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Recent Blog Posts
What Steps Should Truck Drivers Take to Prevent Winter Truck Accidents?
The winter is one of the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road. Winter weather can lead to snow and ice on the roadway, as well as reduced visibility, increasing the risk that drivers will lose control of their vehicles. Even in clear weather, low temperatures can lead to safety issues, such as “black ice” that may not be noticeable until it causes a vehicle to lose traction. These safety concerns can affect commercial trucks even more than other vehicles, since due to the large size and weight of tractor-trailer trucks, they require more time and distance to come to a stop, and winter weather conditions can cause a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle. To prevent truck accidents, drivers should be sure to follow the proper safety procedures during the winter.
Commercial Truck Safety in the Winter
How Can Testing Errors Lead to a Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis?
Breast cancer is the type of cancer that most commonly affects women. Fortunately, when breast cancer is detected in time, a person can receive the proper treatment, and there is a 91% survival rate within five years after breast cancer is diagnosed. However, if breast cancer is not diagnosed properly, a patient may not be able to receive treatment to prevent the spread of cancer, and they can suffer serious harm as a result. Failure to diagnose breast cancer may occur because doctors failed to order the proper tests or because test results were not interpreted correctly. In these cases, patients will want to work with a medical malpractice attorney to determine their options.
Diagnostic Mammograms and Targeted Breast Ultrasounds
Imaging tests are the methods that are most commonly used to detect breast cancer. Women routinely receive screening mammograms, which are used to look for signs of breast cancer in patients who do not have any symptoms. A diagnostic mammogram may be ordered based on the results of a screening mammogram or because a patient has experienced other symptoms indicating breast cancer, such as lumps or pain in the breast, changes in breast size or shape, or discharge from the nipple.
What Role Does Cooling Play in Infant Brain Injuries?
Even though thousands of children are born every day, labor and delivery can be risky, and children can suffer birth injuries due to negligence by doctors, nurses, or other hospital staff. Brain injuries are some of the most serious types of birth injuries, and they can lead to cerebral palsy, cognitive impairments, loss of vision or hearing, and other permanent disabilities. In many cases, brain injuries are caused by a lack of oxygen during labor and delivery, and cooling is one form of treatment that can be effective in preventing further brain damage.
How Is Cooling Used to Treat Birth Injuries?
There are a variety of issues that can occur during birth that may cut off the supply of oxygen to an infant. These include placental abruption, umbilical cord prolapse, uterine rupture, or any other conditions that affect the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the child’s body. Asphyxia during birth can cause a condition known as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). In these cases, a lack of oxygen to the brain can cause brain cells to die, and when blood flow resumes, toxins released by dead cells can cause additional brain damage, leading to a chain reaction that can cause extensive brain injuries or death.
The Importance of Electronic Fetal Monitoring in Preventing Birth Injuries
During the process of labor and delivery, a child’s condition should be monitored closely, and medical personnel should respond quickly to any issues that could lead to birth injuries. Electronic fetal monitoring is often used to view and record an infant’s heart rate during labor, and doctors and nurses are trained to recognize the signs of fetal distress. If personnel do not properly interpret fetal heart rate tracings, or if they do not respond correctly to issues that could threaten the health of the child, this may be considered medical malpractice.
Category II vs. Category III Fetal Heart Rate Tracings
When electronic fetal monitoring is used, fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings will typically fall into one of three categories. Category I tracings are considered normal, and they are usually a sign that labor can proceed without risks or complications. Category II or III tracings, however, may indicate that a child is experiencing distress, and action may need to be taken to protect the child’s safety or ensure that delivery can be completed while minimizing the risk of injury.
Can I Receive Compensation if I Am Injured While Working on a Boat?
Workers in the United States are usually eligible to receive certain benefits if they are injured while on the job. Workers’ compensation will typically cover a person’s medical treatment and the loss of income they have experienced due to a workplace injury, and an employee will be eligible for these benefits no matter who was responsible for the injury. However, injury cases can become more complicated for those who work on boats. A different set of laws, known as maritime law or admiralty law, apply in cases involving offshore injuries, and workers who have been injured will want to be sure to work with an attorney who understands the unique legal issues involved in their case.
Receiving Compensation for Maritime Injuries
Even though maritime law usually applies to vessels that operate away from the shores of the United States, there are a large number of people in the Chicago area and throughout the state of Illinois who may be affected by these laws. In addition to shipping on Lake Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes, commercial vessels also regularly operate on the Chicago River, the Des Plaines River, and the Mississippi River, and anyone injured while working on these boats will want to understand their legal options.
