Recent Blog Posts
The Hidden Dangers of Defective Pool Drains for Children
Children love swimming pools. This is something every parent knows. While young children may be afraid of pools in their early years, this fear is generally overcome once a child learns how to swim. Unfortunately, even if your child is an incredibly strong swimmer for their age, defective pool drain covers may still pose an extreme hazard to them. Not many parents are aware of the dangers posed by pool drains. The major risk is that the suction will cause a child to become stuck on the bottom of the pool, unable to surface. Modern pool drains come with safety features that are meant to guard against this risk. However, this safety feature may not work on broken or old pool drain covers. Depending on the situation, if your child is injured by a pool drain, you may have a claim either in products liability or in premises liability. It is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible regarding any potential claim you may have.
Facts About Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
Few people even want to consider the possibility that their elderly loved one has been sexually abused while living in a nursing home. However, sexual abuse in nursing homes is not unheard of. It is likely more common than most people think. Many nursing home residents are not able to communicate what is happening to them in a direct fashion due to the effects of aging that led them to reside a nursing home. The vulnerability of these patients sadly makes them easier to take advantage of. There are signs you may notice when you visit your loved one - new discomfort when sitting, bruising around the thighs, PTSD symptoms, or unexplained fear of a particular person or place - that can indicate that your loved one may have been harmed in this way. If you suspect that your loved one may have been sexually abused in their nursing home, it can be very helpful to enlist the help of an attorney to pursue compensation and better care for your loved one.
Overcoming the Challenges of Reporting a Workplace Injury in Illinois
Workplace injuries can happen in the blink of an eye, and dealing with the aftermath is often complicated. Many workers in Illinois find it challenging to report these injuries due to several barriers. This article aims to shed light on these challenges and provide practical advice for navigating them.
Understanding the Importance of Reporting a Workplace Injury
Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured during employment. In Illinois, timely workplace injury reporting is crucial for claiming these benefits. Workers have 45 days to report an accidental injury and 90 days to report a radiation exposure injury.
Identifying the Challenges in Reporting a Workplace Injury
Several obstacles can prevent workers from reporting injuries. Fear of retaliation from employers, lack of knowledge about the process, language barriers, and ignorance about worker rights are some common challenges that Illinois workers face.
What Are Signs to Watch for After a Fall in a Nursing Home?
Falls in nursing homes are a prevalent and serious issue, affecting a significant proportion of the elderly population each year. This blog post aims to shed light on the signs to watch for after such an incident and the potential legal implications, providing valuable information for families and caregivers of nursing home residents.
Understanding the Risk Factors for Falls in Nursing Homes
Falls often occur due to a combination of individual and environmental factors. Age-related changes, chronic health conditions, medication side effects, and mobility problems can increase an individual's risk. On the environmental side, hazards such as poor lighting, wet floors, or inadequate assistive devices can contribute to falls.
Signs to Watch for After a Fall in a Nursing Home
After a fall, it is crucial to look for signs of injury or distress. Physical signs could include bruising, cuts, fractures, and changes in mobility or functionality. Psychological signs may involve changes in behavior, withdrawal, fear of standing or walking, or signs of depression or anxiety. Additionally, a sudden increase in medication, worsening health, or new diagnoses could indicate complications following a fall. Noticing administrative changes, like alterations in staffing or procedures, or reluctance to discuss the incident can also be telling.
Wandering and Elopement Caused by Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing home residents must be supervised for their own safety. When a vulnerable nursing home resident wanders off into an unsafe area of the facility or leaves the facility, it is a potentially deadly matter. A wandering resident may become lost or disoriented, leading to injury and even death. Eloping from a nursing home facility puts residents at risk of being severely injured in an accident, becoming victims of crime, or dying of exposure.
Nursing Homes Should Take Measures to Prevent Wandering and Elopement
Nursing home facilities and other long-term care facilities have a legal obligation to keep the residents safe. It is the responsibility of nursing home staff to provide a safe and secure environment for residents. This includes taking measures to prevent wandering or elopement, such as providing adequate supervision, installing locked doors and gates, using door alarms, and keeping a close eye on residents with cognitive decline or dementia.
