The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and the Medical Review Board have teamed up to recommend mandatory testing for sleep apnea among obese truck drivers. Sleep apnea has been linked to numerous truck accidents where the driver either fell asleep or was exhausted at the time of the crash. The two committees are preparing a formal recommendation […]
Blog
Cook County’s Dangerous Trucks
A number of questionable practices in the Cook County Highway Department have placed workers and the driving public in danger. According to Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard, many of the 320 trucks in the fleet have not passed, and would not pass, safety inspections, increasing the risk of serious truck accidents. While some vehicles have […]
Joshua L. Weisberg Selected to Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers
Rapoport Weisberg Sims & VanOverloop partner Joshua L. Weisberg has been selected as one of Illinois’ top 40 trial lawyers under the age of 40 by The National Trial Lawyers organization. According to The National Trial Lawyers website, “Membership into The National Trial Lawyers Association: Top 40 under 40 is by invitation only and is […]
Over the Counter Medication Recall
Consumers should always be on the lookout for announced recalls. Every year, countless people are injured by defective toys, tools, vehicles, food, drugs and other consumer goods. When a product is found to be dangerous, most companies will take the proper steps to limit their liability. While recalls generally come too late for some consumers, […]
Pilot Fatigue and the Duty Time Rule
When the National Transportation Safety Board releases its annual Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements, it almost always contains a goal regarding operator fatigue. As part of the NTSB drive to reduce deadly aviation accidents, it has led efforts to combat pilot fatigue. That is why the NTSB is celebrating a new rule released by […]
David E. Rapoport Receives AV Preeminent Rating: Highest Possible Professional Rating
We are pleased to announce that in 2012 Rapoport Weisberg Sims & VanOverloop’s founding partner, attorney David E. Rapoport, will mark his 20th anniversary year of receiving the highest possible professional rating,* AV Preeminent, from Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings. AV Preeminent* is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s […]
A Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving?
Distracted driving was linked to more than 3,000 deaths last year, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Cell phone use was a primary culprit in many of those fatal car and truck accidents. The size of the problem has led the National Transportation Safety Board to recommend a nationwide ban on using […]
Rapoport Law Offices, P.C., files medical malpractice case based on negligence during the labor and delivery of a baby girl
Rapoport Weisberg Sims & VanOverloop filed a lawsuit today in the Circuit Court of Adams County, Illinois, against a hospital, obstetrician and her medical practice group all located in Quincy, Illinois, for medical malpractice during the labor and delivery of a baby girl. The lawsuit alleges that during the labor and delivery process the external fetal heart […]
Wisconsin Targets Alcohol & Seat Belt Safety
Wisconsin drivers are about to get a reminder about the dangers of driving drunk and riding in a car without a seat belt. The statewide campaign known as “Booze and Belts” will last until December 17th and is intended to reduce the number of deaths and injuries due to car and truck accidents. Police departments all over […]
Rapoport Law Offices, P.C., Proudly Welcomes Octavio Duran as a New Associate
Rapoport Weisberg Sims & VanOverloop is happy to announce that Octavio Duran has joined its legal team. Mr. Duran graduated from Michigan State University College of Law as its 2011 Class President. Mr. Duran demonstrated excellent advocacy abilities in law school including winning numerous trials under the authority of Supreme Court Rule 711. At the […]
Sightseeing Tour Ends in Deadly Helicopter Crash
A sightseeing tour at the Lake Mead National Recreation area outside of Las Vegas ended in tragedy Wednesday. The helicopter crash claimed the lives of all four passengers as well as the pilot. The crash occurred around 5 p.m. while the helicopter proceeded on its normal course to Hoover Dam. The weather was clear with good visibility […]
FAA Safety Officials Target American Airlines
Cost cutting decisions by an airline can compromise the safety of passengers and airline personnel. The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an increase in safety checks of American Airlines and its affiliate to ensure that the company’s financial difficulties do not lead to aviation accidents. The inspections are geared toward the areas where an airline might […]
In-Flight Meal Leaves One Passenger Dead
A 73-year-old man ordered the chicken on an American Airlines flight from Barcelona to New York. The meal was allegedly contaminated with deadly bacteria. He became ill and his condition worsened on the next leg of his flight from New York to Miami. The man died shortly after the flight emergency landed in Virginia. The surviving family […]
Airplane Propeller Accident Leaves Woman Badly Injured
A 23-year-old model was struck by an airplane propeller last week at a private airport. Lauren Scruggs had just exited the plane when the accident occurred. As a result of the catastrophic injuries she received, she has had her left hand amputated and has undergone several surgeries. She is currently listed in stable condition, though the long […]
Defective Drug Manufacturer Settles Vioxx Case
In 2007, the drug maker Merck agreed to a $4.85 billion settlement with the individuals who suffered heart attacks, strokes or other injuries associated with the use of Vioxx, as well as with the families of those who died as a result of using the drug. The makers of this defective drug have now settled their case […]
New Cell Phone Ban for Commercial Truck Drivers
The Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has decided to ban the use of hand-held cell-phones for commercial vehicle drivers. The ban is the latest effort to reduce serious truck accidents caused by distracted driving. In 2010, the DOT passed a rule banning text messaging by bus and truck drivers. This […]
Baby Sling Leads to Wrongful Death Suit
The Eddie Bauer Sling & Hip Carrier is the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit filed last week in Cook County Court. The plaintiffs believe that the defective product caused their newborn daughter to suffocate while her father carried her. The family has named the retailer that sold the sling, as well as the manufacturers of the […]
One Cause of Truck Driver Fatigue Examined
With all the attention paid to cell phone use and the rise in distracted driving, it is important to keep sight of a problem that has been around since cars were invented-driver fatigue. After several high profile truck accidents cited sleep apnea as playing a role in the accident, some industry groups took notice. The Federal Motor […]
Driving Tips for a Safe Holiday Season
When the first snow falls, it can seem as if every driver around you has never driven in winter conditions before. The drivers who spent all summer risking serious motor vehicle accidents by tailgating, speeding and driving distractedly do not seem to realize that the danger has heightened. Some drivers behave as if their SUVs are unaffected […]
New Rules for Truckers Debated
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, under pressure from consumer safety groups and the Teamsters union, may suggest rule changes for how truck drivers operate. Advocates for the changes contend that any losses suffered by the trucking industry will be gained in reduced truck accidents. Opponents counter by suggesting that the new rules force truckers to […]
