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Facility Fails To Remove Knee Immobilizer Resulting In Stage 4 Pressure Wound At The Village At Victory Lakes

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IDPH has cited and fined The Village At Victory Lakes when the facility failed to periodically remove and check for pressure wounds underneath a resident’s knee immobilizer, resulting in a serious stage 4 wound.

The resident in question was admitted to the nursing facility after breaking her right hip and having surgery. She had other health conditions like diabetes and a history of falls that already put her at risk for developing painful pressure sores.

When the resident was admitted, staff created a care plan that identified her as being at risk for skin breakdown. However, the care plan failed to address potential issues from the rigid knee immobilizer she had to wear at all times to protect her surgically-repaired hip.

Over the next few weeks, the hard plastic backing of the immobilizer was in constant contact with the resident’s skin. Even though she complained of discomfort, staff failed to check under the immobilizer because the doctor’s orders said it was to stay on at all times.

Staff discovered a large, serious pressure wound on the back of the resident’s lower right leg. From the wound location and size, they realized it was caused by the immobilizer pressing against her skin. The wound continued to worsen over the next two months.

Nursing experts who cared for the resident stated that with immobilizer orders, staff have a duty to periodically remove or adjust it and check underneath – otherwise it can rub and put too much pressure on the skin and cause injuries. Even slight movements can shift an immobilizer and create skin friction.

In this resident’s case, closer oversight and wound prevention were needed to protect her from harm related to the medical device pressing on already vulnerable skin. The nursing facility did not take these appropriate precautions as required. Sadly, the open sores resulted in significant pain, risk of infection, and reduced mobility to this elderly resident.

One of our core beliefs is that nursing homes are built to fail due to the business model they follow and that unnecessary accidental injuries and wrongful deaths of nursing home residents such as this one are the inevitable result. Order our FREE report, Built to Fail, to learn more about why. Our experienced Chicago nursing home lawyers are ready to help you understand what happened, why, and what your rights are. Contact us to get the help you need.

Mattoon Rehab resident dies from infected bed sore

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IDPH has cited and fined Mattoon Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center nursing home after a resident there died due to a bed sore that developed in the nursing home and became infected due to poor care.

“Bed sores” are the commonly used term for pressure ulcers, which are breakdowns in the skin which can lead to infections and other serious negative health consequences.  There are specific federal regulations which address the development and care of bed sores, so they are a source of intense focus in the long-term care industry.

There are actually two separate federal regulations which address the topic of bed sores.  The first relates to what is required when a resident is admitted to a nursing home without bed sores.  This provides in essence that a resident should receive care necessary to prevent the development of pressure ulcers unless the clinical condition of the resident demonstrates that they were unavoidable – which is a very high standard to meet.  The second addresses what happens after a resident has a bed sore.  In essence it provides that a resident must be provided care, treatment, and services necessary to promote healing, prevent infection, and prevent the development of new bed sores.

There are a number of factors which place a resident at risk for developing bed sores.  The most common are immobility, incontinence, and poor nutritional status.  There are other factors as well, and these are wrapped into an assessment tool known as the Braden Scale, which measures the resident’s risk of developing bed sores.

When this resident was admitted to the nursing home, she did not have a skin breakdown on her sacral area and was assessed as being at moderate risk for skin breakdown.  The citation does not describe a care plan having been created to address the resident’s risk of developing bed sores.  Since the resident was at risk, there should have been one created.  Some of the common steps would have included a turning and repositioning schedule to relieve pressure on the resident’s skin.  It should have also included a plan for prompt incontinence care as the chemicals in urine and feces as well as the associated moisture contribute to the breakdown of the skin.  These steps were necessary because the resident was dependent on the staff for bed mobility and toileting.

The resident’s record reflected that during 31 days she was in the nursing home, she was toileted two or more times on only 12 days. During the first three weeks the resident was in the facility, she was only bathed twice.  This lack of incontinence care means that the resident’s skin was being subject to breakdown from urine and feces. This was consistent with the observations of the family who told later treating health care professionals that the resident was often soaked in urine.

Nine days after admission, the resident was first identified as having a skin breakdown.  When a skin breakdown occurs in a nursing home resident, this is a change in condition requiring physician notification.  The purpose of notifying the doctor is to allow the doctor to either issue treatment orders over the phone, come in to see the resident, or have the resident sent to the hospital.  Beyond this, the wound must be described in the medical record, including the size and depth of the wound as well as its other characteristics.  This allows the care team to determine whether the wound is getting better or worse and whether the treatment being provided is effective or not.  It also should have triggered either the development of a care plan for pressure ulcers or a revision in the existing one, if there was one.

