Posted on April 07, 2023 in Car Accidents

Car accidents and truck accidents are very dramatic with regard to severity. Some accident victims are able to walk away from the crash relatively unscathed. They may have a few bumps and bruises, but the crash does not have a lasting impact on their quality of life or ability to work. For others, the accident represents one of the most significant life events they ever experience.

Crashes resulting in dismemberment or requiring surgical amputation of a limb are rare. However, they do occur. If you or a loved one suffered an amputation injury as a result of a car accident, it is crucial that you understand your legal rights and options.

Legal Options After a Car Crash Resulting in Amputation

Illinois law gives crash victims the option to bring a personal injury claim against the party who caused the accident. In many cases, the at-fault party is another driver. Distracted driving, intoxicated driving, speeding, failure to yield, and other forms of negligent driving are common causes of accidents in Illinois. The liable party could also be a commercial trucking company, manufacturer or designer of vehicle parts, or several other parties.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 23, 2023 in Personal Injury

Many people swear by chiropractic care, believing it can help relieve back pain and other ailments. However, chiropractic treatments can cause serious injuries if not done correctly. If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of chiropractic adjustments or other treatments, you may be wondering: Can I sue a chiropractor for an injury?

Chiropractors and the Duty of Care

Like all medical professionals, chiropractors are required to maintain a professional standard of care when providing treatment. This means that they must adhere to certain protocols, such as obtaining a full patient history, following accepted medical practices, and getting informed consent from their patients. If the chiropractor fails to meet this standard of care, then they may be considered negligent and, therefore, liable for damages.

Chiropractors can make mistakes during adjustments that seriously injure patients. For example, a chiropractor can misapply force to an area of the body that is not meant to be manipulated, causing damage or tissue tears. In extreme cases, improper chiropractic treatments can lead to pinched nerves, herniated discs, or even broken bones. Tragically, in rare cases, chiropractor malpractice is fatal. Vertebral artery dissection caused by improper chiropractic care can lead to ischemic stroke, thrombus formation, paralysis, or death.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 16, 2023 in Personal Injury

The men and women who keep our roadways working safely and efficiently perform an essential duty. Unfortunately, these workers are also at risk for a wide variety of job-related injuries. If you or a loved one were hurt in an accident while working on a road or highway, you may be able to take legal action and recover monetary damages. Depending on the type of worker and the circumstances of the accident, an injured road worker may be covered by workers' compensation. However, it may also be possible to recover compensation through a personal injury claim.

Third-Party Liability for Injured Road Construction Workers

In Illinois, workers' compensation insurance is required for businesses with one or more employees. If an injured worker is an employee who was hurt on the job, he or she may be able to recover compensation for medical bills and part of their lost income through workers' compensation.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 09, 2023 in Personal Injury

The ability to see is one ability that most people take for granted. Seeing allows us to drive, read, interact easily with computer screens and smartphones, and generally go about our everyday lives. An accident resulting in a loss of vision can leave victims feeling helpless and isolated from the world. Injuries resulting in vision loss or blindness are some of the most devastating injuries a person can experience, and the devastation is compounded when the injury is caused by another party's negligent actions.

Filing a personal injury claim may be a viable option for individuals in this situation. 

Accidents Resulting in Eye Injuries or Vision Loss

Sadly, many accidents resulting in vision loss are entirely preventable. Incidents resulting in eye injuries or vision loss can occur from a wide range of circumstances, including:

• Auto accidents - The force from a car accident may send shards of glass or metal into the eyes, resulting in permanent damage. Crashes involving commercial trucks hauling dangerous chemicals can lead to chemical burns and severe eye problems if an accident victim is exposed to these hazardous materials.

  Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 02, 2023 in Personal Injury

Springfield, Illinois and the surrounding areas are a unique combination of farmland and cities. Because of this, it is common to see farm animals roaming around the area, sometimes near roads. Unfortunately, these animals can cause severe car accidents if they are not contained properly. If you or a loved one were in a car crash caused by a farm animal, you may be able to take legal action and recover financial compensation for your damages.

Accidents Caused by Cows and Other Livestock

Illinois is ranked fourth in the country for auto collisions involving animals. When they are not contained by a fence or structure, animals like cows, horses, or pigs can wander into the road and cause an accident. Drivers may strike the animal head-on or swerve to avoid missing the animal, only to collide with another vehicle or object. Accidents caused by farm animals often leave vehicle occupants with physical injuries, vehicle damage, and substantial financial losses. In some cases, accidents caused by livestock are fatal.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 28, 2023 in Personal Injury

Catastrophic injuries are injuries that lead to significant, long-lasting impairment. When we think about catastrophic injuries, pileup car accidents or explosive industrial accidents may come to mind. However, slip and fall accidents can also cause catastrophic injuries.

