Recent Blog Posts
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Workers’ Compensation
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, develops in some individuals who have gone through a particularly frightening, shocking, or dangerous experience. The disorder is commonly associated with members of the military who have served in a combat zone, but it is hardly limited to those in the armed forces. PTSD can affect victims of auto accidents, criminal assault, or rape, as well as those who may have witnessed a tragic or horrifying event. It can even result from accidents that occur on the job, which could make the sufferer eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Common Symptoms of PTSD
It is difficult to know for sure how many people suffer from PTSD, as many are reluctant to seek the treatment they need. Estimates, however, place the number of sufferers at around 5.2 million each year in just the United States alone. Those dealing with PTSD may show symptoms that include flashbacks to the triggering event, nightmares, severe depression, “survivor’s guilt,” difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and memory loss. The disorder can also have a serious effect on the sufferer’s family, as his or her behavior may be erratic, unpredictable, and, in some cases, violent.
Drugmaker Hit With $15 Million Verdict Over Birth Defects
Each year, pharmaceutical companies come up with a number of new ideas for drugs, or combinations of drugs that are intended to treat, cure, or manage certain conditions. Only a relative handful, however, ever receive full approval for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When a drug reaches the market, many patients automatically assume that the drug is completely safe; Otherwise the FDA would not have approved it. The reality is that all pharmaceuticals and drugs are known to have some possible dangers and side effects, and it is up to each manufacturer to be sure that doctors and patients know all of the risks involved.
The Dangers of Depakote
Early last month, a federal jury in East St. Louis, Illinois ruled that AbbVie, the makers of Depakote, must pay $15 million in damages to a 10-year-old California boy. The boy was born with a spina bifida after her mother chose to take the drug to help in her battle against mental illness. Depakote is intended to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorder, as well seizure disorders like epilepsy. The boy’s mother claimed that she was never made aware of the birth-defect risks associated with Depakote, mostly because officials at the manufacturer downplayed the dangers. According to the boy’s lawyer, the drugmaker knew that Depakote is “one of the most toxic drugs to a human baby.”
Teen Drivers at Higher Risk for Car Crash Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of a fatal car wreck is highest for younger drivers. This comes as little surprise to most people, considering the overwhelming access we have to various technological devices, paired with the general inexperience most teenage drivers have when it comes to operating a vehicle. Texting while driving and lack of experience are not the only causes behind the staggering accident and injury statistics for young drivers, however. There are many other factors that put this particular age group at increased risk for injury and death on the roads.
In the year 2014 alone, over 220,000 teenagers were injured in motor vehicle crashes in the United States, and in 2015, over 2,000 teens ranging from ages 16 to 19 years of age were killed in auto accidents. These numbers represent a vast group of young drivers who experienced injury or fatality for a variety of reasons and a diverse set of risk factors.
Stay Safe This Fourth of July
The Fourth of July is one of the highlights of summer for many individuals. It is a time to get together with friends and family and celebrate our great nation’s independence. The summer festivities usually include fireworks, food, and for many gatherings, alcohol. Unfortunately, the combination of drinking and travel leads to thousands of tragedies every year.
Sobering Statistics
The Fourth of July is the second deadliest day of the entire year as a result of alcohol-related car accidents—trailing only New Years Eve. Roughly 40 percent of all traffic fatalities on Independence Day involve at least one driver with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. That percentage is even higher among younger drivers.
The dangers extend beyond the holidays, however. Traffic fatalities increased by 6% from 2015 to 2016, making 2016 the deadliest year for drivers in almost a decade. Additionally, an estimated 4.6 million people were seriously injured because of traffic accidents last year.
How Workers’ Compensation Reform Hurts Injured Employees
Workers’ compensation reform has been a hot topic over the past few decades, with many states deciding that lowering employer costs for insurance coverage will help encourage new job growth within state lines. The logic of many policymakers maintains that by cutting costs for employers and increasing their margins, the profits will trickle down to the employees in terms of job creation and higher wages.
However, the truth of the matter is that workers’ compensation reform only hurts employees and the local economy. It makes it more difficult for injured employees to receive the benefits they need and reduces the benefits available to each worker. Injured employees may be in danger of being evicted from their homes and being denied the medical coverage they deserve because of some these reforms, which are currently being pushed by Illinois lawmakers. If you have been denied workers’ compensation benefits, contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at once for professional assistance with your case.
Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that some 1.7 million people experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States each year. Most are treated and then released (about 1.365 million), but approximately 275,000 are hospitalized and another 52,000 suffer fatality. Early detection can sometimes mean the difference between mild and more severe injuries. Learn how to tell if you or someone you love has experienced a TBI, and what you can do after the fact to increase the chances of a full recovery.
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
One of the first ways to detect TBI is to understand how it happens. Most occur either after a strike or blow to the head, which might be experienced during a fall (the leading cause of brain injury), car crash (the third leading cause of TBI), or assault. However, contact with an object or a hit to the head is not required; some traumatic brain injuries occur because of jarring motions that force the brain to move quickly inside the skull. In fact, this is the same injury that happens to infants who suffer from shaken baby syndrome. As such, even those who have not hit their head in an accident but experience the common signs should see a doctor.
Dog Bites and Wrongful Death Compensation
When a person is attacked or injured by a dog, the results can be very serious. Some of the most terrifying attacks occur when a small child is mauled. Children tend to be attacked more often than adults; in fact, 70 percent of fatal dog attacks involve children. Tragically, the likelihood that the child will die as a result of the attack is also high.
Dog bites can end up being extremely severe and may cause a myriad of injuries, many of them potentially fatal. If your loved one has died as the result of a dog attack, speak with a dog bite attorney right away to help you in your quest to recover compensation for the death of your loved one.
Seeking Compensation
A ferocious dog attack can do more than injure; it can lead to death. Dog bite victims often become paralyzed with fear, leaving them even more susceptible to serious injuries. The depth of the wounds and the blood loss can be traumatic, and depending on where on the body, an attack can leave the victim without a chance for survival. In the event your loved one succumbs to their injuries, you, as the surviving family, may pursue compensation. Damages can be sought for grief, sorrow and mental suffering in addition to monetary losses for medical care and other expenses related to the injury and death.
Pedestrian Deaths on the Rise in Illinois
Pedestrians, in most situations, generally cross the street at specified and controlled locations, expecting that cars will obey the relevant traffic signals. When a driver fails to meet that expectation, the pedestrian is unable to move out of the way quickly enough to avoid being hit. Unprotected and vulnerable, pedestrians then become at risk for death or serious injury. Both are on the rise in Illinois, and throughout the United States. If one has happened to you or someone you love, the following can help you understand your rights, including your right to pursue fair compensation.
Understanding the Risk
The rise in pedestrian accident deaths is not a particularly new trend, but it is one that continues to trouble health and safety professionals. This past year, the national increase reached its highest number since 2005. Federal officials estimated an increase of nine percent during just the first six months of the year. In Illinois specifically, the death toll rose from 127 in 2015 to 150 deaths in 2016.
Understanding Workers' Compensation in Illinois
Injuries happen everywhere on a daily basis. They occur at home, on the roadway, at school, and even at your workplace. No matter where they occur, there is often insurance coverage available to cover such injuries. By law in Illinois, insurance is required nearly everywhere, including by your employer. This benefit is known as workers’ compensation insurance, and it covers a wide variety of situations should you find yourself a victim of a workplace injury.
What Is Workers Compensation Insurance?
Worker’s compensation insurance is a type of coverage that employers generally carry for the benefit of their employees. Not every state currently requires employers to have this insurance, which could potentially open the employer to personal liability claims. In Illinois, an employer must carry workers’ compensation in every work situation, regardless of considerations such as:
Warmer Weather Means More Auto Accidents
If you were to ask a group of people what time of the year has the most car accidents, the majority of the group would probably say during the winter months—especially in climates such as Illinois. Roads covered with snow, sleet, and ice, along with poor visibility, certainly contributes to many accidents, but statistics show that it is actually the summer months when motor vehicle accidents spike. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the month of May marks the beginning of the dangerous “summer” driving season
In 2015, the latest year for which national statistics are available, there were more than 35,000 people killed in vehicle accidents. Car crashes in the month of August claimed the most victims—over 3,300. In fact, from May through October, more than 3,000 crash-related fatalities occurred in each month.
