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Recent Blog Posts
Will a Baby Recover from Brain Damage at Birth?
When a baby suffers brain damage during birth, families are often afraid and have overwhelming questions that demand answers. Will our baby recover? How will we afford the treatments, therapies, and lifelong care our baby may need?
These questions do not have simple answers, but when it comes to infant brain damage, one thing is clear: Early diagnosis, immediate medical intervention, and experienced legal support can all make a difference.
For many families, a Rockford, IL birth injury attorney can help uncover what went wrong. This means finding out whether medical negligence played a role in what happened to your baby. It can also mean pursuing compensation to pay for your child’s medical care and future needs.
What Causes Brain Damage at Birth?
Brain damage during labor and delivery often results from a lack of oxygen or blood flow to a baby’s brain. This is a condition called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). HIE can occur for many reasons, including:
What to Expect When a Wrongful Death Case Goes to Trial
Losing someone you love because of someone else’s mistake or carelessness is one of life’s worst-case scenarios. Unfortunately, it happens way too often and families are left reeling and wondering what to do next.
Many people turn to the legal system to try to hold whoever was responsible for the death accountable. But wrongful death cases can be complicated, and going to trial is a major undertaking. Knowing what to expect can help families feel more prepared.
At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, our Rockford, IL wrongful death attorneys handle cases for victims of all ages, including very serious cases involving infants and children. We have won millions in verdicts and provide free consultations to explain your options and guide you through what going to trial might look like.
When Does a Wrongful Death Case Go to Trial?
A wrongful death case starts when a family files a lawsuit against the person or company they believe killed their relative. Cases can involve car accidents, medical mistakes, workplace accidents, or unsafe conditions.
Proving Distracted Driving in High-Speed Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are very common, but their commonality does not reduce their seriousness. When they happen on freeways at high speeds, rear-end crashes can be devastating. Victims in both vehicles can suffer severe injuries with long-term consequences.
When these car accidents happen because a driver is distracted — for example, if a driver is texting or looking down at a phone’s GPS at the time of the collision — victims may be able to sue for compensation. These cases demand careful investigation and strong proof.
At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, our Rockford, IL car accident attorney has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients injured in serious crashes. With free consultations and contingency billing, clients owe us nothing unless we win their cases. For families facing life-changing injuries or wrongful death, we have the resources and strategies to hold distracted drivers accountable.
Is the Driver Always at Fault When a Car Turns Left in Front of a Motorcycle?
Left-turn accidents are some of the most dangerous crashes for motorcyclists. When a driver turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle, the rider has little time to react. These collisions usually happen at higher speeds and can cause life-changing injuries or even death. Because these accidents are so common, many people assume the driver of the car is always at fault.
While car drivers are indeed often to blame for motorcycle accidents, the truth is more complicated. Who is responsible depends on what happened during the crash, how both the driver and the rider were behaving, and what Illinois traffic laws say.
Our Rockford, Illinois personal injury attorneys have decades of experience handling these types of cases. We have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, and we know what it takes to prove fault in left-turn accidents. Call us today at 815-215-7561 to talk about your situation.
Seven Tips for Handling a Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault
No one plans to be hurt in a serious car crash. One moment you are driving, and the next you are stunned by the sound of metal on metal, breaking glass, and screeching tires. In the blink of an eye, a car crash can change lives forever.
If the accident was not your fault, you might assume the process will be straightforward. Unfortunately, insurance companies often do not make it easy, and without careful steps, injured drivers can lose their chances of recovering the compensation they desperately need for medical bills, lost income, and long-term recovery.
As of August 2025, Illinois law continues to follow the principle of modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. This means that as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for the crash, the law is on your side and you can recover damages. But even if you were not at fault at all, insurance companies still look for ways to shift blame and reduce payouts. That is why knowing what to do after a serious car accident is so important – and why having a Rockford, IL car accident lawyer makes such a big difference in the outcome of these cases.
Swimming Pools Pose Serious Injury and Drowning Hazards in the Summer
Summer in Illinois often means long afternoons by the pool, whether in a backyard, at a friend’s home, or at a public facility. While swimming is a favorite warm-weather activity, it comes with risks that can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. Every year, families across the country are devastated by pool-related tragedies that could have been prevented with proper safety measures.
At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, our Winnebago County, IL personal injury lawyers have seen firsthand how quickly a day of fun can turn into a life-altering event. With a history of winning millions in large verdicts and settlements, we fight for injured people and families who have lost loved ones in swimming pool accidents. We are a dedicated practice backed by a team of over 20 attorneys and several paralegals, so you get both the personalized attention and the resources you need to win.
