Personal Injury

Three bones form the shoulder joint: clavicle, scapula, and humerus. A shoulder separation is a tear in the ligaments holding the scapula and clavicle together.

A shoulder separation happens most often in slip and fall cases, but they can occur in car accidents and truck accidents from bracing against the dash or being forced against the door. Shoulder separations are rated 1, 2, or 3, depending on the distance between the scapula and the clavicle.

• A grade 1 shoulder separation has tenderness but no actual separation. It involves a sprain of the acromioclavicular (AC) ligament, without displacing the clavicle. The shoulder will look normal on an X-ray.
• A grade 2 shoulder separation has slight separation of the clavicle from the scapula. The AC ligament will be torn and the coracoclavicular (CC) ligament may sustain minor tears.
• A grade 3 shoulder separation is when the AC joint is noticeably out of position. The AC and CC ligaments sustain complete tears.

Treatment of Separated Shoulder

The first treatment recommended is immobilization until the pain dissipates. Simple separations do well if the ligaments are not extensively damaged. More serious ligament damage may require surgery. Sometimes surgery is delayed to see if the shoulder will heal and regain full function without surgery.Whether the shoulder separation is treated conservatively or with surgery, the shoulder will require physical therapy to restore range of motion and rebuild strength and flexibility.

Minnesota Shoulder Separation Attorney

Our personal injury lawyers in Minneapolis, MN are gifted litigators with extensive medical knowledge and persuasive delivery. We will handle all of the paperwork, negotiate with the insurance company, and file your claim, if necessary. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free contact form.

An inmate serving 30 years in prison for the rape of a girl was in court again for severely beating another inmate in a St. Cloud prison back in September.

Leonard James Fisherman Jr., 30, is now facing charges for first-degree assault after a fight left another inmate dealing with very severe injuries. The injuries included bleeding on the brain and a number of facial fractions. The injured inmate also had to have part of his skull removed so that his brain could be operated on.

The fight occurred on September 22 at the St. Cloud-based Minnesota Correctional Facility. The inmate that Fisherman allegedly beat was housed in the cell next to Fisherman and he was throwing things and yelling in his cell while looking for his identification.

Fisherman and fellow inmates were telling the man to be quiet. The victim would eventually leave his cell. This is when he was met face-to-face by Fisherman outside of his cell. Fisherman would then allegedly block the victim to keep him from getting around him and then started to hit the victim repeatedly in the face with a closed fist.

According to the complaint, the victim would fall to the ground, but Fisherman kept hitting him and wouldn’t let him get back on his feet. Fisherman would then continue to kick the victim and stomp his head. Correctional officials said that they had to use chemical spray to stop the attack. As the officers were using the chemical spray, Fisherman was holding on to the victim, but he did let go. This is when the victim fell from the second floor of the housing unit to the main floor.

When officers ran to him, they found the victim bleeding from his head and he was unresponsive. It only took a couple of minutes to have him rushed to a St. Cloud Hospital where it was immediately determined that he needed surgery. While in the ER, doctors reported that the victim’s heart rate had dropped significantly but that medication was able to normalize it.

Fisherman would later be escorted to segregation. During this time, he was reported to be pounding his chest saying “just think, I just killed him.”

Fisherman is in prison after being convicted of raping an underage girl at knife point. He also has past convictions for sex offenses, drugs, and assault that go back to when he was 18 years old.

The victim, who is 20 years old, is serving a one year sentence for a probation violation relating to terroristic threats.

The Bloomington personal injury lawyers of TSR Injury Law believe that you should not have to suffer the consequences of an accident that was not your fault. We have helped thousands of people recover millions in compensation, including a recent settlement of $1.7 million for an accident that included a badly broken ankle.

Call us today. We care about you and your fight for justice and compensation. To contact Steve Terry, Chuck Slane, or Rich Ruohonen about your Minnesota ankle injury case, call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Why Ankle Fusion May Be Needed

You may have suffered a severe ankle fracture in a car accident or a slip and fall accident. As a result of the fracture, the ankle may have never healed correctly or may have developed arthritis. Ankle fusion may be recommended if:

• your pain is so great that you are not able to continue working;
• you are having issues with taking painkillers for an extended time; or
• your quality of life has deteriorated.

About Ankle Fusion

An ankle fusion removes the articular cartilage from the surface of the ankle joint, which allows the tibia to fuse with the talus. The bones literally grow together. A successful ankle fusion does not wear out like an artificial ankle — it should last a lifetime.

