If you have ever been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you know how stressful and frightening the situation can be. This fear and frustration is only amplified when the perpetrator flees the scene and the accident becomes a hit-and-run. Whether the assailant is found or not, it is possible for you to recover damages with the help of a DuPage County car accident attorney.

What Is a Hit-and-Run Car Accident?

A driver leaving the scene immediately after hitting another vehicle, piece of property, or a person has just committed a hit-and-run. Every state has laws and consequences against committing this crime.

In Illinois, there are rules that must be followed after any car accident. For instance, all individuals involved in a car accident resulting in injury or property damages must first stop their vehicle as close to the scene as safely as possible and provide all necessary personal information (i.e., name, address, driver’s license). If the rules are not followed and the driver at fault does not remain at the scene, they could face a range of consequences from a small fine to a prison sentence.

Developing an injury at your job can be very unpleasant. Severe, one time injuries - such as a fall or crash - gain a lot of media attention, however, the most common of workplace injuries arise from small everyday tasks and motions. This type of workplace injury is called a repetitive stress injury. If you have developed a repetitive stress injury, a DuPage County personal injury attorney can help you fight for your workers’ compensation.

What Is an RSI?

RSIs also go by other names such as repetitive motion injuries or overuse injuries. RSIs form a large umbrella over injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and rotator cuff syndrome. Because it takes a long time for injuries like these to become noticeably bothersome, it is vital to pay attention to them from the beginning. A key factor of receiving workers compensation for such injuries is that you can prove that it was directly caused from the job.

Unfortunately, RSIs are very common and often go untreated. With the delayed symptoms of these injuries, it is likely the employee will not notice their pain or weakness until much later on. For instance, working at a computer and sitting at a desk chair all day can lead to various nerve issues in your hands and severe posture issues overall.

Property owners have a responsibility to keep their property in a reasonably safe condition by law. Of course, knowing what constitutes “reasonably safe” can be extremely difficult. If you or a loved one were recently injured in an apartment complex, restaurant, bar, retail store, or even a residential property, you may be interested in filing a premises liability claim and recovering compensation.

A successful premises liability claim may provide financial compensation for medical expenses, lost income from missed work, pain and suffering, and more. However, it can be hard to know if you have a valid claim. Read on to learn about Illinois’s premises liability laws and what you should do if you or a loved one were hurt on someone else’s property.

Illinois Premises Liability Laws

Head injuries, spine injuries, broken bones, burns, and countless other injuries may be caused by unsafe conditions on a commercial or residential property. In Illinois, a property owner’s duty or legal obligation to visitors varies. Commercial property owners owe the highest duty to invitees. Patrons at a business such as a nightclub or grocery store would fall under the category of invitees. Licensees are people who enter a property for social reasons. Property owners are required to keep properties free from unreasonably hazards for invitees and licensees. Property owners have lowest duty of care toward trespassers.

Each year, millions of people get into car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 6.7 million traffic accidents that occurred across the country in 2019. Of those, more than 33,000 crashes involved at least one fatality. Being in a traffic accident can be a scary situation, resulting in extensive injuries and extreme damages. Luckily, filing a personal injury claim can help you regain some of the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.

Avoid These Mistakes During Your Personal Injury Case

If you have been injured in a car accident, filing a personal injury claim is often your best chance at obtaining the compensation that you need for your damages. Sometimes, personal injury cases can take a few months, if not longer, to be completed. During that time, it is important that you do not make any mistakes that could jeopardize your personal injury claim. If you have been injured in an accident, here are a few mistakes that you should try to avoid making:

• Not calling the police to the scene of your accident. Sometimes, if the accident does not seem serious or if nobody has suffered obvious injuries, people may not want to call police to the scene of their accident. However, this is a mistake. When you call police to the scene, they are required to make a report. That police report can provide vital evidence in a personal injury claim for a car accident.
• Not seeking medical care after the accident. Even if it does not seem as if you suffered any injuries from your incident, it is always a good idea to seek medical care after any type of accident. If you do not seek immediate medical care, it may be argued that your injuries were not as serious as you allege or that you are not even injured at all.
• Not filing your case as soon as possible. For personal injury cases, most of the time there is a two-year statute of limitations on filing a claim. After those two years, your case would not be heard in court. Time is of the essence in personal injury cases. Filing your case as soon as possible increases the chances that your case will go smoothly.
• Posting contradictory or misleading information on social media. In today’s world, nearly everyone uses social media. It can feel like second nature to post about how your recovery is going on Facebook, but doing so could paint an incorrect picture of what your injuries are and how serious they are. The best thing to do after filing a personal injury claim is to simply stay off of social media for the time being.

