Posted on November 24, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

There are many ways that medical negligence can cause patients to suffer serious injuries. In some cases, patients may be harmed due to medication errors, including situations where a patient experiences an allergic reaction to a medication or when drugs are administered at the incorrect dose. Errors related to anesthesia can be especially harmful, and they may cause a patient to suffer long-lasting harm, or they may even lead to a person’s wrongful death. 

Errors Involving Different Types of Anesthesia

Different methods of anesthesia may be used to minimize pain and discomfort during a medical procedure or ensure that a patient will remain unconscious during surgery. Errors may be made by anesthesiologists or other medical professionals when administering different types of anesthesia, including:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 16, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks travel thousands of miles as they deliver cargo throughout the United States. Trucks experience a great deal of wear and tear, and if they are not properly maintained, different systems may break down or function incorrectly. This can lead to dangerous truck accidents that may injure people in other vehicles. Following a collision involving a tractor-trailer truck, victims can work with an attorney to determine whether maintenance issues were a factor that led to the accident, and they can take steps to recover financial compensation from the parties who were responsible.

Commercial Truck Maintenance Issues

Regular maintenance must be performed on semi-trailer trucks to ensure that they can be operated safely. Truck drivers are required to complete daily inspection reports and submit them to a motor carrier. Trucking companies will need to make sure any issues uncovered during inspections are repaired properly, and they will also need to make sure regular service is performed to ensure that all of a truck’s systems are in proper working order. Some common maintenance issues that can lead to truck accidents include:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 09, 2021 in Workers' Compensation

If you have suffered a workplace injury, you may be concerned about how this will affect your ability to earn an income. Fortunately, you can receive workers’ compensation benefits for any injuries that are work-related, and these benefits will address your medical care and the loss of income due to an inability to work or a limitation on the work you can perform while recovering. However, there are some cases where an employer or their insurance company may refuse to pay workers’ comp benefits. If you are struggling to receive the benefits you deserve, you can work with an attorney to determine your options for addressing a denied claim or pursuing an appeal.

Filing a Claim With the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission

If you suffer an injury in a workplace accident, or if you experience medical issues related to the work you have performed, you should notify your employer as soon as possible. In most cases, notice must be provided within 45 days after an accident or injury. When you receive medical care, you can tell the provider that your injury or condition is work-related, and they will bill your employer for the treatment you receive. If you miss at least three days of work due to a workplace injury or work-related illness, your employer must begin paying temporary total disability (TTD) benefits.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 27, 2021 in Car Accidents

While cell phones and similar electronic devices are used by most people on a near-constant basis, many people understand that texting while driving or using a handheld phone to make a call while behind the wheel can be very dangerous. Public safety campaigns have emphasized the dangers of these activities, and laws have been passed that make it illegal to use electronic devices while driving unless they are in hands-free mode. However, there are multiple other forms of distracted driving that can lead to dangerous car accidents. Victims who have been injured in these types of accidents can work with an attorney to determine their options for pursuing compensation from a distracted driver.

Activities That Can Take a Driver’s Attention Away From the Road

Distracted driving may involve visual distractions in which a person looks away from the road, manual distractions in which a driver takes their hands off the steering wheel, or cognitive distractions in which a driver’s attention is focused on something other than the act of driving. Texting or using a cell phone can be especially dangerous, since these actions involve all three types of distractions. However, there are multiple other activities that can cause a driver to be distracted, including:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 19, 2021 in Personal Injury

Accidents in which a person loses their footing and falls down may seem like minor incidents, but they can lead to a variety of serious injuries, including broken bones, dislocated joints, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries. When slip, trip, and fall accidents take place on someone else’s property, a victim may be able to pursue compensation through a premises liability claim or lawsuit. By understanding the reasons why these accidents may occur and working with an experienced attorney, victims can ensure they are taking the correct steps to protect their rights.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 14, 2021 in Pedestrian Accidents

Most of the roads in the United States are designed with motor vehicles in mind. This makes sense, since most people need to drive regularly to get to and from work, to run errands, or to engage in other activities. However, there are many other people that also need to use the roads, and drivers should take care to act safely and prevent injuries to people on foot. During the month of October, safety advocates highlight the risks faced by pedestrians and provide guidance on the steps people can take to prevent injuries in pedestrian accidents. However, the messages that are often presented to the public contain some confusing information about who is primarily responsible for these types of accidents. 