Ankle fusion surgery can be arthroscopic or open. Open ankle fusion takes less time in surgery, but more time to heal. Arthroscopic surgery has a higher percentage of achieving fusion. Because the positioning of the bones is so critical to a successful fusion and your future comfort level, you need to have the surgery performed by a surgeon who has performed many ankle fusions.

Ankle Fusion Complications

There are many complications associated with ankle fusion, including:

• nerve damage (could result in numbness in the foot);
• blood vessel damage (could lead to the need for amputation);
• infection (could require further surgery to drain the infection);
• nonunion (could require another surgery to perform a bone graft or additional fixation); and
• malunion (could cause problems with walking and require another surgery to achieve a better position of healing).

Ankle Fusion Recovery

After surgery, a padded plaster cast is required for 8 to 12 weeks. It is vital to refrain from putting any weight on the foot until x-rays show that the bones are fusing.

Physical therapy may be needed to learn to walk smoothly, without a limp. Once the fusion is completely healed, some shoe modifications may be helpful. There are shoe inserts or rocker soles available that allow the foot to roll more normally.

Bloomington Ankle Fusion Lawyer

Constant pain is debilitating and can lead to depression and hopelessness. Call us if you have had ankle fusion from an injury due to negligence. We have handled many ankle fusion cases. We know how to prove liability effectively. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

Trigger point injections are administered at your doctor’s office by an experienced and qualified health professional. While considered safe, if the utmost care is not taken, a trigger point injection can result in severe nerve damage among other complications. If you have experienced nerve damage or a serious medical condition after a trigger point injection, then you may be facing a world of pain and looking at a medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact a Minneapolis personal injury lawyer at (612) TSR-TIME to learn about your legal rights.

Trigger Point Injection Risks

When your muscles fail to contract and relax as they should, you could be experiencing a whole world of pain throughout your body. Furthermore, this can result in a loss of motion, scar tissue and weakness to develop over time. In some instances, a trigger point, or a tight band of muscle can develop in the body, irritating surrounding nerves and causing extreme pain.

A trigger point injection is one way to dull this painful sensation so you can move on with your life. However, in some instances, a trigger point injection can cause serious trigger point injection side effects and health risks that can be life changing and devastating.

The most common concerns surrounding trigger point injection is the risk of nerve damage.

Trigger Point Injection Side Effects

Dealing with the aftermath of an improper trigger point injection can be physically, emotionally and financially devastating. Not only could you be looking at the following serious trigger point injection side effects, but you could also be faced with unexpected medical costs and a loss of quality of life. Side effects of trigger point injection nerve damage include:

• Pain
• Sensitivity
• Numbness
• Tingling or prickling
• Burning
• Problems with positional awareness

Trigger Point Injection Administration

There are several health professionals that are qualified to administer a trigger point injection including an orthopedist, a psychiatrist, a pain specialist or a neurologist. Trigger point injections can be administered at a doctor’s office. A trigger point injection involves a needle into the patient’s nerve to block and prevent pain. A small needle is inserted into the trigger point and a local anesthetic is injected.

Trigger Point Injection Lawsuit

A trigger point injection should only be administered by a qualified and experienced health professional and the utmost care and practice must be used. In some instances, a trigger point injection can go wrong, resulting in nerve damage and other trigger point injection risks. It is the responsibility to the health professional to practice extreme care. Any slight act of recklessness, carelessness or negligence can result in a health complications as well as a trigger point injection lawsuit.

Have Legal Questions?

There have been several instances of medical malpractice lawsuits involving reckless and negligent trigger point injections. If you or someone you love have suffered nerve damage and any trigger point injection side effects after a trigger point injection, then it is advisable to contact a Minnesota personal injury lawyer about your options.

The attorneys at TSR Injury Law have years of experience analyzing and valuing injury cases. We will check for additional insurance policies to maximize your benefits, do all of the paperwork, and file your claim. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

At TSR Injury Law Firm we can help you uncover the truth behind the accident and determine what comes next. Serious swimming pool injuries can result in life changing complications, especially if faced with a spine or brain injury. Swimming pool drowning often result in death or serious brain damage due to the lack of oxygen to the brain while in the water.

