Recent Blog Posts
Preventing Construction Accidents
Working in the construction industry is nothing like a 9:00 am to 5:00 pm office job. It is one of the most dangerous industries to work in. According to the United States Department of Labor, for every five workplace deaths, one is a construction worker. Aside from working at potentially dangerous heights, construction workers also deal with harsh chemicals and powerful equipment that can be deadly when used improperly.
Workers Compensation in Illinois
When an accident happens on a construction site in Illinois, the law says the victim can only file a workers compensation claim, but not a personal injury claim, against the employer. Third parties, however, can be held accountable for a personal injury claim.
Despite the dangerous conditions of construction work, accidents can be prevented. It is the responsibility of a construction company to keep employees safe to the best of their ability. Here are some ways to build safety in the construction community:
Bicycles and Auto Accidents
On the road, cyclists must abide by many of the same rules as drivers in Illinois. That being said, an accident with a bicycle should be handled similarly to that as an accident with another motor vehicle. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the majority of car accidents involving a bicycle happen in non-intersectional areas of the road in urban areas.
Bicycle Specific Road Laws
- Designated bike lanes are for bicyclists only. Cars are prohibited from parking, driving, or idling in these spaces, even when there are no bikes in the lane. Bicyclists are allowed to leave the bike lane and bike on the road, but for safety reasons, it is discouraged for cyclists to do so;
- Bicyclists are prohibited on most expressways and highways, and any other marked road;
- The right of way is granted to bicyclists the same as a motor vehicles;
Understanding Hit-and-Run Accidents in Illinois
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 6,296,000 traffic crashes were reported to police. Out of those, 737,100 were estimated to have been hit-and-run accidents, or nearly 12 percent of all accidents. Hit-and-run accidents can leave you devastated and confused. Unforeseen medical bills and unplanned vehicle repairs can become costly very quickly. If you have been a victim of a hit-and-run car accident, your actions after the accident can be determinant of whether or not you receive the compensation you deserve.
What Constitutes a Hit-and-Run Accident?
If a person is involved in a car accident, they are required by law to stop and give information to others involved in that car accident. If they fail to do so, they can be guilty of a hit-and-run accident. If they cannot return to the scene of the crime, or nobody is around to collect their information, they must report the accident to the nearest police department and provide their information at that time. If a report is not made within 30 minutes of the accident, they may be guilty of a hit-and-run.
Common Preventable Birth Injuries in the United States
Having a child is an important milestone in many adults’ lives. In some cases, births do not go as smoothly as planned and injuries happen to the mother, the infant or both. Birth injuries can be devastating to both the parents and the infant because they can cause lifelong symptoms and can affect your baby’s growth and development. There are many different types of birth injuries that range from mild to severe, but any preventable birth injury is an unacceptable outcome of poor decision-making or negligence on the doctor’s part.
Causes of Birth Injuries
A birth injury can be caused by a number of things, some due to decisions made by your doctor and some associated with conditions present before or during the baby’s birth. Risk factors for birth injuries can include:
- Large birth weight, over 8 pounds, 13 ounces;
Dog Bites Can Cause Serious Injuries and Infections
Dogs have been considered man’s best friend for centuries. Researchers estimated that animal companionship dates back tens of thousands of years. Currently, around 68 percent of households in the United States own a pet, with the majority of those pets being dogs. Dogs make great companions because of their desire to please their owners and their typically jolly demeanor.
Like all animals, dogs will defend themselves when they feel it necessary, and they do so by biting. Being animals, dogs’ mouths are full of different kinds of bacteria, some of which can be deadly when introduced to a human’s bloodstream. With powerful jaws that can cause major damage, dogs can cause bite injuries that are so severe, they require extensive medical treatment.