Speak with a DuPage County Personal Injury Attorney

Filing a personal injury claim can be a long, stressful and sometimes confusing process, but that is why you should have help from a skilled Wheaton, IL personal injury lawyer. At the Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C., we can help guide you throughout the personal injury claim process to help you avoid making irreversible mistakes. To get started discussing your case, call our office today at 630-665-5678 to schedule a free consultation.

For many Americans, driving is a daily task that is pretty much unavoidable. Many people in the United States live in areas that do not have very good public transportation systems, forcing them to spend more time commuting in their own vehicles. Driving can be a frustrating task, but most people can manage the stresses that come with it. However, some people may become so angry and frustrated that they lash out, usually toward other drivers on the road. In some cases, road rage can be the cause of a car accident that can leave other drivers with serious injuries. Fortunately, many victims of road rage are able to file a personal injury claim to help recoup some of the losses experienced as a result.

What Is Road Rage?

In general, road rage is defined as angry or aggressive behaviors exhibited by drivers when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle. Even though it may sound extreme, road rage is not an uncommon occurrence. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), one survey found that 80 percent of drivers had exhibited aggressive or aggravated driving behaviors at least once in the year prior. Road rage can include a range of behavior, such as:

• Tailgating or following other drivers too closely
• Yelling at other drivers
• Honking or making angry gestures toward other drivers
• Blocking other people from changing lanes
• Cutting off another driver in traffic
• Intentionally and purposefully ramming your vehicle into another car
• Getting out of your vehicle to confront another driver

Proving Road Rage

Just like in any other case, you must be able to prove that the other driver was negligent when they were in the accident. Evidence for road rage accidents may include things such as:

Any type of injury that a person sustains has the possibility of temporarily affecting their life and their ability to work. However, some injuries can be more serious than others and can leave a person dealing with the effects of the injury for life. There are various types of benefits that are paid out by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC), both for injuries that are temporary and injuries that will last much longer. If an injury leaves a permanent scar or disfigures a person, they may be eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits from their employer. Disfigurement cases are notoriously subjective; what one person considers to be “disfigured,” another one may not. Having a skilled workers’ compensation lawyer on your side can be extremely beneficial to your case.

What Qualifies as Disfigurement?

Many different types of businesses see scarring and/or disfigurement injuries, however, manufacturing and other industrial jobs can be particularly prone to more serious injuries that may cause permanent scars or disfigurement. According to the Illinois Supreme Court, disfigurement comes into place when a healed scar “impairs or injures the beauty, symmetry or appearance of a person or thing; that which renders unsightly, misshapen or imperfect or deforms in some manner.”

If a person claims disfigurement, the scary must be both permanent and serious. However, these types of cases are very much subject to opinion. The location of the scar also matters. In general, Illinois allows for disfigurement claims to be paid out to individuals who suffer a serious and permanent scar to their head, neck, face, arm, hand, chest above the breast line or leg below the knee.

Even though summer does not technically start until near the end of June, June typically marks the beginning of the summer season. The temperatures are rising and the sun is shining full blast most days, which can be fun for beach goers and other outdoor enthusiasts, but stressful and sometimes even deadly for some workers. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), overexposure to heat is a real concern for many U.S. workers. Overexposure to heat can lead to serious illness or even death, causing dozens of worker deaths each year. Your employer has a responsibility to protect you from heat exposure in your workplace. If you have suffered a heat illness while at work, you may be eligible to claim compensation.

