2011 November Archive

Thanksgiving is always a wonderful way to start the holiday season and is the perfect time to be with family and friends. However, as many people may be venturing out of town to be with their loved ones, the long Thanksgiving weekend can often be one of the more dangerous times to be out on the road. The National Safety Commission reports that thousands of injuries and nearly 400 automobile fatalities annually result from this November holiday due to icy roads, inclement weather, heavy traffic, and other hazards.

According to WREX-TV, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that all non-emergency road work will be suspended beginning at 3 p.m. November 23 to help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. Also, IDOT is providing advance notice of lane closures to help motorists plan their turkey day road trip. Thousands of Illinois motorists are expected to be on the road this long weekend, so IDOT urges travelers to slow down and obey posted speed limits to help keep you, your family, and other drivers safe on the highway.

Here are some other travel tips to keep you safe this weekend:

• Plan your travel route in advance, and designate a fellow passenger to be the navigator so you don’t have to fumble with a map or the GPS while behind the wheel.
• Make sure your vehicle is in excellent working order before you hit the road. Checking your vehicle’s tire pressure and fluids can help avoid unexpected surprises.
• To avoid dangerous driver fatigue, get a good night’s rest the night before you travel. Also, be sure to pull off the road to take a short nap or let another licensed driver take over if you’re feeling sleepy while driving.
• Most importantly, be safe! Avoid distracted driving by giving your cell phone to a passenger, and make sure everyone is wearing their safety belt and children are properly secured in car seats.

During this long weekend, it is important to take necessary safety precautions to help keep you and your family safe, but unfortunately this cannot completely prevent an accident. Other drivers on the road may act in a negligent or careless way, putting you in danger. If you have been involved in an auto accident that was caused by another’s negligence, the Chicago car accident lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm can help. For a free consultation, please call (312) 252-1488.

A plane crash that occurred near Elgin over the weekend sadly resulted in the death of the pilot of the small aircraft. According to The Huffington Post, the single engine plane was trying to take off from a private airport Sunday afternoon around 1 p.m. when, due to as of yet unknown causes, the plane crashed. The 69-year-old pilot, a resident of Hampshire, was the only one on board and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are still investigating the cause of this fatal airplane accident.

The aviation safety website 1001crash.com states that airplane accidents are less likely to occur today than they were 20 years ago; however, when airplane accidents and crashes do occur, they can cause extremely serious injuries to those on board and possibly result in wrongful deaths. A plane accident typically is not just caused by one thing, but some of the main contributors of crashes include:

• Human error;
• Airport/air traffic control;
• Weather conditions; or
• Maintenance of the aircraft.

A traveler is less likely to be involved in an accident on a scheduled passenger flight than other types of flights, such as a charter, demonstration, or training flight.

An airline has the responsibility to provide the highest duty of care to their passengers, and if they fail to provide a safe and secure flight, any negligent parties should be held accountable. An airplane accident injury victim has the right to seek compensation for their pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. The airplane accident lawyers in Illinois of the Bradley Law Firm can help you receive deserved compensation for your injuries so you can focus on healing and moving past the devastation of a plane accident. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a complimentary consultation.

The Jones Act, also known by its official title as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, was a significant piece of maritime legislation passed in the United States in 1920. The Jones Act, sponsored at the time by Senator Wesley Jones, was passed in response to concerns about the health and well-being of Merchant Marines, and established certain protections for sailors. Before this legislation was passed, sailors who were injured on the job had few options for receiving assistance and recovering damages. Now, any individual who spends at least 30% of their time in active service on a Merchant Marine vessel can qualify for benefits under the Jones Act.

As a portion of the Jones Act established a system of benefits for sailors (the other noteworthy section promoted American built, owned, and staffed ships), it deems that any sailor who is injured at sea is entitled to “maintenance and cure.” This means that the sailor’s employer is required to pay the injured person a daily stipend and provide medical care to treat them. Also, a sailor who is injured on the job can sue for damages under the Jones Act if their injuries were caused by negligence on the part of the boat’s crew members or owners of the ship, or if the actual sea vessel was not seaworthy.

The Jones Act and the benefits it provides for injured sailors are very complex, so hiring a skilled attorney can certainly help you navigate the difficult legal waters. The Illinois maritime law attorneys of the Bradley Law Firm can help you receive the benefits and compensation you deserve if you have been injured on the job due to the negligence of another party. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a no-cost consultation.

A USA Today article is reporting that the number of fatal bus accidents is much higher than what has been reported in recent years. The periodical reviewed government records and news reports, discovering that the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has undercounted motor coach accidents and deaths on the country’s highways since at least 1995.

A few of the more disastrous motor coach crashes of the past 10 years have not been included in statistics of fatalities; thus, the failure of the NHTSA to track and report all accidents has given the government and the public the impression that these buses are much safer than they are. In addition, it has prevented efforts to enforce stricter safety regulations and standards for these large motor vehicles.

Data from the NHTSA suggests that motor coach crashes and fatalities have increased in recent years, despite highway deaths as a whole falling 25% since 2005. Safety suggestions from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made 10 years ago still have not been implemented, including seatbelts for passengers, easier to use emergency exit windows, stronger roofs that do not crush easily, and window glazes to prevent window shattering. In order to decrease the risk of injury or death while aboard a motor coach, it is important that safety measures are taken to prevent serious accidents.

Being involved in a large bus accident is very frightening, and when it occurs because of the negligence of the driver or officials for improper maintenance, any responsible parties can be held legally accountable. An individual can receive compensation for their injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages. The bus accident lawyers in Chicago at the Bradley Law Firm can help if you have been involved in a bus crash. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a free consultation.

The spinal cord is the major bundle of nerves that carry nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body, comprising part of the Central Nervous System (along with the brain). Spinal cord injury (SCI), or any injury that damages the spinal cord, can be devastating and have a serious impact on a person’s life. Approximately 450,000 people in the United States are living with some form of SCI, and there are unfortunately about 10,000 new cases each year. Automobile accidents are the most common cause of SCI, with violence and falls also being significant causes of this kind of injury.

SCI can result in a loss of function, such as mobility or feeling, or may even cause permanent disability or paralysis and loss of sensation below the site of the injury. Injuries resulting from SCI can be classified into two categories:

• Complete Injury: A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of injury (no voluntary movement or sensation), and both sides of the body are affected equally.
• Incomplete Injury: An incomplete injury means there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. A person with this type of injury, for example, may have more functioning on one side of the body or be able to move one limb more than another.

Other effects of SCI can include:

• Dysfunction of the bowel or bladder;
• Sexual dysfunction;
• Chronic pain;
• Low blood pressure; and
• Inability to breathe in very high injuries (injuries occurring at the top of the spine).

In a majority of spinal cord injury cases, the injury was likely caused by the negligence of another, such as in a motor vehicle accident or a hazard on another person’s property. The financial, physical, and emotional effects of SCI can be extremely distressing and negatively impact the victim’s life for a long time. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury because of someone else’s negligence, the Illinois spinal cord injury lawyers with the Bradley Law Firm can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a free consultation on your SCI case.

Recently, a Mokena-based Illinois company was fined for exposing workers to a number of hazards, including respiratory problems, by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to Environmentalexpert.com, one willful health and nine serious safety violations were reported by OSHA. This prompted OSHA’s Calumet City area director, Gary Anderson, to state, “Failing to identify hazards, provide appropriate personal protective equipment, and monitor workers puts them at an unacceptable risk for injury or illness.” The company faces fines up to $122,000.

