Posted on May 07, 2021 in Workers Comp

In some cases, a workers’ compensation claim is fairly straightforward -- either the worker suffered from a blatantly clear work injury, like suffering a broken bone from something falling on it while working. In other cases, there may be hesitation or uncertainty when it comes to paying benefits for certain injuries. For example, many repetitive motion injuries can be questionable for many employers to cover under workers’ compensation. Carpal tunnel injuries can be painful and debilitating, which is why you need to retain the assistance of an attorney if your workers’ compensation claim for a carpal tunnel injury was denied.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, a large nerve that runs down your arm to your hand, is compressed or pinched in the passageway from your arm to your hand. That passageway is called the carpal tunnel, which the median nerve must pass through to get to the hand. If the median nerve is pinched, a person may experience numbness or tingling in the hand, and sometimes pain. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

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 Posted on April 29, 2021 in Car Accidents

We have all felt it before -- the feeling of annoyance mixed with anger and frustration that manifests and appears when we are behind the wheel of our vehicles. Driving can be a stressful activity for some people, especially those who experience extreme anger and frustration while driving. In some cases, aggressive driving or road rage can contribute to or even be the cause of some motor vehicle accidents, which can result in serious injuries. In many cases, damages sustained from injuries resulting from an aggressive driver can be claimed in a personal injury lawsuit.

What Is Aggressive Driving?

In general, aggressive driving is considered to be any action taken by a driver that endangers the lives or safety of themselves or others. Aggressive driving can include any behavior that a driver deliberately engages in with ill intentions or a disregard for the safety of others on the road. It is important to note that there is a difference between aggressive driving and “road rage.” Even though both instances involve angry drivers, road rage only occurs when the aggressive driving elevates to the driver intentionally means to cause the other driver physical harm.

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 Posted on April 22, 2021 in Wrongful Death

One of the most stressful events that you could ever experience in life is the death of a loved one. While we will all have to experience the loss of someone close to us at one point or another, experiencing that loss unexpectedly can be even more stressful than it would usually be. When you suddenly lose a loved one, you now have expenses that you were not planning for and in some cases, even financial losses that can devastate your family. Thankfully, you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit if another person is at fault for the death of your loved one.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim

Wrongful death lawsuits can cover a variety of actions, both intentional and unintentional, that are taken by individuals that cause the death of another person. For example, a common reason why wrongful death claims are filed are from deaths from car accidents. In most cases, a wrongful death claim involves a personal injury claim that could have been made by the deceased individual if they were still alive.

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 Posted on March 31, 2021 in Insurance

When a person is injured in a car accident, it is not uncommon for their medical expenses to total in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In cases involving driver negligence, the at-fault party often lacks the resources to compensate the victim out of pocket, and instead, compensation usually comes through the driver’s liability insurance, which is required by law in Illinois. However, there are a variety of situations in which the at-fault driver’s insurance cannot cover the victim’s damages. In these cases, victims can often turn to their own car insurance policy for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

When Should I Use Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

By default, car insurance policies in Illinois include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for bodily injury and death, and policyholders often have the option to purchase additional coverage for uninsured or underinsured property damage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can be a life-saver for injury victims under many different circumstances, including when:

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 Posted on March 15, 2021 in Brain Injury

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. In recent years, there has been a lot of research conducted on traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), most notably concussions that are caused by sports. However, significant head trauma is often a result of a motor vehicle accident. The force of impact in a car crash can be severe, causing a driver and passengers to slam their head against the steering wheel, windows, or doors. In many head injuries, the brain is negatively affected, and the long-term consequences of it can be serious, often requiring medical treatment such as surgeries or therapy. Depending on the details surrounding the collision, a victim may be able to bring a personal injury claim against a negligent party.

Types of Head Trauma

Brain injuries can affect an individual’s speech, critical thinking skills, memory, and more. Physicians usually classify traumatic brain injuries into two main categories. Closed injuries do not fracture the skull but open injuries can break or penetrate the skull bone, leaving a person’s brain exposed to outside elements. This can lead to other complications, such as infections.

