2011 February Archive

A lumbar spinal cord injury in Illinois occurs when the forces applied to the lower spinal area are greater than what the spine can tolerate, both in strength and stability. There are a wide variety of causes of lumbar spinal cord injuries that range from blunt force trauma due to accidents and certain diseases, such as osteoporosis. People who have been injured by another person’s negligence may suffer a lumbar spinal cord injury or other type of spinal cord injury that can require surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, or other medical treatment. Depending on the circumstances of the injury and the type of accident that caused it, the injury may never fully heal.

Some common causes of Illinois lumbar spinal cord injuries include, but are not limited to:

• Auto accidents
• Falls from elevated heights, such as at a construction site
• Motorcycle crashes
• Pedestrian accidents
• Sports or recreation incident
• Violent acts, such as gunshot wounds or stabbings

Because of the immense force that is needed to cause a lumbar spinal cord injury, a person may suffer additional injuries to various areas of their body. Treatment for this type of injury can be long and arduous and depend highly on the pattern of fracture as well as any other injuries and their treatment.

If you or a loved one has sustained a lumbar spinal cord injury in Illinois, it would be in your best interests to contact an experienced Chicago lumbar spinal cord injury attorney like those at The Bradley Law Firm. We have the knowledge and resources necessary to carefully investigate the details of your accident and build a strong case on your behalf. Let us defend your rights so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Contact The Bradley Law Firm at 1-800-360-5072 to schedule a free consultation.

A 28-year-old man succumbed to injuries he sustained 16 months ago in a car accident in Aurora, according to The Chicago Tribune. The crash occurred in October 2009 when the driver of an SUV slammed into a box truck that was stopped in the middle of the street. After pulling into a nearby gas station, the driver fled the scene, leaving the 28-year-old passenger in the vehicle with severe head trauma. The driver returned to the scene almost an hour later where witnesses identified him as the driver and he was arrested. The passenger died on February 19 at a Chicago hospital. An autopsy was conducted; however, results will be released pending further investigation.

The driver of the SUV, also 28, is currently serving a 66-month prison sentence for failing to report an accident involving serious injury. The Kane County State Attorney’s office is considering the possibility of recharging the driver, who is scheduled for a parole hearing in July 2012.

The family of the deceased man may want to consider the possibility of filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Chicago. Since the man passed away due to injuries he sustained in the auto accident, the driver of the vehicle could be held liable for the negligent actions that contributed to the passenger’s injuries.

If you have lost a loved one in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve to know your rights and options. The experienced Illinois wrongful death attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm have the knowledge and skill to build a strong case on your behalf and hold the responsible party accountable for their actions. While no amount of money will bring your loved one back, it can help ease the financial burden of funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, and other costs accrued due to the accident. To learn more about how we can help, contact The Bradley Law Firm at 1-800-360-5072 for a free consultation.

A 70-year-old man was fatally struck by a car after he had exited his vehicle after getting into a small fender bender in December 2010. The driver who struck the man has now been accused of updating her Facebook status on her mobile phone at the time the accident occurred, according to Chicago Breaking News.

Initially, the female motorist told investigators that her vision had been temporarily impaired by the sun, and she was ticketed for failing to avoid hitting a pedestrian. However, a new lawsuit filed by the deceased man’s daughter alleges that the woman’s Facebook account shows activity at the exact same time a 911 call was received after the fatal Chicago pedestrian accident occurred. Using an electronic device while driving was made illegal in Illinois in 2009.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2009, 5,474 people were killed due to distracted drivers with 18 percent of fatalities the result of an accident caused by a driver using a cell phone. Distracted driving is a huge problem across the nation and can lead to serious injury or even death. In addition to the fatalities, 448,000 more people were injured in distracted driving-related crashes in 2009.

All motorists share the responsibility of ensuring the safety of themselves and those around them by paying attention to the road instead of other distractions, such as a cell phone. However, when a text or a phone call takes precedence over driving and the safety of others, and someone is seriously injured or killed as a result of a driver’s distraction, the negligent party can be held legally accountable for all subsequent expenses that result from an accident.