Even though these are basic, well-established first steps, neither were taken when the resident first showed signs of skin breakdown.  In fact neither of these steps were taken for another two weeks.  When the physician was notified, he gave orders for care and for consultation with the wound care physician.  However, that consultation was never obtained.  When there was finally a description of the wound in the chart, it was described as being 8.2 cm x 5.5 cm with 80% covered in slough (soft, dead tissue).  It was further noted that the pressure ulcer was acquired in-house.

Five days later, the resident’s chart showed that there a foul-smelling discharge coming from the wound.  This is a sign of infection.  A call was placed to the physician who ordered an antibiotic.  Later that same day, the resident fell from her wheelchair.  She had complaints of pain, so she was sent to the emergency room.

The emergency room staff recognized that the wound was in poor condition and had a surgical consult done in the emergency room.  These resident was brought into surgery two days later where the surgeon described the wound as being 21 cm x 10 cm (8×4 inches) with exposure of the periosteum (the layer of nerves and blood on the outer layer of the bone).  

Given the severity of the wound combined with urinary and stool incontinence, the surgeon recommended that the resident be placed on hospice.  She died five days later.  Cause of death was a Stage IV decubitus ulcer (pressure ulcer).

There are a number of failure in the care of this resident which led to her death:

  1.  There was a failure to provide routine preventative care, including turning and repositioning and prompt incontinence care.  If there was a care plan (and the citation in silent on that issue), these are steps which should have been included and carried out.  If there was no care plan, that is a separate failure.
  2. Once the bed sore developed, there was a delay in excess of two weeks in notifying the physician.  This resulted in the resident not receiving treatments over that period.  
  3. The development of the bed sore should have triggered either the development of a care plan or revision of one.  Clearly whatever steps were being taken was not sufficient to prevent the breakdown of this resident’s skin, so a new course of action was required.
  4. The consultation with the wound care physician was not obtained.
  5. The condition of the wound was not being tracked by the facility staff.  This wound deteriorated rapidly, but there were only two time that the condition of the wound was documented – when the first set of measurements were taken and when there was foul discharge from the wound.

There are likely a long list of other failures.  The sad fact about bed sores is that these are injuries which do not occur in a flash moment of time such as with a nursing home fall or a choking accident.  Rather these were failures that spread across multiple days, multiple shifts, multiple staff members.

These systemic failures are often a sign of an understaffed nursing home.  Sadly, that is a basic part of the nursing home business model.  One of our core beliefs is that nursing homes are built to fail due to the business model they follow and that unnecessary accidental injuries and wrongful deaths of nursing home residents are the inevitable result.  Order our FREE report, Built to Fail, to learn more about why.  Our experienced Chicago nursing home lawyers are ready to help you understand what happened, why, and what your rights are.  Contact us to get the help you need.

Other blog posts of interest:

Newman Rehab resident suffers burns to leg from hot radiator

Dehydration leads to hospitalization for resident at Mattoon Rehab

Resident at Bridge Care Suites dies from infected bed sore

Staff at Hilltop Skilled Nursing fails to follow orders, Stage 4 bed sore results

Click here to file a complaint about a nursing home with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Elmiron and pigmentary maculopathy

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Our office has recently begun accepting cases where people have suffered eye or vision damage due to a condition called pigmentary maculopthy due to taking the prescription drug Elmiron to treat interstitial cystitis.

Our early investigation has shown that the manufacturer was aware that this drug was producing eye problems while it was being developed and that there were adverse event reports submitted to the FDA concerning this issue shortly after the drug was released in the marketplace.

Most alarmingly, there are no warnings on the label for this drug and no precautions or contraindications for its use in the United States even though Canadian authorities have been requiring a warning.

Our office stands ready to assist users of Elmiron recover the compensation they deserve.  Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation if you have any concerns about whether the use of Elmiron has caused injury or damage to your eyes or vision.

One Thing a Lawyer Can Never Tell You During an Initial Phone Call …

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Let’s pretend for a minute that you have decided to hire a lawyer and are talking to a few on the phone to decide who you might feel comfortable with, and one of them tells you that he knows your case is “worth” a certain amount of money …. and that number is one which kind of excites you – because it is more than you ever thought you ever get.

