No parent ever expects that a product or toy they purchase could injure or kill the child for which it is intended. Yet, every year, there are between 400 and 450 recalls of products in the interest of safety. In 2017, there were 251,700 injuries related to toys alone, as reported by emergency rooms to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Kids getting minor injuries related to playtime is unavoidable, but the negligence of a company and serious injury or death can be avoided.

How Do Recalls Work?

When a faulty product is discovered, it is the company’s job to report the defect to the government. You may recall seeing flyers around your regular retailer's about recalls. When a product is recalled, it is completely up to the consumer to follow through with reaching out to the company. Recalls are also listed on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website, where company contact information and remedies to the defect are also available. If a consumer ignores or is unaware of a recall, he or she is potentially putting themselves or loved ones in danger.

A recall can happen to may different kinds of products, but here are a couple of popular recalls regarding products for children:

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, and the last thing on your mind should be a personal injury lawsuit. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, even during the most wonderful time of the year. Tripping or falling over Christmas lights of your own doing is one thing, but what if your injury is caused by the negligence of someone else?

What is Negligence?

Negligence is when a person could have done something to prevent an unfortunate outcome but did not, either due to ignorance or laziness. For example, if a store owner refuses to clean up a spill and someone ends up getting hurt, the injured party is considered a victim of negligence.

Most Common Injuries During the Christmas Season

During 2011 through 2015, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported over 1,700 Christmas related injuries in 100 hospitals. Here are a collection of those common Christmas injuries.

The decision to place an elderly parent or another family member in a nursing home is often made with best intentions. Common tasks may become impossible for your elderly loved one to complete, and a nursing home can provide around-the-clock care to make them more comfortable. You may feel guilty for not being able to provide the care yourself, but nursing homes have health professionals that are experienced in the needs of elderly people.

You want to think that your loved one is safe in your nursing home of choice, but one out of ten elders experience some form of neglect in a nursing home.

There are four main types of neglect that are seen in a nursing home:

Running a business without workers' compensation insurance is considered a felony. Under Illinois Workers’ Compensation Laws, almost all workers are eligible for workers compensation. A couple of exceptions are farm workers and Federal employees.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

Employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance, which provides financial stability and medical care for employees who are facing injuries that were caused by an accident in the workplace or their working conditions. It is there to help employees heal from their ordeal, physically and emotionally. 

If you are unsure about whether your work-related injuries are eligible for workers' compensation, here are some of the most common workers' compensation claims:

Kane County is no stranger to cold and snowy winters. During the second week of February of this year, St. Charles received over 14 inches of snow over a span of four days. Shoveling the driveway and sidewalk is hard enough, but what happens when you need to operate a vehicle during the harsh Midwest winter?

Statistics

Every year, approximately 900 people are killed in an auto accident during winter precipitation, and 1,300 are killed because of pre-existing road conditions such as snow, ice, or slush. Thousands more are injured, despite almost 75 percent of the United States regularly experiencing winter weather.

In an act of preparing for the harsh winter ahead, here are some tips for keeping safe on the roads, despite unfavorable conditions:

We have truck drivers to thank for providing goods and services across the county. However, these massive vehicles are one of the most dangerous on the road, weighing up to 80,000 pounds. Any accident on the road can be deadly, but when an 18-wheeler is involved, catastrophic personal injury can occur. Driver fatigue is often blamed for accidents involving trucks, but overworking is not always the cause of a truck accident.

What Are Truck Driver Labor Laws?

In the United States, truck drivers must keep a 24-hour logbook while on duty. Commercial motor drivers can only work 11 cumulative hours within a 14 hour period. Drivers are then required to rest for a minimum of ten hours. A recent mandate has made electronic onboard recorders mandatory, which record the actual driving time of a truck.

Anyone would be tired after an 11 hour work day, but there are a list of other factors that could contribute to a truck accident.

After bringing a child into the world, you do your best to provide a safe environment for them to grow up in. You may put locks on cupboards, and a gate in front of the basement stairs, but what happens when a product you purchase puts your infant in harm's way? Poor design or a manufacturing flaw in a product can result in injury or death to your child. Common injuries involved in a products liability suit may include:

• Choking,
• Burns,
• Amputation,
• Lacerations, and
• Strangulation.

