Posted on August 03, 2015 in Firm News

We often discuss the hazards of working in the farm industry on this blog, as it typically is physically demanding and the use powerful, heavy machinery is generally necessary. These factors can and do contribute to many different and tragic accidents across Illinois.

However, farm workers are also at risk of being injured even when their work takes them off the farm. In rural areas across the state, it is not uncommon to see tractors and other types of farm equipment on the road. While other motorists are expected to slow down and give slower-moving vehicles enough room, this doesn't always happen. One recent accident is a devastating reminder that vehicles of all kinds are at risk of getting hit when people don't drive safely.

The accident involved a 75-year-old man on a farm tractor and the driver of a tractor trailer. Reports indicate that the tractor was being driven on Route 154 when it was hit by the truck. The truck driver evidently did not see the tractor and struck it from behind.

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 Posted on July 27, 2015 in Firm News

Accidents involving tractor trailers can be among the most catastrophic on the road due to size of trucks, the potential for cargo spills and the often devastating injuries suffered by victims.

While the chaos of a crash will eventually pass and everything will get cleared up, the physical and emotional toll of these crashes can linger on long after an accident. This is why many people choose to seek compensation after a truck crash.

Filing a lawsuit in light of these types of accidents can be an effective way to get the financial resources necessary to cope with the considerable adjustments that need to be made afterward. This can be a difficult process, especially because there are a number of ways that truckers and/or trucking companies may try to avoid responsibility. Below are a few common defenses.

• Trucker blames driver: A trucker may claim that the victim did something like cut off the truck, followed too closely or swerved over a lane line and the driver's actions, not the trucker's, caused the crash.

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 Posted on July 22, 2015 in Articles

Working in hot weather can be riskier than you realize

For most people in Illinois, summer is a time to look forward to. But, for farm workers, construction workers and anyone else whose job requires them to work outside, the hot and humid weather can actually pose a huge risk. Without proper safety precautions, heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses and injuries can take a serious toll on workers' health.

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, every year dozens of workers die while working in the hot outdoors. Thousands more become ill or injured. While this is tragic, the good news is that there are many preventative strategies workers and employers can take to minimize the risk of on-the-job harm.

If you're going to be working outside this summer, consider the following:

• Dress appropriately: At the very least, wear light-colored clothing and a hat. Folks who are going to be outside for a long time might want to consider investing in ventilated clothing, or clothing made from moisture-wicking or UV-blocking fabric.

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 Posted on July 20, 2015 in Firm News

Families all across Illinois know a loved one who is being cared for in a nursing home. In fact, there are roughly 1.4 million residents in these facilities across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many of these patients receive the type of care that has been promised by individual facilities. However, there are many people who are mistreated or neglected by nursing home staff workers who are untrained, overworked, poorly supervised or not properly vetted during the hiring process. If you suspect that your loved one is in the latter group, you need to understand what you can and should do to protect that person.

To begin with, you need to report any suspected mistreatment as soon as possible to state Adult Protective Services. Depending on the information provided, the agency may launch an investigation into the allegations. 

The investigation will generally involve speaking with nursing home staff, other patients, family members and the person who may have been abused or neglected. Unfortunately, many victims and other nursing home patients are not physically or mentally capable of reporting or discussing instances of mistreatment which is why these investigations can be so complicated.

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 Posted on July 14, 2015 in Firm News

People all across central Illinois work in the farming industry and people all across the world depend on the fruits of that labor. However, in addition to being crucial, farming can also be very dangerous.

Consider the equipment that is used on modern farms. There are huge combines, tractors, plows, planters and cultivators, not to mention the machines and tools like mowers, chain saws and trucks that many people use on a daily basis. With so much equipment on site, it is important to understand what your options may be if a machine is defective and causes a serious accident.

Farming equipment can be very complicated and intricate. People who buy the equipment typically won't know where the nuts and bolts were made or how the engine was assembled. They won't know who designed the product or whether all the proper warnings have been noted.

Because we don't know these things as consumers, we rely on the designers, manufacturers and sellers of the products to take seriously their duty to put out products that are free from defects. If any of these parties fail in this duty and a person is injured as a result of a defect, they can be named in a product liability lawsuit.