Here is my advice to you: if you have a lawyer telling you during an initial phone call that he knows what your case is worth, you should run as fast as your legs will carry you in the other direction.

Trying to evaluate a case for settlement is probably the biggest job a lawyer does.  There are a ton of variables that go into it, from your Average Weekly Wage, to the exact diagnosis you have, the kind of medical care which you received, the extent of your recovery, any issues regarding whether you accident was actually covered, and so on and so and so on ….

It isn’t a job which can be done talking to someone over the phone during an initial phone call – not if the job is being done right.

If a lawyer is trying to tell you what a case is worth over the phone during an initial phone call one of two things is likely true.  One is that he is doing a sales job on you – telling you what he thinks you want to hear to get you to hire him as a client even if he can’t deliver on the promises he is making on the phone.  The other is that he just doesn’t know what is going talking about. 

Neither one is good for you, and you should steer clear of a lawyer like that.

If you have a current worker’s compensation issue which you need help on, please feel free call us at 312-263-1080 to discuss your issues and what options you have.  There is no obligation to hire our law firm, and there is no charge for the call.

I hope this has been helpful, and if you know anyone who can benefit from this kind of information, please feel free to share this information.

We are here to help truck drivers after an on-the-job accident.  Knowledge is power, and the first step in protecting your rights is to know what they are.

Stay safe!

With some car accidents, there is more than meets the eye

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Not every car accident case requires the help of a lawyer.  That has to sound like a strange sentiment coming from a Chicago personal injury lawyer, but in some cases, particularly those with less serious injuries, someone who is hurt in a car wreck can come out further ahead from a financial point of view by dealing directly with the insurance company.  However, in cases where there are more severe injuries such as fractures, herniated discs, or brain injuries, or worse, wrongful death, the car accident victim risks missing important sources of potential compensation.One important possibility that has to be examined in any serious car accident case is the possibility that the at-fault driver was doing something work-related at the time of the accident.  The law holds employers responsible for the negligent acts of their employees, and this includes negligent operation of a motor vehicle.  There have been several times where our investigation has shown that the at-fault driver was doing something work-related at the time of the car accident, and as a result, we were able to obtain compensation for our client through the large commercial insurance policies covering the employers, instead of being limited to the personal auto policies covering the at-fault drivers.  For example:

  • Our client was in a serious car accident at O’Hare Airport and ultimately needed a knee replacement and a hip replacement.  The at-fault driver was a bank executive who was going to O’Hare to pick up a superior for a business meeting.  Since that was part of his job duties when he had the car accident, the bank was also legally responsible for his unsafe driving.
  • In a Chicago car-pedestrian accident, our client was crossing the street in her wheelchair when she was hit by a car and sustained several fractures.  The driver of the car was a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company who was making a sales call to a doctor’s office when the pedestrian crosswalk accident happened, it was also liable for our client’s injuries.

In each of these car accident cases, our investigation showed that there were other potentially liable defendants who could be held responsible for the serious injuries our client sustained.  Our clients benefitted greatly by hiring a lawyer because but for our investigation, they otherwise would not have known that there other sources of compensation available to them.  Not every case needs a lawyer, but people suffering serious injuries in a car accident will certainly benefit from hiring an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer to make sure that all avenues of compensation are exhausted.

When a Car Accident in Illinois Results in Back Surgery

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If you have suffered a back injury as a result of someone else’s negligence or carelessness in a car accident in Illinois, a Chicago car accident attorney can provide guidance on how best to protect your legal rights.When a back injury cannot be treated with non-surgical methods, it may become necessary to undergo back surgery.

Back surgery is extremely costly and is often followed up with expensive physical therapy or rehabilitation. In addition, during recovery an individual may be unable to work, which will result in lost wages. Through an Illinois personal injury claim you may be entitled to receive compensation for your expensive back surgery, including any follow-up treatment and your lost income. There may be additional compensation available that is related to your back injury such as pain and suffering, disability and emotional distress.

Since back surgery is not always an immediate option, the insurance company for the party who was at fault in your car accident in Illinois, may try to argue that it is unrelated. Doctors who work for the insurance company may attempt to prove that your back surgery has to do with a pre-existing condition.This is why it’s vital you have the help of a Chicago car accident attorney when back surgery becomes necessary after a crash, so that you understand what your legal options are.

When to Hire a Chicago Car Accident Attorney

A Chicago car accident attorney at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in an Illinois personal injury claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

When an Accident in Illinois Leads to PTSD

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When an accident in Illinois leads to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you may be wondering if you have any legal right to recovery for that specific injury. An Aurora personal injury lawyer understands you may be suffering not only bodily injuries but also face emotional injuries as a result of a serious accident in Illinois.

PTSD is a condition that can dramatically affect an individual’s ability to function on a daily basis. It can interfere with every aspect of life and become debilitating.While most victims of an accident in Illinois will experience anxiety or other types of worries, an individual with PTSD experiences far more.

PTSD can bring on irrational fears, avoidance of stimuli related to the accident, an inability to stop thinking about the accident or even cause behavioral changes such as irritability or anger. As a result, the victim of the accident in Illinois may need to seek additional therapy, which can be costly. Not only is the victim dealing with medical costs related to physical injuries, but also may be facing additional expenses.These expenses may be recovered if an accident in Illinois was the result of someone else’s negligence and resulted in PTSD. An Aurora personal injury lawyer can help determine what types of damages may be recovered in a claim.

When to Hire an Aurora Personal Injury Lawyer

An Aurora personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in a personal injury claim in Illinois, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

When an IVC Filter Injury May Require an Illinois Product Liability Claim

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Bard IVC Filters are sometimes implanted into patients who are at risk of a pulmonary embolism. While there has not been a recall on this potentially dangerous medical device, there have been growing concerns about the potential hazard of pieces of the device fracturing. These pieces can end up puncturing or perforating a vital organ. Patients are then exposed to other risks such as infection and internal bleeding.

There have also been circumstances where parts of the IVC filter have detached or moved. This could lead to an Illinois product liability claim if you have suffered serious injuries from a defective IVC filter.Proving this type of claim can be complicated as you’ll need a variety of evidence that proves not only what went wrong with the medical device, but how those defects have injured you. There also may be more than 1 party responsible in a product liability claim, which can further complicate the matter.  Injuries from the Bard IVC filters can be life-threatening and even fatal. Contact a Chicago product liability attorney if you have suffered adverse effects from this medical device. You may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries, including current and future medical care related to the injury as well as lost wages from work and your pain and suffering.

When to Hire a Chicago Product Liability Lawyer

A Chicago product liability lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in an Illinois dangerous medical device claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

Who benefits from survival action damages?

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The two parts of a wrongful death lawsuit, survival action and wrongful death action, have many differences. The most notable of the differences is who is eligible to receive the benefits once the case is settled. In the case of survival action, the estate of the deceased will receive the settlement amount.The reasoning behind the estate being the beneficiary of the settlement for the survival action is because of the fact that the damages were against the victim before they passed away. Survival action damages include the suffering before death, disability, loss of wages, and medical expenses from the accident and subsequent medical care. In a severe injury case that does not result in death, these are the normal damages one would seek in compensation for the accident through a personal injury claim. Because the injured party is deceased, these damages are paid to their estate. The damages would then be distributed according to the provisions of the will, if one is present.Just as in any other estate, a provision in the Probate Code controls what happens to the assets of the deceased if there is no will present. These matters are separate from a wrongful death lawsuit, but may still impact the distribution of the settlement.There is a lot more to know with regard to the impact a survival action has on your wrongful death claim. Knowing the differences between survival action and wrongful death action is important when claiming damages. You shouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of a wrongful death claim alone. Let an experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer at The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. help you compile your case and take it to court. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. 312-263-1080.

Who benefits from wrongful death action damages?

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Every wrongful death lawsuit will have damages with regard to the wrongful death action. These damages are the basic foundation of the lawsuit’s purpose and intend to compensate the family of the deceased for the loss of their loved one.In your wrongful death case you are entitled to seek damages for the loss of society, which is the social difficulties you will face now that the member of your family is no longer with you. Another loss you can seek damages for is the loss of financial support, especially important if the loved one was a head of household whose income was integral to the support of the family.Grief is an emotional aspect of losing a loved one and you are also able to seek damages related to this factor. Periods of mourning are typical with the unexpected loss of a loved one and they may affect your ability to work and enjoy life for quite some time. Grief damages seek to compensate for this.All of these damages are paid to the next of kin in a wrongful death action, rather than the estate as with survival action. This is because these damages relate to the absence of the deceased in the lives of the next of kin, therefore they are the ones to benefit from this portion of the settlement.There is a lot more to know in regarding the impact a wrongful death action has on your wrongful death settlement distribution. Knowing the differences between survival action and wrongful death action is important when claiming damages. You shouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of a wrongful death claim alone. Let an experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer at The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. help you compile your case and take it to court. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. 312-263-1080.

