Posted on January 23, 2023 in Construction Accidents

Construction sites can be hazardous places to work, and when an injury occurs due to the negligence of a third party, it is essential to understand your rights. In this blog, we will discuss how to prove a third-party construction injury in Illinois.

What is a Third-Party Construction Injury?

A third-party construction injury is an injury that occurs on a construction site because of the negligence of someone other than your employer. This could include negligent property owners, contractors, sub-contractors, or any other person responsible for the safety of workers at the site.

For example,  a construction worker may be injured due to a defective scaffold or ladder. In this case, the manufacturer of the product could be liable for negligence. Another example of a third-party injury is when an injured worker slips and falls on a wet floor due to the negligence of the property owner.

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 Posted on January 13, 2023 in Personal Injury

Dogs are considered man's best friend. Unfortunately, not all dogs live up to this reputation. While many are lovable companions, dogs are also animals with sharp teeth and claws. Dog attacks can lead to severe injuries, both physically and emotionally. Nerve damage, lacerations, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term disfigurement may all result from a serious dog attack.

Sadly, over half of the people bitten by dogs are children. If your child was bitten by a dog or otherwise injured by a dog, it is important to understand your legal rights and options.

Illinois Law Specifically Describes Liability for Dog Bites

State laws describing liability for dog-related injuries vary. Some states are called "one-bite rule" states because a dog owner is not liable for injuries the first time their dog injures someone. However, Illinois is a strict liability state. This means that, regardless of whether the dog had previously bitten or attacked someone, an owner is responsible for any injuries caused by their dog. There are a few notable exceptions to this rule: If the injured person was trespassing at the time of the attack or the dog was provoked, the dog owner is not liable for the person's injuries.

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 Posted on December 20, 2022 in Construction Accidents

Construction workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. They face all kinds of risks, from falling objects to malfunctioning tools and equipment. Unfortunately, all of these risks can lead to serious injuries. That is why construction workers and employers need to be familiar with the most common types of construction-related injuries—so you can take preventative measures and reduce the chances of an on-the-job accident. If you experience a construction injury, it is important to talk with a lawyer about your legal rights.

Falls From Heights

Falling from ladders or scaffolds is very common on construction sites. Workers should always wear a harness when working at heights and follow safety protocols to reduce their risk of injury from falls. 

Musculoskeletal Injuries

Back injuries, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other musculoskeletal issues are the most commonly reported injuries among construction workers. It is essential to be aware of the signs and symptoms of these conditions so that they can be addressed before they become more serious.

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 Posted on December 05, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is a serious issue that can have devastating consequences. Unfortunately, it happens more often than you might think. It is essential to be aware of the different types of medical malpractice to protect yourself and your loved ones from suffering unnecessary harm due to medical negligence.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

A doctor’s failure to diagnose a condition correctly or promptly can create a whole host of problems for the patient in question. This medical malpractice can lead to misinformed treatment decisions and serious health complications, including death.

Surgical Errors

Surgeons make mistakes all the time, but when those mistakes occur during surgery, it is the patients who suffer—and often greatly. Some common examples of surgical errors include leaving behind a foreign object in the patient’s body, performing the wrong surgery, or operating on the wrong area.

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 Posted on November 23, 2022 in Construction Accidents

Despite advances in training, technology, and safety equipment, the construction industry consistently has one of the highest rates of worker fatalities and death. More than 20 percent of all worker deaths occur in the construction industry, yet construction workers make up only six percent of the labor force in this country. Approximately 1,000 construction workers are killed on the job each year. Another 175,000 workers suffer job-related injuries. Tragically, many of these construction accidents could be prevented.

The Fatal Four

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), about 20 percent of all worker fatalities are the result of the fatal four – falls, being struck by an object, electrocution, and being caught in or between objects.

Falls are the leading cause of construction worker deaths, responsible for more than 35 percent of all fatalities. Approximately 15 percent of fatalities are due to struck-by accidents. Electrocutions cause 7 percent of worker deaths and deaths caused by workers caught in or between incidents are at about 6 percent.

