Distracted driving is a killer. Please don't text and drive! According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Administration ("NHTSA") in a study here found that: 71% of teens and young people say they have composed/sent SMS messages while driving 78% of teens and young adults say they have read an SMS message while driving According to the "Official U.S. Government Website for Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury Matters – Dangerous Roads = No Excuse!
The roads have been treacherous lately. Drive slower. Drive safer. The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Safety Administration ("NHTSA") did an investigation of the long term effects of anti-lock brake systems in 2009 here. Interestingly - and logically - ABS systems are not fool proof for slippery roads. You should not rely on them - and slow down. In fact, based on that study by NHTSA in 2009, Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation – Is Your Lawyer “Driven” to Pursue Excellence? Second Opinion?
Whether I take on a personal injury matter - accident, nursing home, dog bite, workers compensation or the like - or business matter (plaintiff or defense), there is one thing that NEVER goes missing: pursuit of excellence in representing my client(s). While attorneys cannot ethically guarantee any particular result or that they can win - one way or another - they can promise to work hard, with "drive", with Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation – Medical Bills After a Car Crash? Second Opinion?
Many of my clients are often surprised to learn how medical bills are handled - and paid (or not) - in relation to an auto accident (and when it is not their fault!). Even if you have health insurance, there is a possibility that your health insurance company may deny coverage and payment.The hospital or doctor may refuse to bill your health insurance and attempt to "bill" the other party's car insurance directly Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation – Nursing Home Slow Death
I have been handling nursing home cases for well over a decade. My own dear grandmother suffered indescribably from a decubitus ulcer while in care of others. Morphine was her earthly savior from the pain she seemed larger than life to have endured as I was told. An article I came across today by a mortician (found here) recalled those memories. The mortician described her most memorable, first death "experience" Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation – Nursing Home Care
Maybe it's time for you to hold their hand? Symbolic or literally - your loved one must be vigilantly cared for when they can no longer care for themselves. Nursing homes are required by law to provide non-negligent care. Is your loved one being properly cared for? Federal law is quite clear on the "big picture" of required care by nursing homes: Each resident must receive and the facility must provide the Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation – Trucking Accidents & Invalid Licenses
New data released in October 2014 (for the year 2012 - most recent) by the U.S. Dept. of Transportationshows "large trucks" involved in 3,753 fatal crashes also involved 115 "invalid" licenses. Invalid license has been defined as: Those who had either no license or did not have a valid license or proper endorsement for the class of vehicle they were driving were considered to have invalid licenses. "Large trucks" Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation – Decubitus Ulcers & Treatment
Proper initial assessment, follow-up and treatment of pressure sores (a.k.a. "bed sores" or "decubitus ulcers") is critical in the nursing home environment. First, the proper "stage" should be noted at assessment: Generally, pressure sores can be classified into four (4) "stages" as noted in this picture or "unstageable" (although "unstageable" can be questionable if there is an improper assessment). Stage III and Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation – Pressure Sores = Unacceptable
Pressure sores or bed sores a.k.a. "decubitus ulcers" are simply unacceptable to arise in the nursing home and hospital context. Worse, they should not go so untreated that they become septic resulting in potential premature - or wrongful - death. In fact, one part of Federal Law requires that quality care be provided nursing home residents: Each resident must receive and the facility must provide the Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation – Police Officer Testimony
Police play important roles in security and, sometimes, as witnesses. I am often asked about police coming to the scene and the tickets issued (or not) and what it all means in the civil context (as opposed to criminal) case. My clients are often surprised about the ticket issued. I have written on that extensively before. However, what an officer may offer to a case from other angles can be critical: - potential Read More
