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A recent study indicates there may be harmful levels of toxic chemicals in cosmetic lip products like lipstick and lip-gloss, putting consumers’ health at risk.

Researchers at the University of California Berkeley’s School of Public Health tested 32 different types of lip products, of various brands, prices, and categories, in an effort to learn whether manufactured lip products contain harmful metals.

They found that each of the 32 products tested contained aluminum, titanium, and manganese—all in excess of recommended daily exposure limits. Three-fourths of the samples also contained high levels of lead.

Results of the study showed that neither product pricing nor product category affected the metal concentrations that were detected.

Researchers theorize that various metals are added to lip products in order to produce specific colors. In addition, the two metals found in the highest concentrations, aluminum and titanium are added to o keep colors from bleeding or fading.

Cosmetic manufacturers insist that their products are safe, following the guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, aside from lead level restrictions, the United States does not currently have any standards for metal content in cosmetics.

Because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is no safe level for lead exposure, many believe that these cosmetics should be reformulated—excluding lead and other harmful chemicals.

If you have suffered a serious injury from a defective product, a Chicago personal injury lawyer at Lane Brown can help. Our skilled and compassionate attorneys will take the time to fully understand your situation, answer your questions, and recommend a course of action—all during a free case evaluation. Give us a call today at 312-332-1400 to schedule your free consultation. We are standing by to help.

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What to do If You Are In A Car Accident

1. Try to stay calm: Auto accidents can be a pretty scary, stressful time, but it is extremely important that you try not to panic and remain calm, especially if there are other passengers in the vehicle.

2. Immediate Steps After a Car Accident: There are a few steps you should always follow after an accident. First, put the car in park and put on your emergency lights. Do not leave the scene of the accident. Assess any injuries to yourself and/or passengers, and inspect the car for damages.

3. Report the Car Accident: Immediately call 911 and report the accident, giving dispatchers any helpful landmarks or signs that will help them find your location quickly. Let them know how many vehicles are involved, and if you or your passengers have been injured. You should not move your vehicle until the police come and safely guide you to the shoulder or side of the road.

4. File the Car Accident Report: Once the police arrive, file an accident report. Do not discuss the accident with anyone except for the police. When you do talk to the police, be as accurate as possible about any statements that you make, as they will often be stated as either your quotes or statements that are attributed to you in the police report.

5. You should get as much contact information as possible from the drivers and passengers of other vehicles involved in the accident, as well as contact information from any witnesses. Important information such as name, contact numbers, addresses, car make, model, year, color, license plate number, and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

You also need their car insurance name and phone number as well, and any policy numbers they might have.

6. It is extremely helpful to try to preserve evidence. If you have a camera or cell phone which has a built-in camera, take photographs of the cars’ damages and the scene of the accident, as well as any visible signs of injury. In photographing the vehicles, take pictures that show all of the damage on all vehicles as well as damage to the surrounding scene that would illustrate what happened and how the accident occurred. If you can, take pictures of the resting positions of the vehicles immediately after the impact, and before they have been moved. If any of the vehicles have already been moved from their resting position, take photos that show the location where each vehicle came to a stop after the collision. Photograph any debris from the vehicles, skid marks and anything else which would help to explain what happened. It is smart and safe practice to either keep a camera in your car, or to use the camera capabilities on cell phones.

7. Contact Your Car Insurance Company: Call your insurance company as soon as possible. Most insurance companies provide you with a wallet-sized reference card with a 1-800 emergency phone number. You can also refer to the copy of your insurance policy (which you should keep in your glove compartment). Be sure to give the insurance company as much information as possible.

8. Whether or not you are able to take photographs after an accident, as soon after the accident as possible, write down everything that happened in the time leading up to the collision, what happened during the accident and what happened immediately following the accident. If you or others in your vehicle have been injured, you should seek immediate medical care, even if you don’t belive that the injuries are serious at the time. It is not unusual for serious injuries to be “hidden” by the trauma of an accident, and many serious injuries can be avoided by prompt medical attention. On the other hand, many serious injuries can turn into tragedies if they are not detected as early as possible.
Auto accidents are never pleasant, but being able follow these steps will ensure that dealing with the aftermath will be a lot less painful.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, you may be able to take action. Please contact the attorneys of Lane Brown, LLC, or call us at 312-332-1400 to speak with us about your options. We can help. To learn more about Lane Brown, please visit our website at lanebrownlaw.com.

