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Michael Helfand

How An Illinois Work Injury Death Was Worth $23.5 Million

Under Illinois law, if you are killed on the job, your spouse or dependents can bring a workers’ compensation claim. With some exceptions, the minimum value of these cases is $500,000. Often the family will receive weekly checks. You don’t need an attorney unless there is a delay or a dispute. But there are two good reasons to consult with one even if you think the insurance company won’t dispute anything.

The first is that if there is no dispute, Illinois attorney fees are limited to $100. In other words, it’s basically free to have a lawyer on your case. And having an attorney can be a good insurance policy in case anything goes wrong down the line. If they stop paying checks suddenly, you want to be able to get into court ASAP.

The second reason is much more important and in one recent case it resulted in a work related death in Chicago being worth $23.5 million whereas if it was just workers compensation the likely total payout would be at most around 5% of that. That’s because this case was filed under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act and the Illinois Survival Act.

This is a very sad case. The reason it was worth so much is a technical engineer on a Turner Construction site at University of Chicago Medical Center fell 140 feet to his death. It allegedly happened due to an improperly constructed scaffold that was erected by a company called Adjustable Forms. It was also alleged that the construction site was improperly managed.

It’s likely the plaintiffs had great evidence as this is one of the biggest settlements ever in Illinois for the death of someone in their 20’s. The lawyers seem to have done a great job.

But fortunately the family, with all of the devastation they must have been feeling, was smart enough to hire an experienced personal injury law firm in Chicago right away. As a result they were able to get an investigation done while evidence was still fresh. This allowed them to prove a jury would likely find negligence and build a very strong case.

It can be incredibly hard to take a moment and pause when someone is unexpectedly killed, especially when it happens in such an awful way. When people wonder what they can do to help a friend facing that situation, one thing is to offer to reach out to an attorney to investigate. If you don’t, it doesn’t mean that there couldn’t be a case, it just potentially means that it will be much harder to prove. When evidence gets lost or destroyed, you may know in your heart something went wrong, but not be able to show it. And in a case like this one, acting fast was a difference of over $20 million.

Since 2001 we have helped countless families facing these types of tragedies. We are lawyers whose goal is to get you with the best firm possible for your case. If you would like our help, please call us any time at 312-346-5320. We can help you get the best injury attorney for your case anywhere in Illinois. The lawyers we recommend to you are the ones we’d suggest to a family member or friend.

Illinois Failure To Diagnose Cervical Cancer Lawsuits

Cervical cancer, though largely preventable, remains one of the most devastating forms of cancer that impacts women. The key to combating this disease lies in early detection and timely intervention, which can significantly impede its progression. Unfortunately, many tragic occurrences of cervical cancer stem from failures in timely diagnosis.

Cervical dysplasia refers to abnormal cellular changes on the surface of the cervix, primarily attributed to persistent infection by high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). While cervical dysplasia itself is not cancer, it serves as an important warning sign to healthcare providers regarding potential nonmalignant cell changes. Regular screenings, such as Pap smears and HPV tests, are essential for detecting cervical dysplasia.

Upon identifying these abnormal cells, healthcare professionals can employ interventions like laser therapy or similar procedures designed to effectively remove or destroy the problematic cells. These interventions are typically minimally invasive, leading to a rapid recovery. However, if these abnormal cells are not adequately addressed, they may progress to cervical cancer, which can invade surrounding structures like the uterus and ovaries.

The importance of early detection of abnormal cervical cells cannot be overstated; it is crucial for significantly reducing the likelihood of developing cervical cancer. Unfortunately, various factors contribute to the failure of timely diagnosis for cervical cancer and its precursor, cervical dysplasia.

Many women may not undergo screenings frequently enough, limiting the opportunity for physicians to identify concerning changes. Symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, unusual discharge, and discomfort during intercourse can be easily dismissed or overlooked. Additionally, the responsibility often falls on medical providers, who may fail to order routine tests or fully engage with their patients’ concerns.

When healthcare professionals exhibit negligence in diagnosing cervical cancer, leading to its progression, they can be held accountable. Errors can occur in interpreting test results, misreading Pap smears, or neglecting to schedule appropriate follow-ups or further investigations in response to abnormal findings. The outcomes of such negligence can be dire.

