2011 August Archive

Illinois is joining other U.S. states, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Governors’ Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) over the Labor Day holiday weekend to increase enforcement of state laws prohibiting drunk driving. The program, known as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” combines a media ad campaign with increased patrols and additional sobriety checkpoints.

Illinois law enforcement agencies use sobriety checkpoints and vehicle patrols year-round, and officers are trained to look for clues that may indicate drunk driving whenever they are on duty. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” program, however, puts more officers on the roads over the holiday weekend, when the number of impaired drivers and the number of car accidents they cause tends to increase. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), warning the public about increased patrols in advance is the best way to deter drunk driving, as drivers realize they shouldn’t take the risk of getting caught. For drivers who take the risk anyway, the increased patrols increase the chance of removing them from the roads before they can cause a serious injury or a fatal car accident.

According to the NHTSA, nearly 11,000 U.S. motorists are killed in drunk driving-related car accidents each year. Practicing safe, sober driving can help prevent serious injuries and loss of life on the road. At The Bradley Law Firm, our experienced Chicago drunk driving accident victim lawyers can help you understand your legal rights after a car accident and fight to protect them. For a free consultation, call us today at 312-252-1488.

In their efforts to encourage workplace safety and educate employees and employers about the hazards of being exposed to extreme heat, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have released a free mobile application that allows workers, supervisors, and employers to keep track of their worksite’s heat index, thus enabling them to take the necessary safety measures against heat-related illnesses. At the Bradley Law Firm, we fully support all efforts to make Illinois workplaces safer for workers.

Working outdoors can be very dangerous in the summer months, especially during a heat wave. In fact, according to OSHA, farm workers, roofers, construction workers, landscapers, and air transportation workers experience the highest rates of heat-illness.

The mobile app uses data from the U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as well as the worker’s location to provide proper preventative measures, such as taking rest breaks, adjusting work operations, and, especially drinking fluids. It also gives workers valuable information about the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

If you or a loved one has suffered a heat-related injury or illness in the course of your work at an Illinois jobsite, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Consulting with one of the Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm before filing your claim would ensure that your workers’ compensation claim is properly submitted. To learn more about your legal rights or the workers’ compensation claim process, contact us today for a free confidential consultation at 312-252-1488.

Summer will be officially over in about a month and many Illinois boaters will be taking their boats out to make the most of the time they have left, although if the heat wave continues, boaters will be able to go out in November. Regardless of what month it is, however, boaters need to be aware of more than just impaired operators out on the water.

Boats, jet-skis, and other water crafts are motor vehicles that are produced by boat manufacturing companies and, like with auto manufacturers and cars, sometimes the vessel is made with the poor quality, not assembled properly, or made with defective parts. Boat and jet ski defects can be just as dangerous as an impaired boater as they too increase the risk of a boating or jet ski accident in Illinois.

There were 4,604 recreational boating accidents in 2010, according to U.S. Coast Guard. Of these, 366 were caused by boat or boat equipment failure, and caused 20 deaths and 108 injuries. Of the 366 defective boat accidents, 49 were caused by hull failure or failure of the structural body of the vessel, 60 were caused by equipment failures, and 257 were caused by machinery failures.

Boat and jet ski manufacturers have a duty to produce safe recreational watercraft, especially with the knowledge that boating accidents can be more dangerous that auto accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in an Illinois recreational boating or jet ski accident as the result of defective boat equipment or machinery, the skilled product liability lawyers in Chicago at The Bradley Law Firm may be able to help. Call us today for a free confidential consultation and to find out more about your legal options at 312-252-1488.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. In 2009, the CDC determined that eight teenagers, ages 16 through 19, died every day from fatal motor vehicle crash injuries. Approximately 3,000 teens, ages 15 through 19, were killed and 350,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that year. Teen traffic accidents are largely preventable, however, and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) recognizes this fact.

Annual OTSD Campaign

IDOT, the Illinois Secretary of State, and the Illinois State Police (ISP) have teamed up with Ford and Allstate to launch the 5th annual “Operation Teen Safe Driving” (OTSD) campaign for the 2011-2012 school year. This peer-led driving initiative is making a substantial difference in the lives of teens in Illinois, literally. Since the start of the campaign four years ago, Illinois has documented a 45 percent drop in teen traffic fatalities.

