Summer is a time for outdoor fun. Boating, swimming, hiking and camping are among the activities we associate with summertime. But these activities are also fraught with hidden danger. Every year, many lives are ruined by diving accidents – in particular, by spinal cord injuries including paralysis and death caused by diving into shallow water. … Read More
Injured Car Accident Passengers Must Be Afforded Underinsured Motorist Coverage
One topic that makes our Chicago personal injury lawyers blood boil is motor vehicle insurance. All Illinois drivers are required to carry liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident. This mandatory minimum amount of motor vehicle insurance is woefully inadequate. Time and again, our car accident attorneys are faced… Read More
Medical Malpractice: Court Allows Evidence of Doctor’s Financial Motive
The experienced Illinois medical malpractice attorneys at Passen & Powell conduct a thorough investigation into the facts and circumstances of each case, and seek to put before a jury at trial all evidence which demonstrates that a doctor acted negligently, and which shows the full extent of damage caused to the patient as a result. … Read More
Concussions Sustained by Children
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities states that 1 million children a year suffer concussions, more than 30,000 of which will incur serious long term disability as a result of a concussion. Because a concussion, if left untreated, may lead to a severe traumatic brain injury, parents should seek immediate medical treatment for… Read More
Spinal Cord Injuries — Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
A previous post talked about severe neck and spine injuries as a result of a car accident, specifically, soft tissue injuries including herniated or ruptured discs. A more severe spinal cord injury that may occur as a result of car or truck accident, or other accident, is paralysis, including paraplegia or quadriplegia. To speak with… Read More
Catastrophic Personal Injury Explanation
A phrase often used in the personal injury context, mostly by personal injury lawyers themselves, is “catastrophic injury” or “catastrophic injuries.” Experienced personal injury lawyers hold themselves out as handling “catastrophic injury cases”, but what does that really mean? The answer is not always clear. Catastrophic, by definition, is something extremely harmful or severe. In… Read More
Porch Collapse Injury Liability
A recent Chicago Tribune article reminded people of the fatal porch collapse in Lincoln Park six years ago. Thirteen people lost their lives in June of 2003 when the porch they were standing on collapsed without warning. The Chicago Building Code 2(13-4-010) defines a porch as an “unheated roofed portion of a building, generally containing… Read More
Construction Site Falls – Scaffold Injuries
Falls are the most common type of construction site accident, especially falls from scaffolds. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), there are more than 50 deaths and 4500 injuries from scaffolding falls each year. Construction workers who fall several stories from scaffolding are often seriously injured, resulting in hospitalization or even death…. Read More
Common Neck And Back Injuries Sustained In Car Accidents
Severe back pain as the result of a car accident may be a sign of a more severe injury such as a fractured or dislocated spine or a herniated or ruptured disc, which can be permanent and debilitating injuries. One of the most common forms of back injury sustained in a car accident is whiplash…. Read More
Illinois Rejects Motorcycle Helmet Law – Intended To Reduce Catastrophic Motorcycle Accidents
With summer in full swing, motorcycle riders are coming out of the woodwork in Illinois and across the nation. Unfortunately, many of these motorcycle riders do not wear helmets on Illinois roads and highways for one main reason: Illinois remains one of the only states in the country to without a motorcycle helmet law. The… Read More