Recent Blog Posts

4 Ways to Document Damage From a Car Accident

 Posted on August 30, 2018 in Auto Accidents

Aurora, IL auto accident lawyerUnfortunately for drivers in the United States, injuries from car accidents are not uncommon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly three million people were injured and over 40,000 people were killed due to motor vehicle accidents in 2016. Injuries from car accidents can range from mild to severe and can greatly impact your life. One of the most important things you can do to make sure you are in the best position to receive a favorable settlement is preserving and recording damages and evidence resulting from the car accident. Here are four ways to document the damage:

1. Take Your Own Notes of the Accident

By taking notes immediately after the accident while you are still at the scene, you are minimizing the possibility of memory loss. Chances are, your case will not be settled for months after the accident occurred, which is why it is important to document what occurred while your memory is still fresh. You should note:

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Understanding the Risks of Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois

 Posted on August 23, 2018 in Auto Accidents

Aurora pedestrian accident lawyerNearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2016. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  has reported that pedestrians are one of the only groups that have experienced an increase in fatalities in recent years; in fact, pedestrian deaths have been increasing since 2009. Pedestrian safety is a widespread issue, since at some point every day, everyone is a pedestrian. Pedestrian accidents can result in serious injuries and, in some cases, death, which is why it is important to understand the causes of these accidents and what you can do to decrease your chances of being seriously injured in a collision with a vehicle.

What Increases the Risk of Pedestrian Accidents?

The NHTSA has done extensive research on pedestrian accidents in an effort to grasp why they happen so frequently and what can be done to decrease their prevalence. Studies have discovered that certain risk factors play a part in whether or not a person is likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident:

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5 Tips to Keep Your Children Safe Around Water

 Posted on August 16, 2018 in Premises Accidents

Aurora premises accident lawyer swimming injury drowningAugust is the peak of the summer temperatures, which means that more and more people are heading to pools, lakes, rivers, and beaches to cool off. Though swimming is a fun and refreshing activity during these sultry months, it can also be a dangerous one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four and the second leading cause of death for children ages five through 14. Drownings are tragic accidents, but they are avoidable with proper precautions and safety measures. Here are tips to keep your children safe around water this summer:

1. Make Learning a Priority

One of the best ways to combat drowning is by teaching your kids to know what to do when they are in water. Babies can be taught to float on their backs if they fall into the water, and children can be taught how to swim. Most of the time, you can find swimming classes at your local recreation center or school. As a parent, you should also know how to perform CPR if it becomes necessary. These classes are often given at local Red Cross organizations, hospitals, or schools.

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6 Steps to Take if You Have Been Injured at Work in Illinois

 Posted on August 08, 2018 in Workers' Compensation

Kane County work injury attorneyYou go to work every day having some degree of expectation for what your day will be like. But nobody knows when an accident will happen--that is why they are called accidents. Thankfully, the United States has a system in place to help those who have been injured on the job. The workers' compensation program allows injured workers to receive compensation for lost wages, have their medical bills relating to the accident paid, and receive disability pay if the accident results in temporary or permanent loss of earning capacity. In order to receive these benefits, you must follow guidelines to have your case submitted and approved. Knowing what steps to take after a workplace accident is crucial to getting benefits that are owed to you.

1. Get Medical Attention

This may seem obvious, but the way you go about getting treated for your workplace injuries can impact how your case is handled. Often, employers will have what is called a Preferred Provider Program (PPP) in which there is a network of approved medical providers that you can see. Within your employer’s PPP, you have the choice of two physicians. If your employer does not have a PPP, you have the choice of any two providers. If you decline to use providers in the employer’s PPP, you use one of your choices, and you can choose to go to any doctor or hospital, but any further change of providers must be approved by your employer.

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Multiple Foods Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination

 Posted on July 27, 2018 in Product Liability

Kane County food poisoning injury attorneyA public health alert has been issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for products containing whey powder that might be contaminated with salmonella. The whey powder, which is a FDA-regulated product, has been recalled by the manufacturer, Associated Milk Producers, Inc. So far, four different food products have been recalled due to the salmonella concerns, and illnesses caused by these contaminated foods could bring about product liability lawsuits.

