Category Archives: General
Birth Trauma, PTSD and Maternal Mental Health
The birth of a child can be one of the most important experiences in a mother’s life. But when labor and delivery involve medical errors, unexpected complications, frightening interventions, or a failure to provide appropriate care, the experience can become deeply traumatic. A mother may leave the hospital with physical injuries to herself or… Read More
When Does a Broken Bone Become a Catastrophic Injury?
Many people assume a broken bone is an injury that will result in a full recovery, given time. Many fractures do heal with immobilization and physical therapy, or sometimes a surgical procedure. But some fractures are far more serious. A complex fracture can damage surrounding nerves, blood vessels, muscles, or joints. Complications such as… Read More
Umbilical Cord Compression and Cord Entrapment During Labor
The umbilical cord provides the baby with oxygen and nutrients throughout pregnancy and labor. When the cord becomes compressed or trapped during labor, however, blood flow through the cord can be reduced. In serious cases, prolonged cord compression can deprive the baby of oxygen and lead to brain damage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy,… Read More
The Emotional Impact of Catastrophic Injuries
A catastrophic injury can change nearly every aspect of a person’s life. A traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, severe burn, or other life-altering injury may affect a person’s ability to work, participate in hobbies, care for family members, and live independently. The physical consequences may be immediately apparent, but the emotional and… Read More
Stay Safe This Labor Day Weekend: Holiday Travel Increases the Risk of Serious Injuries
Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, and for many Californians it means one last road trip, beach outing, pool party, boating excursion, or outdoor gathering before fall begins. Unfortunately, the combination of heavier traffic, alcohol consumption, crowded destinations, and impatient or distracted drivers can also make the holiday weekend especially dangerous…. Read More
What to Expect During a Personal Injury Deposition
If you have filed a personal injury lawsuit after a California car accident, you may eventually be required to participate in a deposition. For many injured people, the word “deposition” can sound intimidating, particularly when they have never been involved in a lawsuit before. In reality, a deposition is a structured part of the… Read More
Road Rage Accidents and Civil Liability
Road rage can turn an ordinary drive into a dangerous encounter in seconds. Aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating, cutting off another vehicle, unsafe passing, sudden braking, speeding, and deliberately blocking another driver can escalate into serious collisions. In the most extreme cases, road rage can involve intentional attempts to strike another vehicle or… Read More
Future Lost Earning Capacity Explained
A catastrophic injury can affect far more than a person’s immediate ability to work. A traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, severe orthopedic injury, or other permanent disability may prevent someone from returning to the career they had before the accident, or it may substantially reduce what they are capable of earning in… Read More
Why Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Often Lead to Wrongful Death Claims
When a motorcyclist is killed because another driver was negligent, surviving family members may have grounds for a California wrongful death claim. At Kalfayan Merjanian, LLP, we represent families seeking accountability and compensation after fatal motorcycle accidents and investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision to determine who was responsible. Crash Data Reveals the Danger… Read More
What Is a Brachial Plexus Injury?
A brachial plexus injury is one of the most well-known birth injuries associated with difficult deliveries. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that extends from the spinal cord through the neck and into the shoulder, arm, and hand. These nerves control movement and sensation throughout the upper extremity. When they are stretched,… Read More