Who Files an Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

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When a person is the victim of a wrongful death, their surviving family will generally want to file an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages for their unexpected loss. In most cases, the person (known as the administrator of the estate) who files the lawsuit and acts on behalf of the deceased will be the surviving spouse.If there is no spouse, or the spouse is not able, next in line would be the children, if of appropriate age. Next would be the parents of the deceased. In some cases, the responsibility of administrator would fall to the deceased’s siblings or aunt/uncle. In the event no family was present, the court may entertain other related parties such as roommates or girlfriends/boyfriends if the circumstances warranted it so.The best determination of who holds power of administrator of estate is when it is set forth in the will of the deceased. This documentation is especially useful when family members fight over the rights to the appointment, or if the deceased has no family to rely on. In the will, a non-human entity such as a bank or trust company may be named as administrator. There’s a lot more to learn about eligibility to file an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit and what the process entails. Our article touches on the basics, but for more comprehensive help, you should consult with an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer. When handling any sort of trial procedures, it’s best to have the advice and guidance of someone who has been through the Illinois wrongful death lawsuit process before. A Chicago wrongful death attorney from The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. is available to help you through your claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation. (312) 263-1080

Who is at fault for my slip and fall injury?

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Determining fault in a slip and fall injury is not a simple task. To do so, a court will ask questions such as: 

  • Did a dangerous condition on someone else’s property contribute to your personal injury?
  • Does the property owner safely and regularly maintain the premises?
  • Did a poorly placed object create a dangerous condition?
  • Could some sort of warning have been given to prevent the slip and fall? 

You and your lawyer will need to prove that the answers to those questions are “Yes” if you are going to recover compensation. But there is also a chance that you may be the one who is found to have been at fault. For instance, if: 

  • You did not have a legitimate reason to be in the dangerous area;
  • You did not act carefully or responsibly; or
  • You ignored warnings that there was a dangerous condition. 

Then a court may determine that you were the one who caused the slip and fall. And in some cases, a court may determine that both parties were partially responsible. In these cases, which are known as “comparative negligence”, you may receive a percentage of damages that correlate to your degree fault.If you have recently been injured in a slip and fall, you may want to know whether you can receive financial compensation. To learn more you can read our article Proving Fault in Slip & Fall Accidents. Hiring a Chicago Slip and Fall LawyerAfter a serious slip and fall accident, you should be able to recover from your injuries without worrying about court documents and filing paperwork. While you adjust to life after your injury, you can take comfort in knowing you don’t have to handle an Illinois personal injury lawsuit alone.When you have the help of a trusted Chicago slip and fall lawyer from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. you’ll get expert legal advice and guidance concerning your long term needs. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080

Will My Dog Bite Leave A Scar?

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If you have been bitten by a dog, and the wounds are deep and bled, then it is likely that that bite will leave a scar. These scars may fade with time or they may be permanent, disfiguring and/or painful. Some wounds may even produce keloid scars, which is when scar tissue grows out of control and ends up raised above the skin.While small scars may fade away over time, others may never go away. But there are various treatments to reduce scars after a dog bite. These treatments include: 

  • Dermabrasion, which entails sanding down the scar
  • Pressure scar modification
  • Surgical excursion of the scar
  •  Make-up to cover up the scarred area 

If the dog bite was unprovoked, and you were acting within the law at the time of the attack, then the dog’s owner may be held liable for your damages. To find out if you are eligible for compensation in a Chicago dog bite claim, you can get the professional advice of a Chicago dog bite lawyer.You can learn more about common types of dog injuries by visiting our article library. Hiring an Chicago Dog Bite LawyerYou should be able to recover from your injuries without worrying about court documents and filing paperwork. While you adjust to life after your injuries, you can take comfort in knowing you don’t have to handle an injury alone.When you have the help of a trusted Chicago dog bite lawyer from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. you’ll get expert legal advice and guidance concerning your long term needs. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

What Qualifies As Wrongful Death?

