North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates

Man Dies in Workplace Accident at Football Stadium

Published on: October 16, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

OSHA | October 16, 2013

Football fans in Chicago and other parts of the country enjoy watching their favorite teams play at stadiums. Sometimes new stadiums are built to accommodate more fans and offer better features to provide more comfort and enjoyment. However, construction sites can be dangerous. There are so many factors to consider, including heights, machinery and tools. One man was recently crushed by rebar falling from a truck at the site of a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers.

The workplace accident occurred on the morning of Oct.7. in Santa Clara, California. A delivery truck driver was unloading a bundle of rebar from his truck when it crushed him. He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries, but he later died. This was the second workplace accident to occur at the construction site. The 60-year-old man was a subcontractor employed by Gerdau Ameristeel’s Napa Reinforcing Steel.

Men May Underestimate The Danger of Driving And Texting

Published on: October 15, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Car accidents | October 15, 2013

Several studies have confirmed a phenomenon known as illusory superiority. That is the phenomenon that causes relatively high percentages of people to identify themselves as above average. In terms of driving, roughly 80 percent of people consider themselves to be above-average drivers. Some studies have gone so far as to suggest that the less competent the person, the more likely they are to overrate their abilities. Those who cause car accidents may be among the most confident in their driving abilities. If you have

A recent study found that 80 percent of college students texted while driving. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the people who admitted to texting and driving believed that they were better at the dangerous behavior than other drivers. This belief was particularly prevalent among men. While there was little to no difference in the percentage of females and males who texted while driving, men were far more likely to fail to appreciate the danger inherent in the behavior.

Women Sue After Defective Products Cause Pelvic Pain

Published on: October 3, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | October 3, 2013

Many Illinois women are in control of their family planning. They have many forms of birth control available, whether they are working professionals wanting to delay motherhood or mothers who are done having children. When women seek the convenience of permanent birth control, however, they have only two options: a tubal ligation or a device called Essure, which consists of coils placed in the woman’s Fallopian tubes. Because Essure does not require surgery, unlike having their tubes tied, many women are attracted to that option. However, Essure has caused thousands of women to experience excruciating abdominal pain after having the device implanted.

Although doctors claim that Essure is a safe form of contraception, the thousands of reports from women with serious symptoms seems to prove otherwise. Although the device can cause mild cramping after insertion, many women have ended up with unbearable stomach pain for months. Some women require hysterectomies in order to remove the Essure coils and get rid of the pain for good.

Why Drivers Fail To See Motorcycles In Time To Prevent Accidents

Published on: September 30, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Car accidents | September 30, 2013

There are certain behaviors that are often associated with car, truck and motorcycle accidents. When an accident occurs, it is expected that drivers who were distracted, drunk, speeding, inexperienced or aggressive will be to blame. There is no shortage of drivers who fit these categories on the road. Motorcycle accidents may involve an additional issue: Driver’s whose brains trick them into miscalculating the distance and speed of the motorcycle. The way our brains are trained to process information may be leading automobile drivers to cause accidents with motorcycles. The problem is finding a way to combat the problem.

Research conducted at Texas Tech University analyzed the way the human brain perceives motion and direction. The study identified two methods by which we judge this information. The first method is characterized by an optical invariant, meaning a determination made by determining how large the object appears to us over time. The closer the object, the larger it appears as it approaches. The second method short circuits the process and simply perceives larger objects as closer and smaller objects as farther away.

Woman Sues Podiatrist for Medical Malpractice

Published on: September 25, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | September 25, 2013

To many Chicago residents, a minimally invasive foot surgery may not seem so bad. However, when a patient undergoes the surgery and the foot ends up misaligned and unable to heal properly, it can be a frustrating experience. This is especially true if the doctor did not disclose any risks ahead of time. A woman from Arkansas is suing her podiatrist for failing to inform her of the risks of the surgery and treating the problems she faced following the surgery.

