Contrary to earlier media reports, no one was killed from being exposed to the chemical during the work accident. Two hospital emergency rooms in Missouri had to be quarantined, however, because the workers sought medical help.
The chemical nitroaniline is often used in making antioxidants, dyes, gasoline, pharmaceuticals, and poultry medications. Exposure to the toxic chemical can lead to diarrhea, convulsions, irritability, vomiting, anemia, tachycardia, dyspnea, tachypnea, cyanosis, ataxia, methemoglobinemia, respiratory arrest, and chronic cumulative liver damage.
Work Injuries and Illnesses
The owners and managers of plants, factories, construction sites, and other areas where workers do their jobs are supposed to make sure that employees are equipped with the proper safety equipment, the proper safety procedures are followed, and there are no unsafe conditions that exist on a premise that can cause serious injury, illness, or death.
Workers that are injured on the job cannot sue their employers but they are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, as well as personal injury compensation from liable third parties.
8 sickened by chemical exposure at plant in Ill., WTOP, August 31, 2008
Authorities: Did Ro-Corp. workers follow proper procedures?, BND, September 3, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Preliminary reports indicate that a car was going west on Higgins made a U-turn in front of a motorcycle headed east. Both motorists may have had a green light at Mall Drive.
The motorcyclist, 39-year-old Dean Schroeder, was pronounced dead later in the evening at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. The driver of the car, a 30-year-old woman, was also treated at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2007 Traffic Safety Facts:
• 41,059 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2007.
• 2,491,000 others sustained injuries.
• 5,154 people died in motorcycle crashes last year.
• 70,000 motorcyclists were injured.
• There were 802 large truckers killed.
• 698 traffic crash victims in 2007 were pedalcyclists.
While US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters said that overall traffic deaths in the US reached their lowest figure in 14 years, she noted that motorcycle safety is an ongoing issue, with motorcyclist deaths making up 13% of all motor vehicle deaths in the US.
Motorcyclist dies in collision near Woodfield Mall, ChicagoTribune.com, September 1, 2008
2007 Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA (PDF)
Related Web Resource:
Last September, Robert was diagnosed with lung cancer, which he died from in March. Mark says that his father got cancer because he was exposed to, ingested, and inhaled asbestos fibers while working and that the defendants should have anticipated that the exposure to the toxic substance would end up killing his father.
Mark says that in addition to suffering from the disease and experiencing physical and mental pain, his father spent a great deal of money on medical costs and other services to treat his illness. Because Robert was unable to work, he lost a substantial amount of income. Not only did Robert's family lose his financial support and companionship, but they spent a great deal of money to pay for funeral and burial expenses.
Mark is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is accusing Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of working with the defendants to misrepresent the dangers that come with exposure to asbestos.
If you or someone you love was injured on the job in Illinois, you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. You also may be entitled to file personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against other negligent parties that may have been responsible for the work-related injury or disease.
Mesothelioma
This type of cancer can occur due to exposure to asbestos, with lung cancer being a leading cause of asbestos-related deaths. Asbestos are toxic fibrous minerals that have been used to make houses, schools, buildings, certain car parts, and many other products. In the event that a person ingests or inhales the fibers, asbestos can cause serious personal injury or wrongful death.
Illinois man sues 92 companies for father's lung cancer death, The Record, August 27, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers, National Cancer Institute
What is Asbestos, Osha.org
]]>Rodriguez’s wife, Amelia, says the accident occurred on August 15 close to Cermak and Damen. Meantime, Chicago police confirm that an accident occurred close to Damen and 22nd next to a building under construction but did not issue specific details. Amelia says Rodriguez, the family’s main source of support, is in a great deal of pain and will have to undergo surgery.
If you were injured because you believe that another party was reckless or careless, you may be entitled to receive personal injury compensation for your injuries, medical and recovery costs, and other damages. Some personal injuries can be catastrophic, and the expenses incurred from treating and living with such a serious injury can be too much for one’s medical insurance to cover.
Construction Accidents
While construction workers are the ones most prone to serious injury in most construction accidents, there are accidents that occur when innocent bystanders or others that happen to be at or around the site are the ones that get hurt.
Some examples of constructions accidents:
• Falling debris
• Fall accidents
• Defective machinery
• Crane collapses
• Scaffolding accidents
• Site explosions
Hero paralyzed saving woman, Chicago Sun-Times, August 27, 2008
Man paralyzed by falling debris, ABClocal.go.com, August 25, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Spinal Cord Injuries, MedlinePlus.com
Construction Safety, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC.gov
]]> In Illinois, your best chances of obtaining the personal injury compensation that you are owed is to contact a Chicago personal injury lawyer that knows how to investigate your case and has access to top accident reconstructionists and medical experts.Contact the Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associations, PC today.
