Chicago Injury Lawyers Blog

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the family of a 69-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against a suburban nursing home for failing to protect her from being sexually assaulted by a 21-year-old mentally ill resident.

The family claims that Maplewood Care's administrator tried to cover up a rape by calling it consensual sex. This case is an example of the dangers that can occur when senior citizens and younger mentally ill residents are both placed in nursing homes without proper monitoring.

What are the signs that your loved one could have been abused in their nursing home:

Frequent arguments or tension between the caregiver and the elderly person
Changes in personality or behavior in the elder
Unexplained signs of injury such as bruises, welts, or scars
Broken eyeglasses or frames
Behavior from the elder that mimics dementia, such as rocking, sucking, or mumbling
Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration
Untreated physical problems, such as bed sores
Unsanitary living conditions

Continue reading " Chicago Family sues nursing home in alleged sex attack " »

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the bail has been set for the Chicago Police officer who killed a 13-year old boy as a result of a drunk driving car accident.

CPD Officer Richard Bolling has been criminally charged by the Cook County State Attorney’s Office with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident where a death or injury occurred and reckless homicide. His bail was set at $2 million.

It is alleged that the boy had sneaked out of his home and was riding his bicycle with friends on Ashland, traveling north in the southbound lane. Bolling was driving his car in the southbound lane and, according to witness accounts, raced through the intersection and hit Trenton. Bolling is alleged to have continued without stopping and was stopped by police shortly thereafter.

It is unclear at this time whether the child’s family is going to pursue civil remedies for the crash, including filing a wrongful death action in Cook County courts.

Continue reading " Bail set at $2 million for Chicago cop charged in fatal hit-and-run case " »

With Memorial Day and summer parties right around the corner, underage drinking becomes more prevalent—and exposes parents to increased exposure to civil and criminal liability for their kids’ actions. A law that went into effect in October, 2004 called the “Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Responsibility Act” exposes adults who allow under-aged drinking to a wide range of liability.

Take for example George Baldwin of Lake Forest, who received a $2.5 million settlement this winter from a case involving his ex-girlfriend’s mother, whom he claimed allowed her two daughters to drink and give him and a friend alcohol. Allegedly, an argument ensued and the two younger men left and got in a car accident that left Baldwin paralyzed from the chest down.

On the civil side, insurance companies that are involved in nearly every Chicago car accident case are starting to find that jurors will hold parents at least partially responsible for injuries caused by underage drinking on their property. Insurance carriers are now starting to take this into consideration when deciding to how settle cases and there may be a time when insurance coverage is denied in cases where parents allow their kids to drink --which could open parents up to costly personal liability for the damaged party’s accidents.

Monetary sanctions are only the beginning. In addition, providing alcohol to someone younger than 21 is a misdemeanor in Illinois, punishable with up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Continue reading " Chicago area parents who let kids drink can be subject to huge penalties " »

The CBS 2 Chicago is reporting that the city of Highland Park has plans to plans to ban pit bulls. The city is considering amendments to the ordinance that regulates dogs to enact a ban on pit bulls.

Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky initiated the ban following the mauling of a 14-year-old girl, who was bitten on the face and arms and required hundreds of stitches after a pit bull attack.

The statistics regarding dog bites are interesting: According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. emergency rooms treated an estimated 310,000 people for dog bites in 2007. This estimate has fallen fairly consistently since 2001, when an estimated 366,000 bite victims were treated. In addition, a 2000 study cited by the CDC and other health agencies reports pit bull-type dogs were responsible for more bite-related deaths than other breeds from 1979 to 1999-- but it cautions that those statistics may mean pit bulls are just more common than other types of dogs.

Continue reading " Highland Park wants to ban Pit Bulls in part to curb Chicago Dog bites " »

The Associated Press is reporting that Biomet Inc. has reached agreements with 24 of 27 plaintiffs who sued the company over bone stimulators made by its subsidiary (EBI) that were allegedly implanted by osteopath Dr. King.

