This post is the third in a series of posts on the four most common factors that contribute to motor vehicle accidents. While poorly designed roads may be a contributing factor in car accidents, poor upkeep of well-designed roads can also cause motor vehicle accidents. Depending on where you are at, different agencies are responsible […]
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Indiana To Set Up $5 Million Fund for Stage Collapse Victims
On August 16, 2011, two days after the tragic Indiana State Fair stage collapse, we called on the Indiana State Government to accept its share of responsibility for this tragedy, immediately set up a $5,000,000 damages fund for the victims, and introduce legislation repealing the unfair $5 million damages cap that applies under Indiana law. […]
Common Causes of Car Accidents: Roadway Design (Part II)
Reliance on Auto Pilot Features Lead to “Loss of Control” Airplane Accidents
Similar to a motor vehicle’s cruise control, modern commercial airplanes have auto pilot features. The question is, however, whether drivers and pilots rely too heavily on these automated features. A recently released study by aviation safety officials looked at this question and found an emerging problem with “automation addiction.” Heavily relying on automated flight systems […]
Common Causes of Car Accidents: Equipment Failure (Part I)
This post is the first in a series of posts on the four most common factors that contribute to motor vehicle accidents. Everyone has heard the adage, accidents happen. And it’s true. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over two million people end up in the hospital each year due to […]
Indiana Judge Orders the State to Preserve Collapsed Stage Wreckage
Many questions arising from the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair earlier this month will likely remain unanswered in the weeks and months to come. Investigations into tragic accidents of this scale often take months to complete. And as months go by during investigations it not uncommon for evidence to be lost – which […]
Before Indiana Considers Spending Money Building a Permanent Stage, It Should Compensate The State Fair Victims
Two more individuals who were seriously injured when a temporary stage collapsed at the Indiana fairgrounds last week have died from their injuries, bringing the number of total fatalities to seven. In the wake of these two tragic deaths comes an article in this morning’s Indianapolis Star that raises an interesting question, “Should the Indiana […]
Indiana Government Adds Insult to Injury By Denying Responsibility and Failing to Promptly Compensate Victims of State Fair Catastrophe
Sunday August 14 at approximately 8:49 p.m. EDT, a wind gust estimated at 60 to 70 mph caused the Main Grandstand Stage at the Indiana State Fair to collapse, killing five people and injuring another 45. Since the accident, the Indiana Government has steadfastly denied it has any responsibility for what happened. Governor Mitch Daniels […]
Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop, P.C., Selected to the American Association for Justice Leaders Forum
The American Association for Justice has selected Rapoport Sims Perry & VanOverloop to be a member of its exclusive Leaders Forum. According to AAJ’s website, the organization’s mission “is to promote a fair and effective justice system—and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by […]
Illinois surgery centers and infection risk
One of the primary risks of surgery is the possibility of a post-operative infection. Medical malpractice occurs when health care facilities fail to maintain proper standards of care. In the case of infection-control problems, the situation is severe in at least one type of Illinois facility. Same-day surgery centers are growing in popularity in the health care […]
Medical malpractice and hospital reputation
A good rating from patients may hide serious flaws in the care provided at a hospital. A recent review of Medicare data has shown that many of the hospitals that received top marks from patients had a higher rate of death among patients suffering heart attacks, heart failure or pneumonia. Victims of medical malpractice may confuse friendly […]
Salmonella scare leads to turkey product recall
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to search for the source of a salmonella outbreak that has killed one person and left more than 70 others seriously ill. After an internal investigation, Cargill has decided to recall 36 million pounds of potentially contaminated products made from fresh and frozen ground turkey. In addition, the […]
An eye on worker health and safety
Many industries rely on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to make the workplace safe for their workers. Unfortunately, a surprising number of construction and other workplace accidents occur because PPE were not used properly, or at all. According to a recent survey, roughly 9 out of 10 safety professionals acknowledged that they had witnessed workers […]
Campers mourn victim in tragic drowning accident
A 15-year-old Illinois boy drowned during an organized swim held at his camp in Michigan. The tragic death occurred despite the presence of camp counselors and lifeguards. The boy was one of 15 young men swimming in water roughly 10 feet deep when he went under. By the time lifeguards were able to pull him up some […]
FDA medical device approval process under fire
A series of high profile recalls led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to seek recommendations for how the medical device approval system could be improved. Recently, defective product recalls involving Medtronic defibrillators and DuPuy artificial hips have drawn significant attention to how the FDA grants approval for medical devices. These and many other medical devices were […]
Police investigate cause of bus-semi collision
A semi truck struck the back of a coach bus, igniting a fire that covered both vehicles. The fatal accident claimed the life of the truck driver and injured 30 people on the bus, including 7 who required hospitalization. Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the early morning accident. Moments before the accident, the bus had […]
NTSB investigates collision at Logan International
A Boeing 767 carrying 204 passengers struck the tail of a smaller plane carrying 74 passengers while the planes were taxiing at Logan International Airport. The airplane collision took both planes out of service and is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB joined the investigation due […]
Cheap lettuce and trucking accidents
Of the many provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) signed in 1994 was one granting Mexican and Canadian truckers the right to carry goods into and out of the United States. After seventeen years of delays and disagreements, the provision might finally take effect despite continued concerns over funding and trucking safety. President […]
On anniversary of accident, NTSB calls for culture change
Distracted driving has led to countless accidents in recent years. Few were as impactful as the collision between a tour boat and a barge that killed two and put 35 more in the water in Philadelphia one year ago. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is using that accident as part of its campaign to bring national […]
Combating fatigue among air traffic controllers
Overnight shifts can prove challenging for workers in many professions. For U.S. air traffic controllers, the consequences of falling asleep on the job can be deadly aviation accidents. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reached an agreement with air traffic controllers in an attempt to help them stay alert on the job. The new policies were […]
