Being a healthcare worker, like a nurse or CNA, can be dangerous. Healthcare workers are much more likely to be injured on the job than most people. Nursing is a physically demanding profession, especially for those who work in elder care or bedside nursing. Nurses and nurses’ aids often bear the brunt of the physical labor that needs to be done, like helping patients ambulate or change positions in bed. Healthcare workers who are injured on the job may be eligible for workers’ compensation. If you are a healthcare professional who got hurt at work, you should immediately contact…
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Dealing with a driver with road rage can be terrifying and also dangerous. Road rage incidents tend to increase during times of civil unrest or universal stress, such as during the height of the pandemic and around election day. When people, in general, are short on patience in their daily lives, they tend to be less patient on the roads as well. This can lead to a lot of car accidents. With the election approaching, a lot of people are also displaying political bumper stickers on their vehicles. While this is a vital form of free speech, it can…
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It can be stressful getting pulled over, taking a breathalyzer test, and failing it. Most people start panicking that they will be charged with a DUI and face all the serious consequences that come with a conviction. 
However, breathalyzers are not always accurate and there are many reasons why a failed test does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. If you failed a breathalyzer and are worried about what this means, speak with a knowledgeable Joliet, IL DUI lawyer to understand your options. 
How do Breathalyzers Work?
A breathalyzer is a testing mechanism that you blow into. The device…
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When an employee gets injured at work, he or she is generally entitled to workers’ compensation. These benefits help an employee cover the costs of medical expenses and loss of income due to recovering from a work-related injury. 
However, there is some confusion regarding people whose jobs involve travel and who get injured outside their usual work environment. For example, what happens when airline employees, including pilots and flight attendants, get injured at work? Since Illinois is a major travel hub, many people throughout the state work in the travel industry and need to travel for their jobs. A…
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Garbage collectors provide an important service to the communities they serve. Without them, neighborhoods could have obstructed roads, hygiene risks, and other challenges. However, garbage trucks can also pose a risk to other cars on the road, and they are involved in many accidents that have caused significant injury or death.
Since garbage trucks are often owned by a private company or a municipality, there can be questions about liability for damages. If you were injured in a collision with a garbage truck, contact a skilled Will County, IL personal injury attorney to understand your options.
Common Causes of Garbage…
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People naturally try to avoid harmful situations. We are hard-wired to engage in a “fight or flight” response, and it is reasonable to expect someone to do whatever they can to prevent something negative from happening to them. When it comes to being arrested, this instinct can be problematic. In Illinois, resisting arrest is treated as a serious charge with severe consequences. There are various directions you could pursue to defend yourself against these charges. The best step you can take is to find a reliable Will County, IL criminal defense lawyer to advise you on how to proceed.
Resisting…
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Laws require Illinois employers to have workers’ compensation insurance policies, with only a few exceptions. This coverage should provide specific benefits to workers who become ill due to work-related duties or are injured while on the clock. In exchange for these benefits, injured workers typically give up their right to pursue a personal injury claim against their employers.
Are there any circumstances that might allow you to pursue a personal injury claim? How do you know your options? The knowledgeable attorneys at McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC can discuss your situation during your free consultation and answer your questions.
When Could…
Continue Reading If I Claim Workers' Comp, Can I Also Sue My Employer?

When you hear about someone being injured in a car or truck accident, you probably think the drivers were responsible. It may not occur to you that a state, federal, or local government might share the blame. However, government agencies may be held liable for your injuries in certain situations.
How can the government cause motor vehicle accidents? Can I get compensation from a government entity? These claims are more complex than many other personal injury cases, but a knowledgeable lawyer from McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC can overcome the potential challenges to help you achieve a successful resolution.
How…
Continue Reading Did the State of Illinois Contribute to My Car Crash?

If you are charged with a crime in Illinois, your offense will be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony. Both kinds of charges can threaten your future, finances, and freedom if you are convicted.
When you work with an experienced attorney from McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC, we will investigate your situation to develop a solid criminal defense strategy. If we cannot have your case dismissed, one of our options may be to attempt to have your felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor. Call us today to discuss your case and learn more about how we can protect your rights…
Continue Reading Can My Illinois Felony Charge Be Reduced to a Misdemeanor?

In recent years, the number of people working from home has skyrocketed. Although the rate of growth has slowed, remote work is still the way many people earn a living in the U.S. This transition has prompted cybersecurity concerns, a dynamic shift in how companies do business, and introduced popular hybrid work models.
While organizations and workers alike benefit from remote work, the question of whether workers’ compensation covers you when you work from home arises. The answer: it depends. The knowledgeable lawyers from McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC explain.
Who Is Covered by Workers’ Comp?
In Illinois, laws require employers…
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One of the first things new drivers learn is how to determine who has the right of way in any traffic scenario. This concept was designed to improve traffic flow and decrease injury-producing collisions. One or more drivers may need to yield the right of way in specific situations. Unfortunately, many drivers do not follow these laws, frequently causing otherwise avoidable crashes.
If someone did not yield the right of way properly and caused a car accident that injured you, you may qualify to obtain compensation. A knowledgeable attorney from McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC can investigate your collision and help…
Continue Reading Can I Sue a Driver Who Does Not Yield the Right of Way? | IL

A DUI conviction can have long-term, significant impacts on your life. It may affect your employment, driving eligibility, and others’ perception of you. It can also dramatically increase your auto insurance rates. In Illinois, the crime cannot be expunged from your criminal record, and it will also stay on your driving history permanently. These facts are true even for a first conviction.
One of the ways a law enforcement officer obtains supporting evidence is to ask you to submit to various testing methods, which are supposed to provide accurate readings of your blood alcohol concentration. Breath, urine, and blood tests…
Continue Reading Do You Have To Submit to a Breath Test With DUI Charges?

Illinois employers are required to maintain workers’ compensation insurance policies that provide benefits to workers who are injured or become ill due to job-related duties. Employees can receive these benefits regardless of who is responsible. Benefits cover medical and rehabilitation expenses, a portion of lost wages, and other qualifying costs.
But what happens if a work injury worsens a pre-existing condition? Do you still qualify to get workers’ comp benefits? This situation adds significant complexity to your claim, but an experienced attorney from McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC can help.
What Are Pre-Existing Conditions?
Workers can have injuries or illnesses that…
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