If cervical dysplasia goes undetected and untreated in a timely manner, it can advance through stages ranging from mild to moderate and severe, culminating in invasive cervical cancer. The survival rate in the initial stages exceeds 90%, but this figure declines sharply as the disease progresses. Treatment options at this stage may involve radiation, chemotherapy, or invasive surgeries, resulting in both increased physical burdens and financial strain on women afflicted with advanced cervical cancer. Furthermore, these later-stage interventions can lead to significant emotional and physical hardship, including severe pain, loss of reproductive capability, and extended recovery periods.

If you believe you may have a strong medical malpractice case due to a failure to diagnose cervical cancer, medical malpractice attorneys can assist you by reviewing your medical records and consulting with you on the specifics of your situation. Our focus is often on identifying any significant delays, generally a six-month period, in proper cancer diagnosis. Importantly, there is no upfront fee to hire an attorney; we only earn our fees if we secure a successful outcome on your behalf. Call us any time for a free consult at 312-346-5320.

When A Credit Agency Lists You As Dead And You Are Alive

Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Most adult Americans know that they are credit reporting agencies and can affect you in a good or bad way. Credit scores and credit checks are part of life. But what happens when one of those three agencies lists you as “deceased.” Wait a minute, I’m not dead!

It might seem funny for a minute, but the consequences of this error on your credit report are not amusing. When you are a consumer (applying for a credit card, buying a car, renting an apartment), and you discover that your ability to get credit is gone because one credit bureau thinks you are dead and they wiped out your entire credit history, that’s a huge problem. When I first heard this happened, I almost didn’t believe it.

It’s a problem that can be fixed, but it can also be a lawsuit on your behalf due to the harm you’ve suffered. It’s a terrible error that shouldn’t happen. Credit reporting agencies are required to report with maximum possible accuracy, so they are motivated to fix errors. Whether you are listed as deceased because of identity theft or your report was confused with the report of someone who did actually die, there are steps to take to clear this up.

  1. Check All Your Credit Reports: Get copies of your reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to see how they’re reporting your status.
  2. Dispute the Error: Write a dispute letter to all three credit bureaus, stating that you are very much alive. Include supporting documents like a recent paycheck stub or recently paid bills.
  3. Send It Properly: Use certified mail or another method that provides delivery proof to send your dispute letters. This way, you’ll know when the credit reporting agencies receive them.

The credit reporting agencies have 30 days once they get your dispute to investigate and respond. Depending on what they say, you can either reapply for credit or keep disputing if they still list you as deceased.

If you think you’re a victim of identity theft, contact your local police to file a report and alert the credit agencies to place a fraud alert on your file. This will make sure that no new accounts can be opened in your name without your direct confirmation.

Regardless of all of this, you can likely file a lawsuit under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for not complying with the law by continuing to report false information after being notified of the mistake. These lawsuits can be financially significant.

This is a very specific situation and area of law. You will need an attorney who has experience and success with these cases. We can point you in the right direction to an attorney who only gets paid if they win the case. If you’d like our help, please call any time for a free consult at 312-346-5320.

No, You Can’t Sue Alex Cooper For That 7th Inning Stretch Performance

It’s a good time to be a Cubs fan again. The team is in first place for the first time in a while. We have an exciting team, headlined by Pete Crow Armstrong becoming must see TV. The stands at Wrigley as usual, but it is actually exciting since they are playing so well.

The Cubs have been drama free. The biggest “controversy” was probably last week when influencer and podcaster Alex Cooper butchered the 7th inning stretch in a fashion that reminded me of Mike Ditka.

The difference is that this seemed to be a bit as her friends and her seemed to be enjoying how bad it was. I shamefully read to much about this and how much it pissed off people who were there or watched on TV. One comment I saw suggested (jokingly I hope) that she should be sued for doing that. Someone replied asking, “Can you do that?”

For those who don’t know Alex Cooper, she is incredibly successful at a young age. She’s twice sold her “Call Her Daddy” show for a sum reportedly around $180 million combined. I admire the hustle and respect the feminism, the fact that she’s a self made entrepreneur and from what I’ve seen, she talks directly, honestly and in plain English. That is something we strive to do when people contact us looking for a lawyer referral or legal guidance.

