Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog

Illinois swimming accidents have the potential to cause severe injuries and death throughout this summer season. With the 4th of July holiday approaching it is likely that many area residents will celebrate the holiday in and around the water. Our Chicago injury lawyers felt it especially important to remind all swimmers, pool owners, and operators to re-familiarize themselves with the consequences of unsafe swimming pool conditions.

For example, last week The Daily Telegram reported on the end of a swimming accident lawsuit that was filed following a pool injury. The victim in that case was at a gathering at a friend’s home. Apparently the victim and another guest were horse-playing on the deck of the pool, when the other guest pushed the young woman into the pool. Then, for unknown reasons, a third guest pushed another into the pool and directly on top of the woman who was still in the water. The weight of the man being pushed onto her while in the water caused extensive damage.

The woman’s neck was broken in the accident. Fortunately she was not paralyzed, but she still suffered permanent debilitating injuries that have had severe consequences on her life. She is self-employed and did not have medical insurance at the time of the injury, racking up over $100,000 in hospital bills. The victim’s business suffered significantly following the accident and she is unable to work as much as she has in the past.

The judge in the case recently entered a default judgment on behalf of the victim, because the defendant failed to respond in any way since being sued. The judge entered an order for $1.2 million, but it is unclear what assets the defendant has to satisfy that judgment.

Continue reading "Swimming Pool Lawsuit Leads to $1.2 Million Verdict" »

St. Louis Today reported earlier this month on a tragic work injury that struck at a recycling plant near the Illinois border. As Chicago personal injury lawyers, we felt important to draw attention to the incident to warn both workers and employers on the dangers that may exist in the workplace.

While working at the plant on a Sunday, the 43-year old victim began calling to his co-workers for help. When another employee rushed to the scene, he saw the man caught inside a baler compact machine. He had apparently become trapped while trying to fix a jam in the machine that compacts and bails recycled paper. The co-worker called emergency workers who rushed to the scene.

The responders were able to get the victim out of the machine. He was conscious and talking at that time. However, he had suffered severe injuries to both legs before his rescue. Shortly after arriving at a nearby hospital he was pronounced dead. He leaves behind a wife and four children. The oldest child was actual an employee at the same plant and was one of the co-workers who helped pull his father out of the compactor.

The recycling company had not issued any statement at the time the story ran. Friends and family of the victim have been a bit surprised by the lack of response from the company. They had failed even to reach out to the victim’s family in any way.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death to understand what went wrong. They will be looking to see if any safety laws were violated by the company. Another worker from the Illinois based company died in a separate forklift accident two years prior.

Continue reading "Work Injury Kills Recycling Company Employee" »

The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Levin & Perconti were pleased to see that yesterday the State Journal Register included a front-page story that draws attention to the often devastating consequences of Illinois medical malpractice involving misdiagnosis.

One patient’s story was highlighted revealing how the mistaken assumption that she had a fatal mix of problems almost led to her untimely death. The victim was brought to a local hospital after she fell in her home and broke her leg. She eventually developed shortness of breath. An X-ray revealed that lung cancer may have caused her problem. One of the doctors noted that a colon obstruction may be involved, but that suggestion was ignored. Instead, the team of physicians concluded that there was nothing that could be done for the woman. She was put on “comfort care” and her loved ones were told she would be unlikely to survive to the morning.

However, the woman did survive that morning. That day an oncologist happened upon the woman’s records and discovered that her lung cancer seems to be at an early, treatable stage. This oncologist insisted that the woman have a colonoscopy performed because the lack of advanced cancer meant that an alternative condition likely existed. Her previous team of doctors again repeated that the test was futile, but after much contentious debate, the exam proceeded. However, the doctor who performed the colonoscopy refuses to take one final step and suck out excess gas. Eventually, the oncologist who had insisted on the alternative course of treatment was able to get a nurse to remove the gas—a step which led to an almost immediate improvement in the woman’s condition. The victim was eventually able to return home. However, the toll of the situation and removal of oxygen for 24 hours may have caused her some slight brain damage.

Unfortunately, the victim in this case is lucky to be alive, because only rarely are the decisions made by doctor’s given a second look. Patients in similar situations are likely to pass away because of the misdiagnosis.

The fact that doctors so rarely receive feedback on their diagnosis means that they often become overconfident. One of the nation’s leading experts on diagnostic errors explains that doctors “get it right so often that they don’t really appreciate that they get it wrong. And they just take it for granted that everything they’re doing is OK.”

