Posted on February 15, 2023 in Personal Injury

In personal injury law, the term "catastrophic injuries" refer to injuries that have a profound impact on the victim's quality of life and ability to function. Severe brain injuries, spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis, amputations, and burn injuries are some examples of catastrophic injuries an individual may suffer in an accident.

Individuals who sustain catastrophic injuries in a car accident, construction site accident, recreational vehicle accident, or because of negligent medical treatment often require extensive medical care and therapy. In some cases, the individual may never be able to work in his or her chosen profession again.

If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, you might be entitled to compensation for the impact the injury had on your earning capacity.

Financial Reimbursement for Reduced Earning Potential Caused by a Serious Injury

A catastrophic injury can leave an individual with a lifetime of lost income and diminished earning capacity due to the inability to return to their former employment. This means that in addition to the pain and suffering endured, the victim's future financial security is also compromised.

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 Posted on February 07, 2023 in Nursing Home Neglect

If your loved one has suffered a fall while in a nursing home, you may be wondering if their injuries were caused by negligence on the part of the nursing home staff. Falls are common among nursing home residents, but many falls are preventable.

When an elderly or sick nursing home resident falls, their risk of falling again rises substantially. Falls can lead to traumatic brain injuries, organ damage, soft tissue injuries, broken bones, and other painful consequences. If you suspect that your loved one's fall was caused by nursing home negligence, you may want to consider filing a lawsuit against the facility. Keep reading to learn more about how to identify negligence in nursing homes and what you can do if your loved one has been injured as a result.

Causes of Falls in a Nursing Home Facility

Wet floors, poor lighting, and cluttered walkways are all environmental factors that can increase the risk of falling. In addition, certain medication side effects and health conditions can contribute to an increased risk of falls. It is imperative that careful consideration is given when assessing fall risk factors and anticipating any avoidable dangers. Nursing homes should develop proactive approaches to injury prevention and resident safety. Unfortunately, understaffing, lack of staff training, and carelessness can increase the chances of a fall accident significantly.

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 Posted on January 24, 2023 in Truck Accidents

One mistake behind the wheel of a truck can cause jackknife truck accidents on our nation’s highways. Some 107,000 of those accidents in 2020 involved injuries.

You may be a safe and cautious driver, but you share the road with semi-trailer trucks and accidents involving these large trucks can be devastating. If you have been injured in a jackknife truck accident, you may have legal recourse.

What May Cause a Jackknife accident?

Semi-trailer trucks are massive in size and weight and can therefore result in very serious injuries. Smaller vehicles with trailers attached can also trigger jackknife accidents but the bigger the truck, the more dangerous the accident. Static friction plays a big role in these types of accidents. When the tires lose static friction, they begin to slide. The inadequate friction can lead the trailer to move to the side of the truck, causing a truck to jackknife for some of the following reasons:

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 Posted on January 18, 2023 in Car Accidents

It has become almost second nature to open an app and catch a ride with Uber or Lyft. You may simply not like driving or you may be going out for cocktails and are being responsible. It is easy and practical. But what if you are involved in a rideshare accident? Who is liable for your injuries?

Rideshare Apps

Ridesharing companies are known as transportation network companies (TNCs) in Illinois. Under the law, a company that uses an app to connect passengers with TNCs, must not own, control, or manage vehicles that are used by its drivers. Rideshare companies have insurance policies that provide coverage for people who are injured in a car accident if their drivers are at fault. However, determining whether or not a passenger is covered by under the insurance company and the amount they can receive in compensation differs depending on the circumstances of the crash.

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 Posted on January 11, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

Chiropractors are known to work wonders for people suffering from chronic pain. They treat more than 35 million Americans every year. Sometimes people seek out a chiropractor to heal after a car accident or a sports injury and attain favorable results. However, there are times when a negligent chiropractor can cause serious injuries and the injured patient sues for medical malpractice.

