Recent Blog Posts
Personal Injury Claims for Accidents Resulting in Blindness or Vision Loss
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:
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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.
Legal Options if You Were in a Car Crash Caused by a Farm Animal
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.
Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
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:
Common Workers' Compensation Claims Involving Office Employees in Illinois
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.
Understanding Lost Earning Capacity Caused by a Catastrophic 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.
Was Your Loved One's Fall Caused by Nursing Home Negligence?
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.
Who Is Liable for My Injuries in a Jackknife Truck Accident?
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:
Who is at Fault if I am Injured While Ridesharing?
It has become almost second nature to open an app and catch a ride with Uber or Lyft. You may simply not like driving or you may be going out for cocktails and are being responsible. It is easy and practical. But what if you are involved in a rideshare accident? Who is liable for your injuries?
Rideshare Apps
Ridesharing companies are known as transportation network companies (TNCs) in Illinois. Under the law, a company that uses an app to connect passengers with TNCs, must not own, control, or manage vehicles that are used by its drivers. Rideshare companies have insurance policies that provide coverage for people who are injured in a car accident if their drivers are at fault. However, determining whether or not a passenger is covered by under the insurance company and the amount they can receive in compensation differs depending on the circumstances of the crash.
What Can I Do If I Suffered Chiropractic Injuries?
Chiropractors are known to work wonders for people suffering from chronic pain. They treat more than 35 million Americans every year. Sometimes people seek out a chiropractor to heal after a car accident or a sports injury and attain favorable results. However, there are times when a negligent chiropractor can cause serious injuries and the injured patient sues for medical malpractice.
Chiropractor Mistakes Can Lead to Painful Injuries
There are various techniques that chiropractors use for adjustments. When they are not properly carried out, they can lead to serious injuries that can impact a person’s health. These are just some ways in which a chiropractor’s negligence could lead to injury:
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Improper manipulation of the spine can lead to herniated discs and pinched nerves
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Improper evaluation of the patient
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Failing to order diagnostic imaging tests
Young Retail Employees More Likely to Get Injured: Can I Sue My Employer?
Many retailers are especially generous this year, accepting returns through the end of the month. ‘Tis the season for holiday returns and busy retail workers tending to one customer after another. In their dash to get their work done, retail workers often slip and fall. Research shows that slips, trips, and falls are common causes of injuries in retail stores. Each year about 100,000 young workers between the ages of 16 and 24 are injured on the job, and one out of four young workers is injured in a retail job. Fortunately, worker’s compensation will typically cover employees for injuries at work, but what if that is not enough and you want to sue your employer?
Why are Young Workers Getting Injured?
Falls from portable ladders are one of the leading causes of occupational injuries. But everything from a sprained wrist to a concussion can take someone out of the workforce for some time. In retail settings, the hazards are many. Slippery floors, lack of experience, and inadequate safety training increase injury risks for young workers.