Occupations That Face Heat Exposure

There are various occupations from many different industries that have a daily risk of overexposure to heat. Both indoor and outdoor occupations have the potential to cause heat exposure that can lead to serious injury. Some of the occupations that are most likely to expose employees to excessive heat include:

Indoor Occupations

Following a car accident, most people’s concerns are focused on their immediate injuries, the ones they can feel and see. Next, they are focused on the injuries of the people around them. As time goes on and everyone heals, very few people focus on how the accident is affecting their emotional well being. A car accident is a scary experience, even if it is just a small rear-end collision. When circumstances are more serious, the accident can be traumatic and can leave a lasting effect on your mental state, which can develop into an issue that affects your everyday life. In some cases, you may be able to claim compensation for a mental illness or injury developed after a car accident.

What Is PTSD?

After a car accident, it is completely normal to experience some sort of anxiety or fear about the situation. However, most people will get better as the weeks go on. If they do not get better, there might be something more going on, possibly something such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Classic symptoms of PTSD include:

• Recurrent nightmares
• Flashbacks to the event
• Avoiding things that remind the victim of the accident
• Always being on edge or being easily startled
• Aggressive or angry outbursts

There are also other symptoms that could appear as a result of PTSD. These symptoms include:

Any kind of accident carries the possibility of changing your life forever. In some cases, an injury may be so severe that it takes years to heal. At times, an injury could even become permanent and chronic, condemning you will live with it for the rest of your life. It is not uncommon for an injured worker to no longer be able to perform the work they once did. Many times, this can cause them to earn less than what they used to earn, which can place unfair financial stress on their family. If you were injured at work and have lost wage earning capacity, you may be able to claim those losses in a workers’ compensation claim.

What Is Lost Earning Capacity?

Many people use the term “lost earning capacity” and “lost income” interchangeably or to mean the same thing. However, they actually mean two different things. Lost wages or income refer to the money that you have lost between the time you were injured and the present. Lost earning capacity refers to a partial or total loss of the amount of income you earned prior to becoming injured.

Lost earning capacity can be difficult to calculate because there are many different factors that go into that calculation. These factors can include:

In most cases involving injuries that happened at work, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Almost all Illinois employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance, but that does not always mean that the employer will comply or pay out benefits when they are needed. Sometimes, an employer can deny a workers’ compensation claim, which can be stressful for any household, especially when you are unable to work because of your injury. If you are unable to work for three or more days, your employer must either begin paying benefits, inform you of what information they need to make a determination or provide a denial for your claim. Work injuries can be financially taxing and can take a toll on your entire family’s well being, especially if your claim is denied.

Reasons for a Denied Claim

Being denied benefits from workers’ compensation can be frustrating. If your claim is denied, your employer is required to state the reason for the denial in writing. After receiving notice that their claim has been denied, many people’s first question is, “Why?” Here are some of the most common reasons that your employer may deny your claim:

• Your injury did not happen in your workplace. In general, injuries are only covered under workers’ compensation if you sustained that injury at work. An employer may try to deny a claim if you reported that you were injured elsewhere. However, if you were performing work for your employer at the time, your injury should be covered, no matter the physical location.
• Your injury was not reported in time. Like many other actions, there is a statute of limitations on workers’ compensation claims. Technically, you are supposed to report your injury to your employer as soon as you can, but you have up to 45 days after the injury to report it to your employer.
• Your employer believes you were at fault for the injury. Your employer has the right to deny your workers’ compensation claim if they believe that your injury does not meet the requirements. In general, workers’ compensation benefits are paid whether or not you are liable for the accident. However, if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol when you were injured, your claim can be rightfully denied.
• You had a preexisting condition. If your employer tries to claim that your injury is a preexisting condition, they may deny your claim. However, it is important to note that even preexisting conditions that are aggravated by your employment and result in an injury are covered under workers’ compensation.

Our Bloomingdale, IL Workers’ Compensation Lawyer is Here to Help

If you have been injured at work, the first thing you should do is report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. The sooner you report your injury and your claim is approved, the sooner you can begin to receive benefits. In the event that your employer denies your claim, speaking with a DuPage County workers’ compensation attorney can be beneficial. Contact the Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C. to discuss your denied workers’ compensation claim today. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 630-665-5678.

