Shared Files from the Website of the
Orange County Chiropractic District

P.I. Alerts - Aug 2006 #2

 

Shawn Steel
P.I. Law
CCA Affiliate Member

PI FAX & Email ALERT

8/22/2006

BY SHAWN STEEL, CHIROPRACTIC ATTORNEY

Telephone: 800-626-0003  310-697-9000
Website: www.shawnsteel.com
Email: shawnsteel@shawnsteel.com
Fax: 310-697-9010

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A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE: BACK PAIN
ONE OF AMERICA’S LEADING
HEALTH CARE ISSUES.


Car insurance carriers routinely dismiss back pain as a subjective non problem.

Today’s PI specialist need to use word pictures that better describe the specific type of back pain the trauma patient suffers. No two back complaints are the same. Gary Macfarlane, of Aberdeen U in UK states “In many patients, this back pain gets better within three months of the initial visit. However, up to 50 percent of patients continue to have pain and disability after this time”

Primary causes for back pain are:

bulletSpondylosis: Arthritis caused by degenerative changes in the spine

With trauma causes great pain

bulletSpoldylitis: Chronic back pain and stiffness caused by severe infection or inflammation of the spinal joints

Again, with trauma a debilitating injury

bulletHerniated Disc: Disc material bulges and puts pressure on a nerve. Can lead to permanent nerve damage.

Often asymptomatic but after trauma a serious medical issue.

bulletSciatica: Burning, stabbing pain that goes down the leg as far as the foot.

Clear evidence of a herniated disc in the lumbar region.

bulletSpinal stenosis: Due to arthritis, a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord that can result in the nerve getting squeezed

Excellent means describing specific injuries.

bulletOsteoporosis: Loss of bone density can lead to weak bones and fractures of the vertebrae

Dangerous pre existing condition that lead to bad diagnostic analysis.

Practice Tip: If your patient suffers any one of these conditions, the PI case becomes much more credible and important justifying care

****************************************
Be aware … of the No Police Report case

Lillian was minding her own business when Brooke allegedly turned left into her lane of traffic striking Lillian’s car.

Defendant Brooke claimed that Lillian caused the accident because Lillian should have been more attentive. Brooke claimed that when she made the turn she moved safely into her lane of traffic. One word against another.

Plaintiff Lillian incurred $3,799 in chiropractic care and claim $7,000 more in pain.

There was no police report or any witnesses. Be aware….

The jury awarded zero dollars. They believed Lillian did not provide the burden of proof to justify any award.
Martin vs. Dworzan Orange Co Sup Court 05 CL 050 57, March 8 2006 , Judge Peter J. Polos

For a copy of this case e-mail:
johntawlian@shawnsteel.com

SHAWN STEEL’S SPEAKING SCHEDULEAll DC’s always invited

CCA-CHIROPRACTIC DISTRICTS
PI Reports that Pay: Everything you wanted to know.

bulletSan Gabriel Nov. 01, 2006
bulletLA Southwest Nov. 02, 2006
bulletLA Metro Nov. 08, 2006
bulletNorth Bay Nov. 15, 2006
bulletAlameda Feb. 15, 2007

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