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Recent Blog Posts
Medical Malpractice Claims for Anesthesia Errors in Chicago, Illinois
Anesthesia errors can be devastating, leading to serious injury or even death. If you or a loved one suffered an anesthesia error, it's important to understand your legal rights and how to take action.
Various parties may be responsible for an anesthesia error, including the surgeon, anesthesiologist, or nurse anesthetist. It's essential to consult with a medical malpractice lawyer to determine who is liable so that you can take the appropriate legal action.
Common Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors can range from minor to severe, depending on the situation. Some common anesthesia errors include:
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Administering incorrect medications or dosages
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Failing to monitor vital signs during and after surgery
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Improper intubation resulting in oxygen deprivation
Can a Passenger File a Personal Injury Claim After a Car Crash?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that, on average, a car crash occurs every 60 seconds in the United States. While many of these accidents are "fender benders" with minor property damage and no injuries, other accidents result in severe harm. Individuals injured in car accidents may be able to recover financial compensation for medical expenses and other damages through a personal injury claim. While we often think about car crash injury claims in the context of an injured driver, injured passengers may also be able to secure compensation through a claim.
Car Accident Injury Claims Involving Injured Passengers
If you've been involved in a car accident, you may be wondering whether you can file a personal injury claim if you were a passenger in the car. The answer to this question will depend on a number of factors, but it is usually possible for an injured passenger to bring a claim after a crash.
Liability and Potential Damages in a Scaffolding Accident Case
In 2018, an Illinois scaffolding accident caught on camera made the rounds on YouTube and other social media. The video showed just how quickly scaffolding can come crashing down. Working in construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Scaffolding accidents are just one of the potential hazards workers and bystanders must be vigilant about.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a scaffolding accident, it is important to know that you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and options under the law.
Liability in Scaffolding Accidents
There are many potentially liable parties in a scaffolding accident. The property owner may be held liable if they were aware of the dangerous conditions of the scaffolding and did not take steps to remedy the situation. The general contractor may also be held liable if they were aware of the dangerous condition and did not take steps to fix it or protect workers and bystanders. The company that manufactured the scaffolding may also be held liable if the scaffolding was defectively designed or manufactured. In some cases, more than one party may be held liable for a scaffolding accident.
Negligent Security at an Apartment Complex Can Lead to Assaults and Injuries
Tenants in an apartment have certain legal rights. Landlords and property owners have certain legal responsibilities. One such responsibility is the obligation to provide a safe and secure environment for their tenants. When negligent security leads to a tenant's injury or death, the landlord may be held liable under what is known as premises liability.
If you have been injured in an assault or other crime on apartment property, you may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
What is Considered Negligent Security?
Apartment complexes have a duty to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of their tenants. This means they must take action to deter and prevent criminal activity on the premises. There is no way to completely prevent crime or tenant injuries, but apartment landlords must provide a reasonable degree of security.
Taking Legal Action After a Pedestrian Injury
Pedestrian accidents often result in severe or life-threatening injuries. If you or someone you care about was hit by a car, you may be eager to take legal action against the at-fault party. In most cases, legal responsibility or “liability” for a pedestrian accident falls to the driver of the vehicle. However, there are cases in which another party may be considered fully or partially at fault.
Injured parties or the surviving loved ones of deceased parties may be entitled to monetary damages for medical needs, funeral and burial costs, and more.
Elements of a Pedestrian Accident Claim
An injured person may file a personal injury claim and pursue financial compensation for damages if the following elements are present:
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Duty – The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. In the context of pedestrian accidents, drivers have a duty to drive carefully and follow traffic laws. Vehicle manufacturers have a duty to ensure that the vehicle functions properly and does not contain dangerous defects that increase the chances of a collision.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Know Your Rights after a Failure to Diagnose
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Over 250,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. While most women diagnosed with breast cancer will go on to live long and healthy lives, there are some who will suffer serious health complications or even death as a result of the disease. As with other types of cancer, early detection of breast cancer is key. The sooner someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, the sooner they can begin treatment.
