Posted on May 10, 2020 in Workers' Compensation

The last thing anybody wants to have to worry about after sustaining an injury on the job is that they may be laid off. However, sometimes this does happen. It is important to understand whether or not someone who is on workers’ conversation can be laid off from their job. Understanding this dilemma requires looking at the balance between the rights of workers’ after they have been injured versus the rights of an employer.

Understanding workers’ compensation in Illinois

Nearly every employer In Illinois is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. In this state, the workers’ compensation system is considered “no-fault.” This means that an employee who is injured while performing work within the scope of their duties is entitled to receive coverage for their medical bills and a portion of their wages, regardless of who caused their injury. In most cases, an employer or workers’ compensation insurer cannot deny this coverage to an injured worker.

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 Posted on April 16, 2020 in Wrongful Death

If you have lost a loved one due to the careless or negligent actions of another person or entity, you may need to file a wrongful death claim in order to recover compensation for what happened. These cases can become incredibly complicated, and understanding how long it takes for a wrongful death claim in Illinois to settle revolves around various factors related to each particular case.

Understanding wrongful death claim timelines

It can be impossible to properly estimate how long a wrongful death claim will take to settle In Illinois. There are simply too many factors related to each particular case that can affect the length of the settlement process. How long a wrongful death claim takes revolves around whether or not the case is settled out of court or goes to trial.

Through a settlement

Most wrongful death claims are settled out of court. This can happen in one of two ways. First, a settlement may occur before a wrongful death lawsuit is even filed, typically through negotiations with the insurance carrier of the at-fault party. However, if the at-fault party refuses to offer a fair settlement, it may be necessary to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Even after a lawsuit is filed, most of these claims will be settled before they reach the courtroom. An Illinois wrongful death attorney will be in continuous negotiations with other parties involved while preparing a lawsuit.

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 Posted on April 14, 2020 in Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse

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 Posted on April 10, 2020 in Wrongful Death

If you have lost someone you love due to the carelessness or negligence of another person or entity, you may have had to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Illinois in order to recover compensation for your losses. These cases are often incredibly complicated, but the damages awarded for a successful claim will help grieving families gain some closure. Many families wonder how wrongful death settlements are paid out after a successful settlement or jury verdict.

Where does the money come from?

When a wrongful death case arises, people typically think that the case involves the deceased’s family members filing a lawsuit directly against the person they believe to be responsible for their loved one’s death. While this may be the case, these claims are often made against the insurance carrier of the at-fault party. In these cases, the insurance carrier is the one to provide legal representation in the case.

Payments for a successful wrongful death settlement or jury verdict will be made by the insurance carrier of the at-fault party or by the at-fault party directly.

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 Posted on March 23, 2020 in Car Accidents

While a police chase maybe exciting on TV, nobody wants to get caught in the middle of an ongoing chase. These incidents often occur at high speeds, and an accident could lead to serious injuries for drivers and passengers, or even bystanders, who had nothing to do with the incident. For anyone involved in an car accident that occurs during a police chase, it is important to understand who could be held liable for injury and property damage expenses.

Police chases are unpredictable

There is nothing predictable about a police chase, other than the fact that they are all inherently dangerous. In many police car chases, both the drivers of the police cars and the vehicle being pursued may be traveling at high speeds. However, that is not the only danger. Suspects being pursued by the police often fail to stop at stop signs or red lights, regularly pull illegal traffic maneuvers, and sometimes even drive on sidewalks, through parking lots, or through lawns. All this behavior can lead to serious traffic accidents, causing injuries or even the wrongful death of those involved.

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 Posted on March 20, 2020 in Car Accidents

Car accidents can be incredibly scary and confusing experiences. While nobody wants to get into a car accident, there are several steps you can take in the aftermath of a traffic incident to help ensure your own well-being while also boosting your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve for what happened. Here, we outline the most basic steps any car accident victim should take when an incident occurs.

1.      Stop your car

As soon as an accident occurs, pull your car to a safe location on the side of the road or in the median if you are able to do so. Do not leave the scene of the crash, as this is a crime in Illinois. Even if the incident seems minor, stay at the scene of the incident.

2.      Get police and medical assistance immediately

Use your cell phone to call the police or have somebody else call 911 for you. Let the dispatcher know where the incident occurred and whether or not anybody is injured. It is important that both police and EMS are notified. The police officer’s accident report will be a valuable piece of evidence for your insurance claim. EMS will assess your injuries and take you to the hospital if necessary. You should always seek medical assistance after any car accident to both ensure your well-being and to establish that any injuries occurred due to the accident.

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 Posted on March 15, 2020 in Medical Malpractice

Anytime we see a medical professional for assistance, we expect to be treated with a high level of care. While there can always be unforeseen complications with any medical procedure, it is often the case that a healthcare professional’s negligence contributes to a patient’s injury. Obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) can also make mistakes, and they regularly face medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois. It is important to understand what OBGYN malpractice looks like and what you can do if you or a loved one are harmed due to the actions of an OBGYN.

OBGYN negligence explained

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the country. In general, medical mistakes occur in a variety of ways, including:

• Misreading results
• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose

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 Posted on February 10, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Getting into a truck accident can be a scary experience. If you have been injured in an accident due to the negligent actions of a truck driver or trucking company, you should be compensated for what happened. Unfortunately, the insurance claims process for an Illinois truck accident case can become incredibly complicated and drawn out. There are several steps to the truck accident claims process that you should be aware of. Please keep in mind that a skilled Illinois truck accident lawyer will be able to help guide you through each step of your case.

First stage for a truck accident claim

The first stage of a Springfield truck accident claim begins right after the accident. This is the time to focus on your well-being. You must seek medical attention while at the same time pursuing your claim. Every aspect of the case needs to be documented. Save every piece of evidence related to the case. This includes:

• Any video or photo surveillance

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 Posted on February 08, 2020 in Uncategorized

The long-anticipated wait for legal marijuana in Illinois is over. On January 1, 2020, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. With any major changes in state laws, it is important that Illinois citizens thoroughly understand every aspect of what is legal and what is not legal. This law did not throw open the floodgates, and there are still restrictions in place.

Understanding Marijuana Laws in Illinois

We want to answer some of the most commonly asked questions related to legal marijuana in Illinois.

Who can buy marijuana in Illinois?

Anyone over the age of 21 is allowed to buy marijuana products from licensed Illinois sellers.

Who can sell marijuana in Illinois?

Medical marijuana dispensaries are currently the only sellers of recreational marijuana. By mid-2020, Illinois will grant additional licenses to more stores, processors, cultivators, and transporters. Up to 295 stores could be in operation by 2022.

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 Posted on February 07, 2020 in Car Accidents

Getting into an accident can be a scary experience, and the aftermath can become complicated. If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, you will want to gather all of the evidence necessary to help your personal injury claim with their insurance carrier. This can include obtaining video footage from security cameras that may have caught the incident through their lenses. However, obtaining this evidence is not always straightforward.

What are the chances a crash was caught on camera?

Accidents happen on all types of roadways, near businesses, and near homes. If an accident happens near any establishment, there is a good chance that it was caught on camera. More and more, we are finding that cameras are being used for various reasons.

Businesses have security cameras inside and outside that may capture an accident on the roadway or in a parking lot. Private homes also have security cameras. This is certainly the case with the affordability and popularity of doorbell cameras that often capture incidents on the street in front of a home.

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