Potential Injury Causes

TSR Injury Law Firm represents clients facing all types of swimming pool injuries and accidents such as:

• Drowning
• Brain and spine injuries
• Slip and fall accidents
• Lack of supervision
• Unsafe pool conditions
• Head injuries and trauma

Make sure you understand your legal rights when it comes to swimming pool accidents. It is the legal responsibility of the public pool to keep their swimmers safe. You may be entitled to compensation through a public liability insurance lawsuit. However, the rules surrounding this type of insurance claim can be complicated to say the least. Furthermore, many insurance companies will try to get out of paying you a fair amount. Don’t settle for the first quote you are offered by an insurance agency.

Speak to our qualified Minnesota personal injury lawyer first to see what rights you have and what this means for your financial future.

Swimming Pool Injuries and Children

It is often children that will be victim to swimming pool accidents. During swimming lessons the teacher must be watching every child at the same time. Furthermore, during public swimming lifeguards must watch the water and the kids for any risky or unsafe behavior. If something does happen, they will need to do their best to safe the child.

When your child has been seriously injured in a swimming pool accident or if the accident has resulted in a tragic loss, then you are going to need some time off. You will want to be there for them or be with your family to grieve for this loss. This is why it is so important to speak to a Minnesota injury lawyer as soon as you can.

Swimming Pool Injury Lawyers – Minneapolis, MN

In the event of a life changing swimming pool accident, we can help ensure that your family is taken care of financially. Compensation can help you with things like a loss of income, medical equipment and hospital bills. Call (612) TSR-TIME for a free initial consultation about your case or submit our free consultation form.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a process of breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. By pressurizing the oxygen, it can dissolve in the plasma, spinal fluid, and other body fluids — allowing oxygen to reach and regenerate more cells than without the therapy. Many injury conditions may respond well to hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an expense that insurance companies may be hesitant to pay. If hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a viable option to heal your injury (sustained due to the negligence of another), our Minnesota Personal Injury Attorneys will fight for your right to receive fair compensation to cover the additional expenses. Contact a Minnesota Personal Injury Attorney at 612-TSR-TIME.

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works

Pressurized oxygen increases the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen throughout the body. The blood becomes hyperoxygenated. Normally, oxygen is carried by hemoglobin in the red blood cells. It reaches only the cells with adequate blood supply. Once oxygen is pressurized and dissolves in the blood and body fluids, it can be transported to all tissues, providing the possibility of new cell life and healing.

Types of Injuries Where Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy May be Effective:

• traumatic brain injury
• spinal injury
• burn injury
• severe bone fracture

Potential Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:

• stimulate cell regeneration
• promote growth of new capillaries
• boost collagen formation
• mobilize stem cells
• increase blood flow to organs
• enhance white blood cell action

Potential Complications from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:

• ruptured middle ear
• headache
• fatigue
• myopia
• sinus damage
• lung damage
• respiratory failure

Personal Injuries and This Type of Treatment

If your injury was due to the negligence of someone else, you deserve fair compensation for all of your related medical expenses and treatment, pain and suffering, and wage loss. You need an experienced Bloomington personal injury lawyer to maximize your coverage and obtain compensation for prescribed hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We have successfully handled cases where hyperbaric therapy was used, including a traumatic brain injury case that settled for $600,000. Call (612) TSR-TIME for an appointment to discuss your case, or submit our free consultation form.

TSR Injury Law is a premier personal injury law firm serving the state of Minnesota. Our partners are skilled, aggressive litigators with extensive medical knowledge. Call us today (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form. We can help.

Shoulder Impingement

Shoulder impingement is a soft tissue injury. It occurs when the scapula rubs or pressures the rotator cuff, causing increasing damage, pain, and loss of range of motion.

Impingement starts when the shoulder sustains trauma or injury leading to compression of the soft tissue under the acromion. The soft tissue (rotator cuff muscles, tendons, and bursa) are located between the acromion and the head of the humerus. This area is called the sub-acromial space. Once the soft tissue is aggravated, they become inflamed and swollen. This leads to a cycle of compression and inflammation.

Shoulder Impingement Treatment

Conservative treatment should be pursued prior to surgery. Physical therapy is very effective in many cases of shoulder impingement, especially if therapy starts promptly after injury. The next step is usually corticosteroid injections into the sub-acromial space to reduce swelling and pain. If physical therapy and injections both fail to alleviate the problem, then arthroscopic surgery is recommended.

Following surgery, the arm will be immobilized for a short time. This will be followed by more physical therapy to improve range of motion and strength. It will take 2-4 months to achieve full pain relief.

Have Some Questions?

Chronic pain is very debilitating and can lead to poor job performance and depression. If you have been working on recovering from shoulder impingement due to trauma or negligence, you do not have to stand alone. We will fight for justice on your behalf. Call (612) TSR-TIME to speak to a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis or submit our contact form and a member from our team will contact you shortly.

Free Consultation. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Camping can be a fun and adventurous recreational activity if one prepares for the dangers and obstacles that the great outdoors may present. According to a National Park Service ranger, the number one cause of injury and death in the wilderness is unpreparedness. By bringing along the proper safety equipment and by being prepared to fight the elements, camping can be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Don’t forget the:

• Sunscreen
• Compass
• First aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Burn ointment
• Calamine lotion
• Antihistamines
• Inclement weather

Be sure to check the almanac or the weather forecast before planning a camping trip. Getting stuck in a severe storm can be very dangerous. Even if you do plan ahead, storms may hit at any time. If you are caught in a thunderstorm or other serious storm, try to find your way back to your vehicle or find an open clearing away from trees.

Animal confrontation

Always be on the lookout for wild animals in their natural habitat, including bears, elk, moose, deer and snakes. Do not, under any circumstances, approach or try to feed a wild animal. Keep all of your food properly stored away at your campsite so as to not attract animals. If you do come across a wild animal, stay calm and slowly move away from it.

Campfire safety

Be sure to clear the area of all debris and avoid building fires in areas with overhanging branches or near tents and other flammable items. Be sure to have a bucket of water, shovel and a fire extinguisher nearby and in case you need to put out the fire. Never leave the fire unattended and never use flammable fluids to start a fire. When you are done, be sure to completely extinguish the fire.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been injured by another party’s negligence while on a camping trip, it is important to know what your legal options are. To speak with an experienced Minneapolis personal injury attorney, contact the offices of TSR Injury Law at (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

You have put an enormous amount of effort into researching the best schools, daycare facilities, and babysitters for your child. You put your trust in the system. Now you find that trust has been betrayed and your child has been injured, leaving you to deal with the overwhelming feelings of guilt, fear, and anger.

If your child was injured because a caretaker failed to provide adequate safety or supervision, it can be grounds for a lawsuit. Contact a Minnesota personal child injury lawyer at TSR Injury Law by calling 612-TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form. Our partners are compassionate and diligent, and we will fight for justice in your case.

Responsibility and Accountability

School districts, daycare centers, and other childcare providers are acting “in loco parentis” for the time that the child spends with them. This means that they are legally responsible for the health and safety of your child. At TSR Injury Law, we believe that anyone who works with children has a serious responsibility and should be held accountable for their mistakes. A civil suit can help you regain money lost to medical bills and time off work, as well as compensate you for the suffering your family has experienced.

Our Minnesota personal injury attorneys are prepared to help you with a variety of child injury cases, including:

• School/Playground Injuries
• Daycare Injuries
• Dangerous Toys
• School Bus Accidents

Contact Us

If your child has been injured due to a caretaker’s negligence, do not hesitate to contact TSR Injury Law. We will review your situation, and if you have a case, we will fight for the compensation you deserve. Call today at 612-TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

(WCCO) After the beating and sexual assault of a 3-year-old boy in the Kids Quest child care center at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, it was discovered that casino centers like this one are not licensed by the state.

Investigators think a 9-year-old boy was responsible for the attack that happened at Kids Quest, a child care center that is run by New Horizon.

“Obviously there wasn’t adequate supervision or this never would have happened,” said the victim’s attorney Richard Ruohonen.

The 3-year-old’s mother said the boy received cuts and bruises during the attack at Kids Quest.

“There should have been police called and there should have been medical personnel there and unfortunately that didn’t happen,” said Ruohonen.

“I can’t speak for Kids Quest. You’d have to inquire of them why they did not contact authorities,” said Mille Lacs Band Of Ojibwe Solicitor General Rjay Brunkow.

WCCO-TV did contact New Horizon, who leases the Kids Quest space from the casino, and they refused to say.

The victim’s attorney said the toddler told his mother that the assault happened inside a pink ball in the play area.

“Our client was told they only check the tubes, the enclosed areas, once an hour,” said Ruohonen. “And to only check them once an hour, if that’s true, and that’s what she was told, is frankly ridiculous.”

Child care center on any tribal land are not licensed by Minnesota’s Human Services Department. The Native American government of each band determines requirements and regulations for day care centers.

“We do have the ability to insist that changes are made or Kids Quest will no longer be associated with the band,” said Brunkow.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Kids Quest’s vendor license was temporarily suspended and the doors closed pending a hearing on Friday. Meantime, the wounded child and his mother are trying to cope with the trauma.

“He’s scared, he’s sleeping at night with his mom. He reaches out for her every night to see if she is there?” said Ruohonen. “She’s angry at the fact it was allowed to happen. The fact that there was no one there watching out for her son.”

The family only came forward to share their tragedy to prevent other children from suffering the same fate. They’re just sorry something as terrible as this had to happen before changes were made at the casino.

Kids Quest at Grand Casino Hinkley is also temporarily shut down. The other child care centers operated by New Horizon at Jackpot Junction and Treasure Island remain open.

If you have sustained a SLAP tear, you need to be proactive in your medical care because that part of the labrum has poor vascular supply which can make healing difficult. If it does not heal well, you could face a lifetime of chronic shoulder pain. We want to help you obtain adequate compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form. Our partners have been named Super Lawyers many times and have a reputation for getting the job done.

Labral Tear – SLAP Tear Injury Information

When the glenoid labrum is torn, it is called a labral tear. Labral tears are classified by the location of the tear in relation to the glenoid. A SLAP tear is when the glenoid labrum is separated at the tendon of the biceps muscle from front to back. The acronym stands for Superior Labral tear Anterior to Posterior. A SLAP tear occurs frequently in slip and fall accidents when the person falls on an outstretched arm or in car accidents when the arm is outstretched to brace against impact.

A SLAP tear can be difficult to diagnose. The best way to confirm a SLAP tear is with an MRI contrast. There are some risks associated with the contrast injection (gadolinium), including allergic reaction, dizziness, shortness of breath, blood clots, and kidney damage. Because of the risks associated with the MRI contrast, many people let the doctor make the diagnosis at the time of surgery.

SLAP Tear Treatment

Surgery is almost always necessary to recover from a severe SLAP tear injury. The surgery options are:

• open incision, where it permits the surgeon more visibility
• arthroscopic, where there is less chance of infection and recovery time is shorter

SLAP Tear Recovery

Whether you opt for open or arthroscopic surgery, physical therapy is mandatory. Physical therapy begins at about four weeks. Full recovery from a SLAP tear injury depends on the extent of damage, how it was treated, and how faithfully physical therapy was performed. It will usually be at least 3-4 months before your shoulder feels close to normal. It can take up to a year for your shoulder to be completely healed after surgery.

Need Some Legal Help?

The personal injury lawyers in Bloomington at TSR Injury Law are skilled, aggressive litigators with years of experience handling complex medical cases. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form. Consultations are free. No fees until we win.

Any injury is scary, but a spinal injury is frightening — with very real fears for the future. We care about your injury and want to help. If your spinal injury was from an accident that was not your fault, you deserve compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages.

Contact our Minnesota Bulging Disc Lawyers at (612) TSR-TIME. TSR Injury Law has established a reputation for success in the area of personal injury litigation. Our partners have been named Minnesota Super Lawyers many times by their peers.

Bulging Disc Injury

Many bulging disc injuries are from deceleration in a car accident when the spine is restrained and bent over the seat belt, many times at an angle. A bulging disc most often occurs in the lower back, but may occur in the neck.

When the spine is stressed and pulled out of place, it can put uneven pressure on the disc and cause irritation and damage. A bulging disc can protrude into the spinal canal causing pain and potentially long-term repercussions if the disc ruptures or becomes herniated.

The spine is critical to the overall health of the body. The discs keep the spine flexible, allowing twisting, bending, and basically all physical activity. The gel in the discs absorb the stress of all the body movement. When a disc bulges or compresses, it can cause narrowing of the spinal canal leading to limited, painful movement.

A bulging disc is less severe than a ruptured or herniated disc, but if it goes undiagnosed or untreated may lead to the more serious ruptured or herniated disc.

Bulging Disc Diagnosis & Treatment

An x-ray will not reveal anything about the health of the disc, but may be used to verify the health of the bones. A physical exam and MRI are the best ways to diagnose a bulging disc.

A bulging disc may heal with rest and physical therapy. If the bulging disc becomes more serious by rupturing, surgery may be necessary to remove part of the disc or the entire disc. At this point, they may replace the disc with a synthetic disc or fuse the segments to prevent movement and instability.

Contact Us Today

If your injury was due to the negligence of another, you may be able to obtain compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other losses. Call (612) TSR-TIME today. We will schedule an appointment to discuss your case. If you prefer, submit our free consultation form. We will fight for justice in your case.