Posted on December 30, 2014 in Firm News

Suffocation is a very real threat for those working in the grain industry. Between the possibility of crusted grain breaking, becoming trapped while removing spoiled grain, or drowning in the grain bin, farmers and farm workers who tend to grain handling duties face very real risks on the job. 

Recently, the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board worked together to come up with a potentially life-saving app. The app helps people locate the nearest grain rescue tube. These tubes can be put around someone who is trapped inside of a grain bin and can mean the difference between life and death. 

The idea behind this app is for it to be downloaded before there is an emergency situation. This way, it is at hand if needed.

Of course, this is all good news for the grain industry and the farmers and farm workers who tend to grain duties. However, while the hope is this app will reduce the number of workers killed in grain accidents, there is no guarantee. Accidents can still happen. 

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 Posted on December 15, 2014 in Firm News

Nursing homes can provide critical care to the most vulnerable patients. In many cases, elderly patients are admitted to these facilities because their care needs are more extensive than what can be managed by loved ones. This means that a huge population of people is depending on the medical care, support and respect that many nursing home facilities are expected to provide.

Sadly, not every patient will receive this basic level of care. Too many will or have become victims of neglect or abuse. This mistreatment is often ignored or denied by the very people expected to protect the patients, and family members of victims across Illinois want solutions. One such solution is currently being considered by Illinois lawmakers.

The proposed legislation is targeted at protecting nursing home patients while also empowering family members to keep a better eye on the treatment provided in the facility. According to reports, the legislation would allow the family members of nursing home residents to equip their loved one's room with audio and video recording equipment.

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 Posted on December 10, 2014 in Firm News

This time of year can be quite hectic for people all across Illinois. There is often a lot going on, from holiday shopping to road trips to visit loved ones. Stress and anxiety levels can already be at an all-time high during this season; a serious injury or accident could only make matters worse.

Unfortunately, there are a number of holiday hazards that put people in danger. In this post, we will explore some common risks people may be confronted with in the coming weeks. 

Many holiday hazards lead to personal injuries and can fall into a few different categories for legal claims: product liability, premises liability and automobile accidents.

A product liability claim may be filed if the use of a dangerous or defective product results in damages. During the holidays, these products may include:

• Faulty Christmas lights
• Tainted food
• Defective children's toys

A premises liability claim may be an option for people injured on property that has been poorly maintained or neglected. Holiday-specific risks include:

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 Posted on December 05, 2014 in Car Accidents

When you’ve been involved in a car accident, your first priorities should be survival and recovery. Accident victims cannot be expected to focus on anything else, at least not right away.

Once your situation has stabilized, however, you will need to address practical issues, such as how your accident and injuries will impact your life and your finances. If you were injured by the negligence of another driver, you will likely want to seek compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. Compensation you seek for loss or injury is typically referred to as “damages.”

In today’s post, we’ll discuss three common kinds of damages you may be able to claim in your personal injury lawsuit. Perhaps most obvious are damages related to medical expenses. Depending on the severity and prognosis of your injuries, damages could be as small as a few thousand dollars or as high as millions of dollars. Permanent paralysis, traumatic brain injury and other serious medical outcomes will likely necessitate high-end damages.

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 Posted on December 02, 2014 in Car Accidents

We would all like to think that every driver on the road is taking adequate precautions to drive safely and pay attention to the road. Unfortunately, distracted driving is all too prevalent in Illinois; preventable car accidents still happen because motorists are more focused on their phones than driving, despite the considerable awareness efforts that have been launched to curb the behavior.

When people think about distracted driving, they often think of talking on a handheld phone or texting. These are certainly two very distracting behaviors, and there are laws that specifically prohibit these activities while driving. Unfortunately, there is reportedly an increase in drivers who seem to be missing the message these laws and awareness campaigns are trying to send. 

A recent report by State Farm determined that while drivers are talking on handheld phones less and have not increased texting habits in the past six years, they are surfing the Internet at increasing rates.

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 Posted on November 18, 2014 in Firm News

When people are injured on the job, they may be eligible to collect workers' compensation. Unfortunately, many people do not understand this because they may misinterpret their rights as workers or they do not know how workers' compensation works. 

