When young children are learning to walk, they fall down constantly. Usually, these falls result in little more than a bump or bruise. Unfortunately, as we age, our bodies become less resilient and the dangers of falling increase substantially. Elderly people who fall may suffer from hip fractures and other broken bones, concussions, spine injuries, or other severe injuries. Fall-related injuries often have a profound impact on an elderly person's life, both physically and psychologically. The CDC reports that many people who fall become afraid of falling again, which prompts them to become less active and avoid enjoyable activities. This reduces strength and balance and increases the chances of falling again. If you have an elderly loved one who has been injured in a fall, you may be able to take legal action against the party responsible for his or her fall injuries.

Liability for Fall Accidents

In order to successfully bring a personal injury lawsuit against another party, you will need to prove that they were negligent in some way. For example, if your loved one was injured in a fall at a grocery store, you may be able to prove that the store was negligent in failing to clean up a spill in a timely manner or failing to put up a "wet floor" sign. If your loved one was injured in a fall at a nursing home, you may be able to prove that the nursing home was negligent in failing to properly monitor your loved one or provide him or her with the necessary assistance.

Liability often comes down to the foreseeability of an accident.  If a reasonable person in the defendant's position should have known that there was a danger of someone falling and being injured, then the defendant may be held liable.

Last month, the governor of Illinois signed the Family Bereavement Leave Act. This new law amends the Child Bereavement Leave Act (CBLA) and expands the scope of unpaid bereavement leave that is available to Illinois workers. This new law will go into effect on January 1, 2023.

The previous law only covered the loss of a child or stepchild. Under the new law, however, a two-week, unpaid bereavement leave extends to employees who have experienced a stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and a number of other types of losses.

Unintentional Acts

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 1 and 24 is unintentional injuries. One in five child deaths is a result of unintentional injury.

Dogs can be sweet and kind. However, dogs are still animals capable of inflicting serious injuries. Studies show that dog-related injuries are occurring more and more frequently and currently account for over a third of homeowner insurance claims. Illinois is ranked second in the nation for dog bite injury claims.

If your or a family member were bitten by a dog or otherwise sustained injuries because of a dog, you may be able to file an injury claim and recover damages. You could be compensated for medical costs, pain and suffering, and more.

Liability for Dog Injuries

A dog’s owner may be legally responsible for any injuries caused by his or her dog. In Illinois, the owners are liable for dog-related injuries if:

According to national statistics, more than 150 people die from brain-trauma-related injuries each day. One year-long study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that about 1.5 million people suffer a brain injury each year.

The medical definition of a traumatic brain injury is any injury to the head which disrupts or interferes with the victim’s normal brain function. Many of these types of injuries are sustained in accidents that were caused by another party’s negligence or recklessness. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in an accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for losses the injury has caused.

For many victims, a brain injury results in permanent life changes. Many suffer from memory loss, chronic headaches, and permanent brain damages. Although a brain injury can occur in any type of accident, the following are the most common.

The month of April has been designated as National Youth Sports Safety Month. One of the best ways for children to stay healthy and make new friends is participate in school-related or recreational sports. Although it can be fun for a child to be part of a team and learn about engaging in healthy competition with others, it is important for parents to be aware of the injury risks associated with these activities. It is also important for parents to realize that just as they are responsible for keeping their children safe, so too are the school officials, coaches, and recreational staff who are also involved in these activities.

Sports-Related Injury Awareness

It is estimated that more than 2.5 million children are treated in emergency rooms each year for sports-related injuries in the United States. There are a number of activities that children engage in that can result in serious injuries. Some of the more common include:

• Baseball

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