If you have lost a loved one in a car or pedestrian accident that was caused by a distracted driver, you deserve to know your legal rights. Contact the qualified Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm. We will help you understand your rights and work diligently to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence. The sudden loss of a loved one can be difficult for a family, but is made even more so by knowing the accident could have been prevented. You don’t have to face this journey alone. Let the compassionate and dedicated attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm help you. Call 1-800-360-5072 for a free and confidential consultation.

The elderly community is one of society’s most vulnerable groups of people. The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home or long-term care facility is a difficult one that requires a lot of research and trust. When an elderly person is placed in a nursing home, their family expects that their loved one will be properly cared for. However, that is not always the case. Nursing home neglect in Chicago and throughout the country is a serious problem, and unfortunately many incidents are unreported.

There are a few signs that family members should look for if they suspect their loved one is a victim of Illinois nursing home neglect. These signs include:

• Bedsores: These sores occur when a pressure builds up under the skin if a person is in the same position for too long, and can be fatal if not treated in a timely manner.
• Change in demeanor: If your loved one shies away when you try to approach them or exhibits fear, anger, or a negative change in their normal behavior, this could be a sign of elder abuse.
• Over-medicating: Sedating or over-medicating a patient without just cause.
• Sexual abuse: Some of the most serious incidents of nursing home abuse include sexual assault on the elderly. Ripped or bloody undergarments as well as bruising or lacerations around private areas should be reported immediately.
• Unexplained bruises or cuts: Bruises, teeth marks, cuts, or other injuries can also be a sign of elder abuse.

If your loved one has been subjected to nursing home neglect in Illinois, you would be well advised to contact the experienced Chicago nursing home neglect attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm. You worked hard to ensure that your loved one received the best care possible, only to later discover that your trust had been broken by a nursing home facility of staff member, and you deserve to know your legal rights. All negligent parties deserve to be held accountable to guarantee others don’t suffer. The lawyers at The Bradley Law Firm can help. To schedule a free consultation, call 1-800-360-5072.

A train stopped in the middle of the night caused two separate car crashes which left three people injured, two of them critically, on Monday, February 14, according to a report in The Chicago Sun-Times. A 44-year-old man was driving a Nissan Maxima when he plowed into the side of a stopped train. Another vehicle crashed into the same train on the opposite side shortly after the first accident occurred. According to the driver of the first vehicle, there weren’t any lights, flares, or barriers alerting motorists to the stopped train, which police confirmed. The lights had been purposely disabled by Chicago Rail Link due to “snow build-up and salt” which had caused the signals to stop working. In these types of circumstances, police said that a crew is supposed to flag traffic down and stay at the site of the stopped train until the train had passed, though protocol can vary depending on the layout of a railway crossing.

The Chicago car accidents are still under investigation to determine whether or not proper protocol was followed by the train’s crew. Further investigation of the accidents will conclude whether negligence was a contributing factor and, if so, Chicago Rail Link could be held legally responsible for the injuries sustained by the three victims involved in the crashes.

If you have been involved in a collision with a train and you sustained serious injury as a result, you would be well-advised to contact the dedicated Illinois train accident injury attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm. With years of experience and a vast network of legal resources, we will examine the details of the crash and build a strong case on your behalf to ensure that your legal rights are protected. We will fight to ensure that all negligent parties are held accountable for your injury and related losses and that you recover the compensation you deserve. Let The Bradley Law Firm help you understand your rights. Call 1-800-360-5072 for a free consultation.

A six-vehicle car crash occurred on Thursday, February 10 when a drunk driver passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle, according to an article in The Naperville Sun. The 26-year-old motorist was driving southbound on 1-55 near the Veterans’ Memorial Tollway when he passed out and struck a pile of snow, which launched his vehicle into the air. The vehicle landed on the hood of another car on the opposite side of the wall, and was then struck by five other cars. The drunk driver was taken to an area hospital with several broken bones and was later arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. There was no report on whether or not any of the other vehicles’ occupants sustained injuries.

