Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers

We're There for You When You Need Us

At the Law Offices of Lane & Lane, LLC, we know that success in your case takes our dedication. Our clients need more than just a nine-to-five lawyer. Our clients are entitled to obtain justice - the full, fair and complete compensation they deserve for the changes in their lives resulting from serious personal injuries. They need our commitment every day. And they get it.

That's a commitment our attorneys are willing to make to you... any day and any time you need us.

Our Commitment to You is a Commitment to Success

When we accept your case, that means that we are willing and able to put in the time, the effort and the resources needed to make your case the success it should be.

Over the years, this commitment has led to many multimillion dollar verdicts and insurance settlements for our clients. Recently, we recovered $5.75 million for one of our clients in a case against the Chicago Housing Authority. Our cases have been reported in the local and national media.

Turn To Leaders in the Legal Community

Our law firm is made up of lawyers who other lawyers respect and learn from. Our attorneys have written several legal textbooks and articles, and instructed lawyers in trial techniques and medical litigation. Members of our team have served as presidents and held leadership positions of several prominent local, statewide and national organizations, including the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the International Society of Primerus Law Firms. These are prestigious organizations that represent attorneys throughout Illinois and the United States.

Of course, our attorneys have earned their positions as leaders by achieving success in personal injury lawsuits. You can be confident that we have the experience to take on any opponent, no matter how powerful.

Our team is available to handle all types of personal injury cases for people in Chicago, and throughout the state and country.

Free Consultation - As Long As Lane & Lane, LLC Are Your Attorneys, You Will Not Be Charged a Fee Unless You Receive Compensation

If you're ready to take action to obtain justice - the full, fair and complete compensation you deserve, please contact our Chicago-based team of personal injury attorneys today.

Call us at 1.800.LAWYERS or send us an e-mail.

Via http://www.lane-lane.com/

Mesothelioma cancer

Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

1. What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

2. What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

3. How common is mesothelioma?

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

4. What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

5. Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

6. What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

7. How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

8. How is mesothelioma treated?

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

• Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
• Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
• Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

9. Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?

Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER. Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ®, NCI's cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own. The clinical trials page on the NCI's Cancer.gov Web site, located at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ.

People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI Publications Locator Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.







Via cancer.gov

Top Ten Things to Know if You're Interested in a Reverse Mortgage

Reverse mortgages are becoming popular in America. HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) created one of the first. The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is FHA's reverse mortgage program which enables you to withdraw some of the equity in your home. The HECM is a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security. Many seniors use it to supplement social security, meet unexpected medical expenses, make home improvements and more. You can receive free information about reverse mortgages in general by calling AARP toll free at (800) 209-8085. Since your home is probably your largest single investment, it's smart to know more about reverse mortgages, and decide if one is right for you!

1. What is a reverse mortgage?

A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets you convert a portion of the equity in your home into cash. The equity that built up over years of home mortgage payments can be paid to you. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no repayment is required until the borrower(s) no longer use the home as their principal residence. FHA's HECM provides these benefits. You can also use a HECM to purchase a primary residence if you are able to use cash on hand to pay the difference between the HECM proceeds and the sales price plus closing costs for the property you are purchasing.

2. Can I qualify for FHA's HECM reverse mortgage?

To be eligible for a FHA HECM, the FHA requires that you be a homeowner 62 years of age or older, own your home outright, or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off at closing with proceeds from the reverse loan, and you must live in the home. You are further required to receive consumer information from an approved HECM counselor prior to obtaining the loan. You can contact the Housing Counseling Clearinghouse on (800) 569-4287 for the name and telephone number of a HUD-approved counseling agency and a list of FHA-approved lenders within your area.

3. Can I apply if I didn't buy my present house with FHA mortgage insurance?

Yes. It doesn't matter if you didn't buy it with an FHA-insured mortgage. Your new FHA HECM will be FHA-insured.

4. What types of homes are eligible?

To be eligible for the FHA HECM, your home must be a single family home or a 1-4 unit home with one unit occupied by the borrower. HUD-approved condominiums and manufactured homes that meet FHA requirements are also eligible.

5. What's the difference between a reverse mortgage and a bank home equity loan?

With a traditional second mortgage, or a home equity line of credit, you must have sufficient income versus debt ratio to qualify for the loan, and you are required to make monthly mortgage payments. The reverse mortgage is different in that it pays you, and is available regardless of your current income. The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow.

You don't make payments, because the loan is not due as long as the house is your principal residence. Like all homeowners, you still are required to pay your real estate taxes, insurance and other conventional payments like utilities. With an FHA HECM you cannot be foreclosed or forced to vacate your house because you "missed your mortgage payment."

