Posted on September 03, 2021 in Workers' Compensation

In Illinois, workers’ compensation insurance covers costs resulting from a work injury or illness. When most people think of workers’ compensation, they picture an injured worker who fell or otherwise suffered a one-time traumatic accident. However, this is not the only type of worker harm that may result in a workers’ comp claim.

Exposure to dangerous chemicals, toxic fumes, and other hazardous substances such as asbestos can take a major toll on a worker’s health, especially when the worker is exposed to the dangerous chemical on a long-term basis. Unfortunately, bringing a successful workers’ compensation claim for exposure to hazardous chemicals is often an uphill battle.

Contact with Dangerous Chemicals and Worker Health

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has instituted strict rules about how toxic or dangerous chemicals must be stored and utilized in a workplace. OSHA has also established permissible exposure limits for dangerous substances. However, many OSHA rules and requirements are incomplete or outdated. Furthermore, some companies fail to adhere to these rules.

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 Posted on August 26, 2021 in Personal Injury

Car accidents happen every day. In a typical Illinois car accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is usually responsible for compensating accident victims. However, what happens if one of the cars in an accident is owned by the government? How are car accident cases different when the at-fault driver is a government employee such as a police officer, ambulance driver, or delivery driver? Can you sue if you were struck by a mail truck or other government vehicle?  

Government Liability for Car Crashes

When an employee causes an accident by driving negligently, the driver’s employer is typically the party legally responsible for the accident. When an employee works for the government, a government entity may be liable for damages. Unfortunately, car accident cases involving government liability are significantly more complicated than other types of car accident cases. The laws regulating claims against the government are complex and you only have a short window of time to file a claim. Therefore, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after being involved in an accident with a government vehicle.

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 Posted on August 19, 2021 in Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing home residents often need assistance with everything from taking medication to showering. Residents trust nursing home staff to adequately tend to their needs and ensure a safe living environment. Sadly, many nursing homes fall short of this expectation.

One of the most pressing concerns for elderly and disabled nursing home residents is falling.  Falls can be attributed to muscle weakness, osteoporosis, vision problems, walking difficulties, poor balance, as well as other medical conditions that can contribute to the risk of falls. If your parent, grandparent, or other loved one suffered a preventable fall accident in a nursing home, you may have a valid nursing home negligence case.

Lack of Supervision and Assistance

Understaffing is a known issue in nursing homes across the country. Many nursing homes and other long-term care facilities simply cannot find and retain adequate employees. When staff is spread too thin, nursing home residents may not be properly supervised. This is especially dangerous for residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. A resident who is not aware of his or her physical limitations may fall when trying to move around the facility without a walker, wheelchair, or assistance from a staff member.

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 Posted on August 12, 2021 in Personal Injury

Losing a hand, foot, arm, or leg impacts nearly every aspect of a person’s life. If you or a loved one suffered an amputation or limb loss, you know this firsthand. When another party’s irresponsible or unlawful actions result in dismemberment or amputation, that party may be liable for damages through a personal injury claim. The injured person may be entitled to compensation for both the financial impact of the limb loss and the non-financial consequences of the injury.

Understanding Negligence in an Amputation Injury Claim

Most personal injury cases are based on an allegation of negligence. In the legal sense, negligence is defined as a party’s failure to uphold a duty. For example, amputations may be a result of:

• A car accident caused by a negligent driver

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 Posted on August 05, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

Doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals spend as many as 10-15 years in school preparing for their careers in medicine. Consequently, we expect medical professionals to provide competent, accurate medical care. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional’s failure to provide reasonably skilled care causes someone to suffer avoidable health problems. A victim of medical malpractice may be able to recover financial compensation for additional medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages. If you received substandard care from a medical professional, you may wonder if you have a valid medical malpractice claim.

Elements of Medical Malpractice Claims

Medical malpractice can stem from a medical provider’s actions or his or her failure to act. In some cases, the hospital or other medical facility at which the incident occurred is ultimately liable for a medical mistake. Some common examples of medical errors that can lead to medical malpractice claims include:

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 Posted on July 30, 2021 in Car Accidents

 Car accidents often result in property damage, serious injuries, or even death. Victims and their families may be left with significant medical bills, repair costs, and other expenses. They may also be unable to work or complete daily responsibilities while recovering from car crash injuries. Fortunately, compensation for these costs and other damages may be available through a personal injury case. If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident in Illinois, it is important to understand how Illinois handles shared fault accidents. 

