Posted on December 31, 2020 in Wrongful Death

The death of a spouse is one of the most heartbreaking experiences a person could ever go through. The loss of a husband or wife due to old age or an unavoidable illness is tragic but losing your spouse to the irresponsible actions of another person is especially devastating. If your spouse has passed away from injuries sustained in a fatal drunk driving accident, you have the option of bringing a civil action against the drunk driver.

Illinois Wrongful Death Claims for Fatal Car Accidents

If a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs causes a fatal car accident, the driver will likely face significant criminal penalties. DUI resulting in great bodily harm or death is a felony offense in Illinois. The person who caused the fatal accident may be imprisoned for up to 14 years as a result of his or her recklessness. Although criminal charges against the person who caused your loved one’s accident may provide a sense of justice, criminal charges do not help alleviate the financial burden created by your spouse’s death.

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 Posted on December 24, 2020 in Medical Malpractice

Ideally, a professional in any industry should do his or her job to the best of his or her ability. When someone is a doctor, surgeon, anesthesiologist, or other medical professional, job performance is a matter of life and death. Even a seemingly simple mistake or oversight can lead to disastrous consequences in the medical field. Some medical mistakes are so grievous that they are called “never events” because they should never happen. If you or a loved one were harmed in a never event, it is important to learn about your legal options. You may be entitled to financial compensation through a medical malpractice claim.

Examples of Never Events

Medical professionals are human, and like all humans, they can make mistakes. However, when a medical professional makes a serious, avoidable medical mistake, the professional or the facility may be liable for damages. Often, medical malpractice cases involve ambiguous situations in which a medical worker’s actions are questionable but not immediately, obviously negligent. It is only after a detailed investigation that the medical professional’s negligence becomes apparent. A never event is typically much more blatant. Some examples of never events include:

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 Posted on December 18, 2020 in Defective Prescription Drugs

Most people have experienced heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux at some point in their life. Often, people suffering from stomach or intestinal distress turn to prescription or over-the-counter antacids to alleviate their symptoms. Most trust that the medications available at the pharmacy are safe. However, sometimes drugs must be recalled because a risk is discovered. The popular medication Zantac has been recalled after it was discovered that the medication could increase users’ risk of cancer. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac, you should know that you might have a valid defective drug claim.

Background Information Regarding Zantac Concerns

Zantac is the brand name of a medication called ranitidine. It is an H2 blocker used to treat heartburn and stomach ulcers. Concerns about the medication’s safety were first brought up because the active ingredient, ranitidine HCl, breaks down into a chemical called Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified NDMA as one that is likely carcinogenic to humans. 

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 Posted on December 11, 2020 in Car Accident

For many drivers, sharing the road with large commercial trucks can be frightening. These vehicles are much larger and heavier than passenger cars and trucks, and a collision with a semi-trailer truck can result in devastating injuries. There are a variety of factors that can lead to truck accidents, but driver fatigue is one of the biggest concerns, since a truck driver who falls asleep at the wheel or attempts to operate a vehicle while drowsy can cause serious harm to other drivers, their passengers, or pedestrians. 

Increased Concerns About Truck Driver Fatigue

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led many people to remain at home and avoid traveling, fewer people have been using the roads in Illinois and throughout the United States. However, this has also led to an increase in products being ordered online, which has resulted in additional trucks on the nation’s roads to ensure that cargo is shipped and delivered quickly. Due to a shortage in the number of truck drivers in the U.S., the increased need to deliver products means that fewer drivers are being required to drive more often, which may increase the chances that drivers will be pushing their limits and operating their vehicles when they are unable to do so safely.

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 Posted on December 08, 2020 in Slip and Fall

As the winter season begins, Illinois residents are preparing to deal with cold and inclement weather. While most people will be taking precautions to protect themselves while at home or while driving, it can be impossible to foresee every potential hazard. This is especially true when it comes to snow and ice, which can greatly increase the chances of slip and fall accidents that lead to serious injuries. If you have been injured in this type of accident while you are in a public place or on someone else’s property, you will want to work with an attorney to determine how you can receive financial compensation.