Every day, people are injured for a variety of reasons. According to the National Safety Council, there were 48.3 million people who sought medical attention for unintentional injuries that they sustained. The majority of people who are injured from some sort of accident suffer things like broken bones or lacerations -- injuries that will eventually heal and go away. However, in some cases, injuries from an accident can be much more serious and can result in long-term or chronic effects. In many cases, these injuries are considered “catastrophic injuries” and can have devastating effects on a person and their entire family.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

There is no statewide definition for a catastrophic injury in Illinois. However, according to the U.S. Code, a catastrophic injury is an injury that permanently prevents a person from performing any gainful work. This definition would mean that any injury that prevents a person from working enough or doing work that would financially support themselves and their family would be considered a catastrophic injury.

Examples of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are severe and usually result in more than losing the ability to work. If an individual is so severely injured that they are unable to work, they are also likely unable to do other things, perhaps such as walking or taking care of themselves. Some of the most common types of injuries that can become catastrophic include:

When you are injured due to your line of work, it can be devastating. Not only do you suffer from the physical effects of your injury or illness, but you can also begin to struggle financially from time missed at work and unexpected medical bills. Fortunately, if you are injured while you are at work, chances are you are covered under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Unfortunately, not all workers, injuries or employers are covered under workers’ compensation, which is where an Illinois workers’ compensation attorney can help you recover much-needed benefits.

Understanding the Different Types of Benefits

If you are found to have suffered an injury at work, you will have access to certain benefits that can help you get back on your feet after an injury, or that can provide you with assistance if you are determined to be disabled. These benefits include:

• Medical care costs: If you are injured at work, your employer will be responsible for paying all of the associated medical care that is needed to fully heal or recover a person’s injury. These costs could include emergency care, doctor’s visits, surgery, prescription costs, physical therapy, chiropractic care and more.
• Temporary disability: During the time you are healing, you may not be able to return to work. If you are only temporarily unable to work because of your injury, you may be able to claim temporary total disability (TTD) or temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits.
• Vocational rehabilitation: If you are unable to return to your same job that you were working when you were injured, you may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation. This benefit pays for costs relating to vocational retraining and counseling for job searching.
• Permanent disability: Permanent partial disability (PPD) payments are paid when a worker completely or partially loses a body part or the use of a body part. In severe cases, permanent total disability (PTD) payments may be made if the worker sustains a disability that prevents them from doing any kind of work.
• Death benefits: If a worker is killed because of a work injury, the family may be able to recover death benefits. These benefits include the cost of the funeral or burial and monthly payments based off of the deceased’s wages.

Our Wheaton, IL Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help

Receiving payment for a work injury is not always as easy as filing your claim and waiting for money to be deposited into your account, requiring the need for a skilled DuPage County workers’ compensation lawyer. If you are experiencing issues with your workers’ compensation claim or you have received a denial, you should speak with the team at the Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C. We can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injury. To schedule a free consultation with Attorney David W. Clark, call our office today at 630-665-5678.

Even though the number of deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents have decreased for the third year in a row, the number of injuries that are sustained by victims is astronomical. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there were 4.5 million people who sought medical care for injuries sustained in car accidents in 2019 at an estimated cost of $463 billion. Many people who suffer from car accident injuries suffer the effects of these costs, which include medical expenses, wage loss, motor vehicle damage and more. Many times, car accidents are caused by the negligence of another driver and are entirely preventable. If another driver was acting negligently, you may be able to hold them accountable for the costs related to your injuries.

What is Negligence?

According to Illinois law, negligence occurs when a person fails to do something that a reasonably careful person would do, or does something that a reasonably careful person would not do. In addition to proving negligence, you must also be able to prove that the driver’s negligence was the cause of your injuries and that you would not have been injured if they had not acted in a negligent manner.

