Posted on July 21, 2023 in Personal Injury

A very common factor in semi-truck accidents is driver fatigue. It is not difficult to discern why this may be. Commercial truck drivers work long hours actively driving. Long-distance drivers may do nothing but operate their truck for weeks on end. Anyone who has driven a long distance with few stops can likely understand how this type of work may be tiring. It can be difficult for drivers in personal vehicles and commercial trucks alike to retain perfect focus on the road for extended periods of time. Taking regular rest breaks is essential to helping a semi-truck driver remain well-rested enough to stay focused on traffic around them. There are even federal laws governing how often and for how long CDL drivers must stop to rest. Unfortunately, these laws are not followed perfectly. Fatigued drivers are more prone to causing crashes. If you have been recently injured in a truck accident, an attorney may be able to take steps to determine whether the truck driver involved may have been fatigued due to not taking their mandatory breaks. 

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 Posted on July 17, 2023 in Personal Injury

When most think of Workers’ Compensation, they picture construction workers, factory employees, and others in high-risk occupations. Certainly, people who work in these fields are at higher risk of a workplace injury than most. However, white collar workers can and do suffer injuries in their workplace. People who primarily work in office buildings and behind desks are not safe from the risk of a workplace injury. White collar workers enjoy the same rights those in riskier occupations do to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits when they become injured while performing their job duties. The types of injuries and accidents white collar and blue collar workers tend to experience may differ, but the process for filing a Workers’ Compensation claim remains largely the same regardless of what type of job you have. If you have been injured while working in an office, it is important to report the incident right away. You should then seek medical attention and contact a lawyer as soon as you are able to. 

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 Posted on July 10, 2023 in Workers' Compensation

It can be very hard to think clearly in the immediate aftermath of an accident. You may feel as if you are in shock as your adrenaline races and your heart pounds after a frightening accident. Or, your accident could be much more mundane, such as tripping over an exposed wire that should have been taped down, or pulling a muscle in your back while mopping the floor. Either way, you may be left wondering what to do. Knowing what steps to take just after you experience a workplace injury can make your Workers’ Compensation claims process far easier. It is advisable to speak with an attorney as soon as possible so that they can provide further instructions and begin gathering the evidence they may need quickly. Unsafe conditions in a workplace are often corrected very promptly once they have injured someone, and your attorney will likely want to preserve evidence of the original condition. 

Steps to Take the Day of a Workplace Injury

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 Posted on June 27, 2023 in Car Accidents

It's important to know your rights and the necessary steps to take after a car accident in Illinois, even if it's minor. To protect your rights, one crucial step is to file a crash report. This applies particularly if the accident caused injury, death, or property damage over $1,500 (for insured drivers). However, uninsured drivers must file a report if the damage is over $500.

After an accident, it may feel overwhelming to file a police report. But remember, protecting your rights and getting potential compensation from the responsible party is essential.

When to File a Police Report

According to Illinois law, you must notify the police unless they have already arrived at the scene. If a police officer doesn't show up, it's important to file a report with the Illinois State Police promptly, preferably within a week. In some cases, you might be able to file the report online.

What to Include in a Police Report

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 Posted on June 20, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

Originally published: January 12, 2021 -- Updated: June 16, 2023

Update: In addition to determining whether you may be able to pursue compensation for injuries caused by chiropractic malpractice, it is also important to understand the types of damages that may be addressed in these types of cases. When pursuing a medical malpractice or personal injury claim, you may seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses - As discussed below, mistakes made by a chiropractor may result in multiple types of injuries, and you may require extensive treatment to address the harmful effects you have experienced. In cases involving strokes or other serious injuries, hospitalization may be required, or surgery may be necessary to correct herniated discs or other issues affecting the spine. Ongoing care may also be needed, including physical therapy or medications. You may be able to receive compensation that addresses the costs of both past and future treatment related to your injury.

