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CHICAGO, IL – A deadly crash involving three vehicles shut down I-80 in Morris, Illinois on Friday. At least three vehicles, including semi-trucks, were involved. Illinois State Police stated there were two confirmed fatalities.

Illinois State Police District 5 near Joliet said troopers responded to the multi-vehicle crash. A vehicle in the westbound lane crashed into the rear-end of another vehicle, causing it to travel through the median and into the eastbound lanes, according to police. The car that had been struck and hit another vehicle had rolled over across the center median striking a fourth vehicle. A fifth vehicle was hit due to the debris from the crash.

I-80 was reopened around 5 a.m. Saturday.

Avoid risky driving: 7 tips

Nearly six million car accidents happen every year, according to DriverKnowledge.com. There are precautions you can take to avoid car accidents.

1. Don’t text or use your phone while driving
2. Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
3. Follow the speed limit
4. Keep a safe distance
5. Visually inspect your car before driving it (tires, gauges, gas and oil levels, etc.)
6. Ensure that you and all passengers are wearing a seatbelt
7. Use size and age-appropriate car seats for children

CHICAGO, IL – Choosing the right nursing home for your loved one’s needs can be a daunting and time-consuming task. Nursing home facilities offer around-the-clock care, provide 3 meals a day and often provide rehabilitation services. Here are a few things to consider when looking to place your loved one in the best nursing home suited for them.

Consider staffing

First and foremost, nursing homes are struggling nationwide over staffing shortages. Nurses are required to work longer hours while being significantly understaffed. The first thing you should consider is the staffing to resident ratio. Are nursing home staff members friendly, caring and empathetic towards your loved one? You should inquire how long staff has been employed by the facility, as well as turnover to provide insight into the quality of the nursing home.

Observe the environment

During your tour of the nursing home, make sure to mentally note what you’re observing. It’s important that the environment is hazard-free including proper lighting, handrails, etc. so your loved one doesn’t injury themselves. Are rooms and common places clean? Do residents’ look well-groomed? These are all things you should take into consideration.

Ask about activities

You don’t want your loved one to be couped up in their room all day. Make sure to ask the nursing home about what activities are available. Will your loved one be able to participate in activities safely? Make sure to ask if residents are friends with each other or make a mental note of this. It’s important that your loved one feels a sense of community.

Location

If it’s possible, you should find a facility that’s close to home to make visiting your loved one more comfortable. Regular visits from family members are crucial to ensure that they’re living in an environment that is safe and free of neglect or abuse.

Make a second visit

Try to make an unscheduled visit to the nursing home facility. Nursing home staff ensures they’re putting their best foot forward when taking you on a tour of the facility. While you may not get a tour, the facility should still be operating smoothly.

CHICAGO, IL – America’s health care debt crisis is only getting worse, especially for those who have loved ones living in a nursing home facility. Nursing homes are now going after the relatives and friends of residents who don’t pay their bills.

NPR and Kaiser Health News dug into court records in Rochester, N.Y., and found that children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors and other family members have been sued – some upwards of $10,000. There were nearly 240 debt collection cases filed by nursing homes in and around the Rochester area between 2018 and 2021.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just happening in New York. Nursing home industry officials have seen lawsuits in California, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Ohio.

The hang-up of why relatives and friends are being sued for their loved ones bills is admission agreements. An admission agreement is a legally binding contract that defines and describes a resident’s legal relationship with the nursing home. Often times, whoever signs the documents as a responsible party is who the nursing home will go after to collect payments.

Federal law prohibits nursing homes from making relatives sign an admission agreement; however, the reality is that they do get asked to sign it.

Importance of Not Signing a Nursing Home Admission Agreement

Some people sign admission agreements without realizing what they’re agreeing to and can ultimately end them facing a lot of trouble. Agreements can contain illegal or misleading provisions.

If you have signed an admission agreement and your loved one isn’t paying their bills, you could be accused of breaching a contract. It’s critical that you do not agree to be the “responsible party” so you are not responsible for the residents unpaid bills.

Ensure that you’re reviewing the admission agreement for terms like “responsible party,” “guarantor,” “financial agent,” or something similar. If possible, you’re loved one should fill out the paperwork themselves.

Arbitration Provision

A majority of nursing home admission agreements contain a provision that states all disputes regarding the resident’s car will be decided through arbitration. Arbitration is the process in which two parties attempt to settle a dispute by making a decision they both agree to. By signing an admission agreement that contains arbitration provisions, you are waiving your right to go to court to resolve the issue.

Since a nursing home can’t force you to sign an arbitration provision, it’s best not to. It will save you time and money in bills, fees and potentially court.

CHICAGO, IL – As our loved one’s age, they become more susceptible to suffering from fall accidents that could end up injuring themselves. One in three individuals aged 65 and older have a fall each year which only increases with age, according to the National Institute of Aging.

When placing your loved one in an assisted living or nursing home facility, you want to believe you can trust staff members to provide them with the best quality of care. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Nursing home staff have a duty to ensure that residents live in a facility free of abuse and neglect. Fall accidents at this age can be catastrophic and lead to brain injuries.

Outcome of Brain Injuries from Fall Accidents

Studies have shown that traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can lead to impaired thinking or memory and long-term cognitive, emotional, and functional impairments. The CDC has said that nearly 1,800 individuals living in nursing homes die each year from fall accidents with many residents falling more than once. This averages out to 2.6 falls per person, per year.

Fall accidents can result in:

• Broken bones including a persons wrist, arm, ankle, foot, or hip fracture
• Head injuries especially if a person is on medication like blood thinners

Conditions That Are More Prone to Fall Accidents

Experts have studied the various conditions that may contribute to an elderly individual suffering from a catastrophic fall. Some risk factors that lead to more falls include:

• Use of medication including sedatives, tranquilizers, or anti-depressants. Some over-the-counter medication may also affect a person.
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Lower body weakness
• Difficulties with walking and balance
• Vision problems
• Foot pain or poor footwear
• Hazards like uneven surfaces, throw rugs that can be tripped over, or broken steps

Nursing Home Neglect Can Lead to Brain Injuries

Nursing homes should be free of hazards that could cause a resident to fall and injury themself. Staff should ensure that liquids are cleaned from the floor so that a resident doesn’t slip-and-fall. It’s also important that if a resident needs assistance with getting in and out of bed, for example, that staff is there to help. Otherwise, a resident may try to get out of their bed or wheelchair themselves and ultimately injury themselves.

When staff members are negligent towards residents, it can lead to accidents and in some tragic cases even death. Stories have surfaced how nursing home staff members can become so frustrated that they abuse the resident, causing them to stay silent about the abuse and not seek medical treatment. This type of behavior is unacceptable and is a direct violation of their rights.

Contact a Chicago, Illinois Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Lawyer

If your loved one suffered a fall accident at their nursing home facility, contact the nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group to help guide you through your legal options. Our team of skilled and experienced lawyers offer free, no obligation consultations. Call us today at (312) 384-1920 to learn more.