Negligent Driving Behaviors

There are many different types of behaviors that can pose a danger when drivers take part in them on the road. Here are some of the most common types of negligent driving behaviors:

Each year, hundreds of millions of people travel to and from the United States through air travel. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were more than one billion passengers who passed through TSA checkpoints in airports across the country in 2019. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there were still more than an estimated 398 million people who traveled by plane in 2020. With all of those passengers comes all of their luggage and all of the strenuous work that comes along with taking care of it. We do not usually see or speak to baggage handlers face-to-face like we do with flight attendants, making it easy to overlook the potentially dangerous work they do. Getting injured on the job as a baggage handler is not uncommon, but you can file for workers’ compensation benefits to help recuperate some of your losses.

Common Situations Causing Injuries to Airline Baggage Handlers

Airline baggage handlers have some of the most physically demanding jobs in the airline industry. Baggage handlers are responsible for handling passengers’ luggage at multiple points throughout the airport, with the main goal of getting the luggage to its destination at the same time as its owner. There are many situations that create the potential for injury for baggage handlers, including:

• Overexertion or overextension: The main task of the job is to lift, load and carry luggage that is often heavy and awkwardly shaped. Not only that, but they are also required to move heavy machinery and other heavy objects such as cargo bins and cargo. This can often lead to overexertion or overextension of body parts, resulting in injuries, commonly to the back and neck.
• Excessive noise: Working around any type of machinery means you are going to be working in a louder-than-normal environment. However, working around airplanes means your work environment will likely be louder than most. If you do not have proper ear protection, you could suffer from ear-related injuries or hearing loss.
• Getting caught in machinery: Another common situation that baggage handlers are put into is working with machinery. There are many conveyor belts that are used to transport luggage from place to place throughout the airport, in addition to machines that can sort luggage and vehicles to transport luggage. All of these machines have the potential to injure you if you get caught in them. Anything loose or hanging, such as ties, hair, clothing, etc, can get caught and potentially cause an injury.

Contact Our Bloomingdale, IL Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

If you sustain an injury while working as an airline baggage handler, you have rights. You should immediately speak with a skilled DuPage County workers’ compensation attorney to get the process started as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C., we can help you understand the steps necessary to file your workers’ compensation claim, as well as assist you in any appeals, if necessary. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 630-665-5678.

Injuries that affect the back can cause a great deal of difficulty in a person’s life. Back injuries can restrict a person’s movement, affect their ability to perform work-related activities, or even result in permanent disabilities. When these injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence, such as in a car accident or slip and fall, a victim can pursue compensation from the person or company who was responsible. If back injuries occur in the workplace, employees will usually be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Those who have suffered these types of injuries will want to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatments, as well as their legal options for addressing the damages they have suffered.

Types of Back Injuries

Back injuries may affect the vertebrae in the spine, the nerves in the spinal cord, or different muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The most serious injuries often involve damage to the spinal cord, which can result in partial or total paralysis in the parts of the body below the level of the spine where the injury occurred. Some common back injuries include:

• Fractured vertebrae - The bones in the spine protect the spinal cord, and they also allow a person to support their weight while walking upright. Vertebrae may be broken in a serious impact, such as a fall or a car crash, and this may damage the nerves in the spinal cord. If the spinal cord is severed, a person may suffer complete paralysis, including paraplegia or quadriplegia. While damage to the spinal cord is often irreparable, surgical procedures may be able to restore some function and repair the damaged vertebrae.
• Bulging, compressed, or ruptured discs - The discs in the spine serve as cushions between the vertebrae, and damage to these discs can cause pain when bones grind against each other. Stress on the spine can cause discs to rupture or bulge into unnatural positions, putting pressure on the spinal cord or other nerves and leading to chronic pain and loss of sensation. In some cases, surgery may be needed to repair damaged discs, or a person may receive treatments such as medications or physical therapy.
• Sprains and strains - Damage to the muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the back can occur due to a work-related accident, such as attempting to lift an item that is too heavy, or these injuries can build up over time due to repeated motion. While rest and anti-inflammatory medications may allow a person to recover from these injuries over a few days or weeks, in more serious cases, a person may require additional treatment, such as physical therapy.

