Posted on December 23,2020 in Auto Accidents

The numbers are sobering and unquestionably dismal.

Moreover, they recur annually with numbing regularity.

Today's Kaiser Law blog post spotlights the vast and varied - as well as often sad - universe of motor vehicle accidents. It's a topic that commands much of our attention, and here's why: Reportedly, more than 100 people die in vehicle accidents across the United States on average every single day of the year.

That stunning data bit comes courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT reports the occurrence of nearly 34,000 crash-tied deaths in a recent year.

Unsurprisingly, dire accident outcomes across Illinois contributed materially to that figure. Safety regulators state that 948 people died in motor vehicle accidents spanning the state during 2018.

Much crash activity of course centers on the Chicagoland area and surrounding suburbs, given the region's density and constant traffic complexity. We prominently note this on our personal injury website, underscoring the sheer variety of a local conveyance mix that ranges from cars, truck and buses to motorcycles, bicycles, snowmobiles and additional possibilities.

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 Posted on December 23,2020 in Personal Injury

Winter in Illinois can be brutal. And it's not just the freezing cold or the heavy snows, either. A big reason why winter is so treacherous is due to the weather-related hazards we must navigate every day.

Unfortunately, these hazards cause injuries more often than we'd like. In some cases, an accident is just that - an accident. In other cases, however, incidents like slipping, tripping and falling are the consequence of another party's negligence. So, who is to blame for winter accidents and injuries?

Understanding negligence

Getting injured on someone's property does not automatically make that property owner liable for damages. For there to be grounds for a legal claim, the property owner must be negligent, and that negligence must be the cause of a person's injuries.

Negligence refers to a person's failure to take reasonable care to prevent injury.

In the context of winter accidents on someone's property, this typically involves a property owner's failure to address conditions caused by ice, snow, rain or freezing temperatures. If these failures result in an injury-causing accident to someone legally permitted on the premises, the property owner could be responsible for damages.

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 Posted on December 23,2020 in Auto Accidents

Illinois is one of the top commuter states in the country. Every day, tens of thousands of people drive in and out of Cook County alone. And for the most part, many of these trips end uneventfully.

In fact, Illinois ranks as the 13^th best state for commuters to drive in, according to research by WalletHub. However, considering the number of cars there are on the road, the unpredictable weather and the time we spend in our cars on these commutes, it is no surprise that accidents happen.

If you get into an accident, there can be a lot of details to manage. In addition to reporting the accident and seeking medical treatment for injuries, you may also choose to pursue compensation for damages. And this can mean a lot of paperwork.

Paperwork to retain

After a crash, you should make every effort to collect and keep track of the following documents:

• List of people involved in and witness to the accident

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 Posted on December 23,2020 in Auto Accidents

"Living on the edge."

That is a metaphor cited in a recent personal injury-linked media report spotlighting the way that some people interact with modern life. They readily assume risk. They take chances.

As the publication Fleet Owner underscores, that behavior might work out acceptably for some individuals as they go about their daily lives and occupations.

It spells a deadly recipe when employed on Illinois and national roadways, though. And especially where big trucks are concerned.

Readers of our blogs at the established Chicagoland personal injury law firm of Kaiser Law know well what we're talking about. Where taking chances is concerned, large commercial vehicles need to opt out. Drivers of big rigs like tractor trailers, 18-wheel semis and other highway behemoths need to exercise absolute due care every second they are behind the wheel.

Because when they don't, people die.

That result is flatly spotlighted by Fleet Owner in its nod to research conducted on commercial truck crash causes. The seminal federal Large Truck Crash Causation Study - described as "definitive" - reveals conclusively the tragic effects on passenger-vehicle drivers and occupants in instances when commercial truckers' on-the-road focus and care is lacking.

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 Posted on December 23,2020 in Medical Malpractice

We note a truism concerning the medical industry in a recent Kaiser Law blog post: "The direct results of negligently delivered care are widespread and frequently devastating for victims and their loved ones."

One particular category of negligence merits special attention from medical malpractice law firms. That is the realm of so-called "never events."

The term sounds ominous, doesn't it?

As well it should. One recently issued overview of the subject matter from a U.S. federal agency succinctly described never events as "particularly shocking medical errors that should never occur."

Empirical evidence reveals (thankfully) that such mistakes - which occur primarily during surgeries - are not an industry commonplace. After all, millions of successful operations are carried out daily across the country.

Still, and expressed in aggregate numbers, the bottom line with never events can't be disguised as anything less than troublingly adverse. Reportedly, more than 4,000 such outcomes occur annually across the United States. That averages to nearly 11 every single day of the year.

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 Posted on December 23,2020 in Auto Accidents

Crashes involving a large commercial vehicle are among the most catastrophic accidents that occur across Illinois. These trucks are heavy and enormous, and in a collision with a car, the smaller vehicles - and the people inside them - typically suffer the worst damage.

Considering how severe these crashes often are, truck drivers and trucking companies should make every effort to ensure they are operated safely. This could soon be easier just by putting on a hat or vest.

Wearable tech to detect fatigue

One of the biggest threats to a trucker's abilities is fatigue. Truckers drive for long stretches of time and often through relatively boring terrain. These conditions can make it easy for them to suffer from fatigue and sleepiness.

In response to this issue, makers of wearable technology have developed multiple products that truckers can wear while driving. The vests, hats, glasses and other apparel items contain biometric sensors that can analyze the wearer's blink rate, head position and brain waves.

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 Posted on December 23,2020 in Medical Malpractice

When you go to the doctor, you expect him or her to listen to your concerns with compassion and make thoughtful diagnoses and recommendations. You also probably expect that when you get admitted to the hospital or get surgery, you are in the capable hands of a devoted staff of medical professionals.

Unfortunately, this is not always the experience people have. Too often, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are burned out and fail to provide a standard level of care.

An increasingly troubling issue

A 2019 report from the National Academy of Medicine found that health workers are increasingly experiencing burnout. They are regularly overbooked. They must carry out tedious tasks using inefficient systems. They work in chaotic, high-pressure environments every day.

And rather than make systemic changes to the health care system to overhaul the factors driving burnout, the report argues that the medical community limits efforts to individuals. Instead of addressing workloads, it teaches doctors meditation or yoga. These efforts are not enough to alleviate the problem.

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 Posted on December 22,2020 in Wrongful Death

Losing someone in an accident caused by another person’s reckless actions is heartbreaking. If you have lost a close relative in a drunk driving car accident, you may be facing tremendous grief as well as burdensome financial problems. Illinois law gives surviving loved ones the right to bring a wrongful death claim against a party when that party’s reckless, illegal, or intentionally harmful conduct causes someone’s death. If your loved one was killed in a drunk driving crash, a wrongful death claim may help you hold the negligent driver accountable for the death as well as recover compensation for your financial losses.

What Is Considered a Wrongful Death in Illinois?

A wrongful death claim can be thought of as an injury claim that is brought on a deceased person’s behalf. According to Illinois statute, a successful wrongful death claim is possible when:

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