North Chicago & St. Louis Injury UpdatesWhen a routine dental or medical procedure results in the death of an otherwise healthy person, allegations of medical malpractice may be filed. In addition, the person’s heirs may file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Articles Posted in Legal Articles
Electrocution Remains A Workplace Safety Hazard
Electrocutions can happen both at work and at home due to defective products, lack of safety precautions and power company negligence. The Electrical Safety Foundation International, or ESFI, reports more than 30,000 electricity-related injuries on the job in the past 10 years. Some of these may have occurred in Illinois. It is important that victims of negligence or inadequate safety precautions, or families of victims, contact a Chicago personal injury lawyer experienced in dealing with such cases.
Coming Into Contact With Live Wires While Working Is a Common Problem
Trucker Told Not To Drive Commercially After Fatal Crash
Medical conditions can interfere with a driver’s safe operation of a vehicle. When a truck accident results in a fatality, investigators may attempt to determine if the driver’s medical status contributed to the event. Truck drivers may face certain health requirements to ensure they are safe to drive commercially.
State Trooper Killed in Highway Crash; Driver Lost Consciousness
2012 Fatal Car Accidents Stem From Drunk Driving, Other Causes
Illinois saw 867 fatal car accidents in 2012, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Specific data is not yet available with regard to how many of those crashes were related to alcohol use. Though holiday accident data for 2012 is also not yet available, historically accidents related to alcohol increase during holiday weekends such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010, more than 10,000 people died in U.S. highway accidents involving a drunk driver. Fatal accidents can result in lawsuits, including wrongful death claims. For more information, contact a Chicago wrongful death lawyer.
Several Chicago Area Fatal Accidents Occurred in 2012; Police Poised to Crack Down
Defective Tools Cause Injury, Death At Illinois Work Sites
Everywhere we live, work or play, we’re beholden to the construction workers who put in the long hours and elbow grease to lay a foundation and build a safe, strong building for us to use. Residents in Chicago, Illinois, know that this city was built on that kind of blue-collar work ethic.
Unfortunately, a construction site also can be one of the most dangerous places to work. That’s not surprising, given all the heavy equipment and power tools involved in the process. The danger of serious injury or death, however, is much greater when tools used in construction have design defects or fail while in use.
Recalled Toys Could Cause Child Injuries
Every year, numerous toys are recalled because they pose safety risks to young children who may receive them as holiday presents. Sometimes recalls occur because the manufacturer or another entity determined the toys are unsafe. Other times, recalls are triggered by serious child injuries. Anyone shopping for gifts for a child should be aware of current recalls and common safety issues.
2012 Toy Recalls Are a Concern for Parents
New Software Helps Reduce Emergency Room Errors
The fast-paced environment of an emergency room creates situations in which errors are more likely to happen than in the rest of the hospital. Noise, an influx of patients exceeding the hospital’s resources, lack of communication and other factors can cause mistakes, including medication errors, treatment errors and discharge errors. Many of these errors are insignificant and go unnoticed, but emergency room errors can have serious repercussions ranging from discomfort to fatality.
Hospitals Seek to Minimize Emergency Room Errors Through Software Advances
Holiday Highway Accidents Cause Injuries, Deaths
The holiday season can bring increased traffic, rushing motorists and sometimes rainy, slippery weather. But these conditions do not excuse drivers from following the rules of the road and exercising due caution.
Holiday car crashes can lead to serious injury and wrongful death. Since the beginning of 2012, Illinois has seen 867 fatal motor vehicle accidents, including 177 involving unlicensed drivers, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. According to the Daily Beast, one of the most dangerous interstates in Illinois is I-94, which saw 85 fatal accidents between 2004 and 2008; that equates to 1.38 fatal accidents per mile.