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When you schedule a doctor’s appointment, you expect to know more about your condition. You’re putting your life in their hands, and you trust them enough to follow their instructions every time you feel there’s something wrong with your body or mental state. The correct medication can protect you from lifelong consequences.

But medical professionals are still human, and humans can make mistakes. If you’re suffering because of a doctor’s negligence, remember that you have options to recover compensation for your suffering. Recognizing the main signs of medical malpractice is fundamental when you’re looking to file an effective injury claim.

Misdiagnosis and Failure to Diagnose

Failing to identify the early signs of an illness can prove fatal. Understanding what’s the underlying cause of your issues is a fundamental step when a doctor needs to make a proper diagnosis. Ignoring your symptoms could result in health complications due to negligence, which is one of the reasons behind a medical malpractice case.

Misdiagnosis is even more dangerous, as taking the wrong medication can result in additional health complications. It might even make a pre-existing condition worse. Trying to cure a wrong illness is a recipe for disaster, which is why you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

Surgical Errors

Surgeries require qualified healthcare professionals with significant experience. Performing surgery on the wrong patient or leaving an instrument in their body means that a surgeon acted negligently, which resulted in putting an injured individual’s life in danger. Operating on the wrong body part can leave patients suffering through unneeded suffering.

The worst offense a healthcare professional can commit is utilizing tools that weren’t properly sterilized. This will result in an infection, which requires additional and prolonged treatment in an individual with a weakened immune system that’s already vulnerable due to surgery.

Failure to Inform You About Treatment

Treatment plans, medical procedures, surgeries, and anything else that will affect your body’s normal function comes with risks and side effects. A doctor should always inform you of the consequences and the benefits coming from their decisions before proceeding, so that you as a patient can make an informed choice about your future and your wellbeing.

If you experience health complications without being informed of the risks, it means that there was a lack of informed consent. That’s a sign of medical malpractice, and you deserve to be compensated for not being able to evaluate the situation before making a decision. Proving that you were not sufficiently informed can be difficult, and it’s best to let an attorney take care of it.

Your Doctor Doesn’t Follow Up

A good doctor will listen to you, respond to your concerns, and answer questions in a satisfactory manner. They should never give you the impression of being distracted or not caring about your conditions. Treatment and all related details need to be thoroughly discussed, and your appointment can’t leave you the impression of being rushed.

If you’re unable to keep your doctor updated about your condition, or they ignore your requests after you experience unusual or constant side effects because of your new medication, it means that you’re not receiving proper medical attention, and you’re a victim of malpractice.

Understaffed Health Care Facility

One of the key factors that define medical malpractice is operating below an acceptable standard of care. This factor changes depending on the circumstances and the health care facility that’s taking care of your injuries, that’s why you should speak with a medical malpractice lawyer if you suspect that you’re being mistreated because a facility is understaffed.

There’s no excuse that justifies neglecting patients, and you should never find yourself in a situation where you’re forced to experience the consequences of a negligent facility. Not having enough staff to provide appropriate care for all patients is an irresponsible act and one that calls for a medical malpractice claim.

Speak with a Medical Malpractice Attorney

Many victims decide to not seek compensation because they’re convinced that they’ll never be able to win, but that’s a mistake. While it’s true that medical malpractice cases are difficult to handle and prove what happened, seeking experienced injury lawyers can increase your chances of winning.

A lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC will gather the evidence needed to provide you with fair compensation, such as your medical records, and will make sure that everything you’ve been through is included in your settlement.

If you’re ready to get started, all you have to do is call 312-332-1400 to schedule your free case evaluation or fill out the online contact form.

Unfortunately, sex abuse happens and when it does, you may be unsure of how to help or support the survivor. Those who have experienced sexual abuse go through a series of emotions and reactions. No two survivors are the same.

Whether looking to be a supportive friend or preparing yourself to be an advocate for others, there are steps you can take. Remember, sexual abuse is a difficult, traumatic experience, and they need kindness and compassion first. Here are some steps you can take to help them recover.

