There are many ways a person can be injured while they are on the job. When workplace accidents occur, or when a person experiences physical health issues due to the work they have performed, they will typically be eligible to receive workers’ compensation. But what about situations where a person becomes ill due to conditions in their workplace or exposure to an infectious disease? In these cases, workers will need to understand how workers’ comp addresses occupational diseases.

Benefits Available to People Who Experience Occupational Illnesses

Work-related health issues are a common concern for people in certain occupations. Workers who are exposed to substances that could cause them to suffer illnesses, such as construction or demolition workers who work around asbestos, will want to make sure the proper measures are taken to ensure their safety. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has become a significant concern for many people. Employees who work around the general public can be exposed to Covid, which may not only require them to take time off work while they are contagious but may also have long-term effects on their health.

Fortunately, workers’ compensation treats occupational diseases the same as other injuries that occur while a person is working. If a person can demonstrate that they contracted an illness due to exposure to certain substances or germs in the workplace, or if they can show that a disease arose out of the work they performed, they will be able to receive workers’ comp benefits.

Surgical procedures can make anyone nervous. Most surgery patients breathe a sigh of relief after the procedure is over. However, the danger is not over just because the actual procedure is over. Post-surgical infections are a very real threat - especially if the patient is elderly or in ill health. If you or a loved one suffered an infection after getting surgery, you may wonder if the infection was preventable. If an infection is caused by substandard medical practices before, during, or after a surgery, this may be considered medical negligence. The patient, or the patient’s surviving loved ones, may be entitled to monetary compensation through a medical malpractice claim.

Post-Operative Infection After Surgery

Any surgical procedure has risks, and one of the most serious risks is the chance of bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens entering the body. There are many ways to significantly decrease the chances of infection after surgery, including thorough sanitation of the operating equipment before surgery, proper handwashing and use of personal protective equipment, and post-surgery wound care.

Negligence on the part of a doctor, surgeon, or another medical provider may lead to avoidable infections. If a post-operative infection is not recognized and treated promptly, the infection can spread and become extremely dangerous. Some post-operative infections are fatal. The at-fault party for a surgery-related infection may be an individual or liability may fall to the hospital or medical facility.

Without a doubt, driving a large commercial truck is a challenging job. Drivers must deal with long, lonely hours on the road, tight deadlines, and irregular schedules. These factors can make it difficult for commercial truck drivers to get the sleep they need. While federal regulations limit the number of hours drivers can drive without a rest break, fatigued driving is still a major contributor to severe and fatal truck crashes.

Sleepiness Behind the Wheel of a Big Rig

Everyone has experienced the sensation of sleepiness. Usually, fatigue is little more than an annoyance. However, research shows that fatigue can dramatically affect driving ability. Drivers who are sleepy have longer reaction times, slower information processing, and are less vigilant. Fatigue affects driving similarly to alcohol intoxication. Some sleep-deprived drivers even fall asleep at the wheel.

Because fatigued driving is so dangerous, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration restricts the number of hours a commercial truck driver can drive at a time. However, not every driver abides by these Hours of Service rules. Some drivers are even pressured by their employer to drive longer than federal law allows and falsify their logbooks to hide the evidence.

Marijuana is now legal in Illinois for adults aged 21 and over. However, driving under the influence of marijuana is still against the law. Cannabis flower and THC products have a major effect on a person’s cognitive function. Studies show that it can distort a person’s perception, decrease coordination, and slow reaction time. It is, therefore, no surprise that drugged driving is associated with a higher risk of being in a car accident. One study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that cannabis-related auto accidents have doubled in the last 20 years.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a crash caused by a driver who was intoxicated by marijuana, it is important to know your legal options.

Car Crashes Caused by High Drivers

Public opinion about cannabis has changed dramatically in recent years. However, this does not mean that marijuana use is without risk. People who drive while “high” put their own lives and the lives of others in danger. In Illinois, those who drive with greater than five nanograms or more of THC per ml of blood are at risk of DUI charges. However, criminal charges against a drugged driver do not provide any restitution to victims.

When an individual patronizes a bar, restaurant, nightclub, retail store, or other commercial business, he or she expects that the business will take reasonable steps to prevent customers from being harmed. However, not every business fulfills its duty to keep customers safe.

Negligent security lawsuits are brought against businesses and property owners when inadequate security causes a guest to be injured or killed. If you or a loved one were the victim of assault, battery, rape, or robbery because of a business’s substandard security measures, you may be able to file a premises liability claim on the basis of negligent security. You may be able to hold the at-fault party responsible for physical and mental injuries and recover financial compensation for your damages.

What Counts as Negligent Security?

It can be hard to know for sure when an attack is caused by negligent security because the security measures a property or business owner should take depend on many factors. A business located in a high crime area with a history of violent attacks will have different security needs than a business in a low crime area. The foreseeability of an assault, battery, or other violent act is often a major determining factor in a negligent security lawsuit. Did the business owner have reason to believe that customers may be in danger? Did the property owner fail to fix broken locks, hire enough security guards, or install lights in the parking lot?