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Pedestrians Are Still at Risk for Car Accidents as the Weather Turns Cold

In Chicago, we often talk about spring and summer as dangerous times for car-pedestrian accidents because the pleasant weather draws so many people outside, but those risks don’t go away when the weather starts to turn cold. As sleet and snow move in and holiday celebrations get under way, those who choose to walk need to be alert to possible dangers from the vehicles that surround them.

Why Winter Is Still Risky for Pedestrians on Chicago’s Sidewalks and Roadways

Although summer may bring pedestrians out for a casual stroll or a healthier way to work in the morning, winter presents danger of its own. During the period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, heavy holiday travel and bad weather can mean that both drivers and pedestrians are risk for accidents due to:

More drunk drivers on the road. Some drivers who wouldn’t normally drive under the influence use holiday parties and vacation time at work to make an exception—and vulnerable pedestrians can pay the price for drivers’ reckless decisions.
Slippery or difficult conditions. Slippery roads can make it hard for drivers to stop in time for pedestrians in a crosswalk or at an intersection, and slippery or snow-packed roads and sidewalks can make it hard for pedestrians to navigate through traffic.
Limited visibility. The gray and hazy days of winter in Chicago limits visibility for drivers and people on foot, meaning that everyone should be extra alert and prepared to allow for the extra time needed to arrive safely.
Busy shopping centers. As people rush to complete holiday shopping or simply fight the crowds to pick up a few necessities, parking lots and intersections near major shopping centers can become extremely busy—and extremely dangerous.
Distractions on the road. Distracted driving can be a problem any time of year, and even something as innocent as enjoying the lights and holidays displays or taking a call from a long-distance loved one while you’re behind the wheel can take your eyes and mind off the road long enough to cause an accident.

If you or a family member is hurt in an accident as a pedestrian, you could face a challenge in holding the driver’s insurance company responsible for the injuries. Be prepared to protect your rights and get help with our free guide, The 8 Steps to Follow After Your Illinois Car Accident, which explains more about what you need to know—and what you need to do—to successfully pursue a claim for accident injuries. For more information, simply contact our Chicago legal team by phone at 312-332-1400, or use the Live Chat on this page to tell us more about your concerns now.

Four Choices That Help Teens and Young Adults Reduce the Risk of Sexual Assault in College

Teens meet a lot of new challenges as they head off to college, and one of those challenges is the very real risk of sexual assault or abuse. In fact, it has been estimated that a shocking one in five college-age students experience some form of sexual assault before they graduate. To help increase awareness of the issue of sexual assault on campuses, BestColleges.com has created an in-depth guide for students that includes some important tips for prevention—and we’d like to share a few of these tips with you here.

Reducing the Risk of Sexual Assault and Abuse With Smart Choices About Safety

Reducing the risk of sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact on campuses is a complex issue, and everyone can take part in preventing the danger. Although it isn’t always possible to control the actions of others, students can take steps to avoid incidents of sexual abuse or assault by making smart choices about their safety. Here are four choices students can make to protect themselves:

Trust your instincts. If you have a “bad feeling” about a person, or if a situation is making you uncomfortable, don’t ignore your feelings. Your “gut instinct” can often tip you off that a social situation—sexual or otherwise—might be dangerous.
Use the “buddy system.” When you go out, try to go out with friends you can trust to stick with you and make sure you get back safely. If you do go out alone, make sure someone you trust knows where you are, and make it a point to walk in well-lit and populated areas.
Don’t underestimate the effects of alcohol. Alcohol is involved in numerous reports of sexual assaults and rapes on and off campuses across the nation. If you choose to drink, make sure you drink responsibly, understand your limits, and imbibe with friends you trust.
Don’t leave your drink unattended. Although some people may be tempted to pass it off as an “urban legend,” the threat of someone slipping something in your drink is very real—so never leave your drink unattended and avoid drinking from open punch bowls and similar communal alcohol sources.
Don’t remain silent. If you do become the victim of rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse, you don’t have to keep it secret. You can reach out to your doctor, your parents, local and online support groups, and campus health centers for support and information. Sexual assault is not your fault, and you can speak up to get the help that you need and deserve.

