An animal attack or bite can cause severe injuries and possibly wrongful death for the victim. Thankfully, the state of Illinois maintains a level of control over animals. The law regulating animal attacks in Illinois is known as the Animal Control Act. According to the Animal Control Act, if a dog or other animal, without being provoked, attacks, or injures a peaceable person who is legally allowed to be where he or she is at the time of the attack, the owner of the animal is liable for civil damages to the victim caused by the attack. 

What Is Included in the Animal Control Act?

The Animal Control Act applies to all animals, however, dogs are typically the most likely culprit in an attack. If a person’s pet were to attack another person, the Animal Control Act could hold the pet owner liable for the related injuries and damages. Damages include medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, disability, disfigurement, lost wages, and other damages. However, this does require proof if the victim wishes to pursue a claim against the animal owner.

With winter weather already in motion, it is important to be prepared before getting behind the wheel. The holidays can increase the number of people on the roads, including those who have had a few drinks before operating their vehicles. You may not be able to control the weather, but taking additional safety measures is one way to increase your level of safety on the roads and reduce the risk of serious injury caused by a car accident. This is especially important in Illinois as winter conditions can fluctuate frequently. You may be unprepared for the snow until you find yourself navigating icy roads on your way home from work or visiting family and friends. 

Driving in Snow and Ice

A seasoned driver knows that all weather conditions require slight adjustments for the person behind the wheel, and snow and ice are no exception. The following tips can help you arrive at your destination safely this winter:

Unfortunately, misdiagnosis is a common occurrence regardless of your age. It can be difficult to pin down the exact number of individuals suffering due to misdiagnosis, as some of these cases go unknown. However, a 2014 article from CBS reported that approximately 12 million American adults who received outpatient medical care were misdiagnosed. This equates to about 1 in 20 adult patients. According to the National Academy of Medicine, it is likely that everyone in the United States will experience a misdiagnosis at least once in his or her lifetime. These cases are exceedingly dangerous for older patients, especially those in nursing homes who rely on the judgment of nursing home medical professionals and employees. Having a general knowledge of commonly misdiagnosed illnesses can help you protect your beloved family member.

Misdiagnosis Versus Missed Diagnosis

There are two types of incorrect diagnoses that can occur, missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. A missed diagnosis occurs when a doctor fails to diagnose the patient with any illness even though the patient has an illness or disease that he or she is currently enduring. This is not uncommon for illnesses that have minor or dormant symptoms. A misdiagnosis also deals with inaccurate care but in a different manner. Rather than not being diagnosed at all, patients are diagnosed with the wrong disease or illness. A misdiagnosis will often have doctors prescribing incorrect medication as well. Not only will the real disease not be treated properly, but it can also lead to dangerous side effects from the drugs that they have been taking to battle the misdiagnosed condition.

Pedestrians are put at risk every time they walk down the street. They can be struck by bicyclists, motorcyclists, and cars, each of which can lead to severe, and sometimes fatal, injuries. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), there have been 122 pedestrian fatalities so far in 2019, and the year is not over yet. Drivers and pedestrians themselves share the responsibility of pedestrian safety. In other words, drivers and pedestrians can be equally liable for any personal injuries depending on the situation.

Walk-the-Walk and Talk-the-Talk

Many people assume that all accidents involving pedestrian injuries are the fault of someone other than the walker, such as a cyclist or a motorist. While this is often the case, there are instances in which the pedestrian can be liable for the accident, even if he or she was the only one injured. When determining liability for the accident, consider if you violated any of the following street laws:

When it comes to being injured on the job, many injuries are readily apparent and require immediate medical attention. For these types of injuries, it is often easier to pursue workers’ compensation benefits because it is simple to prove that the workplace was the direct cause of the accident. For other workplace injuries, it can take weeks, months, or even years to fully manifest, making it more difficult for someone to claim benefits. One such injury that can be difficult to receive benefits for is carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a chronic injury to the wrist and hand.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