Generally speaking, workers' compensation is a program that requires employers to pay for this insurance for employees. In exchange, they can be protected from lawsuits filed by injured workers. This means that it is not necessary to prove negligence to collect this type of compensation.

One common assumption that people make is that there needs to have been somebody at fault for an injury or illness in order for it to be covered by the employer-paid insurance. For instance, a falling injury must have been the result of a hazardous condition like a wet floor. But readers need to know that this assumption is inaccurate and could be keeping injured workers from collecting the compensation they may need and deserve.

According to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, any worker who has suffered “any injury, disablement or death arising out of and in the course of his employment may elect to pursue" workers' compensation. Essentially, this means that any injury or illness suffered on the job or as a result of work conditions may be considered as eligible for benefits.

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 Posted on November 11, 2014 in Firm News

Truckers make their living by driving; getting from point A to point B in time is a top priority. The hours are long and the trips can be grueling; there are inherent dangers that come with this occupation. In order to help keep truckers and other motorists safe, rules have been put in place that are intended to limit unsafe behaviors in the trucking industry. 

One of the more significant set of rules has to do with preventing drowsy driving. The Hours of Service regulations were established to get truckers off the road and take mandatory breaks to combat fatigue. Unfortunately, there are truckers and trucking companies who violate these requirements.

The HOS regulations limit the number of hours a trucker can be on the road. They dictate when truckers must take a break and either go off duty or rest in their sleeper berths. Drivers who transport passengers are under stricter rules in terms of the hours they can be on the road and when they must rest. But generally speaking, truckers are not allowed to be on the road for more than 11 hours without taking sufficient rest breaks. 

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 Posted on November 03, 2014 in Firm News

Product manufacturers are expected to only put safe and defect-free products on the market. If there are certain risks associated with use, it is crucial that there be warnings included with the product.

However, there are companies that fail in these responsibilities, and people using that product often pay the price. A defective or dangerous product can result in serious injuries that can have lasting consequences, from burns to illness to lacerations. When damages are suffered as a result of using a defective product, you may be eligible to receive compensation. 

Pursuing a product liability claim can be more complicated than you may realize. It is not enough to say that you were injured because of a product. You will need to show that the product was used for its intended purpose and that a defect or unexpected danger caused the injury or illness.

After those facts are established, it is necessary to identify the potentially liable parties. These can include the manufacturer of the product, a wholesaler, retail store or parties that assemble or install the product. Establishing liability can be very complex and requires a thorough understanding of state product liability laws.

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 Posted on October 28, 2014 in Firm News

When a loved one is placed in the care of a nursing home or assisted living facility, family members expect that he or she will be treated with care and respect. In many cases, facilities follow through on their promises to provide a high level of care.

However, there are some facilities that do not live up to the expectations they have presented, and their vulnerable patients become victims of abuse or neglect. Unfortunately, this horrific treatment is not always easy to spot, especially when a person is not regularly visited by friends or family members. But there are certain red flags that could suggest a person is being mistreated, and if these are identified, legal action may be appropriate.

Depending on the type of abuse that may be occurring, there are certain things that people should be aware of and address as soon as they are identified, according to the Administration on Aging.

For example, if abuse or neglect is physical, the signs could include:

• Bed sores

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 Posted on October 20, 2014 in Car Accidents

In our last post, we discussed some facts about car accidents in the U.S. and just how costly they can be. Statistics can be a good way to appreciate, on a higher level, just how prevalent crashes are in the U.S.

But when we read about individual car accidents in Illinois, it can truly remind us of the personal toll that every crash has on the people involved. For example, the lives of seven people were put in danger when one man allegedly got behind the wheel of his car while intoxicated.

The 22-year-old man was arrested after he caused an accident and then tried to flee from the scene. According to reports, police determined that the man lost control of his vehicle and swerved into oncoming traffic. A car in that lane, being driven by a 66-year-old woman, tried to get out of the way of the oncoming car, but the man swerved again and crashed into woman's vehicle.

The woman was driving five other people, and they all needed to be taken to the hospital after the crash for emergency care, including three children who are 5, 3 and 1. 

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