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It's estimated that millions of seniors are the victims of elder abuse every year. Estimates range from 1 million up to 5 million, with many of these incidents occur within the supposedly safe corridors and rooms of America's nursing homes. It's a shocking and disheartening statistic that continues to rise as awareness of nursing home abuse begins to rise. As seniors and their families report these incidents to regulators, law enforcement, and non-profit organizations the true scope of the problem is beginning to come into focus.

One of the leading causes of car accidents is brake failure. When brakes are improperly manufactured, or carelessly maintained, the ability of the driver to stop their vehicle is considerably reduced. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 5%, or 1 in 20 car accidents are caused by brake failures. Thus, it is a significant problem that legislators, regulators, and Chicago car accident attorney's are eager to put a stop to.

In the state of Illinois, the law requires drivers to carry auto insurance to help protect themselves and other drivers/ passengers in the event of an accident. Unfortunately, however, an estimated 15 percent of drivers in the state are uninsured. In January of 2012, Illinois increased the penalties for driving without auto insurance and now has some of the stiffest penalties in the nation, but uninsured driving remains a problem.

The Chicago Riverwalk project is ambitious. Still under development more than 12 years after its start, the meandering cityscape delights residents but sometimes challenges contractors. A September 21 construction accident highlights risks and reminds us that workplace safety must always be paramount. A construction barge used to deliver building materials sat in the Chicago River. Something went badly wrong. A construction worker had his legs cut by sheet metal. Construction equipment became rescue equipment as the man, strapped into a basket stretcher, was hoisted from barge through the air to land before being relayed to an ambulance.

August 21, 2015 marks a date that is certain to make history in personal injury cases in the state of Illinois. It is on that day that Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill that advocates claim will help prevent occurrences of abuse and neglect in the state's nursing homes. House Bill 2462, also known as The Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long Term Care Facilities Act, takes effect on January 1, 2016, and enables residents of nursing homes and their families to install video and audio surveillance equipment in their rooms.