Posted on August 05, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

Doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals spend as many as 10-15 years in school preparing for their careers in medicine. Consequently, we expect medical professionals to provide competent, accurate medical care. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional’s failure to provide reasonably skilled care causes someone to suffer avoidable health problems. A victim of medical malpractice may be able to recover financial compensation for additional medical bills, lost income, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages. If you received substandard care from a medical professional, you may wonder if you have a valid medical malpractice claim.

Elements of Medical Malpractice Claims

Medical malpractice can stem from a medical provider’s actions or his or her failure to act. In some cases, the hospital or other medical facility at which the incident occurred is ultimately liable for a medical mistake. Some common examples of medical errors that can lead to medical malpractice claims include:

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 Posted on July 30, 2021 in Car Accidents

 Car accidents often result in property damage, serious injuries, or even death. Victims and their families may be left with significant medical bills, repair costs, and other expenses. They may also be unable to work or complete daily responsibilities while recovering from car crash injuries. Fortunately, compensation for these costs and other damages may be available through a personal injury case. If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident in Illinois, it is important to understand how Illinois handles shared fault accidents. 

Modified Comparative Negligence

If you cannot reach a settlement with the insurance company, you may choose to file a personal injury lawsuit. Illinois personal injury cases are subject to a legal doctrine called “modified comparative negligence.” Under modified comparative negligence, if someone is more than 50 percent at fault for an accident, they are barred from recovering anything. However, if a driver is 50 percent or less to blame for the accident, they may still be entitled to financial compensation for their damages. In cases of shared fault, a party’s compensation is reduced by his or her percentage of fault.

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 Posted on July 23, 2021 in Car Accidents

Drivers are generally aware of the risks they face while using the roads. Car accidents can occur for many different reasons, and most of the time, driver negligence is the primary cause behind a collision. However, there are other issues that can affect safety on the roads, including conditions that lead to dangerous highways, such as cargo loads that have fallen from trucks. People in Central Illinois recently encountered a unique and unexpected issue when olive oil that had leaked onto the roadway affected vehicles’ ability to maintain the proper traction.

Olive Oil Spill in Farmer City

On July 16, 2021, several roads in Farmer City were shut down because they were covered with a slippery, oily substance. It was later discovered that a tanker truck that had traveled through the area had sprung a leak, causing olive oil to spill on the roads. While the largest concentration of olive oil was in a gas station parking lot near the intersection of State Route 54 and State Route 150, the truck continued to leak oil while traveling east on I-74 and continuing north on I-57.

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 Posted on July 16, 2021 in Personal Injury

Being the victim of an assault, battery, mugging, rape, or other act of physical violence is one of the most life-changing experiences a person can have. A victim may suffer from debilitating physical and emotional pain as a result of the experience. They may also be forced to contend with significant financial losses from missed work and medical bills. If you or a loved one were assaulted or otherwise harmed by another party’s intentional actions, it is important to explore all of your legal options. You may be able to file a personal injury claim for monetary damages in addition to any criminal charges the perpetrator faces.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against the Perpetrator

Criminal charges against an individual who intentionally injured someone else may punish the perpetrator for his or her actions, but the charges do not compensate the victim in any way. Consequently, many people who are harmed in a violent act wonder if they can sue the person who hurt them. It is possible to file a civil claim against someone who hurt you in an attack, however, this is not always the most practical option. If the perpetrator does not have significant assets, suing him or her is unlikely to result in adequate compensation. Even if you win the case, you may not receive the money you have been awarded.

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 Posted on July 09, 2021 in Truck Accidents

In 2019 alone, 4,119 people were killed in truck accidents. Many people assume that truck accidents are similar to car accidents, but they are often very different from each other. Truck accidents often involve multiple liable parties, severe injuries, and extensive property damage. If you were injured in a truck accident, it is important to know your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for your vehicle damage, medical expenses, and other damages. 