Can I Make a Business Interruption Insurance Claim Due to COVID-19?
Businesses throughout Illinois and across the United States have been forced to close due to the coronavirus outbreak. Some businesses have been able to receive aid through federal or state programs, while others have come up with creative ways to maintain cash flow during this difficult time, but nearly everyone is struggling to address the negative effects that COVID-19 has had on the economy.
Because of the unexpected closures that have been mandated by stay-at-home orders and other government-imposed requirements, many business owners are looking to determine whether they can be reimbursed for their losses under their business interruption insurance policies. Unfortunately, many insurers have been denying these types of claims. When addressing these denials, businesses will want to work with an attorney who is experienced in litigation involving insurance companies.
What Are My Legal Options After Contracting COVID-19 at Work?
The coronavirus pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives. Stay-at-home orders have required many people to minimize contact with others in order to avoid becoming infected or spreading the disease. However, many workers at “essential businesses” have been required to risk exposure, and doctors and nurses, as well as employees at grocery stores, restaurants, and other important areas of the economy, have bravely placed themselves in harm’s way to ensure that others receive the care and services they need. Even when precautions are taken to minimize the risk of infection for these workers, some have contracted COVID-19, and they and their families are likely wondering about whether they will be able to receive workers’ compensation or if they have other legal options to address the harm they have experienced.
Recent Lawsuits Demonstrate the Difficulties Faced by Workers
Some Heartburn Drugs May Contain Cancer-Causing Contaminants
In the United States, we expect the medications that are available on the market to be safe for people to use. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) closely regulates drugs and takes steps to protect public safety if any issues are discovered. Recently, the FDA has recommended that all ranitidine products be removed from the market due to unsafe levels of a carcinogenic substance. Because this drug is widely used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and related conditions, consumers may have suffered adverse effects after using it. If you have been harmed by a dangerous drug or another type of defective product, you will want to consult with an attorney to determine your options for recovering financial compensation.
How Dangerous Is Ranitidine?
Ranitidine is commonly known under the brand name Zantac, although it is also available in generic form, and it can be prescribed by a physician or purchased over the counter. In 2019, the FDA began investigating ranitidine products after learning of testing that found the presence of N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, which is a known human carcinogen. Contamination by NDMA may negatively impact those with stomach, liver, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, bladder, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
Winters Salzetta O’Brien & Richardson Will Remain Open During This Uncertain Time
Dear friends and clients,
At Winters Salzetta O’Brien & Richardson, LLC, we are doing our part to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, while continuing to work tirelessly on your behalf. We anticipate being able to perform all of our job functions and duties that we owe to our clients and loved ones without any interruption. Our goal is to continue to work as normal, although our entire staff may not be in the office at the same time. We are hopeful that the virus will be contained and that we will all be back to our normal lives soon. In the meantime, when you call us, we will answer the phone and return your messages. When you email us, we will email you back. We encourage you to continue contacting us with your legal questions as you have in the past. Our face-to-face meetings with you may be curtailed for a time, but we will continue to work towards your goals. We will make sure that we maintain appropriate health standards so as not to infect or contaminate anyone unnecessarily. Please know that the various courts throughout Illinois and most of the country have announced measures to stem the spread of the virus in courthouses. Most of these initial steps involve 30 or 60 day partial shutdowns of courts. We continue to have access to the courts for emergent matters. We also continue to monitor the status of all jurisdictions in which we represent you and continue to monitor the court status of every single case that we handle for you. This temporary partial closure of courthouses will not stop Winters Salzetta O’Brien & Richardson from ensuring that everyone gets their day in court.
How Will Bankruptcy Affect Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against the Boy Scouts?
Over the past decade, many victims of sexual abuse have begun to speak out against their abusers and take legal action against the organizations that allowed this abuse to occur. The Boy Scouts of America, which recently changed its name to Scouts BSA, is one such organization that has faced hundreds of lawsuits from people who have suffered sexual abuse by scout leaders and other volunteers. In February of 2020, the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy, leaving many wondering about how this will affect current and future personal injury claims against the organization.
Bankruptcy and Civil Lawsuits
Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a company or organization to reorganize its assets and finances and work with creditors to determine how to pay off outstanding debts. One effect of the bankruptcy filing is that it automatically halts any civil lawsuits against the organization. In most cases, bankruptcy will prevent additional lawsuits against an organization based on events that occurred prior to the bankruptcy filing.
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