There are many types of burns that can cause permanent scarring, disfigurement, or even death. When severe burn injuries are caused by the negligence of someone else, the degree of the burn, its location on the body, and the type of burn injury help to determine damages in a personal injury case. Thermal burns Thermal burns often result from explosions or direct contact with flame or hot objects such as irons, cooking pans, and heated appliances. The severity of injury depends on the temperature of the heat source and the length of exposure. Chemical burns Most common in the workplace, […]
Young workers who take foolish risks at work and new workers who lack experience increase the likelihood of workplace injuries to themselves and others. A young worker refers to anyone under the age of 25. A new worker is a person of any age who has little experience working at their current job. What makes young and new workers risky? It is understandable that anyone lacking on-the-job experience is going to be less adept at a job than workers who have spent many hours in the workplace. Just being unfamiliar with the work environment puts new workers and visitors to […]
Problems with concentration, persistence, and pace that affect an individual’s ability to work may be grounds for a disability claim. When considering whether or not to approve disability claims from workers with mental impairments, the Social Security Administration looks at concentration, persistence and pace and how they impact applicants’ ability to work. These factors are sometimes hard to understand, as they are not as easily defined as physical disabilities. Understanding the impact of concentration, persistence, and pace on disability claims will help those with mental impairments make more effective disability claims. Defining Concentration, Persistence, and Pace According to the Social […]
When hunting seasons open in Illinois, emergency rooms prepare for a wide range of surprising injuries from animal attacks, defective hunting equipment like guns, knives, tree stands and bows, and from overexertion. Preparing for hunting season, even in the spring when turkeys and coyotes are the animals of choice rather than deer, means understanding these risks. Five surprising hunting risks that Illinois hunters should watch for include: Injuries from Tree Stands Whitetail deer remains one of the most popular game animals in the country. Hunters utilize tree stands to get better visibility when hunting deer. These stands sit 20 to […]
Employees working in cold conditions experience a higher risk of weather-related injury. While these risks may be part of the job, employers are not relieved of their responsibility to provide a safe environment and appropriate cold-weather safety training. When weather conditions are a contributing factor in a work injury, a workers compensation attorney may be able to determine if the employee is entitled to additional compensation for damages that resulted from employer negligence. Risks Rise as the Temperature Drops Cold Illinois winters bring an increased risk of work injury for those whose jobs require them to face the plummeting temperatures and associated weather […]
The Compassionate Allowance Program was established to help expedite Social Security claims for claimants who suffer from certain severe medical conditions, but flaws in this program are causing unnecessary delays. In response, the Government Accountability Office has highlighted a number of challenges and issued recommendations for the SSD program. About the Compassionate Allowance Program The Compassionate Allowance program was established in 2008. It gives priority status to individuals who have certain medical conditions, placing them ahead of other claimants on the waiting list. There are over 200 conditions that qualify for the program. Many of these conditions are terminal in nature. The average claimant […]
The makers of OxyContin have aggressively marketed the drug as a safe, twelve-hour controlled-release medication that provided steady pain relief with a reduced risk for addiction or abuse. The company’s deceptive marketing practices and fraudulent claims have led to addiction and overdose injuries throughout the United States, feeding the opioid epidemic. A Common Link in Opioid Addiction Opioid misuse takes the lives of more than 90 Americans every day. It’s a growing problem that has attracted the attention of lawmakers, governors, and even the President, resulting in a declared war on opioid addiction. In Illinois alone, opioid overdose deaths doubled […]
A new Chicago City Ordinance requires hotels to provide panic buttons to employees who work alone in guests’ rooms. If a hotel has not provided the required electronic panic buttons, anti-sexual harassment policy, or has retaliated against an employee for reporting a case of sexual harassment, an attorney may find cause to seek damages on behalf of the employee. These may include compensation for physical injury and mental and emotional trauma. Hotel Workers are Vulnerable Working alone and unprotected, many hotel employees are required by their jobs to enter guest rooms without the assistance of a supervisor or the presence of another […]
SSDI claims are sometimes denied because the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) finds that the claimant lacks credibility. The rules governing review of SSDI cases were revised in 2016 and have eliminated claimant credibility as a determining factor in the claims approval process. On appeal, some denials that are based on credibility can be reversed by the courts. When an SSDI claim is rejected because of credibility issues, a Social Security disability attorney can help determine whether there is a basis to appeal the claim. A Fair Medical Evaluation In determining the validity of an SSDI claim, ALJs are required to conduct a […]
The use of baby boxes as safety devices may result in injury or death to infants. If a child is injured while confined in a baby box, parents may be entitled to damages. Fads versus Facts Baby boxes are being promoted as a safe place for babies to sleep. The reality is that much of the justification for the baby box fad is based on popular folklore and not so much on fact. The baby box concept originated in Finland where the government provides expectant mothers with a maternity package including a baby box for their newborn child. It is […]