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 Posted on June 14, 2023 in Workers' Compensation

Factory workers are required to perform physical labor that can be strenuous on the body. This can lead to a range of repetitive stress injuries (RSIs). Repetitive stress injuries or repetitive motion injuries can be painful and reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday functions.

Workers who suffer a repetitive stress injury during the course of their employment may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can help make up for the workers’ lost income as well as reimburse the worker for his or her medical expenses.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve, which travels through a narrow passageway in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. Symptoms usually include pain, tingling, and numbness in the hand and fingers. Factory workers who perform repetitive tasks with their hands are at risk for developing this condition over time. A successful workers' compensation claim can provide financial assistance to cover medical costs associated with treatment, such as medication or physical therapy, as well as lost wages due to missed work days.

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 Posted on June 06, 2023 in Personal Injury

Personal injury claims are used to recover monetary damages after an injury caused by another party's negligent or unlawful actions. Car accidents, medical negligence, nursing home neglect, defective products, and farm equipment accidents are just some of the accidents that may lead to a personal injury claim. In order to win a personal injury case, the injured party must prove four elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

What Does "Duty of Care" Mean?

Duty of care means that the defendant had an obligation to act in a reasonable manner so as not to cause damage or injury to another person or property. This includes taking steps to keep a premises safe, driving safely on the road, and providing proper medical care. The duty of care is based on the relationship between the parties involved. For example, when a doctor-patient relationship is established, the doctor owes a patient a duty of care. Specifically, the doctor must meet the "medical standard of care."

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 Posted on May 23, 2023 in Wrongful Death

In recent years, the news has been full of stories involving fatal shootings. Sadly, this trend does not look like it is slowing anytime soon. If your loved one died from a gunshot wound, you may be looking for justice. 

The criminal justice system is tasked with penalizing perpetrators of violence. However, even if a perpetrator is convicted and put in jail, this does not offer any restitution to the victim’s family.

Another legal avenue you may want to consider is filing a wrongful death claim on behalf of your loved one. A wrongful death claim can be used to recover financial compensation for funeral and medical expenses, the loss of your loved one’s income, and other financial losses.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim for a Murdered Loved One

Consider the following example: A young couple is enjoying a cocktail in a bar when a shooter enters the bar and opens fire. The woman is shot and severely wounded. She is transported to the hospital, where doctors try to save her life. Unfortunately, the young lady passes away a few days later.

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 Posted on May 18, 2023 in Car Accidents

Personal injury claims can be used to recover financial compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, vehicle damage, and other losses caused by a car accident. However, to recover compensation, you must adequately prove that the other party caused the accident and the resulting damages. Many car accident cases become “he said, she said” situations in which both drivers blame each other for the crash.

Proving that another driver was at fault for a crash can be a complex endeavor. One tool you may find useful is accident reconstruction.

What is Accident Reconstruction?

Car accidents are complicated, multifaceted events. Countless factors may lead up to a car accident. Understanding exactly what happened to cause a car accident is rarely simple. Accident reconstruction is the process of evaluating evidence, determining the cause of an accident, and reconstructing the accident through computer models or diagrams.

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 Posted on May 11, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

Medical mistakes vary in severity. Some mistakes are harmless and only result in mild frustration or wasted time. However, other medical mistakes are so catastrophic that they forever change the patient’s life. “Never events” are medical errors that are so egregious they should never happen.

If you or a loved one were the victim of a serious medical mistake causing injury or death, you have the right to pursue justice and financial compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Reach out to an experienced medical malpractice attorney to discuss your situation in detail and learn about your legal options.

What is a Never Mistake?

Never events can be broadly classified as mistakes that are preventable and result in severe or fatal harm to a patient. Doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals have a legal duty to meet the medical standard of care. This means that they must act with a reasonable degree of proficiency. In many medical malpractice cases, it can be hard to know exactly what constitutes the standard of care. However, certain mistakes are so egregious that there is little room for debate.

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