Continue reading "Illinois Misdiagnosis Can Be Life-Threatening" »

Last week brought news of a tragic Illinois swimming accident that claimed the life of a 16-month old area child. According to Chicago Breaking News the victim was found unresponsive at the bottom of a family pool. Those who found her quickly called local emergency responders, and she was taken to a nearby hospital. While it is unclear exactly how long the girl was under the water, she had suffered severe injuries by the time she was located. The toddler survived the first night at the facility but passed away the next morning. The girl lived in Wheaton, but the accident occurred at a pool in an unincorporated part of Kendall County.

Local authorities investigated the incident to confirm that no foul play was involved. They have now officially ruled the pool drowning an accident.

The tragic Chicago swimming accident is a sad reminder of the danger that these pools pose to all swimmers, particularly young children. From the perspective of a Chicago personal injury attorney, it is important to consistently remind our readers that supervision remains an essential part of the safety process, yet, owners and operators must still ensure that other safety measures are followed. Drains need to be properly covered, lifesaving rings and hooks need to be near the water, protective fencing must be installed, gates must have locks, and other common-sense measures must be taken.

The rules are particularly stringent when it comes to pools in apartment complexes, hotels, water parks, and community centers. The law requires that those locations take many steps to ensure the safety of those who use the water. There is no excuse for one of these larger pools to lack basic features intended to promote safe and facilitate rescue.

Continue reading "Illinois Pool Drowning takes the Life of Toddler" »

Many Illinois residents use portable (and affordable) swimming pools to beat the summer heat if do not have access to in-ground pools or nearby natural water. Many companies have capitalized on the popularity of summer swimming to more aggressively market these cheaper pools. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have seen the myriad of versions of these pieces of recreational equipment, from one foot deep plastic tubs to larger, air-filled models. However, new research lends credence to the fact that many Illinois drowning accidents strike in these devices.

Efforts to make theses pool as cheap as possible often comes with safety sacrifices. For example, much national attention has been drawn to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics that explored the prevalence of swimming pool accidents caused by these portable devices. Shockingly, the investigation found that roughly one child dies every five days in the summer in a portable pool drowning. The actual danger of the pools is likely much higher because that statistic only includes submersion statistics, not other forms of pool accidents.

The ease with which accidents can strike in these pools may shock many local observers. For example, one accident mentioned in the study involved a parent who fell asleep in a wading pool while holding a child. The infant eventually drowned in only two inches of water. Another case involves nine-year old twins who became entangled in a portable pool cover and drowned.

Some researchers believe those in charge of making these devices need to take some responsibility for the deaths. One advocated explained that “many of the protection methods and devices for in-ground pools are too expensive or not available for portable pools. Manufacturers need to step up and try to help consumers by coming up with affordable and effective prevention devices.”

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Alert: Drowning Accidents Often Occur in Portable Swimming Pools" »

Concern for Illinois food poisoning has particularly increased after the recent recall of 3,200 pounds of Chicago Boxed Beef Distributor’s of raw and ready-to-eat sausage products. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the products were not handled in a manner to prevent cross contamination between raw and ready-to-eat products. Furthermore, our Chicago personal injury lawyers were surprised to learn that the products’ label was not approved by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The product was classified as a class I level risk – the highest health hazard situation. Consumption of the product may cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

The food service industry reaches much of the Illinois population with around 8257 Chicago restaurants listed on the popular restaurant review website yelp.com. When workers don’t take precautions to wash their hands or restaurants don’t use safe food handling practices such as properly storing raw meat, they put many lives into danger. According to the University of Chicago Medical Center, some common bacteria are:

• Salmonella and Campylobacter - usually found in cattle, poultry, and swine. It can also be found in raw meat, eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products.
• Clostridium perfringens – can be found in raw meat, poultry, eggs, unpasteurized dairy products, and produce. Infection can occur when soups, stew, and gravies made with meat (including fish and poultry) are improperly stored or left unrefrigerated for hours.
• Listeria – usually found in raw meats.
• Staphylococci – can be transferred to food when a person with the bacteria on his or her skin, nose, or throat handles the food.
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) – may be present in intestines of even healthy cattle. Infection can occur when the beef (especially ground beef) is undercooked or when unpasteurized milk is consumed.