Defective Baby Products Can Cause Death or Injury to an Infant

Something seemingly safe for your child may result in death or injury. Here are some examples of products for infants that are seen as hazards, or have been recalled due to bodily harm to a child.

Baby Slings - A benefit of baby slings are that they create a close bond between the wearer and child. It acts as a pouch and allows the wearer to carry the baby, hands-free. Yet, after an estimated 14 deaths occurred because of suffocation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning in 2010 that baby slings should not be used with newborns and infants under four months old. In the scenario that the sling covers the nose and mouth of a child, infants this young do not have the neck muscle development to move away.

For the average adult, one-third of your life is spent at work. Your workplace is a familiar space and, especially for traditionally non-hazardous spaces like an office, it may be hard to believe when a serious accident occurs. No matter who is at fault for the accident, you have rights as an employee to submit a claim for any pain and suffering sustained while at work. Suffering an injury at work is a scary and unsure time. Here are a collection of frequently asked questions in regards to workers compensation in Illinois.

What Is Workers Compensation?

According to the Illinois Handbook On Workers Compensation And Occupational Diseases, workers compensation is defined as a system, for most employees, to receive benefits by law after a workplace injury or disease developed from an occupational hazard.

What Should I Do After An Accident?

Ideally, you should tell your employer right away after an injury at work, but you can wait up to 45 days to report the incident without a delay of benefits. In the notice to your employer about your accident, you should include the day and place of the incident. If you are unable to work three days after the accident, your employer should begin paying Temporary Total Disability within 14 days or have a written explanation of why benefits are being withheld.

Car accidents are inevitable with human error. However, the likelihood of an accident is significantly higher when the driver behind the wheel is under the influence of alcohol. Approximately one-fourth of all fatal car accident victims in Illinois in 2016 were alcohol-related. There were also 29,528 DUI arrests in the same year, as reported by the Secretary of State’s office. A drunk driver perceives the road differently than a sober driver, and sometimes defensive driving is not enough to protect yourself.

What Is A DUI?

A DUI, or Driving Under the Influence, is when a person is operating a motor vehicle while under a mind-altering substance. DUI’s are most known for alcohol offenses, but they also include:

• Drugs,
• Marijuana,
• Methamphetamines.

Whether a person is operating a vehicle illegally depends on the concentration of the substance in their system. A person is considered under the influence of alcohol in Illinois if their Blood Alcohol Content is .08 or more. A person with a lower level of alcohol in their system can still be charged if their driving is affected by the substance.

Most practitioners experience at least one medical malpractice lawsuit during their career. Obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYN) and surgeons are the most commonly sued in the medical world. In fact, according to a Medscape study, 85% of OB/GYN specialists have been sued.

What is Medical Malpractice?

When a healthcare professional or medical establishment causes harm to a patient because of negligence, this is medical malpractice. One-third of lawsuits related to an OB/GYN practice is the result of an injury during care. Examples of medical malpractice include:

• Misreading results,
• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose,
• Surgical error,
• Unnecessary surgery, and
• Improper follow-up.

Obstetric and Gynecology Medical Malpractice Issues

OB/GYNs are unique in the way that they can be responsible for handling two patients at once, as obstetrics is the care of a woman throughout her pregnancy. An OB/GYN should ensure that mom and baby are doing well, and follow up on anything that can pose a risk to either. When it comes to an expecting mother, medical malpractice in an OB/GYN office may result in the injury or death of a mother, her child, or both.

Working in the construction industry is nothing like a 9:00 am to 5:00 pm office job. It is one of the most dangerous industries to work in. According to the United States Department of Labor, for every five workplace deaths, one is a construction worker. Aside from working at potentially dangerous heights, construction workers also deal with harsh chemicals and powerful equipment that can be deadly when used improperly.

Workers Compensation in Illinois

When an accident happens on a construction site in Illinois, the law says the victim can only file a workers compensation claim, but not a personal injury claim, against the employer. Third parties, however, can be held accountable for a personal injury claim.

Despite the dangerous conditions of construction work, accidents can be prevented. It is the responsibility of a construction company to keep employees safe to the best of their ability. Here are some ways to build safety in the construction community:

On the road, cyclists must abide by many of the same rules as drivers in Illinois. That being said, an accident with a bicycle should be handled similarly to that as an accident with another motor vehicle. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the majority of car accidents involving a bicycle happen in non-intersectional areas of the road in urban areas.