Sadly, not all women are diagnosed with breast cancer in a timely manner. Some women will go for years without knowing they have the disease. In some cases, this is because they do not have access to quality healthcare. In other cases, it is because their doctor failed to properly diagnose their condition.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a failure to diagnose, it is important to know that you have rights.
Can I Sue for a Hospital Acquired Infection?
When someone visits the hospital, the last thing they expect is for the hospital visit to make them sicker than they already were. Unfortunately, approximately 1 in 31 hospital patients suffers a hospital-acquired infection. For individuals already suffering from other illnesses or injuries, an infection can be extremely dangerous or even life-threatening. If you or a loved one developed an infection while receiving health care, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim.
Nosocomial Infections Increase the Chances of Severe Illness and Death
Hospital-acquired infections, healthcare-acquired infections, and nosocomial infections are all terms used to describe infections developed at the hospital. Infections may be caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus or E. coli, fungus, or viruses, including the influenza virus. Patients who acquire an infection may experience fever, fatigue, soreness, vomiting, and other symptoms. Sometimes, these symptoms develop while the patient is still staying at the hospital. In other cases, the patient does not realize he or she is infected until he or she has returned home. The consequences of nosocomial infections can be severe. Many patients are required to stay in the hospital much longer than they would have needed to stay otherwise. Some experience multiorgan dysfunction. Sadly, many people who suffer hospital-acquired infections do not survive.
How a Personal Injury Claim Can Help You Hold a Drunk Driver Responsible
Alcohol affects cognition, perception, reaction time, and motor skills. When someone chooses to drink and drive, they are putting themselves and everyone else on the road in danger. If you or a loved one have been injured by a drunk driver, you may be wondering what legal options are available to you.
In many cases, filing a personal injury claim is the best way to hold a drunk driver responsible for a crash and recover financial compensation. The driver may face criminal charges for driving under the influence (DUI); however, criminal charges do not provide restitution for the victim’s damages. A personal injury claim, on the other hand, may help an accident victim recover damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Per Se Drunk Driving Laws in Illinois
In a typical car accident injury claim, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant acted negligently by driving in an unsafe manner. In a drunk driving accident claim, the plaintiff may be able to take advantage of Illinois’s per se drunk driving laws. Under these laws, it is automatically assumed that a driver who has a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit of .08 percent is intoxicated and, therefore, negligent "per se."
Why Do Radiologists Miss Signs of Breast Cancer?
When you have a mammogram, you likely believe that the health care professionals will ensure you receive quality care from start to finish. But tunnel vision and unconscious bias are some reasons radiologists will fail to detect breast cancer. These ways of thinking may save time and energy, but they can distort judgment and decision-making. Up to 35 percent of cancers are missed in the United States leading to medical malpractice lawsuits. Unfortunately, the longer it takes for diagnoses, the lower the chances of survival.
Common Cognitive Pitfalls for Misdiagnosis
Breast asymmetry is prevalent in women with dense breasts, but it is a common abnormality in mammogram results. If there is a sudden change in breast density or if the tissue is substantially uneven it could be an indication of cancer that is being missed due to cognitive bias.
Radiologists need to recognize their own unconscious bias to reduce misdiagnosis. New research suggests these four factors impair decisions that can be damaging to patients when examining the results of a mammogram:
Was Your Child’s Birth Injury Caused by Pitocin?
You were hoping to take your healthy newborn home. The last thing you expected was for your infant to be injured after Pitocin was administered during birth. If your child suffered a birth injury, it is necessary to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable for medical malpractice and that you receive full compensation.
Administering Pitocin to Induce Labor
Pitocin is a drug that is often given to women to induce labor. It is a synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin. The body naturally releases oxytocin in tiny pulses triggering contractions. In the hospital, however, a woman is given a continuous dose of Pitocin intravenously, causing stronger contractions that are closer together. When it is administered properly, it can help uterine contractions occur at a more regular rate. If it is given inadequately, it can result in injuries to both mother and child.
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