The fact that no one was seriously or fatally injured in this Illinois auto accident is remarkable, as many drunk driving accidents have very different results. According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), roughly 32 people die every day in the United States in auto accidents that involve a drunk driver, which equates to about one death every forty-five minutes.

Drunk driving in Illinois is no laughing matter and can have serious, life-altering consequences. Any motorist who finds themselves in a situation that involves alcohol should not get behind the wheel and should opt instead to designate a sober driver.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an auto accident that involved a drunk driver, it would be in your best interest to consult an experienced Illinois drunk driving accident attorney. At The Bradley Law Firm, our dedicated personal injury lawyers have what it takes to hold negligent parties accountable and garner you the compensation you deserve for all costs that resulted from your accident. We will examine the details of your crash and build a strong case on your behalf. To schedule a free consultation, contact The Bradley Law Firm today at 1-800-360-5072.

Drunk driving is illegal in the state of Illinois and across the country. However, many motorists still drive after drinking alcohol, which can have life-altering and even deadly consequences. A person is considered under the influence of alcohol if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 percent or higher. Sadly, when a car accident occurs that involves drunk driving, it is often the victim, not the drunk driver, who suffers the most, often suffering serious or fatal injuries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, there were 33,808 fatalities in the United States, and 10,839 deaths were alcohol-related.

Illinois law states that no person shall operate a vehicle while:

• Under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs;
• Under the influence of any other drug or combination of drugs that renders a person incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle;
• Under the influence of any intoxicating compound or combination of compounds that prevent a motorist from driving safely; and
• The individual’s BAC is .08 percent or more.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an auto accident that involved a drunk driver, you deserve to hold the negligent party responsible for their actions. The Illinois drunk driving injury lawyers at The Bradley Law Firm understand the difficulty that you and your family may be going through. With a vast network of legal resources available, we will meticulously examine the circumstances of your accident and build a strong case on your behalf. You don’t have to face this journey alone. Call The Bradley Law Firm at 800-360- 5072 to learn more about how we can help you. We offer free consultations.

An Illinois pedestrian accident occurred on Monday, January 24 when two women were struck by a 2003 Acura as they were walking in a crosswalk at Luther Lane and Dempster Street in Park Ridge. The Herald-Advocate reports that the 45-year-old driver “plowed” into the two women as she was making a left hand turn at the intersection. Both of the female pedestrians, a 71-year-old woman and a 43-year-old woman, suffered injuries and were taken to the nearby hospital for treatment. The 71-year old sustained a head injury and has no memory of the accident.

Sadly, Illinois pedestrian accidents occur more often than one might think. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, there were 59,000 reported pedestrian injuries nationwide, and 4,092 pedestrian fatalities in traffic accidents. However, many crashes involving a pedestrian go unreported, so the actual number of injuries could be much higher.

Pedestrians can suffer extensive, and often deadly, injuries when struck by a motor vehicle, as they have virtually no protection against the impact of a vehicle, unlike vehicle occupants. Even when a pedestrian adheres to all traffic laws that pertain to safety while crossing the street, they cannot stop the actions of a negligent motorist.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, it would be highly beneficial to acquire the services of an experienced Illinois pedestrian accident injury attorney. At The Bradley Law Firm, our lawyers have the skill and knowledge to properly investigate the circumstances of your injury and hold all negligent parties accountable for their actions. Serious injuries can bare a heavy burden on a family not only physically, but mentally and financially as well. With medical expenses piling up, time taken off of work, rehabilitation, and other accident-related damages, financial stability can take a turn for the worst. We will fight hard to ensure that you are compensated fairly and justly for your injuries. To schedule a free consultation at The Bradley Law Firm, call 800-360-5072 today.