In the United States, more deaths result from medical errors than breast cancer or car accidents. Cases of hospital malpractice can result in billions of dollars in healthcare costs.In addition to costing the healthcare industry a lot of money every year, hospital errors can result in devastating consequences for the victims. The most common types of hospital mistakes include: 

• Medication Errors
• Surgical Errors
• Diagnostic Errors
• Patient Errors

Medication errors can result from a prescription that was not clearly written by a doctor or the doctor’s failure to make sure a type of medication doesn’t adversely interact with another medication as well as errors involving the correct dosage of a medication.Surgical errors can happen when a surgeon operates on the wrong person, performs the wrong surgery, or even leaves foreign objects inside the patient after the surgery has ended.Diagnostic errors can result from inadequate equipment, lack of communication between doctor and patient or due to an inexperienced doctor as well. This may result in a failure to correctly diagnose a condition, a delayed diagnosis, or a complete misdiagnosis.Patient errors happen when the wrong patient is treated or neglect is shown in how the patient is treated.Any of these hospital mistakes can cause serious physical injuries to a patient. If you have been injured as a result of hospital negligence, contact a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer who can help determine if you have a valid case for a medical malpractice lawsuit.Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice LawyerAt the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your claim, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you or your loved one for any injuries or loss of life due to medical malpractice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

When a motorcycle collides with another motor vehicle, the lack of a protective barrier can lead to traumatic injuries. Motorcycle accidents are among the most serious types of accidents to be involved in. If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago motorcycle accident, contact a Chicago motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your legal options.There are some common injuries that typically happen in a motorcycle accident. One of the worst kinds of injuries to sustain is a spinal cord injury More than 40% of the spinal cord injuries that happen every year are the result of a motorcycle or car accident.Other common injuries in a motorcycle accident include: 

• Traumatic Brain Injury – Can lead to difficulties with speech, thinking and motor skills
• Fracture Bones – Impact with another vehicle often leads to a broken arm, leg or another part of the body
• Road Rash – Oftentimes are minor, however, if they are not treated it can lead to infection
• Disfigurement – Permanent disfigurement can occur from burns, lacerations and broken bones  

Contacting a Chicago Motorcycle Accident LawyerA motorcycle is usually no match for a larger vehicle. Therefore, most Illinois motorcycle accidents will result in the rider sustaining serious and sometimes fatal injuries.  At the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys will examine all aspects of your accident, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you for any injuries or loss you may have suffered as a result of your motorcycle accident. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

An extravasation injury generally occurs near the site of an intravenous (IV) injection. This can cause bodily fluid to start leaking into the region. While it may in some cases be easily treated, other times an extravasation injury is not detected and diagnosed early enough. Hence, with a long delay of proper treatment, the injury can result in devastating, life-altering injuries or sickness.Failure to diagnose an extravasation injury can cause the following conditions: 

• the need for an additional surgery to correct any complications;
• amputation;
• loss of limb;
• disability; and/or
• disfigurement.  

Similarly, if an extravasation injury is wrongly diagnosed-and the result is a delay in treatment-you may experience psychological and emotional effects, such as extreme pain and suffering. Any form of intravenous (IV) treatment or therapy carries a risk of IV errors, which in turn, can lead to serious injuries such as extravasation. Hiring a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney Pursuing a Chicago medical malpractice claim based on an IV error-or any type of medical negligence, for that matter-is never an easy task. Doctors and hospitals are prepared to aggressively defend against medical malpractice claims, and as such, have employed an arsenal of seasoned legal defense experts.If you believe you have been injured as a result of a medical professional’s negligent actions, you should not be left to face the consequences on your own. An experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your medical malpractice case, assess damages, and help prove negligence. Contact us today at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle for a no cost case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

When it comes to a misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose a medical condition, some are more serious than others. One of the most serious medical conditions that a doctor can fail to diagnose is a heart attack. A failure to diagnose a medical condition can lead to tragic consequences, depending on the condition. Other medical conditions that are missed can result in minor or serious injuries.If you have been the victim of a failure to diagnose a medical condition that has resulted in serious injuries, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim.Here is a list of some of the most common type of medical conditions that a doctor may fail to diagnose: 

• Diabetes;
• Hypertension;
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD);
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases;
• Chlamydia;
• Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD);
• Aneurysm;
• Breast cancer;
• Glaucoma; and
• HIV/AIDS 

In many of these medical conditions, a failure to diagnose can lead to further complications. If you have been injured because of a failure to diagnose, you may be entitled to receive compensation for damages you have incurred as a result of your injuries.Contact a Chicago medical malpractice attorney who can help determine if you have a medical malpractice claim.Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice AttorneyAt the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your claim, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you or your loved one for any injuries or loss of life due to medical malpractice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

One of the more common types of surgical errors to occur is when an object is left inside a patient. It can be shocking for any victim to discover that a surgeon left behind an object inside their body, a phenomenon known as “retained foreign object.” This type of medical negligence can lead to further damage, serious injury or even death. Infection, punctured blood vessels/organs and other types of internal damage can result in serious complications to a patient.It has been reported that every year about 1,500 patients are the victim of this type of surgical error. Common bbjects that may be left inside a patient include: 

• scalpel;
• clamps;
• tweezers;
• sutures;
• gauze;
• sponges;
• forceps;
• dilators;
• retractors;
• distractors;
• needles;
• suction tubes;
• scopes;
• probes;
• calipers; and
• scissors.

The potential risks that these foreign objects pose to a patient can be very serious. If you have been the victim of an object being left inside of you after undergoing surgery, contact a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer who can talk to you about your options for legal redress.  Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice LawyerAt the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer will examine all aspects of your claim, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you or your loved one for any injuries or loss of life as the result of medical malpractice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

Any type of medical professional could be found liable for negligence. Accordingly, if a pharmacist makes a mistake they can also be held liable. If you have been injured because of a pharmacist’s mistake, you may be eligible to file a pharmacist malpractice lawsuit.  You may be wondering just what mistakes a pharmacist can make that could result in errors in prescription medication and potentially lead to patient injury.The Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company conducted a study of 500 pharmacist malpractice claims and results indicated the most common pharmacist mistakes.The common pharmacist mistakes from the study are as follows: 

• Dispensing the wrong medication: 52%;
• Dispensing the wrong amount of medication: 27%; and
• Giving the wrong directions for the medication: 7.4%.

The remainder of the pharmacist malpractice claims were a result of other medical negligence occurrences.The above are common pharmacist mistakes, but it is important to note they are also preventable. If a pharmacist’s mistake led to your injuries, you should contact an Aurora medical malpractice lawyer. They will work on your behalf to advocate that you are compensated for your injuries.

Contacting an Aurora Medical Malpractice Lawyer

At the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Aurora medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your claim, determine liability and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you or your loved one for any injuries or loss of life that is the result of medical malpractice. Contact us today for a no cost case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

While not required by Illinois state law, some insurers may require you to carry Physical Damage insurance. Physical Damage coverage falls into 2 categories: collision coverage and comprehensive coverage. The value of your car will help determine the amount of coverage you should carry, or if it’s even worth having on your car. Typically, this coverage only matters in the first 3 model years, as depreciation of value occurs rapidly.Collision coverage will pay for damage to your vehicle caused by an accident involving another vehicle. It also covers collisions with pedestrians and animals, as well as stationary objects such as trees, utility poles, and buildings.Comprehensive coverage will pretty much cover everything else that could potentially damage your vehicle. This includes natural elements such as hail, tornadoes, and falling trees. Also included are events such as theft or vandalism as long as the vehicle is legally parked.There are many more factors to consider when looking at your insurance coverage in the event you are involved in a Chicago car accident. Visit our article library to read more about property damage claims in Illinois and what damages you can recover when your property is damaged in a car crash.The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. have been helping car crash victims like you understand their personal property claims for years and you have nothing to lose from our free case evaluation. Contact us today – (312) 263-1080

