A Chicago construction worker was killed Monday night when hit in the head by a forklift.  The accident occurred in an industrial park just before midnight on November 23.

It is currently unclear why the man didn't see the forklift, or why the forklift operator did not see the construction worker.  According to reports, the operator is being cooperative, who has passed both an alcohol and drug test.

If you or someone you love has been injured or worse on the job, contact the Chicago workplace injury attorneys of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C., by calling 312-466-8200 today.

Bash, get-together, gala, rendezvous, hangout, soiree, celebration, shindig - the terms are endless, but the point is the same. Parties of all sizes and occasions are cornerstones of human social life on every level, from close-knit groups of high school friends to coworkers, colleagues, and fellow churchgoers.  

Danger from People

Parties should, in theory, be positive events. They exist in order to bring people closer to one another under the premise of simply having a good time. Unfortunately, rare indeed is the party that goes according to plan. Especially true of gatherings fueled by alcohol or other drugs, people’s behaviors often seem to morph in collective situations, often leading to unpleasant or even dangerous consequences.

In one tragic example, a man whose coworker jokingly lit his grass skirt costume on fire at a company fire died as a result of this “innocent” practical joke. The offender was convicted of manslaughter and reckless endangerment and sentenced to several years in prison.

Dangerous Places

While this case might represent the more extreme end of the spectrum, the line between harmless fun and real threats is easily crossed. Moreover, there are the sheer situational dangers involved when many people are packed into the same tight space.

The threat of fire hazard become of huge importance in small clubs or other venues. Structural integrity is also a issue, with one dramatic and disastrous example being the collapse of a third-story floor at an Israeli wedding reception.

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For more information on what to do if you or someone you know has been injured at a party and you think another person’s negligence or reckless actions may have been at fault, contact the experienced Chicago person injury attorneys of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C., today by calling 312-466-8200.

Whether you're an expectant parent or just expecting company of the toddler type, safety gates are a worthwhile purchase. These devices which can either be of the hard-mount variety, known as “screw-in gates,” or use springs to press outward and wedge between a doorframe or other passageway - “pressure gates.”

While both types of safety gates have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of convenience, reliability, and economy, the underlying intent is always the same: to keep kids from putting themselves in danger. A safety gate of the hard-mount variety at the top of a staircase is thus an absolute necessity.

When selecting a gate, absolutely no compromises should be made, nor shortcuts taken. Experts in child safety insist, for example, that gates designed to keep pets out of the room are unacceptable substitutes. However, accidents may still occur even when we make every possible attempt to secure against them.

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A child’s fall from the top of a staircase can be devastating, especially if the above is true. The companies that make safety gates for children assume a certain degree of responsibility for the integrity of their products.

If you or someone you love has been affected by an infant or toddler’s fall and you believe that poor design or assembly on the part of a safety gate might have been at fault, you deserve to see justice done. Contact the experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers of Friedmand & Bonebrake, P.C., today by calling 312-466-8200.

America is a nation of car-drivers, with over 250,000,000 registered passenger vehicles on the road. It is also the historic homeland of the consumer automobile, of Henry Ford’s Model T and the “Motor City” of Detroit.

Although the U.S. automobile industry is currently facing a major crisis, it still employs hundreds of thousands of men and women who work day in and day out to assemble Buicks, Chevys, Cadillacs, and a host of other quality vehicles. These jobs are often physical demanding and dangerous, involving long hours and heavy machinery.

Too many people who do not have first-hand exposure to the real world of automobile plants assume that everything today is automated and that no real risk remains for major harm. While it is true that advances in robotics technology have greatly improved auto production efficiency and output, the component of human labor remains absolutely essential, and the possibility of serious bodily injury to auto factory workers has not disappeared.

Every year, thousands of workers for major American car companies are injured on the job. Apart from the damage that virtually any piece of equipment in a plant can do, the chemicals involved in production can be highly toxic and cause deadly complications for those handling them if strict safety guidelines are not met.

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Injuries resulting from accidents or poor oversight at automobile plants cannot and should not be taken lightly or seen as just “part of the job.” If you or someone you love has been hurt on the job at a vehicle plant, contact the experienced team of Chicago personal injury lawyers at the offices of Friedman and Bonebrake, P.C. by calling 312-466-8200.

Whether it’s to fill up for the ride home or to grab a snack and take a stretch break during a road trip, a stop at the gas station is such a routine part of everyday life that we often fail to even pay attention to our surroundings. The fact that this setting has become such a normal, unacknowledged part of modern existence means that we are apt to overlook hidden dangers that result in thousands of injuries and even fatalities every year.

As commonplace as they seem to us, gas stations are nevertheless full of potentially hazardous conditions. Oil spills on the ground can cause serious injuries to unsuspected customers who slip or skid and suffer a fall. This was the case with one man who was already disabled and riding on a scooter when he hit a slick patch of surface coming around a corner. He was forced to undergo multiple surgeries on his ankle, and was left even further immobilized.

Poor gas station upkeep is not limited to grounds liability. Faulty pump equipment, for instance, may cause a hazardous spill if the nozzle comes loose. Other customers may also be behind gas station injuries. In one dramatic example, a man was barely able to rescue two children from a burning car before it exploded after a speeding motorist plowed into the pump station from the other side.

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If you or someone you love has been affected by an accident at a gas station and you believe someone else’s negligence was at fault, contact the experienced team of Chicago personal injury attorneys at the law offices of Friedman & Bonebrake, P.C., today by calling 312-466-8200.