Campaign Success

The success of the campaign is in the execution. It is a high school-based program where teens are educating other teens about the dangers of irresponsible and unsafe driving, whether it is speeding, texting while driving, or driving distracted. In order to participate in OTSD, high schools will apply for a $2,000 grant to set-up their peer-led safe driving program. The schools then compete against others in their region to be one of five winners. The winners are awarded money to be used toward their post-prom event and are invited as participants in the Ford Motor Company Fund’s Driving Skills for Life Ride and Drive event.

For the Future

It is by increasing education and awareness that teen car accident fatalities in Illinois will continue to decrease. Even teenagers outside of this program should encourage their peers about safe driving. Only when everyone listens, however, will there be no teen traffic fatalities.

As experienced auto accident lawyers in Chicago we believe that until we all do our part to drive safely and educated others to do so as well, there will always be Illinois traffic accident injuries and fatalities. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a car crash, you may be entitled to legal action. Contact The Bradley Law Firm today to learn more about pursuing the compensation you deserve at 312-252-1488. You can also follow our Bradley Law Firm Twitter account for useful information and other topics of interest.

The presence of big rigs on Illinois roads poses many dangers to the drivers of smaller vehicles, especially if they are being operated by fatigued, negligent, distracted or inexperienced truck drivers. Because of their immense size and weight, tractor-trailers increase the risk of serious or fatal injury to other motorists in the event of an Illinois truck crash. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), there were 9,319 tractor-trailer crashes across the state in 2009. Of these, 62 were fatal.

House Bill 1377

In an effort to increase safety on Illinois’ roads for drivers of smaller vehicles, the Governor has signed new legislation. According to an article in Truckinginfo, the website of Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, the new law, which amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, requires all local governments to report their established truck route network, or lack of, to IDOT. Once received, IDOT will post the information on its website (www.dot.state.il.us/).

This new law, and the public information it provides, will help drivers choose efficient and safe routes. Furthermore, the law provides that the Secretary of State create distinctions between truck-attributed GPS devices and those of passenger vehicles and include the information in all commercial drivers license (CDL) curriculum, study guides, and any other materials relating to renewing or obtaining a CDL.

Safer, But Not Accident-Proof

Having the state trucking routes available to the public will help both truckers and other motorists choose the safest route to their destination. This law does not keep big rigs and commercial trucks off the same road, however. Most truck accidents are caused by how a truck operator is driving, not where they are driving.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Illinois large truck accident as the result of truck driver negligence, the skilled Chicago big rig accident attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm can help you exercise your legal right to pursue compensation. To learn more, call us today for a free confidential consultation at 312-252-1488.

A recent fatal Chicago bicycle accident reminds the city’s residents of the dangers cyclists face in Chicago, despite its 117 miles of bike lanes. According to the Chicagoist, a 25-year-old woman was crushed and killed by a dump truck when she fell off of her bike and ended up under the rear axle of an idling dump truck. The driver of the truck did not see her. Unable to get herself out from under the truck, she was crushed when the traffic signal turned green. The accident occurred at the intersection of Wabash and Wacker.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) 2009 Crash Facts, there were a total of 3,255 accidents involving pedalcyclists across the state that year. Of these crashes, 3,100 caused injury, 135 caused property damage, and 20 were fatal. Most of these accidents occurred in daylight hours, despite being the time of day with the highest level of visibility. In addition, over 3,000 accidents occurred in urban areas, with 2,030 occurring on city streets and roads, like those in Chicago.

It is clear with statistics like these, and incidents like this recent fatal bicycle accident that Chicago needs to make cyclist safety a priority, and, as the newly completed protected bike lanes will testify, the city is making progress towards this end. Chicago’s first protected bike lane travels along Kinzie Street, in between Wells Street and Milwaukee Avenue. It consists of a marked lane adjacent to the curb in each direction of the street, a buffer area with flexible marker posts, and a motor-vehicle parking lane. Hopefully this more distinctive bike lane will remind drivers that bicyclists also have a right to be on the road.

As Chicago does its part to improve safety for bicyclists, drivers must also do their part. A bicycle is allowed to be on the road by law and, as such, all drivers must be attentive and aware of them. If you or a loved one has been injured in an Illinois bike accident caused by a negligent driver, the experienced Chicago bicycle accident lawyers at The Bradley Law Firm can help you hold the driver liable for their injurious actions. Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn more about getting the compensation you deserve at 312-252-1488.