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If you have ever spent time in a doctor’s office or emergency room, you know that wait times can be quite lengthy. Once you finally get to an examination room, there is often another long wait. Then, the doctor rushes in, asks a few questions, and then leaves. This scenario is quite common.

In fact, recent studies show that doctors-in-training are spending shorter amounts of time with their patients. Researchers examined the day-to-day lives of medical interns in multiple facilities over nearly 900 hours of work. They spent time observing doctors performing normal activities including:

Talking with and examining patients
Meeting with families
Attending educational seminars and conferences
Discussing treatment plans with other doctors
Eating, sleeping, and walking around the hospital

Researchers found that interns spent about 12 percent of their time—approximately 8 minutes per patient—interacting directly with patients. Several factors may explain why patient contact time is so limited. First, changes in electronic recordkeeping, force interns to spend nearly half of their time documenting case information. In addition, recent laws limit the number of hours a medical student can work on a weekly basis. Decreased patient care by medical students may also be due to increased patient loads, duties such as patient transport, note taking, and reading patient charts.

Reduced face-to-face time with patients increases the risk of improper diagnoses, wrongfully prescribed prescriptions, and improper supervision from attending physicians. If you, or someone you love, suffered a medical error injury, a skilled and experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney at Lane Brown can help you to understand if you have grounds to take legal action. Contact our law office today at 312-332-1400 to schedule a free case evaluation. We are standing by to help.

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Illinois law requires the majority of employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. Workers’ compensation pays medical costs and lost wage expenses for workers who are injured on the job. These benefits are available only to employees who are injured while at work—independent contractors are not covered. The following factors determine employment status in Illinois:

Workers hired on a permanent basis are usually considered employees. Any expectation of indefinite employment generally implies an employer/employee relationship.
Employees are usually paid on a set payment schedule—weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Independent contractors are commonly paid once a job has been completed.
Employees generally receive employment benefits such as medical insurance, vacation time, and sick time. Independent contractors must provide their own benefits.
Employers usually provide any equipment that employees need to do their jobs such as office supplies, computer hardware and software, and tools. Independent contractors are often required to use their own funds to pay for these items.

If you have been injured at work and have been denied workers’ compensation benefits, a Chicago workplace injury attorney at Lane Brown may be able to help. Our personal injury attorneys will take the time to understand your situation, answer all of your questions, and help you understand your legal rights. Our attorneys have over 130 years of combined legal experience and will put that expertise to work to help you obtain the benefits you are due. Contact our office today at 312-332-1400 to arrange a free case consultation concerning your Chicago workplace accident.

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Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplace environments in America today. Workers are at risk of experiencing catastrophic injuries, illnesses, disability, or even death from hazardous circumstances and environmental factors on a daily basis. All too often, these construction site injuries occur with little warning.

Several risk factors contribute to construction site accidents and injuries including the following:

A wide array of work activities occurring simultaneously
High turnover rates of site workers
Many unskilled laborers performing dangerous tasks
Constantly changing job site environments and conditions
Bystander exposure where pedestrians and other site workers are exposed to health hazards related to the work of others nearby
Constantly changing relationships with other work groups

The environmental and social changes within a construction site can cause inconsistencies in work habits, relationships, and continuity of how teams work together. Any combination of these factors can greatly increase the risk of a Chicago construction site accident.

When these injuries occur, there may be many questions surrounding a victim’s legal rights, at-fault parties, and liability concerns. Finding the best lawyer to advise you is a great place to start.

A qualified Chicago personal injury lawyer at Lane Brown can answer your questions, examine the facts surrounding your accident, and help you to understand your legal options. Our attorneys will aggressively fight to get you the justice you deserve. Give us a call today at 312-332-1400 to arrange your free case evaluation with an experienced construction accident attorney.

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