Our Illinois personal injury attorneys receive many calls from people who have become ill after eating at Chicago restaurants. The Illinois Department of Public Health estimates that there are as many as 250,000 cases of foodborne illness that occur just in Illinois each year. A majority of these illnesses go unreported. Reporting cases of food poisoning is an important civil service. By reporting incidents of food poisoning, the government and public is put on alert of the health hazard. Chicago food poisoning lawyers ask that you help prevent foodbourne illness by reporting incidents of food poisoning caused by restaurants in Cook County by calling 708-974-7118 or filling out an online form here: http://www.cookcountypublichealth.org/complaint-forms/foodborne-illness If you are not located in Cook County, please call your local county health department.

Continue reading "Growing Concern Over Chicago Food Poisoning" »

The Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier this month on a unique Illinois injury lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of a woman who lost part of her finger after a bizarre horse bite. The victim was a 65-year old who took her grandchildren to the Glenview Park District’s Wagner Farm. She was with a family group to attend last year’s Harvest Festival and bonfire.

The grandmother brought her grandchildren to the farm to feed the horses. The children joined a large group that was near the animals with food. The grandmother stepped away from the crowd so that she could get a better view of the children for a picture. However, as she was preparing to take the photo a horse came upon her and bit down on her right hand.

The woman explained the incident by noting that she “could feel a sucking feeling and then a crunch, and he opened his mouth, and I pulled my hand out, and it was gone.” The animal had bitten off her right index finger to the first knuckle. She attempted to control her emotions and pain so as not to startle her grandchildren. Emergency crews eventually arrived and took the victim away.

The woman commented on being fortunate that her grandchildren were not injured. If they had been near the horse it’s possible that the gelding could have inflicted even more damage on a young child. The injury has had significant impacts on the woman’s life. She has difficulty typing, because of a permanent burning sensation in her finger. This has made it difficult to work, as she does payroll for a Chicago business. Simple tasks are also near impossible, like turning a key in a knob.

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Lawsuit Filed Following Horse Bite" »

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers are concerned that the recent e. coli outbreak in Europe could affect Illinois. According to The Times, the communications director for the Illinois Department of Public Health stated that food borne outbreaks can happen, “anytime, anywhere.” E. coli can be found in produce, meats, or the intestines of humans and animals. She also said that food borne outbreaks are often under reported. For example, last December there was a salmonella outbreak in Illinois that was linked to sprouts.

Another example is the 2008 Illinois e. coli outbreak in iceberg lettuce. According to Medill Reports Chicago, six people were hospitalized after eating iceberg lettuce during the outbreak. Another 26 in Michigan had fallen ill due to the lettuce. People contaminated with the e. coli O157 strain often had symptoms such as cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Fortunately, this instance only required six hospitalizations in Illinois. Other instances of e. coli outbreaks have cost millions in medical expenses. Food poisoning can lead to serious illness or death. Illinois food poisoning lawsuits have helped victims of food poisoning recover from the expensive medical care required to treat the illness.

A food crops extension specialist and postharvest physiologist at the University of Illinois told The Times that the strain that hit Europe is likely to come to the United States in the near future. “Infection could arrive next week or next month, it is really hard to predict. The chance of it coming to the U.S. is relatively high,” he said. As an example, he pointed to the 1984 e.coli strain that started in California but is now found all over the world.

Continue reading "European e. coli strain will likely come to the US, an expert says" »

The Chicago Tribune is reporting this morning on a tragic Chicago house fire on the West Side of the city. The accident occurred on the 800 block of North Laramie Avenue in the Austin neighborhood. Fire officials were called to the area in the middle of the night, around 2 a.m.

Once inside officials discovered a 2-month old child on a smoldering full size bed—she was pronounced dead at the scene. The house fire appeared to have started on that very bed, though authorities are yet unsure of its specific cause. The first was limited to the single room in this home, but it did spread to one neighboring house. It took firefighters about 15 minutes to put it out completely. The child was the only casualty of the blaze. However, in total there appear to be 13 people affected by the blaze.

Emergency crews located only a single fire alarm in the home which did not have working batteries at the time of the incident.

A Chicago fire accidents is some of the most frightening events to learn about, because their potential for destruction is significant. It is always more distressing when those in charge of operating the homes fail to ensure that there are working fire alarms in place. Our Illinois personal injury lawyers at Levin & Perconti know the damage these incidents have well. A few years ago we represented two families who lost a combined six children in an apartment fire that struck in Rogers Park. Several other children were also injured in the event.

