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Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC

Pandemic-related drop in comp medical costs continued into 2022

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Medical payments per claim decreased by 3% on average in 17 states for 2021 injuries with costs that extended into the first quarter of 2022, according to a set of studies released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The main driver of the decline was a decrease in the utilization of medical services, likely as a result of the…

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Man sues City of Wood River, water company after falling into water meter hole at Belk Park

By Personal Injury No Comments

A man is suing the City of Wood River and Illinois water companies, alleging he fell in a meter hole at Belk Park because the cover wasn’t securely placed. Plaintiff Jack L. Lingenfelter filed the lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against the City of Wood River and Illinois American Water, citing negligence. According to the lawsuit, the City…

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Passenger files negligence lawsuit against Bi-State following bus accident

By Personal Injury No Comments

A man claims he was injured while riding on a Bi-State bus when the driver collided with another vehicle. Plaintiffs Ayers Ayers and Sharon Ayers filed the lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Dana Crutcher and the Bi-State Development Company, citing negligence. According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 1, 2021, Ayers was a passenger on a bus…

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Alton hospital sued after delayed cancer diagnosis allegedly led to severe consequences

By Personal Injury No Comments

A lawsuit alleges that medical staff at Alton Memorial Hospital failed to notify a patient that he had cancer for more than two and a half years, during which time the cancer spread throughout his stomach. Plaintiffs Christopher B. Nicholson and Christine Nicholson filed the lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Alton Memorial Hospital, Dr. Ahmad A. Karadaghy,…

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Illinois Appellate Court Rules Freight Broker Not Liable for $18M Jury Award in Teen’s Brain Injury Case

By Personal Injury No Comments

A freight broker is not liable for an $18 million jury award to the mother of a teenage boy who suffered a brain injury when he was struck by a truck, an Illinois appellate court ruled Wednesday. A panel of the 1st District of the Illinois Appellate Court reversed a decision by the Cook County Circuit Court to deny a…

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Mine inspections uncover 246 violations in 10 states

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

The U.S. Department of Labor said impact inspections at 14 mines in 10 states throughout August uncovered a total of 246 workplace safety violations. The inspections, completed by the department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, found 94 significant and substantial violations and 17 violations found to have unwarrantable failure findings, the DOL said. Significant and substantial violations are those likely…

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Patient sues Shiloh hospital over alleged nerve damage during childbirth

By Personal Injury No Comments

A patient of the BJC Memorial Hospital in Shiloh alleges she suffered nerve damage while delivering her baby as a result of medical negligence by the facility’s employees. Plaintiff Katherine Conreaux filed the lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Sylvia Obernuefemann, CNM, Adriena Beatty, DO, and Protestant Medical Center, Inc., doing business as BJC Memorial Hospital –…

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Woman working in Alton building claims she was exposed to carbon monoxide

By Personal Injury No Comments

A woman has filed a lawsuit claiming she was exposed to carbon monoxide because of a building owner’s negligence in maintaining the heating system. Plaintiff Anissa Womack filed the lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Illinois Unnerstall, LLC and Get “R” washed, LLC, citing negligence. According to the lawsuit, Womack was an employee of Acceptance Insurance and worked…

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D.C. lawmakers introduce workers comp parity bill

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have introduced legislation designed to create parity in workers compensation in cases involving injured workers who receive out-of-state benefits. The Parity in Workers’ Compensation Recovery Act of 2023, filed Tuesday, states that workers who receive comp awards in any state are not barred from seeking compensation under D.C. workers comp law for the same injury or…

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Children at greater risk of worksite injuries on family farms: NIOSH

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Agriculture is one of the few industries where relatives of workers suffer high rates of injuries due to the nature of working farms existing on private lands, and researchers say farmers need to ensure children are kept safe from workplace incidents. The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, in a Wednesday blog post, said while agriculture ranks among the…

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