Day four of our personal injury lawyers‘ discussion of “Five Myths of Medical Malpractice.” Here’s Myth #4: Medical Malpractice Myth #4: Medical Malpractice Claims Drive Up Doctors’ Premiums This myth continues to be spread by the health insurance lobby, despite being continuously debunked by empirical evidence. The argument works as follows: to protect against large… Read More
Myths of Medical Malpractice: Drives Up Health Care Costs (Part II)
As noted in yesterday’s post, each day this week our Chicago personal injury lawyers are addressing one of Five Myths of Medical Negligence, as reported earlier this month by the American Association for Justice. Here is Myth #2: Medical Negligence Myth #2: Malpractice Claims Drive Up Health Care Costs There is no question that the… Read More
FAA Safety Programs to Prevent Airplane Crashes
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instituted several safety programs to improve airline safety and prevent airplane crashes from occurring. Two such programs are Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO) and Information for Operators (InFO), which involves sending messages containing critical safety information to pilots, including any unsafe conditions regarding performance and control issues caused by… Read More
OSHA Issues Largest-Ever Fine Against BP for Safety Violations
Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a record-breaking $87.43 million in proposed fines against BP Products North America Inc. for “failure to correct potential hazards faced by employees” that contributed to a refinery explosion in 2005 that killed 15 people and injured 170 others. No doubt, this explosion also resulted in several personal… Read More
New Jury Instructions Address Technology Concerns
Jury instructions are a recitation of the law applicable to a particular case — at the end of a trial, the jury is “instructed” as to the law, which the jury must follow in reaching a verdict. There are hundreds of “pattern” jury instructions published by the Illinois Supreme Court, and top-rated Chicago personal injury… Read More
No Expert Testimony Required for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
The Illinois Supreme Court has made it easier for personal injury lawyers and their clients to prove a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress. In Thornton v. Garcini, 2009 WL 3471065, No. 107028 (Ill. Oct. 29, 2009), the Supreme Court held that “expert testimony is not required to support a claim for negligent infliction… Read More
Can Spouses Recover Under Illinois Dram Shop Act?
When people are killed by drunk drivers or intoxicated individuals in another context, a cause of action may arise under the “Dram Shop Act.” The Illinois Liquor Control Act, known as the Dram Shop Act, gives individuals injured by an intoxicated person the right to sue not only the intoxicated person, but also the business… Read More
Hospital ‘Report Cards’ Show Frequency of Medical Errors
As the debate over medical liability reform continues, an often forgotten statistic is the number of patients injured or killed by medical malpractice. In New Jersey, for example, a story from the Star-Ledger found that doctors and hospitals in that state committed 9,400 “serious errors” in 2007, which were defined as a medical error leading… Read More
State Enforcement of Medical Misconduct: The Illinois Medical Practice Act
A previous post discussed state medical boards generally, which are charged with enforcing the practice of medicine within each state. In Illinois, that law is known as the Illinois Medical Practice Act of 1987 (225 ILCS 60/1 et seq), not to be confused with the Illinois statutes governing medical malpractice lawsuits (735 ILCS 5/2-1701… Read More
Who May Recover For Wrongful Death?
Where a family member or someone close to you dies as a result of the carelessness or recklessness of another, it is important to contact the best wrongful death lawyer you can find. An experienced wrongful death attorney can investigate the factual circumstances surrounding the accident or malpractice, and also consult you regarding your legal… Read More
