Posted on May 12, 2022 in Workers' Compensation

When dealing with aggravated existing injuries or repeated injuries on the job, it can be more challenging for individuals to obtain workers’ compensation. When receiving financial payment for a work-related injury or illness, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission must determine that the injury occurred due to the job at hand and not other outstanding factors. If a worker had a pre-existing injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, that was aggravated at work, a skilled workers’ compensation attorney may be able to help pursue financial compensation. Below are the steps to follow if you want to seek compensation for an aggravated work injury. 

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an orthopedic condition in the wrist that causes numbness, tingling sensations, and severe pain that can radiate into the hand and forearm. Carpal tunnel can be aggravated over time by excessive use of one’s hand or by leaving the issue untreated. Persistent, untreated pain can cause permanent damage to the hand or wrist. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), 3 to 6% of the general adult population in the United States suffers from carpal tunnel. This condition is often acquired or exacerbated while working with your hands.

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 Posted on May 05, 2022 in Personal Injury

Trips and falls occur all the time. In fact, they are one of the most common incidents that lead to personal injuries. According to a statistic from the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration division (OSHA), there were approximately 230,000 slip and fall injuries cases in 2019. Uneven sidewalks, especially in large metropolitan cities like Chicago, lead to multiple trip and fall accidents. In Illinois, the De Minimis Rule can help victims receive compensation for any injuries sustained or medical payments made due to a fall from uneven sidewalks.

What is the De Minimis Rule?

When dealing with a personal injury lawsuit, there are three main criteria that the court will use to determine if a victim can be awarded compensation. The first consideration includes when the accident occurred, ensuring that the injury timeline is within the Illinois statute of limitations. Victims typically have two years after the accident occurred to sue for compensation. Then, the court will analyze the injuries and how severe they are. The most important factor, however, is determining fault through liability. Many nuances exist in liability cases, especially regarding injuries such as falls on public property. Liability refers to finding who is responsible for an accident. For example, a drunk driver who drives illegally under the influence of alcohol is liable for any injuries or damages caused if they crash. Similarly, a store owner can be held liable for a customer slipping on a spill that was left unattended. 

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 Posted on April 26, 2022 in Personal Injury

While many types of accidents can lead to serious injuries, back injuries can be especially dangerous. Injuries sustained to the spine, vertebrae, or other areas of the back can limit movement and cause an individual intense pain. These injuries can occur from doing home improvement projects around the house, playing a sport, partaking in heavy lifting, or other accidents. When an individual sustains a back injury due to another person’s negligence or malice, a victim can pursue compensation to cover any related costs. 

Understanding Serious Back Injuries 

Back injuries, especially to the lower back, are widespread. Many people sustain lower back injuries, such as sprains, resulting from moving heavy objects or even sleeping in the wrong position. Severe back injuries can be harder to identify, but they may cause lasting damage to the spine. Spinal cord injuries can lead to severe medical consequences. Symptoms that can indicate a severe back injury rather than a common sprain include:

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 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Car Accidents

Car accidents can occur in a blink of an eye and leave individuals with lifelong injuries. Injuries sustained in a severe car accident can leave victims with substantial medical bills and rehabilitation payments, leaving many people unsure of their next steps. Victims injured in a car accident in Illinois can take action to receive financial compensation to cover these costs. However, there are rules for filing for compensation, including a strict timeline.

The Personal Injury Claims Process

If you or a loved one has been injured or lost their life in a car accident, you may choose to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim to help cover the costs of medical expenses. The personal injury process includes three main steps:

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 Posted on April 14, 2022 in Workers' Compensation

There are many instances of workplace hazards that can lead to injury on the job. Most of the time, people picture workplace accidents as the primary source of workers’ compensation available to employees, such as falls or trucking accidents. However, other hazards can be prevalent on the job. Employees such as healthcare personnel, sanitation workers, factory employees, or even skilled construction workers are exposed to dangerous occupational hazards that can result in occupational disease. With the help of a knowledgeable lawyer, employees who have contracted an occupational illness can file for worker's compensation.

What is an Occupational Disease?

According to Illinois law, an employee is deemed to have contracted an occupational disease when they contracted an illness after being exposed to hazards in the workplace. The condition must have become debilitating due to a task at hand that the job requires. Dangers in the workplace that may lead to an occupational illness could include:

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 Posted on April 05, 2022 in Personal Injury

Wrist injuries are prevalent and can occur from many different causes, including car accidents or falls. The hands, wrist, and fingers are critical parts of the body. Without the ability to use their hands, people cannot take care of themselves, complete daily tasks, or even work. If you have sustained a wrist injury as a result of an accident, you may be entitled to file for a personal injury claim depending on the severity of your injury, who was at fault, and the impact it has had on your life. 

