Posted on August 28,2024 in Personal Injury

In 2022, there were almost 300,000 motor vehicle accidents in Illinois, injuring nearly 84,000 people and causing almost 1,300 fatalities. Sadly, some of those accident victims were pregnant.

Do pregnant women get higher settlement amounts in car accident cases? What kinds of compensation are available? The knowledgeable lawyers at Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC explain.

Collision Risks for Pregnant Women and Unborn Children

Although careful vehicle design provides some protection, the human body is vulnerable during collisions. Particularly in advanced stages of pregnancy, the mother and fetus can both sustain injuries due to:

• Deploying airbags

• The steering wheel or other objects hitting the woman’s abdomen

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 Posted on August 15,2024 in Workers' Compensation

If you sustain a work-related injury or become ill due to your employment, you can receive workers’ compensation benefits that cover your medical expenses and part of your lost wages. You may also qualify for disability benefits, and eligible survivors of workers who lose their lives may be able to obtain survivor benefits. However, these cases have restrictions, notably the exclusive remedy rule.

Workers’ comp claims in Illinois can be complex. A knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer from Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol LLC can help you overcome potential challenges to reach a successful resolution to your claim.

What Is the Exclusive Remedy Rule?

Employers are obligated to provide workers’ comp insurance for their employees. These benefits are active on the first day of employment, and you do not have to prove fault to receive them. However, the exclusive remedy rule is a key concept in these cases.

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 Posted on July 30,2024 in Personal Injury

Slip and fall accidents might not seem like a big deal at first, but these accidents can have catastrophic impacts for victims. People who are injured in a slip and fall accident may experience traumatic head injuries and spinal cord injuries, among many other difficulties.

If you have experienced a slip and fall accident at a business, that business may be responsible for your injuries. An experienced Illinois slip and fall accident lawyer can help you determine if you have a case.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents can occur when a person encounters a wet area, an area full of tripping hazards, or a poorly maintained and damaged area. Common causes of slip and fall accidents around businesses include:

• Slippery ice or water on the floors outside of a business or inside a business without proper signage

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 Posted on July 15,2024 in Workers' Compensation

Experiencing an injury on the job or losing a loved one due to a fatal accident on the job can be traumatic. Workers’ compensation in Illinois aims to provide benefits for those who have been injured while working, though injured parties need to file a claim in order to receive benefits.

While you can navigate the Illinois workers’ compensation system alone, you do not have to. You are more likely to get positive results if you have the help of a knowledgeable Illinois workers’ compensation attorney who can advocate for your rights and interests during the claim process.

The Basics of Illinois Workers’ Compensation

Illinois workers’ compensation may seem difficult to understand, but the basic concepts behind this program are fairly simple. Workers compensation is a system of benefits established by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act that aims to pay for the medical costs of an injury or illness sustained on the job, in addition to providing benefits for individuals who have been permanently disabled or left unable to work after a workplace accident. Additionally, the Workers’ Compensation Act provides benefits to the families of individuals who have experienced a fatality due to a workplace accident or illness on the job.

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 Posted on June 29,2024 in Uncategorized

Traumatic brain injuries are often severe, and the victims of these injuries often deal with expensive medical bills, long-term recoveries, and a changed way of life. For many people, a traumatic brain injury stops them from working in the future or enjoying life the way they did before the injury occurred.

If you or someone you love has experienced an accident that led to a traumatic brain injury, it is important to contact a skilled Illinois personal injury attorney. With the help of a lawyer experienced in this kind of injury, you can pursue a claim for the compensation you deserve.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury that occurs when someone receives a strong or violent blow to the head. In mild cases of TBI, the impact of the injury is temporary and recovery may be possible, but with severe TBIs, there are often long-term complications and impacts.

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 Posted on June 18,2024 in Uncategorized

Workplace accidents and injuries must be reported accurately and in a timely fashion to an employer if you want a chance at a successful workers’ compensation claim. Failure to report your accident or reporting your incident outside of the time limits set by the state of Illinois can cause issues with getting your claim approved.

If you are having trouble with workers’ compensation claim denials or understanding your workers’ compensation rights, it is vital to contact an Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you.

Failure to Report Can Lead to Claim Denial

After a workplace accident occurs, it can feel overwhelming to keep up with all of the paperwork that needs to be completed. This is often made more difficult by the recovery process, especially if you suffered a catastrophic injury as a result of your workplace accident.

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 Posted on May 24,2024 in Uncategorized

Distracted driving accidents have been increasing over recent years, partly due to the availability of distractions for drivers to engage in while operating their motor vehicles. Texting and driving is one of the biggest distractions, though any action or behavior that takes a driver’s eyes off the road and the safe operations of his or her vehicle may be considered distracted driving.

Pursuing a claim for a distracted driving accident can be complex, as you will need to prove that the distracted actions of the driver caused your accident and your injuries. A skilled distracted driving accident lawyer can help you with this.

Consequences of a Distracted Driving Accident

Distracted driving accidents are dangerous, and these accidents can result in serious injuries to the parties involved. Consequences of a distracted driving accident include:

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 Posted on May 09,2024 in Uncategorized

Losing a limb after a work accident severely impacts a person’s life and any ability he or she has to work in the future. Workers’ compensation may apply in situations where a victim of a workplace accident suffers from such a catastrophic injury, though you will need to qualify for long-term workers’ compensation, which is known as permanent and total disability.

An experienced Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer can advocate for your rights and the workers’ compensation payments you deserve after an amputation or other qualifying injury.

Qualifications for Permanent and Total Disability

Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, long-term worker’s compensation payments may apply if an injury is considered a total and permanent disability. Injuries that may qualify as total and permanent disabilities are those that stop a person from working a job again in any capacity.

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 Posted on April 19,2024 in Uncategorized

Medical malpractice in Illinois occurs when a medical professional fails to perform their duty of care to a patient. This may include acting negligently or recklessly during the diagnosis, treatment, or recovery process. Medical malpractice often results in further injuries, illness, or catastrophic impact on the patient.

If you suspect medical malpractice has happened to you or a loved one, contacting a skilled Illinois medical malpractice lawyer is essential to advocate for your rights.

Common Types of Medical Malpractice and Their Consequences

Medical malpractice can occur across a variety of fields and during diagnosis, treatment, surgical procedures, or the recovery process. Common examples of medical malpractice include:

• Using too much force during labor, causing birth injuries to mother or child

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 Posted on April 10,2024 in Uncategorized

Though many steps and workplace safety regulations are in place to reduce the occurrence of factory accidents, the unfortunate reality is that factories are still dangerous places and accidents do occur. Receiving an injury in a factory accident can be catastrophic, and it is important to pursue a claim for the compensation you deserve while you recover from your injuries. An Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer can help guide you through this process.

Common Factory Accidents and Injuries

Factory accidents can occur in many different ways even despite proper safety regulations and precautions due to the somewhat hazardous conditions of factory work and heavy machinery use. However, when proper safety standards are not followed, there is an even greater risk of employee harm or injury.

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