In your arm, you have what is called the median nerve, which runs from your forearm through the carpal tunnel (a small opening in your wrist) and into your hand. The median nerve is responsible for the feeling and sensation of the palm side of your thumb and fingers, not including the pinky finger. If that nerve is stretched, compressed or otherwise irritated, it could lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Nobody goes into work expecting to get hurt, yet that was the reality for nearly 3 million American workers in 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accidents are called accidents for a reason--you never know when they are going to happen. Fortunately, there are protections in place to help you in the unfortunate event you suffer an injury while you are at work. In the state of Illinois, almost all employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation can provide you with a variety of benefits and financial compensation in the event you are hurt and cannot work. If you are hurt on the job, your actions--especially those taken during the first 24 hours after the injury--can greatly impact the outcome of your case. Here are a few steps you should take if you are injured at your workplace:

1. Seek Medical Attention

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Life has a way of eventually coming full circle. Just as children need someone to take care of them, the elderly are sometimes unable to care for themselves after a certain age or illness. In some cases, when older people require around-the-clock care, they must live in a nursing home to receive the assistance they need. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for neglect or abuse to occur in nursing homes. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, one out of 10 Americans over the age of 60 has experienced some form of abuse. You always want what is best for your loved ones and the thought that someone could be neglecting or even abusing your family member is awful. However, you can only take action against an abuser or facility if you know that abuse is occurring. The following are serious warning signs that your loved one is being neglected or abused in a nursing home.

What Is Elder Abuse?

Many people think that elder abuse (the kind of abuse that occurs in nursing homes) is just a physical type of abuse. In reality, elder abuse and neglect can manifest and appear in a variety of ways. The National Council on Aging states that elder abuse can include the following:

Although the first day of fall is not until September 23, Labor Day marks the last day of summer for many. Summertime is when increased highway traffic results in more accidents than any other time of the year, but Labor Day weekend is one of the deadliest weekends of the year when it comes to alcohol-related traffic accidents. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 36 percent of traffic fatalities that occurred during Labor Day weekend in 2017 were due to alcohol-impaired driving, compared to the annual average of 29 percent. Being involved in an accident with a driver who is under the influence of alcohol can be devastating, but you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries depending on the circumstances.

Proving Negligence

Negligence is defined as the failure to do something that a reasonably careful person would do or doing something that a reasonably careful person would not do in the same circumstances. In cases involving a drunk driver, it is not enough to prove that the driver was intoxicated. You must also prove that the driver being impaired is what caused the accident and that the collision caused your injuries. Therefore, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible as quickly as possible. Further, if the motorist is convicted of or pleads guilty to driving under the influence (DUI), this helps your case significantly.

When a family brings a loved one to see a medical professional, they are expecting the highest quality of care. While the vast majority of doctors throughout the United States are incredibly consistent and display a high level of experience, the reality is that some are not as qualified. The same can be said for nursing homes. Nursing home personnel are supposed to take care of those who can no longer take care of themselves, but many seemingly fall short of this job. One of the most dangerous shortcomings, as it pertains to nursing home medical care, is a misdiagnosis.

The Consequences of a Misdiagnosis

When an elderly person’s health condition is misdiagnosed by a nursing home's on-call or on-staff physician, the results can be downright frightening. Some of the most common implications of misdiagnosis, especially among older patients, include bodily pain, depression, fever, and even infection.

In warm weather months, many Chicago-area residents head outdoors for leisure activities, such as running or biking. For pet owners, summer is an ideal time for taking their dogs on long walks. While the vast majority of dogs are friendly and docile, others can show signs of aggression, especially toward children who can often lack the ability to recognize aggressive or dangerous behavior. Below are some of the health ramifications due to dog bites as well as the steps that should be taken to ensure you will receive the compensation you and your family deserve.

The Dangers of Dog Bites

According to studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dog bite injuries are much more common than people would like to assume. Estimates by the CDC found that approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur throughout the United States each year. Considering the fact that children are much smaller in stature,  bites in sensitive areas such as the neck and head can result in facial scarring and significant damage to the throat.

