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Recent Blog Posts
How Can Nursing Home Abuse Lead to Traumatic Brain Injuries?
March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month, so it is a good time to shed light on an important subject. Brain injuries can range in severity depending on the circumstances that cause them. Concussions are one of the most common types of injuries that affect the head and neck. These traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur as a result of a collision during a sporting event, slipping and falling, or a car accident. The force of the impact from a blow to the head can cause life-altering consequences. Unfortunately, in some cases, an individual can also suffer a TBI as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect. If you suspect that your family member may have been harmed in an extended-care facility, it is essential that you consult a personal injury attorney to understand your legal options.
New Illinois Legislation Addresses Police Misconduct
People can sustain injuries in various situations, such as car crashes, work-related accidents, and slip and falls. Victims may suffer minor to serious and even life-threatening injuries as a result of these incidents. However, individuals can also be subjected to harm at the hands of law enforcement. Unfortunately, those who are sworn to serve and protect sometimes do just the opposite. With a number of recent news stories describing unjustified police shootings and use of force, police brutality has come to the forefront of many government agendas. In January 2021, Illinois lawmakers passed a criminal justice reform bill that would address how police misconduct is handled, including allowing for anonymous complaints against officers.
Pretrial Fairness Act
The state legislature passed the Pretrial Fairness Act, but the bill is still awaiting Governor Pritzker’s signature, and the governor is facing criticism and pressure from police department representatives and other organizations to veto the bill. The bill creates a more robust and progressive plan for monitoring police misconduct throughout the state, including requiring every Illinois police officer to use a body camera by 2025.
How Can a Patient Be Injured by a Misdiagnosis or Missed Diagnosis?
When people visit a doctor or go to the hospital, it is usually because they are experiencing pain and discomfort, weight loss, or other symptoms. They expect to receive competent and quality care, which includes finding answers regarding their problems. Learning how to properly treat a person’s ailments is crucial to their long-term health. A correct diagnosis must be given in order to know what treatments or medication are necessary to cure or fix certain conditions. Unfortunately, doctors do not always make correct diagnoses, and in some situations, a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. Depending on the circumstances, a patient may be able to pursue a medical malpractice claim to receive compensation for the damages suffered due to a misdiagnosis.
How Can I Prove a Wrongful Death Claim in Illinois?
Fatal accidents occur on a daily basis, even when safety precautions are taken. Losing a loved one can be devastating whether his or her death was the result of a vehicle collision, a workplace accident, or a defective product. In many of these cases, a person’s death could have been prevented, which can make it especially difficult to accept. However, the family left behind does have legal options for holding the responsible parties accountable. Although a wrongful death claim will not bring your family member back, the compensation received from it can allow you to recover financially and move on.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
In Illinois, a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed within one year of the date of the victim’s death. According to the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, only certain people who are related to the deceased individual are eligible to file a lawsuit and recover damages. The claim can only be brought by any of the following individuals:
Are Teenage Drivers More at Risk for Car Accidents?
Obtaining a driver’s license is a rite of passage when individuals turn 16. With it comes a certain responsibility, and teenage drivers are subject to specific restrictions as young motorists. Some of these rules are put in place to prevent car accidents caused by inexperienced drivers. Despite the laws, there are various reasons that crashes can occur, including distracted or drunk driving, inclement weather conditions, and defective or faulty auto parts. Depending on the circumstances, injuries can be minor to serious or even fatal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), approximately 2 million drivers suffer a permanent injury every year from car accidents.
Illinois’ Graduated License Program
The requirements for obtaining a driver’s license in Illinois are regulated by the Secretary of State (SOS). Like most states, Illinois has implemented a graduated driver licensing (GDL) program for first-time teenage drivers. The program increases driving privileges and levels of responsibility for teen motorists after they reach certain ages and complete the designated levels of education and practice.
How Does Abuse Affect Nursing Home Patients With Dementia in Illinois?
Research shows that people are living longer than they did in the past. However, many elderly individuals suffer from cognitive impairment, such as dementia, which is a leading cause of disability and dependency among older people globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and it may contribute to more than 60 percent of all diagnosed cases. Any type of dementia can greatly impair a person’s memory and the ability to care for himself or herself. Relatives may be unable to meet their loved one’s needs, since they often require 24/7 care. That is why many afflicted with the disease must reside in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Sadly, those with diminished mental states may face an increased risk of injuries from nursing home abuse or neglect.
Can I Pursue Compensation for a Medication Error in Illinois?
Many people take prescribed medication on a daily basis for a variety of health conditions. Individuals may also take medicine for a designated period of time after an illness or surgical procedure to combat the side effects or to avoid infections and other complications. Dosages are calculated using many factors, such as a patient’s height, weight, age, and underlying medical conditions. However, if the incorrect amount or the wrong type of medicine is given, a person can suffer serious injuries. In these cases, a physician, nurse, or pharmacist may be found liable for any damages a person experienced because of a medication error or other forms of medical malpractice.
How Do Medication Mistakes Occur?
There are several reasons why medication errors take place. They may be the result of a lapse in judgment by the caregiver, or they can be due to an understaffed medical facility. Poor healthcare provider/patient communication, incomplete or missing medical records, and the absence of standardized precautions can also contribute to the likelihood of errors. It is important to note that a majority of medication administration errors occur in hospitalized children. This may be due to the fact that young people have never taken certain medicines before, so it can be difficult to determine an accurate dosage or prescription to give them.
What Can I Do if I Am Falsely Arrested and Imprisoned in Illinois?
Police brutality has been in the news lately, and many may think it simply involves officers using excessive or unreasonable force on suspects. However, police brutality can take other forms, including violating a person’s rights to due process, which can result in serious consequences. Examples of this include false arrest and imprisonment. Besides the psychological damage caused to a person after he or she is wrongfully arrested, other ramifications may take place. An individual could lose his or her job, resulting in significant financial problems and possible loss of child custody or parenting time. Although the U.S. Constitution states that every person is innocent until proven guilty, it is important to note that any civil rights violation is illegal despite a suspect’s innocence or guilt. An experienced civil rights attorney can help injured parties take legal action to hold police officers and police departments responsible for this unlawful behavior and activity.
How Does Crash Prevention Technology Reduce Car Accident Injuries?
Anytime someone hits the open road in a vehicle, he or she runs the risk of being involved in an automobile crash. According to the website driverknowledge.com, approximately 3 million people are injured every year in car accidents. Here in Illinois, vehicle fatalities have been on the rise despite fewer cars on the road due to stay-at-home orders issued in response to COVID-19. Advanced technology, sometimes referred to as “driver assistance,” is aimed to prevent the number of vehicle collisions as well as subsequent injuries and fatalities.
Alerting Drivers of Potential Dangers
In an effort to make vehicles safer, many auto manufacturers are requiring crash prevention technology to be on all their newer models. The majority of accidents that occur are due to human error. New technology within the car industry has completely changed the way cars operate. Some of these features offer modern luxuries but many provide enhanced safety systems.
Can an Interrogation Violate My Civil Rights?
Some citizens may find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. In certain situations, they may even be accused of a criminal act. According to the Constitution, every American is innocent until proven guilty. When a person is suspected of committing a crime, the police will likely ask the alleged offender a series of questions. In some cases, the officer may also perform a search of their vehicle or home. If the suspect is arrested for an alleged criminal offense, they are typically taken into police custody. Part of the investigation may also include questioning or interrogation. Police must follow proper protocol during these procedures, but unfortunately this is not always the case. In certain situations, officers may use improper tactics that can harm an individual, which can be considered a civil rights violation.
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