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 Posted on July 06, 2015 in Firm News

When it comes to legal issues, it can be easy for people to assume that their situation will be resolved in accordance to what they feel should happen. If someone is hurt on the job, for example, a worker probably feels like that their employer should have workers' compensation insurance that should be available to people who get sick or hurt at work. 

Unfortunately, even though something is expected to happen doesn't mean it will. And even when people feel like they know what the rules are doesn't mean that other people will always follow them. This is why legal matters can be so frustrating and why it can be so important to have the help of an attorney.

Let's go back to that scenario we discussed above. It is true that most employers in Illinois should have workers' compensation. They should also post notices in the workplace and avoid taking negative action against an employee who reports an injury and seeks the compensation available to them.

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 Posted on July 01, 2015 in Car Accidents

If you are like many Illinois residents, you have some fun plans to celebrate the Independence Day this weekend. You may be heading out to a cabin, spending the long weekend at a loved one's house outside of Illinois or just relaxing with your friends at a backyard barbecue right here at home.

Whatever your plans may be, however, it is crucial to remember that this time of year comes with some serious risks that can drastically change a person's life. One of the biggest risks that seem to go hand-in-hand with the 4th of July is drinking and driving.

Drinking is not uncommon during holidays, especially when a holiday also comes with a long weekend. People are off of work and wanting to relax and celebrate. Parties, barbecues, parades, firework shows and all kinds of events that happen around Independence Day typically involve alcohol to some degree.

Because of this, police officers in Illinois and across the country regularly crack down on enforcing DUI laws. They increase patrols and set up checkpoints; they stop more drivers and are more suspicious of behaviors that could suggest intoxication.

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 Posted on June 24, 2015 in Firm News

This week, the world recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in an effort to bring attention to the issue of physical, mental and financial abuse that too many seniors are victim to. As important as the global efforts to highlight the issue certainly are, stopping elder abuse is often stopped thanks to the efforts of one person who raises concerns.

As we noted in this article on our website, elder abuse is a very serious problem that often goes unreported. We note many reasons for this, from physician concerns about violating privacy and fears of retaliation by caregivers to the unfortunate reality of dementia and other mental disorders. However, it only takes one person to notice something off or troubling to shed light on an abusive situation.

Signs of neglect and abuse can often involve a change in a victim's habits, behaviors and attitude. These signs can be subtle, but those who are paying attention can look for things like fears of being touched, being jumpy around certain people, unexplained injuries and dramatic shifts in moods.

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 Posted on June 23, 2015 in Firm News

The trucking industry is crucial to manufacturers, retailers and consumers across the U.S. Commercial trucks are used to transport perishable, heavy and even toxic cargo between states and across the country. It is indeed a critical industry but the fact is that the resources needed to support it are lacking.

Truck drivers are in short supply these days. There is a high demand for truckers but there aren't enough properly trained people to fill all the available spots; high rates of driver turnover only add to the issue. This situation leads to a couple different problems.

First, it means that trucking companies need to search for different ways to attract truck drivers. Recently, for example, trucking fleets have started installing satellite TV in their trucks.

According to this article on Truckinginfo.com, the TVs were added as a way to entice drivers to tackle the long shifts and time away from friends and family. Trucks equipped with the satellites and TVs allow drivers to watch more than 100 channels. The package also has the capability to record programs that a driver can watch later.

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 Posted on June 09, 2015 in Firm News

While working on a farm can be incredibly fulfilling, it can also be quite grueling, physically and mentally. People in this industry often work long hours doing manual labor, no matter what the weather is. They work with huge machines and animals that don't always do what they are expected to do.

Because of all these challenges, there is a very real risk to the health and safety of farm workers on a regular basis. If you work in farming, you are likely aware of these risks and do what you can to minimize them. However, you also need to be aware of what you can and should do in the event of an accident.

An injury or illness can put a farm worker's life and livelihood on hold, which can put incredible financial stress on the worker and his or her family. Thankfully, there is compensation that may be available to those impacted by a farming accident.

Pursuing this compensation typically requires some legal action. A personal injury claim can be filed against a negligent party, which may include an employer, a product manufacturer, a property owner or another worker. This can be complicated and overwhelming for people without a legal background and experience, especially when they are also coping with a serious injury or the loss of a loved one after an accident.

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