Does her terrible performance bother me? No. Who cares? It wasn’t meant for me. I’ve heard her show and it’s not for me either, but guess what? 53 year old men are not the target audience. I have Sirius in the car and she has a music channel there too. The music choices are good, her dialogue is again not for me. So why I am I mentioning this?

If I hear her on Sirius and don’t like it, I can turn the channel. If you watched the game on Marquee and she offended you, you can turn the channel. If you were there in person, it was over in a minute and your life went on.

So no, you can not sue her or the Cubs for this. Nobody was harmed by this performance. There are no damages suffered. It was bad, but it was also PG so no kids were harmed. I assume the goal was to get people to talk about her. It worked. She knows how to get people talking obviously. Would this poorly read blog be writing about her if the performance was normal? No.Would ESPN have tweeted about her if she played it straight? No.

She is clearly great at marketing herself. The people at Wrigley who already loved her will continue to do so. The ones that had no idea who she is, many will check her out as a result of this.

There is no lawsuit and it seems to be that she is playing chess while everyone mad is playing checkers.

In general, you can not sue somebody for being annoying. And this isn’t even the worse thing I saw this week. I saw a video of an entitled lawyer pushing her way past other passengers trying to get off a plane and then talking trash to all of them. This is life in 2025. People are brasher than ever and doing things for content. And unless they actually harm someone, there is no legal action to take.

Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers That Speak Spanish

When someone reaches out to us looking for help with a personal injury case in Illinois, our top priority is connecting them with the right attorney for their specific situation. Many lawyers advertise that they handle personal injury matters, but only a select number consistently deliver strong results and high-quality client service—especially in cases involving serious injuries or wrongful death.

Personal injury cases can involve everything from car crashes and truck accidents to slip-and-falls, construction injuries, or product liability claims. No matter the cause, these cases are often aggressively fought by the insurance companies who don’t want to make big settlements. That’s why having a proven, experienced attorney on your side can make all the difference.

Part of our role in making a strong referral is to understand what happened in your accident, who may be legally responsible, the extent of your injuries, and any unique issues involved. We also take time to learn what matters most to you. For some people, location is a concern. The good news is that with today’s technology and how personal injury firms operate, it’s rare that you’d need to travel far—or at all—to work with a top-notch lawyer.

Another common concern we hear from clients is about language. Many people want to make sure they can communicate clearly with their attorney without relying on a friend or family member to translate. That’s totally understandable. If you need a Spanish-speaking lawyer, for example, we work with elite personal injury firms in the Chicago area and across Illinois that have Spanish-speaking attorneys and staff.

You shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality just to feel comfortable—and thankfully, you don’t have to. The lawyers we recommend are not only successful in court and skilled in negotiations, but also experienced in working with clients from all backgrounds. They’ll take the time to explain the process, answer your questions, and make sure you feel supported.

If you have a personal injury case you’d like to discuss, contact us. We can help you understand your options, and if it makes sense, point you to a lawyer who fits your needs. There’s no cost for the consultation.

Cuando alguien nos contacta buscando ayuda con un caso de lesiones personales en Illinois, nuestra prioridad es conectarlo con el abogado adecuado para su situación específica. Muchos abogados se anuncian como expertos en lesiones personales, pero solo unos pocos ofrecen constantemente resultados sólidos y un servicio al cliente de alta calidad, especialmente en casos de lesiones graves o muerte por negligencia.

Los casos de lesiones personales pueden abarcar desde accidentes automovilísticos y de camión hasta resbalones y caídas, lesiones en la construcción o reclamos por responsabilidad del producto. Sin importar la causa, estos casos suelen ser disputados agresivamente por las compañías de seguros, que no están dispuestas a ofrecer grandes compensaciones. Por eso, contar con un abogado con experiencia y trayectoria de su lado puede marcar la diferencia.

Parte de nuestra función para obtener una buena recomendación es comprender qué sucedió en su accidente, quién podría ser legalmente responsable, la gravedad de sus lesiones y cualquier problema particular involucrado. También nos tomamos el tiempo para comprender lo que más le importa. Para algunas personas, la ubicación es una preocupación. La buena noticia es que con la tecnología actual y la forma en que operan las firmas de lesiones personales, es raro que necesites viajar lejos, o incluso viajar, para trabajar con un abogado de primer nivel.

Otra preocupación común que escuchamos de nuestros clientes es el idioma. Muchas personas desean comunicarse claramente con su abogado sin depender de un amigo o familiar que les traduzca. Es totalmente comprensible. Si necesita un abogado que hable español, por ejemplo, trabajamos con firmas de lesiones personales de élite en el área de Chicago y en todo Illinois que cuentan con abogados y personal hispanohablante.

No debería tener que sacrificar la calidad solo para sentirse cómodo, y afortunadamente, no tiene por qué hacerlo. Los abogados que recomendamos no solo tienen éxito en los tribunales y son hábiles en las negociaciones, sino que también tienen experiencia trabajando con clientes de todos los orígenes. Se tomarán el tiempo para explicar el proceso, responder a sus preguntas y asegurarse de que se sienta apoyado.

Si tiene un caso de lesiones personales que le gustaría discutir, contáctenos. Podemos ayudarle a comprender sus opciones y, si le conviene, recomendarle un abogado que se ajuste a sus necesidades. La consulta es gratuita.

See also: Best Spanish Speaking Medical Malpractice Lawyers In Chicago

Big Myth About Illinois Trip And Fall Lawsuits

Although they are some of the toughest cases to win, we love helping people find the best Illinois trip and fall attorney (or slip and fall) for their case. We’ve had multiple case wins for six and seven figures including a recent one where a client tripped and fell in a mall and recovered $1,100,000 for a back injury.

But these really are hard cases to win. There’s a big myth that if you get hurt on someone else’s property they are liable. That is simply not true.

That people believe this was made clear to me from a recent caller. He was at a gas station and put the pump hose in his car to get some gas. He wanted to wash his windshield too, so he attempted to step over the hose, but tripped and fell forward, breaking his wrist.

He called me and wanted to sue the gas station for his injury. I let him know we couldn’t help because the gas station hadn’t done anything wrong. He then replied to me with:

Well then how is it that if someone trips over their own shoelaces on my driveway and gets hurt that I can get sued?

I let him know that’s not a thing either even though apparently his insurance agent convinced him to get a bigger policy with this lie.

To sue anyone successfully for a trip and fall or slip and fall in Illinois, you have to prove negligence. The gas station wasn’t negligent because he stepped over a hose and fell. He wouldn’t be negligent if someone tripped over their own shoelaces and got hurt.

There is negligence when a property has a hidden defect like a hole covered with leaves. Or if you trip on stairs and there’s no railing to catch yourself. Or a pipe is coming from the ground and you can’t see it because it’s too dark. Or a lot of other reasons.

Negligence is the key. If you prove it you win. If you can’t prove it you have no case. It’s difficult at times because often when you fall, you are in so much pain that you don’t take a moment to find out what caused the fall. So to the extent you can after a fall or as soon as possible thereafter, look around and take pictures.

And while you have two years to sue from when these accidents happen in most situations, the need to prove negligence is why it’s incredibly important to get with an attorney who knows what they are doing ASAP. A delay could be the difference between winning and losing.

If you’d like to speak to one of our lawyers for free to have your case evaluated and get a referral to an elite premises liability lawyer in Illinois, please call us at 312-346-5320.

Illinois Medical Malpractice And Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a serious and aggressive form of intestinal cancer, and its early detection and treatment are vital. When diagnosed at an early stage, patients have the best chance for survival and optimal health outcomes. Early-stage colon cancer, when treated appropriately, typically poses minimal long-term risks. And the good news is that if your doctor is competent, it can and will be caught early.

Routine screenings are crucial for diagnosing colon cancer. Some patients may show symptoms, while others may not. One common screening method is a colonoscopy, which involves the insertion of a tube with a camera into the rectum while the patient is under anesthesia. This procedure allows doctors to examine the colon for any polyps or unusual findings. If any abnormalities are found, a tissue sample can be collected for further testing.

