Illinois Injury Attorney Blog

Illinois's governor signed a new Workers Compensation bill into law on Tuesday. Illinois lawmakers had sent the sweeping work comp overhaul to Governor Pat Quinn's desk a few weeks ago. Insurance changes are expected to begin in about two months.

The Chicago Tribune reports in the article, "Quinn to Sign Workers' Compensation Reform Tuesday," the new Work Comp law will save Illinois companies about $500 million each year. Lawmakers say the legislation is designed to prevent people from taking advantage of the state's Workers' Compensation system. Among the changes, workers who are hurt on the job will have to show they were, indeed, injured while working. Also, the new Work Comp law will get rid of most of the people who hear cases for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. The new arbitrators will have to be lawyers and will have to undergo training.

Continue reading "ILLINOIS GOVERNOR SIGNS NEW WORKERS COMPENSATION LAW" »

Two people are recovering after they were hurt in an Auto Accident involving a Bus and Two Construction Trucks. Illinois State Police say the Truck Crash happened Tuesday morning on United States Interstate 88 near Sugar Grove. The injuries could fall under the Worker's Compensation field of law.

According to Illinois State Police, the vehicle crash is a result of the driver of a Greyhound Bus falling asleep while driving. The bus was empty at the time of the auto accident. Illinois's 53-year old John Hudson is identified as the driver. After falling asleep, he then apparently hit a construction truck in the back which forced that truck to hit a second construction truck that was in front of it. Hudson now faces numerous charges.

As for injuries, Hudson was hurt and was transported to a local Illinois hospital for treatment. The driver of the first construction truck was also hurt and taken to an Illinois hospital. These injuries could be considered Work Comp related if they, indeed, happened while the drivers were in the course and scope of employment.

Each year in Illinois, tens of thousands of workers are hurt while on the job. The Illinois Department of Health keeps track of such injuries to help improve safety in the workplace. In a recent study, it found that painters, construction and maintenance workers had the highest median days away from work with 76. That was followed by first-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers with 63 days of work missed and truck drivers, light or delivery services with 41 days missed.

Continue reading "ILLINOIS BUS CRASH LEAVES TWO PEOPLE HURT" »

We now know the name of the driver who died in a Truck Crash Wednesday in Highland, Illinois. Illinois State Police say the victim was 36-year old Chad True from Irvington. True died when the trash truck he was in collided with a dump truck.

Illinois State Police say the dump truck was stopped and waiting to turn left when True's 2007 Sterling truck did not stop and struck the dump truck from behind. While the dump truck was pushed off the street, True's truck kept going until it went off the road, flipped and then caught fire. He could not get out of the vehicle. His passenger from Centralia, Illinois was ejected from the truck and received serious injuries. The dump truck driver from Belleville, Illinois was also seriously hurt. He was transported to an Illinois hospital for treatment.

If these drivers were on the job when this Vehicle Accident occurred, their injuries might fall under Worker's Compensation. Workers' Compensation or "Work Comp" refers to the field of law that covers injuries a worker suffers while in the course and scope of employment. The Work Comp laws vary by state and are often changing. For example, Illinois lawmakers are currently overhauling the state's Worker's Compensation system. They recently passed Work Comp reform legislation that among other things would apparently save about a half-billion dollars a year for employers, mostly by reducing the payments physicians receive to help hurt workers.

Continue reading "NAME OF DRIVER IN DEADLY ILLINOIS TRUCK ACCIDENT RELEASED" »

Workers in Illinois who suffer an On the Job Injury might soon confront a new Workers' Compensation system. Wednesday, an Illinois House committee voted to get rid of the state's current Work Comp format. Instead, employees who suffer a work related injury would go to a circuit court. That's where they would deal with their Workers' Compensation claims.

Wednesday's vote was surprising to some. Illinois lawmakers had been working to reform the state's Work Comp system so completely abandoning it was a shock to many. However, media reports indicate one lawmaker who sponsored the legislation says talks between all involved in the Worker's Compensation process are still taking place. Illinois State Representative John Bradley, D-Marion said however, in some cases, it's easier to start fresh than trying to rehab a system.

Currently, the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission is involved in work comp claims. Their website explains how work comp in Illinois is a no-fault system of benefits that employers pay to employees who suffer an on the job injury. The Commission controls the Illinois court system in these instances. Here's how it works: an arbitrator first hears a Workers' Compensation case. A panel of three commissioners may then look over that arbitrator's ruling.

Continue reading "WORKERS' COMPENSATION SYSTEM IN ILLINOIS NEAR CHANGE AFTER LAWMAKERS VOTE" »

A Chicago police sergeant is one of three drivers hurt in a Car Crash Tuesday on Chicago's South Side. The male Chicago police sergeant was taken to Illinois's Advocate Trinity Hospital. His injuries could be deemed Work Comp related because they happened while on the job. The two other injured drivers, both females, were treated and released from local Chicago hospitals. No word if their injuries are work comp related.

As reported by www.wlsam.com in the article, "Motorist Runs Red Light, Injures Chicago Police Sergeant," three vehicles were involved in the auto accident. A South Chicago District police officer says the driver of one of the cars involved ran a red light and crashed into the sergeant's squad car. The sergeant was on his way to an emergency call. The force of the crash caused the squad car to collide head-on with another car that was stopped at a traffic signal. The Chicago driver apparently at fault in the auto collision was cited with numerous violations including driving on a suspended license and disregarding a red light.

Fortunately, this vehicle accident did not turn deadly but often, failing to stop at a red light can lead to fatal crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, throughout the country in 2009, drivers failing to obey traffic signs or signals or officers caused more than 1900 deadly auto accidents.

Continue reading "CHICAGO POLICE SERGEANT AMONG HURT IN ILLINOIS CAR CRASH" »

Two Illinois workers are hurt after they fell into a deep hole while On the Job on Chicago's Far South Side. On the Job injuries are often deemed Work Comp injuries because they happen in the course and scope of one's employment. One of the injured men is hurt severely.

As reported by the Chicago Tribune in the article, "2 Rescued After Falling into Hole at Water District Site," the two men apparently fell into a hole that is 20 feet deep. This on the job accident happened at a Metropolitan Water Reclamation Plant early Thursday morning. Crews with the Chicago Fire Department were needed to rescue the two male victims. An official with the Chicago Fire Department says one victim is in serious condition while the other is in fair-to-serious condition.

Unfortunately, the workplace can pose many dangers. Work Comp injuries and even deaths happen all too often. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, in 2009, 158 occupational deaths happened in Illinois.

Continue reading "TWO ILLINOIS WORKERS HURT AFTER FALLING IN HOLE WHILE ON THE JOB IN CHICAGO" »

A Danville, Illinois man is dead after he was involved in an Auto Accident with a Semi Truck. The Semi Truck Crash happened Monday on United States Interstate 74 just west of Champaign.

As reported by The News-Gazette in the article, "Danville Man Died from Multiple Injuries in I-74 Crash," the Champaign County Coroner did an autopsy on Danville's Edward Hughes and concluded that he died from several injuries sustained in the Semi Truck/Car Accident. The coroner added that the 43-year old might have suffered some sort of medical issue at the time of the accident. Illinois State Police are still trying to figure out why Hughes drove his car across Interstate 74 into on-coming traffic which resulted in a collision with a semi truck. The tractor trailer's driver was taken to a local Illinois hospital, treated and released. No word if that driver suffered any Work Comp related injuries. Illinois authorities are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests performed on Hughes.

Unfortunately, large trucks are involved in dozens of deadly vehicle accidents every year in Illinois. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009 in Illinois, 90 large trucks were involved in fatal auto crashes. That accounted for 6.9% of all Illinois deadly vehicle crashes that year.

Continue reading "DANVILLE, ILLINOIS MAN DIES AFTER HIS CAR IS INVOLVED IN SEMI TRUCK CRASH" »

Chicago police were on the scene of a head on Auto Collision on Chicago's Near West Side that left five people with injuries. A day-old baby was among the hurt. The vehicle crash happened at 2 a.m. near Illinois's United Center. No word if any the injuries are Work Comp related.

As reported by www.Chicagobreakingnews.com in the article, "5, Including Newborn, Hurt in Near West Side Crash", the accident involved two sport utility vehicles. Chicago police say a Toyota Highlander drove the wrong way on a one way street and hit a Chevy Avalanche. The driver of the Highlander is not from Illinois but rather is from Massachusetts. He apparently blames his vehicle's global satellite for making him drive in the wrong direction. He was cited for driving the wrong way.

Fortunately, this auto accident was not fatal. Increasingly, vehicle crashes in Cook County are not deadly which is a promising trend. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2005-2009, the number of traffic fatalities in Cook County dropped each year.

Continue reading "SEVERAL ILLINOIS PEOPLE HURT AFTER VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON CHICAGO'S NEAR WEST SIDE" »

Emily W. Myers, 21, and Alex E. Myers, 23, both from Arcola, Illinois, were injured when a truck ran the Ford Taurus being operated by Emily Myers off of Interstate 74 near Mansfield, Illinois, on Thursday night.

