Recent Blog Posts
What Kinds of Injuries Cause Paraplegia and Quadriplegia?
While some people are born paralyzed, the vast majority of paralysis occurs because of an accident. When someone has gone their entire life enjoying the full use of their limbs, a sudden transition to full or partial paralysis is devastating. In addition to the loss of enjoyment from activities like sports, hobbies, and exercise, people who suffer from sudden paralysis as the result of an injury often struggle with depression, expensive and long-term medical treatment, relationship loss, and permanent changes to the type of work they are able to do
If you or someone you love suffers from full or partial paralysis as the result of a recent accident or medical incident, contact an Illinois personal injury attorney to learn whether you can seek justice against the responsible party. A personal injury lawsuit will not bring back full mobility, but it can help compensate victims by providing the funds they need to adjust to their new life
Did Labor Complications Lead to Cerebral Palsy?
It is heartbreaking for parents to hear that their child has a permanent medical condition that could have been prevented. Prolonged childbirth can often lead to cerebral palsy and other health risks for your baby. If this happened to your newborn, your child is now facing a future of limited independence and long-term treatment that can vary depending on the severity of the disorder. If you suspect malpractice during your pregnancy, labor, delivery, and neonatal care we can help you and your family.
Negligent Medical Team
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage that occurs to the immature brain, most often during childbirth or shortly afterward. It affects your child’s ability to move and maintain balance. This condition will dramatically affect your child’s quality of life forever.
The most common causes of cerebral palsy due to birth injury are deprivation of oxygen to the brain and head trauma before, during, or shortly after birth. Some frequent medical errors and conditions related to oxygen deprivation include:
What You Should Know About Vision Loss Caused by Car Accidents
Vision loss may not be life-threatening, but it will alter your life forever. Whether you lose your eyesight partially or permanently it can be devastating. You will have to re-learn tasks that you used to take for granted and make constant adjustments. If you or your loved one lost their vision due to someone else’s negligence you may be eligible for a personal injury claim to ensure your medical and financial needs are addressed.
How a Car Crash Can Lead to Blindness
Car accidents are among the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries. What is more, many eye injuries result from head trauma or brain injuries sustained in a car crash. Partial or total blindness is one of the most catastrophic injuries you could experience, and it can happen in the blink of an eye, no pun intended.
Here are some ways in which car crash head traumas can lead to blindness:
Medical Malpractice Claims Resulting from Lab Test Mistakes
Laboratory tests are used to assess a person's bodily fluids or tissues for signs of disease. Test results can also help doctors and patients understand their risk of illnesses like diabetes or adverse health events such as heart attacks. When laboratory tests are administered, analyzed, and reported correctly, they can be invaluable medical tools. Unfortunately, error-ridden lab tests can do more harm than good and may even lead to medical malpractice claims.
Lab Test Results Are Crucial
Some of the most common lab tests used to diagnose illnesses and assess risk for disease include:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
- Lipid panel
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test
- Urinalysis
Of course, there are countless other lab tests that could be used to identify more specific condisionts. These tests are often performed in hospital or clinic laboratories, but they may also be done in independent labs. No matter where the tests are conducted, human error can occur at any stage, from specimen collection to final results reporting. Doctors can only make informed decisions about patient treatment when they have accurate lab test results. Similarly, patients need accurate test results to understand the lifestyle changes or medical interventions needed to promote good health.
Causes and Consequences of Cell Phone Use Behind the Wheel
Smartphones and other portable electronic devices have revolutionized the way we work, communicate with loved ones, navigate roads, and handle our daily affairs. Unfortunately, some people are so reliant on their cell phones that they cannot put their devices down even while driving. Distracted driving causes auto accidents every day in the U.S. Some distracted driving victims are able to walk away from the collision. Others are left with life-threatening injuries that leave permanent damage.
Smartphone Use While Driving is Ubiquitous
There are many reasons people use their cell phones while driving. Some people think they can multi-task and handle a phone call or text message while behind the wheel. Others are simply addicted to their devices and cannot bear to part with them even for a few minutes. Whatever the reason, cell phone use while driving is dangerous and puts everyone on the road at risk.