Alternative screening options include CT scans or virtual colonoscopies, which are less invasive and create detailed images of the colon. Another option is Cologuard, where patients send a fecal sample to a lab to test for abnormal cells. Your doctor should be recommending these procedures to you sometime between when you turn 45-50 (with 45 being the newer standard). They should do it earlier if you are making complaints like terrible stomach pain or blood in your stools.

While these screening methods are generally effective, there are instances where misdiagnoses occur. Sometimes, a doctor may overlook a patient’s colon cancer or incorrectly diagnose them with a different colorectal issue. In other cases, a necessary colonoscopy may not be ordered, particularly if the patient has a family history of colon cancer or exhibits potential cancer symptoms.

Delayed treatment or misdiagnosis can severely impact patient outcomes. Such errors can result in patients facing a quicker decline, increased suffering, or even premature death due to colon cancer that could have been caught earlier. When the delay has been six months or more, that could potentially be a lawsuit and is certainly a case we’d want to investigate.

If you or a loved one has experienced a failure to diagnose or a misdiagnosis related to colon cancer, it may warrant a medical malpractice claim. I encourage you to reach out for a free, confidential evaluation of your situation. If you have a valid case, we can recommend a trusted attorney—someone we would suggest to our own family or friends. Remember, Illinois medical malpractice attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means there’s no fee unless they win your case.

Time is of the essence and if you wait too long, you could lose your right to sue. Call us any time at 312-346-5320 for a free case review. We cover all of Illinois.

Big Reason Your Illinois Divorce Costs So Much And Is Taking So Long

Nobody goes into marriage wanting to get divorced. And if you have to get a divorce lawyer in Illinois someday, you will want things to go quickly and amicably if possible. Nobody wants to get divorced, have it take many years and cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately this does happen. It usually occurs because there are a lot of contentious case issues. You might be fighting over the value of a business, custody, visitation schedules or other marital assets like a 401k, bank accounts, houses, etc.

Other times a delay happens that is completely out of your control and sucks. There’s one big reason that happens in Illinois divorces and it’s shocking and shameful.

That reason is because your spouse’s attorney drags the case on. Sometimes they do it to try to milk a case for all that it’s worth. Sometimes they do it because they are lazy or incompetent. Sometimes they just have too much work to do and choose which cases to prioritize.

There’s one infamous Chicago divorce lawyer who does this a lot and a few firms that like to run up large bills in general. But this one in particular is awful. In fact, in a recent case we consulted on, a caller had a mostly uncontested Cook County divorce and we estimated the fee would be $2500.

We connected the caller with a lawyer who wanted to help. But once he learned that this scummy lawyer was representing the spouse, he said the case would likely cost $15,000. That’s because that gross attorney never returns phone calls, files tons of wasteful motions and continuously drags his feet.

So what should be a simple case is now a difficult one. And this caller has to come up with extra money to get the case started. It’s all very unfair.

Of course it could be your attorney who is dragging things out without need. There’s no way to know for sure if they will do that when you hire them. That’s one reason people come to us. We would never recommend those types of attorneys.

If you notice that the attorney you hired is delaying your case, you should confront them on it and fire them if you don’t get a good answer. Divorce cases can take years, but if you know you and your spouse agree on everything, it should go quickly.

We have helped thousands of people get through an Illinois divorce as painlessly as possible. If you have a case in the Chicagoland area and would like a referral to a great Illinois divorce attorney, please call us any time at 312-346-5320.

When Your Illinois Lawyer Misses The Statute Of Limitations

I got a call recently from a woman who had hired a family friend to handle a car accident case. I looked up the lawyer, and it turns out that their regular practice is handling divorce and traffic cases, as well as some estate planning. But likely seeing $$$ dollar signs, the attorney signed up their friend for a personal injury case. Some friend.

As you might be able to guess, the lawyer didn’t know what he was doing, and he failed to file the lawsuit within the two-year time limit for doing so. There’s no way around that Illinois statute of limitations rule. Once it’s missed, it’s over.