Myths About Pedestrian Safety

When government organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discuss pedestrian safety, they often place equal amounts of emphasis on actions that pedestrians can take to stay safe as they do on ensuring that drivers act safely to avoid injuring pedestrians. However, a negligent driver is much more likely to be responsible for a collision than a person who is on foot. 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 08, 2021 in Nursing Home Abuse

There are many forms of nursing home negligence that can cause serious harm to residents. The possibility of nursing home abuse is a major concern for many families who have loved ones in these facilities. Improper restraints are one form of abuse that may be committed by a nursing home’s staff, and this includes the use of drugs to sedate patients or prevent behaviors that staff members consider to be troublesome. Chemical restraints are used far more frequently than many people realize. Family members should be aware of the potential situations in which this type of abuse may occur and their options for addressing this issue.

Schizophrenia Diagnoses and Antipsychotic Drugs

Nursing home residents may receive a variety of different types of drugs to treat their medical conditions. However, these drugs should be used to meet a patient’s medical needs rather than to serve the interests of a nursing home or its staff members. Unfortunately, some nursing homes use antipsychotic drugs or other types of medications as sedatives for residents with dementia in an effort to make these patients easier to manage.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 28, 2021 in Workers' Compensation

In Illinois, employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance reimburses injured workers for medical expenses and part of their lost wages if a work injury causes them to miss work. However, what happens if a work injury aggravates a pre-existing medical condition like degenerative disc disease? Is the worker still entitled to compensation? What if the insurance company tries to claim that work duties did not cause the worsened medical condition?

Successfully recovering compensation for worsened medical conditions is often tricky, especially if the medical condition gradually worsened over time instead of being caused by a singular traumatic accident. This is why many people in this situation work with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer.

Seeking Workers’ Comp for Worsened Disc Disease

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 20, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

Advances in medicine have helped people lead longer, healthier lives. Countless medications are available to treat ailments ranging from headaches to advanced cancer. Unfortunately, the vast number of medications available today means that there is an increase in the chances of medication mistakes. One of the top causes of medication errors in the U.S. is sound-alike medications, or medications with similar-sounding names. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are not paying close enough attention may mistake one medication for the other. Look-alike medications are also at risk of being mixed up. Medication mistakes such as these can lead to severe, sometimes fatal consequences.

How Do Medication Errors Occur?

Medical workers have stressful jobs and often work long hours. Many doctors’ offices, hospitals, and pharmacies are also understaffed. Medical workers who are rushing can mistake one medicine for another and dispense or administer the wrong medication to the patient. Medical negligence like this can lead to worsened medical conditions and even death. Just recently, a nurse in Tennessee lost her nursing license and is facing criminal charges after administering the wrong medication and killing a patient. The nurse administered vecuronium bromide instead of Versed after mixing up the generic names of the medications.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 13, 2021 in Personal Injury

If you have been the victim of a violent crime such as an assault, sexual assault, battery, or robbery, you may be interested in pursuing legal action against the responsible parties. Many people assume that legal action against the person who attacked them is the only recourse available after an assault. However, you may also be able to pursue legal action against the business or facility in which you were hurt. A premises liability claim is a personal injury claim brought against negligent property owners or property managers. Through a premises liability claim, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Examples of Negligent Security That Could Lead to an Injury Claim

Property owners cannot prevent every injury-causing incident that occurs on the property. However, they do have a legal responsibility to ensure that the property is reasonably safe for those invited onto the property. Just as a property owner has a duty to ensure that a building is up to code or has enough fire alarms, property owners have a duty to ensure that there are appropriate security measures. Property owners and businesses may be liable for injuries and deaths caused by inadequate security or “negligent security.”

Continue Reading ››