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• Chicago train crash injures dozens

  Barry Doyle | November 30, 2007 3:41 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  An Amtrak train coming into Chicago from Grand Rapids, Michigan ran into the back of a stopped freight train this afternoon. The crash happened on Chicago's south side. The engine from the Amtrak train hit the rear end of a Norfolk Southern freight train which was hauling shipping containers. Spokesmen from Norfolk Southern claim that the freight train had been cleared to be on that track. ...

• Mother Sues After Four-Month Old Died From Cough Medicine

  Jenny Albano | November 15, 2007 4:49 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  Dimitria Alvarez's four-month old son died from taking over-the-counter cough and cold medicines on Oct. 8, 2001, and she has since sued the two sued two distributors of the drugs, claiming they should have known the dangers of the main ingredient and cautioned consumers.The lawsuit filed Wednesday is one of the first since Federal Drug Administration hearings last month where health experts...

• Six hospitalized in bus crash

  Barry Doyle | October 07, 2007 6:07 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  On Saturday, a CTA bus driver lost control of his bus and crashed into a fence near Roosevelt and Kolmar.Six were hospitalized, one with severe injuries.There are always two important points to keep in mind when a CTA bus or train is involved in an accident like this.The first point is that the CTA has the legal status of a common carrier. Most drivers are required to use ordinary care for the...

• Teen suffers infection from dog bite

  Barry Doyle | August 26, 2007 8:51 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A 13 year old New Jersey boy was bitten by a pit bull recently while he was out going to restaurant. The pit bull was being walked by a walker when he lunged after the boy, biting him in the calf.The boy was badly wounded as a result of the attack, with wounds requiring 146 stitches to close. More significantly, he suffered a cellulitis infection which required hospitalization.The most obvious...

• Man Killed in Fatal I-275 Motorcycle Crash

  Courtney Mills | August 22, 2007 1:07 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  Nicholas C. Kopplin of Overland, Missouri, was riding his motorcycle on Tuesday night at a high rate of speed when he lost control and ran it into the guard rail of the median dividing I-275. According to a Florida Highway Patrol statement, Kopplin was not wearing a helmet at the time he was thrown from the motorcycle, which occurred at around 6 o'clock in the evening.Nicholas C Kopplin, a...

• Cold and Cough Medicine May be Risky for Children

  Jenny Albano | August 15, 2007 11:02 PM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  The FDA will be discussing the safety and efficacy of cold and cough medicines for children in a meeting that will take place in October. Some doctors and health officials have questioned the safety of these medicines for children, especially toddlers. Some feel that the benefits of the medicines do not outweigh the risks that the children can incur. A group of doctors have filed a petition...

• Pit bull attacks deputy

  Barry Doyle | July 26, 2007 9:00 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A Michigan sheriff's deputy was bitten recently by a pit bull when the deputy resp[onded to a call that the pit bull had attacked another dog who was chained in his yard. The deputy had to shoot the pit bull to bring the attack to an end.The deputy suffered bite wounds to his arm which required medical attentionMost on the job injuries involve things other than dog bites -- falls, car...

• Equipment failure kills laborer

  Barry Doyle | July 24, 2007 8:00 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A California laborer was struck in the chest when the shovel of a steam shovel came loose and landed on top of him. At the time of the accident, he was working in a trench on a construction project.The laborer suffered fatal injuries as a result of being hit by the shovel.Under Illinois law, this man's family would be entitiled to worker's compensation benefits for his death. However, those...

• Inadequate staff levels tied to falls

  Barry Doyle | July 23, 2007 9:00 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  A Rhode Island nursing home has been ordered to increase staffing levels in order to prevent residents from falling. A survey of the home resulted in immediate jeopardy findings by public health officials after they found several residents had fallen multiple times because of inadequate supervision due to low staff levels.At least three residents were injured as a result of falling, including...

• Senior citizen crashes through restaurant window

  Barry Doyle | July 22, 2007 9:37 AM | 0 CommentsCook County, IL

  In Wilmette last week, a 94-year old woman crashed through the front window of a Panera bread restaurant after losing control of her vehicle.Nine people were hospitalized following the crash, including several in critical condition.This incident not raises many questions about why this woman was behind the wheel of a car, but also underlines the importance of having full coverage, including...