The caller was hoping that she could now get the right type of lawyer because her “friend” admitted it was not a case he’d handled before. It was her belief that a Judge would hear that the missed deadline wasn’t her fault in any way and give her a break. Unfortunately that’s not how this works.

You are stuck with the mistakes your attorney makes. “Surely there must be something that can be done,” she said to me. The answer is, yes, there is. You have to sue your lawyer for legal malpractice.

Suing a lawyer is like suing a doctor. You have to show that they violated the standard of care and caused you a harm. In this case, the standard of care was to file a lawsuit within two years of the accident date. The harm is that she can no longer recover from the other party. She isn’t happy about it, but if she wants compensation, she has to sue her lawyer friend. The money will be paid out of his malpractice insurance. That’s what it’s there for.

This is what you do when a lawyer makes a mistake. It’s the same if they miss a deadline in a filed case that causes you harm. For example, we’ve helped in cases where clients lost their rights to marital property like a pension because their attorney didn’t turn paperwork in on time.

There are a lot of lawyers like this one who take on cases they shouldn’t. They act in their own best interests, not that of their clients. A lot of them will withdraw before the time to sue is up if they can’t settle the case out of court. That actually is allowed even if it leaves you scrambling at the last minute to try and find a new attorney. If they notify you about the statute of limitations before that time passes, it typically isn’t a malpractice case even if it’s unethical.

We have helped hundreds of people with Illinois legal malpractice lawsuits and would be happy to discuss a possible case with you. Call us any time at 312-346-5320 to speak with an attorney for free.

What Is The Opposing Party Telling Their Attorney About You

I’ve talked to over 500,000 people about their Illinois legal issues since 2001, and one thing has never happened.

That one thing is that nobody has ever called me and told me what a piece of crap they are, and how the person on the other side of the case is much better than them. At least nobody volunteers that at the get-go. As lawyers, we always hear a story from a potential client that paints them and their case in the best light.

That’s alright and understandable. We are strangers when you call us, and it’s not within human nature to be that vulnerable right away.

I’ve gotten pretty good at putting most people at ease, and sometimes that leads to them disclosing things that are legally relevant in evaluating their case. Other times we ask direct probing questions about the case facts. Having evaluated so many cases, we usually know the right questions to ask.

One question that I love to ask that really helps me in some cases, especially family law and partnership disputes, is what is the opposing party telling their attorney about you?

This isn’t me asking them to tell me how awful they are, it’s a chance for them to project what someone else will say, which is often the truth. And it is really a good question for almost every area of law. I’ve used it on work comp cases, custody cases, and even claims for life insurance benefits.

As lawyers, we don’t worry as much about what someone else might say. We don’t assume they are telling the truth or lying. What we don’t want to have happen is to be surprised with information. Preparation and knowledge is a really big part about getting the best result possible for a client.

Unfortunately some clients lie. In one case, a family law attorney I know asked her client if he ever does drugs. He made clear that he doesn’t and never had. This was an important question because there was a tough child custody battle going on. She prepared for an important court hearing with the belief her client never has done drugs.

At the hearing the opposing attorney played a video which showed that not only was he doing drugs, he was snorting cocaine in front of his young children. This after he swore up and down he didn’t do anything beyond drink socially. Needless to say, this guy lost custody and the relationship between him and his client was broken.

You aren’t expected to have a “perfect” story. Everyone has flaws and very few cases are completely clean. If you got hit by someone who ran a red light, don’t deny that you were also going ten miles over the limit. If your life insurance claim was rejected, don’t conceal the fact that you knowingly didn’t disclose a history of heart trouble. If you get arrested for a burglary, don’t give your attorney some fake alibi.

No lawyer can guarantee a result. But we can promise that if a surprise happens it makes the chances of winning worse. Had the family law lawyer I know been aware of the cocaine use, she could have offered an explanation. She could have gotten her client into rehab or an evaluation with a drug counselor. She could have gotten drug test results during the 60 days before the hearing. It would still be a bad situation, but there would at least be a chance.

This is why any good lawyer will go over your testimony before you give a deposition or testify at trial. We don’t want surprises. We don’t want you to be perfect, just truthful. And if you lie, you stop even the best lawyer from being able to do their job for you.

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