DePaolo & Zadeikis Blog Posts

Permanent and temporary disability benefits are a component of Illinois workers’ compensation that compensates workers for the wages lost because of the inability to perform their normal job duties. However, these disability benefits have key differences in purpose, duration, and payment structure. Understanding temporary vs. permanent disability benefits is crucial in determining the type of benefits you’re entitled to and ensuring you receive full compensation after a work-related injury in Chicago.

Plastic surgery is often sold as simple, safe, and transformative. But, when something goes wrong, the damage can be life-changing, or even fatal. Mistakes during cosmetic procedures can lead to serious injury, permanent disfigurement, or even death. Such was the case for a 39-year-old Chicago mother who went in for a routine liposuction procedure in November 2019 and died due to preventable complications.

A new Illinois law is setting stronger protections for one of the state’s most vulnerable populations—nursing home residents. House Bill 2474, signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in March 2025, addresses a longstanding issue: retaliation against residents who speak up about mistreatment, unsafe conditions, or inadequate care.

Skyscrapers create unique legal issues due to the high risks of injury and death on the job that workers face when working at towering heights and the legal complications surrounding liability for construction injuries. Illinois laws, the multiple parties involved, and complex insurance policies make navigating these cases more challenging.

State investigators recently determined that medication mismanagement on the part of the Goldwater Care nursing home in Gibson City directly led to a resident’s death. The resident died after receiving the wrong dosage of a powerful blood thinner for nearly a month.

Compensation for slip and fall injuries in Chicago can range from thousands to millions of dollars. Payouts can vary widely based on the severity of injuries, cost of medical bills, lost wages, whether you share fault for the fall, and the quality and quantity of evidence supporting your claim. Understanding these factors will help you get a clearer picture of the value of your case and make an informed decision on how to pursue the case.

You can discover the worst nursing homes in Illinois by visiting Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare, checking IDPH’s quarterly reports, and reviewing ratings and rankings from reputable advocacy organizations. Learning more about a Chicago nursing home’s ratings helps you steer clear of facilities with a history of abuse and neglect when choosing a nursing home for a loved one. If your loved one’s current nursing home has poor ratings or a history of poor care, you could move him or her to a different facility or be vigilant and address issues proactively.

Your primary options for seeking compensation after being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver are filing an uninsured motorist claim with your insurer and pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the uninsured driver if he or she was at fault. When you’re involved in an accident in Chicago, knowing that the at-fault driver’s insurance should pay for your damages may give you some peace of mind. Finding out the driver lacks insurance makes things incredibly stressful and overwhelming in an already challenging situation. Accidents caused by uninsured drivers can pose significant legal and financial challenges for all the parties involved. Below, you’ll learn more about what to do if you’re harmed in a crash caused by an uninsured driver in Illinois.

Medical malpractice can occur in many forms and at any stage of treatment, but what are common examples of medical malpractice? Surgical errors, diagnostic errors, medication mistakes, and birth injuries are some common forms of medical malpractice in Chicago. Understanding the types of negligence that healthcare providers commonly commit and the medical malpractice cases that can arise from the harm suffered will leave you in a better position to pursue legal action when you or a loved one sustains a medical injury.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in Chicago and the rest of Illinois are not subject to state tax, but you may have to pay federal income tax on them if your combined income is above certain thresholds. The rules governing the taxation of SSDI benefits can be confusing. Below, you’ll learn more about tax thresholds and regulations to help you identify whether your benefits are taxable and plan adequately to avoid unforeseen tax liabilities and paying more taxes than necessary.