The employees of this Mokena company could be eligible for Illinois workers’ compensation if any of them became ill or injured while working and being exposed to workplace dangers. Workers’ compensation insurance (or workers’ comp) is a system of benefits paid by employers to workers who experience job-related injuries or diseases. This type of insurance provides wage replacement and medical benefits for injured or sick workers who are unable to attend work for a period of time, as well as vocational rehabilitation and other benefits if the company’s insurance allows.

It is the responsibility of any company to provide a safe and secure workplace for its employees, and failing to do so puts workers in harm’s way and can lead to dangerous situations and costly fines. Workers are entitled to certain legal rights and benefits if injured on the job; however, compensation is not guaranteed as a company may deny a claim if they see fit.

In the event your workers’ compensation claim is denied, the experienced Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys of the Bradley Law Firm can help you get the money you are rightfully owed. Call (312) 252-1488 for a free comprehensive consultation on your case.

The recent derailment of a Canadian National (CN) Railway freight train has caused some officials to worry about the possibility of future railway accidents, railroad safety, and the safety of Illinois residents, according to The Herald News. Twenty-two cars of the CN freight train, two of which were carrying hazardous materials, derailed while it was travelling between Bartlett and Elgin, causing a fire on the tracks. Commuter service was disrupted, but fortunately no one was injured in this Cook County derailment.

Illinois officials have expressed concern over whether the EJ & E tracks could handle the length, number, and volume of freight trains that are expected to roll through towns such as New Lenox, Matteson, and Frankfort. According to The Herald News, Will County executive Larry Walsh states “This (derailment) just solidifies our concern.” CN freight trains regularly travel through residential areas and cross several major streets, making the safety of Southland residents an additional concern as hazardous materials are carried throughout these populated areas.

State officials explain that while they can’t prevent dangerous train accidents, they are as prepared as they can be, training emergency responders in the event of a railway accident. Though the state can try and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of train employees and Southland residents, there is always the regrettable possibility that a serious crash may occur.

If you have been injured in a railroad or train accident, you have the right to hold any negligent or at-fault parties responsible and receive compensation for your injuries. The Chicago train accident lawyers of The Bradley Law Firm can help you in the event you are involved in an Illinois train accident. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a free consultation on your case.

With the winter season fast approaching, the possibility of getting ill and having to visit a doctor or even a hospital can greatly increase as the temperature drops outside. Patients trust their healthcare providers to provide accurate diagnoses and dispense proper treatment; however, there is always the unfortunate chance that the medical professional may make a critical mistake. Medical malpractice is an act of medical negligence that results in undue injuries to the patient, and can range from misdiagnosis to failure to monitor patient vital signs.

Below is a list of the common types of medical malpractice cases:

• Prescription drug errors: These mistakes can prove fatal, and anyone from the drug company to your personal physician may be held liable if it results in serious injury or death. Errors can include the wrong medication being prescribed, incorrect dosage being given, or the medication itself being defective.
• Surgical or diagnosis mistakes: A medical provider who makes a diagnosing error may either misdiagnose a patient or deliver a delayed diagnosis. In either instance, the doctor fails to diagnose an illness or disease correctly or in a timely manner, potentially causing harm to a person’s health.
• Birth injuries and obstetric malpractice: Professional healthcare that is below an acceptable standard of care during the birth process, it may be a malpractice case if it can be proven that the mother or newborn was injured as a result of the provider’s negligence. Examples include prescribed medicine that harmed the baby or insufficient monitoring of the baby’s condition.
• Plastic surgery errors and cosmetic surgery malpractice: Though there is a low rate of success for this type of case, damages may be awarded if reckless or gross negligence is proven on behalf of the doctor or surgeon which resulted in serious or fatal damage to the patient’s body.

Medical malpractice is an all too common occurrence, and compensation may be given if the healthcare provider was negligent and caused severe damage to a patient’s health and well-being. If you or a loved one believes they may be the victim of medical malpractice, the knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyers in Chicago at The Bradley Law Firm can help. Call us at (312) 252-1488 for a confidential, no-cost consultation about your case.