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What Parents of Child Sexual Abuse Victims Should Understand About Psychosomatic Symptoms

Every child who goes through the trauma of sexual abuse will react differently, and it’s fairly common for children to show mostly physical symptoms after an emotional trauma. Children who have trouble processing a traumatic event often complain of stomachaches, headaches, dizziness, and other physical symptoms instead of more emotional complaints like depression or anxiety—even when those physical symptoms don’t seem to be related to a specific illness or injury.

Although a child of any age may exhibit these kinds of linked physical-emotional symptoms, it may be an even more common sign of trauma in children who are not yet verbal or aren’t sure how to talk about what has happened to them. If you are the parent of a child who may have been sexually abused, here are two things you should try to understand about “psychosomatic symptoms” and physical complaints:

Psychosomatic symptoms aren’t “all in your child’s head.” Although psychosomatic symptoms are related to a mental or emotional trauma, they symptoms and experience of the symptoms can be very real for your child.
Don’t ignore complaints of physical symptoms, even if your child doesn’t show signs of illness. Keep in mind that your child is probably not intentionally “faking” these symptoms or complaining about nothing. There may actually be an underlying physical cause, and consistent psychosomatic symptoms deserve a thorough examination by a qualified doctor or therapist.

If you’re unsure about physical or emotional signs that your child is in distress, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctors or care providers about the symptoms and behaviors you’ve noticed and what you can do to get the help you need while your child recovers.

For more information about how your family can recover—physically, financially, legally, and emotionally—from child sexual abuse, contact our Chicago legal office directly at 312-332-1400 or toll-free at 312-332-1400.

Don’t Overlook Safety in Your Rush to Get to Work on Snowy Mornings

In the rush to get to work in the morning, it may be tempting to cut corners when you find your car covered in snow. However, if you try to make up time by speeding to the office or driving with iced-over windows, you could cause an accident. Here are some tips to make a snowy morning commute a little safer:

Plan ahead to give yourself enough time. Check the weather report the night before and give yourself ample time to get to work if snow is expected.
Keep a set of snow tools in the car and at home. If your car is buried in ice and snow, it can be helpful to have a second set of ice brushes, heavy gloves, shovels, and other snow-removal tools in your home. Otherwise, you may be trying to chip your way into your trunk just to get to your scraper and brush!
Wait until the windshield is completely clear. Don’t be tempted to just clear a tiny circle in front of the driver’s seat—make sure you wait until the windshield, mirrors, and side windows have completely defrosted and allow for good visibility.
Don’t forget to clear the roof. Use your ice brush or a broom to clear the snow from the top of your car, too. If you don’t, as your car warms up on your commute, there’s a chance that the whole sheet of snow will suddenly dislodge and cover either your windshield or the windshield of the driver behind you.
Think about the best route to take. If you normally take the side roads to work, you might consider using the main roads when the weather is bad. Residential streets and less-popular routes may be faster when the weather is good, but they’re often the last streets to be cleared after a major snowfall.

Once you are on the road, remember to take it slow and keep your focus on the road. Even a light dusting of snow or a little black ice can cause a serious accident if drivers go too fast or aren’t paying attention, and you can’t always be sure that the drivers you share the road with are making safe choices. It’s better to “arrive alive” a few minutes late than to take unnecessary risks on the road.

Do you have other suggestions for staying safe and surviving the morning after a major snowfall? Leave us a comment below or connect with Lane Brown on Facebook to get the discussion started!

Who Is Responsible When Nurse Malpractice Causes a Brain Injury?

You went in for a procedure, hospital stay, or even just routine medical care, but you left with a serious brain injury and suspect the nurse who cared for you might have made a mistake that caused it. Who is legally responsible for what happened to you?

While families can seek justice for medical mistakes or negligence on the part of a nurse or member of the team caring for their loved one, there is a complicated legal process involved—even before you’ve made any decisions about how to move forward. Before you start determining responsibility for a brain injury, you have to look at the basics. Unfortunately, state laws can vary, and it usually takes a skilled legal analysis to determine:

If the nurse made a mistake that is considered malpractice under the law
If you have grounds for a lawsuit.

Even if it is determined that your family has a potential case, there are a number of potential people who may hold the legal responsibility for a nurse’s mistake, including:

The nurse
The hospital or facility
The doctor or medical supervisor the nurse was working under at the time

Again, this process is confusing, and most patients struggle to make sense of it. Just remember that you can get specific answers about responsibility in a medical malpractice case by speaking directly with an experienced legal representative.