Modified Comparative Negligence

If you cannot reach a settlement with the insurance company, you may choose to file a personal injury lawsuit. Illinois personal injury cases are subject to a legal doctrine called “modified comparative negligence.” Under modified comparative negligence, if someone is more than 50 percent at fault for an accident, they are barred from recovering anything. However, if a driver is 50 percent or less to blame for the accident, they may still be entitled to financial compensation for their damages. In cases of shared fault, a party’s compensation is reduced by his or her percentage of fault.

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 Posted on July 23, 2021 in Car Accidents

Drivers are generally aware of the risks they face while using the roads. Car accidents can occur for many different reasons, and most of the time, driver negligence is the primary cause behind a collision. However, there are other issues that can affect safety on the roads, including conditions that lead to dangerous highways, such as cargo loads that have fallen from trucks. People in Central Illinois recently encountered a unique and unexpected issue when olive oil that had leaked onto the roadway affected vehicles’ ability to maintain the proper traction.

Olive Oil Spill in Farmer City

On July 16, 2021, several roads in Farmer City were shut down because they were covered with a slippery, oily substance. It was later discovered that a tanker truck that had traveled through the area had sprung a leak, causing olive oil to spill on the roads. While the largest concentration of olive oil was in a gas station parking lot near the intersection of State Route 54 and State Route 150, the truck continued to leak oil while traveling east on I-74 and continuing north on I-57.

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 Posted on July 16, 2021 in Personal Injury

Being the victim of an assault, battery, mugging, rape, or other act of physical violence is one of the most life-changing experiences a person can have. A victim may suffer from debilitating physical and emotional pain as a result of the experience. They may also be forced to contend with significant financial losses from missed work and medical bills. If you or a loved one were assaulted or otherwise harmed by another party’s intentional actions, it is important to explore all of your legal options. You may be able to file a personal injury claim for monetary damages in addition to any criminal charges the perpetrator faces.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against the Perpetrator

Criminal charges against an individual who intentionally injured someone else may punish the perpetrator for his or her actions, but the charges do not compensate the victim in any way. Consequently, many people who are harmed in a violent act wonder if they can sue the person who hurt them. It is possible to file a civil claim against someone who hurt you in an attack, however, this is not always the most practical option. If the perpetrator does not have significant assets, suing him or her is unlikely to result in adequate compensation. Even if you win the case, you may not receive the money you have been awarded.

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 Posted on July 09, 2021 in Truck Accidents

In 2019 alone, 4,119 people were killed in truck accidents. Many people assume that truck accidents are similar to car accidents, but they are often very different from each other. Truck accidents often involve multiple liable parties, severe injuries, and extensive property damage. If you were injured in a truck accident, it is important to know your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for your vehicle damage, medical expenses, and other damages. 

Car Accidents Involving Large Commercial Trucks 

Truck accidents are quite different from other types of accidents on the road. Successfully recovering compensation for the financial and non-financial consequences of a major truck crash is often a challenging endeavor. Truck accident injury cases are often complicated because:

• Truck accident injuries are often catastrophic. Commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than regular passenger vehicles. Therefore, it stands to reason that truck accidents cause more serious injuries than accidents involving just standard vehicles. Injuries sustained in a truck accident may include burns, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even amputation of a limb. Individuals who suffer catastrophic injuries in a truck crash may be left permanently disabled. 

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 Posted on June 25, 2021 in Car Accidents

There are many different types of dangerous traffic violations. Driving above the speed limit is one of the most common ways that people violate traffic laws, and it can put multiple people at risk of being injured in car accidents. Victims of motor vehicle collisions have options for receiving financial compensation for their damages. By working with a personal injury lawyer, they can take the necessary steps to hold a negligent driver responsible for injuries caused by speeding or other traffic violations.

Car Accident Statistics

Over the last decade, speeding has resulted in between 9,000 and 10,000 deaths each year for motor vehicle drivers, passengers, and others, accounting for 25-30 percent of all fatalities in car accidents. However, in addition to fatal collisions, there are nearly 2 million car accidents every year that result in injuries. This means that around 500,000 people suffer injuries each year due to drivers who exceed the speed limit, or around 1,300 people per day.

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