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. 

Who is Responsible for Shifting Truck Cargo? 

Every case is different and will require a thorough investigation to determine the ultimate source of liability for an accident. However, in most accident cases that occur due to shifting cargo, the driver and the loading company bear final responsibility for the contents of the truck. Both during loading and before transport, the driver is responsible for checking that the load is secure and that it will not shift dangerously during transport. Common causes of shifting loads include: 

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. 

What is Preeclampsia?

Understanding preeclampsia is essential for understanding why it is so important to catch and treat early. For reasons that are not yet entirely clear, some pregnant women develop certain symptoms that indicate preeclampsia. These include, but are not limited to: 

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. 

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. 

What Are Dram Shop Laws? 

“Dram shop” is an old-fashioned term that just means “bar.” Under Illinois law, the laws that potentially allow a bar or bartender to be held responsible for overserving an intoxicated customer are called “dram shop laws.” The person who got drunk and acted in a way that harmed someone else cannot sue the bar for allowing them to get so drunk; only the victim of the drunk person’s actions may be able to take action. 

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. 

In fact, more people die in car accidents during the winter than die in severe weather-related causes, like tornadoes and hurricanes, the entire year. Winter weather car accidents can cause many serious injuries, including, but not limited to: 

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. 

However, many news stories across the country have told accounts of children who have been seriously injured or killed when a coach or other school employee exposed the children to risks that were not inherent to the sport. For example, stories of teenage boys passing out or even dying after being forced to run for hours at high intensity in hot, humid weather conditions without adequate access to water are not unheard of. 

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:

• Medical expenses - This may include the cost of all future medical care related to the negligent injury, such as long-term care or rehabilitative therapy.

  ...

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. 

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. 

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. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Case? 

Illinois medical malpractice cases have certain restrictions that make it crucial to take quick action following a medical incident. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice lawsuits is two years from the date you knew or should have known about the malpractice; for patients of wrongful amputation or organ removal, that is likely two years from the date of the surgery. However, even if you did not discover the wrongful surgery right away, you will usually only have a maximum of four years from the date of the surgery to file a medical malpractice suit. 

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 Causes Erb’s Palsy?

Brachial plexus nerves are usually damaged either by compression or traction. Either of these types of injuries are called neuropraxia. Compression neuropraxia injuries can be caused by an unusual head rotation, while traction neuropraxia injuries are caused by a pulling motion that separates the head and neck from the shoulders. The brachial plexus nerve can suffer from a forceful enough stretch that causes a partial or complete rupture. 

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. 

Paralysis Caused by Injuries

Both partial and full paralysis can be caused by injuries to the spinal cord or brain when these injuries are severe enough that they interrupt normal communication between the brain and the limbs. The most common cause of paralysis is car accidents, but paralysis can happen in other ways, too. These include, but are not limited to: 

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:

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:

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.

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.

When a driver is distracted by a cell phone, they are not paying attention to the road and their surroundings. This can lead to serious accidents, including head-on collisions, rear-end crashes, and sideswipes. In addition, distracted drivers are more likely to run red lights and stop signs, and they are less likely to yield to pedestrians.

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:

Surgeons perform over 15 million cosmetic procedures each year in the United States. Cosmetic surgeries such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction, abdominoplasties, and facelifts are more popular than ever. Unfortunately, not all of these surgeries are without incident. Surgical errors during cosmetic procedures can lead to disfigurement, infections, blood clots, brain damage, and even death. Sadly, some cosmetic surgery malpractice victims are not taken as seriously as they should be. Some people believe that because cosmetic surgery is elective, a surgical malpractice victim is less deserving of compensation.

Fortunately, the law does not discriminate between necessary and elective surgery. If you were harmed as a result of a surgical error during a cosmetic procedure, you may be able to sue for monetary damages.

Negligence During Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

The increasing popularity of cosmetic surgery has drawn many medical professionals to the field. Disappointingly, some of these professionals do not have the skills needed to perform cosmetic procedures safely and correctly. Surgeons who make mistakes or ignore complications during surgery can cause irreparable harm to the patient.

You may already know that commercial trucking companies and truck drivers are held to especially high legal standards. If someone is hurt or loses a loved one in a crash involving a commercial truck, they may be able to file a lawsuit and recover monetary damages. However, many truck accident victims fail to take legal action because they are unsure of how the truck accident injury claim process works. The idea may seem too confusing and overwhelming to even consider.

The good news is that victims of truck crashes do not have to handle everything on their own. Personal injury lawyers provide step-by-step legal guidance for these types of situations. This blog will explain the main components of a truck accident claim so you can better understand your rights and options.  

Steps in a Commercial Truck Crash Injury Claim

It is important to understand that truck accident injury cases vary depending on the state laws, circumstances of the crash, the at-fault party, and other factors. However, many truck crash injury claims follow a similar pattern:

Almost everyone has experienced the sensation of sleep deprivation at some point in their lives. Whether it is a new parent kept awake by a crying baby or an employee working a double shift, not getting enough sleep can be miserable. However, when the sleep deprived person is a doctor or surgeon, the effects of sleep deprivation can be catastrophic. Medical mistakes caused by sleep deprived medical professionals can lead to significant patient injuries and even death.

Medical Errors Caused by Doctor Fatigue

Studies show that doctors who have not slept are much more likely to make medical errors. One study found that junior doctors working a 34-hour shift were over 400 percent more likely to make a diagnostic mistake. Another study found that moderate sleep deprivation caused a 53 percent increase in serious medical errors while significant sleep deprivation caused a 97 percent increase in medical errors.

Inadequate sleep causes emotional dysregulation, diminished concentration, reduced attention, decreased vigilance, and impaired ability to perform cognitive tasks. Unfortunately, it is often the patients who suffer the most from doctors’ sleep deprivation. Doctors and surgeons who are too sleepy to perform their job correctly may ignore crucial patient symptoms, prescribe the wrong medication, or physically injure the patient during a procedure. The effects of medical errors can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening injuries.