Top 5 Most Life-Changing Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Unlike drivers in passenger vehicles, motorcyclists are not covered by their vehicles in the event of a crash. Helmets and other safety gear offer some protection. However, someone riding a motorcycle is much more likely to be severely or fatally injured in a crash.
If you or someone you love were involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important to seek legal guidance from a qualified attorney. Motorcycle accident injuries can have a long-term impact on a person’s health and quality of life. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for damages you or your loved one incurred due to the injuries.
Catastrophic Motorcycle Crash Injuries
The consequences of a major motorcycle wreck are often disastrous. Some of the most severe injuries that riders face after a serious accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Motorcycle riders are especially vulnerable to TBIs because they are not surrounded by a vehicle frame. A helmet can help protect your head in a crash, but it is not always enough to prevent a TBI.
Malpractice Claims for Cosmetic Surgery Mistakes
Surgeons perform over 15 million cosmetic procedures each year in the United States. Cosmetic surgeries such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction, abdominoplasties, and facelifts are more popular than ever. Unfortunately, not all of these surgeries are without incident. Surgical errors during cosmetic procedures can lead to disfigurement, infections, blood clots, brain damage, and even death. Sadly, some cosmetic surgery malpractice victims are not taken as seriously as they should be. Some people believe that because cosmetic surgery is elective, a surgical malpractice victim is less deserving of compensation.
Fortunately, the law does not discriminate between necessary and elective surgery. If you were harmed as a result of a surgical error during a cosmetic procedure, you may be able to sue for monetary damages.
How Does a Truck Accident Lawsuit Work?
You may already know that commercial trucking companies and truck drivers are held to especially high legal standards. If someone is hurt or loses a loved one in a crash involving a commercial truck, they may be able to file a lawsuit and recover monetary damages. However, many truck accident victims fail to take legal action because they are unsure of how the truck accident injury claim process works. The idea may seem too confusing and overwhelming to even consider.
The good news is that victims of truck crashes do not have to handle everything on their own. Personal injury lawyers provide step-by-step legal guidance for these types of situations. This blog will explain the main components of a truck accident claim so you can better understand your rights and options.
Steps in a Commercial Truck Crash Injury Claim
It is important to understand that truck accident injury cases vary depending on the state laws, circumstances of the crash, the at-fault party, and other factors. However, many truck crash injury claims follow a similar pattern:
Study: Sleep Deprived Doctors Are Four Times More Likely to Make Mistakes
Almost everyone has experienced the sensation of sleep deprivation at some point in their lives. Whether it is a new parent kept awake by a crying baby or an employee working a double shift, not getting enough sleep can be miserable. However, when the sleep deprived person is a doctor or surgeon, the effects of sleep deprivation can be catastrophic. Medical mistakes caused by sleep deprived medical professionals can lead to significant patient injuries and even death.
Medical Errors Caused by Doctor Fatigue
Studies show that doctors who have not slept are much more likely to make medical errors. One study found that junior doctors working a 34-hour shift were over 400 percent more likely to make a diagnostic mistake. Another study found that moderate sleep deprivation caused a 53 percent increase in serious medical errors while significant sleep deprivation caused a 97 percent increase in medical errors.
Understanding Your Rights After a Fatal Pedestrian Accident
Losing a family member in a pedestrian accident is one of the most shocking and devastating things a person can go through. The devastation cuts even deeper if the collision was caused by a driver’s negligent or reckless actions.
Individuals who have lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver. A wrongful death claim cannot undo the grief and despair resulting from the death. However, a claim may accomplish two vitally important acts: Holding the driver accountable and recovering financial compensation for damages.
Wrongful Death Laws in Illinois
Illinois law states that a wrongful death is a death caused by the negligent or wrongful actions of another party. Negligent driving is an umbrella term that includes nearly countless actions. A driver may be considered negligent if he or she causes a fatal pedestrian accident due to: