Legal Question in Personal Injury in Massachusetts
Finger badly cut on Reynolds wrap strip, stitched at ER, then got staph infectio
I cut my finger down to the bone with a Reynolds Aluminum foil box cutting
strip a few weeks ago. At the Waltham Deaconess ER, I received 4 stitches
and a doctor's order to stay out of work (customer support software
engineer) for 2 days. I was given instructions to clean it with hydrogen
peroxide and bandage with antibiotic cream, which I did. After 10 days, I
went to a general surgeon I had never seen before for removal of the
stitches. At that time, she prescribed Keflex because I had a staph
infection in my finger. After completing the round of Keflex, my finger
looks much worse, pain, red-sunburned look, severe peeling, stiffness, and
swelling. Tomorrow, I'll be in contact with the surgeon again. I'm very
concerned and no longer feel that I'm just dealing with a few stitches, a
minor scar, and 2 days off from work.
Do I have a case? If so with whom the ER, Reynolds or both? What's are my
options?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Finger badly cut on Reynolds wrap strip, stitched at ER, then got staph infe
I just got this message. My first question is this: how's the finger now? Even if I had gotten the message sooner, I'd have asked you to write back in a couple of weeks after you could see how it was healing. Hopefully, it's getting better today and you'll be back to normal soon.
(By the way, between us, how long did it take to type that message with a sore finger? You may write directly to me at [email protected] if you like.)
Assuming that the finger does get better and isn't (horrors) have to be amputed or the like, you do "have a case" but it's not a great case. You could bring a case (using a lawyer!) against all the parties involved. It might not be a winner, but you might still get a settlement for at least what is called the nuisance value or more politely the cost of defense (which isn't insignificant!).
The question that arises in my mind is this: how did the cut happen in the first place, exactly? Can you describe it for me in greater detail, please?
I have an extensive background in software development and software support myself, by the way. (And I used to do that in Waltham!) Where do you work? Reply directly to me at [email protected] or [email protected].
Re: Finger badly cut on Reynolds wrap strip, stitched at ER, then got staph infe
I forgot to say this:
Save the box! (the one you cut your finger on).