Personal injury law deals with injuries and property damage caused by negligent or unlawful actions. An individual may bring a personal injury claim after being hurt in a car crash, work accident, slip and fall, dog attack, or other injury-causing event. Wrongful death claims are usually brought by a close family member of someone killed in an accident caused by negligence or wrongdoing.

Money cannot make up for a serious injury or death. However, monetary damages may help cover the cost of medical treatment, vehicle repair or replacement, funeral and burial services, and other financial losses. Most of the time, damages are intended to compensate the victim or victim’s family for expenses. However, punitive damages are a separate category of damages that are awarded over and above compensatory damages.

The Purpose of Punitive Damages

Punitive damages do not compensate the victim for expenses like hospital bills or lost wages. Instead, punitive damages function as a financial penalty for wrongdoing and a deterrent for similar behavior in the future. Illinois law states that a court may award punitive damages if a defendant acted with “evil motive” or “reckless and outrageous indifference” to risk of harm with willful indifference to the safety of others.

Most adults take one or more medications each day. Rigorous safety regulations and testing procedures are intended to ensure that prescription and over-the-counter medications are safe. Unfortunately, these measures do not always prevent dangerous medications from reaching pharmacies. Just recently, two popular blood pressure medications were recalled after testing showed that the medications may contain cancer-causing ingredients. Dangerous or defective products like these are not uncommon. Fortunately, there may be legal remedies available to those who were harmed by a defective product.

Medication Recalled by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently recalled two blood pressure medications produced by Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. The recall was issued due to concerns that the medications contain a “probable human carcinogen” or a substance thought to cause cancer in humans. Irbesartan tablets and Hydrochlorothiazide tablets were recalled after laboratory testing found unsafe levels of N-nitrosoirbesartan. Patients who currently take the recalled medications are encouraged to speak to their doctors about alternatives.

Legal Options for Those Harmed by Dangerous Medications or Defective Products

We expect our medications to be safe and effective. However, this is not always the case. Defective design, manufacturing mistakes, and other issues can cause medications to be unsafe for consumption. If you or a loved one were harmed by dangerous or defective medication, you may have certain legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for the harm the medication caused you or your loved one. Reimbursement for economic damages like additional medical expenses, lost income, funeral and burial expenses may be available. You may also be entitled to compensation for non-economic damages including your physical pain and emotional or mental suffering.

The term “distracted driving” is used to describe everything from texting and driving to daydreaming behind the wheel. Distracted driving – especially involving an electronic device - is shockingly common. One study shows that 40 percent of drivers use their phones at least once an hour. Even more commonly, drivers are distracted by their own minds. Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and contributes to thousands of injurious and fatal accidents every year.

Currently, scientists at Ford are conducting research on brain responses in hopes of creating technology that will recognize distracted driving and drowsy driving. The futuristic technology aims to detect when drivers are “zoning out” behind the wheel or becoming distracted by their thoughts.

Addressing Inattention Behind the Wheel

Most people cite drunk driving, drugged driving, or speeding as some of the top causes of car crashes. However, a surprising number of car accidents are caused by daydreaming or becoming lost in thought. In fact, one recent study shows that zoning out or daydreaming is the number one cause of fatal distracted driving accidents. When our minds are focused on other concerns, we do not pay close enough attention to the road. We may neglect to use a turn signal when changing lanes, drift into oncoming traffic or fail to stop in time to avoid a collision.

School buses, city buses, coach buses, and other types of buses transport millions of Americans across the U.S. Some people take a bus to school or work every day and never experience any problems. Unfortunately, other riders suffer serious injuries or even deaths. While rare, fatal and injury-causing bus accidents are not unheard of. Often, when someone is a victim of a bus accident, they face unique challenges recovering compensation for damages. Many buses are owned by government entities. This makes filing an injury claim against a bus driver or bus company particularly complicated.

Injuries Resulting from Bus Crashes

Bus riders assume that the vehicle is safe and that they will reach their destination without incident. However, bus accidents caused by negligent drivers, defective vehicles, poor vehicle maintenance, and other issues can lead to severe injuries. Bus accidents may involve:

• School buses
• Public transportation buses such as Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses
• Private bus companies such as Coach and Greyhound
• Shuttles
• Tour buses
• Private charter buses

Who Is Legally Responsible for a Bus Injury?

Determining fault in a bus accident case is often even more complicated than determining fault in typical car accident cases. This is because so many different parties can contribute to one serious bus crash. Sometimes, a bus crash is caused by a negligent bus driver. The driver may be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, texting and driving, or simply too sleepy to stay alert. Often, the bus company is liable for a bus crash caused by a negligent driver. Bus accidents may also be the fault of third parties including other drivers. Bus crashes may be caused or worsened by poor road conditions, inadequate traffic signals, or dangerous intersections. A bus company’s failure to regularly inspect and maintain buses can also cause crashes.

In the busy city of Chicago, there are always construction projects going on. New buildings are erected while others are torn down. Structures are repaired and updated. Because construction sites are so dangerous, they are subject to strict laws and regulations. However, construction accidents can and do occur.

On October 6, 2021, a large crane collapsed mere feet from a residential building. Fortunately, no one was injured. However, the crane accident is a glaring reminder of the danger large construction equipment can pose to workers and non-workers alike.

Crane Collapse Forces Chicago Residents to Evacuate

Construction equipment can weigh hundreds of thousands of pounds. When large equipment like this fails, the results can be catastrophic. The crane collapse that occurred recently in Chicago left more than 100 residents without power and crushed several vehicles. Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) lines were also temporarily closed but service has now been restored. At this time, investigators do not know what caused the crane to tip over, but everyone is thankful that the unexpected accident did not result in severe injuries or deaths.