If you live in the Bronx or anywhere in New York City, you know there are areas in NYC with traffic issues that often lead to accidents. Even the best drivers can find themselves in accidents that have lingering legal effects like medical bills, expensive car repairs and disputes with insurance companies. All of this gets even more complicated if there is a passenger in your car or if you are a passenger in somebody’s car.
When you are injured in a car accident, on the job, or in another type of accident, your primary concern should be healing. But, in today’s healthcare environment, worries about the costs you incur after an injury can be overwhelming.
After an accident, even if you feel okay, it may be days or hours before you experience any symptoms from an injury. After an accident, when someone asks, “Are you okay?” The best answer is, “I don’t really know. Only a doctor can assess my health.” That’s the truth of the situation. You may be in shock or have a post-traumatic-stress reaction. Immediately following an accident, you really can’t objectively assess your situation.
Physicians, nurses, pharmacists and medical technicians are among the professionals that people trust the most. Most health care providers and pharmacists make every effort to help their patients and customers. But, despite their efforts, every year about 1.5 million people are injured due to medication errors. The tragedy is that nearly half of the medication errors are preventable. Many of these errors are fatal. In fact, medical errors are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer.