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Recent Blog Posts
When Can I Sue for a Construction Site-Related Injury?
Although construction sites are one of the most common places where serious and fatal work injuries occur, Illinois’ workers’ compensation laws require every company with even one employee to have workers’ compensation insurance. This can make it very difficult to sue an employer after a workplace injury occurs.
The circumstances surrounding each case of construction site injury and death are different, but it is important to know that even if you cannot sue your employer for your injuries, you still may be able to sue a third party. It is important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney so you know the best option for your case.
Can an Injured Construction Worker Ever Sue Their Employer?
Suing an employer after even the worst construction site accident is usually not possible in Illinois. The injured party has to prove that the employer acted intentionally to cause the worker’s injury or death. Even gross negligence is not sufficient to bring a lawsuit against an employer and requires an employee to seek compensation through workers’ compensation insurance. However, if your boss broke the law and did not have workers’ compensation insurance, or if you believe you were injured because of an intentional action, talk to an attorney.
Car Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Burn Injuries
Most people know that car accidents can cause serious injuries of all kinds, but not everyone realizes that many of the most severe burn incidents happen because of car accidents as well. And while the survival rate for burn victims is high, life quality after a severe burn can be seriously impacted by the pain, recovery, and medical expense of treating burns.
Car accidents can result in many different burn severities, but when someone is trapped inside a burning car, the damage to their body can be life-threatening and even fatal. When such a car accident is caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, those injured by burns may be able to recover compensation with the help of an Illinois personal injury lawyer.
How Do People Get Burned in Car Accidents?
Vehicles can catch on fire for several reasons following a car accident. The most common cause of a fire is when a spark causes spilled gasoline to ignite, causing an explosion that quickly engulfs the rest of the car. Other causes include defective gas tanks, contact with live wires from downed utility lines, or fires from other vehicles.
What Happens When Doctors Remove the Wrong Organ or Limb?
While most doctors are committed to the careful practice of medicine according to the highest standard of care, doctors are human and can make mistakes. Sometimes these are genuine mistakes of fact, while other errors are the result of careless mistakes, incorrect hospital records-keeping, or practicing under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
One of the most serious kinds of medical malpractice happens when a surgeon removes the wrong organ or limb, or mistakenly removes an organ or limb that should not have been removed. It can be difficult to believe that such a thing could happen, but such surgical mistakes are not infrequent. Cases like this can result in severe life-long injuries and changes to patient quality of life, including the need for ongoing medical care or job loss. If you believe that a surgeon wrongfully operated on you, it is important to take action right away by consulting with an experienced Illinois medical malpractice attorney.
What Kind of Injuries Cause Erb’s Palsy?
Our bodies are made up of complex, multifaceted parts. All of our bones, nerves, organs, and muscles work together to play an essential role in our mobility, health, and life enjoyment. When doctors who are supposed to treat their patients according to the highest standard of medical care fail to do so, patients can suffer serious injuries. One of these injuries is Erb's palsy. If your child has been diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, it is important to understand how the injury occurred, whether a negligent health practitioner was responsible, and whether you can recover compensation to help you pay for your child’s medical treatment.
What is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy is a nerve condition that is most commonly seen in infants shortly after childbirth. It is characterized as muscle weakness, loss of function, or loss of movement in a victim’s arm or shoulder, caused by damage to a bundle of nerves called the “brachial plexus.” The brachial plexus nerves are located in the neck and shoulders and are essential for helping the brain communicate to the arms and hands. Damage to these nerves can cause lifelong partial disability.
What Kinds of Injuries Cause Paraplegia and Quadriplegia?
While some people are born paralyzed, the vast majority of paralysis occurs because of an accident. When someone has gone their entire life enjoying the full use of their limbs, a sudden transition to full or partial paralysis is devastating. In addition to the loss of enjoyment from activities like sports, hobbies, and exercise, people who suffer from sudden paralysis as the result of an injury often struggle with depression, expensive and long-term medical treatment, relationship loss, and permanent changes to the type of work they are able to do.
If you or someone you love suffers from full or partial paralysis as the result of a recent accident or medical incident, contact an Illinois personal injury attorney to learn whether you can seek justice against the responsible party. A personal injury lawsuit will not bring back full mobility, but it can help compensate victims by providing the funds they need to adjust to their new life.
