blog | Lane Brown, LLC

Where Should I Go for Medical Treatment After I’ve Been Hurt in a Car Accident?

If you were hurt in a car accident but not transported to a hospital from the scene, you may be wondering who you should see about your injuries. Whether you’ve been moderately hurt or just want to be checked over by a medical professional, you might choose to go to:

The emergency room. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, it is an emergency—and the ER will be equipped to deal with any injuries that have resulted from a wreck and make sure you get the care you need. If you’re at all unsure where you should go for treatment after an accident, the ER is always a wise choice.
Your family doctor. If you are able to get an appointment within a day or two of the accident and are sure you are safe to wait that long, you can see someone from your family physician’s office. However, if there’s any question, you shouldn’t wait. Your doctor’s office may even instruct you to head to the ER first.
An urgent care or walk-in clinic. If you only suffered minor injuries or have questions about worsening or late-appearing symptoms, you may choose to walk in at an urgent-care clinic for prompt treatment and medical guidance.

The most important part is that you are seen and receive treatment for your injuries. You should seek treatment as soon as possible after an accident, even if you aren’t sure if your injuries require treatment. Make sure you tell the doctors that you were hurt in an accident, and follow their instructions for follow-up appointments and care.

If you have been involved in an accident and aren’t sure what happens next, you can start getting clear answers today. Reach out to our law office at 312-332-1400, or take a moment to request your free copy of our easy-to-understand book, The 8 Steps to Follow After Your Illinois Car Accident.

Northern Illinois Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Five Children Related to Wife’s Daycare

An in-home daycare in a residential area near Winnebago is at the center of sex-abuse allegations, and the husband of the daycare owner has been identified as the alleged abuser. According to a report from NBC Chicago, 51-year-old David Seaton had already been charged with the sexual abuse of a three-year-old child earlier this year, and new charges against him—filed just this week—now include sex abuse and assault against four more child victims.

While little information is available at this time, it has been confirmed that the three-year-old child was enrolled in the home daycare which is operated by Seaton’s wife in a subdivision west of Rockford. The ages and enrollment statuses of the other children have not yet been revealed, but the official charges from prosecutors include one count of “predatory criminal sexual assault” and 11 counts of “aggravated criminal sex abuse” in total.

David Seaton is currently being held on bond in county jail. At this time, authorities do not suspect the daycare owner of any crimes, and her daycare will remain open under a safety plan laid out by the Department of Children and Family Services.

Daycares and Schools of All Sizes Have a Responsibility to Protect Children From Sexual Abusers

In-home and unlicensed daycares can present risks that many parents don’t want to think about, but it’s still important to understand the signs of child sexual abuse and how to take action if a child is abused while under another person’s care. Parents can’t do everything alone, and daycares have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect their vulnerable wards from predators and abusers. When employers and institutions fail to protect children, families need to break the silence and take action. If you have concerns, start getting better informed today by visiting our onsite blog—and don’t hesitate to contact our law office directly at 312-332-1400 if your family needs answers now.

Parents of Sexually Abused Children May Be Hurt by a Legal System That Seems Cold and Unfeeling

When a parent believes his or her child has been sexually abused, it can be difficult to go through a legal process that still treats the abuse like a question. While there may be no doubt in your mind that your child is telling the truth or that the evidence you have is enough to hold the abuser responsible, the court system still has to remain neutral—and it can seem cold, unfeeling, or even heartless as you go through the necessary steps. But, despite how it may seem, there are allies in the legal system who are ready to help you figure out the truth and find justice.

While you probably understand that the courts need evidence to hold an abuser responsible for such despicable acts, it’s still hard to put your family through the interviews, questioning, and potential for disbelief. This is a big part of why families of abuse victims choose to turn to an attorney for help in sensitive cases. A legal team that has helped victims in similar situations will be prepared to:

Support you through the process
Minimize the stress on your family
Act as a voice supporting your claims throughout the process

While there is no way to shield your family from the stress and pain of child sexual abuse, it is possible to make the process easier on you and provide the compassion and support you need to get through the challenges you face.

Do you have questions about the legal steps that follow suspicions of child sexual abuse? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced attorneys at 312-332-1400 for clear answers and compassionate support.

Your Body, Their Notes: Your Rights to Your Own Medical Records

Obtaining Copies of Your Medical Records: Your Rights

In the rapidly changing health care environment of the United States, patients are encountering more and more challenges in getting their hands on their medical records. Not long ago, The New York Times published an article to bring light to this situation.

The article described several situations in which patients were denied copies of their medical records due to HIPAA or what the hospital and doctor’s office described as the patient’s own protection and privacy concerns. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that these health care facilities were looking out for that patient’s privacy at all—they were looking out for their own pocketbooks.

There are laws in place to protect a patient’s privacy, as well as laws in place to ensure a patient has access to his own medical record. Despite these laws, medical facilities place hurdles in obtaining medical records to keep patients from leaving the practice or the medical facility to go to different health care providers.