Chiropractor Mistakes Can Lead to Painful Injuries

There are various techniques that chiropractors use for adjustments. When they are not properly carried out, they can lead to serious injuries that can impact a person’s health. These are just some ways in which a chiropractor’s negligence could lead to injury:

• Improper manipulation of the spine can lead to herniated discs and pinched nerves

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 Posted on January 06, 2023 in Workers' Compensation

Many retailers are especially generous this year, accepting returns through the end of the month. ‘Tis the season for holiday returns and busy retail workers tending to one customer after another. In their dash to get their work done, retail workers often slip and fall. Research shows that slips, trips, and falls are common causes of injuries in retail stores. Each year about 100,000 young workers between the ages of 16 and 24 are injured on the job, and one out of four young workers is injured in a retail job. Fortunately, worker’s compensation will typically cover employees for injuries at work, but what if that is not enough and you want to sue your employer?

Why are Young Workers Getting Injured?

Falls from portable ladders are one of the leading causes of occupational injuries. But everything from a sprained wrist to a concussion can take someone out of the workforce for some time. In retail settings, the hazards are many. Slippery floors, lack of experience, and inadequate safety training increase injury risks for young workers.

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 Posted on December 23, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

People visit emergency rooms in Illinois under dire circumstances. Rarely are patients thinking calmly or carefully - instead, they rely on the nurses, doctors, and intake professionals to make expert judgments about the necessary care so whatever medical emergency is going on can be treated quickly and correctly. While most emergency rooms provide this level of care, not every medical professional or hospital does; sometimes emergency rooms make mistakes, which can lead to serious, even life-threatening consequences. If you went to an emergency room and did not get the care you needed, you may have a case for medical malpractice. Read on to learn more. 

Common Emergency Room Errors

Emergency rooms are busy places and many errors are possible at any time. The most common errors include, but are not limited to: 

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 Posted on December 16, 2022 in Wrongful Death

Few people would doubt that young adults are not always wise decision-makers, but sometimes the actions of a minor cross the boundary from unwise to careless or even malicious. When this happens, the consequences for the minor’s peers can be disastrous. When vehicles are involved, this is especially true, since bad driving can have dangerous and even fatal consequences. Road racing, speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or reckless joyriding have all resulted in fatalities in Illinois. 

If you lost your child in a car accident because one of your child’s friends was driving dangerously, you may be wondering whether you can take legal action against the responsible young adult or his or her parents. To learn more about this area of Illinois law, read on and then contact an Illinois wrongful death attorney who can help you determine whether to move forward. 

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 Posted on December 02, 2022 in Farm Accidents

Just a couple of weeks ago, a man was working with a combine harvester when an accident happened that broke his leg in two places. The man laid alone in the field for some time before someone found him and took him to the Bloomington-Normal hospital. That same day, another Illinois man was killed and a passenger seriously injured after their car rear-ended a farm utility vehicle driving on a rural road. The impact to these victims’ families just before the Thanksgiving holiday cannot be understated, and also illustrates the serious danger that farming equipment can pose. 

Common Farming Equipment Accidents

Despite being responsible for the food that keeps us all alive, farming equipment - and the kind of work that it requires - exposes farm employees and even passers-by to dangerous risks. Agricultural workers, in particular, are at risk of sustaining injuries from farming equipment, although friends, neighbors, and even pets of people who live adjacent to farms can be injured as well. 

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 Posted on November 29, 2022 in Car Accidents

Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of auto accidents, and they can cause serious injuries. If you have been involved in a rear-end accident, it is important to be aware of any symptoms that may arise. A personal injury attorney can help you take the correct steps to pursue compensation for the injuries you have suffered.

Injuries in Rear-End Collisions

Car accident victims may experience injuries such as:

• Soft Tissue Injuries - These include injuries such as ligament sprains, strains, and tears; muscle spasms; whiplash; and contusions (bruising). Soft tissue injuries often result from rapid acceleration and deceleration during an accident, which causes damage to the body’s soft tissues. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited range of motion in your neck or back.

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