]]>Shank’s lawyer says that although the affidavit is necessary for medical malpractice cases filed in Illinois court, it is not necessary for cases filed in federal court. Her lawsuit accuses the hospital of negligence, which she says resulted in her husband Bob bleeding to death after undergoing gallbladder surgery at the VA hospital last year. She is seeking $12 million in wrongful death compensation.
Following the minimally invasive procedure, doctors were unable to wake Bob up. Bob’s surgeon, Dr. Jose Veizaga-Mendez, suggested that he might have had a stroke, a heart attack, or liver damage. Bob was given several blood transfusions, which Shank says eventually prevented his blood from clotting. He underwent another surgery to determine where the blood was going. Bob passed away the next day.
Shank says the doctor let her husband bleed to death and that someone that worked at the hospital suggested she contact a medical malpractice lawyer. The US Government is named as the only defendant in the lawsuit.
Dr. Jose Veizaga-Mendez is under investigation for at least nine deaths that occurred to patients under his care while he worked at the VA hospital in Marion. A Veterans Affairs Administrative Investigation Board investigation found that the Marion VA hospital’s management staff failed to take action when doubts arose about Veizaga-Mendez’s credentials.
Report says Marion VA leadership dismissed concerns, Marion Daily Republican, August 15, 2008
Government Wants VA Suit Thrown Out Malpractice Alleged in Deaths at Ill. Clinic, Redorbit.com, July 24, 2008
VA Probes Doctor's Role in Patient Deaths, NPR.org, November 5, 2007
Related Web Resources:
A Health Care System, Marion.va.gov
]]>The traffic accident occurred in the Garfield Park area at Pulaski Road and Madison Street. The driver of the vehicle, 37-year-old Danny Carter, was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, one count of reckless homicide, disobeying a red light, DUI, driving without insurance, driving left of center, and not giving a pedestrian proper care.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 4,654 pedestrian deaths in the US in 2007. The Web site CyberDriveIllinois.com reports that there were 164 pedestrian deaths in Illinois in 2005.
Steps that motorists can take to prevent Illinois pedestrian accidents:
• Obey traffic lights and traffic signs.
• Pay close attention when driving near schools or approaching crosswalks.
• Don’t speed.
• Don’t drive drunk.
• Make sure that all maintenance on your car is up-to-date.
• Don’t talk on the phone or text message while driving.
Driver Charged in Deadly Pedestrian Accident, WBBM780.com, August 13, 2008
Man charged in crash that killed pedestrian, injured 2 people, ChicagoTribune.com, August 12, 2008
Pedestrian Statistics, CyberDriveIllinois.com
Related Web Resources:
Illinois Department of Transportation
The 2007 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Fatalities and People Injured, Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA (PDF)
]]> Pedestrians and bicyclists that are injured in traffic accidents because of a another party's negligence are often left with catastrophic and costly injuries. In Chicago and other cities throughout Illinois, our car crash law firm works with the region’s leading accident reconstructionists and medical experts to examine the crash scene and your injuries, and we will explore all avenues of recovery for your injuries, pain and suffering, and other costs.Contact the Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, PC today.
]]>• Putting on make-up
• Knotting a necktie
• Reading a book
Now, Illinois officials and safety advocates are targeting drivers that neglect to focus when they are on the road. A new proposed offense of negligent vehicular homicide could lead to a $25,000 maximum fine, up to three years in prison, and a one-year driver’s license revocation if someone were convicted. Another proposal seeks to make text-messaging while driving Illegal in Illinois not just for drivers 18 years of age and under but also for adults.
Other new offenses proposed include:
• Negligent vehicular operation
• Aggravated negligent vehicular operation
Illinois Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division Director Michael Stout says that stiffer penalties are necessary for when a seemingly inconsequential act by a distracted driver leads to serious injuries or deaths.
About 10% of all Illinois drivers use cell phones at any given moment while on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says reaching for an item while driving increases chances of a motor vehicle crash by nine times and that driver distraction is a main cause of 80% of motor vehicle accidents.
State officials, safety groups want to increase penalties for distracted driving, Chicago Tribune.com, August 7, 2008
Driving while distracted, Chicago Tribune.com, August 12, 2008
Related Web Resources
2008 Rules of the Road, CyberDriveIllinois.com
Proposed Illinois Bill Would Ban Street-Crossers from Text-Messaging, ABA Journal, July 28, 2008
Contact the Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, PC today.
