Posted on March 23, 2021 in Car Accidents

In central Illinois, car accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, and the most dangerous types of collisions often involve a frontal impact between vehicles that are traveling in opposite directions. Head-on collisions can be devastating, especially when cars are traveling at high speeds, and the impact can cause serious harm to a vehicle’s occupants. Victims of these types of crashes will want to work with an attorney who can help them pursue a personal injury claim and recover compensation for their injuries and damages.

Head-On Collision Injuries

A front-impact crash will cause a vehicle to come to a sudden stop, subjecting the bodies of the driver and any passengers to strong forces that can cause a great deal of bodily harm. A collision can be even more serious if a vehicle rolls over or if the crash results in a multi-vehicle pileup. Some injuries that commonly occur in head-on crashes include:

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 Posted on March 16, 2021 in Personal Injury

When products become available for sale, people expect to be able to use them without being placed at risk of harm. This is especially true for products that are meant to treat or prevent health issues, such as pet products that prevent infestations by pests. Unfortunately, many different types of products are found to be defective or dangerous, and people or their pets may suffer injuries when using these items. Recently, concerns have been raised about a type of flea collar that has been linked to thousands of cases involving injuries to both pets and their owners. Those who have been injured by these types of products will want to understand their options for pursuing a product liability claim against a negligent manufacturer.

Seresto Flea Collars May Have Harmed Thousands

Flea and tick collars work by releasing pesticide chemicals that kill insects on a dog’s or cat’s body. While all pesticides have some risks, products that use these chemicals should be fully tested to ensure that they are safe for animals to wear and that they do not cause harm to children or adults. 

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 Posted on March 09, 2021 in Personal Injury

Of the many different types of injuries that a person can experience, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most difficult to deal with. Concussions or other types of injuries that cause harm to the brain may not have any obvious physical symptoms, and they may not begin to affect a person until days or weeks after the injury occurred. However, they can have a long-lasting impact on a victim’s health and well-being, resulting in chronic pain, sensory problems, difficulties with balance and coordination, mood disorders, or seizures. When these injuries are caused by another person’s negligence or intentional actions, victims will need to work with a personal injury lawyer to determine how they can receive compensation that will address the ways their life and health have been affected.

Situations Where TBIs May Occur

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 Posted on March 02, 2021 in Car Accidents

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be difficult, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the crash. Drivers, passengers, and anyone else involved may need emergency medical treatment, and their injuries may continue to affect them for some time to come. Expensive vehicle repairs may also be needed, or a vehicle may be “totaled,” in which case it will need to be replaced. Addressing the costs related to medical treatment, property damage, and other accident-related issues can be a complex undertaking, but it can be even more difficult if the driver who was at fault for the collision did not have auto insurance. In these cases, victims will want to work with an attorney to determine the other sources of financial compensation that may be available.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Drivers are required to maintain liability insurance on their vehicles, and these policies will provide minimum coverage for injuries, wrongful deaths, and property damage suffered in a collision. Even though a person can face criminal consequences for driving without the required auto insurance, some drivers fail to maintain the proper coverage. In some cases, even if a driver does have liability insurance, their policy may not fully cover all of the damages suffered by victims. This is often the case in accidents that result in severe injuries, disabilities, and extensive property damage.

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 Posted on February 23, 2021 in Workers' Compensation

If you are injured while on the job, you will usually be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, which will cover the costs of medical treatment and provide you with repayment for the loss of income due to a temporary or permanent disability. However, if you have a pre-existing condition, you may be worried about how this will affect your eligibility for workers’ comp. In many cases, you will still be able to receive benefits, and by working with an experienced work injury attorney, you can protect your rights and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Work-Related Injuries and Aggravation of Pre-Existing Conditions

Workers’ comp covers all injuries that occur during the course of a person’s employment. This includes any injuries that lead existing injuries or medical conditions to become worse. For example, a person may have experienced a back injury in a car accident several years ago, and after receiving treatment and following all medical instructions, they made a full recovery. Then, while working in a warehouse, they attempted to lift a heavy item and re-injured their back in the same location as the previous injury. Even though the injury had previously existed, it became aggravated because of the work the person was performing, making them eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits for medical treatment for the new injury, as well as wage benefits that address any missed work while recovering.