According to Biomet’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the 27 are among the more than 120 plaintiffs who allege in lawsuits that that King misdiagnosed, harmed and even killed patients after the hospital hired him as a surgeon in 2002. The SEC filing coincided with several of the plaintiffs agreeing Monday to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed under that allege that EBI improperly marketed its devices through an illegal kickback scheme that involved King and defrauded federal health care programs. EBI denied those allegations.

Six of the King malpractice cases were slated for a combined civil trial June 1 have been postponed in the wake of the settlement agreements.

Continue reading " Medical device maker to settle majority of medical malpractice lawsuits " »

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that a three-car accident has left seven injured and one person dead Sunday evening. According to report, the crash happened about 7:50 p.m. near 43rd Street and Western Avenue.

It is unclear at this time who was at fault for the crash or whether there was negligence involved that could lead to a Wrongful Death claim.

An experienced car accident lawyer can prove that you were the victim of a negligent driver by evaluating your case-- taking into consideration the specific facts of your case and the law as it applies to you. The Chicago car accident attorneys at Shea Law Group know that in order to maximize the recovery for our clients' damages we must conduct a proper investigation, preserve all relevant evidence, and secure the proper expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. If you have been injured in a car crash, we can help. Please contact us at 877-365-0040 to set up a consultation.

Chicago Daily Herald has a report on a Saturday car accident near Lake Zurich, where the a driver of a car struck and killed a motorcyclist who had stopped at a yellow light-- because the woman behind the wheel of the car was reportedly painting her nails at the time of the accident.

Recently we discussed the dangers of multi-tasking- i.e., texting and using cell phones--while driving, and this illustrates how important it is to drive without distraction. However, this story is an entirely different level of carelessness that not even the Illinois Legislature could anticipate having to create legislation to address. (See post here)

The Chicago Daily Herald makes a plea to motorists that we join: Pull over to talk, especially for a lengthy or involved phone call.

Continue reading " Motorcycle accident death caused by woman painting her fingernails " »

The Chicago Tribune reports that a 14-year-old suburban Chicago girl is in critical condition after the all terrain vehicle (ATV) she was driving collided with another ATV driven by her stepbrother.

The Lake County Sheriff's office says that Wadsworth girl and her 11-year –old brother were driving the ATVs Tuesday evening when the two vehicles crashed. Reports say the children were thrown to the pavement when the ATVs rolled over.

Police say the girl was airlifted to a hospital with head trauma and the boy had minor scratches. Both children were wearing helmets, but police are investigating whether they were strapped.

Continue reading " Girl in critical condition after Chicago ATV accident " »

According to CNN.com, an air-supported roof over the Dallas Cowboys' practice field collapsed during a heavy thunderstorm Saturday afternoon, leaving 12 people injured.

At the time of the collapse, about 70 people, including more than two dozen of the team's rookies, were in the facility when it was blown down. Two or three people suffered serious injuries, and one coach suffered a broken back.

According to eyewitness reports, rain began falling hard and the walls of the facility because to waiver and the structure seemed to instantaneously deflate.

It is unclear at this time what was the cause of the collapse but generally premises liability law holds property owners accountable when an accident occurs on their premises because the conditions of the property were unsafe or dangerous.

Continue reading " Collapse at Dallas Cowboy’s training camp leaves 12 injured " »

A Chicago police department officer was rear-ended by a Northwest Side man Saturday night. As a result, the man was charged with DUI. EMS responded to the accident scene at the 3800 block of West Lawrence Avenue, according to a Chicago Sun Times report.

A total of two ambulances were sent to the scene and the officer was taken to Resurrection Medical Center in “stable” condition, police said. The driver refused medical treatment.

If you have been injured in an accident involving DUI, the experienced Chicago car accident attorneys at Shea Law Group can help. Please contact us for a consultation.