Escaping the summer heat by taking a dip in the pool can lead to serious injury or death. On average, 9 people die in drowning accidents each day and many more suffer injuries including broken bones and lacerations. While children are at greatest risk, the reality is that anyone who takes a swim in a commercial or residential swimming pool is in danger of becoming the next statistic. In certain cases, swimming pool related injuries such as paralysis can have life changing consequences. Private Pool Owners Are Responsible for Safety Property owners are responsible for ensuring the safety and security […]
If an employee is fired after suffering a work-related injury, his or her benefits should remain intact. Furthermore, he or she may have an additional claim against the employer for retaliation. Workers’ Compensation Benefits In Illinois, an employee who sustains a work-related injury is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The workers’ compensation system is a tradeoff for an employee not suing his or her employee. In exchange, the employee receives certain medical and monetary benefits if he or she sustains an accident at work. Additionally, he or she does not have to prove that the employer was negligent or that this negligence […]
The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (“OASDI”) Program, popularly known as “Social Security,” is a federal government program that pays monthly income to insured workers and their families at retirement, disability, or death. The OASDI program is split into two parts, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (“OASI”) and Disability Insurance (“DI”) programs. The OASDI Program is the largest social welfare program in the United States, providing coverage to about one in five Americans. Eligibility to File Claims However, it isn’t automatically granted, for a worker to qualify for benefits, she must: Be insured for disability under the Social Security Act […]
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 150 pedestrians were killed in 2015. This is the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities since 2007 when 171 pedestrians died. The State of Illinois has several laws governing what a crosswalk is, who has right of way, and what parties are responsible for different types of crosswalks. Defining a Crosswalk Illinois recognizes pedestrian crosswalks as designated areas between roads that may or may not be marked by the lines or signs. If a sidewalk is intersected by a street, it is understood that this is a crosswalk, even if there are no other […]
Without workplace safe zone protection, Illinois roadway workers are at high risk of injury and death from car accidents. Every year, hundreds of roadway workers suffer serious workplace injuries and file injury claims with a workers’ compensation attorney. Roadway Workplace Accidents Each year over 20,000 workers are injured nationwide in roadway workplace zones. The leading cause of roadside-related injuries and fatalities is objects and vehicles striking workers. Crushing accidents, specifically being pinned by a vehicle, are the third leading cause of roadway accidents and injuries, followed by runover and backover accidents and collisions between vehicles. In 2011, there were 590 […]
Some SSDI applicants in Illinois may be able to recover retroactive benefits that date back to the date that they were first disabled even if that date was earlier than when they first applied for SSDI benefits. Retroactive disability benefits differ from SSDI backpay because they may go back in time beyond the application date. These benefits may help the recipients to pay for their expenses so that they can have some financial stability. A Social Security disability attorney might help eligible applicants with requesting retroactive benefits that date back to the dates that they became disabled. Understanding Retroactive Benefits When […]
Advances in sensor technologies could significantly reduce deaths from vehicular heatstroke. The tragedy often happens to responsible, loving parents in a flash of human error when a child is unknowingly left in a vehicle or somehow gains access to it. Even at moderate temperatures as low as 55 degrees, heat in the interior of a car can rise to above 107, hot enough to kill a child. Despite initiatives like Safe Kids, program support from automakers, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 30 children die from heatstroke each year across the United States. Who Is Responsible Conventional […]
Proposed changes to the Illinois Workers Compensation Act include restrictions to medical services, prescriptions drug, and other benefits. If approved, these changes will result in more workers’ compensation denials, an overall reduction in benefits, longer wait times, and unfortunately increasing denials. All sound reasons to keep a workers’ compensation attorney on-side. The Grand Compromise Governor Rauner has been putting pressure on lawmakers by not agreeing to any budget unless certain state laws are changed. In response, a 13-bill package called the “grand compromise,” was put together to resolve the budget impasse between the Illinois Republicans and Democrats. Senate Republican Leader […]
The mental residual functional capacity report explains how a person’s mental illness or mental health condition impacts his or her ability to work. Just as a residual functional capacity report demonstrates the limitations regarding a claimant’s ability to lift a certain amount of weight, how long a person can stand and other physical assessments, the mental residual functional capacity report assesses how a claimant’s psychological, emotional, psychiatric and cognitive impairments affect a claimant’s ability to work. Mental RFC Reports The Social Security Administration uses the mental RFC report to determine whether a claimant can perform his or her previous job […]
Defective and poorly designed products can endanger consumers. It is vital for people to understand what product recalls are and how they affect the products they use. Recalls are issued to reduce the risk of victims suffering injuries from dangerous products and to lessen the likelihood of legal action being taken against manufacturers and distributors. A manufacturer may issue a voluntary recall of one or more of its products after discovering safety issues or defects. Government agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) can […]