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 Posted on February 17, 2021 in Nursing Home Abuse

Many elderly Americans need help with their daily activities. While some families are able to provide care for their loved ones, in many cases, nursing homes provide the best option, ensuring that a person will have a place to live and spend time with other people while having their needs attended to by trained staff members. Unfortunately, many elderly patients are victims of nursing home abuse. In some cases, residents will suffer abuse because of inadequate staff training or supervision, while in other situations, a member of a nursing home’s staff may be the perpetrator of physical, verbal, sexual, or financial abuse. Family members should be aware of the warning signs that may indicate that their loved one has experienced abuse.

Potential Signs That a Nursing Home Resident Is Suffering Abuse

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 Posted on February 10, 2021 in Car Accidents

While car accidents occur for a wide variety of reasons, adverse weather conditions are one common factor in collisions that take place in Central Illinois. Winter weather can be especially dangerous. Of the 1.2 million weather-related car accidents that occur every year in the United States, 29 percent take place on icy, snowy, or slushy pavement, and 18 percent occur while snow or sleet is falling. Studies have found that Illinois is one of the deadliest states for winter driving, with an average of 27 fatal car accidents taking place during the winter each year. In some cases, a personal injury claim can provide compensation for injuries suffered in a winter auto accident caused by a negligent driver. 

Causes of Winter Vehicle Crashes

Winter weather presents a number of risks that can affect drivers, and accidents can occur if drivers fail to account for winter conditions or do not take steps to drive safely in inclement weather. Collisions may take place during the winter because of:

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 Posted on February 03, 2021 in Personal Injury

While snowmobiling is a fun winter activity that is enjoyed by many people in central Illinois, it can also be dangerous. Collisions between two snowmobiles or between snowmobiles and people, obstacles, or other vehicles can result in serious injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe lacerations leading to amputations, and damage to internal organs. If a snowmobile accident occurs in a remote area, a person could be left alone in harsh weather until help arrives, which can lead to hypothermia or other life-threatening medical conditions. Those who have suffered injuries in snowmobile accidents will want to determine who was responsible for a collision, and by working with a personal injury attorney, they can take steps to receive financial compensation for their injuries.

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 Posted on January 26, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Flatbed trucks, 18-wheelers, and other large commercial trucks haul everything from building materials to hazardous chemicals to household products. Most of the goods we use on an everyday basis were transported by truck at some point. When truck cargo is not properly loaded and secured in the truck, the results can be horrific. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident caused by loose or fallen truck cargo, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. However, you may need to overcome certain obstacles in order for your claim to be successful.

Proving an Accident Was Caused by Loose or Fallen Cargo Truck

Truck accidents can lead to costly property damage and severe or even deadly injuries. A personal injury claim may help you hold a negligent party accountable for a truck accident and recover compensation for damages. However, to win your truck accident claim, you will need to prove that the defendant’s negligent actions caused your injuries and that you sustained damages. Proving that an accident was the result of loose or fallen truck cargo is rarely easy. For example, you may have been involved in a car accident while swerving to avoid fallen truck cargo. Other individuals involved in the accident may even try to pin fault for the accident on you. Issues like these often make fallen truck cargo claims even more complex than other types of truck accident claims.

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 Posted on January 19, 2021 in Car Accidents

Most adults struggle to get enough sleep at night. Whether it is a tight deadline at work, child-related responsibilities, insomnia, or another cause, studies show that a large percentage of Americans are sleep-deprived. Inadequate sleep can have a major impact on a person’s physical and mental functioning. When a sleep-deprived individual gets behind the wheel of a car, he or she is significantly more likely to be involved in a car accident than someone who got enough sleep. Vehicle crashes caused by fatigued drivers lead to thousands of injuries and deaths each year.

Do Not Underestimate the Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Driving

Healthy habits like eating vegetables, exercising, and getting enough sleep are often hard to maintain. Life circumstances often get in the way of our good intentions. However, getting behind the wheel of a car when you are too sleepy to operate it safely not only puts your life in danger but also the lives of those around you. Sleep deprivation negatively affects a person’s reaction time, problem-solving skills, coordination, and other cognitive processes. In fact, the National Safety Council reports that driving after being awake for 20 hours or more is equivalent to driving drunk in terms of impairment. People who are severely sleep-deprived may even experience instances of “micro-sleep.” These short bursts of sleep are involuntary and often occur without the person’s knowledge. Although fatigue is linked to approximately 1000,000 car accidents each year, many people underestimate the effect sleepiness has on their ability to safely drive.

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