When your loved ones dropped you off at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, they probably breathed a sigh of relief, believing that you were finally safe. Being actively addicted to a mind-altering substance can put your life in danger. When you make the bold decision to go to rehab and try to defeat your addiction, you deserve to be cared for in a safe environment. The problem is that the rehab industry is not nearly as regulated as it should be. Anything from a lack of trained medical personnel on hand to inadequate supervision to dangerous conditions in the residential area can put patients at risk. Being injured while in residential treatment can have enormous consequences, and may even trigger a relapse if you experience a lot of pain. If you were injured while staying in inpatient rehab, an attorney may be able to help you recover financial compensation. 

Negligent Rehab Practices That Put Patients in Danger

A lack of regulation in the recovery industry emboldens some shady rehab centers to put profit ahead of patient safety. When you check into a rehab center, you expect to be kept safe while you recover. People who are coming off drugs or alcohol are vulnerable and need a higher level of care than some rehabs are interested in providing. Negligent practices that could endanger you include: 

• Unmanaged detox - Withdrawal from benzodiazepines or alcohol can be fatal if it is not properly medically managed. Withdrawing from any substance can cause harm and put you at risk for problems like dehydration and falls. During the acute detox phase, you need extensive medical care. It is critical that you are seen by a doctor almost as soon as you check in so that you can be given the appropriate medications. Failing to provide appropriate care at this point can rise to the level of medical malpractice.

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Food poisoning is one of the least pleasant experiences you can have. Severe cases can leave you nauseous, dehydrated, and in pain for days or even weeks. Some people ultimately need to be hospitalized in order to treat food poisoning. People who are immunocompromised, elderly, chronically ill, and children are the most likely to experience severe illness after getting food poisoning. You may know exactly which food from which restaurant got you sick but proving it to a jury may be another story. Fortunately, there are several strategies available to attorneys who handle food poisoning cases under a products liability theory that can help you prove your case. If you suffered food poisoning after dining out, it is important to contact an attorney first, before you reach out to the establishment. Being represented right off the bat can make an enormous difference in these cases. 

What Kinds of Proof Are Needed for a Food Poisoning Case?

The difficulty with food poisoning litigation is proving that a specific dining establishment caused your illness. Some types of proof are easier to come by than others, but an experienced attorney will know how to help you build the body of evidence you need. Types of evidence that may be used in food poisoning cases include: 

• Multiple people sick - If you are the only one who became ill after eating out, it can be challenging to prove that it was the restaurant’s food rather than something else you ate. One step your lawyer is likely to take involves looking for other people who also became ill after eating the same food or dish you had. This is why many food poisoning cases become class-action lawsuits–if a restaurant served contaminated food, it likely sickened more than one person. 

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Drunk drivers can be wildly unpredictable, which makes it nearly impossible for the sober drivers around them to avoid getting hit. Drunk drivers turn without signaling, signal without turning, and cannot seem to stay in their own lanes. They may jump medians, drive up an exit ramp, or blow through stoplights. This can lead to serious crashes that the sober driver could not see coming. 

While the drunk driver - or their insurance company - can certainly be held responsible for any damages they caused, in some cases, there might be another liable party. 

Michigan still has what are called dram shop laws, which can make an establishment that serves alcohol to a patron who later causes an accident liable. An attorney can help give you a better idea of whether dram shop laws may apply to your situation. 

Everyone who cooks at home knows that there are certain steps you need to take to avoid giving your family food poisoning. Throw out any bread or baked goods that have mold on them. Do not use the same cutting board for raw meat and vegetables. Restaurants are responsible for the products they serve. The problem with restaurants is that you cannot see what is going in in the kitchen most of the time. You have no way of knowing whether they are handling your food safely. Even if the dining room is very nice, there is no telling what could be going on behind the scenes. If you became seriously ill after eating at a restaurant, you might be able to recover compensation. Contacting a lawyer is the first step. 

What Negligent Kitchen Habits Could Cause Food Poisoning?

In some cases, food is already contaminated when it reaches the restaurant. In others, food reaches the restaurant in a safe condition, and then something the restaurant does renders the food dangerous. Careless behaviors like these could get you sick: 

• Wrong temperature - Foods that need to be refrigerated must be kept either under 40 degrees Fahrenheit or over 140. The temperature range in between is known as the “danger zone.” Bacteria can multiply very rapidly at those temperatures, causing illness. 

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Bedsores are often associated with very elderly and very ill bedbound patients in nursing homes. However, even younger and healthier people can suffer from these painful sores, also called “pressure ulcers” while recovering from a serious injury in an inpatient rehabilitation center. People often enter these facilities in a vulnerable state, not expecting to suffer further injury due to neglect. Unfortunately, some of these facilities are less careful than they need to be with their patients. If you or your loved one suffered bedsores while in a rehab center, you may want to contact a personal injury lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation.

What Are Rehabilitation Centers Used For?

These facilities are often used as a sort of “middle ground” between being in the hospital and being at home. Unlike nursing homes, these facilities are generally for short-term stays. People of all ages may stay in these centers while recovering from long-term major injuries. Rehab patients are typically too sick or injured to return home yet and are in need of around-the-clock care. Many of them are transported directly from the hospital to rehab centers. Injuries and conditions that may be treated in rehab centers include: 

• Traumatic brain injury

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