Recent local news headlines have reported at least two accidents at area construction sites. On January 22nd, a worker at the Barack Obama Presidential Center construction site on the South Side of Chicago fell down a ventilation shaft, sustaining injuries. On February 25th, one worker died and another was injured at a construction site on the West Side when the crane they were working on hit a live electrical line.
Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S. If you are injured in a construction accident, your employer’s workers’ compensation policy should provide benefits to cover your medical expenses and other losses. However, if a third party was responsible for your injury, you may also qualify to pursue a personal injury claim. Working with an experienced Aurora, IL construction accident lawyer who handles both types of claims can make the process easier and maximize your compensation.
In 2022, 298,347 motor vehicle accidents occurred in Illinois, causing 1,268 deaths and 83,783 injuries. That equates to around 817 collisions daily, with nine people sustaining injuries every hour. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 94 percent of all traffic crashes are the result of human error, making them avoidable. That means 280,446 Illinois crashes in 2022 probably could have been prevented.
When negligent errors cause collisions, injured victims may be eligible to pursue a personal injury claim for compensation. However, the at-fault party’s insurance company is unlikely to offer a fair settlement unless you have an experienced Aurora, IL car accident attorney advocating for your best interests.
Many on-the-job accidents are relatively minor, with injured workers able to return to their previous positions after a recovery period. However, serious injuries can prevent employees from performing the same duties as they did before their accidents. These workers may be able to return to work but in a different position or industry. Some skill sets do not provide very many employment options when there are new disabilities. Training may be necessary to increase job opportunities.
Along with paying for medical expenses and covering part of your lost wages, workers’ compensation could pay for retraining, officially called vocational rehabilitation. Unfortunately, you may face an uphill battle fighting the insurance company for all the benefits you are entitled to. Working with an experienced Kane County, IL workers’ comp attorney can simplify the process and ensure that you receive vocational rehabilitation benefits if they apply to your case.
Many families have no choice but to place their elderly loved ones in nursing homes so they get proper care. Unfortunately, seniors in long-term care facilities are often vulnerable and subject to neglect and abuse. In 1987, the U.S. Congress passed the Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) to improve standards and reduce the effects of inadequate care.
Although this Act did improve care somewhat, there are still various concerns. Federal and State governments continue to introduce legislation to protect the nation’s elderly. Still, some of the roughly 64,000 Illinois nursing home residents continue to suffer harm. If your loved one is injured or otherwise suffers from nursing home negligence, one of our dedicated Aurora, IL personal injury lawyers can take action against the at-fault parties.
It almost seems that a new product is recalled every day. From food and medications to hair care products and medical devices, defective products can cause significant harm. Often, manufacturers voluntarily recall products as they become aware of problems. In other cases, the U.S. government can make the recalls mandatory.
How can you find out if a product was recalled? If you are harmed by a defective product that has been recalled, can you still seek compensation? A knowledgeable Aurora, IL product liability lawyer can review your case and help you pursue full compensation.
With so many different kinds of products readily available in the U.S., the authority to issue recalls rests with multiple government agencies for the products within their jurisdiction. Some of these agencies are:
When babies first learn to walk, it seems they fall almost constantly. Older children also fall frequently while playing. While children can sustain serious injuries from falls, a fall is more likely to injure adults, particularly seniors. Although many falls are due to our own clumsiness, incidents resulting from another party’s negligence or those that happen at work may give you grounds to file a personal injury or workers’ comp claim.
Are falls really that big of a problem? When can you file a claim for compensation after a fall? Consult an experienced Aurora, IL personal injury attorney to understand whether you are eligible.
Some people mistakenly think that falls are not a cause for concern. However, the following facts disagree with that assumption:
When you are hurt at work, your employer’s workers’ comp policy should pay for your medical expenses, a portion of your lost wages, and other qualifying losses. Accepting these benefits usually makes you ineligible to file a personal injury claim against your employer. However, you are not prohibited from bringing a personal injury claim against another party that caused your injury.
What is the difference between workers’ comp and personal injury claims? How do you know if you qualify for both? Working with a knowledgeable Aurora, IL workers’ compensation lawyer who also handles personal injury cases streamlines the process and can maximize the amount of compensation you receive.
Before the workers’ comp program started, injured workers had to wait indefinitely to receive compensation for work-related injuries, and there was no guarantee their claims would be successful. Workers’ compensation insurance was established to provide immediate financial assistance for workers who became ill due to job-related duties or were injured while on the job. In addition, this system protects employers from liability lawsuits in most cases.
Traffic accidents happen daily in Kane County, from minor fender benders to fatal crashes. In news reports, you may have noticed mention of accident reconstruction teams investigating these collisions and wondered what exactly these teams do and why they do it.
What is accident reconstruction? Why are these investigations performed, and what are the results used for? Your skilled Aurora, IL car accident lawyer may use accident reconstruction as evidence to support your compensation claim.
After some collisions, you can look at the scene and understand why and how the accident happened. However, the causes are not always clear. Accident reconstruction uses a combination of engineering principles, physics, and law enforcement knowledge to determine the reasons behind a crash.
2024 saw 27 reported violations of Scott’s Law that injured 12 Illinois State Police troopers and killed another, with the last crash happening on New Year’s Eve. Another Scott’s Law crash took place on January 1, 2025.
While outside their cars, troopers who are struck by passing vehicles often suffer catastrophic injuries. Other pedestrians, such as road construction crews and tow truck drivers, are also at risk. Whether you are injured through a Scott’s Law violation or another type of pedestrian car accident, working with a skilled Aurora, IL personal injury lawyer can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
On Dec. 23, 2000, Chicago Fire Lieutenant Scott Gillen was at the scene of a traffic collision on the Dan Ryan Expressway. An intoxicated driver caused a crash that pinned Scott against a fire truck. Gillen sustained multiple injuries and died. Illinois named the state’s move-over law in memory of Scott Gillen. This law states that if you are approaching a vehicle with flashing lights activated, you should:
If you go to a hospital emergency room, you likely need immediate medical attention. Patients who enter the hospital for outpatient surgeries or inpatient stays also require quality care. You trust the physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals to be competent. Unfortunately, many patients suffer harm from healthcare providers.
What common incidents in ERs and other hospital departments are grounds for a medical malpractice suit? How do you know if you can sue for compensation? A knowledgeable Kane County, IL personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
Like anyone else, doctors can make mistakes. However, medical errors can have dire consequences for patients. Medical negligence is the failure to provide the level of care that another provider with similar qualifications would offer in the same situation. When this negligence injures or harms a patient, a medical malpractice claim can provide compensation.