6. Can the lender take my home away if I outlive the loan?

No. You do not need to repay the loan as long as you or one of the borrowers continues to live in the house and keeps the taxes and insurance current. You can never owe more than the value of your home at the time you or your heirs sell the home.

7. Will I still have an estate that I can leave to my heirs?

When you sell your home, you or your estate will repay the cash you received from the reverse mortgage plus interest and other fees, to the lender. The remaining equity in your home, if any, belongs to you or to your heirs.

8. How much money can I get from my home?

The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow. You can use an online calculator like the one on the AARP website to get an idea of what you may be able to borrow.

9. Should I use an estate planning service to find a reverse mortgage?

FHA does NOT recommend using any service that charges a fee for referring a borrower to an FHA lender. FHA provides this information free, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available for free or at very low cost, to provide information, counseling, and a free referral to a list of FHA-approved lenders. Search online or call (800) 569-4287 toll-free, for the name and location of a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you.

10. How do I receive my payments?

You have five options:

• Tenure - equal monthly payments as long as at least one borrower lives and continues to occupy the property as a principal residence.
• Term - equal monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected.
• Line of Credit - unscheduled payments or installments, at times and in amounts of your choosing until the line of credit is exhausted.
• Modified Tenure - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for as long as you remain in the home.
• Modified Term - combination of line of credit plus monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected by the borrower.

Life insurance term

Term life insurance provides death protection for a stated time period, or term.

Term life insurance is perhaps the simplest form of life insurance. It was developed to provide temporary life insurance protection on a limited budget. Since term insurance can be purchased in large amounts for a relatively small initial premium, it is well suited for short-range goals such as life insurance coverage to pay off a loan, or providing extra life insurance protection during the child-raising years.

In most states, State Farm® offers term insurance policies providing level premiums for 5, 10, 20, and 30 year periods. These policies can be renewed or continued at higher premiums in most states to age 85 or 95 as stated in the policy (age 80 in New York).

View a listing of State Farm's term life policies, or get a quote.

Features of Term Life Insurance

* Initial affordability

* Adjustable premiums: Term life insurance policies have adjustable premiums. This means that State Farm may raise or lower premiums at some point specified in the policy based on projected changes of investment earnings, mortality experience, persistency, and expenses. However, premiums may never be raised above the maximum premiums stated in the policy.

* Renewability: State Farm's level term policies allow the policyholder to continue coverage past the original coverage period of the policy. Each time the policy is renewed the premium increases to the amount for the then attained age of the insured. This right is usually offered for a specific period, which varies depending on the type of policy.

* Conversion: State Farm term policies are convertible to age 75 in most states. Conversion allows the policyholder to exchange a term life insurance policy for any permanent life insurance policy offered by the Company at any time while the policy is in force (subject to established policy minimums).

View a listing of State Farm's term life policies, or get a quote.
This is a general description of coverage. Contact your State Farm agent to apply for coverage, or for details on coverage, costs, restrictions, and renewability.


Via statefarm.com

Auto Insurance Quotes

Top 3 Student Loan Consolidation Companies

When you consolidate student loans, you can lower your monthly student loan payment by as much as 60 percent. The key is to find the right lender and the right interest rate.

When comparing lenders, you should consider payment fees, interest rates, and loan terms. If you are looking for reputable student loan consolidators online, there are three companies that I highly recommend. These companies can offer you the best rates and save you money by consolidating your student loans.

1. Loan Approval Direct

With a student loan consolidation loan, this company can reduce your monthly student loan payments by as much as 60 percent. Loans as high as $125,000 can be approved and there is no collateral required. Loan Approval Direct also offers interest rates as low as 3 percent.

2. Next Student

If you have not consolidated your loans previously, Next Student offers student loan consolidation services. If you are out of school or if you will be graduating in six months or less, contact this company to find out how you can reduce your monthly student loan payments by as much as 60 percent.

Top Picks

3. DebtConsolidation.com

This online debt consolidator is the parent company of StudentLoanConcolidation.com and can save you a great deal of money on your monthly student loan payments. Their online application is easy to fill out and they can let you know almost immediately if you are eligible for student loan consolidation.

Refinance Home Loans

When interest rates fall, home owners rush to refinance mortgages, often without pausing to consider whether doing a refinance is a good idea or if it makes financial sense. Unfortunately, home owners can be easily lured by the siren song of lower mortgage interest rates; however, the rates themselves are only a tiny portion of the bigger picture.

Serial refinancers, as I like to call them, take out new mortgage loans every time rates drop a quarter point. I knew a lawyer who refinanced his home seven times in the past eight years. This was a person who should have been smarter than that because every time he refinanced, he added more principal to the end of his loan and extended the term of his loan.

What is a Refinance?