5 Malpractice Birth Injuries That Can Turn Fatal
Bringing a child into the world should be one of life’s most joyful moments. But when medical mistakes happen during labor and delivery, the consequences can be devastating. For some families, what begins as a routine birth ends in tragedy because of preventable errors made by doctors, nurses, or other hospital staff.
In Illinois, families have the right to hold healthcare providers accountable for malpractice that leads to serious birth injuries and wrongful death. Our firm has represented many families across Winnebago County in these complex cases. We have successfully handled claims involving some of the most severe medical malpractice against infants and children and have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for grieving parents.
As of July 2025, Illinois law continues to recognize wrongful death claims for children lost due to negligent medical care. Understanding the types of birth injuries that can turn fatal may help families recognize when malpractice has occurred and take steps to protect their legal rights. If you suspect medical malpractice played a role in your infant’s injuries or death, you deserve answers. Our Rockford medical malpractice attorney can help you find them.
Undiagnosed Hypertension Can Lead to Fatal Strokes
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called a "silent killer" because it can progress unnoticed until it causes devastating consequences. For many patients, a routine blood pressure screening is the only way to detect this dangerous condition. When a doctor fails to diagnose hypertension, the results can be catastrophic, leading to fatal strokes or other life-altering events. Throughout Winnebago County, victims and their families may have the right to pursue compensation if medical malpractice contributed to their loss. Call our Rockford, IL medical malpractice attorneys if you or a loved one have suffered because of a delayed hypertension diagnosis.
Why Is Early Diagnosis of Hypertension Important?
Hypertension happens when the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high. Left untreated, it can damage arteries, strain the heart, and increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, and vision loss. According to the American Heart Association, strokes are one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the United States.
When to Talk to a Lawyer After a Truck Accident Kills a Loved One
Losing a family member in a truck accident is one of the most devastating events you can experience. In the aftermath, families must often cope not only with grief but also with overwhelming medical bills, funeral costs, loss of income, and other losses. During this painful time, talking with an experienced wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible can increase your chances of securing the highest available amount of compensation and holding the at-fault party accountable.
We know that no amount of money can replace your family member, but it can provide for your financial future and bring you a sense of justice served. Our knowledgeable Winnebago County, IL wrongful death attorneys can answer your questions, pursue maximum compensation on your behalf, and focus on the legal details so you can concentrate on healing after the loss of your loved one.
Severe Burns in a Car Accident: When Can I Sue?
Burns are some of the most painful injuries you can experience. Even if you are not in direct contact with flames, the heat from a fire can burn your skin. You can sustain significant airway and lung damage from breathing the hot air and smoke. Burns can happen in many ways, but being trapped in a burning car after a crash is among the scariest.
If you were burned in a car accident, your related expenses are likely staggering. The physical, emotional, and mental pain and suffering are probably also devastating. You may be entitled to compensation, and our determined Winnebago County, IL catastrophic injuries attorneys will fight to see you get it.
How Can a Car Crash Cause Burns?
Every collision is different. Almost any crash can potentially end in a fire. Severe impacts can damage fuel tanks and lines, and a single spark can lead to an explosion. Faulty wiring can cause a crash and increase the likelihood of a fire. Mechanic’s errors when making repairs can also cause explosions or fires. However, if an explosion or fire starts, it can be deadly to those inside the vehicle.
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From our offices in Rockford, Orland Park, Glen Ellyn, Joliet, Elmhurst, and Peoria, we represent injury victims throughout Illinois covering, Northern, Central and Southern Illinois. Our team handles cases in Freeport, Belvidere, Elgin, Palatine, Hoffman Estates, Des Plaines, Waukegan, Skokie, Addison, Lombard, Naperville, Lockport, Romeoville, Homer Glen, New Lenox, Mokena, Peoria, Springfield, Quincy, Edwardsville, Granite City, Maryville, Litchfield, Belleville, Winnebago County, Boone County, Stephenson County, Ogle County, Lee County, Lee County, Bureau County, Grundy County, DeKalb County, Cook County, Lake County, McHenry County, DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, Kendall County, Kankakee County, LaSalle County, Sangamon County, Champaign County, Rock Island County, Adams County, McLean County, Tazewell County, Peoria County, Macon County, Vermilion County, McDonough County, Madison County, Jackson County, St. Clair County, and more.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
