Work Injuries

Chicago work injury lawyer to represent injured airlines employee

September 8, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Illinois workers’ compensation attorneys at Abels & Annes have agreed to represent a Chicago woman who was injured while working for American Airlines.

The accident happened on August 29, 2010 when our client was working as a ramp agent in terminal four at O’Hare Airport. The claimant was positioned outside an airplane by a ramp when she was struck in the face by a baggage loading machine.

The plaintiff sustained facial lacerations, bruising, a shoulder injury and severe headaches. After the accident she was taken by ambulance to Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago. At the ER, her lacerations were stitched, and x-rays showed no fractures.

Chicago work injury lawyer settles case for $130,000

September 5, 2010 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois workers’ compensation attorney at Abels & Annes has reached a $130,000 settlement on behalf of a South Side resident that was injured on the job. The accident occurred on May 9, 2006 in the City of Chicago. Our client was on the job Chicago Transit Authority. He was hit by a car while crossing the street. He had just exited a CTA bus and was walking in a marked crosswalk.

After the accident or client was rushed to Christ Medical Center by ambulance. There he was diagnosed with multiple pelvic fractures and had to undergo surgery. After spending several days in the hospital he was transferred to Manor Care in Chicago to undergo rehabilitation.

In addition to the $130,000 settlement, our client received disability pay while he was off of work due to his injuries, and all of his medical bills were paid for.

Chicago woman hurt in work accident during filming of Transformers 3

September 3, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A 24-year-old Chicago woman was seriously injured in a work accident while employed as an extra on the movie “Transformers 3”

The Sun-Times reports the Little Village resident suffered a serious head injury in a stunt involving several cars during filming Wednesday night in Hammond, Indiana. The Indiana State Police reports an object struck her after it smashed through the windshield of her 2006 Toyota. She was flown to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

Relatives said she remained hospitalized in stable condition after undergoing surgery. They said she was excited to be in a movie; her normal day job is working as a teller at Second Federal Savings in the Little Village.

Chicago injury lawyers hired to represent husband of trainer killed in Sea World whale attack

August 27, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A Chicago personal injury and wrongful death law firm has been retained by the husband of the SeaWorld trainer who was killed by a whale in February, according to NBC2 in Orlando.

Dawn Brancheau was pulled into a pool and drown by a whale named Tilikum. Some media reports indicated the animal had a history of aggression.Earlier this week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a $75,000 fine against SeaWorld in connection with the trainer’s death. OSHA is the federal body charged with investigating serious and fatal work accidents. The government agency found SeaWorld committed a “willful” violation, meaning the company demonstrated indifference and intentional disregard for the safety of employees.

When a worker is injured, a Chicago injury attorney should always be consulted to ensure that your rights are protected.

Chicago work accident seriously injures two men after scaffolding collapse

June 30, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Two employees were injured in a Chicago construction accident when their scaffold collapsed on Saturday, WGNTV reported.

The accident happened around 10 a.m. Saturday at 62nd and Sangamon Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood, where the men were working on a building that was converted to a woman’s shelter. They were doing tuckpointing work when the scaffolding collapse occurred. Both men were taken to Stroger Hospital. The two men were in critical condition, according to the Breaking News Center.

The building is owned by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department reported that the building could be unstable and the city’s building department is being called in to assess its integrity.

Chicago work injury lawyers keep settling claims

June 24, 2010 | By Dave Abels

Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers at Abels & Annes have recently settled several claims for our clients.

One client, an employee at Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital in LaGrange, Illinois required arthroscopic surgery on her left shoulder after she slipped and fell in a bathroom while at work. The employer made no financial offers to the claimant until she retained our firm.

The hospital has since paid the claimant disability for her time off work and they also paid her medical bills. Additionally, the worker received an $18,000 settlement.

