Nursing homes and assisted living facilities provide essential services for many people who are elderly or disabled. Those who are unable to care for themselves can benefit by living in a facility where staff members can make sure they are receiving the proper medical treatment and nutrition while also socializing with others and participating in activities they enjoy. Unfortunately, some nursing homes do not provide the proper care for their residents. This may occur because a facility is understaffed or because staff members do not have the proper training to address patients’ needs. In these cases, residents may suffer serious harm due to nursing home neglect, including injuries such as bedsores or falls.

Neglect Leading to Injuries for Nursing Home Residents

A nursing home’s staff should provide the necessary assistance to address a resident’s daily needs. If a facility does not have enough staff members to fully provide for everyone’s needs, or if staff fail to regularly check on patients and address any issues they are experiencing, a person can suffer serious harm. Bedsores and falls can affect patients in these cases, and they can not only cause a great deal of pain and discomfort, but they can have a negative impact on a person’s overall health.

Bedsores can occur when a person remains in one position for a long period of time. In these cases, the pressure placed on different parts of the body can restrict blood flow, leading to painful sores. Nursing home residents who cannot move about freely may be confined to a bed or wheelchair, and if staff members do not ensure that they adjust their position regularly, they may experience bedsores in areas such as the back of the legs, buttocks, shoulder blades, or heels. When left untreated, bedsores may cause damage to the skin and the underlying tissue, and they can also lead to dangerous infections.

The summer months offer many opportunities for people to travel and enjoy the outdoors. However, this increased amount of travel also brings the risk of car accidents. This is especially true for teen drivers, who will be spending more time on the road while they are on vacation from school. Safety advocates have deemed the months between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “100 deadliest days of summer” for teens. During this time, the number of teens killed in car accidents is 26% higher than during the rest of the year. Those who are injured in car accidents involving teen drivers will need to work with a skilled attorney to determine their options for receiving financial compensation.

Safety Issues Involving Teen Drivers

Inexperience is one of the primary reasons why teenagers become involved in car accidents. While teens are usually required to take driver’s education courses and receive training from their parents on how to drive safely, they simply do not have the amount of time behind the wheel that provides older drivers with an understanding of how to avoid dangerous accidents. In addition, teens are prone to risk-taking, and they may not fully consider the consequences of their actions. As a result, the decisions made by teen drivers can lead to collisions that cause injuries to themselves, passengers in their vehicle, people in other vehicles, or pedestrians and bicyclists.

Distracted driving is one of the top causes of car accidents involving teen drivers, accounting for 60% of crashes. Teenagers frequently use cell phones and other electronic devices and attempting to use these devices while driving can be very dangerous. Drivers who take their eyes off the road to check their phone, take their hands off the wheel to make a call or send a text message, and pay attention to a device rather than what is happening on the road around them will be likely to miss important details that would allow them to prevent or avoid a collision. In addition to cell phone use, teen drivers are also likely to become distracted by passengers in their vehicle, as well as factors such as loud music or attempting to eat and drink while driving.

As the weather continues to warm up this spring, many Illinois residents are looking to enjoy the outdoors, and bicycling provides a great way to do so. In addition to getting fresh air, bicyclists can improve their health through exercise and save on transportation costs. However, these benefits also come with certain risks, since bicyclists can be seriously injured if they are involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. In many cases, bicycle accidents are caused by the negligence of drivers. Injured bicyclists can work with an attorney to establish liability for their accident and pursue compensation for their injuries.

Negligence That Can Cause Dangerous Bike Accidents

Drivers are required to share the road with bicycles, but many people fail to take the proper measures to protect the safety of bicyclists, either because they do not notice bicycles or because they do not respect bicyclists’ rights. Drivers may strike bicycles and cause serious injuries for a number of reasons, including:

• Failure to yield - Drivers should yield the right of way to bicycles just as they would to other vehicles. Before making a right or left turn or proceeding through an intersection, a driver should check in all directions to avoid striking a bicyclist who is proceeding through the intersection. 

  ...

Even though driving is a daily activity for most people, it can still be dangerous. A small mistake by a driver can lead to a serious car accident involving injuries to drivers or passengers and extensive property damage. Because of these risks, drivers should always be sure they are following traffic laws and avoiding behaviors that could put themselves or others at risk. Unfortunately, many drivers fail to drive safely, and one of the most common ways that they act negligently is by driving while distracted. 

Dangerous Types of Distracted Driving

Because driving is something people do every day, it can be easy for a person to fail to pay complete attention to the road around them. This is especially true for people who are driving on familiar routes, such as the roads they take to and from work. A person’s mind may wander, and instead of focusing on driving, they may look at signs and billboards, people in other vehicles, or buildings and objects on the side of the road.

While daydreaming can be a serious distraction, many drivers act even more dangerously by attempting to do other activities while driving. Many people believe that they can multitask, but mental energy devoted to something other than driving can cause a person to miss important details or fail to notice the movements of other vehicles, people crossing the street, or obstacles in the road. 

Commercial truckers have become a key component of the U.S. economy. While online shopping has been a popular phenomenon for the past decade, the pandemic made the e-commerce industry skyrocket from a convenience to a necessity for many Americans. In order for companies to meet their shipping promises to consumers, truckers work day and night, not to mention the thousands of truckers who transport cargo from one business to another. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recognizes the pressure that these constant demands can have on commercial trucking companies and their employees and have put strict regulations in place when it comes to how many hours truckers can spend on the wheel. Despite these additional measures, some truckers continue to drive past the point of exhaustion, placing themselves and other drivers at risk.

Looking at the Statistics

Drowsy driving is a real risk that many drivers--both commercial truckers and everyday drivers--brush to the side. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving claimed 795 lives in 2017 and caused 4,111 fatalities between 2013 and 2017. In 2017 alone, approximately 91,000 car accidents involving drowsy driving occurred. Studies have been done on the causes of commercial motor vehicle accidents, and the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that 13 percent of commercial truckers were considered to be fatigued at the time of their accident. While drowsy driving may not be the sole reason for the accident, it is certainly a contributor when it comes to car crashes.

Last spring, many offices and other workplaces around the country were forced to close as a result of the shutdowns enacted to slow the spread of COVID-19. Some employees, such as those who work in non-essential businesses (restaurants, bars, casinos, salons) were temporarily laid off from their jobs as a result of federal and state-issued orders. Employees in other industries were able to shift to a remote working arrangement—also known as “telecommuting,” or simply working from home. According to various estimates, up to 42 percent of the American labor force is currently working from home, at least in some capacity, and many employers are finding that the transition has had benefits for their companies.

Working from home does have its challenges, however. Managing time and distractions can be difficult for some people, as can putting household responsibilities aside to focus on work. However, there is one concern in particular that many telecommuters have, especially if they were injured while working from home. Does workers’ compensation cover injuries that occur at an employee’s residence?

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

   ...

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.