Do you have other tips for staying safe on campus or raising awareness of sexual assault against teens and students? Share them with our team and our readers by leaving a comment below, or join in the discussion today by connecting with Lane Brown on Facebook.

How Brain Injuries Are Caused by Doctors, Hospitals, and Medical Professionals

Although patients trust hospitals and medical professionals to treat them appropriately and take their health seriously, their doctors’ actions may be thrown into question when brain damage results from a procedure or medication. Families who have received the news that a loved one has suffered a serious or permanent brain injury are forced to look for answers, and one of the first questions they ask is, “How did this happen?”

Brain Injuries Can Be a Tragic Consequence of a Medical Error

It’s not easy to think about, but doctors, nurses, and other care professionals sometimes make mistakes that cause brain damage in a patient. While some brain injuries are completely unrelated to medical malpractice, it is possible for a brain injury to arise from a medical error or mistake, such as:

Errors during surgery. Surgery errors can result in brain injuries when doctors make a mistake during the procedure, fail to spot dangerous infections, and accidentally deprive the brain of oxygen.
Anesthesia errors. If anesthesia isn’t handled appropriately, a patient can suffer severe brain damage from even a simple procedure.
Medication mistakes. Prescription errors, inappropriately prescribed medication, a failure to recognize dangerous drug interactions, and other issues could leave doctors or pharmacies liable if brain damage results.
Undiagnosed or misdiagnosed disorders. If strokes, tumors, and other conditions are ignored, misdiagnosed, or not thoroughly diagnosed, the error can lead to a patient suffering what could have been preventable brain damage.
Nursing mistakes. Nurses play an important role in a patient’s health, and a nurse who misses important vital signs, administers the wrong treatments, or makes a mistake in a patient’s records could be responsible for a patient’s brain damage.
Poorly managed respiratory assistance. If a patient’s intubation, oxygen therapy, or other respiratory management fails or is mismanaged, brain damage can result.
Mismanaged birth and delivery. When a doctor makes a mistake during delivery, the newborn infant can suffer brain damage, which might not become apparent until the child is older.

You and Your Family Can Get Help If You’ve Suffered Brain Damage Due to Medical Malpractice

On top of the stress and changes that come with a serious brain injury, families are often left unsure if a doctor or hospital was to blame for a loved one’s injury. If you have questions about your rights, or if you need help finding out the truth about what happened to your loved one, don’t hesitate to contact our Chicago office directly, or request your free copy of our book, What to Do If You Have Been Injured by Your Doctors or Hospital.

You Need Real Evidence to Win Your Truck Accident Case

When someone gets hurt in an accident with a large commercial truck, he or she generally has the right to pursue an injury claim to get financial help with medical bills and other expenses. However, the path to fair resolution of an injury claim isn’t easy, and victims will usually need a great deal of evidence to successfully recover the true costs of an injury.

Why Does Evidence Matter After a Truck Accident?

Truck accident victims are put in the position of “proving” their injuries—and the financial value of their damages—when they file injury claims. To do this, they will need to collect and present relevant evidence. Unfortunately, victims often have trouble obtaining or sorting through potential evidence because:

Evidence disappears quickly after a truck accident
Victims may not know what information they need
Trucking companies and their insurance companies aren’t always playing fair

What Types of Evidence Are Needed for a Victim to “Prove” Injury in a Truck Accident Case?

The evidence you need to win a truck accident case is usually composed of a number of documents, assessments, and opinions, including:

Medical records pertaining to your accident-related injuries
Photos, witness accounts, and the police report from the scene of the accident
Documentation from the trucking company, including the driver’s logbook, loading records, and other information
Evidence of your financial losses, including bills, receipts, records of time away from work, and more

Oftentimes, even if the victim is aware that he or she needs the documentation, much of this evidence can be difficult or seemingly impossible to obtain. This is one of the big reasons that an attorney becomes necessary for the victims of a truck accident—an attorney has the knowledge, skills, and experience to identify and obtain strong evidence that helps prove victims’ injury claims against huge insurance and trucking companies.

