Parents who do not vaccinate their children may be able to be held liable when their choice causes other people to be harmed. Measles, a childhood illness that was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000, has returned with a vengeance infecting hundreds of people in Illinois. These latest outbreaks put numerous children and people with compromised immune systems at risk as they are unable to get the same vaccinations as other individuals. What Is Measles? Measles is a viral infection that causes fever, cough, inflamed eyes, runny nose, and widespread rashes. It can also cause diarrhea, ear […]
SSDI applicants in Illinois may be able to speed up the disability claims process through a congressional inquiry. The Social Security Administration has provided guidance to hearing officers and administrative law judges about how they should handle congressional inquiries in individual cases, and they are supposed to respond to them promptly. Applicants can request congressional inquiries about the statuses of their cases by contacting their local Congress member’s office. While requesting a congressional inquiry may not work, it can speed up the decision process and will not negatively impact the application. What Is a Congressional Inquiry? A congressional inquiry is […]
Police officers are entitled to workers’ compensation coverage for injuries and illnesses that are related to the performance of their jobs. In general, police officers and firefighters are entitled to the same coverage as other workers under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. However, some police officers and firefighters are excluded from covereage under the act. Chicago police have a parallel disability benefits system for workplace injuries instead. Workers’ Compensation Workers’ compensation is an insurance program that pays for medical costs and wage replacement for workers who are injured. If the worker is permanently incapable of returning to work due to […]
Social Security disability applicants are trapped in administrative limbo, unable to get money to pay for their medications or treatment, and unable to advance their cases as the SSDI backlog continues to grow and the death toll continues to rise. From the beginning of 2016 through the end of 2017, federal data obtained by the Washington Post reports that 18,701 people died while waiting for their social security disability benefits to process. The average applicant waits approximately 599 days for a disposition. Sometimes, people wait more than two years. Even when applicants finally make it to a judge, the average […]
Business owners are responsible for maintaining the safety of the sidewalks that abut their business and may be liable for injuries resulting from a slippery sidewalk. Chicago requires property owners to shovel snow and remove ice on sidewalks that abut their properties. Snow Removal Laws in Chicago Pursuant to Municipal Code of Chicago, property owners and occupants are required to shovel the snow and remove the ice in front of their buildings. The law requires anyone who owns or occupies a building that abuts a public way (i.e. sidewalk) to remove snow and ice. The law requires occupants to clear […]
Relying on PEL’s can cause serious injuries or death to workers. Permissible exposure limits (i.e. PELs) refers to the amount of exposure workers can endure before they suffer adverse health consequences. There are PELs for a variety of compound, chemicals, substances, and radiations. According to the government, workers can be exposed to acceptable amounts of these substances and they won’t suffer adverse health consequences. However, this position is controversial within many industries. Background on PELs PELs were first established in 1971 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), the year of OSHA’s founding. The original PELs were criticized because […]
The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) administers several programs, including Compassionate Allowances, which allows the SSA to fast-track applications for disability insurance benefits if certain conditions are met. Disability provides payments to individuals who are limited or unable to work because of a permanent or semi-permanent condition. Ordinarily, the application process can take months or even years. However, for certain conditions, the SSA will provide fast-tracked approval. Compassionate Allowances Explained Compassionate Allowances is a program that allows individuals afflicted with certain conditions, such as adult brain disorders, certain cancers, and a few rare disorders that affect children, to fast-track their disability […]
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (“CPSIA”) forbids consumers from reselling products that have been recalled and resellers can be held liable for the damages these products cause. The CPSIA includes both commercial resellers, such as the Goodwill or Salvation Army, and garage sales, consignments, Etsy stores, and eBay businesses. What does the CPSIA restrict? The CPSIA makes it illegal to sell any product that has been recalled. The Act broadly defines “product” to include anything that is found in or around a school, home, or recreational setting including rugs, curtains, furniture, jewelry, toys, electronics, sports equipment, and […]
A team approach to safety that provides adequate personnel, resources, and employee training has been shown to reduce or eliminate work-related injuries and deaths. Without a team-oriented safety awareness program, employers may be liable for workplace injuries suffered by employees. The Team Approach Increases Safety Employee involvement in safety training and awareness is an essential component of a workplace safety plan. Equally important is the safety team that leads and oversees the safety program. This team approach provides safety leadership and increases employee awareness and compliance with safety standards. Safety Team Leadership Engagement in the safety process by workers across all levels of an organization is essential to reducing […]
Qualified dependents of workers receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are also entitled to a benefit amount. SSDI rules limit the amount payable to a family, but understanding the rules can ensure that dependents receive the maximum amount allowable, boosting a family’s total benefit. A Significant Increase In 2017, more than 10 million disabled workers and their dependents claimed benefits under the SSDI program. The average SSDI benefit amount was about $1,100 a month. By including eligible dependents, recipients can significantly increase the amounts paid to their family. Boost Disability Payments to the Maximum SSDI benefits are based on […]