If you’ve sustained a disfiguring injury in an Illinois accident, you may be considering whether to file an Illinois personal injury claim. If another party caused your accident and resulting injuries, you may be entitled to recover damages for your medical expenses, ongoing treatment, and other accident expenses.A Chicago injury lawyer will carefully evaluate your case, determine the extent of your injuries and how much compensation you may be eligible to recover through an Illinois personal injury claim.When an injury from an Illinois accident leads to disfigurement, it can be traumatic. Disfigurement can affect an individual not only physically but psychologically as well. It can also result in extensive and expensive medical treatment, therapy and recovery. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may also be facing disability due to your disfigurement. A loss of income or earning potential may be recovered through an Illinois personal injury claim. Other recoverable damages related to your disfigurement include pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and emotional distress.When someone else’s negligence causes a serious Illinois accident that changes your life such as in the case of a disfigurement, seek the help of an experienced Chicago injury lawyer to learn more about your legal rights. When to Hire a Chicago Injury LawyerA Chicago 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 a nurse makes a mistake, it can lead to serious injuries or even death. Nurses are responsible for many aspects of patient care including medication dispensing, monitoring vital signs, and communicating patient information to the doctors. Even though a nurse may have many duties, they are still liable for giving you the best care possible.Sadly, most nursing errors are preventable. By understanding some of the common causes for nursing errors, we can see why these mistakes need not happen.The most common causes for nursing errors include: 

• shortage of registered nurses;
• caring for too many patients;
• fatigue;
• inadequate training;
• working long hours;
• inadequate pay;
• nurse aides are unlicensed and/or unregulated;
• miscommunication/failure to communicate;
• failure to follow a doctor’s instructions/can’t read doctor’s notes;
• charts and records are improperly kept;
• distractions; and
• interruptions. 

While these factors may be present in a nursing situation, they are no excuse for a patient to be further harmed by a nursing error. To learn more about how nursing errors can result in devastating consequences to a patient, visit our article library. If you have experienced an injury or illness because of a nurse’s mistake, contact a Chicago medical malpractice attorney who can examine the facts surrounding your case and determine if you have a valid medical malpractice claim. You may be able to recover damages for any injuries you have sustained due to a nursing error.Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice AttorneyAt the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your claim, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you or your loved one for any injuries or loss of life due to medical malpractice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

There is no doubt that an emergency room can be hectic and busy, which may lead to a patient suffering an emergency room error. However this type of error may have been preventable and could lead an individual to file an Illinois medical malpractice claim based on emergency room negligence.A Chicago medical malpractice lawyer will carefully evaluate the details of your case to determine if you have a valid malpractice claim and whether an emergency room healthcare provider could potentially be held liable for your injuries.Some of the common causes of an emergency room error in Illinois include: 

• staff shortages;
• high number of patients in critical condition;
• lack of experience;
• poor training;
• rushing through patients;
• specialist not available; and
• doctor fatigue. 

There may be other causes that can lead to an emergency room error but if this type of error caused you to sustain further injury, have the right to pursue compensation.If your injuries are the result of emergency room negligence, you should immediately consult with a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer who will help determine your legal options. You might be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and other costs related to your injury.  When to Hire a Chicago Medical Malpractice LawyerA Chicago medical malpractice 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 medical malpractice claim in Illinois, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

When an individual is injured because of a radiation error, an Illinois medical malpractice claim may help to recover financial, emotional and physical damages as a result of the injuries. A Chicago medical malpractice attorney will carefully evaluate your case to determine if you have a valid claim.While it may be difficult to understand how a radiation error could occur, there are a number of circumstances where medical negligence is the cause.Some of the common causes of an Illinois radiation error include: 

• missing/defective device;
• devices positioned incorrectly;
• failure to inspect/maintain machines;
• software errors;
• machine malfunction;
• staff shortage;
• inadequate training;
• failure to follow a quality assurance plan;
• faulty calculation in dosage;
• improper administration;
• failure to monitor the patient; and
• failure to test the treatment plan before programming it permanently. 

No matter what has caused your radiation error, the injuries resulting from medical negligence in these cases most likely could have been prevented.If you have suffered a medical injury because of a radiation error, you may be entitled to recover damages through an Illinois medical malpractice claim. You should immediately consult with a Chicago medical malpractice attorney who will determine the options you have available. When to Hire a Chicago Medical Malpractice AttorneyA 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.

ometimes, auto accidents are pretty straightforward in determining which driver is at fault. Then the victim gets compensated for damage to his or her vehicle and health by the person responsible for the accident (who is usually represented by an insurance company).