The woman felt burning sensations between the toes of her right foot beginning in 2007. She saw a podiatrist, who recommended surgery in July 2011. There were multiple procedures performed, all which the woman claims were unnecessary. In fact, they allegedly made her foot worse, even though the doctor claims they were all minimally invasive and would result in quick healing.

Defective Products Cause House to Catch Fire; Homeowner Sues

Published on: September 18, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Product Liability | September 18, 2013

Chicago homeowners use their air conditioning unit to cool down their homes in the summer heat. The last thing they want it to do is catch their houses on fire. A Texas homeowner claims that his air conditioner’s internal wires overheated due to a defect in December 2011, causing his home to catch fire and suffer considerable damage.

The man, from Port Neches, Texas, filed a product liability lawsuit against Carrier Corp. in Jefferson County District Court in March. He claims that the A/C condenser unit’s control box, located outside his home, had a defect that caused the wires to overheat. This started a fire, which caused damage to the home. The Arcoaire condenser unit was designed and manufactured by Carrier Corp.

Truck Accident Results in Fatality for Chicago Woman

Published on: September 5, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | September 5, 2013

Nobody wants to be involved in an accident. Not only is there vehicle damage, but injuries and fatalities can also occur. A truck accident is almost always fatal due to the sheer size of the truck. A small passenger car doesn’t stand a chance against a big rig. Sadly, a Chicago woman died from her injuries after turning in front of a truck.

The truck accident occurred on the afternoon of Sept. 1 near Shannon at the intersection of Illinois routes 26 and 72. A Mack truck was traveling southbound on Route 26 when the driver of the other vehicle turned directly in front of the truck to go northbound on Route 26. The truck had the right of way.

Route 59 Car Accident Results in Serious Injuries

Published on: August 30, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | August 30, 2013

Drivers must obey traffic laws and signals at all times in order to keep not only themselves, but other motorists free of harm. When one driver has the right of way and another fails to follow traffic laws, serious accidents can result. Such was the case on the morning of Aug. 26 on Route 59 in Plainfield, Illinois, less than an hour outside Chicago.

The car accident occurred at the intersection of Caton Farm Road and Route 59. One driver was traveling northbound on Route 59 and turned in front of a van that had the right of way and was going southbound. The van crashed into the passenger side of the other vehicle, with the impact causing both vehicles to land in front of a nearby gas station. The driver of the van suffered minor injuries, including a broken wrist. He was taken to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center to be treated and has already been released.

Truck Accident Kills Family of Seven, Including Four Children

Published on: August 21, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Firm News | August 21, 2013

A driver’s worst nightmare is to be involved in an accident involving not one, but two semi trucks. Unfortunately, this became a reality for a family from Merrillville, Indiana, when their Jeep was rear-ended by semi and then pushed into another one in front of them. The accident occurred in Demotte, Indiana, a little over an hour outside Chicago, Illinois.

The Aug. 15 truck accident happened on I-65 and killed seven family members, four of them children under age 8. Two women – the children’s parents – and an uncle were also killed in the crash. The accident, which occurred at around 10 p.m., left the Jeep greatly compacted and burnt beyond recognition.

Victims of Meningitis Outbreak Can Now Sue for Defective Products

Published on: August 14, 2013 | by Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP

Product Liability | August 14, 2013

When Chicago residents receive steroid shots or other injections from their medical providers, they don’t usually expect to get serious side effects. They may expect a little redness or swelling for a few days afterward, but not something life-threatening such as meningitis. Unfortunately, more than 700 people have been injured or killed across the country due to tainted injections. On the positive side, the victims and their families now have a new avenue in order to receive compensation for the pain and suffering they have had to endure.

New England Compounding Center (NECC) was the company that manufactured and shipped the steroid injections tainted with fungus to medical facilities. A U.S. bankruptcy judge recently declared NECC bankrupt, with the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2012. This means that victims can now file product liability claims against those who sold them the defective products, including healthcare clinics and providers. The lawsuits can be filed through the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

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