By admin on January 27, 2012
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concluded an investigation into the death of two 14-year-old female farm workers in the village of Tampico in Whiteside County, according to the Rockford Register Star. The two young women tragically died in the summer of 2011 when they were electrocuted while removing tassels from corn in the rural northwestern Illinois city. An estimated 72 employees for the St. Louis-based company Monsanto Corp. were also de-tasseling corn when the fatal accident occurred, and eight of the workers were injured.
The father of one of the victims filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company claiming his daughter’s death could have been prevented, but the company denied these claims, saying workers would not have been allowed to work in the cornfield if they were aware of any electrical hazard. OSHA’s six month investigation into both companies associated with the accident, Monsanto Corp. and R & J Enterprises of Illinois Inc., found they were not at-fault. The organization determined that lightning may have struck the field’s irrigation system, causing the electrocution accident to occur.
OSHA will be issuing no citations in the case, stating the two companies could not have reasonably recognized the hazardous conditions based on the collected evidence. An OSHA spokesman asserts the tragic accident could not have been prevented as no one was aware of the hazards. In August of 2011, Monsanto announced that they had changed safety procedures for corn growers and farm landlords in all corn-growing regions as a result of the accident, including requiring landowners and growers to unplug irrigation systems at the panel.
When a loved one dies unexpectedly, it can lead family members and friends of the deceased to look for answers surrounding the death and ask whether or not it could have been prevented. If you have lost a loved one in any type of accident, an Illinois wrongful death attorney can help you get answers to your questions and hold any at-fault parties responsible. At the Bradley Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping families seek justice in the case of a wrongful death. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a complimentary review of your case.
By admin on December 15, 2011
According to a report by Lawyers.com, a widower’s wrongful death lawsuit is highlighting the dangers of texting while driving and the complicated laws regarding cell phone use behind the wheel. The Illinois resident’s lawsuit stems from a September car accident in which a truck driver rolled through a stop sign in Coral Township because he was sending a text message, and subsequently smashed into the couple’s 2004 Chevy at a higher than normal speed. The wife was killed in the crash.
Though an Illinois ban on text messaging and surfing the web while driving has been in effect since January 2010, the driver of the truck was not cited for a texting violation. He was only charged with failing to yield at an intersection and was sentenced November 2 to $551 in fines, 120 days supervision, and four hours of traffic safety school. The surviving husband is now taking legal action and filed a lawsuit against the truck driver for wrongful death and negligence.
The National Safety Council estimates that making calls with a cell phone and texting while behind the wheel are responsible for 1.3 million crashes, or 23 percent of all crashes, per year. An increasing number of studies show the dangers of distracted driving, and specifically cell phone-related accidents are increasingly a factor in car crashes. Within the last five years, 35 states (including Illinois) have banned text messaging while driving. The laws, however, can be somewhat confusing; in Illinois, for example, Illinois law bars “electronic messaging” while driving, but not calls. The best bet for residents of the Prairie State is to avoid driving distracted while behind the wheel; place your phone out of reach, like in the backseat, so you are not tempted to use it. If you have to use your cell phone, pull over to a safe place and make your call.
Simple tips can help you avoid distracted driving and prevent a potentially dangerous Illinois motor vehicle accident. However, it cannot prevent another driver from acting in a negligent manner and causing a crash that may lead to serious injuries or tragically even death. If you have lost a loved one in an accident that you believe was caused by another person’s negligence, the Chicago wrongful death lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm can help you receive compensation for burdens such as medical bills or funeral expenses. Our law team can help you through this difficult time. For a no-cost consultation, please call (312) 252-1488.
By admin on December 6, 2010
A local woman recently filed suit against the estate of her former father-in-law, according to The Chicago Tribune. The lawsuit alleges that the former father-in-law’s negligence in an airplane accident resulted not only in his own death, but also in the death of her two daughters, who were his granddaughters. The accident also injured the woman’s thirteen-year-old son. A fourth teenager, the woman’s niece, also died in the accident.
Earlier this year, the group was attempting to leave Michigan’s Mackinac County Airport when the plane crashed. The grandfather was flying the twin-engine plane, which belongs to his real estate company. He had tried and failed twice to take off; the third attempt resulted in the accident. The mother of the injured boy and two of the deceased girls has filed two separate negligence suits; one against the children’s’ grandfather’s estate and one against his company, which owned the plane. According to her attorney, the lawsuits are the only way the family can receive compensation for the untimely death of the children.
In a personal injury or wrongful death case, a person’s estate can be used to access compensation if an accident resulted in the death of the person whose negligence caused the injury or death. A personal injury or wrongful death proceeding can ensure the estate pays for damages, including compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
At The Bradley Law Firm, our experienced Chicago wrongful death attorneys understand that a personal injury or wrongful death accident can be very emotional. We will help you understand your legal rights and options and fight for the compensation you need. To learn more or to schedule a free and confidential consultation, please call us today at 800-360-5072.
