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Dram Shop Laws and Drunk Driver Liability
You probably already know that drunk drivers can be held liable for the harm they cause after an accident. Pursuing compensation from the drunk driver’s insurance company or the drunk driver personally is always an option after a DUI crash. However, you may have another option. Illinois has what are called “dram shop laws.” “Dram shop” is an outdated term for any establishment that serves alcohol on the premises, like bars and clubs. Under dram shop laws, you may be able to pursue compensation from the establishment that served the drunk driver who hit you. These laws are on the books both to hold drinking establishments responsible for overserving people who then go on to injure others due to their intoxication, and also to provide the victims of drunk drivers with an additional source of potential compensation. An attorney can help you understand how dram shop laws may impact your case.
When Your Public Transportation Does Not Crash, But You Still Get Hurt
Crashing is far from the only way that passengers on public transportation can get hurt. In Illinois, “common carriers” - an old legal term for modes of public transportation - owe the highest duty of care to their passengers. Professional transportation agencies are legally bound to be much more careful about the safety of their passengers than say, a friend giving you a ride in their car. Even if the bus, train, or plane you were on did not crash, the transportation company operating it may still be liable for injuries you sustained while riding. The duty of care involves more than simply not causing an accident. The passenger areas of public transportation vehicles should also be designed and maintained so as to preserve customer safety. If you were injured while using public transportation, it is a good idea to speak with an attorney about whether you may be entitled to compensation.
5 Most Dangerous Defects Commonly Found in Children's Toys
The safety standards that apply to products meant for children are much more stringent than those that apply to products meant for adults. Children do not have the life experience and reasoning skills that help adults use dangerous products safely. Parents of toddlers often say that children that age seems as though they are designed to self-destruct, always finding ways to endanger themselves. This is why we do not entrust things like lighters or weapons to children. Parents should be able to reasonably expect that toys marketed for use by children are safe for children. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Injuries related to product defects in children’s toys are much more common than they should be. If your child was harmed by a dangerous toy, an attorney may be able to help you recover the compensation they need through a product liability case.
Common Toy Defects That Put Your Child in Danger
Top 3 Causes of RV Accidents in Illinois
Now that warmer weather is approaching and children are out of school for the summer, a lot of families will be hitting the road in an RV for vacation. RV travel can be a great way to travel and see the country without spending a fortune on hotels or plane tickets. They can also make long drives much more tolerable for young children, who may enjoy the freedom of being able to move around in the back of an RV. This type of travel does come with a few risks, however. RVs are much more difficult to drive than a standard family car. The lack of seatbelts can also present an added danger in the event of an accident. If you are hurt in an RV collision, it is important to speak with an attorney to determine whether you may be able to recover compensation.
What Are Some Common Causes of RV Crashes?
While Illinois is a bit more particular than other states, requiring an upgraded non-commercial license to drive an RV over 16,000 pounds, these licenses are typically not difficult to obtain with minimal practice. This makes it relatively easy for just about anyone to rent or buy an RV and set off on an adventure. It also makes things a little risky for anyone on the road near an inexperienced RV driver. Some common causes of RV crashes include:
3 Reasons a Police Report Is Vital to Your Car Accident Case
By Illinois state law, you are obligated to file a police report if you get into a car accident that causes any type of injury or over $1,500 in property damage. That is enough of a reason to make sure you stick around after the crash to wait for the police unless your injuries indicate that you must be taken to the hospital right away. Aside from that, the police report may be absolutely vital to your claim. While quite a few people are understandably hesitant to interact with the police, it is important that you do not skip this step. A police report showing that you were not at fault for the accident can make or break your case when it comes time to seek damages. You have the option of calling a lawyer from the side of the road for further guidance.
Why is the Police Report so Important?
There are a number of reasons that people who have been hurt in a crash hesitate to call the police. However, failing to do so could make it very difficult for you to recover compensation. A police report can help your case in ways like:
5 Things You Should Never Do After a Car Crash in Lake County
From the moment you make it out of your crashed vehicle up until you have received your settlement, everything you do following a car accident could be important. In most cases, you are not dealing with the driver who hit you - you are dealing with their insurance company. Insurance representatives are trained to save their company money, not to make sure that people their clients carelessly injure get a fair deal. Saying or doing the wrong thing could ultimately hurt your case. Anything from an off-handed remark to a witness on the side of the road to a badly-worded social media post could ultimately cause you to lose out on part of the compensation you deserved. The best thing you can do after a serious motor vehicle accident is to call a lawyer sooner rather than later, and then follow their advice.