Contact a Bloomingdale Back Injury Lawyer

Whether you have suffered a back injury because of someone else’s negligence or while you were at work, the Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C. can provide the legal help you need. We will work with you to pursue a personal injury lawsuit or file a workers’ compensation claim, ensuring that you will have the financial resources to make a full recovery. Contact our Bloomingdale, IL spine injury attorney today at 630-665-5678 to set up a free consultation.

Now that spring has sprung and a COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed, many people are looking forward to traveling again after a year of staying close to home. For students and adults, spring break is a popular time to take a trip to a warmer climate or perhaps visit family members or friends. Whether you are going across state lines or across the ocean, it is important to be aware of certain risks when taking that much-needed vacation form school and work. Time away from your normal routine can be refreshing, but it can also lead to serious injuries due to another party’s negligence.

Common Ways You Can Sustain Injuries While on Vacation

Although a change of scenery can be good for everyone, it can also lead to unexpected trauma. Here are a few types of incidents that can cause a traveler to be harmed or injured:

• Vehicle Accident - When taking a road trip, it is crucial to pay attention to your surroundings and obey all traffic laws. However, other drivers may be engaging in reckless behavior, which can include drunk or distracted driving, speeding, or failure to yield or stop. Actions like these can directly lead to a car crash with severe to life-threatening injuries, such as broken bones, internal bleeding, or paralysis.
• Pedestrian Accident - While on vacation in a tropical or hot environment, there are likely to be many people walking outdoors. As a pedestrian in a new area, it may be difficult navigating your way around. Intoxicated or impaired drivers may not see you in a crosswalk and strike you, causing significant damage, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• Bicycle Accident - A popular way to get around as a tourist in a new city may involve renting a bicycle or electric scooter. In some cases, faulty or defective equipment can cause a user to lose control or collide with another person or vehicle.
• Slip and Fall - Uneven or slippery pavement and loose railings are dangerous, and they can cause an individual to fall, hitting their head on concrete or other hard surfaces. This type of accident can cause a concussion, dislocated shoulder, or other types of fractures.
• Assault - Violent crimes such as assault, battery, and rape can all cause severe physical and psychological damage to a victim. In some cases, a theft crime can lead to a physical altercation if the victim tries to fight back. Scrapes, bruises, or lacerations are all common injuries that can occur from attempting to defend yourself.

Holding Negligent Parties Accountable

Seeking compensation for injuries suffered on a trip may alleviate the financial hardship due to medical bills, including ambulatory care, surgery, and time spent in the hospital. It can also help recover lost income if you are off work for an extended period of time. To prove liability in a personal injury lawsuit, you can often use security camera footage or eyewitness testimony. Intruders who are on hotel property may be captured on video trying to steal from innocent party-goers, which then leads to a scuffle. Similarly, if property owners or manufacturing companies do not maintain their grounds or fix damaged or worn parts, they can be help responsible if a guest is injured. In some situations, pedestrians or motorists may witness a car swerving or driving erratically before a crash.

With a COVID-19 vaccine being distributed across the country, many people are looking forward to venturing out more now after staying at home this past year. Illinois roadways may soon see more traffic, especially with the warmer weather upon us. In addition, travelers may not be ready to fly on airplanes just yet and instead opt for taking road trips in their cars. Whether you are driving to another state or just a different Chicago suburb, anytime you get behind the wheel you run the risk of getting into a car accident. Rear end crashes are common on local streets as well as highways, and they can cause serious damage to a vehicle and its passengers.

Whiplash and Other Injuries

The injuries suffered in any car accident can range from minor bumps and bruises to severe and life-threatening conditions. One of the most common types of injuries in a rear end collision is whiplash. When the head suddenly moves backward and then forward, whiplash affects an individual’s neck and can have lingering effects. Depending on the speed at which vehicles are traveling, occupants may hit their head on the car’s dashboard or windshield when struck from behind. This can result in deep cuts or lacerations, in addition to fractured or broken bones.

