Posted on July 06, 2015 in Firm News

When it comes to legal issues, it can be easy for people to assume that their situation will be resolved in accordance to what they feel should happen. If someone is hurt on the job, for example, a worker probably feels like that their employer should have workers' compensation insurance that should be available to people who get sick or hurt at work. 

Unfortunately, even though something is expected to happen doesn't mean it will. And even when people feel like they know what the rules are doesn't mean that other people will always follow them. This is why legal matters can be so frustrating and why it can be so important to have the help of an attorney.

Let's go back to that scenario we discussed above. It is true that most employers in Illinois should have workers' compensation. They should also post notices in the workplace and avoid taking negative action against an employee who reports an injury and seeks the compensation available to them.

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 Posted on July 01, 2015 in Car Accidents

If you are like many Illinois residents, you have some fun plans to celebrate the Independence Day this weekend. You may be heading out to a cabin, spending the long weekend at a loved one's house outside of Illinois or just relaxing with your friends at a backyard barbecue right here at home.

Whatever your plans may be, however, it is crucial to remember that this time of year comes with some serious risks that can drastically change a person's life. One of the biggest risks that seem to go hand-in-hand with the 4th of July is drinking and driving.

Drinking is not uncommon during holidays, especially when a holiday also comes with a long weekend. People are off of work and wanting to relax and celebrate. Parties, barbecues, parades, firework shows and all kinds of events that happen around Independence Day typically involve alcohol to some degree.

Because of this, police officers in Illinois and across the country regularly crack down on enforcing DUI laws. They increase patrols and set up checkpoints; they stop more drivers and are more suspicious of behaviors that could suggest intoxication.

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 Posted on June 24, 2015 in Firm News

This week, the world recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in an effort to bring attention to the issue of physical, mental and financial abuse that too many seniors are victim to. As important as the global efforts to highlight the issue certainly are, stopping elder abuse is often stopped thanks to the efforts of one person who raises concerns.

As we noted in this article on our website, elder abuse is a very serious problem that often goes unreported. We note many reasons for this, from physician concerns about violating privacy and fears of retaliation by caregivers to the unfortunate reality of dementia and other mental disorders. However, it only takes one person to notice something off or troubling to shed light on an abusive situation.

Signs of neglect and abuse can often involve a change in a victim's habits, behaviors and attitude. These signs can be subtle, but those who are paying attention can look for things like fears of being touched, being jumpy around certain people, unexplained injuries and dramatic shifts in moods.

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 Posted on June 23, 2015 in Firm News

The trucking industry is crucial to manufacturers, retailers and consumers across the U.S. Commercial trucks are used to transport perishable, heavy and even toxic cargo between states and across the country. It is indeed a critical industry but the fact is that the resources needed to support it are lacking.

Truck drivers are in short supply these days. There is a high demand for truckers but there aren't enough properly trained people to fill all the available spots; high rates of driver turnover only add to the issue. This situation leads to a couple different problems.

First, it means that trucking companies need to search for different ways to attract truck drivers. Recently, for example, trucking fleets have started installing satellite TV in their trucks.

According to this article on Truckinginfo.com, the TVs were added as a way to entice drivers to tackle the long shifts and time away from friends and family. Trucks equipped with the satellites and TVs allow drivers to watch more than 100 channels. The package also has the capability to record programs that a driver can watch later.

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 Posted on June 09, 2015 in Firm News

While working on a farm can be incredibly fulfilling, it can also be quite grueling, physically and mentally. People in this industry often work long hours doing manual labor, no matter what the weather is. They work with huge machines and animals that don't always do what they are expected to do.

Because of all these challenges, there is a very real risk to the health and safety of farm workers on a regular basis. If you work in farming, you are likely aware of these risks and do what you can to minimize them. However, you also need to be aware of what you can and should do in the event of an accident.

An injury or illness can put a farm worker's life and livelihood on hold, which can put incredible financial stress on the worker and his or her family. Thankfully, there is compensation that may be available to those impacted by a farming accident.

Pursuing this compensation typically requires some legal action. A personal injury claim can be filed against a negligent party, which may include an employer, a product manufacturer, a property owner or another worker. This can be complicated and overwhelming for people without a legal background and experience, especially when they are also coping with a serious injury or the loss of a loved one after an accident.