A purchase-money loan is an original loan secured by a borrower to buy a home. A refinance loan is a new loan taken out by a borrower to pay off the original loan or, in the case of a serial refinancer, the loan pays off the last refinanced loan. The refinanced loan is typically in first position; however, it is also possible to refinance a home equity loan.

Types of Refinance Mortgage Loans

Just because you may presently be paying on a fixed-rate mortgage, doesn't mean that you can't take out a different type of mortgage loan when you refinance. However, before you consider switching out a fixed-rate mortgage for another type, make sure you completely understand the terms of the new loan. Here are common mortgage loan types you may want to consider:

• Interest Only Mortgage.
• Option ARM Mortgage.
• Adjustable-Rate Mortgage.
• FHA Loans.
• Reverse Mortgages.

Refinance Mortgage Loan Costs

Although it is possible to obtain a no-cost refinance loan from a mortgage lender, remember that lenders are in the business of making money. If the lender is not making income by charging upfront costs to make the loan, those fees are either rolled into the loan or paid through a higher-than-market interest rate.

There are a few banks turning to true no-cost loans, but those are few and far between. Read your fine print and compare lenders. Get a GFE, a Good Faith Estimate. Demand the lender guarantee the GFE. These estimates are not required by law to be guaranteed, which makes a GFE virtually worthless. But lenders who want your business will guarantee their estimates.

Here are costs you may be required to pay:

• Loan Discount Points.
• Loan Origination.
• Processing.
• Administration.
• Application.
• Inspection.
• Document Preparation.
• Appraisal.
• Credit Report.
• Title Policy.
• Escrow Fee.
• Reconveyance.
• Beneficiary Demand.
• Notary.
• Loan Tie-in.
• Delivery and Courier.
• E-Mail Doc.
• Tax Service.
• Recording.

Lender charge what we in the business nickname "garbage fees," which means they can be negotiated by the borrower. Those fees are document preparation, administration, processing, application and the like. If you ask, the lender might waive them.

On top of these fees, you may notice an item marked "paid outside of closing" on your closing statement called a YSP. That is money the bank gives back to the mortgage broker for bringing the lender your loan. Bear in mind that if the lender did not pay a YSP to the broker, you might have received a lower interest rate on your loan or paid less in points. By the time you discover this, you are probably closing the loan. So, ask upfront.

Drawbacks to Refinances

• Costs. If you are paying fees to obtain the loan, it is costing you money to get the loan, which you might not recoup through a lower interest rate for a number of years. To figure this out, add up all the fees. Figure out the difference between your old mortgage payment and your new payment. Divide that difference into the loan fees, which will equal the number of months you must pay on your new loan to break even.

  If your loan fees are $4,000, for example, and the monthly savings will be $100 a month, it will take you 40 months to break even on the refinance.

• Longer amortization period. Although you have the option of shortening your amortization period, you might not qualify for the higher payment nor may you want to pay more each month just to pay off the loan faster. Borrowers generally extend the term of the loan. If you refinance a loan with 25 years remaining for a new 30-year loan, you have turned what was originally a 30-year loan into a 35-year loan.

• Bigger mortgage. By rolling the costs of your loan into the loan itself, you are taking out a bigger mortgage. A bigger mortgage eats away at your equity position. Moreover, if you take out cash, called a cash-out refinance, your loan balance will be increased.

  Some borrowers take out cash from a refinance to pay off bills incurred by unsecured purchases. If you bought furniture, for example, and you pay off the furniture store, you have now financed furniture for 30 years, which may have a useful life of ten.

  Paying off unsecured credit cards eliminates present debt but only if you never use the cards again. Consider cutting up your cards if you've managed to get yourself so far into debt that your only recourse is to refinance the roof over your head.

Refinance Benefits

• Lower monthly payment. If you plan to stay in the home long enough to break even on the refinance costs, a lower interest rate and payment will result in greater monthly cash flow.

• Shortening the amortization period. If your lower interest is substantially lower than your previous rate, you might want to consider shortening the term of your loan in exchange for a slightly higher mortgage payment. Before you do this, figure out if you could invest that extra principal portion elsewhere for a better rate of return.

• Cash in hand. Many obtain cash to invest at a higher rate of return than the new interest rate.

More Home Buying / Selling Quick Tips

Weintraub's Home Financing Advice

Ordering Free Credit ReportsWhat is a Beneficiary Demand?What is a Yield Spread Premium?

Weintraub's Mortgage Loan Advice

Types of Mortgage LoansInterviewing Your LenderMortgage Broker Representation

Mortgage Lender Tips from Elizabeth Weintraub

Where to Get a MortgagePredatory Mortgage LendersSub-Prime Mortgage Lenders