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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 20,000 children are saved every year because of properly working and installed child safety seats. In an effort to continue to reduce child injuries and fatalities during car accidents, new standards and regulations are consistently being placed on manufacturers as crash test data is being gathered. Because of this, car seats that may have once been considered safe to use may get pulled off of the shelves, and out of motorists’ cars.

When car accidents occur, the goal is to keep every passenger, no matter the age, and protected as possible while inside the vehicle. Since new child safety seat technologies are always developing, the laws, standards, and recommendations change along with them. When car seat manufacturers follow these guidelines, children should be kept safe during a crash, and the seats do the job they were created to perform.

Today, there are several stages of car seats available that are geared at protecting your child based on his/her height, weight, and age. States have enacted strict laws requiring the use of car seats for children under the age of eight. But, no matter how proactive parents and guardians are while using child car seats, one car seat manufacturer’s defect could nullify those efforts.

Our Chicago defective product attorneys at Lane Brown recently learned about one new change taking effect at the beginning of 2014 that will change how parents look at the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system built into most newer cars.

Research has found that this system has not been designed to safely secure a child when the combined weight of the child and seat is 65lbs. or more. Why does this matter? Well, the science behind the LATCH system showed that car seats could safely be secured to a standard car seat by using the tethers and anchor straps of a car seat to hook it in place. No seat belt would be required to provide extra security. This science was based on old car seat technology and design, and older car manufacturer standards. However, at that time, the science did not account for the weight of both the seat and child. The anchors built into standard car seats cannot sustain the combined weight of 65 lbs. or more in the event of a severe car crash.

The new recommendations will require car seat manufactures to tell parents NOT to use the LATCH system that exists in all cars built since 2001. Instead, parents should specifically use the manufacturers seat belt to safely secure the child car seat in the vehicle.

Advocates of the LATCH system say that minimum weight requirements could be changed for manufactures, to make the anchors compliant with new codes. For now, it appears that one way to be safe, and not sorry, would be to use the tethers and anchors jointly with the standard seat belt to ensure that a child safety seat is secure in the vehicle.

If your child has suffered catastrophic injuries due to defective car seats, our Chicago defective product attorneys at Lane Brown may be able to help. We are here to listen to your case, examine the evidence, and seek to hold others accountable for their negligent actions. We know that injury accidents don’t just happen during standard business hours. So we are available at any time to schedule a free, no-hassle consultation, and to help you understand what your next steps should be. Call 312-332-1400 now.

The Republican congressional leadership today added a demand, in order for them to vote for increasing the U.S. debt ceiling, that medical malpractice actions be limited. If the President and the Democrats in Congress do not agree to limit medical malpractice actions, they will cause the United States of America to default on its debt obligations. It should be unbelievable that our Congressional representatives, elected to serve ALL U.S. citizens, should seek to steal their constituents’, as well as all other citizen’s constitutional and statutorily protected rights of due process and equal justice in order to accomplish the political ends and desires of their special interests. It should be unbelievable that the Republican legislators should ignore evidence, the greater good, and refuse to look to reasonable legislative measures to help address real problems. It should be that our legislators should seek to right wrongs, and not destroy rights.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the Republicans’ ultimatum is neither surprising nor unbelievable. It’s become all too familiar to all of us. The Republican party once again sees nothing wrong with taking hostages, using innocent victims to achieve goals only their own special interests share…goals that are not supported by facts, logic that is supported by misinformation. Study after study after study show beyond any serious question that the costs of medical malpractice claims and litigation has little, if any demonstrable effect on the costs of medical care, insurance or the availability of medical services. Certainly medical malpractice issues bear NO relationship to our economy or governmental budgetary obligations! If the Republicans really want to help, then why don’t they tackle the REAL problems of healthcare and costs of healthcare? When will they take on insurance reforms and forcing fair claims practices? When will they work to improve the quality of the medical and hospital care we get in the United States, instead of further beating down those families who have already been burdened by the suffering and expense of having been injured by poor medical care? The Republican-sponsored medical malpractice “crisis” is a fictitious bomb scare that borders on terrorism. A better fiction, a fiction that would actually help our people, came from that legendary figure, King Arthur, whose credo was “Might FOR right….Not Might IS right!”

Most of us love dogs. They are our friends, companions, and for some, members of our families. The image of a cuddly dog snuggling up with our children at night may bring a smile to our faces. But unnecessary dog bite attacks ruin that playful image of man’s best friend. We may be left wondering “what now?” if we become victims of such terrible attacks. Scars, both physical and emotional, may last a lifetime. When this happens, it’s important to speak to an experienced Chicago dog bite lawyer about your legal rights.

Here are Five Simple Tips to help prevent an Illinois Dog Bite attack from occurring.

Never Treat a Dog Unkindly.

Do not ever hit or kick a dog. Aggression leads to more aggression. A dog’s ears, tail, and paws can be very sensitive areas on their body, so don’t pull on these unless you are very familiar with the dog and its’ likes and dislikes.

Leave a Dog Alone While it is Busy.

Give plenty of space to dogs that are busy with small puppies, or dogs that are eating or playing with toys. The protective nature of animals can put them on guard if they feel threatened in any way around humans.

Stay Calm.

Avoid shouting around dogs, and always try to speak calmly or softly. Dogs can sense tense or stressful situations and often respond accordingly. Loud noises or aggressive language could trigger a violent response from the dog.

Don’t Approach a Dog You Don’t Know.

Leave service dogs alone. They may seem like beautiful, fascinating animals, but they have been specifically trained to work for their owners. Any other individual could appear as a threat to the dog. Do not approach dogs that are tied up in a yard. Dogs restrained by chains or ropes are more likely to bite due to increased stress, protectiveness, and vulnerability caused by the restraints. If you want to meet a new dog, always ask the owner for permission first before approaching the animal. If given the “ok,” hold your hand gently out for the dog to sniff your scent. Then, give the dog a gentle rub or scratch under the chin first before petting anywhere else on the dog’s body.

Be Still.

If you are outside, and a loose, aggressive dog approaches, stand straight, tall, and still. Avoid making eye contact with the dog, and don’t make any sudden movements. If a dog feels threatened or vulnerable, it often will act defensively. If you’re on the ground when an aggressive dog approaches, don’t get up. Curl into a ball, like a rock, and pull your knees into your chest. Cover your ears with your hands and do not make eye contact with the dog. Not only will this protect the vulnerable parts of your body in the event of an Illinois dog bite attack, but it also demonstrates that you are not a threat to the animal.

If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Chicago and have suffered serious injuries as a result, you may be entitled to compensation from the dog owner. The best way to know what the law allows is to speak with an experienced Chicago dog bite attorney about your case. One easy call to our personal injury lawyers at 312-332-1400 may be the right step toward getting the legal justice you deserve.

Category: Dog Bites

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There could be new legal changes in the works concerning generic medications, protecting the safety and rights of millions of Americans taking the cheaper versions of hundreds of these drugs everyday. If the suggested FDA changes occur, victims of defective medication side effects in Illinois will have grounds to take legal action against generic drug makers.

Like most of us, many of you may comb through pharmacy shelves, debating between the expensive name brand and the cheaper, generic forms of the drugs we depend on. You may ask yourselves, “Is this one really just as good as the other?” or “Why is this one so much cheaper if they are actually the same thing?”Then, usually our pocketbooks win out, and we go with the less expensive version.

Presently, about 8 in 10 prescriptions filled in the U.S. are for generic versions of these drugs. Even though the FDA regulations require the generic drugs to have the same active ingredients, and quality of performance as their name brand counterparts, the rival drugs do not actually fall under the same legal responsibilities in regards to liability.

As the law currently states, if a patient suffers catastrophic injuries from defective medications, he or she may only take legal action against the name brand manufacturer, provided the name brand version was the drug that caused the ill side effects. This, however, does not apply to generic brands. Why?

Name brand drugs are the original formulations of these specific chemical compounds. Generic versions are made under those specifications.
Generic drugs must carry the same warning labels as their name brand counterparts.
Essentially, the law states that the name brand manufacturers or creators are responsible for ensuring patient safety, because they are the ones that actually developed the drugs.

However, after years of legal battles, and countless side effects that left victims with catastrophic injuries and lifelong scars, the FDA is now examining the unfair consequences of these laws.

If the proposed medication regulation changes are implemented, generic drug companies will be responsible for making their own specific warning labels for their medications, opening up the door for these companies to be held accountable if defective medications cause devastating injuries to patients.

If you’ve been injured by defective medications, it’s important to speak with an experienced Chicago defective product attorney about your legal rights. Those responsible for your medical complications should be held responsible for their negligent actions, and it looks like there may be more hope yet for victims in the world of defective generic medication injuries. Call Lane Brown today at 312-332-1400 to get more information and speak with a skilled Chicago personal injury attorney.

Every day we may walk into any number of locations, purchasing groceries, renting a hotel room for a business trip or vacation, looking for a new apartment building to move into, or spending the day at an amusement park. Our places of interest are endless.