Types of Wrist Injuries 

Wrist injuries that occur from an accident can be debilitating. Typically, accidents, including a car crash or a slip or fall, can result in a wrist sprain or fracture. For example, head-on car collisions can cause wrist fractures as drivers place their hands out in front of them while bracing for impact from the other vehicle or the steering wheel. Similarly, slipping on a hazard may lead to a wrist fracture as a victim braces for the fall with an open hand. Common wrist injuries include:

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 Posted on March 30, 2022 in Personal Injury

Being severely injured does not only cause physical pain and suffering, but also psychological suffering. Whether someone is hurt in a work accident, slip and fall, or car crash, the accident may cause suffering long after physical symptoms have subsided. Many accident victims struggle with insomnia, flashbacks, and anxiety after being injured. Individuals in this situation may be entitled to compensation for mental health treatment and other medical needs resulting from the accident. They may also be entitled to compensation for their pain, mental anguish, and lost quality of life.

Mental Health Issues After a Serious Injury Are Common

Serious physical injuries often affect the mind just as much as they affect the body. Studies show that traumatic physical injuries such as brain injuries, spine injuries, internal injuries, and broken bones can lead to significant psychological suffering. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety are common complications of severe physical injuries. Many injured people are unable to participate in enjoyable activities or work after an accident, which only exacerbates the negative psychological consequences of the injury. They deal with sadness, irritability, lack of motivation, insomnia or hypersomnia, changes in appetite, and even suicidal ideation.

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 Posted on March 25, 2022 in Car Accidents

The majority of car crashes are caused by human error behind the wheel. However, not every accident is a result of the driver’s behavior. Sometimes, problems with the vehicle itself are the root cause of an auto accident. Vehicle defects may be caused by vehicle components that were defective in design or manufacture from the start. Other times, vehicle defects are caused by inadequate or negligent vehicle maintenance.

Car Accidents Caused by Negligent Dealerships or Repair Shops

Mechanics and repair shops cannot perform miracles. Sometimes a vehicle is damaged beyond repair or the mechanic is not skilled enough to perform the maintenance the car requires. However, repair shops have a legal duty to inform the customer if this is the case. Allowing a customer to drive away in a vehicle that is unsafe can lead to deadly consequences.

Mechanic negligence can take many forms. Sometimes, a mechanic or repair shop knowingly fails to fix the problem but charges you for the repair and pretends that they performed the repair. For example, you take your vehicle in to get the brake lines fixed but the mechanic fails to fix the problem. Now the brakes barely work, causing an accident. Another way that negligent vehicle maintenance can lead to an accident is if a mechanic or dealership installs a defective or recalled vehicle component in the vehicle. Sometimes, repair shops are understaffed and in a rush to get cars back to the customers. Mechanics end up making mistakes or oversights that make the vehicle unsafe to drive.

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 Posted on March 16, 2022 in Workers' Compensation

There are a variety of situations where employees may suffer work-related injuries, and they will typically be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who was at fault. However, both employers and employees may be unsure about how to approach injuries that occurred while a person was working at home. This is an increasingly important issue, because the number of people who work remotely has grown significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. By understanding what types of injuries are considered work-related, employees can make sure they will be able to receive workers’ comp benefits in these cases.

Workers’ Comp Covers All Work-Related Injuries, Including When Working From Home

It is important to understand that workers’ compensation applies in any situation where a person is injured while working or when they suffer injuries that arose out of the work they performed. As long as injuries are considered to be work-related, an employee will be able to receive workers’ comp benefits. However, there are some cases where employees may be unsure about whether an at-home injury was truly work-related.

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 Posted on March 11, 2022 in Personal Injury

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were hopeful that reduced traffic would lead to fewer car accidents. With more people working from home, as well as a reduction in the amount of time people spend face-to-face with others, this has led to fewer vehicles on the road. Unfortunately, decreased traffic has not had the positive effect that was hoped for, and in fact, pedestrian accidents have increased significantly over the past couple of years in Illinois and throughout the United States. In many cases, these accidents are fatal, and many pedestrians suffer wrongful deaths after being struck by negligent drivers.

Reasons for the Increase in Pedestrian Fatalities

Although it makes sense to expect that decreased traffic on the roads would be safer for pedestrians, this has actually led to an increase in dangerous driving behaviors. Open roads have given drivers the opportunity to exceed the speed limits more often. At the same time, many police departments have decreased their enforcement efforts in the name of protecting officers from potential infections by reducing person-to-person contact.

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