Actions to Avoid After Being Injured in a Traffic Accident
What you do not do is often just as important as what you do. If you were injured in a car accident, you should not:
Top 5 Causes of School Bus Injuries in Illinois
When your child waves goodbye and climbs onto their school bus in the morning, you expect that they are going to make it to school and back safely. After all, school bus drivers know that they are carrying precious cargo. You would think that the safety training school bus drivers undergo would prevent most accidents and injuries, but this is not always the case. Just like city bus drivers, school bus drivers sometimes drive carelessly. Even if the bus driver did nothing wrong, issues like poor maintenance or other drivers can still cause accidents that injure children. Having a child get injured in a school bus crash or other accident can feel like a nightmare come true for many parents. If your family has experienced this disaster, you should turn to a skilled attorney for help securing compensation on your child’s behalf.
What Are the Most Common Causes of School Bus Accidents?
Electric Scooter Accidents and Injuries in Chicago
Chicago plans to bring several thousand electric scooters to city streets this spring. Scooters can help reduce traffic congestion, decrease the burden on public transportation, and even cut down on pollution. However, these scooters also have drawbacks. Scooter-related injuries can occur from collisions between scooters and motor vehicles, trip and fall accidents caused by discarded scooters, and injuries from falling off of the scooters.
When the Chicago scooter pilot program first launched in 2019, many people voiced concerns about safety issues. Steps have since been taken to reduce the chances of scooter-related injuries, but it is still unclear if enough action has been taken to address electric scooter dangers.
Are Electric Scooters Safe?
Scooters are fun, affordable, and more environmentally friendly than cars. However, scooters also present hazards to riders, motorists, and pedestrians. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), emergency room visits caused by accidents involving scooters and other micro-mobility products have increased 70 percent in the last few years. Even more concerningly, more than one-third of these emergency room visits were for head injuries.
Can I Recover Damages For a Serious Injury at an Illinois Restaurant?
Americans eat out more now than they ever have and that trend seems likely to continue. While the vast majority of restaurant visits are safe, restaurants have many potential hazards that can result in serious personal injury. Even with the best care, not all of these injuries can be prevented; however, negligence on the part of a restaurant owner, manager, or staff can cause injuries that could have been avoided with proper care. If you were hurt as a customer or visitor at a Waukegan restaurant because of conditions caused by a restaurant’s failure to meet the duty of care they owe their patrons, you may want to contact a personal injury lawyer.
What Are the Most Common Restaurant Injuries?
A surprising variety of injuries can occur at a restaurant, both in and around the premises. These include, but are not limited to:
Three Common Questions After a Public Transit Accident in Illinois
Illinois has excellent public transit infrastructure, and commuters and visitors have the option to travel by train or bus all over the state. An unfortunate corollary of great public transit is the accidents that come from having so many vehicles on the road. Although buses and trains are generally very safe modes of transportation, accidents do happen and it is important to know your options if you are involved in a public transit vehicle accident in Illinois.
Was the Driver or Operator at Fault?
The first thing you need to know when determining whether you can take action against a public transit company is whether the accident happened because the driver of the bus or operator of the train was at fault. If you were completely at fault for the accident, you probably do not have a claim; if you were partly at fault for the accident, whether you can successfully sue will depend on how much of the accident was due to the actions of the other driver. Answering these questions and gathering evidence that proves the other driver was at fault often requires the assistance of attorneys or private investigators with experience in these types of accidents.
Contact a Lake County Vehicle Accident Attorney Who is Ready to Help You
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our office. Call 847-662-3303 to set up a free initial consultation at one of our four convenient locations. There is no risk because we only collect fees if you collect compensation. With offices in Libertyville, Waukegan, Richmond, and Chicago, we represent clients in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage County, and McHenry County.
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