The Role of Negligence in Car Accidents

There are various reasons why vehicle crashes occur, including bad weather, poor road conditions, and driver error. In many cases, reckless or negligent behavior or actions are the main cause of a collision. Typically, the motorist in the back is the at-fault driver, but this may not always be the case. According to Illinois law, a person can pursue compensation for damages sustained in a car accident as long as their comparative negligence is less than 50 percent.

COVID-19 has impacted people all over the world, physically and economically. Although a vaccine is being distributed nationwide, the coronavirus will likely impact the way we live going forward. Studies show that COVID-19 “long-haulers” are individuals who tested positive for the virus and recovered but who have ongoing or long-lasting effects from it. These symptoms can include hair loss, fatigue, chronic cough, brain fog, to name a few. In response to the widespread impact of coronavirus, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has implemented a set of guidelines for employers to follow in the fight against COVID-related illnesses. It is crucial for Illinois employers and employees alike to understand how these rules may affect workers’ compensation claims in the future.

Workplace Exposures to COVID-19

The General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires employers to provide each employee with work and a place of employment that is free from hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or significant physical harm. According to OSHA record-keeping mandates, eligible employers must record certain work-related illnesses and injuries on their OSHA log. COVID-19 can count as one of those illnesses if an employee contracts the virus as a result of performing their work-related tasks. It is important to note that employers are only responsible for recording cases of COVID-19 if all of the following factors are met regarding an employee:

• There is a confirmed case of COVID-19.
• The case is work-related.
• The case involves one or more of the recording criteria (medical treatment above and beyond first aid, days absent from work).

OSHA requirements are aimed at preventing occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2. A few of the main standards involve personal protective equipment (PPE), which require using gloves, eye and face protection, and respiratory protection when certain occupational duties or hazards warrant it. If the line of work necessitates that respirators be worn to protect workers, employers must implement a thorough respiratory protection program that adheres to the Respiratory Protection standard.

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. The severity of brain injuries vary depending on the type of accident that caused it. Incidents can range from someone colliding with another athlete while playing sports to falling off a ladder at work and hitting their head to being involved in a car accident. Victims should seek immediate medical attention as the injury may require surgery, a lengthy hospital stay, and/or extensive therapy. In many cases, another party may have caused the injury, such as a drunk or distracted driver or negligent manufacturer. A personal injury attorney can assist those who are suffering and pursue compensation on their behalf to alleviate the expense associated with medical bills and lost wages.

Prompt Care and Rehabilitation Can Restore Brain Function

The treatment for brain injuries might be different depending on the type of damage to the brain. For example, the way a concussion is treated is different than a skull fracture. The first step in treating a brain injury involves imaging tests. A computerized tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays for a comprehensive view of the brain and is typically performed when a victim comes to the emergency room. A CT scan can reveal fractures as well as hemorrhages, hematomas, contusions, or swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets and radio waves for a detailed view of the brain. This test may be conducted once a patient’s condition stabilizes.

Generally, mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) require rest and over-the-counter pain medication to relieve symptoms such as a headache. However, even individuals with less serious brain injuries should be monitored closely for any worsening or new symptoms. Limiting physical or thinking (cognitive) activities is typically recommended by physicians.

Winter rolls around every year in the Midwest, and with it comes snow and ice, especially this year. Inclement weather may seem like an inconvenience when flights are delayed or cancelled, but it can also cause serious issues on public roads and walkways. In some cases, large accumulations of snow and icicles can create ice dams, leading to significant water damage in homes and buildings once the precipitation starts to melt. In addition, when ice coats a sidewalk or stairs, it increases the likelihood of a person slipping and falling on the slick surface if it is not cleared or salted. Falling icicles can also impale an unsuspecting individual who is standing below them. A personal injury claim may help someone pursue compensation for winter injuries if a property owner acted negligently and ignored the hazard.

Dangerous Weather Conditions Can Lead to Serious Injuries

Many people know that shoveling wet, heavy snow can put a strain on an individual’s heart, so doctors warn about older people trying to clear snow on their driveways. However, venturing out in the winter can also lead to serious and even life-threatening injuries. Not only does driving pose a hazard but simply just walking can put some at risk.

Below are a few of the most common types of injuries that people sustain from falling on snow-covered ice: