Personal Injury

Is Your Food Safe?-How to Protect Yourself From Foodborne Illness

July 17, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Gregory Zimmer of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

The Food and Drug Administration is hard at work. The first half of this month has already had 3 recalls of nuts tainted with Salmonella and 2 recalls of pet food due to Listeria contamination.¹ These recalls follow the highly publicized multistate Listeria outbreak from affected Blue Bell ice cream products which resulted in 10 hospitalizations and 3 deaths.² While the FDA catches many issues before they are widespread, you may still be at risk. How do you know if you are one of the unlucky few who are affected, and what do you do next?

Foodborne illness typically present symptoms hours or days after contaminated food is consumed, but people can sometimes develop illnesses up to 2 months later.³You can check here⁴for recent and ongoing food recalls.

Is it Time to Hang-Up the Keys?-What to Do About Elderly Related Traffic Accidents

July 15, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Gregory Zimmer of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

Maybe…but perhaps not for the reason you think.

In Greenfield, IL, an elderly driver blew through a shed with his SUV, flew into the air after hitting a tree stump, and landed in a home’s kitchen.¹ In Wisconsin, another elderly driver managed to hit 9 vehicles in a grocery store parking lot, all on camera.² In Michigan, a third elderly driver reversed out of a CVS pharmacy drive-through and landed in a neighboring pool after plowing through a wooden fence.³ These sensational stories from the past few months are examples of a perennial favorite of the nightly news cycle-the dangerous and/or deadly incompetent elderly driver.

A Bill to Protect the Elderly From Abuse and Neglect: Cameras in Illinois Nursing Homes

July 8, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Gregory Zimmer of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

Contusions, bedsores, broken hips—all signs of nursing home neglect or abuse that can be caught earlier or even prevented with protective-care cameras. Last week, the Illinois legislature sent Governor Rauner a bill aimed at getting cameras in the rooms of every nursing home resident who wants one. Illinois has more than 860 nursing homes with more than 76,000 residents.¹If the governor passes the bill (HB2462), each of those residents can be better protected.

The possibility of neglect or abuse in nursing homes is a legitimate concern. The Federal Government’s General Accounting Office reports that 25% of the nation’s nursing homes have deficiencies that either cause actual harm to residents or carry the potential for serious injury or death.²As a means to combat this problem, HB2462 specifies that footage from the cameras could be used as evidence in court.²

How to Stay Safe While Using Fireworks This Fourth of July

July 2, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Cassidy Carroll of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

Summer is in full force with Fourth of July this weekend and we are all excited to celebrate our Independence Day with parades, barbeques, and family gatherings. However, there is one thing that defines the Fourth of July in everyone’s mind—fireworks. While we all enjoy the vibrant colors, the inspiring displays, and the way they light up the night sky, fireworks—if used carelessly—can turn a fun experience into a tragic event.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that fireworks killed 11 people and injured 10,500 people in the last year alone.¹ In the weeks leading up to and following the Fourth of July, an average of 230 people go to the emergency room every day for firework-related injuries.²

Summer Porch Safety Concerns

June 30, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Jacob Exline of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

A faulty porch can turn a fun summer get-together into a dangerous and deadly event. Porches, both commercial and residential, are often made hastily or negligently and lack the upkeep necessary to maintain safety. Just last month, a second-story porch in Evanston collapsed, falling onto a first-floor porch, injuring several people. Police reported that the porch was not properly attached to the house and the weight of those on it led to its collapse.¹

The most deadly porch collapse in the United States happened in Chicago in 2003. On a summer night in Lincoln Park, a second-story porch collapsed under the weight of 75 party-goers, killing 13 and injuring 50 more. The porch owner and porch contractor were fined $108,000 by the city and paid millions more in litigation. City inspectors stated that the porch could have withstood the load had it been constructed correctly according to city building codes.²According to the Consumer Safety Commission, 6,500 people have been rushed to emergency rooms from injuries sustained from collapsing balconies in the past 12 years.

Bicycle and Motorcycle Helmets Save Lives

June 26, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Jacob Exline of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

Bike-riding is one of the most popular hobbies in the summer. Whether it be a bicycle or a motorcycle, it is one of the best ways to get outside and enjoy the sun. Riding a bike isn’t all care-free and ease, though, as it comes with dangers when both drivers and bikers alike aren’t attentive. In 2012 (the most recent year with data available), Illinois ranked fifth in the nation in bicyclist fatalities.¹Between 2010 and 2012, there were 80 deaths in Illinois in bike-related accidents. California was first with 338. Bicycle fatalities rose by 16% between 2010 and 2012, while motor vehicle deaths rose by only 1%. This speaks to the vulnerability of bicyclists who travel on the street.