Liability for Fall Accidents Caused by Winter Weather

During the winter, slip and fall accidents may occur on sidewalks or other outdoor walkways due to the accumulation of snow and ice. These accidents can also take place indoors at locations such as restaurants or stores due to wet floors caused by snow, sleet, or rain entering through a building’s doorways or water dripping from people’s shoes and clothes.

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 Posted on December 03, 2020 in Defective Medical Devices

Medical technology is constantly improving, and new devices and techniques are regularly made available to help address patients’ conditions and improve their health. Unfortunately, there are many cases where new products are found to be unsafe after being made available for public use, and defective medical devices can cause serious injuries to patients. Those who have been injured by these devices will want to work with a personal injury attorney who can help them determine their options for pursuing compensation from a product’s manufacturer or others who were responsible for their damages.

Medical Device Recalls and Patient Injuries

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regularly reviews and investigates the medical devices that are used by doctors and hospitals throughout the United States. If the FDA uncovers problems with medical devices that may present a danger to patients, a device’s manufacturer may be required to perform a recall, which may include removing devices from the market or performing repairs to address issues that affect patient safety. Some medical devices that have been subject to recalls in recent years include:

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 Posted on November 30, 2020 in Brain Injury

Serious injuries can occur in a wide variety of situations, and in many cases, victims will be able to understand the immediate physical effects of their injuries and the impact this will have on their lives. However, some types of injuries are not always immediately obvious. Traumatic brain injuries are sometimes considered “invisible injuries,” since they cannot be easily observed, and their effects may not make themselves fully known for weeks or months after the injury occurred. 

Long-Term Complications of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain injuries can occur in a wide variety of different situations, ranging from car accidents, to slip and falls, to workplace accidents in which a person is struck by a falling object. Medical malpractice can also lead to brain injuries, such as when a doctor misdiagnoses a condition such as a blood clot that leads to damage to a patient’s brain.

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 Posted on November 24, 2020 in Car Accident

The holiday season is a dangerous time on our nation’s roads due to increased amounts of drunk driving. This period typically starts with “Blackout Wednesday,” when many people drink large amounts of alcohol on the day before Thanksgiving. The rest of Thanksgiving weekend usually sees hundreds of fatalities in drunk driving accidents, and this trend generally continues in the weeks leading up to Christmas as people enjoy drinking with friends and family during holiday parties. Alcohol consumption is also prevalent on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and this often leads to another spike in traffic accidents and deaths. 

While this year’s holiday celebrations are likely to be smaller and more subdued than in years past for most families, there will still be too many people drinking and driving. Those who have been injured in accidents involving drunk drivers will want to understand their options for pursuing financial compensation.

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 Posted on November 20, 2020 in Nursing Home Negligence

Putting a loved one in a nursing home can be a difficult decision, and it is one that is often made out of necessity, since family members may not be able to provide the ongoing care an elderly person needs. Unfortunately, some nursing homes fail to provide the appropriate level of care, and this can cause residents to experience serious injuries due to neglect. In these cases, families will want to work with an attorney to understand who was responsible for the harm suffered by their loved one and determine how to take legal action against a negligent nursing home.

Nursing Home Neglect Injuries

Staff members at a nursing home should always be attentive to patients’ needs. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed, or they may employ staff members that are not properly trained. This can result in a lack of proper supervision of patients and a failure to address concerns that could affect residents’ health and well-being. Some common injuries that can occur because of neglect include:

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 Posted on November 18, 2020 in Medical Malpractice

There are a variety of ways that doctors or other medical professionals can make mistakes that affect the health and well-being of their patients. Misdiagnosis is one of the most prevalent forms of medical malpractice, and it can cause patients to suffer serious harm. If a person’s condition is not properly diagnosed, they may not receive the necessary treatment in time to prevent serious risks to their health, or they may receive the wrong type of treatment, which can lead to additional health complications. 

Conditions That Can Lead to Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis can occur for a variety of reasons. Doctors may fail to properly consider a patient’s medical history, they may not spend enough time examining a patient, or they may not give enough weight to the symptoms reported by the patient. In other cases, diagnostic errors, including mistakes at medical labs, failure to order the proper tests, or failure to properly review test results, can lead to an incorrect diagnosis.

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