Posted on July 28, 2022 in Personal Injury

Illinois summers provide motorcyclists with ample opportunities to enjoy beautiful scenery and perfect riding weather. While riding a motorcycle can be a thrilling experience, riders lack crucial protection in accidents. A minor misjudgment or split-second mistake on the part of a car or truck driver can result in an accident that causes critical and even fatal injuries to motorcycle riders.

When a motorcyclist is hurt or killed, the rider or their surviving family may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you do so.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents 

Motorcycles make up far more than their fair share of accidents and fatalities. Every year, thousands of riders are killed and many tens of thousands of riders are injured. Collisions between motorcycles and other vehicles can happen when the other vehicle’s driver: 

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 Posted on July 21, 2022 in Workers' Compensation

In a perfect world, an employee would suffer a work-related injury, file their workers’ compensation claim, have that claim approved, and take the time they needed to heal, while having all of their medical expenses paid and their wages covered. Unfortunately, the workers’ compensation process is rarely that simple because employers and their insurance companies are notorious for trying to deny an injured worker’s right to benefits.

One of the most common methods used by insurance companies is to put the injured worker under surveillance in order to “catch” them doing something that contradicts their injury claim.

Surveillance Tactics

The insurance company will conduct surveillance on an injured worker with the hopes of detecting fraud on the part of the worker or at least determine just how injured the worker is based on the activities he or she is observed doing. The goal of the surveillance is to prove that the worker is:

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 Posted on July 14, 2022 in Workers' Compensation

In general, workers’ compensation covers employees who are injured in accidents that occur on the job. These commonly include accidents at construction sites and factories, carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive tasks, and slip and fall accidents. However, for employees who regularly travel for their job, whether it is long-distance travel or just driving from job site to job site, questions of eligibility for workers’ compensation get more complicated. Injuries may occur away from an office or job site and sometimes outside of work hours. Since the cases can be subject to interpretation and are often more challenging, it is important to work with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.

Who Counts as a Traveling Employee?

Just traveling to and from the office as part of your regular commute does not make you a traveling employee. A traveling employee is one whose job duties regularly take them away from their employer's premises. Those involved in sales, consulting, and quality control across many facilities are regularly traveling to visit clients, customers, or different production facilities. This can also include truck drivers, delivery drivers, and others who are on the road as part of their job and at risk of injuries from car accidents.

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 Posted on July 08, 2022 in Personal Injury

Summertime in Illinois brings the risk of severe thunderstorms. The pounding winds and driving rain can leave behind a trail of destruction and can make driving treacherous. While you cannot control how others on the road are driving, you can take precautions to help avoid a car accident. If you are struck by another vehicle in an accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer who can help you seek compensation for any damages or injuries you sustained.

Five Tips for Safe Storm Driving

Any time that you drive, there is a chance of being involved in an accident, but that risk is increased in inclement weather. Fortunately, there are some ways to reduce such risks.

If you are out on the road during a thunderstorm, here are some tips to keep you safe:

• Be prepared before a storm – There is basic maintenance that you can perform on your car that will help you be better prepared for severe weather. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and the tread is not overly worn in order to keep better traction on wet roads. Having a clean windshield and effective windshield wipers helps you to see the road and other vehicles.

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 Posted on June 24, 2022 in Personal Injury

The pain of a torn rotator cuff or any other shoulder injury can impact even the most basic of everyday moments. You may have difficulty and experience pain when you raise your arm. You could be unable to pick up and lift even small items without pain, impacting your ability to get things done around the house and at work. You could even suffer from pain when trying to sleep, impacting your ability to get a restful night. No matter what type of accident led to your rotator cuff injury, a personal injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for medical bills, time lost at work, and pain and suffering.

Causes and Prognosis for Rotator Cuff Injuries

Your rotator cuff is a group of shoulder muscles and tendons that help you lift and move your arms away from your body. Tears can be caused as the tendon wears down over time, known as a degenerative tear. However, they can also be caused by sudden trauma to the shoulder, such as when your shoulder is dislocated, or you break your collarbone. This can occur in a slip and fall accident when the force of your body hitting the ground or floor causes a shoulder injury. It can also occur in a car accident, especially when your hands are on the steering wheel and your car is hit from behind.