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 Posted on June 02, 2015 in Firm News

Illinois employees should understand that if they get injured or sick on the job, they could be eligible for workers' compensation. This employer-paid insurance allows an injured worker to collect benefits while also protecting employers from legal action by the employee.

Though there are certainly exceptions, workers need only prove that an injury was suffered in relation to their employment in order to collect benefits. However, that could be changing now that Illinois lawmakers are considering proposals that would place a burden on employees to prove causation.

The proposed changes would make in necessary for an employee to prove a work accident contributed to more than 50 percent of a person's injury. Currently, a worker can be eligible for compensation even if an accident simply contributed to an injury and even if a condition was pre-existing. Under the new rules, that same worker may no longer qualify for benefits.

Lawmakers are considering this reform because of how Illinois compares to neighboring states in regards to workers' compensation costs. As it stands, Illinois has the seventh-highest cost of workers' compensation insurance for businesses in the country.

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 Posted on May 27, 2015 in Firm News

Illinois residents look forward to getting out on the water to fish, water ski or just enjoy the summer weather. However, because boating is seen primarily as a way to relax and just have fun, it can be easy to forget that operating a boat is a responsibility that must be taken seriously. 

While boating laws may seem to be a little more lax than those regarding cars and trucks, the fact remains that there are strict rules that dictate how a boat should be operated to avoid accidents. For instance, even though a boater can drink on a watercraft, it is illegal to operate a boat with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher in Illinois.

Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have catastrophic consequences. Boaters can lose control of their boat -- especially if they aren't seasoned operators -- or crash into other boats and people. Drivers who have impaired judgment or critical thinking skills can make reckless decisions like driving too fast or too closely to other objects. They can turn too sharply and people can get ejected from the boat.

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 Posted on May 19, 2015 in Car Accidents

Driving on city highways and rural roads may seem like two very different experiences, and they often are. However, when it comes to wrong-way driving accidents, the two can be more similar than you may think.

For example, imagine driving home very late at night. You see a set of headlights coming right at you very quickly. By the time you realize that the other driver is not getting out of the way, you may have no place to go to and not enough time to react before the car smashes into yours head-on. Does it matter if you are on a highway in the city or a rural road? 

Drivers who are on the wrong side of the road can pose an enormous threat to every other person on the road. They are typically impaired, fatigued or distracted to the point that they are oblivious to signs, lights and other indicators that they are going the wrong way.

Additionally, because these accidents often happen at night, there may be few other vehicles on the road to serve as a blatant sign of which way a person should be going. Unfortunately, all it takes is one vehicle to be on that road for it to be at risk of getting hit.

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 Posted on May 11, 2015 in Firm News

Regular motorists across Illinois rarely get in their vehicle without a GPS device or their cellphone handy. This is because when we need to get somewhere unfamiliar, we typically need the help of a map app and real-time directions. Over the years, these devices and products have greatly improved a driver's experience in getting from one place to another by identifying the shortest route, making notes of heavy traffic levels and even setting up alerts for police and crashes on the side of the road.

However, these apps may not be that useful for truckers who are required to comply with strict road restrictions that aren't often noted in the apps that other drivers use every day. A trucker needs to have access to information about bridge heights and weight restrictions, and this information isn't always as accessible as most people would like.

A couple years ago, the Illinois Department of Transportation formalized efforts to make this type of information available to truckers on a more regular and reliable basis. We wrote an article about this law, which can be read by clicking here, and noted that a bill had been passed requiring local governments in this state to submit truck route information to IDOT. This information could then be referred to by truckers who are driving in or through this state.

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 Posted on May 05, 2015 in Firm News

Too many people make the mistake of thinking that patients in a nursing home facility have no family members who want to care for them or have no family whatsoever. But the fact is that nursing home residents often have family members who love and care for them very much.

While relatives may not be able to serve as a care provider for an elderly loved one by themselves, they can be vital advocates and protectors to ensure a nursing home patient is being properly cared for.

Unfortunately, nursing home residents are vulnerable and may be at risk for being abused or neglected. Their mental capacity may be diminishing, their physical strength may be depleted and their emotional and psychological state may be greatly compromised by medication, depression and other illnesses. This can make them a target for ruthless, opportunistic people who may be the very same people tasked with providing care.

While family members and loved ones cannot keep an eye on these patients all day every day, there are important ways that they can act as protectors. In order to minimize the risk of neglect or abuse, family members can:

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