Few would argue that construction workers have a crucial role in society. Unfortunatley, although government regulations have been established to increase safety and reduce the chances of a construction accident, construction work is still one of the most dangerous industries. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that one out of every five workplace deaths occurs in the construction industry.

Trench collapse can be especially dangerous, resulting in catastrophic injuries and deaths. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a construction site trench collapse, you may be able to take legal action and recover financial compensation.

Trench Collapse Caused by Third-Party Negligence

In March of this year, two individuals were charged with first degree manslaughter after a trench collapsed on an employee and killed him. According to reports, there were no safety devices being used to hold the trench in place and prevent collapse. The trench had already collapsed twice on the day of the fatal accident, but actions were not taken to prevent another collapse.

For many motorcyclists, riding a motorcycle is not just a means of transportation. It is something that they look forward to all winter. Warmer weather in the Chicago area means that motorcyclists can finally get back to doing what they love most.

Sadly, severe and fatal injuries are not uncommon in motorcycle accidents. The motorcycle driver is not protected by the vehicle, and the small, slender nature of a motorcycle makes it harder to see by other drivers.

If your loved one passed away in a motorcycle crash, you have the right to file a wrongful death claim on his or her behalf. However, you will need ample evidence and a strong case to successfully recover compensation through a wrongful death settlement or award.

Modern vehicles are designed to keep the occupants as safe as possible and avoid serious injuries and fatalities during a collision. Unfortunately, some car accidents still result in injuries that change the course of a person's life forever.

If you or someone close to you suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis during a car crash, you may be unsure what to do next. One of the most important things to do at this time is to speak with a personal injury attorney who can help you determine whether you may have a valid claim for damages.

Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis have a massive impact on an individual’s ability to earn a living and function on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, the cost of medical care can be astronomical. A personal injury claim against the at-fault party may allow for the recovery of financial compensation for these and other expenses.

When most people think about the causes of catastrophic commercial truck accidents, they picture an intoxicated driver, a semi-truck speeding out of control, or a truck with malfunctioning brakes. However, the causes of some of the worst truck accidents are sometimes as seemingly insignificant as loading too much cargo on one side of the trailer.

Proper loading and securement of truck cargo is essential for the safety of the truck driver, other motorists and passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. When freight is loaded unevenly or is not properly tied down in the truck, the truck can become off-balanced and harder to control. In some cases, a commercial truck may even tip over because of an unbalanced load.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a commercial truck accident, it is possible that improper cargo loading and securement played a role in the crash. The trucking company or the party who loaded the cargo may be liable for damages.

The brain controls everything from thoughts and memory to digestion and movement. Medical professionals and researchers still do not fully understand this highly complex organ. However, what is known is that an injury to the brain can have severe, lifelong consequences.

If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, slip and fall accident, or another incident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for damages. Expenses, including your hospital care, lost income caused by missed work, lost earning capacity, and other damages, may be reimbursable.

Physical, Emotional, and Mental Consequences of a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury is a term that applies to a wide range of injuries. For example, a concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury. However, most concussion sufferers eventually recover completely and do not suffer significant long-term effects. That being said, there are people who suffer from post-concussion syndrome, which can cause ongoing physical and mental symptoms such as headaches and problems concentrating.

Most of us know that we should get eight hours of sleep a night. However, between work, caring for children, managing household duties, and other responsibilities, most people do not have enough time to get the sleep that they need. Unfortunately, sleepiness is not just annoying, it can be extremely dangerous.

When drivers are sleep deprived, they are much more likely to make dangerous mistakes behind the wheel. Research shows that some drivers even experience microsleeps, or short bursts of sleep that are only a few seconds long. However, when you are driving 60 miles an hour, even a lapse of concentration of a few seconds is enough to cause a serious or even deadly accident.

If you or a loved one were involved in a car crash and you suspect that the other driver was asleep at the wheel or too fatigued to drive safely, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover compensation.

The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries to work in. Construction workers are required to work with massive machinery, atop dizzyingly high structures, and in very unstable environments. They are prone to a variety of serious injuries that can lead to disability or death.

Equipment or machine malfunctions, struck-by accidents, severe falls, and structural collapses are just some of the ways that construction workers may suffer catastrophic injuries. Amputations are one of the most damaging injuries construction works can sustain on the job.