Our Chicago Personal Injury Team Offers Fast, Free Help for Truck Accident Victims

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the legal details of an injury claim? It isn’t easy to get the support you need after you’ve been hurt, but there is an easy way to get real, no-obligation help with your questions. Our experienced personal injury law team serves clients in the Chicago area and throughout the state of Illinois, and we offer a completely free case review that will help you get the answers you need about protecting your rights after a truck accident. You can reach a member of our team today by calling our office directly at 312-332-1400, using the Live Chat button, or filling out the contact form on this page.

Large retailers like Walmart go through a lot of merchandise in a day, and stores often have to restock and perform other routine tasks while customers are still in the building, especially when stores are open to customers 24 hours a day. As Walmart employees move pallets and operate equipment in the aisles, the retailer has a legal responsibility make sure that it is done in a way that won’t cause harm to customers. However, accidents and oversights happen even when stores have safety standards in place—and when those accidents happen because the store “messed up,” the victims who get hurt can hold Walmart responsible.

How Merchandise and Equipment Become a Potential Danger to Walmart Shoppers

Walmart and its employees are responsible for the safe operation of forklifts and adherence to standard safety guidelines for moving merchandise, but people are still sometimes injured by:

Accidents with forklifts, floor cleaners, and other equipment. If employees aren’t paying attention, or if something goes wrong during operation, customers can be hurt by the forklifts and other equipment used to move and place merchandise in the store. Customers may be hurt by the equipment itself or by merchandise carried on the equipment.
Falling merchandise. As employees move full pallets around the store or place products on high shelves, shoppers can be hurt by items falling from the forklift, falling from pallets, or sitting precariously.
Unattended pallets and equipment. Pallets that are left in aisles without warning, ladders left leaning against shelving, and unsupervised forklifts or dollies can all create hazards for customers, especially when customers don’t expect to run into obstacles.

Retailers Should Take Reasonable Precautions When Moving Merchandise and Operating Equipment

Stores can take action to keep the premises reasonably safe for customers while merchandise is moved and stocked, and what it really boils down to in most cases is paying attention to:

Store premises. There are a lot of ways that stores take precautions when moving or storing merchandise, which might include adding netting on pallets and shelving, cordoning off aisles where forklifts and floor cleaners are operating, and maintaining regular inspections for potential problems.
Store employees. Walmart should make sure that its merchandising employees and forklift operators are appropriately screened, trained, and supervised to ensure customer safety while the store is restocked.

When Walmart stores ignore these important steps and safety precautions, customers can be seriously hurt—or even killed—during an ordinary shopping trip. However, the law protects people who are hurt in situations caused by store or employee negligence.

Getting Help After You’ve Been Hurt at a Walmart Store

You don’t necessarily have a claim to compensation just because you have been hurt while shopping at or visiting a Walmart store, but the company is known to fight even legitimate claims of injury due to mistakes, recklessness, and other forms of negligence. If you have any questions about your rights, it is wise to seek experienced legal help as soon as possible. It’s not unusual for victims to accidentally wreck their claims or give up their rights before they understand their legal options, but you can take a step to avoid making the same mistakes by reaching out to our Chicago legal team today with your concerns.

Many cases of child sexual abuse go unreported by the children and families affected, but we do know from the many cases that are reported each year that sexual abuse sometimes happens in familiar places where parents trust other adults to care for their children. This might include:

Hospitals
Schools
Daycares
Churches
Youth organizations
Sports activities

Although the first reaction from parents may be to blame themselves for failing to spot the potential for abuse, the truth is that the sexual abuse of children is difficult to predict, and it’s not as easy to spot an abuser as many people believe.

Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse May Not Fit Your Idea of an Abuser

Studies have shown that people who sexually abuse children can come from many walks of life, and they may not always fit the most popular ideas of what a sexual predator is like. Oftentimes, abusers seem “normal,” kind, or friendly, and it can be a shock to an entire community when allegations arise. The abusers named in child sex abuse cases often occupy a care-oriented position, such as doctor, priest, or coach, and ultimately, many adults are more inclined to believe other adults.

Your child deserves justice after suffering the traumatic experience of sexual abuse, and an attorney who has experience handling these kinds of difficult and sensitive cases can help you fight for the best for your family. Whether you just have a few initial questions or are ready to take action, our Chicago legal team is ready to treat you with the care and compassion you deserve. To learn more, simply call our office directly, or fill out the confidential contact form on this page.