But other times, the liability issues aren’t quite as clear cut. This is more common when multiple vehicles are involved, or when each driver in a two-vehicle accident believes that the other is to blame. In these complex situations, how do we determine who is at fault in an auto accident?

In almost all cases, we turn to the law for guidance. The Rules of the Road are found in the section of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code which governs what you can and cannot do on Illinois streets and highways. When looking at a wreck, whichever party broke the law is usually the one responsible for causing a collision.

Here are some of the most frequent traffic violations which lead to motor vehicle accidents:

• Speeding or driving too fast for road or weather conditions• Failing to stop at a red light or a stop sign• Following too closely (or failure to properly slow a vehicle to avoid a collision)• Failure to yield the right of way while making a left turn or at a posted yield sign• Failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian• Failure to yield the right of way when exiting a driveway• Failure to stay in a single lane or making an unsafe lane change• Turning or changing lanes without signaling• Attempting an unsafe turn• Loss of control of the vehicle• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

If both drivers commit one or more of these violations, then they both may be held partially liable for the crash. An example is if two vehicles both run a stop sign and collide in an intersection which is regulated by a four-way stop. However, there are certain scenarios where a driver who breaks the law may not be to blame for an accident. For instance, if a car runs a red light through an intersection, but then crashes into a pickup truck which is making an illegal U-turn in the roadway, the fault in the collision may lie solely with the pickup truck driver. That’s because the accident would not have occurred had the driver of the pickup obeyed the law.

A qualified Illinois auto accident attorney can help you determine who is to blame in a given accident scenario. A lawyer can also assist you in gathering evidence, contacting insurance companies, and even filing a personal injury lawsuit if necessary. So don’t hesitate to contact an attorney if you think that you have been victimized in an auto accident by someone else’s negligence.

Truck accidents can lead to severe injuries or death. Drivers of much smaller vehicles who are contending with commercial trucks on the roads are at risk of being involved in a serious accident.Truck drivers and their employers have responsibilities that are meant to ensure safety on our roads. To learn more about truck driver requirements and employer responsibilities, visit our article library. Common causes of truck accidents may include: 

• Drivers who are not qualified or properly trained;
• Drivers who are going over the speed limit in order to stick to a deadline;
• Driver impairment;
• A driver falling asleep at the wheel or being inattentive after driving for a lengthy time;
• Truck is loaded over capacity;
• Heavy loads on truck are not properly secured;
• Failure to inspect truck prior to driving to ensure the safety and security of the vehicle;
• Reckless driving;
• Equipment failure; and
• Weather conditions. 

If you or someone you love has experienced a Chicago truck accident, you should contact an Illinois truck crash attorney. An attorney will help you determine negligence and receive the compensation that you may be due.Hiring a Chicago Truck Accident LawyerEven experienced, safe drivers run the risk of being involved in a serious Illinois truck accident. Beyond your initial recovery, injuries in these types of accidents are often serious and result in permanent disability or disfigurement which can cause loss of the ability to work, years of rehabilitation, serious medical bills, and have a significant impact on your life.A Chicago truck accident 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 truck accident claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080

One of the most common tactics used by the defense in the course of a personal injury lawsuit is attempting to blame you for failing to prevent your injuries. They typically do this by attempting to assert that your negligence contributed to or caused the accident in some way.But what if the plaintiff is a child? In Illinois, the age of the injured child comes into play when the jury is deciding on whether or not the plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to their injury.In Illinois, children younger than 7 years cannot be guilty of negligence. The courts have deemed-and any parent would have to agree-that children do not yet have enough life experience to determine many dangerous situations, and therefore cannot be held to the same standards as an adult.If the child is aged between 7 and 14, their ability to identify potentially dangerous situations is determined by the jury based on their age, history and experiences. A child older than 14 is most often considered to be old enough to be able to exercise judgment for their own personal safety and can be held liable for contributing to their injuries (if that is indeed the case) in an Illinois personal injury claim.Having your child injured in any sort of accident is always emotional. It’s important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights and options.Learn more about negligence in personal injury lawsuits by visiting our library.The Chicago personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. are dedicated to defending the best interests of you and your family after you’ve been injured due to the negligence of others. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – (312) 263-1080

