The majority of U.S. states have banned texting while driving. In an effort to attract new buyers, automakers are introducing larger and more advanced dashboard displays, some of which allow drivers to read text messages. Lawmakers and safety experts are concerned about the potential for increased levels of distracted driving based on the latest trends […]
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FAA Study Shows Fatigue Problems Among Air Traffic Controllers
Fatigue can have a substantial impact on your ability to complete a task successfully. In the aviation industry, studies on fatigue have often focused on pilots. Fatigue is also a potential safety hazard for others in the aviation industry, including air traffic controllers. A study of controllers completed in 2011 shows that the typical work […]
When Safety Fits, Part Two
Choosing a Motorcycle Helmet According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a helmet improves your chances of surviving a motorcycle crash by 29 percent. NHTSA studies have demonstrated that wearing a helmet does not hurt a rider’s ability to see or respond to traffic. There is no valid safety reason not to wear […]
Joshua L. Weisberg Selected by Peers in the Legal Community as an Emerging Lawyer in Illinois
The Illinois Law Bulletin’s Leading Lawyers Division has selected Joshua L. Weisberg as an Emerging Lawyer in the area of personal injury law. This honor is based on comprehensive research by attorneys in the Leading Lawyers Division to identify the top 2 percent of lawyers 40 years old or younger who have proven themselves professional, […]
Emotional Support Animals and Aviation Safety
For many reasons, a certain percentage of travelers choose to bring their pets with them on airline flights. While traveling with a pet can be soothing, a new phenomenon has taken the practice further. Flight attendants are noticing an increase in the number of passengers bringing emotional support animals onto flights. The flight attendants worry […]
When Safety Fits, Part One
Chicago Among 10 Worst Cities for Drivers
In a ranking of the 100 most populated cities in the U.S., Chicago finished 93 in terms of the best cities to be a driver. The rankings were based on 21 metrics including things like road conditions, safety, costs of vehicle ownership, traffic and more. Chicago’s ranking as the 8th worst city in which to be […]
Child Safety on Airplanes Targeted in Canadian Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada recently concluded an investigation into a 2012 plane crash in which a 6-month-old child was killed. The investigation led the TSB to recommend that specially designed seat belts be made mandatory for children and babies on commercial flights. That recommendation is in line with a number of groups concerned […]
Medical Testing Carries Risks
Medical testing equipment is a significant investment. Hospitals and clinics purchasing this equipment face substantial pressure to justify the expense by keeping the machines busy. This requires a steady stream of patients getting tested for various health conditions. Some clinics have responded to this pressure by advertising the tests directly to the public, without waiting […]
Protected Bike Lanes and Bike Safety
The Chicago Department of Transportation reports that bicyclists represent as much as 38 percent of traffic during the morning rush hour. The city has undertaken several measures designed to help traffic, including bike traffic move quickly and safety. Last week the city unveiled the “green wave,” a plan to help bicyclists and motorists move in […]
Runway Incursions Continue to Be a Problem
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration consider runway incursions to be a top safety concern. Runway safety appeared on the NTSB Most Wanted List of advocacy priorities as recently as 2012. Runway incursions, situations involving planes taxiing, taking off or landing, represent a significant threat at airports throughout the country. A […]
Collision Avoidance Systems Pushed by NTSB
The National Transportation Safety Board has advocated for the use of collision avoidance technology for some time. In a recent report, the NTSB has once again advanced the idea that these systems should be standard equipment on all vehicles. The report suggests that thousands of deaths and injuries each year could be prevented with the […]
Rapoport Law Offices, P.C., Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against Chicago-Area Hospital For Causing Baby’s Traumatic Brain Injury
Rapoport Weisberg Sims & VanOverloop filed a medical malpractice lawsuit today in the Circuit Court of Cook County against a Chicago-area hospital for causing a baby to sustain a traumatic brain injury during delivery. According to the lawsuit and the attached physician’s certificate of merit, an otherwise healthy baby was being delivered by cesarean section, […]
Addressing the Problem of Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving and road rage are related, but distinct problems. Aggressive driving is substantially more common and involves violations of traffic laws. Road rage is assault either using or related to a motor vehicle. The distinction is important because aggressive drivers may be able to convince themselves that they are not a problem because their […]
Rapoport Law Offices, P.C., Continues Its Philanthropic Tradition as Corporate Sponsor of Charitable Event
Rapoport Weisberg Sims & VanOverloop highly values its continuing tradition of philanthropy. In that spirit, the law firm proudly served as a corporate sponsor at the annual Jewish United Fund Lawyers & Government Officials Division Dinner held at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago on June 2, 2015. The event was attended by government leaders as […]
David Rapoport Co-Presenter at ABA National Specialization Round Table
Attorney David Rapoport, President of the National Board of Legal Speciality Certification, attorney Gary McNeil, Executive Director of the Texas Board of Legal Speciality Certification and Joan Eagle, a Chicago lawyer and current Chairperson of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, co-presented at the ABA National Specialization Roundtable held in Denver, Colorado, last weekend. The […]
Is Your Deck, Porch or Balcony Safe?
Throughout Illinois, homeowners are required to get a permit before building a deck, balcony or porch. Municipalities maintain safety standards for what is required in building these structures. For example, in the City of Chicago, a deck, porch or balcony floor must be designed to support a minimum of 100 pounds per square foot. There […]
Many Railroads Will Miss a Key Safety Deadline
In 2014, the National Transportation Safety Board included Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation on its Most Wanted List of safety initiatives. The NTSB had been calling for the devices for 45 years at that point. Congress had taken action on that suggestion already in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 by requiring all railroads […]
Biking In Chicago
Today is Bike to Work Day and riders all across the country are taking the opportunity to commute with their bicycles. That journey will be considerably easier for some than for others. Biking in a metro area can be challenging even during low traffic periods. During rush hour, it can become a near impossibility in […]
Lawsuit Filed Against Construction Company After Truck Collision Results In Career-Ending Injury
Rapoport Weisberg Sims & VanOverloop, filed suit against a construction company and its employees today in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The action arose out of an injury that occurred when a large box truck struck a pickup truck in a local scrap yard. The collision threw down a roofer working in the […]