Injuries From Dog Bites
Dogs are omnivores, but the main part of their diet is protein, which means that their bodies were designed to hunt other animals. Dogs have powerful jaws and sharp teeth that can easily injure humans. Types of injuries that can happen when you are bitten include:
Three Types of Benefits That Workers’ Compensation Provides
Getting injured at work can be a scary experience. Not only are you suffering a physical injury, but you are also probably worried about how you will pay your bills if you cannot work. Thankfully, all employers are required to have what is called workers’ compensation insurance, which is insurance designed to help workers who are injured on the job. In Illinois, workers’ compensation is required to provide three types of benefits to injured workers: medical benefits, disability benefits, and death benefits. These different types of benefits can greatly help employees and their families if an accident does happen.
Medical Benefits
The first and most basic benefit that is provided by workers’ compensation is medical benefits. If you are injured while you are at work, your employer is required to pay for all of the medical expenses relating to your injury. Expenses that are covered can include:
4 Ways to Document Damage From a Car Accident
Unfortunately for drivers in the United States, injuries from car accidents are not uncommon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly three million people were injured and over 40,000 people were killed due to motor vehicle accidents in 2016. Injuries from car accidents can range from mild to severe and can greatly impact your life. One of the most important things you can do to make sure you are in the best position to receive a favorable settlement is preserving and recording damages and evidence resulting from the car accident. Here are four ways to document the damage:
1. Take Your Own Notes of the Accident
By taking notes immediately after the accident while you are still at the scene, you are minimizing the possibility of memory loss. Chances are, your case will not be settled for months after the accident occurred, which is why it is important to document what occurred while your memory is still fresh. You should note:
Understanding the Risks of Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois
Nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2016. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that pedestrians are one of the only groups that have experienced an increase in fatalities in recent years; in fact, pedestrian deaths have been increasing since 2009. Pedestrian safety is a widespread issue, since at some point every day, everyone is a pedestrian. Pedestrian accidents can result in serious injuries and, in some cases, death, which is why it is important to understand the causes of these accidents and what you can do to decrease your chances of being seriously injured in a collision with a vehicle.
What Increases the Risk of Pedestrian Accidents?
The NHTSA has done extensive research on pedestrian accidents in an effort to grasp why they happen so frequently and what can be done to decrease their prevalence. Studies have discovered that certain risk factors play a part in whether or not a person is likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident:
5 Tips to Keep Your Children Safe Around Water
August is the peak of the summer temperatures, which means that more and more people are heading to pools, lakes, rivers, and beaches to cool off. Though swimming is a fun and refreshing activity during these sultry months, it can also be a dangerous one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four and the second leading cause of death for children ages five through 14. Drownings are tragic accidents, but they are avoidable with proper precautions and safety measures. Here are tips to keep your children safe around water this summer:
1. Make Learning a Priority
One of the best ways to combat drowning is by teaching your kids to know what to do when they are in water. Babies can be taught to float on their backs if they fall into the water, and children can be taught how to swim. Most of the time, you can find swimming classes at your local recreation center or school. As a parent, you should also know how to perform CPR if it becomes necessary. These classes are often given at local Red Cross organizations, hospitals, or schools.
6 Steps to Take if You Have Been Injured at Work in Illinois
You go to work every day having some degree of expectation for what your day will be like. But nobody knows when an accident will happen--that is why they are called accidents. Thankfully, the United States has a system in place to help those who have been injured on the job. The workers' compensation program allows injured workers to receive compensation for lost wages, have their medical bills relating to the accident paid, and receive disability pay if the accident results in temporary or permanent loss of earning capacity. In order to receive these benefits, you must follow guidelines to have your case submitted and approved. Knowing what steps to take after a workplace accident is crucial to getting benefits that are owed to you.
1. Get Medical Attention
This may seem obvious, but the way you go about getting treated for your workplace injuries can impact how your case is handled. Often, employers will have what is called a Preferred Provider Program (PPP) in which there is a network of approved medical providers that you can see. Within your employer’s PPP, you have the choice of two physicians. If your employer does not have a PPP, you have the choice of any two providers. If you decline to use providers in the employer’s PPP, you use one of your choices, and you can choose to go to any doctor or hospital, but any further change of providers must be approved by your employer.
