Posted on December 16,2021 in Speeding

Speeding is estimated to be the cause of approximately a third of all traffic fatalities. Traveling at high speed increases the force on vehicle occupants in the event of a crash. This is why accidents caused by speeding often result in catastrophic injuries such as brain injuries and paralysis. If you or a loved one were injured in a collision caused by a speeding driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your damages.

Traffic Accidents Caused by Speeding

Most people admit that they speed from time to time. However, speed limits exist for a reason, and failing to comply with posted speed limits can lead to much more than a traffic ticket. Speeding makes it harder to control the vehicle or respond to hazards in the road. It increases the amount of time it takes to stop the vehicle. Lastly, if a collision does occur, the risk of injury or death is greater if one or both vehicles were speeding. In fact, every 10 mph increase in speed doubles the chances of dying in a collision. Drivers who cause accidents because they are speeding may be liable for the victims’ medical bills, vehicle damage, and other losses.

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 Posted on December 13,2021 in Car Accidents

The idea of not realizing immediately that you have been injured may seem counterintuitive. Many people believe that car accident injuries are always immediately apparent, and in many cases they are. Injuries like lacerations or puncture wounds are generally obvious. Other types of injuries, like whiplash-induced spinal cord injuries, may take longer to present themselves.

If you were in a serious car accident, it is probably a good idea to get in contact with an attorney even if you do not think you are seriously injured. Reaching out to a lawyer promptly after a car crash is an important way to make sure evidence you may need later is preserved just in case you end up going to court.

How Could I Not Notice an Injury Right Away?

Motor vehicle accidents can be intensely frightening experiences. When you get into a major accident, you experience a serious adrenaline rush. Adrenaline can act as a natural pain reliever. Without pain to signal to you that something is wrong, an injury that does not prevent you from getting up and walking away may go unnoticed until the adrenaline rush has worn off, which could take hours. By then, you may have already gone home.

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 Posted on December 08,2021 in Wrongful Death

Semi-trucks and other commercial trucks are massive vehicles capable of causing horrific destruction in an accident. In 2019, over 5,000 large commercial trucks were involved in fatal collisions. Sadly, many truck accidents are preventable. If your loved one was killed in a truck accident due to the negligent actions of the truck driver or another party, you may have the right to pursue legal action against the at-fault party. A wrongful death claim may enable you to seek justice for your loved one’s death and recover financial compensation for damages.

Liability for the Crash May Be Complicated

If your loved one passed away in a crash involving a large truck, you may understandably be looking for someone to blame. The at-fault party for a large truck crash is sometimes the driver. Intoxicated driving, distracted driving, speeding, and sleep deprivation are just some of the potential causes of the crash. However, the trucking company may ultimately be liable even if the driver’s actions caused the accident. If the crash was caused by faulty tires, brakes, or another defective truck part, the company that designed, sold, or manufactured the defective components may be to blame. Determining liability for a truck crash is often one of the most complicated aspects of a truck accident case.

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 Posted on December 03,2021 in Car Accidents

By now, most people are tired of hearing about the dangers of distracted driving. However, for victims of distracted driving accidents, these warnings are more important than ever. Driving while using a cell phone is one of the most dangerous types of distracted driving. When a driver is texting and driving, using smartphone applications, sending emails, or otherwise using their cell phone, their hands, eyes, and attention is not on the road. It is hard to say for sure just how many car accidents are caused by distracted driving. However, many experts agree that the problem is getting worse.

Statistics About Cell Phone Use Behind the Wheel Are Grim

Everyone knows that they should pay attention to the road and avoid distracted driving. However, society has become so reliant on technology that many people struggle to put their phones down even when operating a vehicle. A recent study conducted by State Farm found that 36 percent of people admit to using the internet while driving. Over 40 percent admit to texting and driving. About a quarter of participants admitted to updating social media or taking pictures while driving. Just under 90 percent of drivers surveyed admitted to at least one activity involving cell phone use behind the wheel.

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 Posted on November 29,2021 in Recreational Vehicle Accidents

For many Illinois residents, the winter season is an opportunity for skiing, sledding, riding a snowmobile, and other activities in the snow. However, many of these activities have a significant risk of injury or death. Snowmobile accidents kill an estimated 200 people every year and approximately 14,000 people are injured in snowmobile accidents annually. If you or a loved one were hurt in a snowmobile accident, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim for damages. You may be eligible for financial compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and more.

Inexperience and Unsafe Driving Top Causes of Snowmobile Wrecks

Snowmobiles are great for traveling in the snow or simply enjoying the Illinois countryside. However, these machines are also capable of reaching speeds of over 80 miles per hour. Snowmobile wrecks often lead to severe, life-changing injuries including paralysis.

