Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

Safety First During America's Favorite Past Time

Jamie G. Goldstein — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:38:23 GMT

Many of us will enjoy America's favorite pastime and attend a baseball game this season. While baseball is known as America's favorite past time, it can also be a life change experience, and not necessarily for the better.

Hundreds of baseballs fly into the stands every baseball season, usually without incident, but every once in awhile, the fly ball turns into tragedy. Griffin Cox of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago, never thought a trip to the Sox game would end with his skull fractured.

Griffin was at the Sox game on June 4, 2008 when he was hit by a baseball. He was taken to the Sox dugout where he was cleared by medical staff. Everything seemed to be fine until three days later when the pain became worse and Griffin began vomiting. His mother took a closer look at Griffin's head and noticed swelling. He was taken to the emergency room where he spent the next four days in the ICU. Griffin was diagnosed with multiple skull fractures as well as fluid accumulation between the brain and skull. Griffin appears to be recovering at this time.

While incidents like Griffin's are rare. Baseball patrons should always be alert and aware of what is occurring around them. It is very easy to get distracted at a baseball game or other sporting events because of all the food and activities going on in the ball park. Remember the next time you are attending a sporting event to have fun but be alert and stay safe.

If you find yourself in a situation like Griffin's, seek medical attention immediately. Often times when an injury appears fine on the surface, there is real damage underneath the skin that cannot be seen. Once you are out of danger you should consider seeking legal advice regarding your injury. While tickets sold at sporting events often have disclaimers on them, these disclaimers may not protect the ball park against the injury you have suffered. Contact an attorney to find out what your legal rights are.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein

Chicago and Cook County Salmonella Cases Linked to Tomatoes

Jamie G. Goldstein — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:56:07 GMT

The recent outbreak of salmonella linked to tomatoes has affected several people in Chicago and the Cook County suburbs. At least seven cases have been reported at this time but many more may be reported in the coming weeks. The strain of salmonella from the seven reports is the same strain linked to the recent outbreak. In addition to these seven cases there are at least another 270 cases reported nationwide.

The FDA has issued warnings against eating tomatoes that are raw red plum, raw red round and red Roma. Not only should consumers avoid these types of raw tomatoes, they should also avoid eating any foods with these raw tomatoes as an ingredient. There are, however, some exceptions to this warning. Tomatoes from several states and countries have been approved as safe. A list can be found on the FDA website.

If you have eaten any of the above listed tomatoes and subsequently suffered from stomach flu like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and/or fever, you may have contracted Salmonella. You should seek medical attention immediately if you believe you may have contracted Salmonella. While Salmonella may resolve over time, it can be life threatening, especially in the young, elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

If you believe you have contracted Salmonella as a result of eating contaminated tomatoes, you may be able to make a claim against the tomato manufacturer. You should contact an attorney to learn more about what your rights are and to determine if you should take legal action.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein

Truck Rollover in Chicago Injures 3 People

Jamie G. Goldstein — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:15:16 GMT

Two trucks rolled over this morning near interstate 294 and 9th street causing injuries to three people. An SUV was also involved in the collision. At least three people were transported to local hospitals in the Chicago area.

It is unclear at this time the extent of the injuries or who was at fault for the multiple vehicle collision. The people injured may want to contact a lawyer to find out if they have a claim against the at fault driver.

If the driver of one of the trucks caused the collision, the driver and the company the person was driving the truck for may be required to compensate the injured people for the injuries they suffered. This compensation may include monetary damages for lost time at work, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein

Woman settles for $15 million in birth malpractice suit

Jenny Albano — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:33:23 GMT

A woman from Aurora, whose child suffered extensive brain damage during birth six years ago, settled a malpractice lawsuit for $15.35 million against the doctor, hospital, and staff. This is one of the largest settlements of its kind in Illinois.

Vanessa Jenkins gave birth to her son Cody Smithey at Valley West Community Hospital in October 2001. According to the suit, the labor was going along fine until Dr. Martin Brauweiler started using a vacuum extractor device. The doctor used the device a total of 18 times in just a 50-minute period without successful results.

Jenkins, now 26, had to undergo an emergency Caesarean section-performed by another doctor-after Cody's fetal heart rate showed he was in distress, the suit alleged.

Because of the medical negligence Smithey suffers from from cerebral palsy and mental retardation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Truck Kills Two At Chinatown CTA Stop, Injures Others

Jamie G. Goldstein — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:56:38 GMT

Friday evening a truck drove into the CTA red line stop at Cermak-Chinatown. Two women, Elosia Guerrero 47 and Delisia Brown, 18 were killed at the scene of the collision. Another 21 people, including the truck driver, were injured. Video cameras at the station caught the collision on tape and will likely be used to determine the cause of the collision.

Don Wells, the truck driver, was cited and held by the City of Chicago. His behavior is being reported as bizarre and not typical. At this time there is no indication alcohol or drugs were involved though it is being reported Wells had a prescription not prescribed to him with him at the time of the collision.

CTA accidents like this are rare, however, they must be investigated to determine who is truly at fault for this tragedy and in order to protect the millions of commuters using the CTA every year. There is an ongoing investigation into the Chicago collision to determine how Wells wound up crashing into the CTA stop. He may be held responsible for the injuries and deaths of those people involved in the accident.

If you or someone you know was injured or killed in this accident, contact an attorney. You may be able to bring a claim against the truck driver Don Wells, the company he was working for, White-Line Express and/or the CTA.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein

Contaminated Heparin May Have Caused Deaths

Jamie G. Goldstein — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:09:09 GMT

Heparin, a blood thinner, may be linked to the deaths of at least a dozen people. The FDA recently reported a contaminant in the Heparin could be causing serious side effects, including death. It is believed the contaminated Heparin came from shipments from China. The shipments were sent to at least 10 countries.

The Heparin is causing serious adverse reactions due to an oversulfated chondroitin sulfate. The compound, made from animal cartilage, has been reported to cause side effects from nausea and vomiting to shortness of breath and substantial drops in blood pressure.

Heparin is a common blood thinner prescribed to patients. Blood thinners are prescribed for various reasons, but often immediately after surgery to reduce the chance of blood clots during the recovery period.

If you or someone you know is required to be on a blood thinner, make sure you discuss the type of blood thinner you are being prescribed and if there are safer alternatives. Heparin is not the only blood thinner available and depending on your circumstances may or may not be the best choice for you.

If you have had an adverse reaction described above while on Heparin, contact an attorney. You may be able to take legal action for the injuries caused by the Heparin.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein

Stable Patients Dying in Hospitals

Jamie G. Goldstein — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:06:39 GMT

During a two year period from 2004 to 2006 it was reported that over 188,000 lives were lost due to what is called a "failure to rescue". A failure to rescue occurs when a patient dies in a hospital from preventable complications due to hospital caregivers failing to recognize the patient is dying.

A "failure to rescue" caused six year old Christian Padilla his life in 2005. Christian successfully made it through surgery to correct a birth defect, but died in the hospital after no one realized he was having complications that resulted in his death. The nurse noted that Christian was "fidgety" but did not examine him further to determine if Christian was having any medical problems. Due to the failure of the nurse and hospital staff, Christian died from seizures that resulted from brain swelling. His father settled with the hospital for $1.25 million.

If you or someone you know is in the hospital or has a planned stay in a hospital, be aware of who should be monitoring the patient and ask questions. Make certain someone is checking on the patient and if there is a change in behavior that the change is looked into further than just noting it on a chart. Increased awareness of a patient's change in behavior should especially be noted and investigated if the patient is recently out of surgery or is on pain medication.

If someone you know has died as a result of unexplained circumstances while being treated in a hospital, contact an attorney. The family may have a legal claim against the hospital.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein

3 Men Killed in Chicago Car Crash

Jamie G. Goldstein — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:33:31 GMT

A fatal car collision took the lives of three family members and one other man. Five other people were also seriously injured in the crash, including a baby who was the son of one of the drivers. The three men killed were Jolliffs Thomas, Otis Thomas and Albert Cole Sr. It appears Cole was the driver of one of the cars at the time of the collision.

Cole was driving eastbound when he crossed the center line and collided with the other vehicle, which was traveling westbound. The injured were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago for treatment. Reports state the injuries were serious.

There is an ongoing investigation to determine exactly what occurred. At this point it is difficult to tell due to the poor condition of the vehicles.

Those injured in the car crash may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. The injured and the family members of those killed should contact an attorney to learn what legal steps they may take against the at fault driver.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein

One Killed and Five Injured in Overnight Traffic Crash

Jenny Albano — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:09:11 GMT

On Wednesday night, February 20, there was a car accident that killed one and injured five, including two police officers.

Eric Gray, 21, of the 2200 block of East 92nd Street, was pronounced dead at 3:45 a.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The police officers were in their squad car when the accident occurred and Gray was in the other vehicle that was involved in the crash.

The police officers did not suffer from life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover fully. The three civilians in the other vehicle were taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, but authorities did not immediately know how severe their injuries were.

No other details have been released and will be available some time on Thursday.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Recall of Fentanyl Pain Management Patches

Jamie G. Goldstein — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:14:35 GMT

The FDA announced on February 19, 2008 that Actavis Inc. is recalling certain Fentyl transdermal patches. These patches may be defective causing an excess amount of medication to be administered to the patient. This overdose of medication can lead to respiratory depression and possible fatal overdose.

The recall extended to patches with doses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mcg/hr. It is not known at this time if anyone has been injured as a result of these faulty patches, however, the manufacturer has recalled 14 lots of Fentanyl patches due to this fold over defect, which causes a possible overdose of medication.

If you or anyone you know has suffered from respiratory distress or death while on one of these patches, contact an attorney immediately. You may have a right to take legal action against the manufacturer, Actavis.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jamie G. Goldstein