Posted on March 15,2021 in Brain Injury

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. In recent years, there has been a lot of research conducted on traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), most notably concussions that are caused by sports. However, significant head trauma is often a result of a motor vehicle accident. The force of impact in a car crash can be severe, causing a driver and passengers to slam their head against the steering wheel, windows, or doors. In many head injuries, the brain is negatively affected, and the long-term consequences of it can be serious, often requiring medical treatment such as surgeries or therapy. Depending on the details surrounding the collision, a victim may be able to bring a personal injury claim against a negligent party.

Types of Head Trauma

Brain injuries can affect an individual’s speech, critical thinking skills, memory, and more. Physicians usually classify traumatic brain injuries into two main categories. Closed injuries do not fracture the skull but open injuries can break or penetrate the skull bone, leaving a person’s brain exposed to outside elements. This can lead to other complications, such as infections.

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 Posted on February 26,2021 in Medical Malpractice

Having a baby can be a beautiful, momentous, and life-changing experience. However, complications during childbirth can cause serious injuries to the mother and child. Depending on the circumstances, a maternal injury may lead to debilitating conditions and even death. The risk of injuries to the mother may increase when certain procedures such as a cesarean delivery (C-section) are performed. However, some maternal injuries during childbirth can be prevented if medical staff are able to address risk factors and provide intervention when signs or symptoms first present themselves during pregnancy or labor. Mothers who experience trauma when their child is born may be able to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice claim if negligence played a role in their injuries.

Prenatal Care Is Vital

Expectant mothers are advised to see their physician regularly while pregnant to monitor the baby’s development. If the safety of the mother or unborn child is in jeopardy, the medical staff should be ready to take necessary measures to ensure their health and safety. Doctors and nurses should take care to notice any signs of distress in the mother during routine visits or labor and delivery, which may include high blood pressure.

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 Posted on February 12,2021 in Slip and Fall Accidents

Winters in Illinois are known for being brutal. They can bring snow, wind, sleet, and slush not to mention freezing temperatures. Driving can be downright treacherous due to black ice, which can cause a driver to slide, lose control, and crash with other vehicles. Even walking can present its own set of dangers. Ice can cause people to slip and fall, which may result in serious injuries. In other cases, icicles hanging from gutters or roofs may fall onto bystanders below. If you or your loved one was hurt in an accident that involved winter weather, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses or damages.

Illinois Premises Liability

Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act, property owners have a duty of care to maintain their grounds and buildings so they are safe for patrons, visitors, and guests. It is unrealistic for property owners to be expected to keep their land completely free of snow and ice all of the time. However, property owners are tasked with taking steps to prevent injuries caused by the “unnatural accumulation” of snow or ice. This means that property owners are not automatically liable for injuries that are caused by the natural accumulation of this precipitation. If the snow or ice accumulates unnaturally due to improper or inadequate maintenance or repairs, the property owner may be liable for injuries caused by the accumulation.

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 Posted on January 29,2021 in Workplace Accident

No one expects to get hurt when they go to work, but it does happen. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 4 million work-related injuries that required medical attention in 2019. These injuries may be caused by various factors and can affect different parts of the body. For example, falling from scaffolding at a construction site can result in fractured or broken bones. In other cases, exposure to toxic or dangerous substances can harm an employee. Even when safety measures and procedures are followed, workplace accidents involving chemical hazards can still occur. In some situations, exposure can result in severe to life-threatening consequences.

Exposure to Hazardous Substances

Toxic chemical exposure can occur in several types of industries, but there are some settings in which workers may be more susceptible to these hazards. These can include manufacturing, oil and gas, welding, transportation (trucking, railroad, agriculture, and healthcare. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides standards for preventing illnesses and injuries. However, many of the chemicals used in these types of jobs increase the risk of serious injury or death when workers are repeatedly exposed to them over a long time.

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 Posted on August 22,2012 in Car Accidents

A mother and son from Rodgers Park spent their Saturday at the Air and Water Show on August 18^th.  Unfortunately, the pair never made it back home to talk about their fun filled day. Marija Bala, 39, and her 6-year-old son Luka were travelling home to the 1700 block of W Estes Avenue on Lake Shore Drive nearby Montrose Avenue, when a horrific accident occurred.

The vehicle transporting the Balas lost control around 6 pm on that Saturday.  They travelled from the northbound lanes across the sizable median and into the southbound lane of traffic. Marija’s car smashed into a vehicle travelling the opposite direction and injured two people. Luka Bala was pronounced dead at 6:21 pm at Lurie Children’s Hospital from injuries suffered during the car accident. His mother, Marija died two hours later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

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 Posted on August 08,2012 in Car Accidents

Thursday, August 2^nd was a difficult day for nearly 70 passengers on a Megabus coach bus.  On a ride between Chicago and St. Louis, the double-decker bus hit a highway overpass support beam 55 miles south.  Investigators were initially confused as to how the bus came to hit the concrete pillar near Lichtfield, Illinois around 1:20 pm.

"We've had no reports of erratic driving or anything along those lines," said Illinois State Police Lt. Louis Kink. "From our witness statements, most of its leaning toward the tire malfunction."  The bus company endorsed the suppositions of the authorities.  The bus itself had been manufactured within the year as well as passing a full preventative maintenance test less than a week prior to the accident.

A total of thirty ambulances, seven fire departments and five helicopters were present at the scene of the accident.  The front of the bus itself was so destroyed by the accident that rescuers had to use ladders to save people from the wreckage.  47 people in all were taken to hospitals for varying degrees of injuries.  Some people were airlifted to hospitals in Springfield and St. Louis, including the driver of the bus who immediately went into surgery.

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 Posted on July 25,2012 in Car Accidents

According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, a woman from Steger ran over her infant child while backing up her vehicle in her driveway on July 18^th.  40-year-old Yvette Y. Guerrero-Silva accidently ran over her baby while under the influence shortly after 7 pm.  When she admitted to consuming numerous alcoholic beverages before operating her minivan the police took her into custody.

Holly Silva was the 19-month-old daughter who was ran over by her mother.  Prior to the accident, Holly was playing around the vehicle in the 1100 block of Main St in Crete.  After Holly was transported to St. James Hospital, she was pronounced dead.  The police report noted that the death was due to massive head trauma.  Although the autopsy report only referred to the multiple injuries sustained from the car accident.

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 Posted on July 11,2012 in Car Accidents

A Round Lake Beach man named Vincente Torres-Vasquez, 47, was watching a soccer game at Chiefs field near Wauconda IL.  He was having a bit of fun and decided to have some drinks, which is a typically pastime for any sporting event.  But on that fatal day in July 24, 2011, he drank too much to drive.

He exited the soccer field with his Ford Explorer through the wooded area surrounding the field.  At that time five motorcyclists were driving east on Route 176.  Torres-Vasquez missed four of the motorcycles but fatally struck one.  Gregory Homola, 56, of Lake Geneva, WI, was transported to the nearest hospital near Lake Barrington after his motorcycle accident.  He was pronounced dead when he reached Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital.

After hitting Homola’s motorcycle, Torres-Vasquez crossed into the westbound lane of traffic and had a car accident with a Hyundai.  Two women were travelling in that car and one of them was pregnant.  The woman and her baby were fine, suffering only minor injuries in the crash.  The driver of the car was less fortunate; she endured leg paralysis and speech problems resulting from the accident.

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 Posted on July 03,2012 in Car Accidents

A woman was killed Sunday afternoon when the vehicle in which she was a passenger lost control and was struck by another vehicle.  Authorities and witnesses say that the vehicle in which the woman was a passenger lost control on a turn which was left wet and slippery from recent rains.  When that vehicle lost control it veered into the opposite lane of traffic and was t-boned on the passenger door by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction.

The drivers of each of the vehicles were both taken to area hospitals where one remains in serious condition.  Witnesses say that neither vehicle appeared to be speeding at the time of the collision.  Of course, the fact that a vehicle wasn’t speeding does not mean that it was driving at a safe speed for the slippery conditions that were present on the road at the time, particularly when approaching a curve in the road.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a passenger in an automobile, call Khaled Issa today.  With over 10 years of experience representing clients who have been the victims of auto accidents, Khaled Issa can protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

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 Posted on July 03,2012 in Car Accidents

The eastbound Borman expressway in Northwest Indiana was shut down last week after two semi-trailer trucks collided.  The accident happened when one semi changed lanes to avoid a police car which was partially blocking the right lane and was rear-ended by a semi traveling in the middle lane of traffic.  The driver of the rear semi became pinned in his vehicle and had to be extricated by emergency crews.  All eastbound traffic on the Borman was stopped so a rescue helicopter could airlift that driver to a nearby hospital.

Interestingly, the police car which was partially blocking the right lane was an unmarked car driven by an off-duty Calumet City police officer.  The officer operating that unmarked vehicle acted to pull over a car which was obviously being driven by a drunk driver.  However proper the officer’s intentions, the incident has left some asking why a Calumet City police officer who was off-duty was acting to pull over a drunk driver in Indiana.  Such speculation has led some to believe this is an accident which could have been avoided had the drunk driver been dealt with by local authorities who were on duty an in properly marked and lit police vehicles.

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