The companies responsible for managing the unit did not have proper working smoke detectors in the unit at the time of the accident. The fire began when a burning candle ignited. The family had been using candles for months at night because it could not afford to pay for electricity.

Continue reading "West Side Chicago Fire Kills Infant" »

The death of a worker in the summer of 2009 during a road paving project has led to an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit. The Madison-St. Clair Record reported on the details on the latest court filing.

The victim was an employee with Southern Illinois Asphalt who died when the asphalt roller which he was manning flipped over and killed him. His wife recently filed an wrongful death lawsuit against both the makers of the roller, Ingersoll-Rand Company and Delta Asphalt, and Southern Illinois Asphalt. In her complaint the woman states that the company that built the machine should have taken several steps to ensure the safety of those who rode in the machine.

She specifically is alleging problems with the design of the roller. The victim claims that her husband’s death was caused in part by the roller’s lack of a seat restrain system. She also argues that the company was negligent in not equipping the machine with roller protection or warning users of the product that it was unsafe to operate without such protection.

In the claim again the man’s employer, Southern Asphalt, the complaint alleges that they failed to provide her husband with a safe work place, ensure the safety of their equipment, or to provide an adequate flagman at the job site.

Continue reading "Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After Man Dies in Asphalt Roller Accident" »

Summer season is in full swing in our area with many residents spending much of their free time outside. Of course water activities remain a key component of many summertime events. Beaches abound along the miles of development-free Chicago coastline, pools grace hotel rooftops, community pools provide local aquatic fun, and a variety of other spots give residents and their families the chance to swim.

Yet, each Chicago personal injury lawyer at our firm hopes to stress that it is important to keep safety in mind to avoid falling victim to a Chicago swimming accident. As an article earlier this month in St. Louis Today reminded readers, the prevalence of accidents in the water remains high. In fact, drowning is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 14. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that as many as 1,000 children are killed each year because of these accidents.

Of course supervision is a cornerstone of water safety. All parents should keep eyes on their kids to ensure that they are not struggling in the water. One expert explained the narrow window through which most drownings occur, noting “If the child gets away and is submerged for even a few minutes, that is long enough to sustain serious decreased oxygen and serious brain injury.”

Besides supervision by parents, the operators of community water spaces must ensure that they take basic steps to keep pools safe. Water must never be murky, as that makes it difficult for observers to see swimmers in trouble. All drains must be equipped with proper covers to ensure they pose no threat to those caught in its suction. Others requirements include preventing overcrowding, keeping proper fencing, properly marking water depths, and similar actions.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyer Alert: Rues Are Essential to Avoid Chicago Swimming Pool Accidents" »

Many readers of our Illinois personal injury lawyer blog are well appraised of the DePuy hip recall that was issued last August in response to growing evidence that the metal-on-metal devices were a danger to patients who had received them. Recently, national regulators have begun questioning the safety of all similar hip implants, including those not manufactured by DePuy. Specifically, according to an NPR story, last month the United States Food and Drug Administration asked at least twenty manufacturers to conduct more throughout analysis of the safety of their metal-on-metal hip implants. The FDA is specifically asking these companies to report more detailed information on how long the hips last and the side-effects that some patients are experiencing.

The instigation for this new call was likely the growing list of complaints that the body has received from patients of all stripes who have suffered complications following their hip replacement surgery.

While metal-on-metal implants have made headlines for their potential problems over the past year, hip implants come in a variety of forms. Many other versions use ceramics, plastics, and metal in various ways to help replace the ball and socket of a hip. The metal-on-metal devices have posed particular problems because of wear on the metal in the rubbing between the two parts of the device. The main issue is the increasing risk that the device will let loose small metal particles into the patient’s body—including the surrounding tissue and bloodstream. Various complications exist when that happens. The metal particles could cause infection, necrosis, and allergic problems. In the worst cases, enough metal is released to affect a patient’s heart and neurological system.

All those who have had hip replacements should be aware of warning signs. Medical professionals urge these individuals to pay attention to numbing or swelling around the area of the implant. If changes are noticed it is important to visit with a doctor to ensure that no long term complications develop.