Severe Injuries Leading to Amputation of a Limb

When a hand, foot, arm, or leg is severely injured in a construction accident, there may be nothing that doctors can do to save the injured body part. The only option may be amputation of the injured limb. This surgery can have a huge impact on a worker’s life, as they may no longer be able to do their job or even perform basic everyday tasks. The worker may suffer from excruciating pain, numbness, or even "phantom limb syndrome," a condition in which the patient feels as if their amputated limb is still there.

Few would argue that driving a semi-truck across the country is not a physically and emotionally taxing job. However, commercial truck drivers still have an ethical responsibility and a legal obligation to drive safely. Car accidents involving large commercial trucks often lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities.

One of the most concerning issues involving commercial truck accidents is the prevalence of drug and alcohol use use behind the wheel. If you or a loved one were involved in a commercial truck accident and you suspect that the truck driver may have been intoxicated, consult with a truck accident injury lawyer right away. You may be entitled to restitution.

Studies Suggest Truck Drivers May Use Drugs and Alcohol to Cope with Work Stress

One of the hardest parts about being a commercial truck driver is the unusual work schedule. Drivers often drive for long hours and must find time to sleep whenever they can. Their work schedules may change significantly from week to week, making it difficult to maintain a regular sleep-wake rhythm. Unfortunately, some drivers cope with this issue by using drugs or alcohol.

When we think about car accident injuries, we typically focus on injuries caused by blunt force trauma or penetrating injuries. However, this is not the only danger that car accident victims face. If a collision involves an explosion, fire, or leak of toxic substances, the accident victims could suffer serious and sometimes fatal inhalation injuries. This is an especially great concern in crashes involving commercial trucks hauling hazardous materials.

Inhalation injuries caused by toxic fumes in a car accident may involve lung damage from breathing in smoke or particulates, aspiration of liquids into the lungs, carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, and other potentially life-threatening injuries.

Exposure to Toxic Chemicals in a Car Crash

Smoke and gases released in a collision often contain extremely harmful chemicals called chemical asphyxiants. When inhaled, substances like hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, propane, ethane, and methane prevent a person from getting enough oxygen. The extent of the damage caused by chemical asphyxiants depends on how much of the substance was inhaled and how long the person was exposed to the dangerous chemicals.

While there are many injuries that a victim could suffer in a car accident, some are more severe than others. Life-altering and life-threatening injuries can result in extreme financial losses and may even cause financial devastation for the victim and their family, not to mention the severe physical and mental effects. If you have suffered a traumatic injury, a qualified personal injury attorney can help you pursue the most compensation possible.

Severe Head Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most common injuries in car crashes, and they can be deadly because they are easy to overlook. Victims may not have an open wound, bruise, or bump. In fact, a victim might not have even hit his or her head since a traumatic brain injury can be caused by a sudden jarring of the brain, not necessarily a blow to the head. If you notice symptoms of confusion, loss of consciousness, persistent headaches, or other strange symptoms, you should contact a healthcare professional immediately. A victim could also sustain a skull fracture or a penetrating head wound, both of which could be fatal, especially when not promptly treated.

Penetrating Chest and Abdominal Injuries

Any penetration of the body is typically considered a medical emergency, but those involving the chest or abdominal area can quickly turn into a fatal situation. The lungs, heart, bowels, liver, kidneys, and major blood vessels are all contained within these areas of the body. Injuries from a penetrating wound often require complicated emergency surgery to repair, and this can come with high expenses for which you may be able to seek compensation through a personal injury claim.

A car accident can have serious consequences, especially when the person who caused the accident was driving while drunk. Physical injury, emotional trauma, vehicle damage, and long-term medical care are all too common after a bad drunk driving incident. Although the drunk driver is often the person facing a lawsuit, the bar at which the driver got drunk may, under certain circumstances, also be held responsible for the accident. If you have suffered personal injury in a car crash caused by someone driving under the influence, an experienced Chicago personal injury can help you take legal action. 

What Is Illinois’ Dram Shop Law? 

All states have laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors, or so-called “dram shop” laws. Most states, including Illinois, combine these laws with statutes that allow bars, restaurants, and other establishments that serve and sell alcohol to an intoxicated person to be held liable for injuries caused by that person’s actions when they leave the premises. 

