Saint Clair County Law Blog

3 common consturction hazards to watch for

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

As a construction worker in Illinois, you probably know that you have a dangerous job. But did you know that in 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that greater than 9 percent of the 3.3 million reports of nonfatal injuries and illnesses were made by construction workers? With many other industries only making up one percent or less of these reports, this is a significant amount of incidents from one source.

Hazards on a construction site are extremely varied and seemingly endless. Even a simple task that you perform a hundred times per day might result in an injury that keeps you from working. By understanding the most common types of construction injuries, you can reduce your chances of suffering a workplace injury.

5 ways to prevent employee injuries in office settings

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

People often think that working in offices are "cushy jobs" that don't face any risks. They do have some very real hazards, though. For employers, setting a safety plan to minimize risks is necessary. On top of this, employees need to take steps to increase safety. Still, the responsibility falls on the employer to ensure that things are being done properly and that workers have the required tools to get their job duties done.

There are a few hazards that are common in offices, so these are a good place to start when an employer needs to check safety standards. Addressing these can go a long way toward helping workers to avoid injuries.

Driver exhaustion is a common cause for commercial truck crashes

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

There is no question that commercial trucking is a difficult and demanding career. Commercial drivers often have to work incredibly long shifts, potentially without any direct human interaction four hours at a time. Additionally, they often need to load and unload merchandise or supplies onto trailers, which can cause joint damage and back pain.

Even physically maintaining control over a big rig for hours at a time takes a physical toll. Back pain, shoulder pain and even carpal tunnel can result from the physical strain of steering, shifting and braking for hours.

How harmful is drowsy driving?

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

When most people think about distracted driving, they imagine a reckless motorist texting behind the wheel. While this does occur, and more often than we'd like to think, we don't always remember the cognitive distractions that can be just as dangerous.

One such cognitive distraction is drowsy driving. Driving while sleep deprived can put drivers and others on the road at serious risk.

Does your employer control what doctor you can see for an injury?

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Thursday, January 3, 2019.

Getting injured at work is often a stressful and frustrating experience. You may feel completely disempowered by your injury and your experience. You can't just ignore an injury unless you want to risk it getting worse. Instead, you have to follow the orders of your doctor, which could include rest or missing out on work or favorite activities.

You may have little control over your daily life if your injury keeps you from performing your job or tending to tasks of daily self-care, such as cleaning or grooming. It is natural for people in this situation to look for areas in which they still have influence or control.

A terrifying number of people read and send texts on the road

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

Driving is a daily activity that requires focus and good hand-eye coordination. Small mistakes by a driver can have catastrophic results for that person and anyone else in their vehicle. Focus on the task at hand is paramount to safely arriving at your destination.

Although most people understand that texting while driving is a dangerous activity, a large number of people still engage in this practice. You might hope, especially if you avoid mobile phones at the wheel, that other people would put safety before the need to communicate instantly.

3 types of injuries retail and food service workers face

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

The retail and food service industries are full of men and women who work hard for the pay they earn. There are risks that come with these jobs, but many can be prevented with proper safety practices. Employers should ensure that the workers have what they need to do their jobs safely.

When an employee is injured, they will likely need to seek medical care right away. Some injuries may not be easy to notice right away, but failing to get treatment could mean that the condition worsens. This could lead to more problems in the future, and medical care might become necessary then.

Car accident brain injuries are career killers if left untreated

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

When you suffer an injury in a car accident, it affects every area of your life, not just your commute. This is particularly true when it comes to head injuries, even mild cases. Of course, many people who experience accidents leave the scene thinking that they escaped without serious injuries, only to learn later that they suffered more harm than they initially thought.

Mild traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are much more dangerous than many victims realize. Because these injuries are "mild," they allow victims to continue their daily lives without putting them into a coma or killing them outright. Unfortunately, mild TBIs still cause major problems. A car accident victim who suffers a mild TBI and does not seek immediate medical care may experience a number of changes in their temperament and mental capability, often disrupting their professional and personal lives.

Any kind of job can result in repetitive motion injuries

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Friday, November 23, 2018.

When people imagine workplace injuries, they often think of stereotypically dangerous jobs, such as construction or professional driving. They may not think of retail workers, office workers or hospital staff.

However, people who work in any kind of environment are still at risk of injury. Some risks vary from profession to profession, while others remain constant across most every work environment.

Frozen roads are not an excuse for causing a crash

On behalf of Jon Rosenstengel of Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

With winter weather arriving ahead of the official turn of the season, drivers in Illinois are getting their annual crash course in safe driving on slippery roads. Every winter, precipitation turns the streets and highways from a safe place to travel to a dangerous ice rink for vehicles. No matter how proactive the state may be at clearing the roads, there are always accidents related to inclement weather.

You may think that winter crashes are just part of living in Illinois, but law enforcement and insurance companies don't see it that way. Someone's driving, not the weather, is almost always the root cause of a collision. It's important for you to understand that bad weather is not a legal defense against causing a crash.