Continue reading "FDA Requests More Information on Defectively Designed DePuy Hip Implants" »

The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) recently honored our Levin & Perconti Chicago personal injury attorney Michael F. Bonamarte IV with a volunteer award. In a press release, ITLA announced Mr. Bonamarte as a recipient of the William J. Harte Amicus Volunteer Award for 2011.

The award is given to recognition of “dedicated volunteer service and professional efforts on behalf of the ITLA Amicus Curiae Committee in preparing legal briefs before the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts during the past twelve months.” This includes legal work done on behalf of important principles in the Illinois justice system.

For example, blog readers know that both Michael Bonamarte and Steve Levin wrote and submitted an amicus brief to the Illinois Supreme Court in the case of Vincent v. Alden-Park Strathmoor, Inc. The case involved what legal rule would apply to damages that a family could receive following the wrongful death of their loved one from poor nursing home care.

Our attorneys argued in support of the nursing home victims in that case who suggested that the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act did not preclude them from recovering punitive damages if their loved one died from the poor care that they received. The position was logical in that it preserved the purpose of the punitive damages (punishment) in the cases when their conduct was the most egregious—leading to the death of the resident. Finding otherwise meant that negligent nursing homes actually stood to financially benefit from their conduct if a resident was killed instead of merely injured.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyer Michael Bonamarte Honored For Legal Volunteerism" »

Illinois personal injury lawyers are concerned with the potential for an outbreak of the deadly European e. coli strain in the United States. According to the Washington Post, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 5 cases of the European E. coli strain in the United States.

The first four cases caught the virus when traveling to Hamburg, Germany. The fifth became infected merely from being in close contact with one of the other four. Of the five cases, one is confirmed to be the same e. coli strain that has killed 36 and caused over 3,000 to become ill. Most of those Europeans who died from the e. coli strain had developed a rare form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Of the five U.S. citizens, three have developed HUS. The three HUS cases were reported in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. The Massachusetts case is the case that is confirmed to be a result of the same strain in Europe.

Fortunately, German health officials have traced the outbreak to a sprout farm in Lower Saxony state in northern Germany. Chicago e. coli lawyers are relieved to know that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are no confirmed e. coli cases of infected U.S. military personnel or their dependents stationed in Germany. However, everyone should learn more about foodborne illnesses as food poisoning lawsuits become more common.

According to a U.S. Centers fore Disease Control and Prevention report, 1 in 6 U.S. citizens or 48 million people in the United States get sick from food poisoning every year. Of those 48 million, 128,000 people are hospitalized due to food poisoning and 3,000 ultimately die from it. The top five pathogens that cause death are salmonella, toxoplasma gondii, listeria monocytogenes, norovirus, and campylobacter.

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Alert: European E. coli outbreak spreads to the United States" »

Our Chicago food poisoning lawyers worry whether the U.S.A. is adequately protected to avoid an E. coli outbreak on the scale of the outbreak Germany and Europe is suffering now. The deadly outbreak of food-borne illnesses may seem a distant threat, but one recent editorial in the New York Times urges readers not to become too complacent.

As we all know, germs have a way of traveling and though our country's food safety systems are much improved, they are still not built to detect and prevent the spread of rare, dangerous forms of infectious agents. The deadly E.coli outbreak has been all over the news, but in case you have not heard, it has caused 2900 cases of illness, including more than 750 cases of serious kidney failure and 27 wrongful deaths. First, officials were blaming imported produce from Spain, then they blamed the food poisoning on beat sprouts from an organic farm in Germany. They have yet to pin down the cause. As time passes, it becomes more difficult to do so; people forget what they ate, contaminated food is thrown away, and farm equipment is disinfected.

Continue reading "Could we too suffer an E. coli outbreak? " »

A Midwestern woman with personal experience dealing with E.coli bacteria recognizes how much the bacteria can change a person’s life. She is calling the E.coli outbreak in Europe horrible. The 24 year-old woman states: “It kind of makes me sick. You think they would learn by now.” Four years ago, the woman became ill with E.coli after eating a hamburger. Her life dramatically changed from the illness – after nearly a year in the hospital with brain and kidney damage along with paralysis from the waste down that ended her career as a dance teacher, the woman settled her product liability lawsuit against Cargill in 2009.

Now, the recent news of the European E.coli outbreak is leaving the food poisoning victim shocked. She stated that officials have an obligation to ensure that contaminated food products do not make it onto the market. She expressed that officials need to think about it and take their time.