Each state’s dram shop law is slightly different. In Illinois, the Liquor Control Act or “Dram Shop Act” allows commercial vendors to be held liable for damages or injuries caused by a drunk driver so long as the following criteria are met: 

Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists often have to share the same roads. When motorists fail to obey traffic laws and pay attention to their surroundings, they may hit pedestrians or cyclists, causing catastrophic accidents. A human body is no match for a motor vehicle, and pedestrian accident victims are often left with severe, life-changing injuries. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a pedestrian accident, it is important to understand your legal options fully.

Pedestrian Crashes Caused by Negligent Drivers

Part of being a responsible driver is remaining cautious of other people on the roads. Many pedestrian crashes are caused by distracted driving. Pedestrian accidents may occur because a driver is absorbed in their smartphone, looking down at the car’s GPS system, distracted by passengers, or simply daydreaming. Drivers intoxicated by alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications may also present dangers to pedestrians. Speeding, running a red light, or other traffic violations can result in devastating pedestrian injuries as well. If you or a loved one were involved in a pedestrian crash caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Seeking Justice and Compensation

By law, drivers in Illinois must carry car insurance. If a person is hit by a car, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is usually the first place they seek compensation. Unfortunately, dealing with the auto insurance company can be confusing and frustrating—especially when recovering from a serious injury. Insurance companies may offer a very low payout or outright deny the driver’s liability for the accident. If an injured person cannot negotiate a reasonable settlement from the insurance company, the next step may be to file a personal injury lawsuit.  

In 2018, the news broke that a company in the Chicago suburbs had been releasing ethylene oxide, a toxic gas, into the community, potentially putting residents at risk. Sterigenics, which operated a medical device sterilization facility located in Willowbrook, was accused of failing to take the proper measures to protect public safety, and it has faced a large number of personal injury lawsuits by people who claimed that they contracted cancer or other conditions after living or working near the facility. Recently, Sotera Health, the parent company of Sterigenics, reached a settlement agreement that would allow it to resolve nearly all of these lawsuits.

What Is Ethylene Oxide?

Ethylene oxide is a colorless gas that has been used for decades as a sterilizing and fumigation agent in a variety of industries. It is used in the medical device industry to sterilize single-use instruments, surgical gowns and drapes, endoscopes, and other medical items. While ethylene oxide can be an effective sterilization agent, it is also highly toxic. Some studies have found that ethylene oxide can cause cancer and other serious health conditions if people are exposed to it over long periods of time. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared that ethylene oxide is a hazardous air pollutant.

$408 Million Settlement Following $363 Million Verdict

Since 2018, over 800 lawsuits have been filed against Sterigenics and Sotera Health. In September of 2022, a verdict was reached in the first lawsuit, and a jury ruled in favor of a woman who had contracted breast cancer after living near the Willowbrook facility. She was awarded $363 million. However, in the second lawsuit, a jury found in favor of Sterigenics and did not award any compensation to the plaintiff.

In the 1980s and 90s, the primary safety messages for drivers were aimed at lowering the number of people killed by drunk drivers. In today’s world, drinking and driving is still something we educate drivers about, but another danger that may not be as obvious lurks in the shadows: distracted driving. According to federal estimates, more than 3,000 motorists and passengers are killed in distracted driving accidents in average year in the United States. If you have been injured in an accident involving a distracted driver, understanding what caused the accident may help you obtain compensation.

Common Types of Driving Distractions

When you think of a driving distraction, your mind likely jumps to a cell phone or other electronic device. While these are some of the most common distractions for drivers, there are many different types of distractions that a variety of things can cause. For example, things both inside and outside of the vehicle can pose as distractions.

There are three main types of distractions that a driver can face:

Construction workers have incredibly important and incredibly dangerous jobs. Building and repairing structures and roads often requires workers to use dangerous equipment, climb to great heights, or work in deep trenches. Safety precautions can prevent most accidents, but construction site injuries and deaths can still occur. In fact, about 20 percent of worker fatalities in the United States occur in the construction industry.  

If you were injured while working in construction, it is important to understand your rights. You may be entitled to compensation for your lost income and medical bills. Depending on the circumstances of the injury, you may also be able to pursue a third-party claim and seek further damages.

Injuries From Construction Accidents

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established strict safety regulations for the construction industry. Unfortunately, these standards are not always followed. Mistakes and carelessness can lead to preventable accidents in which workers and bystanders are severely injured.

More than five million people in the United States have some form of paralysis. People’s lives are forever changed when they lose the ability to move part or all of their body. A car crash is one of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis which can be physically difficult. Adapting to your new way of life can also be challenging psychologically. If you or a loved one was paralyzed due to a car crash, and the injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against the responsible driver.

Recognizing Paralysis

Paralysis occurs when someone is unable to make voluntary muscle movements. The ability to control your body after a spinal cord injury hinges on the severity of the injury and what part of the spinal cord sustains the injury. The impact of a car crash often injures the spinal cord and although you may not feel the pain right away you should see a doctor right away. These are some signs and symptoms that something is not right:

• Loss of movement

  ...

If you have an abnormal heart rhythm you may need a pacemaker to maintain a consistent heart rate. You trust that the device implanted into your body is safe and efficient. However, if a pacemaker is not properly manufactured or tested, it can cause serious injuries or even death. At Schwartz Injury Law we represent the interests of our clients who have suffered injuries due to a defective medical device.

Defective Medical Products Can Cause Irreparable Damage

Doctors will implant pacemakers near the heart so that they deliver electrical shocks and impulses. This is designed to maintain a normal heart rate. Despite strict regulations by the Food and Drug Administration, time pressures and tight budgets can force a manufacturer to rush a device to market before it is thoroughly tested.

Unfortunately, it usually takes several reports of injuries or harmful effects before a recall is issued. That can lead a defective medical product to injure hundreds or thousands of people before something is done to address the problem.

New research has found that colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer are now the leading three health conditions that are most commonly missed by physicians. This stands to be extremely detrimental for cancer patients. Often, when cancer is not quickly caught it spreads throughout the body. Early detection is still the key to saving lives but unfortunately, 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed every year. These medical errors result in various health complications and in some cases death. If you or a loved one has been misdiagnosed you could have a medical malpractice lawsuit on your hands.

Misdiagnosis Pitfalls

It can be difficult for physicians to diagnose complicated health conditions and we acknowledge that not every missed diagnosis can be considered a medical malpractice claim. However, new research found at least 21 pitfalls when it comes to making the right diagnosis. These are some of the top reasons why a diagnosis can be delayed or incorrectly made:

• Mistaking one disease for another

  ...

The birth of a child is a time of joy and hope. It is hard to imagine that the leading cause of illness and death for newborns is their inability to breathe when they first come into this world. This health problem occurs when the baby’s first stool or meconium passes into the amniotic fluid during labor and delivery. Unfortunately, meconium aspiration birth injuries occur in about five to ten percent of all births.

Detecting the Problem  

Meconium is the stool passed by a newborn after birth before they begin feeding. Sometimes, the baby passes meconium while inside the womb. When the baby inhales or aspirates this fluid into the lungs it makes breathing very difficult. It is known as meconium aspiration syndrome. The meconium can block the infant's airways because the baby’s lungs swell up. Low-birth babies or those delivered past their term face the greatest risk. The birth and delivery team should also know that if the mother has diabetes or high blood pressure the risk factors are even greater. Here are some ways medical staff can look for meconium aspiration: 

• Spot greenish or dark streaks in the amniotic fluid.
• Use a fetal monitor to keep an eye on a slow heart rate.
• A chest x-ray can show patchy areas on the lungs.
• A laryngoscope can check for meconium stains on the vocal cords
• Abnormal breathing including coarse sounds can be heard through a stethoscope.
• A blood gas analysis is to check for low oxygen and acidity in the blood.

 The baby should be placed in intensive care. Antibiotics to fight infection and machines that keep the baby’s lungs inflated are often necessary.

Earlier this month, United States Armed Forces servicemembers and activists celebrated a major milestone: Legislation was finally signed into law that will help veterans exposed to different kinds of toxic substances during their service recover damages for their injuries. An important part of this legislation aims to help servicemembers, their families, and employees who were living at Camp Lejeune from 1953 through 1987, when leaking toxic substances from a nearby dry cleaning factory tainted the drinking water with dangerous chemicals. Exposure to these chemicals resulted in many long-term and even fatal illnesses for many people and now, thanks to this legislation, they can now pursue compensation for their injuries. 

How Can I Prove I Lived at Camp Lejeune? 

Unfortunately, getting benefits for injuries sustained at Camp Lejeune is not an instant guarantee. Victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination will need to prove that they were at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987. They will also need to show evidence that they were injured by the water at Camp Lejeune. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can help servicemembers obtain records of their military service. Personnel Files can be requested online using the VA’s website or by mailing or faxing requests to the National Personnel Records Center. Family members of deceased servicemembers can get records for their loved ones as well.