Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog

Illinois lawmakers recently passed a bill that would extend the time limit for criminal charges to be brought in childhood sexual abuse cases. Currently under Illinois law, prosecutors have a 10 year period in which to charge bring charges for such a crime. The new proposal will do away with this time limit in cases where the victim was a child at the time of the abuse. The bill still needs the approval of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn before it becomes law.

Please follow our blog for updates on this story.

If you would like to contact attorney, Joseph Klest, regarding the issue of childhood sexual abuse, please, click here, or dial 866-264-7639, for a free consultation.

© Joseph Klest, 2013.

Frankfor, IL pediatrician, Kishor N. Jain, is facing civil and criminal charges stemming from allegations that he sexually abused patients during office visits. State officials decided to continue withholding Jain's license following his refusal to testify at a suspension hearing.

The suspension will continue pending the outcome of Jain's criminal case, however, if he is found guilty of a sex crime, his license will be automatically revoked.

Many people place great trust and reliance on medical professionals to care for the health and well being of their patients. A violation of that trust can result in unmeasured devastation to families, especially when it comes to children. Victims of sexual abuse often don't know where to turn. Attorney Joseph Klest has spent over 30 years representing victims of neglect in the State of Illinois. He was a co-author of the 2003 Child Protection Act, which lengthened the Illinois statute of limitations allowing sexual abuse victims more time to claim civil damages in certain cases.

To contact attorney Joseph Klest, please click here, or dial 866-264-7639 to schedule a free consultation.

© Joseph Klest, 2013.

The statistics in Illinois are frightening. As of only February 12, 2013, the date of this posting, there have been more car accident fatalities in Illinois than there were at the same time last year. Also, more people lost their lives in car crashes in 2012 than did in 2011 in this state.

There are some steps you can take that may save your life or the life of a loved one. Statistics gathered by the Illinois Department of Transportation show that approximately a quarter of the fatal crashes in Illinois since the beginning of the year happened when someone was either not wearing a seat-belt or was improperly restrained.

Make it a point to wear your seat-belt and make sure, if you're a driver, to have your passengers wear seat-belts too. When it comes to children, this couldn't be more important. Make sure that all children riding in your car are properly restrained and that any car seats are correctly secured; it may save a life.

To speak to Chicago trail attorney, Joseph Klest, about these or any other issues related to car accidents, please, click here, or dial 866-264-7639.

Although Chicago has seen record high temperatures this January, winter is not over yet. As the temperature fluctuates above and below freezing, motorists throughout Chicagoland are likely to encounter unsafe road conditions more than once before we reach spring.

Accidents do happen and, sometimes, they are unavoidable, but there are a few simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones during these often unpredictable winter months in Chicago.

- Keep informed. Check your local weather forecast before heading out on the roadways, and if you can avoid having to travel in icy conditions, stay at home.

- Be prepared. You'll want to keep a few things in your car for those cold winter months that can make a big difference when you need them. Ice scrapers are a must, of course, but consider keeping a small shovel in your trunk just in case you may have to dig yourself out of a heavy snowfall.

- Don't rush. I get it, life can be hectic and it often seems like there isn't enough time in the day to go slowly, but when the roads are slick, it's better to take your time and keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you. Having enough room to stop may mean the difference between getting there safely or having an accident.

To talk to an experienced trial lawyer at the Klest Injury Law Firm, please click here, or dial 866-264-7639. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.

© Joseph Klest, 2013.

A Pittsburgh VA nursing home is under investigation by the the Veterans Affairs Inspector General following a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at the hospital. The purpose of the investigation is to determine whether the hospital's administration took proper precautions to prevent the Legionnaire's outbreak.

Legionnaires disease can be contracted when a certain type of bacteria forms in poorly maintained ventilation systems. The bacteria becomes airborne in water vapor and the disease can be transmitted through inhalation. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease are often compared to pneumonia and this illness can cause death in some cases. People with respiratory problems and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to this disease.

Attorney Joseph G. Klest has been representing people who were injured through no fault of their own for over 30 years. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Legionnaires disease, please click here, or dial 866-264-7639, to speak with an experienced attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm.

An investigation by Federal agents has identified 123 victims of internet child pornography perpetrated by an international operation spanning 19 U.S. states and several foreign countries. As a result of the investigation nearly 250 people were arrested.

This operation, nicknamed Sunflower, was named after Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s first successful case under its Victim Identification Program.

