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Recent Blog Posts
Is Your Loved One At Risk for Dangerous Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse?
Despite the fact that our elderly family members and loved ones are often vulnerable and need help with even the most basic tasks, they are also often at risk of terrible abuse and neglect at the hands of those we trust to take care of them. Illinois law guarantees nursing home residents a standard of care that is intended to protect them from abuse or neglect, but employees and managers at nursing homes and other residential care centers do not always respect or follow the law.
Because elderly people can have a hard time communicating clearly or remembering what happened, it can be difficult to identify potential signs of abuse or neglect and distinguish them from other behaviors that are typical to this age group, such as injuries caused by tripping and falling. However, there are warning signs that could indicate your loved one is in need of urgent assistance. Responding to these warning signs and taking action against the person or organization responsible could save a life.
Defective Workplace Equipment May Allow For Third-Party Lawsuits
As safety measures improve and worker safety awareness continues to increase, workplace injuries are on the decline across the nation. However, people are still commonly injured and even killed while on the job, making it difficult or impossible to work and depriving families of their loved ones and a desperately needed income.
When someone is injured on the job in Illinois, they are usually covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Employers are required to have this essential coverage in Illinois and it can be a lifeline for those who need it. Sometimes, however, more action is warranted - and this is especially true in injury cases that are caused by defective equipment manufactured or managed by a third party. If you were injured at work, make sure you speak with an Illinois personal injury attorney who can help you recover any damages to which you are entitled.
The Four Most Dangerous Construction Site Accidents
Construction work is absolutely essential for making our lives as comfortable and convenient as they are, but it is dangerous work and construction workers frequently face serious and even fatal hazards. While many of the injuries and fatalities that occur on construction sites in Illinois are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, others are caused by third-party negligence that leaves construction workers options for recovering compensation for the damages they have suffered.
If you are a construction worker who has been injured, or if you are the loved one of a construction worker who was killed on site, you deserve to know your options. Learn about the most common construction site accidents in this blog and then contact an Illinois personal injury with specific knowledge and experience in construction site injuries to see whether taking further action is right for you.
Improper Loading Can Cause Dangerous Trucking Accidents
The last ten years brought an explosion in online commerce, with companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Apple shipping hundreds of millions of dollars of goods around the country every year. With the increase in deliveries has come an increase in delivery trucks and big rigs on the road, and, unfortunately, an increase in serious and fatal trucking accidents. Every year, nearly 5,000 people die in large truck accidents, and well over 100,000 people are injured.
While accidents are not entirely preventable, many accidents could be prevented with simple adherence to regulations and guidelines. One of the most common causes of trucking accidents in Illinois is improperly loaded cargo; when the contents of a truck are not correctly secured or distributed, they can shift during sharp turns and high speeds, leading to jackknifing, rollovers, inability to stop or slow down, and other serious accidents. If you were injured in a truck accident caused by shifting cargo, you are already well aware of the dangers of these accidents, but you may not realize that you may be able to take legal action against the people or companies responsible for your injuries.
What Happens if Preeclampsia Goes Undiagnosed?
Even with all the remarkable advances in maternal healthcare, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery still pose serious risks to pregnant mothers in Illinois. One of the riskiest conditions that a pregnant mother can be diagnosed with is preeclampsia. Maternal healthcare providers should be carefully trained to recognize early symptoms of preeclampsia because this condition can escalate quickly into serious complications and may even be fatal for both mother and child.
Failure to diagnose preeclampsia is among the most serious and consequential types of medical malpractice, and doctors, nurses, and hospitals who fail to provide pregnant patients with the highest standard of care should be held accountable for their actions. If you or a loved one had preeclampsia and your team of healthcare providers did not diagnose you in a timely fashion, you may want to take legal action to recover compensation for any damages you suffered.
Have You Used a CPAP Machine That Causes Cancer?
The constant advances in the medical industry often mislead the average consumer into feeling like products recommended by doctors are always safe. Unfortunately, lack of research, poor design, and greed and corruption on the part of medical device designers and manufacturers can expose patients to dangerous conditions that can pose serious, life-long risks.
One type of defective medical product that has become notorious in recent years for causing cancer is CPAP and BiPAP machines made by Philips. These machines exposed users to toxic chemicals that caused specific types of cancers and respiratory illnesses, often with fatal consequences. If you used a Philips CPAP machine or any other dangerous or defective medical device, you deserve to know your options.
Why Were These CPAP Machines Dangerous?
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an investigation into Philips to determine whether Philips had an idea that their machines posed risks to users. The investigation showed that Philips knew about the dangers of the CPAP machines, but did not take immediate action to issue a recall.
Can I Sue the Bar That Allowed the Driver Who Hit Me to Become Drunk?
People go to bars to drink - that is no secret. But how much can a bartender allow a single person to drink before sharing some responsibility for what that person does when he or she leaves the bar? If a bartender allows or encourages someone to get so drunk he or she cannot drive safely, and the drunk person gets in their car and hurts or kills someone else, can the bartender be held responsible?
According to Illinois law, it may be possible to hold the bar or bartender responsible if a drunk driver gets in their car after being allowed to become intoxicated on the bar’s premises. An Illinois personal injury attorney can talk to you about your case and determine which parties are responsible for the injuries or losses you have suffered as the result of someone else’s poor decision to drink and drive.
Winter Weather Increases the Risks of Serious Car and Truck Accidents
The majority of the United States and all of Illinois is headed into its winter weather season. While Illinois residents are no stranger to snow, sleet, and rain, bad weather can still easily impact road conditions and the ability to drive safely. Unfortunately, even with defensive driving practices, the reckless or careless actions of other drivers on the road can jeopardize your safety during winter weather. If you are involved in a serious car accident this winter, make sure you meet with an Illinois personal injury lawyer.
Weather Conditions Cause Fatal Accidents
Snow, slush, and ice on roadways cause nearly 25 percent of weather-related vehicle accidents and 15 percent more happen during actively snowy or sleety conditions. Almost 1,500 people are killed and well over 100,000 injured every year in these accidents. Besides precipitation actively falling from the sky and accumulating on the roadway, blowing and drifting snow, avalanches, and freezing rain can cause unexpected dangers in the roadway. Black ice, a form of invisible ice that is usually impossible to see, causes many accidents when unsuspecting drivers fail to reduce their speed.
Can I Sue My Child’s Athletics Team for a Brain Injury from Playing Sports?
Every year, kids all over America get injured as they participate in school sports like football, basketball, and cheer. For the most part, these injuries are just part of growing up and reflect an active, healthy kid who is taking normal risks. Unfortunately, however, some of the most serious injuries are sustained after carelessness or negligence on the part of school or program leadership. If your child was seriously hurt during an athletics program at school, meet with an Illinois personal injury attorney to see if you can take legal action.
Are Schools Responsible For Injuries Sustained in Youth Sports Programs?
Children and their parents usually have to sign agreements saying that they assume responsibility for the risks inherent in playing sports and that they will not hold the school or its employees liable for any injuries that occur during the program.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Hospital Malpractice Case?
Visiting the hospital is never a pleasant experience, but at the very least, the hospital patient can expect a treatment that improves his or her medical condition. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some patients suffer worsened conditions, new illnesses or injuries, or even wrongful death because of the negligent medical care they received in a hospital. A medical malpractice claim is often the best way to hold a hospital or medical professional accountable for negligent care. A malpractice claim may also allow for the recovery of monetary damages.
Types of Compensatory Damages in a Hospital Malpractice Case
If you or a loved one has been seriously harmed by medical negligence, you may be wondering what types of damages you can recover in a hospital malpractice case. The amount of compensation that a person can recover will depend on the specific facts and circumstances of their case. However, there are certain types of damages that are commonly awarded in hospital malpractice cases, including: