North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates

Predators May View Nursing Home Residents as Easy Prey

Published on: February 24, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

nursing home abuse | February 24, 2017

Because you love and respect your parents, you do everything in your power to provide for their safety and comfort as they age. Often, this includes finding them a safe and clean nursing home facility when their physical and mental needs exceed what can be provided in their own home. No matter how carefully you screen the facility, however, it’s impossible to prevent all problems. Recent reports from major news outlets highlight how shockingly prevalent sexual abuse is in nursing homes.

It can be hard for facilities that don’t offer competitive pay (many nursing homes offer near-minimum wage positions) to screen out all potential problems when it comes to staff. As a result, predators who have terrible intentions may end up working in close contact with elderly adults in vulnerable positions. If your loved one has made statements that concern you about staff behavior, you should speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

Drug Testing Policies and Safety Incentive Programs: New Laws

Published on: February 24, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Work Accidents | February 24, 2017

If you work for a company with drug testing policies and safety incentive programs, you should be aware that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued new rules designed to prevent those policies from being used to quiet employees about workplace accidents.

How can a drug policy have that effect?

Are You Feeling Unexplained Pain After Surgery?

Published on: February 21, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | February 21, 2017

Surgical procedures typically involve an element of pain. While some pain is expected, medical negligence during surgery can lead to additional, unexpected pain. It is reasonable to question whether your surgery was conducted properly if you are not getting the answers you deserve about post-surgical pain. If your doctor does not have a reasonable explanation for your pain, or if it persists longer than it should, you may be the victim of surgical malpractice.

The medical profession is not known for openly acknowledging mistakes. Patients may be ignored, even while suffering debilitating pain, if the cause is medical negligence. Many patients are forced to get a second opinion to discover what happened. Many victims of malpractice never discover the cause of their problems.

Could a Defective Seal on Baby Formula Have Sickened Your Child?

Published on: February 17, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Defective Products | February 17, 2017

Is your baby’s food safe to eat? Or could a defective seal quietly be causing it to spoil or let in bacteria that could harm your child?

A former compliance officer who worked at the Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, the United States firm that made Enfamil up until it was recently sold to a British company, claims that her 25-year career ended because she complained too often, too loudly and too far up the hierarchy trying to get someone to do something about some defective seals.

Does My Car Have a Black Box?

Published on: February 10, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Car accidents | February 10, 2017

The odds are good that if you have a fairly newer vehicle with an airbag system, you probably also have what’s known as an “event data recorder.” This small device is similar to the “black boxes” that are installed in aircraft in order to record data about crashes. What could the presence of one of these EDR devices mean for you if you’re involved in a serious car accident?

Here are the basics you should know.

What Do You Do in Cases of Nursing Home Neglect?

Published on: February 7, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

nursing home abuse | February 7, 2017

There are many excellent elder care and nursing home facilities in Northern Chicago and the nearby suburbs. Unfortunately, sometimes even places with excellent reputations can fail to provide adequate care. In some cases, expansion and growth have left the nursing homes understaffed for their current number of residents. In others, a few aides with bad attitudes or mediocre work ethics can severely impact the level of care certain residents receive.

It’s a difficult decision to put loved ones into nursing home facilities. It can be heartbreaking to realize they aren’t being treated the right way. If you believe your loved one is being neglected, you should speak with a personal injury attorney right away.

Did Your Doctor’s Mistake Result in a Drug Interaction?

Published on: February 7, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Medical malpractice | February 7, 2017

Doctors prescribe medications in the hope of saving or improving lives. Tragically, medications can lead to serious medical issues or even death. In some cases, it is due to a doctor prescribing the wrong medication or a nurse administering the wrong dose. In others, it can be due to problems with labeling or with the way the drug was made or handled. Sometimes, insurance issue contribute to medication injuries. A pharmacist may substitute a different drug in a similar class or group in order to bill your insurance, causing a dangerous interaction. For some unfortunate people, their drug-related injury is the result of a mixture of medications that had a profoundly negative impact on their health.

Drug interactions occur when medications taken by a patient simultaneously create negative side effects or serious injury, possibly including death. Often, these injurious and deadly drug interactions happen because of medical malpractice or neglect. If you believe you have suffered an injury due to a serious drug interaction, you should speak with a personal injury or medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

Chicago Bicycle Accidents Can Be Devastating for Families

Published on: February 7, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Bicycle Accidents | February 7, 2017

For bicycling enthusiasts, there is a wide range of benefits that come from their chosen form of transportation. Biking reduces reliance on fossil fuels. Bikers are engaging in aerobic exercise that helps keep their body and heart in better shape. They can sometimes commute more quickly and directly than those traveling in cars, public transportation or taxis. For many, biking is simply an enjoyable activity.

However, there is a downside to biking as a means of transportation, particularly for commuters: serious accidents with those who operate motor vehicles. If you have suffered a car/bicycle accident, you need an attorney.

Can You Be Denied Workers’ Compensation for Medical Marijuana?

Published on: February 1, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Work Accidents | February 1, 2017

In Illinois, the passing of the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program has left some employees confused about how the Compassionate Use Act and the Workers’ Compensation Act relate. Here are some answers to frequent questions.

Can you still be required to take a drug test for marijuana after an accident?

What Are the Disadvantages of Medical Malpractice Mediation?

Published on: January 26, 2017 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Medical malpractice | January 26, 2017

In recent years, there’s been a push toward mediation over litigation in just about every area of civil law — and medical malpractice is no exception.

Advocates of mediation over litigation for medical malpractice say that it promotes communication and can change the perspectives of everyone involved. They argue that the results can be beneficial in ways that go beyond financial compensation, allowing families to gain more closure and encouraging hospitals and doctors to revise practices or implement new procedures that will prevent similar tragedies.

Seidman, Margulis, & Fairman Blog

How can a drug policy have that effect?

Here are the basics you should know.

Can you still be required to take a drug test for marijuana after an accident?