It’s normal to feel confused and overwhelmed after you have been hurt by a medical provider you trusted with your health, but you don’t have to keep wondering how to get help. Request a free copy of our eye-opening book, What to Do If You Have Been Injured by Your Doctors or Hospital, or contact our law firm right now by using the live-chat service on this page.

Truck Accident Victims Need to Collect Witness Information as Soon as Possible

Statements from witnesses to a truck accident can help victims establish what happened and why they were injured. Unfortunately, by the time most victims realize that it would be helpful to talk with witnesses, they’ve already disappeared and may be impossible to track down. While an attorney can help your family find witnesses to the truck accident that injured you and collect their statements, you can avoid a lot of complications by getting witness information at the scene, including:

Full names
Contact phone numbers
Mailing addresses and emails
When they arrived at the scene, where they were located, and what they were doing at the time
A short statement about what they saw before, during, and after the wreck

Depending on what is easiest for you or the family member helping you, you can ask witnesses to write this information down or even ask to record their information using your smartphone’s video capabilities. If you’re unable to talk to witnesses before the scene of the accident has been cleared, don’t lose hope. It may be possible to enlist an attorney’s help in locating important evidence, including potential witnesses who saw what happened.

If you have been involved in a serious truck accident, there’s only so much you can do to protect yourself and make sure you’re able to pursue the compensation your family deserves. Don’t wait any longer to talk with an experienced attorney who can help you understand your rights and take action against reckless truckers and negligent trucking companies.

Vision Zero Programs Around the World Aim to Eliminate Traffic Deaths

Vision Zero is a safety program that aims to reduce traffic deaths to zero. The program, which went into effect in Sweden in 1997, quickly started spreading to other countries and major cities around the world, including:

Netherlands
United Kingdom
New York
Boston
San Francisco

Multiple governments and organizations have increased efforts and produced long-term plans for reducing traffic deaths and injuries, and Vision Zero programs are currently at work right here in Chicago at the state and city levels.

Implementation of “Vision Zero” Values in Chicago

The basic idea of Vision Zero is that all traffic accidents are preventable if governments take responsibility for researching, assessing, educating, and acting out plans that make transportation of all kinds safer for residents. As a result, cities are urged to look at all the factors that contribute to traffic safety and make practical plans for funding and implementing changes. Here are two local efforts to make zero deaths a reality:

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) joined the Vision Zero movement in 2012. As a part of its commitment to eliminate traffic deaths by 2022, CDOT released a detailed action plan that included everything from better pedestrian signals to revitalizing medians. Research and planning has already begun, and residents have started to see parts of the plan implemented across the city.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) also committed to creating safer transportation in the state with its “Driving Zero Fatalities to a Reality” program. It focuses on increased enforcement efforts, better communication with the public, and educational programs for motorists.

For more information about traffic safety and the legal rights of victims, join our legal team on Facebook or contact us directly.

Recognize the Warning Signs of an Inappropriate Relationship With a Coach

It’s not clear how many instances of child sex abuse by coaches and sports instructors go unreported, but it is clear that the abuse of youth athletes is more widespread than most people might believe. However, parents can protect their children by learning what signs to watch for—both in children and the adults they trust.

Potential Signs of Abuse in Young Athletes

It’s not always easy to recognize the signs of sexual abuse in a child, and some signs could have unrelated causes. However, children often exhibit one or more of the following signals when sexual abuse occurs:

Nightmares and sleep disturbance
Sudden changes in mood or behavior
Mood swings
Acting out adult sexual behaviors
Physical complaints, such as urinary tract infections, pain, or bruising

Potentially Suspicious Behavior by Coaches and Adults in Youth Sports Programs

Many sexual abusers don’t fit stereotypes, and it’s often hard for parents to believe that a respected coach or educator may be hurting children. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children recommends that parents pay attention to the following warning signs of an inappropriate relationship with a coach or instructor:

Makes an effort to schedule private practices or spend unsupervised time with children
Makes physical contact with children when not necessary for training
Gives special attention or gifts to a favorite child or children
Jokes about, talks about, or shares sexually explicit information with youth teams
Compliments or harasses children about appearance or sexual development

If you suspect your child has been sexually abused by a coach, you need personalized answers about your rights and what happens next. Reach out to our legal office today for a free and confidential meeting with our experienced attorneys.