Damages in an Illinois Personal Injury Claim
Personal injury claims are civil legal claims used to pursue financial compensation for losses caused by an injury. Many personal injury claims follow a serious car accident or commercial truck accident. However, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, construction site accidents, and product liability accidents may also lead to personal injury claims. In Illinois, certain damages may be available to successful plaintiffs in a personal injury claim.
Compensatory Damages in an Illinois Personal Injury Case
Compensatory damages refer to economic losses suffered from an injury. This includes any out-of-pocket expenses, such as medical bills and lost wages. In addition to financial losses, compensatory damages may also cover the physical pain and emotional suffering associated with an injury. Compensatory damages are meant to make a plaintiff “whole” after an accident by reimbursing them for actual economic losses suffered due to an injury.
Can I File an Insurance Claim if I Was Hurt in a Hit-and-Run Accident?
Staying at the accident scene is not only the ethical thing to do after a crash but it is also required by Illinois law. Unfortunately, people who cause an accident sometimes speed away in hopes of avoiding accountability for their actions. Even more unfortunately, some of these hit-and-run drivers get away with it.
If you were injured in a hit-and-run car accident, you may be lost, confused, and unsure of what to do. You may wonder whether you can file an insurance claim considering the other driver is nowhere to be found, and you do not have their contact information. In this blog, we will discuss your legal options for recovering compensation for medical bills and other damages caused in a hit-and-run accident.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
The police are not always able to catch hit-and-run drivers. However, you may still be able to file an insurance claim and pursue financial compensation even if the at-fault driver is never apprehended.
Update: Can I File a Civil Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse in Illinois?
Originally Published July 28, 2021 ---------- Updated May 19, 2023
Earlier this year, the Chicago Board of Education Inspector General reported that nearly 500 sexual abuse allegations were brought against Chicago public school employees in 2022. Sadly, this number reflects only a portion of the sexual abuse reports brought against teachers, religious authorities, childcare workers, medical providers, and other individuals in positions of authority.
Anyone who has experienced sexual abuse can attest to the fact that it changes your life forever. The psychological impact of the abuse lasts long after any physical injuries heal.
If you or a loved one were sexually abused, filing a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator or the perpetrator’s employer can provide justice and peace of mind. A civil lawsuit may also result in the recovery of monetary damages.
The statistics regarding sexual abuse are shocking: The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that someone is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds in the United States. Sadly, many victims of sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse are children. If you were sexually assaulted or abused by a caretaker, teacher, religious authority, or another individual, you should know that you have options for holding the liable person or organization accountable.
What Rights Does a Construction Worker Have After a Struck-By Accident?
It is widely accepted that the construction industry is one of the most dangerous fields to work in. Construction workers are regularly exposed to dangers that can lead to severe and fatal injuries. Struck-by accidents are one of the “fatal four” types of accidents listed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Construction workers who are hit by falling debris, equipment, tools, or other objects often suffer catastrophic injuries that require them to miss work and endure months or years of recovery. Others are unable to survive the extent of their injuries.
If you were injured or your family member was killed in a struck-by accident on a construction site, make sure you understand your legal rights.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Illinois employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance, and this rule applies to construction companies just as it applies to any other type of company. However, a worker must be classified as an employee to be covered under the employer's workers’ compensation insurance.
Can I Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Working in an office environment does not make one immune to work-related injuries. Some of the most common injuries sustained by office workers are those that occur due to repeated strain on certain body parts over time.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition caused by compression of the median nerve. Typing on a computer is one of the most common ways that a person develops carpal tunnel syndrome. However, mechanics, cashiers, musicians, factory workers, and virtually any other worker who frequently uses his or her hands may develop this medical condition. Symptoms include pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, and reduced functionality in the hand and arm.
If you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome because of your job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Can Be Painful and Expensive
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be painful and frustrating. We use our hands and arms for countless purposes throughout the day, and the weakness, pain, and other symptoms caused by carpal tunnel syndrome can be a significant burden. If you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be unable to fulfill your work obligations or handle everyday responsibilities at home.