If you have been seriously injured because of medical negligence in Chicago, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim against the liable healthcare provider. While the idea of pursuing a Chicago medical malpractice claim might seem daunting, you should not let that stop you from seeking damages for injuries you sustained.Informed Consent in a Chicago Medical Malpractice ClaimDoctors have a duty to warn patients of potential risks when it comes to medical procedures or treatments. This is known as the duty of informed consent. It is the doctor’s duty to inform the patient of all known risks before proceeding with a procedure or treatment.After a patient has been thoroughly informed of the potential risks, they may either consent to or decline the procedure or treatment. Sometimes a patient may sign a consent form that details the risks involved.If a doctor fails to adequately warn a patient about potential risks and the patient is injured, or if the patient would have otherwise opted out of the procedure or treatment had they known the risks, the doctor may be held liable for medical malpractice. If you have been injured as the result of a doctor’s failure to provide informed consent, whether with a procedure or use of a dangerous medical product, you should contact a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer who is familiar not only with medical negligence but also dangerous medical products such as gadolinium. Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice LawyerThe Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. have tried many cases like yours and know the best ways to express your degree of fault to the court. For a no-cost case evaluation and help preparing your evidence, contact us today – 312-263-1080.

Medical negligence can take many forms. One particularly devastating type of Chicago medical negligence occurs when there are hospital equipment errors, specifically, anesthesia equipment errors.Anesthesia comes with its own inherent risks and those risks are increased when you face equipment failure. Patients rely on safely being put to sleep and safely being brought out of sleep while undergoing surgery or any other type of invasive medical procedure. Therefore, safety measures must be taken when servicing and maintaining anesthesia equipment. These kinds of medical procedures also require the proper training of anesthesiologists who will operate the equipment.One instance when due diligence can mean the difference between a safe surgery and patient injury is the operation of flow meters. Flow meters regulate the amount of anesthesia going into a patient, so it is critical that they work correctly. While equipment failure can happen because of a defect, more often than not, anesthesia equipment errors are the result of medical professionals’ mistake. Medical professionals who use anesthesia equipment must feel comfortable that they know how to properly operate and use those tools. If not, the results can mean serious injuries to a patient.If you have been injured by anesthesia equipment errors or any other type of hospital equipment failure, you should contact a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer. A Chicago medical malpractice lawyer can talk to you about your options for seeking compensation in a hospital equipment failure claim. Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice LawyerAt the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your claim, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you or your loved one for any injuries or loss of life due to medical malpractice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

When an individual has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment, a chemotherapy error could lead to devastating consequences. A Chicago medical malpractice attorney can evaluate your case to determine if you should proceed with filing an Illinois medical malpractice claim after a chemotherapy mistake.A chemotherapy error can be deadly if a patient receives an overdose of the toxic medication. The same drug that is meant to kill cancer cells can also act as poison in a patient’s body when too much is given.Whether the chemotherapy mistake is due to a doctor’s failure to properly prescribe or a nurse’s failure to properly administer, when negligence leads to injuries the responsible medical professional can be held liable. A chemotherapy error that results in an overdose could lead an individual to seek compensation through an Illinois medical malpractice claim.Some of the damages that may be recoverable through a claim include: 

• medical expenses;
• lost wages; and
• pain and suffering. 

If a chemotherapy error results in death there may be additional damages available through an Illinois wrongful death.If you have suffered injuries due to a chemotherapy error, such as receiving an overdose, you should consult with a Chicago medical malpractice attorney. An attorney will determine what your legal options are and how best to proceed with your Illinois medical malpractice claim. 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.

If you have been injured due to a chemotherapy mistake, you may be entitled to file an Illinois medical malpractice claim. A Chicago medical malpractice attorney will carefully evaluate your case to determine if you have a valid claim worth pursuing.A chemotherapy mistake can happen for a number of reasons but one of the most common is a medication error. When a doctor or pharmacist is negligent in prescribing, dispensing or administering medication and it results in injuries, they may be held liable.Chemotherapy mistakes that lead to injuries can take place in a hospital or outpatient clinic. A chemotherapy mistake could also be the result of a pharmacy error. No matter what the setting, this type of error can lead to devastating consequences.A chemotherapy mistake that is the result of a medication error could be due to: 

• a mix-up with patients;
• an overdose;
• the wrong medication being given;
• an underdose; or
• dangerous interactions with other medication.  

