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Motor Vehicle Accidents 
In mid-2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed a commitment from 20 of the nation’s leading auto manufacturers to include automatic braking technology on all new vehicles by 2022. The announcement demonstrates a commitment to making life-saving equipment standard.
A study found that nursing homes commit medication errors 21.2 percent of the time. The study observed 2,025 instances of medication dispenses and found that 428 of them were in error. Regardless of error rates, nursing homes will only continue to grow in size and importance. It is projected that nearly one in five Americans will be over 65 by 2050.
A new law was proposed by an Illinois lawmaker that would prohibit anonymous parties from reporting nursing home abuse or neglect. Supported by nursing home lobbying groups, proponents suggest that the law would cut down on false complaints.
Even with new laws in place designed to reduce the cost of physician-dispensed prescriptions, drug costs are rising in Illinois. A recent study shows that many doctors have found a way around these reforms, which allows them to charge higher prices for new strengths and formulations of drugs often prescribed to injured workers.
In the early 21st century, a troubling trend emerged in the American workplace. Years spent working at a computer led to permanent and debilitating damage to the back, neck, shoulders, and arms of workers. The result was an explosion of carpal tunnel claims and nerve/tendon surgery.
As more vehicles are becoming connected to the Internet, the FBI and U.S. Department of Transportation are warning manufacturers and consumers about their dangers. An estimated 250 million connected cars will be on American roads by the year 2020. One recent experiment exposed some of the vulnerabilities of these vehicles.
Many workers fear that their employment will be terminated if they file a workers’ compensation claim. For this reason, many ignore their injuries and suffer in silence for fear that they will lose their livelihood if they seek treatment.
Recent challenges to right-to-work laws in neighboring states could affect Illinois. Right-to-work laws are on the books in a number of states. These regulations prohibit agreements between employers and labor unions, meaning that no worker could be compelled to join or pay dues to a union.
When a loved one is placed in a nursing home, the family expects that they will remain safe and well cared-for. Unfortunately, lapses in judgment and unsafe habits can result in illness and injury. A recent outbreak of the norovirus at an Illinois senior living facility has placed a spotlight on dangerous hygiene practices in local facilities.
Food poisoning, or food-borne illness is on the rise around the world. Most people have experienced food-borne illness in some way, however, severe cases can lead to long-term illness and even death. According to the World Health Organization, hundreds of millions of people worldwide are getting sick from their food each year.