The first and most important provision of the new bill is its requirement that incoming patients undergo more extensive criminal background checks, as well as psychological screenings.  Dangerous patients will then be placed into separate, secure therapeutic wards.  These wards will not only be closed and secured, but will provide more intensive monitoring and treatment.  This segregation should not pose a significant logistical problem, as the group of dangerous patients actually represents a relatively small percentage of the nursing home population.

Other common-sense measures found in the bill cover the standards a nursing home must meet if it does admit such patients, who may pose a risk to others or who have serious psychological illness.  These include increased staffing levels and increased standards for security as well as treatment.  The bill also aims to divert a large number of younger individuals with mental disabilities away from nursing homes and into residential programs instead.  These programs will provide greater supervision for those whose disabilities make it necessary, but allow those with lesser disabilities to have greater self-sufficiency and independence.

Our wrongful death attorneys devoutly hope that these measures are successful in creating a safe environment for our elderly and disabled.  The violence in our nursing homes, leading to wrongful death and personal injury, is doubly sad because the victims were already vulnerable, and their injuries are often preventable through proper care.  If someone you love has been injured or killed in nursing home violence, and that injury could have been prevented but for the negligent care your loved one received, you and she may have an action against the facility.  An experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether to take legal action against the nursing home.

Although the new measures represent a significant step forward, the legislature has yet to determine how Illinois will pay for the changes required by the bill.  The state faces a massive budget shortfall and a looming financial crisis, even without the new fiscal requirements of the bill. We urge the legislature to see their efforts through, and find the funding needed to ensure the safety of the elderly and disabled in our state.

For a free consultation with an experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer at Passen Law Group, call us at (312) 527-4500.

The majority of stories written about distracted driving, both here and in major media outlets, have focused on  conduct of drivers.  People talk on cell phones; people send text messages; people check email; people surf the internent while driving, all while driving. Indeed, in an effort to curb the actions of people, states like Illinois have passed laws curbing or outright banning such activities.  The federal government has passed similar bans for certain commercial drivers.

What has been given far less scrutiny is the continued proliferation of car dashboard and console gadgets that contribute to driver distraction.  Our Chicago truck accident attorneys believe more thought should be given to the premise that “more” technology in our vehicles is necessarily better.

The U.S. Department of Transportation defines distracted driving as any non-driving activity, which distracts the driver’s attention away from the task of driving.  For years, experts have found that hundreds of people have been seriously injured or killed in a truck accident caused by drivers whose attention were distracted for a split second while changing the radio station.

In this new era of technology, drivers are bombarded with many more potential driving distractions that simply the radio.  Whereas vehicle dashboards, for example, used to simply display information such as gearshift position, speed, and how much gas was left in the tank, today microprocessors make it possible to display much more information digitally, and provide an array of sensors that light up, make a noise or even talk to the driver.

Vehicle consoles, like dashboards, used to be simple. Whereas the console previously had a radio station with five or six stations, many of today’s vehicles are equipped with satellite radio, which has thousands of stations to choose from.

Indeed, the console has become a multitude of technical gadgets, from 6-disc CD changers and DVD players, to satellite radio and navigation systems.  Many new cars are now equipped with either permanent or portable GPS devices, which often focus the driver’s attention away from the road to the dashboard.

Changing tracks on a CD, changing CDs, changing satellite stations and listening to the navigation system talk you through turn-by-turn directions all demand attention. And that demand for attention means there is less attention available to concentrate on driving.

As more research is done on distracted driving, let’s remember that it is not just the driver bringing in distractions like a cell phone, there are distractions already built into the vehicle.  Vehicle manufacturers must be mindful that incorporating too many technological distractions into their vehicles may result in catastrophic consequences for their drivers.

For a Free Consultation with one of Passen Law Group’s Chicago personal injury lawyers, call us at (312) 527-4500.

Due to the size and weight of tractor-trailers, truck accidents are often fatal. A fully loaded semi tractor-trailer can weigh over 80,000 pounds, whereas the average passenger vehicle weighs only 3,000 pounds. Despite the various rules in place to regulate and ensure the safe operation of trucks on our roadways,  including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, truck accidents involving catastrophic personal injury or death continue to occur.

It is critical to begin investigating the cause of a truck accident as soon as possible. The minute a truck driver is involved in an accident, the driver notifies his boss or dispatcher at the trucking company, who immediately notifies their insurance carrier.  Within hours, the insurance company has its investigators at the scene of the accident — taking pictures, interviewing witnesses, taking statements — gathering evidence to defend against a potential personal injury lawsuit several years down the road.

This is why it is critical for individuals injured in truck accidents, or their family members, to contact a top Chicago truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.  If the lawyer is experienced, he or she will know to hire its own investigator and begin its own investigation to determine the true cause of the truck accident.

Federal and state trucking regulations are confusing, so hiring an experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer is important. An overview of the Federal Regulations was provided in a previous post.

For example, defective tires and brake failures are the two biggest mechanical failures that result in trucking accidents. According to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), 29.4% of all trucking accidents involved break failure.  One of the federal trucking regulations, 49 C.F.R. § 393 – Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation, provides specific technical requirements for such things as brakes, brake performance and tires.  A qualified, experienced truck accident lawyer will consult with the relevant experts — engineers, accident reconstruction consultants, etc. — for the necessary technical explanations of the cause of the truck accident.

A top personal injury lawyer experienced in handling tractor-trailer accidents will seek to hold all individuals or entities responsible for their negligence.  For example, the brake manufacturer may have failed to adhere to automatic brake adjustment system requirements, or other federal regulations. The tire manufacturer may have sold defective tires.  The trucking company may have neglected to perform frequent, routine inspections and proper maintenance, provided inadequate truck driver training and set unrealistic schedules that contribute to driver fatigue. The truck driver may have neglected to perform a pre-trip inspection, may be driving while intoxicate or have been speeding.

Given the variety of factors and players involved in the trucking industry, the technical aspects of determining the cause of a tractor-trailer accident, and the substantial medical review to determine the extent and nature of the plaintiff’s injuries, hiring an experienced truck accident attorney to investigate your case is crucial.