Posted on February 23, 2017 in Workers' Compensation

Eye injuries are commonly sustained in construction and manufacturing jobs. Even office workers are at risk of eye injury caused by computer screens. In fact, approximately 2,000 U.S. workers sustain eye injuries each day that require medical treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Of these 2,000, one-third are treated in hospital emergency rooms, and about 100 eye injuries a day will result in at least one day away from work.

Five of the most common ways workers’ eyes are injured include the following:

1. Small particles. Small particles get into the eye resulting in abrasions. Dust, wood, metal, or concrete all pose a risk. Also, small tools like staples and nails can injure the eye.
2. Chemicals. Chemicals can splash in the eyes. Also, fumes can irritate or burn the eyes.

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 Posted on February 16, 2017 in Workers' Compensation

Workers’ compensation does not only cover acute injuries sustained on the job such as sprains and broken bones. Illinois workers’ compensation also covers diseases.

Occupational Diseases Defined

The Illinois Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act defines “occupational disease” as “a disease arising out of and in the course of the employment or which has become aggravated and rendered disabling as a result of the exposure of the employment.” 

Thus, if you have a condition that has been worsened by your job, you may be eligible for benefits. The aggravation must come from a risk that is related to employment and not a risk faced by the general public. For example, air quality in your workplace that exacerbates your asthma could fall into workers’ comp; however, stress that exacerbates your heart disease would not.

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 Posted on February 09, 2017 in Personal Injury

Going to the gym has great health benefits, unless you get hurt. It is estimated that about 460,000 people were injured at a gym in 2012 alone.

Many of these exercisers have sustained injuries that cannot be the basis of a lawsuit because the exercisers caused the accident. However, some injuries are caused by the gym. In these cases, the gym may be held responsible.

Treadmill Troubles

Treadmills are one of the most dangerous pieces of gym equipment. Thousands of treadmill runners have had to seek emergency room care. While some of these accidents are caused by user error, other treadmill accidents are due to faulty equipment.

There are recalls on a yearly basis for treadmills. The most common reason for these recalls is that the treadmill increases speed on its own. Other treadmills have overheated and caused fires. Still, other recalled treadmills shocked the people using them.

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 Posted on February 02, 2017 in Slip and Fall

Slip and falls are very common. The Center for Disease Control estimates that one million people are sent to the hospital every year for treatment of injuries from a slip and fall accident.

Slip and fall accidents can leave victims bruised or with broken bones. In some cases, the victim can die. This is especially common among the elderly.

Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere dangerous conditions are present, including the workplace or retail stores. Here are seven common slip and fall hazards.

• Contaminants on the Floor. Liquids that spill onto the floor must be cleaned up properly because they pose a huge risk. In many cases, it is impossible to detect liquid on the floor. If a business has recently cleaned floors, it must use warning signs to alert others that the floor is wet.

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 Posted on January 31, 2017 in Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are, by definition, life changing in a devastating way. The term catastrophic injury is used to describe a severe injury to the spine, spinal cord, or brain. Moreover, catastrophic injury is also used to describe injuries that cause blindness, require amputation, and result in death.

If you sustained a catastrophic injury during an accident that was not your fault, you should be compensated for those injuries.

Damages to You May Be Entitled

Every case is different, and there is no guarantee that any two cases will get the same damage award, even if the cases are similar. However, attorneys have access to damage awards in previous cases, and based off that information they can form an idea of what damages you could be entitled.

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 Posted on January 27, 2017 in Workers' Compensation

Illinois state legislature is considering a set of reforms to workers’ compensation law. These proposals are being criticized for putting workers at a disadvantage.

Details of the Proposed Reform

The proposed changes to the workers’ comp system in Illinois cover a variety of areas, including:

• Increased fraud protections;
• Benefit cuts;
• Restrictions on physical therapy; and
• Prescription drug limitations.

The benefit cuts will reduce the amount that doctors will be paid for certain procedures. This is not the first time benefit cuts have been made. In 2011, the state reduced the amounts paid to doctors and other providers by 30 percent.

The savings expected from the 2011 reforms have not translated into cheaper workers’ compensation insurance premiums paid by employers yet. According to a 2016 study, Illinois has the eighth highest premium rates in the United States.

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 Posted on January 20, 2017 in Car Accidents

When a family member dies in an accident and another party should be responsible, there are two actions that can be brought under Illinois law: a wrongful death lawsuit and a survival action. Each of these claims is meant to address different injuries sustained by different parties. 

What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

A wrongful death suit is brought by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. If there is not a representative appointed in the will, a court will appoint someone.

This lawsuit is meant to compensate the spouse and next of kin for their injuries resulting from the death. These injuries include grief, sorrow, and mental suffering. The victim’s estate can also recover funeral and burial expenses.

When is There a Survival Action?

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 Posted on January 13, 2017 in Workers' Compensation

A workplace is full of conditions that present risk of injury. While construction and other industries that require physical exertion are thought of as the riskiest for on-the-job injuries, workers in every field can fall victim.

According to a review of claims filed with a workers’ comp insurer, some workplace injuries are more prevalent than others. The insurer reviewed claims from 2010 to 2014 and published its findings in 2016.

The reviewed claims listed the top five most common workers’ comp injuries as the following:

1. Strains and sprains (30 percent);
2. Cuts or punctures (19 percent);
3. Contusions (12 percent);
4. Inflammation (5 percent); and
5. Fractures (5 percent).

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 Posted on December 02, 2016 in Personal Injury

Health professionals recommend annual physicals for all individuals as a means to check and see if there are any issues which need addressing. The same is recommended for personal vehicles. To ensure safe transportation, all vehicles should be maintained regularly. When it comes to commerce, several modes of transportation traverse our roads and highways, and we expect them all to be roadworthy. Whether it be school buses to large tractor trailers, we all want to feel safe on the road.

Unfortunately, the vehicles that can cause the most devastating accidents are massive tractor trailers. Their sizes alone can cause irreparable damage when involved in an accident. In 2014, 3,744 fatal crashes involved a large truck, and the number of large trucks involved in injury crashes increased by 21 percent, from 73,000 to 88,000. Therefore, what would you say if you discovered that the reason a truck caused catastrophic injury in your particular case was because it was not maintained and was a ticking time bomb to cause harm?

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