Illinois Injury Attorney Blog

An Indiana Nursing home resident, Rodney Kenney, died after catching fire while sitting in his wheelchair at Regency Place, a Dyer, Indiana, Lake County, nursing home. Rodney Kenney, 72, died at a Chicago hospital where he was treated for burns. State Inspectors say the Alzheimer's patient was severely burned when his clothing caught fire as he sat in a wheel chair. Authorities say they found a cigarette lighter near Kenney, but that he was not a smoker. In fact, state law prohibits smoking in nursing homes and patients are not allowed to possess smoking materials.

Continue reading " NURSING HOME RESIDENT TREATED AT CHICAGO HOSPITAL FOR FATAL INJURIES AFTER CATCHING FIRE AT AN INDIANA LONG TERM FACILITY " »

The Illinois Worker's Compensation Commission issued new rates as both the state’s average weekly wage and the state’s minimum wage again increased. The new statewide average weekly wage effective for the period July 15, 2008 through January 14, 2009 is $912.56.

This means the maximum TTD rate is increased to $1,216.75. This makes the minimum rate for death benefits, permanent total disability benefits, and member amputation rate benefits equal to $456.28.

Further, the state’s minimum wage increased on July 1, 2008 from $7.50 an hour to $7.75 an
hour. Therefore, the Commission instituted new minimum temporary total disability and
permanent partial disability rates. These new minimums starting with accident
dates on July 1, 2008are as follows:

Single with no dependents $206.67;
Married, no child or single with 1 child, $237.67;
Married with 1 child or single with 2 children, $268.67;
Married with 2 children or single with 3 children, $299.67;
Married with 3 children or single with 4 children, $310.00 (maximum).
The maximum permanent partial disability rate also increased as of July 1, 2008, but this rate
will not go into effect until the rate is published sometime in December 2008.

Continue reading " ILLINOIS WORKER'S COMPENSATION COMMISSION ISSUES NEW RATES " »

Even though at least fifteen police officers have been killed in Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) rear-end collisions, and more than double that number have been burned or injured since 1983, the CVPI continues to be the most popular police cruiser for Illinois State Police, City and Sheriff departments. Illinois is not alone in their preference for the CVPI, as the CVPI is the most common vehicle used by our nation’s law enforcement. In fact, in the State of New York, CVPI’s constitute over 80% of the State Police’s cruiser inventory.

Continue reading " SENATOR ASKS NHTSA TO REOPEN INVESTIGATION INTO POPULAR ILLINOIS POLICE VEHICLE FOLLOWING NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT WITH SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER " »

Illinois Motor Vehicle Accident and Drunk Driving Statistics

Illinois Fatal Crash Data for 2008:

The fatality data provided below is provisional and is based on information submitted to IDOT for fatal crashes occurring on all roadways within the state. The data is updated as information is received from various agencies throughout the state.

Fatal Crashes 930
Fatalities 1017
Fatalities Last Year to Date 1238
Change - 221

*Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes and Fatalities: Reported information showed some indication of alcohol use in relation to the crash. The data may change as alcohol test results are received.
Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes 276
Alcohol-Related Fatalities 304

Continue reading " ILLINOIS STATISTICS RELATED TO FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE AND ALCOHOL RELATED AUTO ACCIDENTS " »