Posted on July 24, 2024 in Workers' Compensation

When people think of work-related injuries, they usually imagine things like broken limbs, carpal tunnel syndrome, toxic inhalation, forklift injuries, and more. Employees who suffer these injuries can sometimes claim workers’ compensation, which reimburses injured workers for medical expenses, lost wages, or both.

But what about non-physical injuries, like mental stress or anxiety? In today’s fast-paced corporate world, it is not uncommon for some employees to work under immense pressure. Can they claim workers’ compensation if that pressure leads to excessive stress and anxiety?

This article will explore those questions, but be sure to consult an Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer regarding the specifics of your case.

Does Workers’ Compensation Cover Mental Health?

Workers’ compensation covers mental health up to an extent. There is no clear-cut rule because there is no clear way to identify mental injuries and what causes them. Unlike a forklift injury where you can present an X-ray and show exactly where you suffered a bone fracture, mental injuries are hard to pinpoint.

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 Posted on July 14, 2024 in Personal Injury

At a Fourth of July celebration last week, a South Carolina father named Allen Ray McGrew died after he placed a lit firework on his hat. The device exploded, killing him instantly. 

Mark McCormack, a resident of Wichita, suffered his own serious injury from using fireworks. While shooting off mortar shells one Independence Day, he failed to realize the cannon had bent. It went off in his hand, and McCormack was rushed to the hospital where he fought for his life. After a blood transfusion and surgery, McCormack woke up and realized doctors had amputated his hand and fourteen inches of his arm.

Fireworks can create beautiful displays, but they are also extremely dangerous. Because they can cause severe injuries, many states have at least some restrictions on their use and possession. Illinois is one of three states that bans most consumer fireworks.

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 Posted on June 22, 2024 in Auto Accidents

Being injured in a car accident is a traumatic experience. Many times, injuries from collisions are severe and victims want to be compensated for damages resulting from the injuries. Not many victims, however, are aware of the process or know what steps to take. This adds confusion to an already confusing situation.

A simple rule to follow is that when in doubt, consult an Illinois car accident attorney. This article will briefly explain the process for claiming compensation for damages after a car accident.

Take Stock of Your Injuries

The process begins with the accident that causes the injury. Account for your injuries. Notice how many there are and how severe they are. Also try to remember as much about the crash as possible, especially details that show it was the other driver’s fault. Writing down details as soon as possible can be very helpful later on.

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 Posted on June 13, 2024 in Personal Injury

In 2022, emergency rooms treated an estimated 209,500 toy-related injuries. According to a report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 76 percent of those occurred in children aged 14 or younger. Sixty-nine percent occurred in children aged 12 or younger, and 38 percent occurred in children aged four or younger.

Injuries from defective toys range from mild to severe. Nearly half of toy-related injuries in 2022 were to the head and face. But who is liable for those injuries? Is it the children and their parents? Or is it the retailer or manufacturer’s fault?

This article will discuss the different types of defects and who you can sue for damages if your child was injured by a defective toy. Not every case is the same, so consult an Illinois product liability attorney regarding your specific injury.

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 Posted on May 28, 2024 in Personal Injury

Injuries among gym-goers are common. In 2021, there were an estimated 409,224 injuries from exercise equipment. Such injuries included:

• Bone fractures

• Strains and sprains

• Cuts

• Bruises and contusions

Fitness centers are full of heavy weights, robust machines, and people moving at fast speeds. Sometimes, people are injured by exercise equipment because they are not familiar with how to use it. Other times, people are familiar with how to use the equipment but the machine is faulty.

If you have been injured at the gym, you may have a premises liability claim. However, this will depend on how well your attorney can prove the other party’s negligence.

How Do I Prove the Gym Was Negligent?

Negligence means that the party failed to take a reasonable amount of care to avoid an injury. If you want to claim damages from a gym where you were injured, you need to prove that the facility was negligent. For example, you would need to show that you were injured because of a defect in the machine. Furthermore, you would also need to show that the gym knew about the defect or should have known about it from a routine inspection.

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 Posted on May 16, 2024 in Auto Accidents

As the gig economy exploded in recent years, it gave rise to many legal questions. Are companies like Uber and Lyft responsible for the behavior of their drivers? If a driver gets into an accident, is the driver liable, or is Uber? Are these drivers considered employees or independent contractors?

These questions and others developed into a new area of law called rideshare law. Rideshare law has become increasingly more complex, especially when it comes to personal injuries sustained in a rideshare. Anyone who has suffered such an injury should speak with a personal injury attorney who has experience with rideshare law.

This article will discuss your legal options if you were injured in an accident because your Uber driver was texting, also known as distracted driving.

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 Posted on April 25, 2024 in Personal Injury

Families spend time and effort trying to choose the right nursing home for their aging loved one. They look at the room size, the food that is offered, and the activities that are available to determine whether it might be a good environment for their parents. While all the conditions inside the nursing home might be a perfect match, the facility’s ability to ensure residents remain indoors and under supervision must be considered. If residents are free to wander unsupervised and possibly leave the facility, it could present a serious health risk, as will be explained below. If your loved one was harmed when they wandered or eloped from a nursing home, speak with a compassionate Cook County, IL nursing home neglect lawyer to understand what legal recourse you might consider.

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 Posted on April 10, 2024 in Auto Accidents

When you are driving safely and abiding by traffic laws, but someone crashes into the back of your car, it can be extremely jarring and also dangerous. Rear-end accidents are very common and happen for a variety of reasons. The degree of damage resulting from a rear-end accident can fall anywhere on a large spectrum. Sometimes a driver is distracted by their phone while stopped at a red light and does not notice that they are slowly moving forward until they bump into the car in front of them. Other times, someone can be driving at full speed when they stop looking ahead and then plow into the back of a car. If someone has read-ended you, speak with a knowledgeable Bensenville, IL personal injury attorney to gain a better understanding of your legal options.

Common Reasons for Rear-End Accidents

Of course, there are endless reasons why car accidents happen in general, and the same is true for rear-end accidents. However, some scenarios are more commonly associated with this type of crash. These include:

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 Posted on March 23, 2024 in Workers' Compensation

Some types of work present risks of illnesses or diseases with long-lasting effects. When an employee in Illinois contracts a disease while at their job, they are generally entitled to workers’ compensation if their occupational disease claim is approved. If that happens, they can get the financial support and medical care coverage they need. An experienced Elk Grove Village, IL workers’ compensation attorney can help you submit a claim backed up with the proof you will need for your claim to be approved.

How Can You Show That Your Occupation Is Linked To Your Disease?

To get your occupational disease claim approved, you need to demonstrate either that it is linked to the work you do in some way or that your work exacerbated a medical issue you already had.

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 Posted on March 13, 2024 in Personal Injury

Anytime someone is harmed because of someone else’s negligence, they might have a personal injury case on their hands. This negligence can be the faulty installation of equipment, a defective product, failure to make necessary repairs or any number of other things. If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, you might be eligible for compensation. A knowledgeable Bensenville, IL personal injury lawyer can review your case and guide you forward.

Tip 1: Seek Medical Care Immediately

If you are injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you need to get medical attention as soon as possible for two reasons. First, for the sake of your healing process and peace of mind. Knowing that you are taking steps to ensure that any medical conditions do not go unnoticed can give you the confidence to focus on other things. Second, a medical record indicating that you were injured as a result of someone else’s negligence can be very helpful in a personal injury lawsuit. It can prove your claims to insurance companies, authorities, and anyone else seeking to limit the scope of your case.

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