Continue reading "E. Coli outbreak troubles Midwestern woman" »

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys read reports that indicate that as many as 238,000 workers may be exposed to a chemical known as benzene on a daily basis. Occupations involving oils, various pesticides, and other liquids are particularly apt to spend time around the substance. Painters, chemical workers, pesticide manufacturers, tankermen, truck drivers, and a variety of other employees often face significant benzene exposure over their workday.

Recently some of those workers have contacted a Benzene injury lawyer who filed and won damages based on the adverse consequences of benzene exposure. A variety of medical studies have begun finding evidence linking benzene with cancer. Specifically, those who were highly exposed have an increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia. In addition, a study examining 74,000 workers at 672 factories in 12 cities found that even those exposed to somewhat lower levels of benzene had elevated risks of hematologic neoplasms (the types of cancer that affect the blood bone marrow, and lymph nodes). Newer studies have also considered the role of the substance in causing Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Just as with asbestos lawsuits, there is usually a “latency” period between the time that one is exposed to the substance and the time that they begin to suffer disease from the chemical. This means that many victims of this exposure may not be aware of their vulnerability or, if they do develop cancer, fail to consider the role that their workplace exposure may have had.

Continue reading "Personal Injury Lawsuits Filed By Those Injured From Exposure to Benzene" »

Chicago personal injury lawyers are keenly aware of the outbreak of E.coli 0104 in Europe. According to the New York Times and Washington Post, the E.coli strain that killed 18 people, threatens over 2000 others, and caused 500 to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening kidney complication for which there is no cure or treatment, is currently legal in the United States. At present, the FDA has never required testing produce for the bacteria and meat inspectors do not test for them. Furthermore, only one percent of imported food is inspected. As for the United States, two cases of the virulent strain have been reported. Both victims are in the hospital and remain seriously ill.

The United States recently recovered from two E. coli scares. In 1993 when E. coli 0157:H7 was found in Jack in the Box hamburgers. E. coli 0157:H7 killed four children and 750 others became very ill as a result of consumption. Last year, E.coli 026 was found in Cargill Meat Solutions hamburgers. Cargill Meat Solutions subsequently recalled 8,500 pounds of hamburger. The virulent strain currently causing devastation in Europe is E.coli 0104. Food poisoning lawsuits have become more common in the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture is currently considering proposals to ban emerging strains of E.coli in meat, but the meat industry is opposed to the regulation. The USDA has sent a proposal to the Office of Management and Budget, but nothing has been decided and the proposal has not been made public.

Illness and death caused by E.coli poisoning and foodborne disease is expensive. A 2011 Government Accountability Office report found that each year foodborne disease causes about 76 million illnesses and 325,000 hospitalizations. Annually, foodborne disease causes 5,000 deaths. Costs that stem from just the five major foodborne diseases result in $6.9 billion spent every year on medical treatment, productivity losses, and premature deaths from those five foodborne diseases. The high cost of foodborne disease is a grave burden on any family, and many are seeking the help. Illinois food poisoning attorneys can help families cope with this hardship.

Continue reading "Foodborne Illness costs U.S. $6.9 billion every year" »

Our Illinois personal injury attorneys filed a lawsuit on behalf of Stephen Dewart yesterday. Mr. Dewart is a 27-year old area man who was seriously injured after he was run down on the sidewalk in the River North neighborhood by a drunk city worker. The accident occurred last month as Mr. Dewart was participating in a photo shoot for his wife’s company. An intoxicated City of Chicago worker lost control of his truck and ran it off the road into a crowd on the corner of Rush and Cedar streets. Steven M. Levin and Susan L. Novosad officially filed the Chicago pedestrian accident lawsuit this week in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

In total eight people were struck as the Chicago Streets and Sanitation worker egregiously left the road and drove his truck into the unsuspecting crowd. After the accident it was discovered that the reckless driver had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and an open brandy bottle was found in his vehicle.

Mr. Dewart suffered significant injuries in the accident. Steve Levin explained, “Stephen suffered several spinal fractures, a broken fibula and a broken tibia, and was hospitalized for six days. He had a rod surgically placed in his lower right leg and is presently wheelchair bound. He is home now, but will require a lengthy and arduous period of physical therapy and rehabilitation.”

