Recent Blog Posts
What Is Anesthesia Awareness?
Almost 60,000 patients are put under anesthesia every day in the United States. Although many people think of anesthesia as “sleeping,” in reality, when a person is put under anesthesia, it is similar to being in a reversible coma. Anesthesia slows body functions, which keeps a patient unconscious to prevent him or her from feeling any pain. However, death or injury are possible side effects if any factor in the process goes awry. One dangerous issue that many patients experience is anesthesia awareness. If you or a loved one has suffered an anesthesia error, contact an Illinois personal injury lawyer.
Anesthesia Awareness
If an anesthesiologist fails to give the patient enough anesthesia, the patient can be wholly conscious but paralyzed during the procedure. Patients who experience this frequently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the incident.
Recovering Damages for Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Pedestrian accidents can result in severe injuries and devastating consequences for individuals who are struck by motor vehicles. If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident, it is important to understand your rights and the legal process for recovering damages. The following is a brief overview of that process. Contact an Illinois personal injury lawyer for more detailed information about your situation if you have been injured in an accident.
Liability in Pedestrian Accident Cases
Determining liability, or who is at fault, is a crucial factor in pedestrian accident cases. Under Illinois law, liability is assessed based on negligence, which means the responsible party failed to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another person.
Common Causes of Holiday Parking Lot Accidents
The holiday season is a festive time for many people. There are many social gatherings with family, friends, co-workers, and lots of gift-giving and Secret Santas. However, the holiday season is also a time when parking lots at shopping centers, malls, and retail outlets can become perilous places, resulting in increased risk of vehicle and pedestrian accidents. The following are some of the most frequent reasons parking lot accidents happen. Contact an Illinois personal injury attorney for legal assistance if you have been injured in an accident.
Increased Congestion
One of the primary factors contributing to holiday parking lot accidents is the surge in traffic and congestion. As shoppers flock to stores to purchase gifts, parking lots become overcrowded and chaotic. The influx of vehicles and limited parking spaces often leads to impatient and aggressive driving behavior.
Why Could My Illinois Workers' Comp Claim be Denied?
The purpose of the Illinois workers' compensation statute is to ensure that any employee who suffers a work-related injury or illness receives the medical care and financial assistance they need while they recover. Unfortunately, there are instances where a workers' comp claim is denied, leaving the worker in a difficult situation. The following are some common reasons why this can occur. If your claim has been denied, it is important to contact an Illinois work injury lawyer to find out what legal recourse you may have.
Late Reporting of the Injury
One of the most common reasons for a workers' comp claim denial is the late reporting of the injury or illness. Many states have strict reporting deadlines, and failing to notify your employer within the required timeframe can result in a denial. Employers must be informed promptly to investigate the incident and assess its validity.
What Is Failure to Warn in a Product Liability Lawsuit?
In order to be successful in a product liability injury case where either the manufacturer or seller of the product did not provide sufficient instructions or warnings about any possible risks or dangers associated with using that product, an Illinois personal injury lawyer must show there was a failure to warn. The following are four key elements that must be proven.
Existence of a Duty to Warn
The first element in a failure to warn injury case is showing that the manufacturer or seller had a legal duty to warn about any possible risks resulting from using their product. Under federal law, every consumer has the right to know about any known or foreseeable hazards associated with a product's use. Manufacturers and sellers are generally expected to be aware of these potential hazards and, therefore, have an obligation to communicate them to consumers.
How Does Accident Reconstruction Help a Vehicle Accident Claim?
Accident reconstruction can be a critical part of vehicle accident claims, helping to determine the sequence of events leading to an accident and establishing liability. This process combines scientific analysis, engineering principles, and forensic techniques to recreate the accident scenario. Accident reconstruction plays a crucial role in helping Illinois personal injury lawyers, insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, and the legal system understand the dynamics of an accident, assess fault, and determine the extent of damages.
Data Collection and Analysis
The first step in accident reconstruction involves collecting various data related to the accident. This includes photographs, videos, witness statements, police reports, road conditions, weather conditions, and vehicle information. Accident reconstruction experts also often use specialized equipment such as surveying instruments, crash data recorders (often called "black boxes"), and 3D scanning technology to gather precise and detailed data from the accident scene.
Benefits Available in Illinois Workers' Compensation Claims
Illinois, like many other states, has a substantial workers' compensation system in place to protect employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. If you have suffered an injury or illness due to your employment, it is important to understand the types of benefits you may be entitled to. The following is a brief overview of those benefits. For more detailed information regarding your particular case, consider reaching out to an experienced Illinois workers' comp lawyer.
Medical Benefits
One of the primary benefits of the Illinois workers' compensation system is the coverage of medical expenses related to your work injury or illness. This includes emergency room treatment, hospitalizations, doctor visits, diagnostic tests, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, equipment, and other necessary medical treatments. The employer or their insurance carrier is required to pay for those expenses under the Workers' Compensation Act.
Halloween Safety Tips to Protect Your Child from Pedestrian Accidents
The excitement of deciding on a costume and the fun of putting it together is in the air for many Illinois households, with Halloween less than two weeks away. While Halloween is a time of costumes, candy, and fun, it also brings an increased risk of pedestrian accidents, especially for children. The combination of excitement, reduced visibility, and bustling streets can make it a challenging time for young trick-or-treaters. To ensure a safe and enjoyable Halloween, our Illinois personal injury lawyers recommend the following safety tips:
Be Visible
One of the most critical safety issues on Halloween is ensuring that children are visible to drivers. Encourage your child to wear bright or reflective costumes or accessories. Sew or stick reflective tape onto their costumes, trick-or-treat bags, and even their shoes. Attaching a small flashlight to their costume or treat bag is also a good idea. This will make them easily noticeable in the dark, reducing the risk of accidents.
What Are the Most Common Reasons for Malpractice Claims?
When a patient goes to a doctor, they are putting their trust in that healthcare provider that they will receive the proper medical attention, diagnosis, and treatment for whatever health condition brought them to their doctor to begin with. The last thing a patient expects is that the very people who are supposed to be responsible for helping them end up being responsible for causing injury or other harm. In these situations, the patient may be able to pursue legal action against the medical provider to recover damages for the losses they have suffered.
Medical malpractice lawsuits can be complex, which is why anyone who has suffered because of medical negligence should consult with an Illinois personal injury lawyer who specializes in these cases.
The following are some of the most common reasons for medical malpractice lawsuits.
The Link Between a Truck Driver's Mental Health and Road Safety
There is little argument that commercial truck drivers are one of the most significant factors in keeping our economy moving. Truck drivers are entrusted with the responsibility of transporting goods across vast distances, spending long hours behind the wheel. However, the demanding nature of their profession often takes a toll on their mental health, which can, in turn, have a profound impact on road safety and increase the risk of devastating truck accidents.
The mental health of commercial truck drivers is a critical – yet often overlooked – issue impacting road safety. The trucking industry is notorious for operating under tight deadlines, placing demanding schedules on truckers that many times involve extended periods of isolation for those drivers. Combined with the pressure drivers are put under to meet almost impossible delivery targets and other stresses of the job can result in a range of mental health issues that can place the driver and other commuters at great risk. Anyone injured in a truck accident caused by a negligent driver should consult with an Illinois personal injury lawyer for legal assistance.