]]>The victims were abused by 11 former Catholic priests, including Daniel McCormack, Norbert Maday, Joseph Bennett, Robert Mayer, Robert Craig, James Hagan, Thomas Kelly, Robert Becker, Joseph Owens, James Steel, and Kenneth Ruge. With these latest settlements, the archdiocese will have settled 250 abuse claims over the past three decades.
Child Sex Abuse
Victims of child sex abuse are entitled to personal injury compensation from their perpetrators. Many times, children are too scared or ashamed to tell anyone that they’ve been the victims of sexual abuse—they may even repress the memories for years.
Since the early 1990’s, there have been many clergy sex abuse lawsuits filed against the Roman Catholic Church and many of its priests and other clergy members by the families of victims that were sexually abused as children. Some victims were sexually abused many times over a period of years.
In certain cases, there is evidence indicating that the Catholic Church knew that some of its priests were abusing children. Rather than reporting the priest to authorities, he or she would be relocated to another church and more abuse incidents would occur.
Sexual abuse can lead to serious personal injuries, including physical injuries and emotional injuries. A person that has been sexually abused may experience post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, turn to alcohol or drugs, commit suicide, or exhibit other symptoms as a result of the trauma of abuse.
Chicago archdiocese settles priest sex-abuse cases for $12.7 million, ChicagoTribune.com, August 12, 2008
Archdiocese announces settlement with sex abuse victims, Lake County News-Sun, August 12, 2008
Related Web Resources:
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Papac’s parents, Michele Bell and Mike Papac. Also named as defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit are the driver of the SUV and a production company. Papac’s parents are asking for an unspecified amount of damages, including lost wages, medical costs, and funeral expenses.
Third Party Lawsuits
While you cannot sue a decedent’s employer for wrongful death if he or she was killed in a work-related accident, there may be third parties that can be held liable for the wrongful death accident. If your loved one was killed in a work-related accident in Illinois, an experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer can investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident to determine if anyone other than the employer caused the injury accident.
Workers’ Compensation
If your loved one died in a work-related accident in Illinois, you may be entitled to death benefits from the employer’s insurance company. Death benefits are usually paid to the decedent’s spouse and children. An Illinois workers’ compensation claim is not a personal injury lawsuit. A good Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer can make sure that you receive your benefits in a timely manner, especially if your employer’s insurer is denying or delaying your claim.
Availing of your recovery from third parties, in addition to collecting death benefits from your loved one’s employer can help you receive the financial resources that you need in the wake of your family member’s unexpected death—especially if he or she was a main source of financial support. It is also a way to hold the responsible parties liable for the wrongful death.
Hancock' director sued over death, CNN.com, August 8, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission
Illinois Wrongful Death Act, Illinois General Assembly
]]>Ketza, a father of four, struck the van with his motorcycle, lost control of it, and skidded along the pavement. He was pronounced dead less than two hours later at Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn.
The driver of the van was Chicago resident Joseph Delgado. Delgado has been charged with one count of an improper U-turn and one count of failure to yield.
Motorcycle Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 4,810 people died in motorcycle accidents in 2006. While motorcycle accidents can occur because the motorcyclist was negligent, they also frequently occur because another party, such as a trucker, a car driver, or a bus driver was negligent.
Motorcyclists involved in serious auto crashes are prone to catastrophic injuries, including spinal cord injuries, severed limbs, serious burn injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and death. Motorcyclists don’t have anything except for their helmets and protective gear to protect them from the impact of being thrown into a car, crashing into a wall, or skidding across the highway at high speeds.
According to the “Hurt Report”:
• 75% of motorcycle accidents involve another motor vehicle.
• 2% of motorcycle accidents are caused by roadway defects.
• In 2/3rds of multiple vehicle crashes involving motorcycles, drivers of other vehicles caused the collisions and violated a motorcyclist’s right of way.
Arlington Heights man killed in motorcycle crash, Daily Herald.com, August 4, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Madeline was born at Northwestern Memorial on July 17, 1998, a date that was past her due date. Hospital doctors induced Lopez’s labor using the drug Pitocin. Lopez’s personal injury lawyer, however, contends that the drug was administered aggressively, which resulted in contractions that came too closely after one another and caused stress to baby Madeline.
Madeline’s brain tissue became damaged after it was deprived of oxygen, and she sustained hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Madeline’s injury has left her with limited speech abilities and she is prone to angry outbursts. Lopez says her daughter has to fight to communicate daily.
Birthing Malpractice
Medical errors during childbirth can cause a baby to suffer catastrophic injuries, such as Cerebral palsy, Brachial palsy, facial paralysis, broken bones, bruising, and shoulder dystocia.