On June 11, a Palatine man was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident in Elgin. Despite the fact that he was wearing a helmet, the injuries suffered in the collision ultimately proved fatal. Every year, thousands of people are fatally injured in motorcycle accidents throughout the United States.

According to statistics compiled by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), just under 5,000 people were fatally injured in motorcycle accidents, throughout 2017. Due to the limited protection that motorcycles provide their riders, the injuries suffered can be increasingly life-threatening. Motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries in an accident, than standard motor vehicle passengers. If you or a loved one is injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to significant injury compensation.

Seeking Injury Compensation

In the aftermath of a serious injury, it is entirely common to feel helpless. For motorcyclists, injuries suffered can range from spinal cord injuries to brain trauma. These types of serious injuries can leave a person with astronomical medical expenses and an inability to return to work for some time. Because of the severity of many motorcycle injuries, it is incredibly important to secure compensation in the aftermath of an injury.

Every year, thousands of bicyclists are seriously injured in accidents, throughout the United States. In many of these instances, the accidents involve an automobile. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 783 bicyclists were fatally injured throughout 2017, in accidents involving automobiles. Due to the limited protection that cyclists have while riding (even when wearing proper protective gear, and helmets), the injuries suffered in a collision with a standard motor vehicle can be life altering. In a significant number of these collisions, the accident was caused by the negligence of the motorist. Below we will examine simple steps you can take to secure injury compensation, in the case of a bicycle accident.

Speak with an Attorney

After a collision of any magnitude, the first and most important step you can take is to speak with an attorney. Even if you are not looking to secure injury compensation in an accident, a quality attorney can examine the events that lead up to the accident and prove whether or not your actions or the actions of the other party caused the collision. Selecting an attorney you can trust can be a difficult proposition. In order to know you are making the right decision, you should meet with the attorney in person and take an extensive look into their prior client experience.

Once you have hired an attorney it is important to take them through the events that caused the collision. If you have decided to pursue some form of injury compensation, the attorney must prove that you did not act in a negligent manner that added to the likelihood of the collision. In instances of bicycle accidents, negligence could come in the form of riding down a one-way street down the wrong direction, running a stop sign, or swerve in and out of traffic.

Every single year, thousands of Americans suffer injuries in rear-end collisions. From whiplash to traumatic brain injuries, even low speed rear-end collisions can result in significant injury. In many cases, these injuries can cost a person thousands in medical expenses while impacting their overall quality of life. Due to the monetary ramifications of many of these collisions, it is incredibly important to secure injury compensation from the responsible party. In order to secure the compensation you deserve, you must establish who was at fault for the collision. In the event of a motor vehicle collision, seek out quality legal assistance, as soon as possible.

Who Was the Responsible Party?

In the aftermath of the collision, you need to hire a skilled legal professional. After hiring your attorney, the two of you will examine the events that led up to the collision. This is done to explore whether or not the other party involved in the accident was acting in a negligent manner.

Rear-Driver Negligence: In the vast majority of rear-end collisions, the driver of the rear vehicle is responsible for the collision. It should come as no surprise that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of rear-end collisions. With the drastic rise in cell-phone use, many drivers are electing to text and drive. Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds, can be incredibly dangerous and constitute negligence. Speeding is also a leading cause of rear-end collisions.

Here in the state of Illinois, law enforcement officials are constantly on the lookout for inebriated drivers. According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, more than 27,000 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, throughout 2017 alone. Despite that fact, drunk driving is still a significant safety threat to travelers throughout the state. In 2017, alcohol was the primary cause of approximately 30% of all statewide traffic fatalities. In all, drunk driving leads to 330 fatalities, throughout 2017. If you or a loved one suffer an injury in a car accident, involving a drunk driver, it is important to contact an experienced attorney.

A Deeper Dive

Perhaps it should come as no surprise, that many drunk driving collisions occur during night-time driving hours. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 32% of all fatal drunk driving collisions, in 2016, occurred between midnight and 4:00 am. Equally unsurprising is the fact that 41% of all deadly drunk driving accidents occurred on either Friday or Saturday. Tragically, drinking and driving can impact every kind of traveler. Drunk drivers are less likely to react to pedestrians or bicyclists, due to diminished reaction time and blurred vision.