But not only that, Mr. Dewart’s future plans had to be changed following the devastating tragedy. Levin reports that, “Stephen was supposed to start law school last week, but had to defer his admission for a year in order to recover from his injuries. […] We hope that this lawsuit will bring them [the Dewart family] fair and reasonable compensation. We also hope that it will prompt the City to create more effective drug and alcohol screening processes for employees, especially those operating large vehicles and heavy machinery.”

Continue reading "Levin & Perconti Files Accident Lawsuit For Victim Severely Injured By Intoxicated City Worker" »

A Chicago tour bus accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway on the south end of Chicago recently sent twenty people to area hospitals. Fortunately, the bus accident victims received only minor personal injuries, according to officials. According to the Illinois State Police, the northbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway at 47th Avenue were shut down because of the Chicago bus tour accident. The spokesperson stated that officials were still investigating and did not have any details about the bus tour accident circumstances as of Sunday evening. A total of thirty four people were reported to refuse medical treatment on the scene.

Our Chicago injury lawyers have successfully handled almost every single type of motor vehicle negligence case and have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for the victims and their families. Our Chicago injury lawyers’ resolutions include a record-setting $10 million Chicago car accident settlement for a young boy who was hit by a city Fire Department truck while playing in an open fire hydrant on the Independence Day holiday. The Chicago car accident resulted in the loss of his leg and half of his pelvis.

Continue reading "Chicago tour bus accident sends 20 people to area hospitals" »

Last week, a deadly E.coli outbreak hit the media and many were questioning who and/or what caused this awful product liability. You may have heard a lot about E.coli, but our Chicago personal injury attorneys realize that many people may not know that it is an infection that is caused by Escherichia coli bacteria that resides in the intestine. It is most often caused due to undercooked beef, but outbreaks can also occur where unhealthy eating habit is practiced or when food or water contaminated with that bacteria is consumed. Signs and symptoms of E.coli include bloody diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramping, vomiting, fever, bloating, and loss of appetite.

Continue reading "Determining the source of the deadly E.coli outbreak" »

Every Chicago injury lawyer at our firm knows that the sight of colorful, castle-like bounce houses is becoming quite common at area festivals, birthday parties, and similar children’s events. More and more local children convince their parents to let them clamber inside these inflatable devices and bounce in the trampoline-esque structure. However, many parents remain unaware of the dangers hidden in these devices. The prevalence of risks has led to many bounce house injury lawsuits.

Young children fall victim to those accidents in a variety of ways. For one thing, the often chaotic bouncing patterns and flying bodies often result in collisions and awkward falls which cause serious injury. Beyond that, the improper tethering and staking of these objects often leads to serious injury. KGUN News reported earlier this month on three separate bounce houses that had blown away in the wind, injuring several children.

The latest bounce house accident occurred at an elementary school graduation party. A strong wind came through the party and eventually picked up the poorly secured house and blew it straight into a light pole. Fortunately, several at the party quickly ushered out the children when the wind picked up and they avoided major injury.

A Chicago personal injury lawyer knows that other victims have not been so lucky. In two separate bounce house accidents that occurred in the area previously, castles were blown away with children inside. In one of those cases a little girl flew with the airborne inflatable and was severely injured when the house landed on a rooftop. In the other case two children were trapped in a bounce house that slammed them into the middle of the road. They were severely hurt in the accident.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Attorney Alert: Illinois Bounce House injuries Pose Risk to Area Children" »

With Memorial Day passed and the “unofficial” start to summer here, our Chicago personal injury lawyers want to share some tips to our neighbors on how to avoid personal injuries this summer. Many Chicagoans and Illinoisans hit the road to the lake or other roadtrip destinations, so driving safely is essential. Please drive defensively and always wear your seatbelts to avoid serious personal injuries in motor vehicle accidents.

While you cannot control other drivers’ behavior when they get behind the wheel, you can control your own. Pay attention to the road; do not fall victim to distractions. Please do NOT text or call and drive! Using a cell phone while driving, whether its hand-held or hands free, delays a driver’s reaction as much as have a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent!! According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Distraction.gov, twenty percent of motor vehicle accidents resulting in personal injuries in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. Of those who were killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, nearly a thousand of the wrongful deaths involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction! Further, some astounding numbers from 2009 should give you pause before you pick up that cell phone behind the wheel. 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving.

Continue reading "Injury attorney advice to Chicagoans: have a safe and injury free summer!" »