Common kinds of medical malpractice errors that can lead to birthing injuries:
• Wrong diagnosis
• Waiting too long to induce labor
• Neglecting to perform a c-section when required
• Incorrect forceps use
Botched delivery results in $9.75M settlement, Southtownstar.com, July 9, 2008
Birth Injuries, Health System Virginia.edu
Related Web Resources:
Pitocin FAQ, Childbirth.org
hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, Medicine.net
The crash caused Orr’s vehicle to ram into the cement truck in front of her. Her car caught on fire, and she died from her injuries. The defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit were Albertson’s, Jewel Food Stores, Logistics Co, American Procurement, and Peter Desuno.
Truck Accidents
Pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and the drivers and passengers of cars are at a disadvantage if they were ever to become involved in a motor vehicle crash with a tractor-trailer, a semi-truck, a garbage truck, an 18-wheeler truck, or another large truck.
Often, truck accident victims—if they survive—are left to cope with catastrophic injuries. It doesn’t help their situation that trucking companies are prepared to deal with injury claims and lawsuits and know what steps to take to minimize liability for any role they (or one of their truck employees) may have played in causing the accident. In Illinois, a good Chicago truck crash lawyer can protect your rights to obtain the maximum recovery for your injuries or the wrongful death of your loved one.
Common causes of truck accidents:
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Overloaded truck
• Driver fatigue
• Negligent operation
• Mechanical problems or truck/product defects
$2.8 Million Settlement in Fatal Crash, SuburbanChicagoNews.com, July 30, 2008
$2.8 million settlement in 2004 death of woman whose car was hit by Jewel truck, Chicago Tribune.com, July 30, 2008
Related Web Resources:
He also says that because of physical condition, he does not have the physical ability to strike the officer he was convicted of hitting. Casares is unable to move his legs and has limited range of motion in his arms.
The alleged police brutality incident happened while Casares was sitting in the passenger side of his car next to his brother. Chicago police arrived to arrest his brother, who was under suspicion of using marijuana. Casares was ordered to exit the vehicle, and this is when he says he repeatedly told them he was unable to get out of the car.
Three police officers that testified at Casares’s criminal trial offer a different account. They claim that they never drew their guns during the altercation and accuse Casares of hitting a female cop when she asked him to exit his car.
Police Brutality
In 2007, CNN published statistics reporting that the City of Chicago received over 10,000 complaints against its police officers between 2002 and 2004. Many of these reports alleged assault and brutality.
Man paralyzed since 2002 files suit saying he was beaten by Chicago cops in '06, Chicago Tribune, July 24, 2008
Chicago's Finest Under Fire for Brutality, CNN.com, September 28, 2007
Related Web Resources:
Reviews findings included:
• There were 5 train crashes and 13 train derailments that happened in CTA rail yards over a 7 ½ month period in 2007.
• The CTA does not hold enough emergency-response drills.
• Train operators did not physically check to see that all doors were shut and all passengers were safely in and out of the train.
• Some train stations did not have emergency phone lines or adequate lighting.
• A significant amount of debris was noted on railroad tracks.
• Certain train tracks had defects, including rotten wood ties and loose rail spikes.
The RTA is giving the CTA another opportunity to improve these safety issues and will conduct another evaluation this summer.
Common Causes of Train Accidents:
• Driver fatigue, inexperience, or negligence
• Track or train defects
• Faulty maintenance
• Mechanical failures
• Electrical malfunctions
CTA's rail safety criticized, Chicago Tribune, June 29, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Regional Transportation Authority
]]> Train crash cases are not like other injury accidents, and it is important that you work with an Illinois railroad crash law firm that knows how to pursue your recovery if you are injured.Contact the Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, PC today.
]]>Cicero police had arrived at the scene to break up an altercation that Godinez was involved in. The police officers told Godinez to step off the sidewalk, onto the street, and behind one of the police cars, but they did not turn on their vehicle's emergency lights.
Motorist Luis Contreras, who was drunk driving an SUV at a speed of about 74 mph, struck a jeep before hitting Godinez, who ended up pinned against the police car. Both of his legs were severed and he died the following day.
Wrongful Death
A death can qualify as a wrongful death if the victim would have been entitled to personal injury compensation had he or she survived the accident. In Illinois, the immediate family members of a decedent can file a wrongful death lawsuit if the person that died was killed because of another party’s negligence. Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, you have two years from the date of death to file a lawsuit.
Pedestrian Injuries
Pedestrians injured in motor vehicle accidents are prone to serious—even fatal—injuries, including severed limbs, burn injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and death.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents:
• Driver inattention
• Faulty traffic signs
• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Defective motor vehicles
Cicero ordered to pay $7.5 million in wrongful-death suit, ChicagoTribune.com, July 11, 2008
Related Web Resource: