Personal Injury Books

I got this book because I am going to law school. This was one of the easiest ways to study the procedure for medical malpractice. This is a must for would-be law students and anyone thinking of filing a lawsuit for malpractice.

It is very difficult to find useful information for people who have been injured except from the strictly medical information point of view. This book tells you how to take charge of your life when you feel so vulnerable. It begins with choosing a doctor if you don't like the one you have. Suggestions are offered for handling shock and facing changes in career and lifestyle. It gives valuable information about head injury. It addresses guilt from being a "burden" and helps you through the civil and criminal justice systems, including valuable tips about dealing with insurance companies. The author is a clinical psychologist who, herself, was seriously injured. I haven't found a book this helpful for the injured and their families anywhere.

Whether you are at teetotaler alcoholic-on the way to becoming an alcoholic, the loved one of an alcoholic or just someone who wants to understand,you will find this book totally compelling reading.

"Through A Glass Brightly" is about a most remarkable man who trod the long downhill road into alcoholism and found himself in a life of degradation and sorrow that most people could never begin to understand. Yet despite becoming one of the dregs of society he managed to make a remarkable turnaround into a most admirable person who passionately cares about people who are in the same situation that he found himself many years ago. His dedication to to the cause of alcoholism has no boundaries, rich, poor, famous, through the years he has tried to help them through the Chaucer Clinic which he founded in 1989. To have the courage and conviction to tell the world the real story of alcoholism and the terrible effect it has on the lives of the alcoholics themselves and their families and friends around them was a truly wonderful action.

The book at times can be very funny, it can also be heartrending and sad. The book dispels the myth that most people believe tht all alcohoics are down and outs, vagrants and winos. This is not true, alcoholics come from all walks of life, Alcohol like Drugs is an addiction, it is also a very serious illness that in some cases leads to the death of the drinker. As I avidly read through the chapters I found that I could relate to many of the things that were happening to the author, because I have a loved on, a daughter who was alcoholic and was treading the long downhill road herself, but thanks to my reading "Through a Glass Brightly" and her eventual acceptance of her alcoholism she entered the Chaucer Clinic, and with their help she is climbing the uphill road back into society.

On reading "Through A Glass Brightly"it will put your views on alcoholics into a diffeent perspective. This book is not fiction-it is true life shown at its worst and sometimes its best.

I would highly recommend this book for rookie insurance adjusters or rookie SIU's. This book provides a great platform for further investigation.

This was informative and fairly easy to understand. I recieved the nformation I was looking for.

I recently borrowed this book from a colleague of mine. From my experience I believe this illusion of psychosocial sensitization prevents the patient from understanding the true causes. It becomes a sort "badge-of-honor." We need to quit allowing every person in America to believe they are messed up in their heads. I believe this is just poor doctoring.

I am always disheartened when physicians become pawns of the insurance industry, sometimes unknowingly. Dr. Malleson appears to have prostituted himself in this way quite knowingly, however. Like one of the reviewers from Barbados (who can be found easily using a Google search of his name--he is an insurance company executive), Malleson is yet another representative of the automobile insurance industry whose views of whiplash-related disorders are not only biased, but quite outdated. Malleson appears to be second-guessing the millions of injured persons in the United States and abroad and accusing them of secondary gain. However, several scientific studies have clearly shown that litigation has absolutely no effect on the long-term prgnosis and outcome of whiplash-injured persons.

Malleson, in a very predictable way, places a grossly distorted emphasis on studies which support his preconceptions about whiplsh injuries. These studies, such as one which looked at demolition derby drivers (Berry, 2000) subjected to multiple impacts over the span of their careers, or one that supposedly simulated a rear-end collision (it didn't) using fear tactics to intimidate and frighten research subjects (Castro et al., 2002), actually have very little to do with the phenomenon of a rear-end collision in the real world, where significant forces are produced in unaware and unbraced occupants who are struck by 3000-lb. objects.

Malleson, and many physicians, especially those in neurology and psychiatry circles, attribute chronic pain after a rear-end, whiplash-producing collision, to be purely psychological or societal. This theory, a "psychosocial" theory of chronic pain after whiplash, not only has never been proved, but has never even been studied or tested.

I suppose that if you want to treat whiplash as a psychiatrist, it probably helps to couch a diagnosis in the psychiatric realm. But the lack of quality of research for a psychosocial theory in whiplash is glaring, and this paucity has not been commented on by Malleson. This is a great flaw of this poorly-researched book.

The proponents and founders of the "psychosocial theory" of chronic pain after whiplash, Drs. Robert Ferrari and Anthony Russell of Canada (where funding for pro-insurance research has reached a worldwide high), have called their theory instead a "biopsychosocial" one. That is a misnomer, however, since Ferrari and Russell allow for no biological explanation for chronic pain after whiplash. In other words, they do not believe that chronic pain after whiplash is possible from damage to injured human tissues such as cartilage, ligament, muscle or muscle tendon, brain, spinal cord, or other nervous tissues. Unfortunately for injured persons, Dr. Malleson also subscribes to this psychosocial theory, although there is no good scientific evidence for it.

What Dr. Malleson's book ignores are the monumental studies from medical and engineering journals in the past few years. The reviewer who states that Malleson misses the mark is correct. Kaneoka and Ono and their colleagues from Japan have indeed changed the way we look at the biomechanics of a rear-end collision with their brilliant studies using human subjects and cineradiography. What is amazing is that their work supports and agrees with data coming from other studies, both clinical and medical, and other engineering studies.

The Japanese researchers have shown us that the cervical spine takes on an "s-shaped configuration" where the lower neck hyperextends, and the upper neck hyperflexes beyond normal physiologic ranges. The possibility that cartilage in the neck is permanently damaged is very high. This cartilage has also shown to be damaged in clinical whiplash studies performed by Australian research (Bpgduk and colleagues). That the auto insurance industry and its representatives should so easily dismiss the overwhelming majority of studies in the last decade comes as no surprise to me. However, when a physician ignores the importance of this research, or ignores the research altogether, then that is surely disheartening. It is also surprising to many in the lay public (although not as surprising to those of us in medicine).

The doctors who work for the insurance companies and testify in court are clinging desperately to a very small number of studies (less than 30) which deny the existence of chronic pain after whiplash from a biological (that is, injured human tissue) source. The vast majority of studies show the opposite is true: chronic pain is not the result of secondary gain, litigation or cognitive difficulties (over 50 good studies support this), but are the result of good old-fashioned tissue injury (studies number in the thousands in support of this).

Yet, voices like Malleson's, Ferrari's, Berry's, and other physicians, especially neurologists, will continue to bark the loudest, as if by barking louder they will be able to somehow overturn the majority of scientists and researchers in both the medical and engineering worlds who disagree with them. Malleson's views simply do not hold up in the face of the research which he conveniently either ignores or distorts in his book.

There is a great advantage to writing a book like this: your future as a physician working for the insurance industry is virtually guaranteed. You will be able to reap great profits from defense (insurance company bought-and-paid-for) work, performing "expert" testimony for a fantastic income, and insurance medical exams (so-called "IME" exams) at a handsome profit. One doctor I know (most physicians I know refer to him as the local insurance company whore) literally made over $250,000 last year on Wednesdays performing these exams. He's got a lot of time left over for golf!

Nice work schedule! A quarter-mil on Wednesdays, looking for nothing in these patients, and surprise--not finding anything. Since he cannot find anything (he doesn't look for anything wrong), there must not be anything wrong with these patients! The insurance company, based on its own incestuous representative (or its representative once-removed), gets to legally deny payment for any further treatment to the injured patient! It is gone this far, don't let the supporters of this book lie to you any more. Thay all work for the insurance industry.

I wonder how Dr. Malleson's golf game is...?

I would rather prefer that those denying the science behind Dr Malleson's statements would declare their conflict of interests, as it is usually done in scientific papers. Maybe we could have a broader view about their opinions.

