Your brain may be, in many ways, a mirror image from left to right. However, the opposite sides control very different functions, and so injuries to the brain can have a drastically different impact depending on where they take place. Below are some examples of how the injury could change your life, based on where it occurs.
Right side injuries
If you recently suffered a blow to the head in a car accident, slip and fall or other collision, you may have a very serious injury and not even know it. Any time that you suffer a blow to the head, you run the risk of experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
You may think that a traumatic brain injury is not a problem if it classified as mild. You wouldn’t be alone in hearing the term “mild” and deciding that meant you were fine. Many individuals believe that mild TBIs are frivolous injuries, and then ignore symptoms that show otherwise. However, a mild TBI is only mild when compared to injuries that leave a person in a coma or dead.
You were recently in a serious car accident, and either you or someone you loved suffered serious injuries as a result. The accident was clearly the fault of the other driver, so now the insurance company that covered the other vehicle has offered you a settlement.
At first, it may seem wonderful to receive an offer for a lump sum payment to offset the financial and emotional losses you’ve suffered as a result of the accident. However, many times, that first offer presented by an insurance company is insignificant compared to what they could end up paying in a lawsuit. Once you sign the settlement, you lose the right to ask for more, even if your medical expenses rise.
Tall buildings can help solve issues facing cities, like lack of space for expansion. By expanding vertically, more housing and businesses can exist on the same footprint of ground space. However, tall buildings can create issues as well as solve them. One of the problems posed by the skyscrapers and other tall buildings in Chicago is falling ice. During cold weather and precipitation, ice and snow develop and harden on these tall buildings. Then, during warmer days or windy days, the accumulated ice and snow breaks free and falls toward the street, damaging cars and injuring pedestrians.
Even if you live in the suburbs and commute to work, icicles can pose a serious threat. Given how this winter season has involved numerous thaws, there is real potential for injuries and property damage as a result of falling ice. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries as a result of falling ice, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. It’s possible that the building where the ice accumulated is responsible for these injuries via premises liability.
Surgical procedures typically involve an element of pain. While some pain is expected, medical negligence during surgery can lead to additional, unexpected pain. It is reasonable to question whether your surgery was conducted properly if you are not getting the answers you deserve about post-surgical pain. If your doctor does not have a reasonable explanation for your pain, or if it persists longer than it should, you may be the victim of surgical malpractice.
The medical profession is not known for openly acknowledging mistakes. Patients may be ignored, even while suffering debilitating pain, if the cause is medical negligence. Many patients are forced to get a second opinion to discover what happened. Many victims of malpractice never discover the cause of their problems.
Motor vehicle recalls reached record highs in the past two years. Despite the increase, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to make it easier for consumers to report auto safety problems with their cars. The NHTSA has proposed a rule that would force automakers to place labels on the sun visors of new vehicles. These labels would include instructions to car owners on how to file safety complaints.
From consumer complaints to vehicle recalls
Electric and hybrid vehicles may be the wave of the future. These cars have the potential to reduce our reliance on gasoline and improve the environment. While electric cars are currently more expensive than their gas-burning counterparts, it may be only a matter of time before these vehicles are competitively priced or even cheaper than the alternative. The news is not all good for electric and hybrid cars, however. One trait of these vehicles may be contributing to an increase in deadly pedestrian accidents and collisions with bicycles. Electric cars are quiet.
The government responds
Final regulations and guidance for contractors to protect their workers’ wages, civil rights, safety, and workplace protections were passed last week – just in time for Labor Day. The final touches to the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order by the FAR Council and the U.S. Labor Department, were approved Aug. 25 – over two years after President Obama signed it on July 31, 2014.
The order is intended to stop government contractors with billion-dollar contracts who repeatedly violate the labor rights of their employees and prevent future violations. The companies will not receive future contracts with the government if the offenses continue.
On St. Patrick’s Day, many festivities will be taking place throughout Chicago. Whether you’re out with friends or enjoying the day with family, celebrate responsibly and consider the potential consequences that can arise when having a few turns into a few too many.
Do you feel comfortable reporting injuries at work? Does your employer encourage you to report any injuries that occur?
It is critical to report a workplace accident as soon as possible after the event, and there are several reasons for this. Most importantly, filing a report alerts your employer to any safety issues that might need to be addressed and it also creates a record so that you can obtain the workers’ compensation benefits owed to you by law.
North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates