Posted on December 00, 0000 in Wrongful Death

Many of us are counting down the days until spring and the arrival of warmer weather. By February and March, most are ready to say goodbye to winter and its freezing temperatures, so it may hard to imagine that there are people who purposely expose themselves to temperatures as cold as 200 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. However, this is exactly what people are doing during a whole body cryotherapy (WBC) session, but after the recent death of a 24-year-old woman, many are beginning to ask just how safe is this latest fad?

What Is WBC?

Regular cryotherapy is based on the concept of applying ice to injuries, which helps with pain and swelling. A WBC session involves standing in a chamber where the temperature is dropped to anywhere between -184 and -264 degrees Fahrenheit. Participants, who are barely clothed during the session, stand in the chamber for two to three minutes, surrounded by either refrigerated air or liquid nitrogen.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Wrongful Death

Starting a career is one of the biggest milestones in a person’s life. Depending on the type of job that a person may accept, he or she may have to go through several physical examinations to be cleared for that job opportunity. Some medical problems may go undetected, or machinery may not work correctly, therefore potentially costing an employee his or her life. There are many ways to prevent such atrocities, and enhanced technology has assisted with keeping such numbers lower.

Fatal Work Injuries from 2006-2015

In Illinois, there was a total of 172 fatal work injuries in 2015. There were 164 fatal work injuries from the prior year. Across the country, there were 4,836 fatal work injuries that were documented in 2015. In 2014, there were 4,821 professional fatalities.

The state of Illinois recorded over 200 fatal work injuries in 2006 and 2010. More than 150 professional fatalities occurred in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Lastly, a little over 150 fatal work injuries occurred in 2009, and less than 150 fatal work injuries in 2012.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Wrongful Death

After a loved one passed away, it is the family who celebrates their life. After a wrongful death, it is the same parties that fight for justice. Although a lawsuit will not bring back your loved one, suing the company or people responsible for their death can bring closure and hold them responsible.

What Is A Wrongful Death?

Similar to that of a personal injury lawsuit, a wrongful death lawsuit is classified by the negligence of others. What is different is that the family members sue for their suffering and financial burden of losing a loved one unexpectedly. Only heirs and beneficiaries can sue for wrongful death. Most common causes of wrongful death are,

• Car accidents,
• Workplace accidents,
• Medical malpractice,
• Criminal activity, and
• Product liability.

There are four requirements for a wrongful death claim:

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Wrongful Death

Anytime is hard to lose a loved one, but when a family member dies unexpectedly due to the negligence of an individual or a company, it is the surviving next of kin that suffers due to the unexpected expenses and grief. A wrongful death case must follow circumstances in order for the family to receive compensation, but needing to file a wrongful death is not something you plan for, so it is understandable not to know what is next.

The strength of a wrongful death case relies on the fact that the deceased would still be alive if it was not for the negligence or intentional act to cause harm, by another party. The family also needs to be directly affected by the death of the person - either with significant financial and/or emotional strain. These two things need to be proved by a family in order to receive compensation for a wrongful death.

A wrongful death can occur many ways. A few examples are car accidents, medical malpractice, work-related incidents, or violent crimes.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Wrongful Death

It is inevitable that we are to lose loved ones due to old age or an accident. However, when a loved one is lost unexpectedly due to another person’s negligence, it is the surviving family that suffers. The average cost for a funeral in Illinois is $10,000 including cemetery plans. If the head of a household is lost unexpectedly, the surviving family may not be able to make ends meet with a sudden loss of a family member and funeral costs to attend to. When a person’s death can be connected to another’s wrongdoing, the surviving family may be able to sue for wrongful death.

What Is Wrongful Death?

Wrongful death is when another party can be held responsible for the death of an individual through a wrongful act. If the act had not been followed through, whether negligence or default, then the death would not have occurred. Wrongful deaths can occur in many aspects of law including auto accidents, medical malpractice, and workplace accidents. For example, if a person dies as the result of a drunk driver, their surviving family could file for wrongful death because the accident would likely not have happened if the driver was sober and following the law.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Wrongful Death

It is possible to lose many family members during the span of a person’s life. Whether of old age, disease, or an accident, it is never easy to lose someone you love. Some losses can be expected and prepared for, but what happens when a family member dies unexpectedly due to someone else’s negligence? A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the victim's family if they believe someone can be held accountable for their death. It is similar to a personal injury lawsuit, except the next of kin files for compensation instead of the person injured.

The compensation sought in a wrongful death case is for medical bills of the deceased, funeral expenses, loss of wages, and loss of emotional support caused by the unexpected death of a family member. A family may be losing their main financial support which can put them at risk to debt and other unfortunate circumstances.

The spouse of the deceased or the next of kin has the immediate right to collect damages. An adopted child is considered a next of kin as a natural-born child would. If the deceased does not have a spouse or children, the person who supported medical treatment may be eligible for some compensation. A personal representative must be assigned to the deceased’s estate to move forward with a wrongful death claim. The personal representative may be entitled to some compensation if the deceased has no spouse or next of kin. Otherwise, the damages will be awarded to the immediate family for their care.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Marijuana Use

On April 20, 2015, Cook County State’s Attorney, Anita Alvarez, announced a new policy in the Cook County State’s Attorney office regarding the prosecution of  persons charged with possession of marijuana and related drugs.

Under the new policy, the State’s Attorney’s Office will no longer prosecute most cases of misdemeanor cannabis possession and will divert Class 4 felony cannabis possession and other Class 4 controlled substance offenders to alternative programs, including a newly created drug deferred prosecution program.  This includes cases involving possession of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, as well as other controlled substances.

However, each new charge will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  Additionally, persons with certain criminal backgrounds will not be eligible for the new program.

Additionally, the State’s Attorney has stated that the new policy will not apply to those persons already charged.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Brain Injury

According to national statistics, more than 630,000 children are brought to emergency rooms each year because they have sustained some kind of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows that one in 30 children will sustain a brain injury by the time they reach 16 years of age. Young children, in particular, are more susceptible to brain injuries, and about one-third of children with TBIs will suffer from long-lasting or permanent disability from the injury.

There have been multiple studies done which confirm that TBIs in children can have serious side effects on a child’s behavior, cognitive function, and IQ that can last for an extended period of time. Some of these studies reveal that recovery from brain injuries can go on for years and that there are certain factors – including whether the child has certain genes or the home environment the child lives in – which can affect recovery.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Dog Bites

Being bit by a dog, or another animal, may not be the first thought that comes to mind when thinking of a personal injury case. However, in the state of Illinois, man’s best friend can get into trouble with the law and it’s up to the owner to right the wrongs of the crime.

According to Illinois law, if a dog bites or acts out and was not provoked by the injured person, the person that owns the dog becomes responsible for the dog’s actions. Even if the owner behaves cautiously with their dog, they will still be at fault. This means that they also become liable for the injuries that were caused. Illinois has a statute that states that an owner can be any person that has a right of property for an animal. Be mindful that if you are dog-sitting, these laws still apply to you.

Dog Bite Statistics

Animals can cause injuries to occur annually not just in Illinois, but across the U.S as well. There are a number of dog bite-related statistics that prove this to be true. Listed below are just a few:

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Dog Bites

Having a dog can be the most exciting milestone in a family’s life. Being able to play fetch and walk the dog is almost always what a family looks forward to when adopting a dog. Like all other animals, there are requirements and responsibilities on how to take care of the dog, including making sure that its vaccinations are up to date, feeding it, and keeping it from damaging other people’s property.

Rabies Vaccination and Dog Bites

Any dog that has been with its owner for at least four months should be vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian with a valid license. Within one year of the first round of rabies vaccinations, the dog should be vaccinated again. All other vaccinations for the dog must be compliant with USDA licenses of vaccines administered. If a bite occurs by a dog that is exempt from a vaccination for health reasons, it will be treated as a dog that was not vaccinated, re-examined by a veterinarian will a valid license, and vaccinated against rabies if the dog’s health improves.

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