This book clearly illustrates the true nature of whiplash injuries - as a vehicle to help ne'er-do-wells exist without actually contributing anything to society.

Well done!

I have only read the synopsis of the book and the customer reviews. I have 11 years experience as an Industrial Nurse Case Manager. I wholeheartedly assure the secondary gain issues listed are quite true from 3rd party liability cases, workers' compensation cases and medical malpractice. There are a lot of unethical physicians who will causally relate anything to everything, continue treatment when none is warranted, (one case of mine had physical therapy for 15 years and never improved) and keep persons out of work for no objective reason. This is blatant fraud. Other physicians may innocently do this because they lack knowledge of secondary gain and/or symptom magnification. I try to stay away from this type as well as the hired gun physicians who do reap the financial benefits from insurance companies and are not objective either. The plaintiff attorneys coach their clients to drive up medical costs for increased settlement. All claims are greatly increased when pre-existing psychological conditions/disorders (i.e. depression, anger issues, borderline personality disorder) are present. There is a very significant direct cost to the taxpayer (i.e. federal workers' compensation cases,such as postal workers, shipyard workers, any civil service, etc.)and indirect cost, by our increased purchase costs due to the burden of risng insurance premiums which the company or individual must pay. Thus this affects all of us in a very direct way both monetarily and psychologically (decreased co-worker morale when they see a co-worker getting away with this, increased false claims, again because others see how easy it is for false claims, and anxiety caused by job loss when the company closes because they can no longer afford their premiums). I also think other factors color this situation as the general population's work ethic has spiraled downward while their sense of entitlement has sharply increased. This is the real world, not embellished opinion.

I found the book incomplete for my purpose. I had bought several books about this to SETTLE MY OWN CLAIM. There was not as much information on property damage or what to do when you have a CAR ACCIDENT.

I had more valuable information from the Car Accident Secrets book. I was able to settle my claim easily by following the steps right out of that book. It was also less expensive !! The website for Caraccidentsecrets.com is (http://www.caraccidentsecrets.com) It had a lot more valuable information which helped me a lot more. I used the book on that site to help me settle my claim without a lawyer. It also teaches you more do's and don'ts and also has REAL examples of claim settlements. The book also gives you FORMS and simple steps to follow. I would recommend that one instead plus its a lot cheaper.

After much difficulty, I finally feel prepared and secure about handling my insurance claim. The book provided detailed information about my responsibilities and about all materials I need in order to negotiate and settle my claim. The book is easy to read and the author makes you feel as though he is sitting there talking to you. I recommend this book to anyone who is presently involved in a claim or anyone who carries insurance and may one day be involved in an accident.

Good if you need a "cheerleader". There are no forms or checklists to help you with your task so you are still on your own. Wording the claim letter is the big task and this book provides no help.

I just finished reading 'Claims, How to Collect Insurance Money Without a Lawyer' and wish I had read it sooner. I am a single parent school teacher and a couple of years ago one of my sons was involved in an accident that was totally the other driver's fault. I relied completely on my insurance salesman to advise us on what was fair, just and due my son. Now, after having read this book I discover that we settled considerably short. Both physical recovery and financial recovery were challenging for my son, and I know now it should not have been quite so difficult.

Actually, the greater value of this book to me is that it serves as a wonderful primer for understanding my own insurance. I had no idea how truly uneducated I have been. At this time I am not involved in any insurance claim nor litigation, but should I be involved in an accident, I will certainly have a strong foundation in understanding what I should do and in the terminology being used. Also, the next time I renew my policy I will do so with a great deal more intelligence.

The book is a fast read and is organized in such a way as to make returning to look up any particular topic quite easy. As soon as I finish typing this review I plan to call some friends of mine to recommend the book to them.

Mr. Smith gives good information on how to negotiate for the best car claim, but he is very misleading on how to settle a personal injury claim. He also is very biased for the insurance industry and only tries to steer you toward a small claim. If you want to know about a personal injury claim, this book in't for you.

