Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer Blog

The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll filed a lawsuit today against Hulcher Services, Inc. alleging negligence in a December, 2008 rail yard incident wherein Plaintiff, Michael Haddix, sustained serious injuries causing him to lose all five toes on his left foot.

At the time of the incident, Haddix, a trainmaster, was a 16-year veteran with the Belt Railway Company of Chicago. At the rail yard, two train cars were locked together when a pin lifter on the coupling became jammed. Hulcher Services, Inc. brought in a hi-rail crane to uncouple the train cars. The crane was improperly supported and shifted causing Plaintiff's severe injuries.

Continue reading "CRANE INJURY ATTORNEY FILES LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF INJURED RAILROAD WORKER" »

Yesterday evening at about 10:15 p.m. the driver of a Ford Escort lost control of her vehicle on northbound I-57 near Halsted Street according to Sun-Times reports. The vehicle drove off of the right embankment and hit a light pole, causing it to break at its base. The 9 year-old daughter of the driver, who was sitting in the back of the car, was ejected from the vehicle on impact, landing on the grassy embankment, where the light pole fell on top of her. The driver and the 9 year-old were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The adult female passenger in the front seat was killed in the accident. The driver has been charged by police with DUI.

Continue reading "CRASH ON 1-57 KILLS ONE AND DRIVER CHARGED WITH DUI" »

The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll represents individuals who have been the victims of brain injuries. March is "Brain Injury Awareness Month." There is a continuum of levels of brain injury, but all are serious.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is encouraging school professionals, coaches, athletes and parents to learn the risks of concussions in youth sports in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month. The emphasis is on identifying when a concussion has occurred and ensuring that sufficient time has passed before returning to playing sports. A repeat concussion before the brain has sufficiently healed places athletes at a high risk for long-term effects.

In addition to an increased risk in sports, members of the armed services are at increased risk for brain injury. The Pentagon has a new policy wherein U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan subjected to roadside bomb attacks will be pulled from duty for at least 24 hours and medically examined before being cleared for battle again. The goal is to detect injuries as early as possible.

Protocols requiring a rest period for healing and medical observation are essential to preventing long-term damage after a mild brain injury.

A fog advisory is in effect in Chicagoland until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Driving in foggy conditions can be dangerous. The Illinois Secretary of State offers the following tips for operating a vehicle in the fog:

- Slow down.
- Do not use cruise control.
- If you see headlights or tail lights, slow down even more. A driver may be driving in the center of the roadway or may be stopped or barely moving.
- Dim your headlights or use fog lights.
- Do not "overdrive" your headlights.
- You may not see the vehicle in front of you and you may have to stop suddenly.
- If the fog is too dense to safely operate your motor vehicle, pull off the roadway and stop.
- Brake early when you approach a stop to warn other drivers that you are in front of them.

A semi trailer crashed into the rear of a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus this afternoon injuring at least twelve people aboard the bus. The incident occurred at Loomis Street and Cermak Road in the west side of Chicago. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Unfortunately, there were a number of other serious car accidents around Chicagoland this weekend. Eleven people were taken to the hospital after a two-car crash on the southside. In another tragic incident, four women were killed when their vehicle crashed into a tree in Englewood.

The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll is a Chicago-based law firm focused on transportation negligence cases. We represent individuals and families who have been the victim of truck, bus and automobile crashes. Our attorneys have seen firsthand the tragic outcome of serious car crashes and remind drivers that March is National Collision Awareness Month. Contact us today at (312)676-7222 if you or a loved one have been injured due to someone else's negligence.

In observance of National Collision Awareness Month, School Transportation News featured attorney Jeffrey J. Kroll in an article promoting safe driving tips. The article (which can be read in its entirety here), provides the following simple safety recommendations:

• Eliminate distractions while driving. Focus on the road, not the backseat or that hot cup of coffee, when you are behind the wheel.
• Don't multitask while driving. Never text or email. Also, refrain from adjusting the radio, applying makeup or snacking. Taking your eyes off the road, even for a second, can create a lifetime of loss.
• Keep your vehicle clean. Keep the area near your accelerator and brakes free from debris.
• Don't ever drive impaired. Call a friend, take a taxi, or use public transportation if you feel you are unable to drive for any reason.
• Drive with your headlights on, even during the day.

The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll encourages all drivers to take the time this month to evaluate their driving practices in an effort to make our roads safer.

A recent study performed by researchers at MD Cancer Center in Houston found that preventive mastectomy is more than what is needed for most women diagnosed with breast cancer. The study did find, however, that survival rates increased with preventive mastectomy for a specific subset of breast cancer patients, as TIME magazine reports. Women under age 50, who had early stage cancer (stage I or II) and tumors that were negative for the estrogen receptor saw an increase in their chances of surviving to five years. Less than 10% of women fit this criteria, and the increase, 4.8%, was small as compared with women who did not have preventive mastectomy. Most women, of the 107,000 involved in the study, did not obtain a survival benefit from having the unaffected breast removed.

The results of the study will help women diagnosed with breast cancer to make a more informed decision when faced with the difficult options concerning whether to undergo a mastectomy not only to remove a cancerous breast, but also the other, unaffected breast as a preventive measure. Cancer detected in one breast has a tendency to spread to the other breast and studies have documented the the reduction in recurrence of cancer when both breasts are removed. This study is the first to connect this decision with the chances of survival.

Historically, teenage boys have a reputation for driving more dangerously than teenage girls. However, a new insurance industry study reveals that teenage girls may be closing the gap.

The Allstate Foundation, which is part of Allstate Corp., released a study reporting that teenage girls admit to speeding, texting and active aggressively behind the wheel more often than their male counterparts.

Distracted driving is a serious concern on the roadway. Drivers of all ages could easily be distracted if they are sending a text message or not giving their full attention to the road ahead. Teens are just learning how to drive and should be focusing on driving. It is simply not worth the risk of killing yourself or others. Please put your cell phone away until you arrive at your destination.

On February 23, 2010, a female pedestrian was killed on Chicago's South Side in a hit-and-run accident. The incident occurred at 69th and Halsted. A man has now been charged for his involvement in this incident. Police were able to review video surveillance footage from the area, including red light camera footage.

There is debate regarding whether the red light cameras are effective at reducing accidents. Some data shows that the cameras actually increase the number of accidents at intersections because drivers may slam on their brakes to avoid entering the intersection. The State Senate will debate a bill this week banning red light cameras, except for in construction sites and railroad crossings. Perhaps if the red light cameras are banned, surveillance cameras should be installed in their stead to identify hit-and-run drivers and other criminal activity. It is satisfying to know that the man involved in the hit-and-run has been identified and charged.

A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that health-care associated infections, such as pneumonia and sepsis affect 1.7 million hospital patients each year. Nearly 50,000 of those patients die as a result. The researchers of the study, focusing on infections acquired by those patients undergoing elective surgeries, estimated that these infections result in longer hospital stays and cost more than 8 billion each year.

Hospital-acquired infections are typically infections that do not originate from a patient's original admitting diagnosis. Within hours after admission to a hospital, a patient is exposed to the bacteria living in the hospital. As with the prevention of the spread of the common cold and the flu, proper hand-washing and glove-wearing are the two most critical deterrents to spreading hospital-acquired infections. Regardless of whether you are a caregiver in a hospital or just a visitor, it is important to always properly wash your hands. The CDC provides the following guidelines for proper hand-washing:

• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
• Always use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

Continue reading "HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS STUDIED" »

There are few things more private than your medical records. Those in the medical field, including hospitals, doctors, dentists and even insurance companies have a duty to protect your confidential medical information. With the trend towards computerizing medical records for efficiency purposes, also comes the ability of thieves and hackers to get at such sensitive information. Currently, in the event of a breach, the keeper of medical records must notify the federal government, but only if that breach affects over 500 patients.

The recent federal stimulus bill passed by the Senate in early February 2010 intends to make billions of dollars available for the computerization of medical files. As with any initiative involving confidential information, the fear exists that such information will end up in the wrong hands or be used for the wrong purposes. Although computerized records can assist in a patient's ability to receive more comprehensive medical care, computerized records are more susceptible to theft. As a patient, you should inquire with your health care providers about how they are maintaining and storing your medical information. You should always be asked to sign a consent form that conforms with HIPAA Privacy Rules before any medical provider shares your information.

A recent Senate Finance Committee report revealed that the diabetes drug, Avandia, is linked with tens of thousands of heart attacks across the U.S. as reported by CNN. According to the report, the manufacturer of the drug, GlaxoSmithKline, knew of the risks associated with the drug for years but worked to keep them from the public. The Senate report was developed over the past two years by investigators who reviewed hundreds of thousands of documents provided by GlaxoSmithKline, the FDA and several research institutes, in addition to conducting numerous interviews. The investigation stems from concerns that Avandia and other high-profile drugs put "public safety at risk because the FDA has been too cozy with drug makers and has been regularly outmaneuvered by companies that have a financial interest in downplaying or under-exploring potential safety risks," the report states. According to the Senate report: • FDA scientists estimated in July 2007 that Avandia was associated with approximately 83,000 heart attacks since it was put on the market. • GlaxoSmithKline undertook attempts to undermine information critical of Avandia, including the attempted intimidation of independent physicians by GSK executives and the development of strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk. The Senate report does not address the issue of whether Avandia should be removed from the market.