One of the best ways to keep yourself safe while going on a bike ride is to wear a helmet. Unfortunately, Illinois does not have a state law that requires a helmet for bicyclists. There are a few cities, such as Barrington, Cicero, and Skokie, that require children under the age of 16 to wear helmets, but there are no such laws for adults.² Chicago requires that bike messengers of all ages wear helmets, but only while on duty. The same goes for motorcyclists. There is no federal or state law that requires a rider or a passenger to wear a helmet while on a motorcycle. Illinois repealed its helmet law in 1970 and it has not been reopened since.³

Simple Tips for Pool Safety

June 8, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Jacob Exline of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

The sun is starting to come out and people are beginning to have more fun outside, but behind the scenes people are still working to make sure your summer is safe and injury-free. With the passing of Memorial Day, pools in Illinois are officially open. However, this is only possible when each of the 952 city-owned pools¹ passes a health and safety inspection and secures a license. These inspections are conducted once a year by the Illinois Department of Public Health.¹ However, despite state regulations and inspections, pools remain a source of serious injuries and deaths every summer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 people die from unintentional drowning every day—2 of these 10 people are children ages 14 or younger.² These figures are an important reminder to make sure, that the pools you use this summer are safe. To limit the risk of injuries, make sure to:

Check that the pool you visit this summer has an up-to-date license.

Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.

Know the depth of the pool.

Never swim alone! Even experienced or strong swimmers might need help.
Avoid diving in areas not specifically designated for diving.

Keep away from pool drains, pipes, or other openings to avoid entrapments.

Learn how to swim. A “quick dip” can turn into an accident if you do not know how to swim.

Learn CPR. It’s a life-saving skill, literally.

Paying attention to these simple tips will help to create a safe and fun summer for you and your family.

Safety Must Be The Highest Priority for High-Speed Trains

June 5, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Jacob Exline of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

A renewed emphasis on safety for public transportation has emerged after last month’s deadly Philadelphia Amtrak crash and Illinois is making sure to jump on board. A high-speed train line between Chicago and St. Louis that will reach speeds of up to 110 mph will be completed after the installation of a speed regulating safety system.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has entered into an agreement with the U.S. government to install a safety feature that will automatically slow down trains traveling at dangerously high speeds. The system, known as positive train control, relies on GPS in order to function. Once it has been installed, it will be one of the first train lines with such safety features outside the Northeast. Transportation Safety Experts have stated that technology like the positive train control could prevent crashes like the Philadelphia Amtrak crash.

The Battle for Personal Injury Damages

May 27, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Co-authored by Jacob Exline of The Collins Law Firm, P.C.

Last Tuesday, the Illinois House of Representatives spent the day listening to grieving widows, victims of malpractice, and other citizens who have received personal injury damages tell their stories. The meeting was held in an effort to shine the spotlight on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agenda to put a cap on damages in personal injury cases. In an attempt he believes will save employers money, the Illinois governor has been pushing to put a ceiling on the amount of money a plaintiff can recover in a personal injury case. Similar caps exist in Missouri and Indiana. One Indiana plaintiff whose daughter suffers from cerebral palsy said that she received only 10% of the $15 million medical malpractice jury award. As a result of the cap, she cannot fund her daughter’s ongoing medical care.

A Vernon Hills widow testified that she would return every penny if she could have her husband back. In 2013, State Trooper James Sauter was killed while on patrol after a semi-truck driver fell asleep behind the wheel. The driver veered through four lanes of traffic and hit the back of Sauter’s squad car. His wife, and the many others that testified, said that the money they received is not akin to winning the lottery, but rather a necessary means to continue their lives and their family’s lives which were abruptly changed for the worse due to another’s negligence. A Huntley, Illinois woman testified that, due to a doctor’s malpractice, her son was born with severe brain damage. Her jury award will be used to ensure her son has adequate healthcare now and in the future.

Simple Steps to Avoid a Traffic Accident This Memorial Day Weekend

May 22, 2015 | Ed Manzke

Memorial Day weekend is upon us and while we are all enjoying a day off and kicking off the unofficial beginning of summer, it is important to recognize the increased risk of traffic accidents when driving from one barbeque to the next. The National Safety Council projects that close to 400 people in the U.S. will die in traffic accidents during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.¹ Unfortunately, this projection is not hard to believe given that the national forecast for travel volume for this Memorial Day Weekend is the highest it’s been in 10 years.¹ In fact, fatalities from traffic accidents during Memorial Day Weekend are an average of 12.45% of the total fatalities in May.² That number may seem small until you realize that an average of 393 people die from traffic accidents each Memorial Day Weekend.²

So, during this busy weekend of fun and travel we should all take extra precautions to make sure we are safe while on the road. For example:

· Drive Defensively.