Saint Clair County Law Blog

Farm vehicle crashes can be horrific

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Illinois farmers face great risk when they operate farm machinery. Unlike in an industrial setting where co-workers can react and alert first responders in the event of a farm machinery accident, farmers are typically alone in their barns or fields and may be unable to summon assistance after a catastrophic accident.

Then, too, farmers are at high risk when moving their equipment along local roads where motorists drive. The University of Iowa's Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, a division of the College of Public Health, conducted past research on farm machinery crashes. Below are some of their findings.

Get ready for wintry roads to minimize the risk of crashing

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Monday, October 28, 2019.

With the winter months not too far away, drivers need to take a few minutes to brush up on their driving skills for the days when snow or ice overtake the roadways. This can help everyone to remain as safe as possible during times when conditions are treacherous.

Your safety starts before you leave home. You have to ensure that your vehicle is ready for the season. Approximately 2,000 fatalities occur on wintry roads each year, so take the time to minimize the chance that you will end up as part of this statistic.

Answer these questions to understand workers' compensation

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

An on-the-job injury can turn your life upside down. From the pain to the mental anguish to the impact on your finances, you'll find yourself dealing with challenges that you never even took into consideration.

A workplace injury requires immediate medical attention. Not only does this allow you to understand your injuries and prognosis, but it also puts you in position to obtain workers' compensation benefits.

3 ways to seek compensation after a commercial vehicle crash

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.

Getting into a motor vehicle crash with a large commercial vehicle could cause a lot of upheaval and stress for you and your family. The large size of commercial trucks often means that they cause catastrophic damage to other vehicles, as well as severe injuries to the people in the smaller passenger vehicles involved in a crash.

You may have to worry about covering the costs of medical care, as well as the loss of your wages during your convalescence and the expense of replacing or repairing your motor vehicle. While you may have a decent auto insurance policy, your policy protects you from liability if you cause a crash with someone else.

Tips for returning to work after an injury

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

Returning to work after an injury is often challenging. Not only do you have to worry about how you are going to be able keep up with the demands, you also have to try to find out about changes that happened while you were gone.

If you know that you are going to be returning to work eventually after the injury, there are some points you should remember that can help you through the process. Most importantly, remember that you can start doing some of these before you ever return to work.

Tips for driving safely on interstates and highways

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Friday, September 27, 2019.

Interstates and highways are high-speed roadways that have lots of traffic. This makes them fairly dangerous, especially when there are drivers who are distracted, fatigued or driving in an unsafe manner. While you can't control the way that other people behave on the roads, you can take steps to boost your own safety.

Even if you've been driving for many years, brushing up on a few things about interstate driving can benefit you. For starters, make sure your vehicle is ready for the road and that you are mentally and physically able to drive. Never get on the road if you can't give your full attention to it.

Harvest safety includes personal and equipment safety measures

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

The harvest season in Illinois is one when farmers can see the fruits of their labor, but it is also associated with specific hazards simply because of the nature of the season. All farmers must know the risks so they can avoid them.

Others might also benefit from understanding the inherent dangers. For example, having to operate machinery on public roads is a considerable hazard. Drivers can reduce the risks by driving safely and giving these hardworking men and women the respect they deserve while they are taking care of the harvest.

3 tips to help you deal with an insurance adjuster after a wreck

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

Imagine that it is Friday morning and you are on your way to work. Your weekend outlook seems good, with a little rest and relaxation on the schedule and maybe an evening out to enjoy some St. Louis Blues. Things are going smoothly until you come to the final intersection before you arrive at work. That's when another driver fails to stop at a red light and slams into the side of your car. Now, you have a wrecked car, you are on your way to the hospital and you are already getting calls from the other driver's insurer.

Dealing with an insurance adjuster after an accident can be tricky. In fact, saying the wrong thing could cause your claim to completely go up in smoke. Here are a few tips to remember when you have to deal with the insurance adjuster.

4 guidelines to improve ladder safety at work

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Monday, September 9, 2019.

Many job duties require workers to use ladders. One of the leading causes of fatalities in the workplace is falling from a ladder. This makes ladder safety a top priority for all employers who expect workers to use them. The safety plan must be clear and easy to understand. Employees must receive the program when they start with the company, and they must revisit it periodically during employment.

Supervisors should check on employees who use ladders to verify that they are using safe practices. They must address safety issues immediately to minimize the chance of a worker suffering from a fall.

Steel-toe boots: Safety equipment or liability?

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

Every occupation has specific equipment that is needed to do the respective jobs safely. For some, steel-toe boots are essential, but some people falsely believe that these specialty shoes are also a liability. It is imperative that all people who work in a setting where these boots are necessary understand just how important they are and how minimal the risks are.

The television series Mythbusters did a full episode to try to prove the statement going around that steel-toe boots can actually cause amputations and that they are more unsafe than regular shoes. To be clear, the myth was busted and the episode proved that steel-toe boots help to keep workers safer.