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Automobile accident caused by DUI kills 11-year-old

Tragedy can strike at any moment. Countless Illinois residents have been victims of a wrongful death. Whether it's from an automobile accident, medical malpractice or a construction accident, another person's negligence is usually to blame.

Driving under the influence is an unfortunately common form of negligent driving. And when drugs and driving are combined the results can be fatal. Recently an Illinois man was charged with three accounts of aggravated DUI after he crashed his car into another vehicle killing an 11-year-old.

Driverless cars: The new solution to reducing car accidents?

With each passing year, many Chicago residents have lost their lives to car accidents. Every day there are several motor vehicle accidents throughout Cook County. Anything from fender benders to multi-fatality accidents have caused countless residents pain and grief. So how can one prevent car accidents? Driving safely by following all traffic rules and driving defensively can help one's chances but it can never fully protect against one of the biggest threats, human error.

It is estimated that human error contributes to 90 percent of all motor vehicle accidents. With death tolls and injury reports racking up in the millions, how can society reduce this number? The answer may be found in some new technology that may seem like science fiction. The driverless car has been the main focus for Google as well as a handful of other companies for the last several years. Since airplane can have an autopilot feature, why can't cars?

"Bully" physicians lead to medical errors

After being sedated, many patients are oblivious to what is going on with their surgery. They trust that the medical staff is operating on them to the best of their abilities, but what would patients find if they were secretly awake during a surgery? After a recent survey completed by health care workers, many Chicago residents would be surprised to learn that

77 percent said they witnessed disrupted behavior by physicians.

Between physical threats and verbal outbursts, many health care workers have claimed to of been bullied by their co-worker physicians. This potential hospital negligence has lead to many medical errors, according to the recent survey. 71 percent of those surveyed said such behaviors have caused medical errors in the operating room. When a doctor is distracted and takes time to yell or scold another employee, they are being distracted from their patient, leaving room for error.

Diminished sex life often a casualty of brain injuries

One of the worst injuries that a person can suffer is a traumatic brain injury. Many Chicago residents are aware of severity of the problems with the brain if this most-vital organ is injured. TBI is blamed for 30 percent of all injury-related deaths in America. Each year 1.7 million people will suffer from some form of TBI, from a concussion to severe brain damage. After compiling evidence from 14 separate studies, researchers have discovered another problem that stems from brain injuries.

Out of the 3 million Americans living with TBI, many of them suffer from sexual dysfunction. From erectile dysfunction to diminished sex appeal, 50 to 60 percent of people with TBI have sexual difficulties. Many TBI victims have suffered extreme emotional and physical damages from their dysfunctional sex life. Between personality changes to diminished libido, brain injuries can come with serious consequences for victims. To make matters worse, divorce among TBI victims can be as high as 78 percent, which may not be surprising considering that entire personalities can change from the result of a TBI.

Tragic Illinois accident kills 15-year-old, injures 2 others

Distracted driving is one the biggest contributing factors to teen car crashes. From texting while driving to having multiple peers in the car, teens are prone to distractions. The inexperience and recklessness of a teen driver can cause harm to both passengers and other drivers. Recently a fatal Illinois automobile accident caused by a teen took the life of a 15-year-old girl and caused a personal injury to another.

Police believe the tragic accident was caused by distracted driving. It all started after a car full of four teens - a 17-year-old male driver and three 15-year-old female passengers - was driving down the road when the driver disobeyed a stop signed and continued through the intersection. Another car that had the right of way in the intersection was T-boned the car full of teens on the driver's side.

24-year-old pedestrian struck by truck, killed in Chicago

A motor vehicle can be just as deadly as a loaded firearm. Each year over 30,000 people die from fatal car accidents. The majority of these accidents are caused by a negligent driver. Whether the cause is drunk, distracted or reckless driving, innocent people have lost their lives to the negligence of others. Last week a Cook County automobile accident took the life of a 24-year-old woman as she was crossing the street.

The accident occurred when tanker truck hit a pedestrian who was walking across the street. The 24-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian but could face additional charges depending on results of the ongoing police investigation.

Are robots to blame for medical malpractice surgeries?

Imagine telling a Chicago resident from the 1940's or '30's that robots would be doing surgery in 2013. Many would probably pass it off as science fiction, but in today's medical world using robots to perform surgery is becoming more mainstream. From prostate surgery to a hysterectomy, robots are now completing advanced surgeries. But just how safe are they? Since robots were first introduced to the medical world, several patients have filed medical malpractice claims against the technology.

From a case of a robot accidentally nicking a blood vessel that apparently killed a man, to a patient getting hit in the face with a robot arm, more of these robotic horror stories have popped up in recent years. Most of these robots are controlled by a surgeon. Robots do not have shaky hands and are usually error free, but they are still missing one very valuable tool: a human brain. Last year there were 367,000 robot-assisted surgeries, many of them resulting in success. The question is, are these robots doing more good than bad?

Illinois workplace cited by OSHA for safety violations

America's employers have come a long way since the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This act ensures that employers are responsible for providing their employees with a safe and healthful workplace. Throughout America's history, the workplace has seen many improvements, especially with worker's compensation laws. But even in today's society, there still are unsafe workplaces. A few weeks ago the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited an Illinois roofing contractor with eight safety violations.

The proposed citations totaled $47,960 after OSHA visited Woodridge Enterprises Inc. The company was charged with three repeat violations for a lack of fall protection for workers. Falls are one of the leading causes of fatal accidents in the workplace. The violation put workers in serious risk of injury. After the citations, the company was put on a "severe violator" list and will be subjected to mandated follow-up inspections.

17-year-old suffers brain injury from negligent driver

The world is wide open with possibilities for many 17-year-old Chicago teens. The future is often on their minds. Teens often dream of becoming anything they want when they grow up. From becoming anything from a professor to an astronaut, many teens have bright dreams of the future. It is always tragic when these dreams are derailed due to the negligence of another. Recently, a 17-year-old high school student was struck by a Jeep which caused her to suffer a serious brain injury. Despite all odds, the teen is not giving up.

Two teens were out for a jog when they were hit by a Jeep that was going too fast. Both girls survived, but one of them suffered a traumatic brain injury while the other suffered only minor injuries. The 22-year-old driver who struck the joggers was charged with driving with a suspended license and driving too fast for conditions. After three weeks in an intensive care unit, the teen was transferred to another center where she will continue treatment and rehabilitation. The family of the 17-year-old has said she is doing great and hopes to one day have her dreams back on track.

1 dead, others injured in car accident with police car

Every time a Chicago driver has passengers in the car, that driver should treat them as precious cargo and drive with the utmost caution. Driving drunk or otherwise recklessly can lead passengers to suffer serious injuries or even death.

Just last week a 24-year-old Illinois driver caused an automobile accident by crashing his car full of three people into a squad car carrying two police officers. At least one of the passengers in the car died after the accident, leaving the other passenger and the driver in critical condition. Both police officers involved suffered severe injuries and were taken to the hospital.

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