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 Posted on November 08, 2022 in Personal Injury

The number of pedestrian accidents that occur each year in the United States is alarming. According to a report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GSA), almost 7,500 people were killed in pedestrian accidents last year, an increase of almost 12 percent from the year before. This is the largest number of pedestrian accident fatalities recorded in 40 years. There are thousands more people hit by vehicles who do survive but suffer serious injuries that leave them with long-term or permanent disabilities.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

The most common cause of pedestrian fatalities is speeding, increasing by almost 10 percent in just one year. Per the GSA’s report, speeding is also becoming a significant factor in fatal pedestrian accidents involving children, with percentages doubling as the cause of the accident in a two-year period.

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 Posted on October 27, 2022 in Car Accident

Cell phone use is behind quite a few traffic accidents these days, from minor fender-benders to very serious multi-vehicle pileups. Drivers may be using their cell phones for any number of reasons. They may have received an urgent text from their child’s babysitter, or they may be merely using a navigation app to find their next turn. Regardless of the situation, using a cell phone while driving is dangerous. Drivers cannot pay adequate attention to the road while they are focused on a screen. Aside from being dangerous, using a cell phone while operating a vehicle is also illegal in most cases. This may be important if you have recently been hit and injured by a driver who was on their phone. In Illinois, if it is found that a driver was breaking a statute that is in place for safety reasons and ultimately causes just the kind of harm the law aimed to prevent, they may be automatically considered negligent. 

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 Posted on October 12, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

There is little room for carelessness in a medical setting. When the lives and health of patients are at stake, it is critical to use a high level of professional care at all times. A single negligent error by a medical professional can result in severe and lasting harm to a patient who relied on the care provider. Missed or delayed diagnoses are very common and can result in the unchecked progression of a disease such as cancer to a point at which it can no longer be treated as easily or effectively. Prescription drug errors might fail to treat the underlying health issue, and they can lead to all manner of harmful reactions to an unneeded or errantly prescribed drug. Surgical errors frequently require repeat surgery to correct and can leave a patient hospitalized and in pain for a prolonged period, even if the damage can be reversed.

Medical malpractice can be incredibly dangerous for the patient. If you believe that you have suffered harm as a result of medical malpractice, it is advisable to speak with an attorney upon your first suspicion. 

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 Posted on September 23, 2022 in Car Accident

When you are riding a bicycle or walking down the street, you have nothing but perhaps a helmet to protect you from the impact of a car accident. Negligent drivers present a grave danger to bicycle riders and pedestrians, as their bodies will bear the full force of the collision. These accidents can result in catastrophic injuries that may permanently alter the course of your life. Harms such as traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, neck and spinal cord injuries, or internal damage may necessitate prolonged hospital or rehabilitation stays. Few are able to return to work promptly, rendering lost income an additional concern. The expenses associated with these accidents may be insurmountable without recovering adequate compensation, particularly in cases in which the victim requires ongoing medical care or cannot return to their chosen career. If you have been hit by a car while walking or riding a bicycle, an attorney may be able to recover compensation on your behalf. 

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 Posted on September 12, 2022 in Uncategorized

Getting attacked by an aggressive dog is terrifying. Humans do not have the natural weapons that dogs do. It can be incredibly difficult to stop a dog attack as well. Once a dog begins an attack, it is not likely to let up voluntarily. These attacks can happen unpredictably. A dog that seemed friendly yesterday could do a complete 180 and cause serious harm to a person today. If you have been attacked by a dog, it is very important to seek prompt medical attention. While bite mark lacerations are present in the vast majority of dog attacks, there are other types of injuries that a dog can inflict. Children are most vulnerable to dog attacks, although adults can be attacked and seriously harmed as well. If you have survived a dog attack, you may be entitled to recover compensation from the dog’s owner. 

Types of Injuries Dogs Can Cause

Dog bites should always be checked by a doctor right away. Right after an attack, your adrenaline is probably running very high. Adrenaline can block pain signals, which can be advantageous when you need to keep fighting back, but it can also prevent you from noticing an injury until it wears off. Common injuries inflicted by dogs include: 

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