Whey Powder Usage

It is not uncommon for foods to contain whey powder. Whey is a milk by-product that is often used in powder form for its convenience. Whey powder is typically used to modify texture, thicken foods, and enhance the solubility and transportability of foods. Often, it is used in foods that have relatively long shelf lives, though that is one of the reasons the salmonella contamination is occurring in dry foods--salmonella has the ability to survive in dry environments. 

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Distracted Driving Causes Deadly Car Accidents

 Posted on July 20, 2018 in Auto Accidents

Naperville distracted driving car accident lawyerWe are a society of multitasking--rarely do we ever focus on one thing at a time. Studies have shown that the human brain cannot actually multitask efficiently, meaning that even if you think you are paying attention to more than one thing at a time, you are not. This is why is it so dangerous for drivers to pay attention to anything other than the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving leads to more than 420,000 injuries and 3,100 deaths each year across the United States. It is important to realize that distracted driving causes car accidents and is something that can be easily prevented.

External and Internal Distractions

Distractions can be classified into many different categories, and one of them is based on whether or not the distraction is inside or outside the vehicle. Many people think that distractions only take place inside a vehicle, but many things outside a vehicle can also divert your attention. External distractions can include:

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4 Recent Changes to Safety Standards for Infant Products

 Posted on July 13, 2018 in Product Liability

Kane County product liability lawyerIt seems as if every day we are hearing about another product that has been recalled due to the safety of the product and the person using it. When it comes to products manufactured for children, safety regulations are a bit more extensive, because babies and children cannot decide for themselves what products they use. According to Kids in Danger, a children’s safety organization, there were 93 children’s product recalls in 2017, a 22 percent increase from 2016. Though parents want the best and safest products for their children, they are often unaware of the dangers certain defective products can pose.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is the governing body that oversees product safety and recalls. Safety standards are measures created and put in place to ensure that products are safe and pose no hazards to consumers when used properly. Recently, new changes to safety standards were approved for four types of infant products:

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The Four Types of Permanent Partial Disability Benefits in Illinois

 Posted on July 06, 2018 in Workers' Compensation

Aurora workers' compensation benefits attorneyThe United States has taken actions toward making workplaces as safe as possible for employees, but there are unavoidable accidents that still occur. Sometimes, accidents result in serious injuries that affect a person’s ability to work or to continue doing the job they were doing prior to the injury. In these cases, the employee is usually eligible for some sort of workers’ compensation benefit which can help supplement the loss of wages that they might experience. If a person loses a part of their body or loses the function of that part of the body, they usually qualify for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits.

Commission on Workers’ Compensation

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission is the state agency that all workers’ compensation claims go through. The Commission helps employees and employers settle cases that involve a workplace injury or illness by acting as an impartial administrative court system. The Commission awards four types of PPD benefits:

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Common Causes of Truck Accidents in the United States

 Posted on June 29, 2018 in Auto Accidents

Kane County truck accident attorneyCar accidents can come in many different shapes and forms, ranging from mild to serious in severity. When you are involved in a truck accident, it is often a critical situation, because trucks are so much bigger than the average car. Collisions involving tractor-trailer trucks can result in serious injuries to both the driver of the truck and to the drivers and passengers of other vehicles. Several departments and administrations monitor truck accidents and try to decrease the number of accidents that occur each year. The causes of these accidents are recorded and are used as tools to reduce the number of accidents.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are caused by many of the same things normal vehicle accidents are caused by--driver impairment, carelessness, and speeding. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) assigns codes to truck accident causes using three variables:

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Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

 Posted on June 22, 2018 in Personal Injury

Aurora nursing home neglect lawyerWhen an elderly family member requires around-the-clock care, families may opt to put their loved ones in nursing homes so they can get the help that they need or might not get while living at home. Sadly, it has been estimated that anywhere from one to two million Americans over the age of 65 have been abused or mistreated by their caregivers. Elders are among the people who are least likely to report abuse, due to physical or mental limitations or fear of retaliation from their caregivers. Noticing signs of elder abuse or neglect can help save the life of your loved one.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

There is more than one way an elderly person can be abused in a nursing home. People may think that physical abuse is the only form, but the elderly can and do suffer emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

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