In each of these locations, we enter the premises, trusting that there is an unspoken level of security established to keep us safe while we’re there. Unfortunately, criminal activity still happens, even in these well-known places. In some cases, the only party at fault behind these crimes is the assailant. However, in other situations, these crimes could be preventable, but aren’t, a case known as negligent security in Illinois. If you have questions about your assault or premises liability claim, the Chicago premises liability attorneys at Lane Brown, LLC may be just the help you need.

Common Locations for Premises Liability Cases in Illinois

There are so many locations that we visit that operate with a basic understanding of providing patrons with a basic, core level of security while on the premises. Some of these include: apartment buildings, shopping malls, businesses, sports stadiums, grocery stores, condominiums/ gated communities, home rentals, amusement parks, and schools.

But, there is one location that may be guilty of negligent security in Chicago that many of us may overlook: hospitals. We go to hospitals, visiting others or seeking medical assistance and respite for any number of reasons, expecting to be safe during our stay. But, unfortunately, hospitals can also become prime locations for catastrophic assaults to occur.

Examples of Negligent Hospital Security Can Include:

Did the hospital provide adequate security systems in place (lock-down procedures, cameras, security personnel)?
Did the hospital have well-lit hallways, stairwells, entrances and exits, elevators, and parking garages/lots? Adequate lighting produces extra visibility in otherwise dark locations, and may reduce the chance of an attack occurring.
Did the hospital have high standards of hiring and training their security personnel, or are their security members inadequately equipped to keep visitors safe on the premises?
Does the hospital have a set “security policy” in place, that all employees are trained to follow, in the event of emergency situations? https://www.lanebrownlaw.com/blog/premises-liability-claim–don-t-trump-up-your-injuries.cfm
Does the hospital have a known history of crime on the premises? If so, they have a legal duty to take necessary and reasonable measures to reduce the likelihood of a criminal assault incident occurring.

Assault victims may suffer catastrophic head injuries, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, broken bones, gunshot wounds or even rape when proper security measures are neglected.

If you, or someone you love, were injured in an assault while on hospital property, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your victimization. Our skilled Chicago premises liability attorneys at Lane Brown, LLC have the knowledge needed to aggressively pursue catastrophic injury cases. Call today to schedule your free appointment: 312-332-1400.

Our children are our most precious resources. Their safety is always our main concern. Parents trying to ensure that their babies are safe are subjected to all kinds of corporate marketing…TV, billboards, magazines and other mass media campaigns that try to convince them to buy products. Products that are, above all, safe for our children. Unfortunately, corporate promises can be misleading, and babies’ health can be in danger as a result.

New Zealand dairy exporter, Fonterra, has recalled baby formula potentially contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, according to several news media sources. The New York Times (8/6, B3, Hutchison, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports that Fonterra apologized for the contamination of “an infant milk formula ingredient” with Clostridium botulinum, “traced to a pipe that had not been cleaned properly in one of its…processing plants.” Much of the infant formula was exported to China, where many “consumers prefer to buy imported products because of problems involving domestic brands.” Fonterra officials said the contaminated whey protein batches “were produced in May 2012,” but the company did not discover the contamination until testing was done in Australia in March.

The Wall Street Journal (8/6, B6, Howard, Burkitt, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports that New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, said that the contamination was damaging to both Fonterra and New Zealand, noting questions regarding how long Fonterra took to trace and announce the contamination and announcing that an investigation into the contamination would be conducted. Fonterra said that eight customers were informed about the contaminated whey protein, including three food companies, two beverage companies, and three animal feed manufacturers.
Reuters (8/6, Beckford, Rajagopalan) reports that Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings said bans on Fonterra products had not been imposed by China. Instead, restrictions on whey protein concentrate were put in place. The restrictions are expected to be lifted after Chinese officials receive a report on how the contamination occurred.

According to Fonterra officials, “90 percent of affected products are in warehouses and the company is working to take back the rest from retail stores’”, Bloomberg News (8/6, Lin) reports. Fonterra officials said that around 17 tons of the contaminated whey “was used by customers in Australia and New Zealand to make about 2,100 tons of baby milk powder,” and the remainder “was used by other customers including Coca-Cola (KO) in other products.”

The Wall Street Journal (8/6, Qi, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports that US-based Abbott Laboratories Chinese division was asked to recall two infant formula products by China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. The General Administration wrote on its website that New Zealand officials had indicated the two formulas produced by Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co, .Ltd., may have been tainted with Clostridium botulinum. And, according to Reuters (8/6, Tajitsu), 80,000 cans of baby formula produced by Cow & Gate has been recalled in Hong Kong and Macau.

If your child or someone you know has consumed contaminated baby formula, you may be able to take action. We can help! Please contact the attorneys at Lane Brown, LLC at 312-332-1400 or visit our website at lanebrownlaw.com.