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Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC

Motorist sues truck driver, employer following East St. Louis Township collision

By Personal Injury No Comments

A motorist claims she was injured when a truck driver allegedly caused a collision on Interstate 64 in the East St. Louis Township. Tarvarshay Graham filed a complaint Oct. 15 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Gasa Leasing Inc., and Kevin Jansen, alleging negligence. Graham states in her complaint that on Oct. 18, 2018, she was driving her…

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Former cleaning company employee alleges wrongful termination after suffering respiratory issues

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

A cleaning company employee claims she was fired in retaliation for receiving workers’ compensation after being hospitalized with respiratory issues due to exposure to cleaning chemicals. Brandy Clark filed a complaint Oct. 12 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Clements Cleaning Inc., alleging violation of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. According to Clark’s complaint, she was employed by…

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Lumbar surgery readmission rates higher in comp than group health

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Workers compensation patients who undergo lumbar surgeries have higher percentages of reoperation and readmission compared to those undergoing similar surgeries in group health, the Workers Compensation Research Institute reported in a study released Thursday. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based WCRI researchers examined 30- and 90-day reoperation and readmission rates for injured workers who underwent lumbar spine surgeries in 18 states from October 2015…

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Construction firm penalized additional 5% for worker’s injuries

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

A construction company that appealed the Indiana Workers Compensation Board’s award of medical and disability to a worker who fell through the roof not only lost its appeal, but saw the worker’s award increased by 5% by the court. In KNK Group v. Sarver, the Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed the board’s ruling that the company did not…

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Edwardsville asphalt company sued over employee’s alleged DUI, collision

By Personal Injury No Comments

An Edwardsville paving and asphalt company is being sued after one of its employees allegedly caused a collision while driving under the influence. Sara Zaricor and Patricia Hannah filed a complaint Oct. 6 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Gregory Blue Eldridge and Gregory C. Eldridge, doing business as Eldridge Paving, Asphalt & Maintenance, alleging negligence. According to…

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Suit alleges Wal-Mart employee dropped metal sign on child, caused concussion

By Personal Injury No Comments

A Wal-Mart shopper claims an employee dropped a metal sign on her child’s head during repair work. Rosetta Freeman, individually and as next-of-kin to Myah Taylor, a minor, and Myah Taylor filed a complaint Oct. 13 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and an unknown John Doe, alleging negligence. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs were…

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Emergency room costs in comp on rise: Report

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

The increase in facility costs for hospital emergency room visits has “significantly” outpaced medical inflation, with facility costs growing approximately three times faster than the hospital outpatient producer price index, according to an analysis of workers compensation emergency room costs released Friday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. The Boca Raton, Florida-based ratings agency said in its report that…

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Study details factors linked to longer opioid use by injured workers

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Despite substantial reductions in recent years, opioids continue to be widely dispensed to workers with work-related injuries in several states, according to a study released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based institute studied factors that are associated with longer-term opioid use, finding that the strongest predictor of such use is opioid prescribing early in a claim….

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Motorist alleges Ford dealership improperly reassembled airbags, resulting in brain injuries during crash

By Personal Injury No Comments

A motorist claims a Ford Dealership did not properly reassemble his vehicle’s airbags, resulting in traumatic brain injuries when the airbags did not deploy in a Belleville crash. Aaron Van Horne filed a complaint Sept. 29 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Auffenberg Belleville LLC, Auffenberg Dealer Group Inc., Auffenberg Ford Inc., and Auffenberg Motors of Illinois Inc.,…

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