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Motor Vehicle Accidents 
First responders are on the front lines when a crisis occurs in Illinois. After a fire, accident, crime or natural disaster, these professionals are the first to deal with the aftermath and help the victims. This demanding work can lead to post-traumatic stress and long term disability.
Illinois workers’ compensation is designed to support injured workers as they recover from job-related trauma. State law provides a broad set of guidelines for employees who wish to apply for compensation after an accident. Unfortunately, not all cases are successful in the first round. People have the right to appeal a denied workers’ compensation claim.
Many older people in Illinois live in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Working in a nursing home can be physically challenging. The job may include duties such as lifting, transferring and bathing patients. A Chicago workers’ compensation attorney knows that incorrect or excessive lifting can cause disability in nursing home staff.
Voice-activated systems in vehicles are very popular. These systems allow Illinois drivers to control the features of their vehicles while keeping both hands on the wheel. A recent cognitive study shows that voice-activated technology is not always safe to operate while driving.
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities should be safe places for elderly or ill people who are not currently able to live at home. Unfortunately, many older adults in Illinois are abused or neglected in these facilities.
Numerous jobs in Illinois involve outdoor work. Construction workers, firefighters, road workers, public transportation staff and other employees spend many hours outside. These workers are subject to several injury risks from extreme weather. By learning the warning signs of weather-related trauma and how to prevent it, employees can stay safer during outside jobs.
Commercial truck weights are regulated by federal and state limits. Illinois officials set the state’s weight limits on the loads trucks can haul within the borders based on risk reduction. Overweight trucks compromise traffic safety and road conditions and may be a contributing factor in injury or fatality crashes.
Illinois currently has a speed camera law that does not allow municipalities with fewer than 1 million residents to install cameras. According to BND, Chicago is the only city in the state that can use them under this legislation. State Rep. Jay Hoffman recently filed a bill that seeks to expand the law and give local governments the option to install speed cameras in their districts.
Distracted driving has always been a concern on the Illinois roadways and across the U.S. According to distraction.gov, the number of motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving has increased in recent years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that approximately 387,000 injury accidents and more than 3,000 traffic fatalities in 2011 were directly related to distracted driving.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 285,477 motor vehicle crashes occurred in 2013. This is equivalent to roughly 782 accidents every day. Although many of these collisions only lead to damaged vehicles, even minor fender-benders can cause a soft tissue injury known as whiplash.