With summer fast approaching, it should be noted that drinking and driving is more prevalent on holidays. Here in the United States, the Fourth of July is a notorious day for drinking and driving. Nationwide, 146 people were fatally injured in drunk driving collisions on July 4th, 2015. In the state of Illinois, more than 21% of all traffic fatalities that occurred on July 4th, 2016, were due to the irresponsible actions of drunk drivers. For additional information on how to react to a drunk driving collision, speak with a knowledgeable legal professional.

Here in the United States, millions of senior citizens live in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Placing your loved one into professional care can be an incredibly difficult decision, and once that decision is made, you are putting your trust and faith into the hands of the facility’s staff. Unfortunately, that trust is not always rewarded. Today, falls are the leading cause of serious injury among elderly Americans. In many instances, falls are caused by the negligence of the nursing home staff. If your loved one suffers an injury, it is time to seek out the assistance of a legal professional.

Alarming Fall Statistics

Every year, more than three million elderly Americans suffer fall injuries that ultimately require emergency department visits. In approximately 20% of all fall incidents, the impact results in significant injury. For senior citizens, the physical ramifications of a fall can be life-changing. More than 300,000 elderly Americans suffer broken hips each year. Upwards of 95% of all broken hips are caused by falls.

Tragically, a fall injury can also cause brain or spinal damage. Falls are also the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. After suffering brain trauma, a person can face symptoms ranging from severe headaches to declines in cognitive ability.

When a family makes the decision to put an elderly loved one into a nursing home facility, they are putting their complete trust into the facility and its employees. Unfortunately, many nursing home employees take advantage of this trust by abusing or negligently caring for their vulnerable patients. Abuse of the elderly can come in various forms, ranging from physical violence and sexual misconduct to emotional abuse and failure to properly care. If your elderly loved one has been abused, it is time to seek out the assistance of a trained legal professional.

The Impacts of Abuse

Here in the United States, nursing home abuse is far more common than any of us would like to assume. Approximately one in ten elderly Americans have faced some sort of abuse. According to statistics compiled by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), as many as 5 million Americans over the age of 60, are abused each year. Physical abuse can lead to broken bones, internal bleeding, and other life-threatening symptoms, for elderly people that are already physically vulnerable.

Negligent care is not always talked about as a form of elderly abuse, but in all reality, the impacts of reckless medical treatment can be devastating. Failure to care can come in the form of failing to regularly move an immobile resident, failing to regularly provide meals, and not assisting the patient in bathing or other actions needed to maintain personal hygiene. From bed sores and unusual weight loss to poor personal cleanliness, nursing home negligence should be taken incredibly seriously.

Every year, thousands of American children are severely injured in accidents of various kinds. Regardless of how the injuries occur, nothing can devastate a parent more than to hear that their child has been hurt. In many cases, injuries to children are caused by the negligent actions of another party. If your child suffers an injury, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable and compassionate personal injury attorney as soon as possible. 

Common Causes of Child Injuries 

Children can be very resilient, and they often seem to bounce back quickly after being hurt. However, when a young child is severely injured, their life can be impacted forever. From tissue damage to traumatic brain injuries, a serious injury to a child can last a lifetime. Some of the most common causes of serious child injuries are listed below:

• Motor Vehicle Collisions: Today, car accidents are a leading cause of death among American children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 723 children were fatally injured in motor vehicle collisions in 2016 alone. If you have young children, equipping your child with the proper car seat or booster seat could save their life. 
• Animal Attacks: Throughout the United States, dog bites are the most common form of animal attack. Each year, there are approximately 4.7 million dog bite incidents nationwide. For young children, dog bites can be incredibly dangerous. Due to the small stature of young children, they are likely to suffer injuries to the face or throat in the event of an attack. Children are commonly victims of dog attacks because they fail to recognize when an animal may be dangerous. 
• Falls: Every year, approximately 1.2 million children are hospitalized due to fall injuries. In the United States, falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries among children. In many cases, falls occur due to negligence on the part of a property owner. If your child is injured in a slip and fall accident while you are shopping at an establishment or while they are at school, you may be entitled to substantial injury compensation. 