You Have Rights

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reminds us that, under the medical privacy law (HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), patients have rights to inspect, review, and receive a copy of their medical and billing records. These rights are granted only to the patient or the patient’s representative. A health care provider may charge you a reasonable cost for copying and mailing the record. You may not be denied your medical records because you owe a bill to the health care provider. You do not have access to psychotherapy notes.

The health care provider is required to furnish the medical records to you within 30 days in most cases; however, if there are extenuating circumstances, the provider may take up to 60 days. HIPPA is a federal law that provides a baseline guarantee of your medical privacy rights; some individual states also have their own laws regarding patient access to his medical records. In all situations, the provider is required to abide by the law that provides the patient with the most rights.

Electronic Health Records

The federal government has recently offered incentives for health care providers to adopt electronic medical records. Among other things, this program is designed to promote patients’ access to their health records and to encourage the use of online patient portals. Many providers have begun to implement these portals to help patients gain access to their records and to ease the transition of care to other providers.

Even so, some health care providers are lagging behind. They are unwilling to give up control of patient information, because empowering patients may loosen their grip on profitable patients.

Have you faced medical hardship because a doctor, hospital, or other medical provider has been too restrictive in releasing your health records? You may have a legal claim that will allow you to recoup your losses. Fill in the speedy contact box on this page to get help now.

What Parents of Child Sexual Abuse Victims Should Understand About Psychosomatic Symptoms

Every child who goes through the trauma of sexual abuse will react differently, and it’s fairly common for children to show mostly physical symptoms after an emotional trauma. Children who have trouble processing a traumatic event often complain of stomachaches, headaches, dizziness, and other physical symptoms instead of more emotional complaints like depression or anxiety—even when those physical symptoms don’t seem to be related to a specific illness or injury.

Although a child of any age may exhibit these kinds of linked physical-emotional symptoms, it may be an even more common sign of trauma in children who are not yet verbal or aren’t sure how to talk about what has happened to them. If you are the parent of a child who may have been sexually abused, here are two things you should try to understand about “psychosomatic symptoms” and physical complaints:

Psychosomatic symptoms aren’t “all in your child’s head.” Although psychosomatic symptoms are related to a mental or emotional trauma, they symptoms and experience of the symptoms can be very real for your child.
Don’t ignore complaints of physical symptoms, even if your child doesn’t show signs of illness. Keep in mind that your child is probably not intentionally “faking” these symptoms or complaining about nothing. There may actually be an underlying physical cause, and consistent psychosomatic symptoms deserve a thorough examination by a qualified doctor or therapist.

If you’re unsure about physical or emotional signs that your child is in distress, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctors or care providers about the symptoms and behaviors you’ve noticed and what you can do to get the help you need while your child recovers.

For more information about how your family can recover—physically, financially, legally, and emotionally—from child sexual abuse, contact our Chicago legal office directly at 312-332-1400 or toll-free at 312-332-1400.

Don’t Overlook Safety in Your Rush to Get to Work on Snowy Mornings

In the rush to get to work in the morning, it may be tempting to cut corners when you find your car covered in snow. However, if you try to make up time by speeding to the office or driving with iced-over windows, you could cause an accident. Here are some tips to make a snowy morning commute a little safer:

Plan ahead to give yourself enough time. Check the weather report the night before and give yourself ample time to get to work if snow is expected.
Keep a set of snow tools in the car and at home. If your car is buried in ice and snow, it can be helpful to have a second set of ice brushes, heavy gloves, shovels, and other snow-removal tools in your home. Otherwise, you may be trying to chip your way into your trunk just to get to your scraper and brush!
Wait until the windshield is completely clear. Don’t be tempted to just clear a tiny circle in front of the driver’s seat—make sure you wait until the windshield, mirrors, and side windows have completely defrosted and allow for good visibility.
Don’t forget to clear the roof. Use your ice brush or a broom to clear the snow from the top of your car, too. If you don’t, as your car warms up on your commute, there’s a chance that the whole sheet of snow will suddenly dislodge and cover either your windshield or the windshield of the driver behind you.
Think about the best route to take. If you normally take the side roads to work, you might consider using the main roads when the weather is bad. Residential streets and less-popular routes may be faster when the weather is good, but they’re often the last streets to be cleared after a major snowfall.

Once you are on the road, remember to take it slow and keep your focus on the road. Even a light dusting of snow or a little black ice can cause a serious accident if drivers go too fast or aren’t paying attention, and you can’t always be sure that the drivers you share the road with are making safe choices. It’s better to “arrive alive” a few minutes late than to take unnecessary risks on the road.

Do you have other suggestions for staying safe and surviving the morning after a major snowfall? Leave us a comment below or connect with Lane Brown on Facebook to get the discussion started!