Contact an Authority

One of the best resources that many can use for those who have been sexually abused is the National Sexual Assault Hotline. This hotline provides 24/7 access to counseling through their online chat hotline or over the telephone.

In addition to the counseling offered, they have a wealth of resources and reading materials. There are trained professionals who can provide more insight and recommendations for what the individual should do next. These can help sex abuse survivors recover mentally and emotionally before pursuing a lawsuit.

Helping Someone in a Crisis

It is important that you stay calm and believe the person speaking to you about what happened. There are some steps you can take to truly help someone in need after an incident like sexual abuse has occurred:

Let Them Know It’s Not Their Fault – Don’t place the blame on them and don’t think about things you should have done differently.
Ask Them About Their Needs – If you’re unsure of what to do for them, this is one of the best ways to go about finding out what you can give them. Their needs will change as they work through the crisis on their own.
Reach Out for Help – Don’t be afraid to get outside help if you need to. You may want to help them find a therapist, seek counseling for drug or alcohol abuse, or a medical professional if they’re self-harming. There are many professionals willing and able to help after sexual abuse.
Don’t Exclude Aid – Whether they are trained professionals or just other friends, these individuals can make a difference. You don’t want to take this all on by yourself. It takes a team.

These are just a few of the options you have for support when a friend or family member has suffered through sexual abuse. Beyond support, you also have the chance to help them seek out legal aid when they’re suffering.

Filing a Civil Suit and Sexual Abuse Claim

Sexual abuse is broad in terms of what is included in this term. It can include everything from rape and sexual violence to sexual assault, incest, and even the sexual exploitation of children. It can be from a relationship or even from someone the person never knew before.

No matter what you’ve gone through, you can still bring a claim against anyone who abused you. Even if the abuse happened to someone you love, you may have a chance to seek restitution for what happened on their behalf.

Filing a sexual abuse claim may be against not just the abuser, but those who were there during the abuse or failed to stop the abuse. You may need a lawyer to help you determine who’s liable for your lawsuit.

Let’s say your child was sexually abused at school and the teacher failed to follow the law for reporting the incident in Illinois after suspicious activity. If this happens, the teacher and other staff could have claims brought against them for violating their duty of care.

Damages Included in a Civil Suit

The overall goal for these sexual abuse civil suits is to receive compensation for the claim. You will want to share how this sexual assault has impacted your or the life of a loved one. Some of the damages that can be compensated in these cases include, but are not limited to:

Medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Depression and anxiety
Expenses for relocation
Financial support and lost wages
Counseling and other mental health treatments
Court and attorney fees

Seek Out a Sex Abuse Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered through sexual abuse, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. While a lawsuit can’t help a survivor wipe away those memories, it can help you get the support needed to recover from a traumatic experience.

Remember, you’re not alone in this and you have options. Speak with our team here at Lane Brown, LLC by calling 312-332-1400 or by completing the following online contact form. We are here to provide the support and legal help you need. We can answer any questions you may have and listen to your specific situation.

Accident reports are an important part of recovery from a car accident. Not only does this report show that the accident happened, but it details what happened, who was at fault, and records any injuries that were sustained.

In Illinois, it is important to know this report is essential, and how you can use that report for your claim. Read on to learn more about this often-key piece of evidence for your Chicago car accident claim.

Reporting the Accident to the Proper Authority

It is important to report the accident to the proper authorities where the accident happened. This should be done within twenty-four hours of the accident happening.

These reports are generally written up by the local police. They will look at the damages, injuries, speak to witnesses, and provide the facts of what happened. This report is a useful recording of how and why the accident happened, which can help you keep your memory fresh about the accident.

When You Should File a Report

Accidents that result in any injuries or death, or property damage that totals over $1,500, should be reported. If the other vehicle does not have insurance coverage, the damages only have to total $500. Usually, a police officer will show up to an accident, but if they do not show up at the scene, you still need to file a report.

The report should be filed with the local police department or the Illinois State Police. This should be done as soon as possible. The report must be a written one on the accident, and sent in within ten days of the accident and submitted to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.