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If you have experienced the death of a loved one as the result of a reckless and preventable accident, you may be wondering if a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed against those responsible. What qualifies an accident as a “wrongful death” is when a person’s death was the direct result of someone else’s negligence or other improper conduct.In a wrongful death lawsuit the negligent party or entity would be sued for damages, which would then be awarded to the victim’s next of kin.  These damages are awarded in order to compensate the victim’s family for their loss and to deter others from acting in such a way that it would result in someone’s death.There are 4 factors taken into account for a wrongful death lawsuit:

  • The death must have been the result of a defendant’s conduct, whether in part or whole;
  • The defendant must have been either negligent or liable for the death;
  • There must be surviving members, such as a spouse or children, or other beneficiaries; and
  • There must be monetary damages that are a result of the loved one’s death.

To learn more about how to file a wrongful death lawsuit, visit our article library. If you have lost a loved one and believe that you have a wrongful death case, contact a Chicago wrongful death lawyer who will help you determine negligence.

Hiring a Chicago Wrongful Death Lawyer

A Chicago wrongful death lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can talk to you about the types of compensation that you and your family might be entitled to after the loss of a loved one. If you are coping with the loss of a spouse or family member after an Illinois accident, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080

What to Do About Motorcycle Defects?

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A motorcycle accident in Chicago can be very dangerous, which means precautions should be taken to decrease or completely avoid the risks. However, part of your duty as a motorist, is to perform regular maintenance checks on your motorcycle to make sure it is in good shape and free of defects. Sometimes, a motorcycle defect may be related to the manufacturer’s design. In this case, the manufacturer may be completely responsible for repairing, replacing or refunding your money.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle manufacturers are required to notify the public of recall through appropriate means, and solve the problem at no cost to motorcycle owners.There are grave risks of riding defective motorcycles, which include bodily injuries, injuries to other motorists, and damages to your motorcycle. Common defective parts on motorcycles include: 

  • handle bar;
  • rear tire;  and
  • fuel tanks.  

Depending on the defective part of the motorcycle, instability, wobbling or even a fire may begin while riding. If you have sustained injuries as a result of riding a defective motorcycle, the manufacturer may be sued in a personal injury lawsuit.It is important that you report all defects to your local dealer, the manufacturer’s main office, or the NHTSA in order to prevent motorcycle accidents in Chicago. The NHTSA has a system in place to conduct investigations of motorcycle defect reports, and the administration will order the manufacturer to schedule a recall when a defect is confirmed. Visit our article library to learn more about motorcycle manufacturer defects. Injuries that result from motorcycle accidents are often more severe than automobile accidents. If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident due to manufacturer’s defects, then a Chicago personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you with your case. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080.

What to Do at the Scene of an Illinois Car Accident

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If you’ve just been injured in a car accident in Illinois, your first priority is to ensure everyone’s safety. Everyone should be out of the line of traffic and away from the vehicles, especially if gasoline is present. You should not move any of the vehicles unless it is safe to do so and the position of the vehicle is posing a hazard to other drivers.A call to police should be your next step, as medical treatment is likely necessary and you will want a police report generated to document your accident. Illinois state laws require you to report any car accident resulting in personal injury or death. This is not only for your own personal benefit, but also to create an important piece of documentation that will aid in building your car accident claim.If your injuries aren’t severe and you are able to function safely at the scene, you should take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and any surrounding property, making notes of the condition of the road (heavy traffic, debris, slippery, etc.). Hopefully, any witnesses to your car accident have also stopped and you can obtain their names and contact information for further evidence.You can gather a lot of critical information for your Illinois personal injury claim from the first few minutes following a car accident. What you do with this information afterwards is what can make or break your insurance claim. Read our article on the first steps after your car accident for more information.Contact an Illinois personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. for more complete information about building a successful personal injury claim after a car accident in Illinois. – (312) 263-0153

