate. WARNINGS AND LABELS
Under federal law, pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility.
They must ensure that consumers know the risks connected to
prescription drugs, as well as disclose any known or foreseeable side effects of a drug. All prescription drug manufacturers are required to give adequate and timely warnings of known dangerous side
Foxtrot himself became part of the effort to combat world hunger
Of the many accidents and injuries people endure, burns are some of the most serious and damaging injuries a person can experience. Burn injuries can cost patients thousands of dollars in medical treatments. Patients often spend days or weeks in a hospital for intensive burn care. Even after they’ve been released, they may continue to suffer from permanent scarring or disability caused by the burn. What’s more, since these injuries require so much recovery time, a patient may also suffer from lost wages and a means to support themselves and their family through their work. Because the cost and severity of burn injuries vary from case to case, it can make it difficult to find the value of a burn injury settlement. However, a personal injury attorney will consider several factors to determine how much a settlement can be. These include: BURN INJURY SETTLEMENTS The Process of Getting Your Compensation
during a WFP beach cleanup in his home country. Workers found him as a 4-week-old pup, and after failing to locate his
owners, took him in as one of their own. For the past two years, Foxtrot has helped however he can to further the WFP’s efforts to end hunger in Bangladesh. This usually includes
accompanying his humans while they work, wearing an adorable custom-made WFP cape, and taking to Instagram to raise awareness about how anyone can join in the WFP’s mission.
After learning that he and his humans had won the Nobel Peace Prize, Foxtrot didn’t waste the opportunity to share his excitement with his followers. “Woweee,” the pup said. “I … think it would be even more amazing if we didn’t need any peace prizes because peace was the status quo in our world.”
If Foxtrot and his humans keep up the good work that won them the Nobel Peace Prize, it seems like that status quo could be within reach.
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es of drug companies
effects to the public and medical professionals. They must disclose this information in the form of public announcements, labels, instructions, or boxed warnings. TESTS Pharmaceutical companies also have an obligation to rigorously test drugs and obtain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval before releasing them to the public. Even after the FDA approves a new drug, the creator must abide by numerous warning requirements and promotional restrictions. If the company breaches any duties of care toward consumers, it could be liable for resultant injuries, illnesses, and patient deaths. CLAIMS Often, problems aren’t recognized until someone has already suffered an illness or injury. Patients who unknowingly took the drug and noticed physical or cognitive side effects may be able to file claims against the manufacturer. A claim against a pharmaceutical company could result in the full repayment of the damages you suffered, including medical costs, lost wages, surgeries, legal expenses, and pain and suffering. The negligent company could owe you and your family compensation for failing to disclose a known or foreseeable side effect. If you or someone you know took a drug without any warning of its potential risks and sustained an injury due to an undisclosed side effect, you may be eligible to file a product liability claim against the negligent pharmaceutical company. Call Dickerson Oxton Law Firm to schedule an appointment today. AND SOMETIMES NEGLIGENCE
TAKE A BREAK
Did you know that January is National Oatmeal Month? If you tend to think of oatmeal as boring, this fun dessert- themed recipe just might change your mind. To go all out, top with a candle and a dollop of whipped cream. Birthday Cake Baked Oatmeal for One (Yes, Really)
• The impact the burns had on the victim • The amount of physical pain and suffering • Any permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability • Loss of range of motion • The total cost of medical treatment • How long the victim is out of work • Whether the victim can return to their previous job • How the burn injury occurred • The actions of the defendant in causing the accident
INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats • 1 browning banana, mashed • 1/2 cup milk • 1/2 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp baking powder • Splash of vanilla extract • 1 tsp brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup • 2 tsp sprinkles
A personal injury attorney may also break down your settlement into three main parts: general damages, specific damages, and punitive damages. • General damages — Compensation based on what a burn victim would reasonably suffer due to the nature of the injury, such as emotional distress, physical pain, and lost quality of life • Specific damages — Compensation based on what the victim has specifically endured because of the injury, including travel expenses, hospital bills, rehabilitation, and lost wages • Punitive damages — Compensation based on what a judge determines to be a defendant’s malicious intent to harm or disregard the plaintiff’s safety
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat your oven to 350 F and prepare a small oven-safe dish. 2. In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the sprinkles. 3. Pour the oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish. 4. Bake for 25 minutes or until the oatmeal is golden brown. 5. Let the oatmeal cool slightly, top with sprinkles, and dig in!
A settlement may include one, two, or all three of these damage categories.
If you or a loved one have suffered from a burn injury, call the Dickerson Oxton Law Firm today. We can set up an appointment and discuss the best action to take.
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INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
An Invention That Changed the World The First Dog to Win a Nobel Peace Prize Prescribed Medication: Undisclosed Side Effects Calculating the Value of Your Burn Injury Case Take a Break Birthday Cake Baked Oatmeal for One (Yes, Really) These Old-School Hobbies Are Making a Huge Comeback
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Out With the New, In With the Old! January is National Hobby Month — and for good reason! As people set goals for 2021, they’re also thinking about trying new hobbies. But with so many out there, picking just one can be a hobby in itself. Thanks in part to COVID-19, many people have rediscovered old-school hobbies. Some of these have been around for decades or even longer, and others have established communities that can rely on one another for support, sharing information, and more. Here are four great examples. MAKING BREAD Over the last year, interest in this ancient hobby has skyrocketed. Homemade bread is tastier and more nutritious than store-bought, and it’s so satisfying to watch it come together. Not to mention it’s a great skill to have! With so many types of bread to try, you’re not going to run out of ideas any time soon. COLLECTING CARDS No matter what people were into during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, there was a trading card game for it. And even going into 2021, that tradition
4 Old-School Hobbies Making a Major Comeback has been kept alive. When many people were stuck at home last year, they rediscovered their card collections and remembered how much fun they were. As a result, card sales went through the roof, and online card communities lit up with activity from all over the world. RESTORING CARS Car restoration is a hobby that lets you get your hands dirty, and it’s one that you can do with your kids or grandkids. It can be not only educational for them but also fun! Together, you can track down parts, talk to folks who are also interested in restoration, and learn about the history of your car. Though car restoration can be a bit costly and time consuming, it’s certainly a journey worth taking. EMBROIDERING Embroidery has taken off because it’s both inexpensive and fairly easy to get into. Plus, many people have fallen in love with its meditative quality. One of the great things about embroidery is that you can use it to make amazing personalized gifts, like pillows, wall hangings, and kitchen towels!
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