Once this claim is filed, you can get a copy online or talk to your lawyer about your other options. Failure to send in a report regarding the crash to the Department of Transportation can leave you liable for a fine of up to $2,500 or even up to a year in prison.

The Importance of an Accident Report

Speaking with an insurance company can be tough, especially if they don’t want to work with you. An accident report will show the insurance company who was at fault, as well as the facts of what actually happened. This is a legal record of the accident and one that helps the insurance companies decide how much should be paid out, and to whom.

If the insurance companies do not want to come to a conclusion on who should pay for the damages, this report can help your lawyer build your lawsuit. If your police report is clear about who’s at fault, that can be key evidence against the insurer’s refusal to pay.

Get Legal Aid Using Your Police Report

If you’ve been injured in an accident, make sure to speak with experienced attorneys like those at Lane Brown, LLC. They can provide more insight on what is necessary to receive the compensation you feel you deserve.

Ready for your free consultation? Give us a call at 312-332-1400 or fill out the online contact form below to learn more about filing and using your police report.

Justice means closure for sex abuse victims. When an abuser is held accountable for their actions, it provides a sense of relief to the victim that can be life-changing. For too long, society has turned a blind eye to sexual abuse, choosing instead to protect the abuser. This must change. Victims of sexual abuse deserve to have their voices heard and their abusers held accountable for their crimes.

Sex abuse is a traumatic experience that can have a lasting impact on the victim’s life. The physical and emotional scars of sexual abuse can take years to heal, if they ever do. In many cases, the victim is left with a sense of shame and guilt that can be crippling. When an abuser is brought to justice, it helps the victim to feel validated and helps them to begin the healing process.

At Lane Brown, LLC, we believe that justice means closure for sex abuse victims. We will fight tirelessly to ensure that our clients receive the justice they deserve. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, please contact us today.

Why Justice for Closure Is Important

Sexual abuse is a crime that leaves the victim feeling violated, humiliated, and helpless. The physical and emotional scars of sexual abuse can last a lifetime. For many victims, the only way to begin the healing process is to see their abuser brought to justice. When an abuser is held accountable for their actions, it sends a strong message to the victim that they are not to blame. It also sends a message to society that sexual abuse will not be tolerated.

There Is a Need to Believe Victims of Sexual Abuse

Too often, victims of sexual abuse are met with skepticism and disbelief. Society has a tendency to protect the abuser and discount the victim’s account of what happened. This must change. Victims of sexual abuse deserve to be believed and their abusers held accountable for their crimes.

Forms of Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse can take many forms. It can be physical, verbal, or emotional. It can occur between two people who are in a relationship or it can be a one-time event. Sexual abuse is always about power and control. The abuser uses sexual abuse as a way to assert their power over the victim.

This power gap usually has the effect of silencing the victim. The fear of not being believed or of retaliation can keep victims from coming forward. This is why it’s so important for society to believe victims of sexual abuse and hold abusers accountable for their actions.

Sexual Abuse of Minors

Sadly, sexual abuse is not limited to adults. Children are often the victims of sexual abuse. In fact, one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they reach the age of 18. This type of abuse can have a profound effect on a child’s development. It can cause them to feel isolated, ashamed, and worthless.

As a society, we must do better to protect our children from sexual abuse. We must believe them when they come forward and hold their abusers accountable. Only then can we begin to heal the wounds of sexual abuse.

What to Do Following a Sexual Assault

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. In a hospital, a sexual assault evidence kit will be collected. This kit is important, as it can be used to identify the assailant. You should also contact the police to file a report. It is important to do this as soon as possible so the evidence can be gathered while it is still fresh.

You may also want to consider seeking counseling or therapy to help you deal with the aftermath of the sexual assault. Many survivors find it helpful to talk to someone who understands what they are going through.

Illinois Law Regarding Sexual Assault

In Illinois, sexual assault is defined as any non-consensual sexual act. This includes rape, fondling, and child molestation. The penalties for sexual assault depend on the severity of the crime. Punishment can range from probation to life in prison.

Get Legal Help

According to the CDC, there were more than 42,000 traffic deaths in 2020. The most common cause of these deaths was speeding and reckless driving. In other cases, the cause of death was distracted driving, such as texting while driving. And in still other instances, The cause of death was alcohol use and aggressive driving.