Sometimes a chemotherapy mistake that is caused by a medication error is due to a labeling or packaging mistake. An Illinois medical malpractice claim filed after a severe chemotherapy mistake will seek to explore all potential liable parties who may have played a role in the medication error.If you have been injured due to a chemotherapy mistake, you should immediately consult with an experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney.  When to Hire a Chicago Medical Malpractice AttorneyA 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.

Administering the wrong medication is one of the common medication errors that can occur either in a hospital setting or even at a pharmacy. This type of medical negligence can lead to serious injuries or even death.In 2002 there were about 100,000 individuals in the United States who were given the wrong medication. Those are startling statistics. Even more startling is that 7,000 people were killed because of these medication errors.The good news for patients is that this type of common medication error is the easiest one to track. This can make proving medical negligence easier than other forms of medical malpractice.  Some of the most common causes for the wrong medication being prescribed or administered include: 

• Miscommunication (between doctors and patients, doctors and nurses, doctors and pharmacists, etc.)
• Medications with similar names
• Misdiagnosis
• Personnel unable to read notations or prescriptions
• Understaffing
• Lack of training
• Lack of up-to-date medical information (on patient or on the medication) 

Anyone can be at risk of a serious injury if given the wrong medication. No matter what the cause, most medication errors are preventable and may constitute medical malpractice if such an error resulted in serious further injury.You can learn more about common medication errors and other forms of medical malpractice by visiting our article library. Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice LawyerAt the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your claim, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you or your loved one for any injuries or loss of life due to medical malpractice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation – 312-263-1080.

I saw a piece in the news recently about a law that is being passed in Minnesota regarding setting indoor air quality standards for ice rinks.  There was an incident there similar to the Glen Ellyn ice rink carbon monoxide poisoning incident of this past winter where a number of youth hockey players were made ill by carbon monoxide poisoning.The source of the carbon monoxide in the Minnesota incident was the Zamboni and other ice grooming equipment.  The new law requires ice rinks to equip the ice making equipment with pollution emissions equipment and the rink with air monitoring equipment.The law is a sensible approach to addressing the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.  We all know that you do not leave the car engine running in a closed garage.  While an ice rink is obviously a much larger building, that only helps diminish the concentration of the carbon monoxide, not eliminate it.

With the arrival of daylight savings time serving as a reminder to check things that we do not always think about, now is a good time to remind ourselves to check that our carbon monoxide detectors have good batteries and are fully functional.  Carbon monoxide poisoning claims several lives each year and leaves many others with serious residual injuries.  Because carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, there is no real warning that a carbon monoxide poisoning accident has happened or is happening until it is far too late.  Carbon monoxide detectors are the front line defense against these kinds of injuries, so it is worth a few minutes of your times to check to make sure that they are functioning properly.

While it is mandatory in Illinois to have a minimum of motorists insurance, you may want to buy more coverage protection than the state requires. The basic requirements of the state are for a minimum of: 

• $20,000 per person;
• $15,000 for property damage; and
• $40,000 in total. 

This means that the most you can compensate an injured victim for is $20,000, and the most you can compensate any number of victims in $40,000. But this is very little in comparison to the actual costs of medical expenses. And it will not protect you or your family against uninsured (or underinsured) motorists.What is uninsured motorist coverage?Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) is not included in Illinois minimum insurance requirements. But most Chicago personal injury attorneys will recommend that you get it anyway. UM will protect you if an uninsured driver injures you or your family. It doesn’t matter whether the driver never obtained insurance coverage, or whether their policy has expired, UM will pay for the damages, including: 

• Medical expenses;
• Lost wages;
• Pain and suffering;
• Disability; and
• Disfigurement. 