Did Labor Complications Lead to Cerebral Palsy?
It is heartbreaking for parents to hear that their child has a permanent medical condition that could have been prevented. Prolonged childbirth can often lead to cerebral palsy and other health risks for your baby. If this happened to your newborn, your child is now facing a future of limited independence and long-term treatment that can vary depending on the severity of the disorder. If you suspect malpractice during your pregnancy, labor, delivery, and neonatal care we can help you and your family.
Negligent Medical Team
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage that occurs to the immature brain, most often during childbirth or shortly afterward. It affects your child’s ability to move and maintain balance. This condition will dramatically affect your child’s quality of life forever.
The most common causes of cerebral palsy due to birth injury are deprivation of oxygen to the brain and head trauma before, during, or shortly after birth. Some frequent medical errors and conditions related to oxygen deprivation include:
What You Should Know About Vision Loss Caused by Car Accidents
Vision loss may not be life-threatening, but it will alter your life forever. Whether you lose your eyesight partially or permanently it can be devastating. You will have to re-learn tasks that you used to take for granted and make constant adjustments. If you or your loved one lost their vision due to someone else’s negligence you may be eligible for a personal injury claim to ensure your medical and financial needs are addressed.
How a Car Crash Can Lead to Blindness
Car accidents are among the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries. What is more, many eye injuries result from head trauma or brain injuries sustained in a car crash. Partial or total blindness is one of the most catastrophic injuries you could experience, and it can happen in the blink of an eye, no pun intended.
Here are some ways in which car crash head traumas can lead to blindness:
Medical Malpractice Claims Resulting from Lab Test Mistakes
Laboratory tests are used to assess a person's bodily fluids or tissues for signs of disease. Test results can also help doctors and patients understand their risk of illnesses like diabetes or adverse health events such as heart attacks. When laboratory tests are administered, analyzed, and reported correctly, they can be invaluable medical tools. Unfortunately, error-ridden lab tests can do more harm than good and may even lead to medical malpractice claims.
Lab Test Results Are Crucial
Some of the most common lab tests used to diagnose illnesses and assess risk for disease include:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
- Lipid panel
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test
- Urinalysis
Of course, there are countless other lab tests that could be used to identify more specific condisionts. These tests are often performed in hospital or clinic laboratories, but they may also be done in independent labs. No matter where the tests are conducted, human error can occur at any stage, from specimen collection to final results reporting. Doctors can only make informed decisions about patient treatment when they have accurate lab test results. Similarly, patients need accurate test results to understand the lifestyle changes or medical interventions needed to promote good health.
Causes and Consequences of Cell Phone Use Behind the Wheel
Smartphones and other portable electronic devices have revolutionized the way we work, communicate with loved ones, navigate roads, and handle our daily affairs. Unfortunately, some people are so reliant on their cell phones that they cannot put their devices down even while driving. Distracted driving causes auto accidents every day in the U.S. Some distracted driving victims are able to walk away from the collision. Others are left with life-threatening injuries that leave permanent damage.
Smartphone Use While Driving is Ubiquitous
There are many reasons people use their cell phones while driving. Some people think they can multi-task and handle a phone call or text message while behind the wheel. Others are simply addicted to their devices and cannot bear to part with them even for a few minutes. Whatever the reason, cell phone use while driving is dangerous and puts everyone on the road at risk.
Top 5 Most Life-Changing Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Unlike drivers in passenger vehicles, motorcyclists are not covered by their vehicles in the event of a crash. Helmets and other safety gear offer some protection. However, someone riding a motorcycle is much more likely to be severely or fatally injured in a crash.
If you or someone you love were involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important to seek legal guidance from a qualified attorney. Motorcycle accident injuries can have a long-term impact on a person’s health and quality of life. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for damages you or your loved one incurred due to the injuries.
Catastrophic Motorcycle Crash Injuries
The consequences of a major motorcycle wreck are often disastrous. Some of the most severe injuries that riders face after a serious accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Motorcycle riders are especially vulnerable to TBIs because they are not surrounded by a vehicle frame. A helmet can help protect your head in a crash, but it is not always enough to prevent a TBI.
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