Bicycle Specific Road Laws

• Designated bike lanes are for bicyclists only. Cars are prohibited from parking, driving, or idling in these spaces, even when there are no bikes in the lane. Bicyclists are allowed to leave the bike lane and bike on the road, but for safety reasons, it is discouraged for cyclists to do so;
• Bicyclists are prohibited on most expressways and highways, and any other marked road;
• The right of way is granted to bicyclists the same as a motor vehicles;
• Criminal charged may be filed if a motorists passes too close to a cyclist and the result is a crash.

An accident with a bicyclist may be more intimidating than with another vehicle. People on bicycles have little protection on the road, even with a helmet. In Illinois, adult riders can choose whether to wear a helmet or not.

What to do?

An accident with a vehicle can be deadly to a bicyclist, and any accident, no matter how small, can be jarring. It is important to stay calm and act promptly. Take a moment to react, but no matter what, do not drive away.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 6,296,000 traffic crashes were reported to police. Out of those, 737,100 were estimated to have been hit-and-run accidents, or nearly 12 percent of all accidents. Hit-and-run accidents can leave you devastated and confused. Unforeseen medical bills and unplanned vehicle repairs can become costly very quickly. If you have been a victim of a hit-and-run car accident, your actions after the accident can be determinant of whether or not you receive the compensation you deserve.

What Constitutes a Hit-and-Run Accident?

If a person is involved in a car accident, they are required by law to stop and give information to others involved in that car accident. If they fail to do so, they can be guilty of a hit-and-run accident. If they cannot return to the scene of the crime, or nobody is around to collect their information, they must report the accident to the nearest police department and provide their information at that time. If a report is not made within 30 minutes of the accident, they may be guilty of a hit-and-run.

Steps to Take After the Accident

Being in any car accident can leave you shaken up, but the actions you take directly after the accident can mean the difference between compensation and no compensation.

Having a child is an important milestone in many adults’ lives. In some cases, births do not go as smoothly as planned and injuries happen to the mother, the infant or both. Birth injuries can be devastating to both the parents and the infant because they can cause lifelong symptoms and can affect your baby’s growth and development. There are many different types of birth injuries that range from mild to severe, but any preventable birth injury is an unacceptable outcome of poor decision-making or negligence on the doctor’s part.

Causes of Birth Injuries

A birth injury can be caused by a number of things, some due to decisions made by your doctor and some associated with conditions present before or during the baby’s birth. Risk factors for birth injuries can include:

• Large birth weight, over 8 pounds, 13 ounces;
• Premature babies born before 37 weeks' gestation;
• Mother’s pelvis is too small for a vaginal birth or not shaped correctly;
• Difficult or prolonged labor; and
• Abnormal birthing presentation, such as a breech delivery.

Birth injuries can also be caused by decisions made by your doctor. These causes can include:

Dogs have been considered man’s best friend for centuries. Researchers estimated that animal companionship dates back tens of thousands of years. Currently, around 68 percent of households in the United States own a pet, with the majority of those pets being dogs. Dogs make great companions because of their desire to please their owners and their typically jolly demeanor.

Like all animals, dogs will defend themselves when they feel it necessary, and they do so by biting. Being animals, dogs’ mouths are full of different kinds of bacteria, some of which can be deadly when introduced to a human’s bloodstream. With powerful jaws that can cause major damage, dogs can cause bite injuries that are so severe, they require extensive medical treatment.

Injuries From Dog Bites

Dogs are omnivores, but the main part of their diet is protein, which means that their bodies were designed to hunt other animals. Dogs have powerful jaws and sharp teeth that can easily injure humans. Types of injuries that can happen when you are bitten include:

Getting injured at work can be a scary experience. Not only are you suffering a physical injury, but you are also probably worried about how you will pay your bills if you cannot work. Thankfully, all employers are required to have what is called workers’ compensation insurance, which is insurance designed to help workers who are injured on the job. In Illinois, workers’ compensation is required to provide three types of benefits to injured workers: medical benefits, disability benefits, and death benefits. These different types of benefits can greatly help employees and their families if an accident does happen. 