While law enforcement can hold perpetrators of these horrific acts criminally liable, victims are still left emotionally and psychologically scarred. The difficulty of coping with the effects of abuse leaves some victims reluctant to identify their abusers or to come forward with their stories. It is important for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to know they have rights, and enforcing those rights can be an integral part in the healing process.

Since 1991, Attorney Joseph Klest has represented over 100 victims of childhood sexual abuse, helping to pursue abusers and bring them to justice. If you or a loved one have been sexually abused, Mr. Klest would like to help you. To contact attorney Joseph Klest, Please, click here, or dial 866-264-7639.

A 39 year old man was killed on Tuesday morning in a hit-and-run accident that happened in Chicago's West Woodlawn neighborhood. It was reported that the driver, who later turned herself in to police, fled the scene after striking the man on the 6700 block of South Langley Avenue.

in a hit-and-run case, an experienced injury attorney will take advantage of every available resource to try to identify the perpetrator. When the victim of a hit-and-run dies, an experienced attorney may be the best resource that victim's family can have when prosecuting their case.

Joseph G. Klest has been representing families in wrongful death cases throughout his 30 year practice in Chicago. Please, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 to contact Mr. Klest for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2012.

According to statistics kept by the Illinois Department of Transportation or IDOT, the number of fatal crashes in Chicago and Cook County has increased from 2011 to 2012. As of December 18, 2012 IDOT reports 125 fatal Chicago car accidents in 2012. This number is up from 109 in 2011.

Transportation officials have pointed to increased driving due to warmer weather as the cause of increased fatal accidents. The warmer weather has lengthened the riding season for motorcyclists. The first 6 of 2012 also saw an increase in deaths related to motorcycle accidents in the Chicago area.

Attorney Joseph Klest has been representing serious injury victims in the Chicago area for 30 years. If you or a loved one have been seriously hurt in a car accident, please, click here, or dial 866-264-7639, to contact the Klest Injury Law Firm to schedule a free consultation.

An 11-year-old girl was hit by a car on Chicago's far South Side neighborhood of Altgeld Gardens yesterday. She was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in critical condition following the car accident.

In some situations when the person responsible for a car accident does not have insurance or is under-insured, or in a hit-and-run situation where the responsible party speeds off before being identified, an injured victim may have a claim for compensation against his or her own insurance company. In these types of situations, an insurance company will be in the position as if it were the responsible party and the relationship between the injured person and his or her insurance company becomes adversarial. In those types of circumstances, it is recommended that the car accident victim seek advice from an experienced injury attorney.

Attorney Joseph Klest has been representing injured victims in the Chicago area for 30 years. To set up a free consultation with an experienced Chicago car accident attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm, please click here, or dail 866-264-7639.

At least four patients have been diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease at Pittsburgh Veterans Hospital in Oakland...

A person can contract Legionnaire's disease by inhaling water vapor containing Legionella bacteria, a form of pneumonia. This bacteria is known to grow in sometimes poorly maintained water systems.

Not everyone who comes in contact with the bacteria will necessarily become ill. However, the people most vulnerable to Legionnaire's disease are the elderly and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease, please click here, or dial 866-264-7639, to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2012.

As the weather cools down in Chicago, drivers should be aware of potentially dangerous road conditions. Taking precautions when icy weather hits can help avoid car accidents. Road conditions like black ice can make traveling in Chicago a lot more treacherous.

Recently, temperatures in the Chicago area dipped below freezing and this coincided with over a dozen reported car accidents including a fatal car crash on the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway where a man lost his life after a collision that occurred just west of Gary Avenue.

Taking precautions can help save lives. When driving in in snowy weather it's important to stay alert and avoid distractions by keeping both hands on the wheel and putting your cellphone away.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, call 866-264-7639, or click here, for a free consultation with an experienced attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2012.

The hot water system at Seneca Tower Apartments, a high rise apartment building for senior citizens in Rochester NY, has been linked to at least two recent cases of Legionnaires' disease.

Seniors and those with existing repertory problems are especially vulnerable to Legionnaires', a preventable disease that can be contracted when the bacteria that causes the illness grows in poorly maintained water systems. Water containing the bacteria can turn to water vapor where people indoors can breath it in and become sick. The symptoms of Legionnaires' disease may be similar to pneumonia. Legionnaires' disease may also cause death.

If you or a loved one have been infected with Legionnaires' disease, please, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 to schedule a free consultation with Joseph Klest.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2012.