Buying More Than the Required MinimumIn fact, rather than buying the required minimum, you should always purchase as much insurance coverage as your budget will allow. The more you buy, the better you and your family will be protected. The increase in price compared to the increase in coverage is relatively small, and it may make a significant difference in the damages that would be covered.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’ve been injured in a Chicago car accident and you have questions about how your insurance policy will address your financial needs, contact an attorney who can guide you through the settlement 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.

By now, you may have heard about the tainted gasoline that has made its way to gas stations throughout Illinois. In August, BP admitted that it delivered some 4.7 million gallons of misformulated gas to hundreds of locations in the Midwest, including some 300 gas stations in Illinois alone. The tainted gas, which was sold in all grades from regular to premium, was shipped to stations between August 14 and 17. (To see which stations are affected, you can check out BP’s searchable database of affected gas stations.)

Motorists who filled up their vehicles’ gas tanks with this tainted fuel reported hard starts, rough idling, and sudden engine stalling. Many of them were forced to take their vehicles into repair shops to have the fuel systems flushed and cleaned, which can cost several hundred dollars. If you are one of these drivers who has had to seek repairs due to tainted gas, you can contact BP to file a claim.

Even though tainted fuel can cause engine damage, can it also cause an Illinois auto accident?

It’s possible. If you unknowingly filled up your car with misformulated gasoline, and then experienced an engine stall or similar mechanical problem that directly led to an accident, then you may be eligible to obtain relief from BP. Some scenarios where this could happen include:

• being struck by a vehicle while making a left turn after your vehicle stalled in the roadway in the direct path of oncoming traffic
• having your vehicle’s engine stall and shut down just as you accelerate from a stop, and your vehicle subsequently rolls off the roadway and collides with an object
• having your vehicle’s engine stall and shut down while on an upward-sloping road, and your vehicle subsequently rolls backward into another vehicle
• having your vehicle’s engine stall or shut down while trying to merge onto a busy freeway, and getting hit by a car traveling faster than you

If you are injured in this type of auto accident – whether the tainted gas caused the problem in your vehicle or someone else’s – then you may be able to name BP as a defendant in a personal injury lawsuit. While it’s unlikely that the oil refiner will be held fully responsible for any such accident, a jury may determine that BP shares some degree of liability. If you are unsure about whether this situation may apply to you, contact an Illinois auto accident attorney.

The Illinois Supreme Court declared that the 2005 law that placed caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases in Illinois was unconstitutional.  Truthfully, it was not much of a surprise.I have a few thoughts:1.  This is the third time — yes, third — that the Illinois Supreme Court has declared that caps on damages violates the Illinois Constitution.  Seeing as caps had been declared unconstitutional twice before, that is why today’s decision was not much of a surprise.2.  The law was enacted in 2005, and I would be willing to bet that there are at least a handful of cases, if not more, that were settled on a basis that indicated that no one assumed that the caps would be upheld.  None of the lawyers I know were proceeding on the basis that the caps were constitutional.3.  You will probably see things in the press about how the rates for malpractice insurance for doctors went down after the caps went into effect.  Here’s the thing:  when the General Assembly passed the caps, they also passed a number of insurance reforms which were intended to make the markets for insurance in Illinois more competitive.  Those reforms probably account for the drop in insurance rates, not the caps.

You can do everything in your power to be a responsible driver and carry the necessary car insurance coverage, but there are still many drivers out there who neglect to do the same. An uninsured driver is one who: 

• never had valid car insurance at all;
• has an expired insurance policy;
• had their policy canceled because of non-payment of premium; and/or
• was excluded from coverage on the policy. 

If you find yourself in a car accident with a driver who fits any of these criteria, you will need to rely on your uninsured motorist coverage to pay for your damages.Your uninsured motorist coverage also protects you when your car accident is a case of hit-and-run. Because the other driver cannot be contacted, Illinois state law assumes they were uninsured and allows you to recover damages from your own uninsured motorist coverage. Filing this type of claim can be tricky and in some cases, insurance companies will drop claims that did not involve the absent vehicle striking your own.There are many other nuances and factors that go into car accident claims involving underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. To make the most sense out of these claims, you should contact an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer. An experienced Chicago injury lawyer at The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. is available to assist you in filing 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