All in all, more than 90 percent of all car accident deaths can be attributed to negligence. So what do you do when a loved one dies in a car accident due to negligence? You seek compensation by filing a wrongful death claim.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit filed by a close relative or the estate of the deceased. Relatives eligible to file a wrongful death claim are the spouse and children of the deceased. The more distant you are from the deceased, the harder it is for you to file a wrongful death claim.

For this reason, states will disagree on who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. For example, parents cannot file a wrongful death lawsuit in some states if their children are adults, while they can in others.

Proving Wrongful Death in Car Accident Cases

You will be required to prove four important things to win a wrongful death lawsuit that took the life of your loved one:

Duty of Care

To illustrate this point, let us assume that the cause of death was a drunk driver. In this case, we need to prove to the court that if the driver was not drunk, the death would not have occurred. We need to show that the driver was at fault and that the alcohol impaired his driving skills. In simple terms, every driver has a duty of care to other motorists.

Breach of Care

Once we prove duty of care, the attorney will be required to show the court how this duty of care was breached. A good example is when you must drive within a certain speed limit, but you exceed the limit and cause a fatal accident.

Causation

Causation is a term that describes how one event causes another. An example of this is when a speeding vehicle causes an accident due to a burst tire. Most negligent drivers will try to argue causation so that they are not liable for the death. In a wrongful death case, the lawyer must prove how causation is linked to the driver’s negligence.

Damages

The last piece of a wrongful death puzzle is damages. Your lawyer will be required to generate quantifiable damages that you wish to recover. Some of the measurable damages are as follows:

Loss of income
Burial costs
Medical expenses
Pain and suffering of the deceased

Consult an Experienced Wrongful Death Attorney

If you have lost a family member due to negligence, you must file a wrongful death claim. For this, you will need to work with a qualified lawyer who is experienced in dealing with wrongful death lawsuits.

When we work together, you can rest assured that the law office of Lane Brown, LLC will ensure the best possible outcome for your case. You can get in touch via the contact form on this website or by calling 312-332-1400.

A concussion is a type of head injury caused by a sudden jolt, impact, or hit to the head. The symptoms of a concussion vary from one incident to another. You can quickly recover from some symptoms, whereas others can take a long time to heal. A Chicago personal injury lawyer can help you seek damages for a concussion when it’s cause is someone’s negligence.

You may suffer a concussion during a car crash, slip-and-fall, or any other personal injury incident. You must get immediate medical attention even if the injury seems minor. Many concussion symptoms take time to manifest and are categorized as post-concussion syndrome. The diagnosis of this syndrome can play an important role in a lawsuit.

What Is Post-Concussion Syndrome?

Post-concussion syndrome refers to various symptoms caused by a concussion. These symptoms become apparent much later. Some symptoms may become obvious days later, while others can take weeks or even months to manifest.

Nearly 50% of victims of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as a concussion, experience this syndrome for up to three months after the injury.

Some symptoms of the syndrome include:

A perpetual feeling of tiredness and fatigue
Problems with sleeping
Mood swings and irritability
Poor regulation of emotions
Dizziness and problems with maintaining balance

Why Seek Damages for a Concussion?

As noted above, the exact nature and extent of a concussion’s symptoms can take some time to reveal. Some of these are short-term, but others can have a long-term impact on your life. You may also need to undergo treatment for months or even years to recover. All these losses add up and can cause financial problems, a decline in your quality of life, and other issues.

This is why it is important to hold the negligent person or party accountable for such immense losses. Illinois personal injury laws allow you to bring a lawsuit for TBIs, including concussions, caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. You can seek both economic and non-economic damages for the injury.

Talk to a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have suffered a concussion in a personal injury incident in Chicago, we want to help you. Here at Lane Brown, LLC, our lawyers work with you to hold the negligent party accountable and pursue full compensation for your injury-related losses.

Contact us today at 312-332-1400 to discuss your claim with our brain injury lawyers. You can also schedule a free consultation by filling out the following form.