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 Posted on February 26, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

Having a baby can be a beautiful, momentous, and life-changing experience. However, complications during childbirth can cause serious injuries to the mother and child. Depending on the circumstances, a maternal injury may lead to debilitating conditions and even death. The risk of injuries to the mother may increase when certain procedures such as a cesarean delivery (C-section) are performed. However, some maternal injuries during childbirth can be prevented if medical staff are able to address risk factors and provide intervention when signs or symptoms first present themselves during pregnancy or labor. Mothers who experience trauma when their child is born may be able to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice claim if negligence played a role in their injuries.

Prenatal Care Is Vital

Expectant mothers are advised to see their physician regularly while pregnant to monitor the baby’s development. If the safety of the mother or unborn child is in jeopardy, the medical staff should be ready to take necessary measures to ensure their health and safety. Doctors and nurses should take care to notice any signs of distress in the mother during routine visits or labor and delivery, which may include high blood pressure.

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 Posted on February 12, 2021 in Slip and Fall Accidents

Winters in Illinois are known for being brutal. They can bring snow, wind, sleet, and slush not to mention freezing temperatures. Driving can be downright treacherous due to black ice, which can cause a driver to slide, lose control, and crash with other vehicles. Even walking can present its own set of dangers. Ice can cause people to slip and fall, which may result in serious injuries. In other cases, icicles hanging from gutters or roofs may fall onto bystanders below. If you or your loved one was hurt in an accident that involved winter weather, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses or damages.

Illinois Premises Liability

Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act, property owners have a duty of care to maintain their grounds and buildings so they are safe for patrons, visitors, and guests. It is unrealistic for property owners to be expected to keep their land completely free of snow and ice all of the time. However, property owners are tasked with taking steps to prevent injuries caused by the “unnatural accumulation” of snow or ice. This means that property owners are not automatically liable for injuries that are caused by the natural accumulation of this precipitation. If the snow or ice accumulates unnaturally due to improper or inadequate maintenance or repairs, the property owner may be liable for injuries caused by the accumulation.

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 Posted on January 29, 2021 in Workplace Accident

No one expects to get hurt when they go to work, but it does happen. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 4 million work-related injuries that required medical attention in 2019. These injuries may be caused by various factors and can affect different parts of the body. For example, falling from scaffolding at a construction site can result in fractured or broken bones. In other cases, exposure to toxic or dangerous substances can harm an employee. Even when safety measures and procedures are followed, workplace accidents involving chemical hazards can still occur. In some situations, exposure can result in severe to life-threatening consequences.

Exposure to Hazardous Substances

Toxic chemical exposure can occur in several types of industries, but there are some settings in which workers may be more susceptible to these hazards. These can include manufacturing, oil and gas, welding, transportation (trucking, railroad, agriculture, and healthcare. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides standards for preventing illnesses and injuries. However, many of the chemicals used in these types of jobs increase the risk of serious injury or death when workers are repeatedly exposed to them over a long time.

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 Posted on August 22, 2012 in Car Accidents

A mother and son from Rodgers Park spent their Saturday at the Air and Water Show on August 18^th.  Unfortunately, the pair never made it back home to talk about their fun filled day. Marija Bala, 39, and her 6-year-old son Luka were travelling home to the 1700 block of W Estes Avenue on Lake Shore Drive nearby Montrose Avenue, when a horrific accident occurred.

The vehicle transporting the Balas lost control around 6 pm on that Saturday.  They travelled from the northbound lanes across the sizable median and into the southbound lane of traffic. Marija’s car smashed into a vehicle travelling the opposite direction and injured two people. Luka Bala was pronounced dead at 6:21 pm at Lurie Children’s Hospital from injuries suffered during the car accident. His mother, Marija died two hours later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

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 Posted on August 08, 2012 in Car Accidents

Thursday, August 2^nd was a difficult day for nearly 70 passengers on a Megabus coach bus.  On a ride between Chicago and St. Louis, the double-decker bus hit a highway overpass support beam 55 miles south.  Investigators were initially confused as to how the bus came to hit the concrete pillar near Lichtfield, Illinois around 1:20 pm.

"We've had no reports of erratic driving or anything along those lines," said Illinois State Police Lt. Louis Kink. "From our witness statements, most of its leaning toward the tire malfunction."  The bus company endorsed the suppositions of the authorities.  The bus itself had been manufactured within the year as well as passing a full preventative maintenance test less than a week prior to the accident.

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