Medical Benefits

The first and most basic benefit that is provided by workers’ compensation is medical benefits. If you are injured while you are at work, your employer is required to pay for all of the medical expenses relating to your injury. Expenses that are covered can include:

• First aid;
• Emergency care, such as ER costs and ambulance rides;
• Doctor visits;
• Hospital care;
• Surgery;
• Physical therapy;
• Chiropractic treatment;
• Prosthetics;
• Prescription medications; and
• Medical appliances.

If your injury results in a permanent disability, the cost of devices, such as a wheelchair or wheelchair ramp, may be covered as well.

Unfortunately for drivers in the United States, injuries from car accidents are not uncommon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly three million people were injured and over 40,000 people were killed due to motor vehicle accidents in 2016. Injuries from car accidents can range from mild to severe and can greatly impact your life. One of the most important things you can do to make sure you are in the best position to receive a favorable settlement is preserving and recording damages and evidence resulting from the car accident. Here are four ways to document the damage:

1. Take Your Own Notes of the Accident

By taking notes immediately after the accident while you are still at the scene, you are minimizing the possibility of memory loss. Chances are, your case will not be settled for months after the accident occurred, which is why it is important to document what occurred while your memory is still fresh. You should note:

• Where and when the accident occurred.
• What happened during the accident.
• The road and weather conditions at the time.
• The names, contact information, and insurance information of others involved in the crash.
• The names and contact information of any witnesses to the crash.
• Witnesses’ accounts of what they saw.

2. Take Photos

Taking photos of damages to your car and injuries that you or a passenger sustained will be key in proving your case. Before anything is moved or any injuries are treated, try to take as many photos as possible from as many different angles as you can. Take pictures of exterior and interior damage for all vehicles involved, their license plates, the area surrounding the accident, and injuries of any parties involved.

Nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2016. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  has reported that pedestrians are one of the only groups that have experienced an increase in fatalities in recent years; in fact, pedestrian deaths have been increasing since 2009. Pedestrian safety is a widespread issue, since at some point every day, everyone is a pedestrian. Pedestrian accidents can result in serious injuries and, in some cases, death, which is why it is important to understand the causes of these accidents and what you can do to decrease your chances of being seriously injured in a collision with a vehicle.

What Increases the Risk of Pedestrian Accidents?

The NHTSA has done extensive research on pedestrian accidents in an effort to grasp why they happen so frequently and what can be done to decrease their prevalence. Studies have discovered that certain risk factors play a part in whether or not a person is likely to be involved in a pedestrian accident:

August is the peak of the summer temperatures, which means that more and more people are heading to pools, lakes, rivers, and beaches to cool off. Though swimming is a fun and refreshing activity during these sultry months, it can also be a dangerous one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four and the second leading cause of death for children ages five through 14. Drownings are tragic accidents, but they are avoidable with proper precautions and safety measures. Here are tips to keep your children safe around water this summer:

1. Make Learning a Priority

One of the best ways to combat drowning is by teaching your kids to know what to do when they are in water. Babies can be taught to float on their backs if they fall into the water, and children can be taught how to swim. Most of the time, you can find swimming classes at your local recreation center or school. As a parent, you should also know how to perform CPR if it becomes necessary. These classes are often given at local Red Cross organizations, hospitals, or schools.

You go to work every day having some degree of expectation for what your day will be like. But nobody knows when an accident will happen--that is why they are called accidents. Thankfully, the United States has a system in place to help those who have been injured on the job. The workers' compensation program allows injured workers to receive compensation for lost wages, have their medical bills relating to the accident paid, and receive disability pay if the accident results in temporary or permanent loss of earning capacity. In order to receive these benefits, you must follow guidelines to have your case submitted and approved. Knowing what steps to take after a workplace accident is crucial to getting benefits that are owed to you.

1. Get Medical Attention

This may seem obvious, but the way you go about getting treated for your workplace injuries can impact how your case is handled. Often, employers will have what is called a Preferred Provider Program (PPP) in which there is a network of approved medical providers that you can see. Within your employer’s PPP, you have the choice of two physicians. If your employer does not have a PPP, you have the choice of any two providers. If you decline to use providers in the employer’s PPP, you use one of your choices, and you can choose to go to any doctor or hospital, but any further change of providers must be approved by your employer.