blog | Lane Brown, LLC

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), approximately 2.3 million U.S. construction workers work on scaffolding every day. Of those workers, nearly 4500 are injured on scaffolding every year. In order to reduce the number of construction workers who are severely injured on scaffolding, OSHA has compiled the following scaffolding safety recommendations:

Scaffolding should be solidly constructed, rigid, and able to support its’ own weight, plus four times the maximum intended load limit, without settling or displacement.
Unstable objects including barrels, boxes, and bricks should not be used to support the scaffolds or planks.
Scaffolding should be set up, dismantled, and moved under the direct supervision of a competent and trained individual.
Scaffolding should include guardrails, mid-rails, and toe-boards.
Scaffolding should be inspected regularly—repairs should be made as quickly as possible.
Rigging on suspension scaffolds should be inspected at the start of every work shift to ensure structural integrity.
Rope used in suspension scaffolding should be protected from heat sources.
Scaffolds should be kept at least ten feet away from power lines.

If you were injured in a Chicago construction site accident, an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney at Lane Brown can help. Whether you are having trouble obtaining the workers’ compensation benefits you are due or wonder if a third party might be liable for your injuries, we are here for you. Our skilled attorneys will review your case, answer your questions, and help you to understand your legal options. Contact us today at 312-332-1400 to schedule your free consultation. We will fight for the compensation you deserve.

The AP (4/11, Kageyama) reports, “Toyota, Honda and Nissan are recalling more than 2 million vehicles globally for an identical problem with air bags on the passenger side whose inflator may burst, sending plastic pieces flying.” The AP notes that “the recall for air bags made by Japan’s Takata Corp. affects other automakers including non-Japanese manufacturers, and may be as many as 3 million vehicles, Takata spokesman Akiko Watanabe said Thursday.” The AP notes that “a worker forgot to turn on the switch for a system weeding out defective products and parts were improperly stored, which exposed them to humidity, according to Honda spokeswoman Akemi Ando.”
CNN Money (4/11, Riley, Wakatsuki) also reports that “Honda said it was aware of one crash in which a passenger front airbag casing had ruptured after being deployed with too much pressure” but is not aware of any injuries or deaths resulting from the defect. Meanwhile, “Toyota said it had reports of five airbag malfunctions, but no injuries.”

Accidents involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles can result in serious personal injuries to drivers, passengers and pedestrians. The Chicago law firm of Lane Brown, LLC practices in personal-injury lawsuits resulting from vehicle accidents. If you, your family or other loved one has been injured, please contact Lane Brown, LLC. We can help.

The National Law Journal (4/2, Bronstad) reports, “A lawsuit filed against Ford Motor Co. on behalf of consumers alleging economic damages tied to sudden acceleration comes months after Toyota Motor Corp. agreed to pay more than $1 billion in cash and repair costs to resolve similar claims.” The Journal continues, “The suit, filed on March 28, asserts that Ford, despite receiving hundreds of reports of electronics defects tied to sudden acceleration, failed to install brake override systems in some North American vehicles until 2010, even though it knew about problems as early as 2002. As a result, the cars manufactured during that interval put drivers in an ‘unreasonably dangerous’ situation, the suit says.”

If you or a loved one have suffered a severe injury, the law offices of Lane Brown, LLC can help you. Please contact us or call now (312) 332-1400 for an immediate consultation with an injury attorney in Chicago, Illinois.

If you suspect a manufacturing or design defect caused your auto accident and serious injury, we invite you to contact our office. A lawyer with experience in defective equipment claims will provide a free consultation and case review.

A recent national evening news piece told the story of a woman who videoed a piece of wood as it flew through her windshield. She had been traveling down a highway, caught behind two semi-trucks traveling parallel to each other on the road, not allowing other drivers to pass. In frustration, she took out her phone to capture the incident with her camera and obtain truck identification information. Suddenly, an unsecured piece of lumber flew from one of the truck beds and crashed through her windshield. Fortunately, the driver was not injured. Others, however, are not always so lucky.

