Chicago Personal Injury Blog

Do your research before choosing a nursing home

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

Nursing homes are supposed to be places where the most vulnerable can receive care. Unfortunately, due to low staffing numbers, negligence, violence and other negativity, nursing homes now have a bad reputation for not caring well for patients.

As someone who is in a nursing home or who may be looking to placing a loved one in a nursing home, knowing who to trust is key. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to get to know a nursing home before you choose it so that you have a better chance of choosing a safe, respectful facility.

Why should you report nursing home abuse or neglect?

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. posted in Serious injuries and wrongful death on Friday, January 11, 2019.

When you place your loved one in a nursing home, the last thing you would expect is to find out that they've passed away suddenly. You may have many questions about what happened and why, especially if they were not ill or in poor physical shape.

Wrongful deaths do take place in nursing homes as a result of abuse and neglect. For example, if a medical provider fails to give your loved one certain medications, then their medical conditions could go untreated and lead to serious consequences. Similarly, failing to guarantee that the person is drinking enough water or eating each day can lead to malnutrition, dehydration and potentially death.

Protect your loved one in a nursing home: Know your rights

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. posted in Nursing Home Abuse on Friday, January 4, 2019.

Nursing home abuse takes place across the United States. Sadly, people often don't know that their loved ones are being hurt or are being taken advantage of until it's too late to do anything about it.

The good news for families of those who have been injured, lost their lives or been taken advantage of is that there are legal remedies available. There is no reason to allow a nursing home to get away with a lower standard of care than is legally acceptable.

Who's liable for a parking lot crash?

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. posted in Premises Liability on Friday, December 28, 2018.

If you've ever traveled to a mall, doctor's appointment or other location, then you know that you have to park your vehicle and leave it in the lot. The unfortunate reality is that doing so opens your vehicle up to being hit.

It might be hit when you're not inside, or it could be impacted as you try to back out or travel down the lane. In those cases, do you know who is liable? It's important to know the laws, so the right people are held accountable.

What is a crumple zone?

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. posted in Motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

The force of a car crash is so significant that it can't be understated. The angle of impact, along with other factors, does impact how seriously you'll be hurt, if at all. Of course, in all accidents, it's your right to hold the other person responsible, but the first goal is to survive.

All vehicles have a section known as the "crumple zone." This is an important technology built into vehicles that helps reduce the force in a collision. Without a crumple zone, it's likely that more people would be hurt or killed in crashes due to greater forces colliding in a car crash.

Damages: Nursing home cases and financial awards

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.

If your loved one is injured in a nursing home, then you have a few options as far as recouping the costs of medical treatment and other losses.

If you decide to make a complaint against the nursing home, your attorney will help you collect all the evidence for your case as well as any documentation that shows the losses that have been suffered as a result of the nursing home's conduct.

Illinois motor vehicle accidents can also injure bicyclists

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. posted in Motor vehicle accidents on Friday, December 14, 2018.

As Chicago has grown to become one of the busiest metropolises in America, residents have embraced many forms of transportation. Bicycles are affordable, good for the environment and do not require fuel other than your own energy. This makes bicycles an excellent option for those who no longer wish to fight traffic.

If you have ever wondered what would happen if a large, motorized vehicle collided with your bicycle, you are probably a biking enthusiast. Unfortunately, bicyclists are just as much at risk of suffering injuries in a motor vehicle accident as other motorists are. In truth, cyclists may suffer extremely serious injuries in a collision with a motor vehicle. Examples of such injuries could include:

Traumatic brain injury
Head, neck and spinal injuries
Serious broken or crushed bones
Internal injuries
Facial trauma
Damage to the eyes
Severe road rash

How the government hopes to curb exhausted commercial driving

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. on Monday, December 10, 2018.

Just about any time you drive on the highway, you are likely to encounter at least one commercial truck. These much longer and taller big rigs that transport goods and materials from one location to another pose significant danger to the occupants of passenger vehicles if the two collide.

The demanding nature of commercial driving often lends itself to poor decision-making for drivers, such as when drivers remain behind the wheel when they are exhausted. There are federal regulations that prevent fatigued commercial driving, and the government has the ability to monitor compliance through electronic logging devices (ELDs).

Improper or negligent security could lead to an attack

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. posted in Premises Liability on Thursday, December 6, 2018.

If you have ever had to walk through an eerily deserted parking lot or public garage, chances are you have experienced a little anxiety at one time or another. It is a natural response to look over our shoulders when we are alone in a dark place or in a location known for criminal activity. While most of us would prefer to avoid such places altogether, sometimes our daily activities or our living arrangements place us to unsavory locations.

In many situations, people do not suffer an injury or an attack on other people's property. However, sometimes a person's worst fears come true when they find themselves at the mercy of someone with ill intent. You may already know that you can pursue a premises liability claim when injured in an accident outside of your own property. Did you know that you may also be able to do so if you suffered an attack on another party's property instead of a slip and fall or another type of accident?

Compensation for catastrophic injuries considers many factors

On behalf of Mark L. Karno & Associates, L.L.C. posted in Serious injuries and wrongful death on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Catastrophic injuries can be difficult for a person to live with. These often come with considerable pain and changes in what they are able to do. Brain damage and spinal cord injuries are two examples of what will fall under this category.

When the injury was caused by the negligence of another person, you might decide to seek compensation for the financial damages you have to deal with as a result of the accident. This is done by filing a lawsuit in civil court. You have to consider a variety of things to determine the financial value of the claim.