Work Zone Safety Awareness week aims to reduce Chicago car accidents, work injuries, in construction zones

April 5, 2010 | By Dave Abels

National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 6 to 10 and will include multiple public awareness efforts by Illinois Work Zone Safety Partners and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

In 2008, fatal Illinois road construction accidents claimed 31 lives and injured 1,985 people. A total of 7,813 traffic accidents were reported in Illinois construction zones. Last month, our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog reported about a fatal construction zone accident that occurred recently in northwest Indiana, about 30 minutes south of Chicago.Scott’s Law, named for a firefighter who was killed after being struck by a vehicle while responding to an accident on a Chicago expressway, requires vehicles to slow down and change lanes, whenever possible, for emergency, construction and maintenance vehicles displaying oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.

A violation of Scott’s Law carries a mandatory court appearance, a fine of up to $10,000, driver’s license suspension and, in cases of an accident causing property damage, injury or death, a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Illinois work zone traffic facts:

-Construction workers do not have to be present to receive a speeding ticket in a work zone.

-State law lowers speeds in construction zones from 65 mph to 55 mph or from 55 mph to 45 mph. Lower speed limits may be posted.

-Increased fines for speeding in work zones are set at a minimum of $375 for a first offense and a minimum of $1,000 for a second offense.

-Court appearance is mandatory for a work-zone speeding violation.

-A motorist who causes a fatal work zone accident may be charged with reckless homicide, which can carry a penalty of 3 to 14 years in prison.

-Photo enforcement may be used to increase work zone safety.
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Chicago taxi driver injured after being struck by Jeep on I-90

March 16, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A taxi driver was seriously injured Sunday morning in a Chicago car accident near O’Hare International Airport, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The driver stepped out of his passenger van and was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 90 near the airport.

It was the third time in recent weeks that a motorist was struck outside a vehicle in the Chicago area. As we reported last month here at Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, one person was killed and another seriously injured while standing outside a disabled vehicle and, in a separate incident, a 36-year-old woman was struck and killed by a semi while pulled over to check for a flat tire.

Chicago work accident fatally injures Peoples Energy employee, critically injures co-worker

March 8, 2010 | By Dave Abels

A worker was killed last week and another injured in a Chicago construction accident that occurred in the Loop, ABC 7 reported.

The victims are employees of People’s Energy and were conducting an underground test at Jackson and Wacker Drive when the Chicago work accident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday afternoon. They were testing a 20-inch main when a steel pipe slipped and struck both workers, who were in a construction hole across the street from the Willis Tower.

Three ambulances responded to the scene at 1:45 p.m. after reports of workers trapped following an explosion, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Obey Scott’s Law to reduce the risk of Chicago car accidents

February 6, 2010 | By Dave Abels

An Illinois State Police trooper was nearly struck by a speeding car during a traffic stop on the Eisenhower Expressway last weekend, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The Chicago car accident attorneys and the Illinois work injury lawyers at Abels & Annes urge everyone to obey the law and move over for stopped emergency vehicles, as well as work vehicles at construction sites. Additionally, please remain extra cautious from the time you see flashing emergency lights; highway accidents often occur when motorists react unexpectedly to what’s in front of them and emergency vehicles often signal problems in the road ahead.

In this case, a trooper had a motorist pulled over about 2:30 a.m. on the eastbound Eisenhower exit ramp at Sacramento Boulevard on Chicago’s West Side. He had brought two occupants to the rear of his vehicle, with the back door open and the emergency lights flashing, when a maroon four-door sedan sped onto the ramp, hit the squad car’s open door, and continued south.

The motorist reportedly ran the red light before continuing southbound on Sacramento. Investigators hope surveillance video from the damaged squad car will help locate the sedan.

Scott’s Law, Illinois’ “Move Over” law, carries a fine of up to $10,000 and provides for an aggravated offense if alcohol or drugs are involved, which can result in 90 day license suspension and up to two years in prison if an accident results in injury or death.

The law requires Illinois motorists approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights to yield the right-of-way by moving to an outside lane whenever possible. The law was named after Chicago Fire Department lieutenant Scott Glenn, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting at a crash scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
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