Each year, thousands of people suffer from serious injuries due to slips and falls on unsafe premises. Often, these incidents occur in places like grocery stores, office buildings, or restaurants where property owners have neglected to keep the premises free of dangerous conditions. If you or a loved one were severely injured in a slip and fall accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your damages.

When Falling Down Leads to Life-Changing Injuries

Slip and fall accidents can cause catastrophic injuries including spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries. These types of injuries typically require long-term medical treatment and physical therapy, resulting in expensive medical bills. The injured person may experience life-changing symptoms that dramatically reduce his or her quality of life, including:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 22, 2023 in Workers' Compensation

Working in an office is typically seen as less dangerous than professions requiring physical labor. However, this does not mean that serious injuries cannot occur in an office environment. The most common workers' compensation claims involving office employees involve injuries caused by repetitive motions or repetitive strain on a specific body part.

Office workers are just as entitled to compensation through workers' compensation as employees in other lines of work. Unfortunately, however, office workers often have a difficult time getting their claim approved. Because office environments are usually seen as less dangerous, there is a tendency to think that workers should not be able to obtain compensation for injuries sustained in the workplace. This is simply not true.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Caused by Typing

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common workers' compensation claims among office employees. This disorder is caused by repetitive activities, such as typing at a computer for an extended period. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, and stiffness in the hands, wrists, and arms.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 15, 2023 in Personal Injury

In personal injury law, the term "catastrophic injuries" refer to injuries that have a profound impact on the victim's quality of life and ability to function. Severe brain injuries, spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis, amputations, and burn injuries are some examples of catastrophic injuries an individual may suffer in an accident.

Individuals who sustain catastrophic injuries in a car accident, construction site accident, recreational vehicle accident, or because of negligent medical treatment often require extensive medical care and therapy. In some cases, the individual may never be able to work in his or her chosen profession again.

If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, you might be entitled to compensation for the impact the injury had on your earning capacity.

Financial Reimbursement for Reduced Earning Potential Caused by a Serious Injury

A catastrophic injury can leave an individual with a lifetime of lost income and diminished earning capacity due to the inability to return to their former employment. This means that in addition to the pain and suffering endured, the victim's future financial security is also compromised.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 07, 2023 in Nursing Home Neglect

If your loved one has suffered a fall while in a nursing home, you may be wondering if their injuries were caused by negligence on the part of the nursing home staff. Falls are common among nursing home residents, but many falls are preventable.

When an elderly or sick nursing home resident falls, their risk of falling again rises substantially. Falls can lead to traumatic brain injuries, organ damage, soft tissue injuries, broken bones, and other painful consequences. If you suspect that your loved one's fall was caused by nursing home negligence, you may want to consider filing a lawsuit against the facility. Keep reading to learn more about how to identify negligence in nursing homes and what you can do if your loved one has been injured as a result.

Causes of Falls in a Nursing Home Facility

Wet floors, poor lighting, and cluttered walkways are all environmental factors that can increase the risk of falling. In addition, certain medication side effects and health conditions can contribute to an increased risk of falls. It is imperative that careful consideration is given when assessing fall risk factors and anticipating any avoidable dangers. Nursing homes should develop proactive approaches to injury prevention and resident safety. Unfortunately, understaffing, lack of staff training, and carelessness can increase the chances of a fall accident significantly.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on January 24, 2023 in Truck Accidents

One mistake behind the wheel of a truck can cause jackknife truck accidents on our nation’s highways. Some 107,000 of those accidents in 2020 involved injuries.

You may be a safe and cautious driver, but you share the road with semi-trailer trucks and accidents involving these large trucks can be devastating. If you have been injured in a jackknife truck accident, you may have legal recourse.

What May Cause a Jackknife accident?

Semi-trailer trucks are massive in size and weight and can therefore result in very serious injuries. Smaller vehicles with trailers attached can also trigger jackknife accidents but the bigger the truck, the more dangerous the accident. Static friction plays a big role in these types of accidents. When the tires lose static friction, they begin to slide. The inadequate friction can lead the trailer to move to the side of the truck, causing a truck to jackknife for some of the following reasons:

Continue Reading ››