Terra Dillon joined Spiros & Wall, P.C. in August of 2006, practicing with an emphasis in nursing home litigation.  Prior to attending law school, Terra was a nursing home administrator, and has invaluable insight into the area of nursing home litigation.

In March 2008, experienced litigator Sandra K. Loeb became a part of the team at Spiros & Wall, P.C., with her extensive knowledge in both workers' compensation and personal injury.

The attorneys of Spiros & Wall, P.C. represent injured men, women and children in a wide variety of injury and medical malpractice cases through the State and Federal Courts in Illinois.  With the assistance of local counsel, we have also been involved in cases in other states including Florida, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky.

Learn more about our areas of practice and contact us to begin your case.

 
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Learn more about Medical and Hospital Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Serious Traffic Accidents, Nursing Home Neglect, Wrongful Death, Product Liability Injury, and Social Security Disability.

» Medical and Hospital Negligence
National Academy of Sciences reports that around 98,000 Americans die from medical errors each year. We, at Spiros & Wall, P.C., represent victims of medical malpractice.

With two certified legal nurse consultants on staff, coupled with the extensive experience in handling numerous medical malpractice cases throughout the State of Illinois, Spiros & Wall, P.C. offers in depth medical insights to our clients and referring attorneys.

An individual may have a medical malpractice action if the doctor or other medical healthcare provider gave the patient the wrong medicine or wrong dosage, failed to diagnose a medical condition, made the wrong diagnosis, failed to get informed consent, made errors during surgery, or left items inside the patient after surgery.

In our practice of law and numerous areas of experience and expertise, we have reviewed various types of cases and invite you to contact us to discuss the specifics of your case.

» Workplace Injuries
The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act allows for benefits if the injured worker was injured as a result of a risk originating from his or employment and happened in the course of his or her employment (see below descriptions). Notice must also be given to the employer in a timely manner, which is within 45 days from the date of the accident. This notice must be given either orally or in writing, and should be given to someone in a supervisory position.

The course of employment refers to the location of the accident and the time it took place. The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act generally covers those injuries that occur on company property or premises. Employees whose positions require frequent travel are oftentimes covered, if the accident happened while he or she was on the road. Coverage under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act is in effect during work hours and in some cases is also effective during periods before and after work.

In order for an injury to be covered by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, an employee must show that the injury not only occurred within the course of his or her employment, but also arose out of his or her employment. In other words, an employee must not only prove that his or her condition or injury occurred at work, but must prove that the condition or injury was due to a risk of the employment. This area of the law is very complicated and requires assistance from experienced attorneys.

A workers' compensation claim for benefits must be filed with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission in Chicago, Illinois, and must be on file within three years of the date of injury, or within two years from the date of the last compensation payment, whichever is later. Forms filled out with the employer, such as incident reports, will not fulfill the requirements given by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Spiros & Wall, P.C. can provide you with experienced and knowledgeable attorneys to aid you in the filing of these claims and help you get the medical care and financial compensation you deserve. Contact us for assistance and additional information.

» Serious Traffic Accidents
Sometimes, a "fender-bender" accident will cause little to no damage to vehicles involved, or injuries to the parties involved, and usually will not require an attorney’s services. However, the assistance of experienced attorneys is essential when dealing with a serious traffic accident. For instance, if the driver who caused the accident is uninsured or lacks the proper amount of insurance to cover the damages and injuries, Spiros & Wall, P.C. would assist you by determining if additional coverage exists, such as uninsured or underinsured insurance coverage or additional coverage from any other source.

Despite the fact that some cases may appear simple and straightforward, they are not always easily settled. The other driver’s insurance employs a claims adjuster, and even though their intentions may be of an honest nature, they do not have your best interests in mind. These claims adjusters are taught to reduce the injured parties’ payments and deny their claims. For instance, recorded statements are commonly taken of unrepresented injured persons. The claims adjuster then has information that can be used against the injured party at a later date. Additionally, in instances where there is minimal damage to a vehicle, claims adjusters can make a person’s injuries sound insignificant. If your claim is being denied by an insurance company or you are being paid less than what is owed to you, Spiros & Wall, P.C. will fight for your legal rights and get you just compensation for your injuries. Contact us to begin an assessment of your case.

» Nursing Home Neglect/Abuse
Families place trust in nursing homes to provide care and assistance for their loved ones. Sometimes, patients in nursing homes fall victim to neglect, or even abuse. If any of the following situations apply to your circumstance, you may have a claim against the nursing home:

Bed Sores

Dehydration

Broken Bones and/or Fractures

Injuries Caused by Abuse

Injuries Due to Lack of Medical Care

Injuries Due to Restraints and/or Bed Rails

Injuries Due to the Patient Being Unsupervised

Wrongful Death

Providing proof of the negligence of the nursing home is the basis for a nursing home neglect claim. In other words, the nursing home must have caused or contributed to the accident and/or injury. Just as in medical malpractice cases, nursing home neglect cases involve the careful examination of medical records. If you believe you may have a nursing home neglect claim, please contact us for more information. Our attorneys will evaluate your case and assemble the appropriate evidence to present an effective claim.

» Wrongful Death
When a loved one or family member dies needlessly and unnecessarily, it can be very distressing and life-changing for all members of the family. If that person dies due to inappropriate action or negligence by another party, the surviving relatives might have reason to file a wrongful death claim. When a life is lost due to a wrongful act, this is what forms the foundation of recovery for the family members of the victim.

When faced with this type of situation, the surviving family members are overwhelmed with questions, such as: Was there negligence on someone’s part? Was our loved one’s death preventable? Did medical malpractice occur? If we file a wrongful death claim, can we stop this from happening to someone else? When should we seek legal assistance?

It is the mission of Spiros & Wall, P.C. to assist those persons or families who have lost their loved one due to negligence in finding closure through justice. Our attorneys and support staff strive to meet the needs of our clients in all aspects, because we understand each claim is unique and deserving of special attention. Contact us to discuss your situation.

» Product Liability Injury
Defective products can be dangerous to their users or consumers. Damages and injuries caused due to defective goods purchased become the legal responsibility of manufacturers and sellers, who must, in turn, compensate the buyers and users of such defective goods if they are found liable.

If a person is injured using a dangerous product, they have the right to bring suit against the manufacturer, wholesaler, store, or person that sold the damaged product. If evidence shows that a product was poorly designed, improperly manufactured, or contains marketing defects, a lawsuit can be brought against anyone or any company involved in making or supplying such product. Design defects are generally permanent in nature and exist before the product is manufactured. Manufacturing defects happen during a product’s production. Marketing defects can be the failure to warn consumers of a product’s possible dangers from use. Marketing defects can also include improper instructions for a product.

A Court can order a manufacturer, wholesaler or store that sold or produced a defective product to compensate a person for injuries related to the defective product. In certain circumstances, the Court can also award punitive damages (payment of additional sums of money) to persons affected by the defective product in order to punish the parties at fault. Contact us for more information.

» Social Security Disability
Spiros & Wall, P.C. can provide you with assistance in all areas of your claim, which includes representing you at administrative hearings. When preparing you for your administrative hearing, we will make you aware of potential questions the Judge might ask and explain to you what issues are of the most importance. We will also submit written legal arguments on your behalf. These are very difficult tasks and can be very confusing to a non-represented claimant.

Spiros & Wall, P.C. will also help you with routine claim matters. For example, we will ensure your appeals are filed in a timely manner and will assist you in completing the questionnaire forms sent to you from the Social Security Administration. Your medical records, physician reports, and medical questionnaires that we order from your doctors will provide us with insight into your medical condition, symptoms, and restrictions due to your condition. These activities can be very large burden to you, but they are a routine procedure for us. We also have well-trained staff members who are essential in the upkeep of your claim. They are capable of answering your questions in a quick and knowledgeable fashion. Although obtaining the services of an attorney is not a guarantee that your claim will be processed quickly, we routinely follow your claim’s status as an assurance to you that it is being processed properly.

Successful Social Security claims (claims that are won) can be due to a physical or psychological impairment, or can be due to a combination of such impairments. There are occasions where such factors as age, education, and work history are of significance. The attorneys at Spiros & Wall, P.C. are knowledgeable in reading medical records and understanding the characteristics and complexities of diseases and injuries. Because of our experience with Social Security claims, we know what information to obtain from your physicians. We believe that with our help, we can help you relate "your story" to the Administrative Law Judge, and, perhaps, understand your claim better.

When an award is given by the Social Security Administration, we understand how they calculate benefits. If you receive a favorable decision, we ensure you are paid correctly by closely monitoring your claim. We are aware that problems can occur when a person is granted Social Security Disability due to a worker’s compensation injury. Contact us to learn how we can help you regarding these complex matters.

• 2807 N. Vermilion • Suite 3 • Danville, IL  61832 • 217-443-4343 • fax 217-443-4545 •
• 956 N. Fifth Avenue • Kankakee, IL  60901 • 815-929-9292 •
• 507 S Broadway Ave • Urbana, IL  61801 • 217-328-2828 •
• swlaw@spiroswall.com •

The materials on this website for Spiros & Wall, P.C. are intended for informational purposes only.  The materials contained within this website are not intended to constitute legal advice or medical advice.  Spiros & Wall, P.C. makes no guarantee that it is able to obtain the same or similar results in other legal matters as cases reported within this website.
Spiros & Wall, P.C. provides legal counsel and representation for individuals in downstate Illinois counties including, but not limited to, Vermilion, Champaign, Iroquois, Will, Kankakee, Coles, and McLean.