Unsecured objects projecting from vehicles, semi-truck tire tread, sharp metal objects, and other roadside junk can be extremely dangerous, causing a Chicago car crash. Following outlines the parties who might be liable in for a car accident caused by flying debris:

Drivers have a responsibility to secure loose or protruding objects such as luggage on a rack, lumber or metal poles protruding from the truck bed, or equipment such as a bike or lawn mower.
Road crews from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are responsible for cleaning up roadkill and picking up hazardous materials on the roadway. IDOT may be liable for resulting injuries if dangerous garbage is not cleaned up in a timely manner.
Passengers in another car or pedestrians on an overpass or bridge can cause a severe accident by throwing objects at passing vehicles. These third parties can be held liable for their negligent acts.

If you have seriously injured in a car accident due to the negligent or careless acts of another, contact a Chicago car crash lawyer at Lane Brown. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will look at every detail of your case and help you to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Give us a call today at 312-332-1400 to schedule your free consultation.

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans. At the first sign of heart problems, we turn to a cardiologist for help. In order to diagnose and determine the best treatment for a heart condition, cardiologists often order a cardiac catheterization procedure. While necessary for many, the procedure is not without risks including the following:

Excessive bleeding at the site where the catheterization tube enters the artery
Potential blood clots in the arm or leg, which may lead to amputation
Internal bleeding into the abdomen in the event the artery is during the procedure

A cardiac catheterization procedure serves as a vital diagnostic tool to evaluate the condition of the heart. However, if a patient comes into the emergency room with symptoms that mimic a heart condition, such as indigestion, or abnormal, yet inconclusive, stress test results, this test may be unnecessary and extremely risky.

Sometimes, during a diagnostic cardiac catheterization procedure, doctors find a narrow or blocked artery. They are often able to clear the blockage right away using arterial stents. This procedure, while it can be life saving, also carries risks such as the following:

Equipment could cause a clogged blood vessel, which may block necessary oxygen from the heart
Equipment could puncture the coronary artery
Patients could experience complications including heart attack, stroke, and death. According to one study, one or two out of every 100 patients experience complications.
Stents can cause a build-up of scar tissue at their location. They can also cause blood clots to develop, which could cause a massive heart attack.

If you recently had a cardiac catheterization procedure, and suffered injuries afterwards, you may be the victim of medical negligence. Only an experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney at Lane Brown can evaluate the details of your injuries, consult with qualified medical professionals, and determine if you have a legal claim. Call us today at 312-332-1400 for a free case evaluation. We are here to help.

Diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, seizure disorders, and bipolar disorders are all common conditions that affect hundreds and thousands of women across the United States. For many, taking prescription medication is a daily occurrence—necessary for normal function.

Some of the medication prescribed for these pre-existing medical conditions is extremely dangerous for the development of an unborn child—even though it is medically necessary for the health of the mother. Pregnant women, who are taking prescription medicine, must work with their doctor to come up with the best possible solution to support their own health and prevent injury to the unborn child.

Your doctor has a responsibility to keep you and your unborn child as safe as possible and offer a reasonable standard of care. Following are some drugs that may cause birth defects:

High dosages of Vitamin A
Certain antibiotics
Cancer fighting medications
Isotretinoin (acne medication)
ACE inhibitors (blood pressure medication)
Warfarin (blood thinning medication)
Anticonvulsants (anti-seizure medication)

Studies show that taking prescription drugs during pregnancy could cause fetal death. This is especially true for anticonvulsant drugs. Unborn babies exposed to these drugs are at a high risk of experiencing severe and irreversible birth defects or fetal death.

If you are currently taking these medications, talk to your physician right away if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If your doctor prescribed the medications listed above while you were pregnant, and your baby suffered irreversible damage, talk to a veteran Chicago birth injury attorney at Lane Brown, LLC right away. Call our office at 312-332-1400 today for your free consultation.