Reviewer: robert dorroh (see more about me) from Sonora, CA United States The reader will be distracted by poor writing that includes awkward sentences, punctuation, rash of italics and exclamation points, and an overdose of sentimentality. Williams is a good soul who needs a better editor. Still, she deserves two stars for sincerity and a good effort.

We really like this book! The author, Margie Williams, suffered a severe spinal cord injury at the age of 53, just when she was making plans for the rest of her life. She presents a close-up view of what life is like during and after such an incident, including her experience with institutional medicine and insurance companies (for better and for worse), and her determined -- and ultimately successful -- effort to rehabilitate herself and reconstruct her life. Journey To Well is well-written, funny in some parts and heart-rending in others, but completely absorbing throughout. The comprehensive Resource Guide included in the Appendix is itself well worth the price of the book for those dealing with spinal cord injuries as patients or as caregivers.

Everyone's experience with spinal cord injury is different, and this is indeed a subjective view. But the manner in which Margie Williams responded to and grew from her experiences has applications for everyone. We would therefore enthusiastically recommend Journey To Well not only to those who have experienced spinal cord injury, but also to those who have not. The world of those who must live the rest of their lives on wheels is quite different than the "two-legged" world. The more we understand the similarities as well as the differences between the two, the better we will be as individuals and as a caring society.

I am an Occupational Therapist who works with persons with spinal cord injuries. I found this book to be very helpful in describing what it's like to have a SCI from the victim's point of view. Her story doesn't put on a glossy finish, and that's good, because it isn't a fun experience. I have given it to students to read to gain a better perspective on the impact of a SCI on an individual and the family. I would recommend this book if you want to read an account of one person's struggle through hospitalization, rehab and life at home.

This book (2nd edition) is quite comprehensive and largely covers all issues relating to its title. Personally I found the book very informative and a great guide to the field it is intended to cover. Anyone wanting to learn more about the field of studies it addresses should most definitely have read this book. Clearly the author/s are well versed with the subject matter, as is evident from the interrelated subject matter diversity of the book. Surprisingly, considering the volume, the manner in which it is compiled and written makes for somewhat easy reading.

The New England Journal of Medicine wrote a review of the first edition of this book. Here are a few quotes: "Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries is an ambitious book with multiple objectives aimed at multiple audiences with various levels of background knowledge."

"The author has developed a thoughtful, practical guide for physicians in private practice for ranking the severity of neck and back injuries. He describes a fairly detailed physical examination for head injuries and provides a comprehensive discussion of multiple syndromes after trauma to various parts of the body."

This book is a second edition and about twice the size of the first. It is well researched and authored by a dozen or so health care providers and other experts. Provides useful information to use in the clinical and legal settings.

This book is a good summary of the available literature for biomechanics accident reconstruction. Where the reviewed literature is often used by defense experts, the author takes personal criticism at the defense experts for using this literature in assessing injury potential. This is done quite often to a point where it is rediculous and quite defamatory. It is obvious from this book that the author has aligned himself with the plaintiff side of low speed collision analysis. I would not recommend this book if your looking for literature on this matter which is impartial.

Despite the claim that this caters to the needs of plaintiffs, defendants and medical consultants, this book is primarily geared to the legal practitioner who needs a comprehensive background knowledge in medicine and clinical practice. This is so obvious when a major portion of the book is dedicated to "Medicine for Lawyers". The book gives a respectable overview of the nuances of medical practice. This may be helpful to the uninitiated prosecuting or defending a malpractice case. Those already deep into the practice of medical litigation will find it trite. I find it too expensive for its contents. There are other books on the subject matter with more meat at less cost.

Lewis overviews winning strategies for locating and selecting medical experts and consultants. The critical aspect of defendant performance within or below professional standards for clinical practice is explained, along with analysis of what type of expert witness could most effectively appraise and testify regarding these standards. The author concludes this discussion with a listing of resources for further investigation of experts and professional standards.