What to do if You Suspect Medical Malpractice

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If you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice in Chicago, you have the right to seek compensation. Sometimes a gynecologist’s mistake is very obvious and manifests immediately, while in other instances it takes time to surface.If you’re suffering and suspect it is from a gynecologist mistake, you should research your condition and the treatments you received. This will give you an idea of the usual course of treatment for your condition, and the normal side effects.If your research indicates you’re suffering because of a gynecologist mistake, you should gather evidence to that effect. You have a right to receive a copy of your medical file from your healthcare practitioner. It will contain all the details of your condition and the treatment you received. This will help prove whether your illness or injury resulted from a gynecologist mistake. While you may be angry with your OB/GYN, you should first get the immediate medical help you need to correct the error, and then seek the counsel of a Chicago medical malpractice attorney. It’s essential to take legal action as soon as possible following a gynecologist mistake. A Chicago medical malpractice attorney can make sure that you file your Chicago medical malpractice claim within Illinois statute of limitations, and can make it easier to prove your case. Contacting a Medical Malpractice AttorneyMedical malpractice can have serious and long-lasting effects on your life. You need someone who will listen, understand and give you valuable legal support. At the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your case, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full compensation due you for any injuries or loss suffered as a result of a doctor’s error. Contact us today for a no-cost case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

What to Expect When Seeking Treatment for Your Facial Injury

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If an Illinois accident has left you with a serious facial injury, you may require surgical treatment. While minor cuts to the face can be treated with topical creams and bandages, serious injuries to the face may require stitches or even surgery.Surgery for a facial injury can be uncomfortable and painful. The treatment and recovery process may be lengthy, depending on the extent of damage to the face. Once the surgery has been performed, patients are given a list of instructions, which will include the proper way to care for the incisions.With any incision, there is the risk for infection, so patients may also be put on antibiotics as part of their treatment. After surgery, the injury site may appear more traumatized than before the procedure was done. Eventually, the incision marks will fade. In some cases, though, you may have permanent scarring or disfigurement.The days following surgery will be important in your recovery process and there are a few steps you can take to facilitate a smooth recovery, from making sure your face is elevated during sleep to avoiding movements that require you to bend down.While undergoing treatment, you may be wonder if there is any recourse for your suffering. A Chicago personal injury lawyer will evaluate your case to determine if you should file an Illinois personal injury claim.A successful claim may provide you with compensation for your medical treatment, as well as for the pain and emotional turmoil with which you’ve had to deal. Consulting with a Chicago personal injury lawyer should be your next step to protect your legal rights after suffering a serious facial injury in an Illinois accident. When to Hire a Chicago Personal Injury LawyerA Chicago personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in an Illinois personal injury claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

What Underinsured Motorist Coverage Means To You

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While the state of Illinois has set forth minimum limits for car insurance coverage, in the face of serious injury or wrongful death in a car accident, these limits may not be enough to cover the damages and loss you have experienced. In the event the other driver does not carry a high enough car insurance coverage limit, you will need to rely on your own underinsured motorist coverage to make up the difference.The amount you establish for your underinsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy is the limit up to which you can be compensated when the other driver’s insurance limit runs out. The higher your underinsured motorist coverage limit is, the more protection you have against high medical expenses.For example, you are in an accident with a driver whose bodily injury liability coverage was only the minimum $20,000 limit. You sustain injuries totaling $50,000 worth of medical bills and lost wages. You carry underinsured motorist coverage limits of $50,000. The other driver’s insurance would pay the maximum of $20,000 and your own car insurance would pay the excess $30,000.Underinsured motorist coverage claims can be difficult and there’s a lot more to know about underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. Hiring an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the more complicated aspects of car insurance claims. An experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer at The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. is available to help you file your car accident claim and help with recovering compensation for your wage loss, medical bills and more, contact us today for a free case evaluation. (312) 263-1080

What You Should Know Before Hiring a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney

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When you need to seek compensation in an Illinois medical malpractice claim, there are some important things you should know before you decide to hire a Chicago medical malpractice attorney.Having the right attorney can make all the difference in the type and amount of settlement that you receive. When you face serious bodily harm, pain and overwhelming bills, your potential compensation is not something to be taken lightly.The following are just some things you should know before hiring your Chicago medical malpractice attorney: 

  • whether the attorney has knowledge of medical law and medicine in general;
  • whether the attorney has addressed specific medical malpractice issues that relate to your case;
  • the potential worth of your case;
  • the highest settlement amount the attorney has negotiated for a medical malpractice case;
  • how long has the attorney worked in the field of medical malpractice; and
  • how many cases the attorney has won, lost or settled out of court. 

Since an Illinois medical malpractice claim can be complicated, knowing the attorney’s specific experience can be helpful. When you’re looking to hire a Chicago medical malpractice attorney, there are a number of questions to ask that can aid in your decision.

