In fact, even as Governor Pat Quinn says that such costs have dropped by 19.3 percent, some construction firms have actually seen their premiums go up.

Michael Latz, the chairman of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, said that the result is that insurance companies are seeing increased profits.

In July, the governor’s office claimed that employers in Illinois could see an overall drop of up to $143 million in the cost of premiums in 2015, resulting in a total reduction of more than $450 million since the reforms took effect in 2011.

The 2011 reforms implemented a 30 percent reduction in the medical fee schedule for workers’ compensation claims in an attempt to reduce costs.

However, many firms in the construction industry, where worker injury is a constant danger, say their rates have stayed the same.

According to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, which tracks data on workers’ compensation insurance premiums nationwide, Illinois is still the fourth most expensive state for premiums, even after reforms.

Bob Briskman is a workers compensation lawyer in Chicago and work injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

The trucking industry supported the bill, claiming that a high speed differential between cars and trucks is dangerous. The top speed for cars on nonurban highways in Illinois is 70 mph, an increase from 65 mph that went into effect on January 1, after Governor Quinn signed a measure raising the limit. Trucks in most Illinois counties may travel at the same posted speed as automobiles, but they are limited to 55 mph in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, which the Illinois Trucking Association (ITA) says is dangerous.

The ITA said that it did not support raising the speed limit for cars, because it would increase the speed differential between cars and trucks. It now supports raising the speed limit for trucks for the same reason.

In a letter to Illinois legislators, Quinn said that the increased speed for trucks would lead to an increase in highway fatalities.

Russ Rader, a representative of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said that research does not support the idea that a high speed differential between cars and trucks is dangerous. He said that lower speed limits for trucks are safer, as they reduce stopping distance and allow cars to pass trucks more easily.

Matt Hart, the director of the Illinois Trucking Association, said that he expected legislators to call for a vote to override Quinn’s veto.

Bob Briskman is a truck accident attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

There were 81 fatal crashes involving tractor-trailers, which accounts for 9.7 percent of the total of 835 fatal crashes. There were another 1,750 truck crashes resulting in injury and 8,202 that involved only property damage.

There were 93 people killed in the 81 fatal truck crashes in 2011. Fifteen of the people killed were occupants of the truck, while 74 were occupants of another vehicle. Truck crash fatalities decreased 3.6 percent from the total of 96 in 2010.

The fatality rate for motor vehicle crashes overall in the state was 0.33 percent, with 918 deaths occurring and 281,788 crashes taking place. The fatality rate for truck accidents was 0.93 percent, with 93 people killed and 10,033 truck crashes occurring.

The overall injury rate for motor vehicle accidents was 29.9 percent, with 84,172 people injured. For truck accidents, the injury rate was 17.4 percent.

The data were released by the Illinois Department of Transportation in its publication Illinois Crash Facts. Governor Pat Quinn noted that traffic fatalities were decreasing and seat belt usage was up, but that there was work still to be done to improve traffic safety.

Paul Greenberg is a commercial truck accident lawyer and attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

The legislation is important for all plaintiffs, but particularly so for victims of nursing home abuse. When an elderly or disabled person is abused or neglected in a nursing home, the family needs funds as soon as possible to pay for a higher-quality facility or in-home health care.

Unfortunately, plaintiffs who have suffered all kinds of injuries frequently find that defendants use stall tactics to delay payment as long as possible, even once a settlement has been agreed to.

Under the proposed legislation, after a settlement has been reached in any civil matter, the defendant must tender to the plaintiff a release within 14 days. Then the defendant has 21 days from execution of the release to make all payments due the plaintiff. If the defendant fails to make such payments, interest will accrue from the date of the release.

Senate Bill 1912 has passed both houses of the state legislature and now awaits Governor Pat Quinn’s signature. If the bill becomes law, it will ensure that plaintiffs receive settlement payments in a timely manner, allowing them to pay for crucial medical and living expenses.

Paul Greenberg is a medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago and malpractice attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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