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Recent Blog Posts
Misdiagnosis in Nursing Homes: Keeping an Eye on Your Loved One
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.
Can a Pedestrian Be Blamed for an Accident in Illinois?
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:
Can I Claim Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
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.
What Should I Do If I Have Been Hurt on the Job in Illinois?
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:
Recognizing Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse
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.
How Do I Pursue a Personal Injury Claim After a Drunk Driving Accident?
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.
Examining Nursing Home Misdiagnosis
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.
Seeking Compensation After a Dog Attack
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.
Recovering Compensation in a Motorcycle Collision
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.
Seeking Compensation in a Bicycle Accident
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.
From our office in Plainfield, Illinois, we serve clients in Will County, DuPage County, Kendall County, Kane County, Joliet, Naperville, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Lemont, Crest Hill, Shorewood, Lockport, Woodridge, Wheaton, Oswego, Yorkville, Homer Glen, Lisle, and surrounding communities.
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