When to Hire a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney

A Chicago medical malpractice attorney at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in a medical malpractice claim in Illinois, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

What Are the Illinois Motorists Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements?

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Illinois motorists are required to have a minimum of insurance coverage. This is in order to protect you and any other victims after an Illinois car accident. If you are injured in an accident, or if you injure someone else, your insurance will cover the medical expenses that were suffered as a result of the accident. It will also cover a limited amount of damage to the vehicles.Illinois minimum insurance requirement are actually very low. State laws call for coverage in the amounts of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident, with $15,000 coverage for property damage. This means that after an accident which you have caused, your insurer may pay up to $20,000 in damages to any one person who was injured in the accident, up to $15,000 for property damage, and a maximum of $40,000 in total.The $40,000 total is regardless of the number of people who were involved in the accident. Therefore, if there were 3 people injured, and your insurance company awards them the maximum amount of damages, then those 3 people will have to split the $40,000 between them.To learn more about the requirements for Illinois minimum insurance coverage and what that means for your accident settlement, you can get the professional help of a Chicago personal injury attorney.If you need to purchase insurance coverage that will protect you in an Illinois car accident, you can visit our article Illinois Motorists Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements to learn more. Getting the advice of a Chicago Personal Injury LawyerIf you have recently been injured in a Chicago car accident and you have questions about your insurance policy, you should contact a professional who can guide you through this often tricky process. When you have the help of a trusted Chicago personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. you’ll get expert legal advice and guidance concerning your long-term needs. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080

What do I do if I’m involved in an indoor slip and fall accident?

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You may be wondering what to do if you are involved in an indoor slip and fall accident. You can read about certain conditions that can lead to an indoor slip and fall accident in our article library. Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents are all too common. Although not all injuries resulting from slip and falls are severe, these types of accidents can lead to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and permanent disability in some victims. If there is an injury to the spinal cord or brain, the resulting injuries can be life changing.Additionally, some slip and fall accidents will have immediate and obvious injuries. Other injuries, including some head injuries and soft tissue damage, may appear days or weeks following the initial fall. You should always seek immediate medical attention to determine what your injuries are after a slip and fall.Besides seeking medical attention, you or a family member should take pictures of the accident site. If you don’t do this immediately, the property owner may get rid of any evidence that indicates their liability which can seriously damage your ability to recover compensation.You will also want to make sure that you report your slip and fall accident. Report the accident to the owner or manager immediately. You can also file a police report concerning your slip and fall accident.If there were any witnesses to your slip and fall, make sure that you get their contact information. They can play an important role in proving liability.While all of these actions are important, consulting with a Chicago personal injury lawyer is another important step. They can help you determine liability, gather critical evidence, and fight for your rights after a slip and fall accident.

Hiring a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney

During this time, recovering from your injuries should be your main focus, not dealing with insurance adjusters and escalating medical bills. Retaining the legal services of a Chicago personal injury attorney can help you focus on getting better while your attorney deals with the insurance companies on your behalf.The Chicago personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. will help you monitor your medical expenses and work toward a settlement to cover all of the treatments you need to get your life back on track. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

What Illinois Patients Need to Know About Common Unnecessary Surgeries

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If you have undergone an unnecessary surgery as a result of medical negligence, your doctor may be held liable through an Illinois medical malpractice claim.A Chicago medical malpractice attorney will take the time to carefully evaluate your case and determine whether there is adequate evidence to prove that your surgery was not needed and that it was the result of a doctor’s medical negligence. Your attorney is also familiar with the several types of surgeries that are performed unnecessarily.The most common types of unnecessary surgery include: 

  • C-sections;
  • hysterectomies;
  • gall bladder surgeries;
  • coronary bypasses;
  • pacemaker implantations;
  • angioplasties;
  • balloon angioplasties;
  • back surgeries; and
  • breast cancer surgeries (because of a false positive).

Women tend to be at a greater risk of unnecessary surgery because of the invasive medical procedures that are geared toward them (such with as c-sections and hysterectomies). No matter who has been the victim of an unnecessary surgery; however, it can result in devastating consequences.When a misdiagnosis or a failure to use other treatment options leads to unnecessary surgery, you may be eligible to pursue compensation through an Illinois medical malpractice claim. Consulting with a Chicago medical malpractice attorney should be your next step to determine your legal options.

When to Hire a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney

A Chicago medical malpractice attorney at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in a medical malpractice claim in Illinois, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

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