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 Posted on November 24,2021 in Defective Products

Consumers use products to cook, clean, maintain their yard, travel, and complete countless other everyday tasks. Most people assume that any product available for purchase has been tested and proven to be safe. While this is generally true, unsafe products do sometimes reach consumers’ hands. When a consumer is harmed by a dangerous or defective product, he or she may be able to take legal action against the at-fault party. The injured consumer may be entitled to financial restitution. However, knowing whether an injury was caused by a defective product is not always easy.

Product Defects Can Cause Severe Injury or Even Death

Almost everyone who has used a hammer has accidentally struck their thumb or fingers at least once. Injuries from consumer products are not rare. However, some product injuries result in much more than a sore thumb. Sadly, people have even lost their lives due to dangerous or defective products.

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 Posted on November 19,2021 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

For many families, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other winter holidays involve alcohol. Whether it is eggnog, wine, or a special Christmas cocktail, many people enjoy alcoholic drinks over the holidays. Some parents find no harm in letting their teenagers share in the holiday spirits. However, letting your own child drink and letting someone else’s child drink are two different matters under Illinois law. Adults who let minors drink alcohol can face legal consequences under Illinois’s social host law.

Illinois Law Regarding Alcohol Consumption by Minors

In Illinois, you have to be at least 21 years old to drink. However, many parents wonder if they can let their underage children drink on special occasions. According to Illinois law, you may let your children drink alcohol if they are at home and under your supervision. You cannot let your children drink at a restaurant or bar. You also cannot let other people’s children drink. In fact, doing so can lead to significant legal consequences.

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 Posted on November 15,2021 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

Dogs can be loving companions. However, they are also animals with sharp teeth and claws. Dog attacks are terrifying for the victim and can lead to long-term health complications. Tragically, some dog bite victims do not survive their injuries. Even more tragically, most victims of fatal dog attacks are children. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a dog attack, it is important to explore your legal options.

Is the Dog’s Owner Liable for My Medical Bills?

Dog bites are not only painful, they can also lead to significant medical complications. Nerve damage, puncture wounds, facial lacerations, and broken bones are just some of the injuries a dog bite victim may suffer. Many victims require extensive medical treatment including surgery and long-term ongoing treatment. Because dogs’ mouths are full of bacteria and other pathogens, dog bites can also lead to dangerous infections.

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 Posted on November 12,2021 in Car Accidents

Countless different factors can coalesce in a car crash. Drivers may be distracted by their phones or in-vehicle controls, the road may be slippery due to recent rain, or a vehicle’s brakes may be in need of repair. Whatever the exact circumstances that led to a collision, car accident investigations are complicated. If you or a loved one were involved in a serious wreck, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. However, to recover compensation and hold the at-fault parties accountable, you must prove several elements. There are many different ways that personal injury attorneys investigate crashes in a personal injury case. Read on to learn more.

Evidence is Needed to Prove Liability and Damages

In any personal injury case, four main elements must be demonstrated: Duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Establishing a party’s duty of care is often the most straightforward of these elements. All drivers have a legal duty to follow traffic laws and drive with a reasonable level of caution. Breach of duty refers to the illegal or negligent actions taken by the at-fault party. This may involve negligent driving behaviors, negligent design or manufacture of a vehicle component, or another form of negligence or wrongdoing. Causation refers to the relationship between the at-fault party’s actions and the victim’s injuries. Damages are the financial losses suffered by the victim or victim’s family caused by the injuries or death.

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 Posted on November 09,2021 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

Personal injury law deals with injuries and property damage caused by negligent or unlawful actions. An individual may bring a personal injury claim after being hurt in a car crash, work accident, slip and fall, dog attack, or other injury-causing event. Wrongful death claims are usually brought by a close family member of someone killed in an accident caused by negligence or wrongdoing.

Money cannot make up for a serious injury or death. However, monetary damages may help cover the cost of medical treatment, vehicle repair or replacement, funeral and burial services, and other financial losses. Most of the time, damages are intended to compensate the victim or victim’s family for expenses. However, punitive damages are a separate category of damages that are awarded over and above compensatory damages.

The Purpose of Punitive Damages

Punitive damages do not compensate the victim for expenses like hospital bills or lost wages. Instead, punitive damages function as a financial penalty for wrongdoing and a deterrent for similar behavior in the future. Illinois law states that a court may award punitive damages if a defendant acted with “evil motive” or “reckless and outrageous indifference” to risk of harm with willful indifference to the safety of others.

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