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 Posted on June 17, 2022 in Personal Injury

 Car accidents can leave you feeling jarred and tense. Once the adrenaline wears off, you may realize that the pain you felt from the initial collision is not going away. Often in car accidents, the driver or passengers will be suddenly jolted, causing their head to move backward rapidly or forward suddenly and sharply. This can cause a neck sprain known as whiplash. Knowing the signs of whiplash and when to call your doctor is essential. It is also important to contact an experienced car accident attorney who can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that occurred due to the accident.

Whiplash Symptoms to Look for After a Car Accident

Symptoms of whiplash can include a dull aching pain in your neck, difficulty turning your neck side-to-side, muscle spasms, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and memory issues. In more severe cases, people with whiplash will suffer from insomnia, problems staying focused, and sudden mood changes.

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 Posted on June 10, 2022 in Workers' Compensation

When your job involves making the same movements or performing the same tasks every day, it may be easy to fall into a routine. You may not even notice the minor pain which is slowly developing. However, repetitive motion at a job has the potential to cause serious medical conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, bulging discs, lower back injuries, tendonitis, and bursitis. Not every worker is at risk for these injuries equally. Some jobs are more prone to cause repetitive injuries than others. No matter what your line of work is, if you have suffered a repetitive stress injury or any other workplace, it is important that you contact an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer.

Common Repetitive Stress Injury Jobs

While injuries caused by repetitive motion may seem minor at first, they can develop into more serious medical conditions. Depending on your job and the motions involved, they can affect any part of your body. Here are some of the most common types of jobs that tend to produce repetitive stress injuries:

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 Posted on June 03, 2022 in Personal Injury

Accidents are one of the more common causes of neck injuries. Whether it is whiplash from a car accident, a spinal cord injury from a slip and fall, or any other neck injury, you can suffer serious pain and have other negative impacts on your quality of life. The pain of a neck injury could impact your ability to perform everyday tasks and could even impact your employment. If you suffered a neck injury through someone else’s negligence, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you seek compensation from those at fault.

Diagnosis and Treatments for Neck Injuries

The pain of a neck injury can linger for a long time if it is not treated properly, so it is best to seek medical attention if you have been in an accident and are now suffering neck pain. Signs you should see a doctor include:

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 Posted on May 27, 2022 in Personal Injury

If you or someone you know sustained a severe injury, you might research how to file for financial compensation. Compensation for injuries can be awarded to injured individuals due to the negligence or malice of another party. For example, an injured driver can sue for damages caused by a drunk driver that collided with their vehicle. In some states, damage compensation is capped depending on the injury and circumstance. In 2010, Illinois overturned damage caps for injury cases. 

What Are Damage Caps?

Damage caps are financial limitations created by a state that limits the amount of compensation awarded to an individual for an injury. In personal injury cases, many damages that arise in the case are non-economic, meaning they refer to bodily or emotional impairments. The United States government enforces damage caps for non-economic medical malpractice lawsuits at $250,000. However, all other damage cap limitations are up to each state to decide. 

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 Posted on May 19, 2022 in Car Accidents

 Car accidents can be frightening for various reasons — life-threatening injuries, hospital or medical bills, and insurance claims. When you are the driver in a collision, the fault falls between you and the other driver. This is how insurance companies or the court can determine responsibility and any personal injury compensation for the non-faulty party. However, how does this change if you were a passenger injured in a car accident?

The Driver’s Responsibility to You 

If you were injured as a driver and the car accident was not your fault, you can file a claim against the other driver for negligent driving. This claim can award you financial compensation to cover the costs of your injuries, including hospital bills, continued medical treatments, or repayment for wage loss during your healing process. However, if the car accident was your fault, as the driver, you bear the responsibility for the other vehicle in the collision. The faulty driver most likely will not be awarded any financial compensation for personal injury. 

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