Contact a Plainfield Child Injury Lawyer

When your child suffers a severe injury, it is easy to feel helpless and alone. In the aftermath of an injury, it is important to act quickly. Attorney Daniel Flaherty has helped countless families receive the compensation they deserve. As you focus on helping your child heal, we are here to ensure that your family is not financially impacted by the tragic event. To schedule a complimentary consultation with an adept Will County personal injury attorney, contact our office today at 815-577-7500. 

Here in the Chicago metropolitan area, thousands of commuters utilize public transportation to get to and from work each day. Chicago is home to an intricate rail system with Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Amtrak, and Metra trains. While trains are one of the safest public transit systems in the United States, accidents do occur.

According to statistics compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 864 Americans were fatally injured in train accidents in 2017, while thousands of others were injured, many severely. If you or a loved one are injured in a train accident, you may be entitled to injury compensation. 

Every single year, thousands of Americans are fatally injured due to negligence. Dealing with the emotions resulting from a death in the family can be unbearable. Whether they were caused by drunk driving, medical malpractice, or another form of negligence, wrongful death cases can be especially devastating. For families that experience a death, the financial impact (such as the loss of wages) can be crippling. If a member of your family has been fatally injured due to the negligence of another party, you should seek out a legal professional you can trust. 

The Most Common Forms of Wrongful Death

According to Illinois’ Wrongful Death Act, a wrongful death lawsuit may be pursued by a victim’s surviving family members if their death was caused by any negligent actions that could have resulted in a personal injury case. Some of the most common forms of wrongful death in the United States include: 

• Motor Vehicle Collisions: Throughout 2017, a tragic 37,133 Americans were fatally injured in motor vehicle collisions. In a vast majority of fatal car accidents, the collision was caused by negligent driving. Some of the most deadly forms of negligent driving include speeding, texting while driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol. 
• Workplace Accidents: According to studies conducted by OSHA, 5,147 American workers were killed while at work in 2017. Today, the construction industry is one of the most dangerous fields in which a person can work. Common fatal construction accidents include falls, burns, and electrocution. Falling alone accounted for 371 construction deaths in 2017. 
• Elder Abuse: Nursing home negligence has become a national crisis in the United States. Nationwide, nearly five million elderly Americans are abused each year. Forms of nursing home abuse and neglect can include misdiagnosis, malnourishment, and failure to provide care. If you believe that the actions of a nursing home staff member were the cause of your loved one’s death, you deserve answers and compensation from the nursing home. 

Contact a Plainfield Wrongful Death Lawyer 

Emotionally recovering from a loved one’s death can be a truly traumatic experience. If your family member was fatally injured in a car crash, while on the job, due to medical negligence, or due to some other form of negligence, your family could be entitled to wrongful death compensation. With years of experience operating throughout the state of Illinois, Attorney Daniel Flaherty is prepared to ensure that your family receives the full compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with a Will County wrongful death attorney, call us today at 815-577-7500. 

A recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that phone use by drivers, such as texting, browsing the internet, and selecting song choices, has risen dramatically over the past few years. In the four-year span from 2014 to 2018, the number of people observed using their phones while driving rose by a staggering 57%. 

Distracted driving can be especially dangerous in urban and suburban areas. In the greater Chicago area, texting while driving and other types of distractions can put everyone at risk. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident that was caused by distracted driving, you should work with an attorney to pursue compensation from the negligent driver. 

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

As smartphone capabilities increase and people use their devices more and more often, drivers become tempted to use their phones while on the road, and this has led to the dramatic increase in distracted driving collisions throughout the United States. According to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 390,000 Americans were severely injured in car accidents caused by distracted driving in 2015, and approximately 3,450 people were killed due to the reckless actions of distracted drivers in 2016.