Both Emily and Alex had to be extracted by emergency personnel after their car hit a ditch embankment, flipping over twice, skidding across the eastbound interstate lanes and coming to rest in the eastbound lanes facing west. By the time the vehicle stopped, the driver's door was pinned against the guard rail. The Pair were both wearing seat-belts, and were taken to Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana, Illinois, where they were treated and released.

According to the accident report, Illinois State Police (out of Pesotum), found that Emily Myers was driving in the right westbound lane, before she attempted to pass a semi-tractor trailer that was driving next to her on Interstate 74 at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday evening. As Myers attempted to pass the semi-truck, reportedly operated by Mark E. King, 44, of Rockford, Illinois, King moved into the left lane and caused Myers' car move off the Interstate to avoid impact.

King was ticketed for improper lane usage, state police reported.

Continue reading "ARCOLA RESIDENTS INJURED AFTER THEIR CAR IS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY A TRUCK ON INTERSTATE 74" »

Champaign police were forced to close the east and westbound lanes of Interstate 74 for about 10 to 15 minutes while a utility pole was put back in place by AmerenIP workers following a one-car accident that cut power to more than one hundred homes on Sunday morning. According to Champaign police, an eastbound car left Bloomington Road causing it to strike a utility pole and roll over twice. The impact forced Bloomington Road to close for several hours and cut off power to 117 residences and businesses for several hours.

The driver of the car, whom has not yet been identified, was apparently uninjured. While there was not mention of any tickets being issued, the AP reported that police did not believe the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He reportedly hit a patch of ice. There were no other passengers in the vehicle.

Continue reading "SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON BLOOMINGTON ROAD IN CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS CUTS OFF POWER TO 117 HOMES" »

At around 7 p.m. Thursday evening, two Jeffersonville, Indiana police officers responded to reports of a domestic dispute at a Jeffersonville Motel 6 on Eastern Boulevard. When the officers arrived, guests reported that a man pulled a gun and shot the two officers. Jefferson police department reported that both officers, 39 year-old Dan Lawhorn and 32 year-old Keith Broady, were transported to University Hospital in stable condition.

SWAT officers and members of the Jeffersonville Police Department surrounded the motel searching for the suspect.

Continue reading "TWO JEFFERSONVILLE INDIANA POLICEMEN SHOT WHILE INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS OF DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE AT NEARBY MOTEL 6" »

Richard A. Shatto, a 38-year-old Hoopeston man, was killed in a Vermillion County Illinois car accident at 12:11 a.m. Sunday on Illinois 9 just west of Rankin, Illinois. According to police, Shatto was driving a 1997 Chevy Lumina west on Illinois Highway 9 when his car left the road and hit a guardrail. The vehicle then corrined into a field and turned over. According to reports, Mr. Shatto was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. Although he was airlifted by helicopter to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 1:30 a.m. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Continue reading "HOOPESTON ILLINOIS MAN KILLED IN SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 9 JUST WEST OF RANKIN ILLINOIS" »

The Champaign County Coroner's office has confirmed that Richard Shatto, 38, of Hoopeston, was the decedent driver in a one-car accident at 12:11 a.m. Sunday on Illinois Route 9 west of Rankin in Vermilion County. Shatto was pronounced dead just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday at Carle Foundation Hospital, after the 1997 Chevy Lumina he was driving westbound left the roadway, striking a guard rail and ejecting him while overturning in a field.

Continue reading "VERMILLION COUNTY MAN DIES IN A ONE-CAR ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 9 WEST OF RANKIN ILLINOIS" »

At approximately 3 am, January 17, 1009, a Central Illinois teen lost control of his vehicle and struck a utility pole. Autopsy report confirmed that 18-year-old Alexander Smith died from injuries sustained in the one-car accident. The accident occurred at County Road 1000 N near the intersection of County Road 1700 East. Preliminary investigation has lead the Sheriff's Department to believe that Smith lost control of his vehicle causing the same to collide with the utility pole.

Local media outlet, WCIA 3 News, spoke with Smith's parents, who were told the news of their son's untimely death while vacationing in Florida. They reportedly flew back to Central Illinois Saturday.

According to his parents, Alex was an only child. His father described him as "a kind-hearted young man who was loved by everyone he ever met". Alex was taking mechanic classes at Parkland Community College, and had recently moved to a Philo apartment complex.

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" »