On August 3, after 79 reports of illness and one death, Arkansas-based Cargill Meat Solutions, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued the class I recall of approximately 36 million pounds of ground turkey products that may be contaminated by a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg.

The affected Cargill Meat Solutions ground turkey products can be identified with the establishment number “P-963” inside the USDA mark of inspection and were sold at various retailers across the nation. The recalled products include:

• Ground turkey chubs, use or freeze by Feb. 20 through Aug. 23;
• 85% ground turkey, use or freeze by Feb. 20 through Aug. 23;
• 93% ground turkey, use or freeze by Feb. 20 through Aug. 23;
• Ground patties; and
• Frozen ground turkey, production dates include Feb. 20 through Aug. 2.

These products were either unbranded or sold as the following brands:

• Honeysuckle White;
• Shady Brook Farms;
• Riverside;
• Aldis Fit & Active;
• HEB;
• Safeway;
• Giant Eagle; and
• Kroger.

Cargill Meat Solutions is instructing anyone who has purchased these ground turkey products to return them to the point-of-purchase. The FSIS has a PDF retail distribution list available on their website: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

When cooking or handling ground turkey and other raw meat products, it is important to practice proper safety so as to avoid contamination of the meat with foodborne illness-causing bacteria. Following the proper safety procedures is just as important for meat product manufacturers and distributors as consumers.

If you or someone you know has become ill as the result of a contaminated consumer product in Illinois, the experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers at The Bradley Law Firm can help you hold the at-fault party responsible for your losses. Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn more about your legal options at 312-252-1488.

Ford Motor Company is recalling about 1.1 million vehicles due to a fire hazard caused by severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps, which secure the tank to the vehicle. The corrosion may be caused by long-term exposure to road de-icing chemicals and may ultimately cause both fuel tank straps to fail, separating the fuel lines from the tank or causing the tank to fall to the ground.

All recalled vehicles are pickup trucks and include certain model year:

• 1997 through 2003 Ford F-150 pick-up trucks;
• 1997 through 1999 F-250 pick-up trucks less than 8,500 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR);
• 2004 Ford F-150 Heritage pick-up trucks; and
• 2002 and 2003 Lincoln Blackwood pick-up trucks.

These vehicles were manufactured from June 20, 1995, through August 4, 2004, and are currently registered or were originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

The recall will officially begin around September 12, at which time Ford will notify owners of the recall and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Lincoln or Ford dealer to replace the fuel tank straps with ones that have more corrosion protection, free of charge. If replacement straps are not available, the dealer may temporarily install a support cable under the strap or permanently install a steel reinforcement over the strap. For additional information, owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236. The recall campaign number is 11S21.

Auto manufacturers have a duty to produce safe vehicles for consumers, but they don’t always fulfill this duty. If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a defective vehicle or vehicle part in Illinois, the skilled product liability attorneys in Chicago at The Bradley Law Firm can advise you on the best course of legal action. To learn more about getting the compensation you deserve, call us today for a free confidential consultation at 312-252-1488.

In order to provide the proper care, nursing homes must be able to hire an appropriate number of care givers and to afford all required equipment and medications. This may not be possible for many nursing homes, however. According a WSIL TV news report, Illinois nursing homes and other care facilities are having a difficult time accepting the Medicare funding cuts that will be coming on October 1st of this year.

Due to a funding glitch, almost $2.1 billion was overpaid to for-profit nursing homes across the country. In order to correct this, Medicare is decreasing its funds rate by 11 percent for every U.S. nursing home. This is not good news to many Illinois facilities.

Illinois is the lowest paying state in the nation with regard to Medicaid nursing home funding, and so, many care facilities rely on federal Medicare funds to provide an appropriate level of care. In fact, one facility in Illinois was banking on Medicare funds to help them stay in the black after having designed a new rehab facility, which is set to open very soon.

Nursing home funding cuts can lead to under-staffing and poor quality care. Many nursing homes turn to medicating their residents instead of providing proper care when they do not have enough staff to tend to everyone regularly. Lack of funding is not an excuse for neglecting nursing home residents, however. If you or a loved one has been neglected or abused in an Illinois nursing home, the compassionate nursing home neglect lawyers in Chicago at The Bradley Law Firm can help you hold at-fault parties accountable for your suffering. Contact us today for a free confidential consultation at 312-252-1488.