Car Accidents Involving Large Commercial Trucks 

Truck accidents are quite different from other types of accidents on the road. Successfully recovering compensation for the financial and non-financial consequences of a major truck crash is often a challenging endeavor. Truck accident injury cases are often complicated because:

• Truck accident injuries are often catastrophic. Commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than regular passenger vehicles. Therefore, it stands to reason that truck accidents cause more serious injuries than accidents involving just standard vehicles. Injuries sustained in a truck accident may include burns, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even amputation of a limb. Individuals who suffer catastrophic injuries in a truck crash may be left permanently disabled. 

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 Posted on June 25, 2021 in Car Accidents

There are many different types of dangerous traffic violations. Driving above the speed limit is one of the most common ways that people violate traffic laws, and it can put multiple people at risk of being injured in car accidents. Victims of motor vehicle collisions have options for receiving financial compensation for their damages. By working with a personal injury lawyer, they can take the necessary steps to hold a negligent driver responsible for injuries caused by speeding or other traffic violations.

Car Accident Statistics

Over the last decade, speeding has resulted in between 9,000 and 10,000 deaths each year for motor vehicle drivers, passengers, and others, accounting for 25-30 percent of all fatalities in car accidents. However, in addition to fatal collisions, there are nearly 2 million car accidents every year that result in injuries. This means that around 500,000 people suffer injuries each year due to drivers who exceed the speed limit, or around 1,300 people per day.

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 Posted on June 18, 2021 in Farm Accidents

Agriculture is a major industry in central Illinois, and there are more than 70,000 farms in the state that provide jobs for hundreds of thousands of workers. However, working on a farm can be dangerous, and there are multiple types of situations where injuries can occur. Tractor accidents are one of the most common ways that farm workers may be injured. Those involved in these types of accidents will want to work with an attorney to determine their options for receiving financial compensation.

Causes of Tractor Accidents

Every year, more than 30,000 people suffer serious injuries while working on farms in the United States. Around 400 people are killed each year in these types of accidents, and around half of all fatalities occur in tractor accidents. These accidents may involve a tractor running over a person, a tractor colliding with a motor vehicle, or a person becoming entangled in a tractor’s machinery.

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 Posted on June 11, 2021 in Personal Injury

Many different types of personal injuries can affect someone’s health, their ability to work and complete daily functions, and their overall well-being. Spinal cord injuries are some of the most serious types of harm that a victim can experience, and they can occur in car accidents, slip and fall accidents, construction accidents, and many other situations. Injuries that affect the back and spine can be very painful, leading to restrictions to a person’s mobility and the activities they can perform at work or in their personal lives. In the most serious cases, a person will experience paralysis, and they may be permanently disabled. Victims can work with an attorney to understand the full effects of a spine injury and pursue compensation from the parties who were responsible.

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 Posted on June 04, 2021 in Workers' Compensation

Certain types of injuries can affect a person’s ability to return to work while they are recovering. However, if an injury took place while a person was working or arose out of activities performed during the course of their employment, they will usually qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ comp will pay all costs related to medical care for these injuries, and if a person misses at least four days of work, they can receive wage benefits based on a temporary disability. These benefits will cover a percentage of what they would have been able to earn if they had not been injured. By working with an attorney, injured employees can ensure that they submit the correct information when filing a workers’ comp claim, allowing them to receive the benefits they need and deserve.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

If a person is temporarily unable to work while recovering from their injury, or if they have been approved for light work, but their employer will be unable to accommodate their needs, they can receive temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. These benefits will be paid until the employee returns to work or reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI).

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 Posted on May 24, 2021 in Motorcycle Accidents

Spring is here, and summer is approaching, and this means that many motorcyclists will be looking to enjoy the warmer weather as they hit the road. In recognition of the increased motorcycle traffic during the spring and summer months, safety advocates have highlighted May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. 

While motorcyclists are encouraged to follow the proper safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet and keeping their motorcycles properly maintained, the fact is that other vehicles are the primary danger to motorcyclists. When drivers act negligently around motorcycles, this can lead to motorcycle accidents that are likely to inflict serious injuries on motorcyclists or lead to a person’s wrongful death. A motorcyclist who is injured in a motorcycle accident may be able to take legal action to recover financial compensation from a negligent driver.

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