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What Happens If I Am Injured as a Guest in Someone Else’s Home?
Getting injured on someone else’s property
can be a complicated situation. If it happens at a place
of business, you may have no qualms about taking action to
hold the property owner responsible for your damages.
However, if it happens while you are visiting the home of
a friend or family member, you may be more conflicted.
Fortunately, there are ways of obtaining the compensation
you need without causing financial hardship to someone you
care about.
Common Causes of Injuries in the Home
There are a number of situations in which you may be injured at another person’s home. Some of these situations may be caused by a homeowner’s negligence, while for others, the fault is less clear. Common examples include:
- Slip and fall accidents - Slip and fall injuries can happen on wet or cluttered floors, icy walkways, stairs, and in showers, and a variety of other areas in and around a home.
Recovering Damages for Injuries from a Rollover Accident in Illinois
Rollovers are one of the most dangerous types of
car accidents, accounting for 28 percent of vehicle occupant
fatalities according to 2019 data from the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Though the majority
of rollover accidents involve only one vehicle, there are
plenty of cases in which a rollover is caused by a
collision with another vehicle, or in which a vehicle
rolls over into the path of another vehicle. If you have
been injured in a rollover crash, an attorney can help you
determine whether another party was at fault.
Common Factors in Rollover Accidents
Research from the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers important insights regarding the factors that commonly contribute to rollovers. Understanding these factors may help you avoid an accident or better understand the circumstances leading to your injuries. For example:
Dog Bite Injuries Can Lead to Long-Term Complications
Given the prevalence of dogs as pets in Illinois and
throughout the U.S., along with their reputation as
friendly and loyal companions, it can be easy to forget
that they are also capable of causing serious injuries.
You may be fortunate to have nothing but positive
interactions with dogs throughout your life, but all it
takes is one attack to threaten your immediate health and
even your long-term well-being. If you suffer from ongoing
complications related to a
dog bite injury, you may be entitled to substantial compensation from
the dog’s owner.
Possible Long-Term Effects of Dog Bites
Many dog bite injury victims are able to make a full recovery after receiving treatment. However, severe injuries may cause harm that lasts for months, years, or indefinitely. Some possible long-lasting complications include:
- Infection - Many people associate rabies with animal bites, but bite wounds can also become infected with other diseases, including tetanus and staph. When an infection spreads throughout the bloodstream, it can become difficult to control, and an injury victim may need significant ongoing treatment.
Stay Safe From Injuries on the Fourth of July
This Fourth of July weekend will be a time of
celebration for many people, especially after the COVID-19
pandemic interrupted holiday plans in 2020. In the midst
of this celebration, however, it is important to keep your
safety in mind. Unfortunately, the Fourth of July also
tends to come with a spike in certain types of accidents
that can result in serious injuries. You should do your
best to prevent and avoid these accidents, but know that a
personal injury
attorney can help if you do suffer injuries.
Common Causes of Injuries on the 4th of July
Many popular Fourth of July traditions contribute to the increased risk of injuries on and around the holiday. Some of the most common causes of injuries include:
- Fireworks accidents - According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 15,000 people required emergency treatment for injuries related to fireworks in 2020, primarily for burns, eye injuries, and hand injuries. If you choose to light fireworks yourself, the CPSC recommends safety precautions like keeping a bucket of water nearby, lighting only one item at a time, and avoiding picking up fireworks that do not fully ignite.
What Qualifies as Pain and Suffering in an Illinois Personal Injury Claim?
If you have been
seriously injured
in an accident, you understand how much it can affect all
areas of your life. Your most immediate concern is likely
your health, or even your very survival, as well as your
ability to cover the costs of your care. However, over
time, your concern may shift to the ways in which your
injuries continue to affect your daily life, happiness,
and well-being. You should know that if your injuries were
caused by someone else’s negligence, you are not only
entitled to compensation for the financial costs, but also
these ongoing effects, which are often referred to as pain
and suffering.
Examples of Pain and Suffering
In a personal injury claim, pain and suffering damages cover a variety of negative effects that do not necessarily have a tangible financial cost, but nonetheless impair your quality of life. Some examples include:
How Do Illinois Laws Affect Scooter Injury Cases?
Mopeds and motorized or electric
scooters
are a common form of transportation and recreation for
many people throughout Illinois, and they are increasing
in popularity with the rise of e-scooter rental companies
like Lime, Bird, and Spin. In fact, the City of Chicago
has recently run e-scooter pilot programs, with signs
pointing to a possible full-time adoption. However,
traveling by e-scooter is not without its dangers, and it
is important to know what you should do if you are injured
while riding.
Requirements for Different Kinds of Scooters in Illinois
In general, vehicles that are considered to be mopeds or scooters are subject to the same Illinois traffic laws as bicycles. This means that if they are traveling on a public road, they should follow traffic signs and signals, stay to the right side of the road, travel in the same direction as other vehicle traffic, and yield the right of way when appropriate. They also must be equipped with a visible headlight and taillight at night, and they are only permitted to carry two people if the passenger has a seat and footrest. Motorized scooters with gas-powered engines must also be titled and registered.
Why Are Witnesses Important in an Illinois Personal Injury Case?
If you have been injured due to someone else’s
negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for
your damages through a
personal injury claim.
However, a successful claim typically requires substantial
evidence of the negligence at hand and the damages you
have suffered. Depending on the situation, this can
include physical evidence, photos and videos, documented
reports, and more. Various types of witness testimony can
also be invaluable when it comes to supporting your claim.
Witnesses to the Incident
Whether you have been injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, a dog attack, or some other situation, chances are that someone saw it happen. Eyewitnesses can help you establish the circumstances surrounding your injuries to determine whether they were caused by a negligent act or some other incident that would entitle you to damages. Eyewitnesses can include many different people, such as:
When Is Product Liability a Factor in an Illinois Car Crash?
In Illinois and throughout the United States, the vast
majority of
car accidents
are caused by the actions of at least one of the drivers
involved. However, there are sometimes other contributing
factors. In recent years, the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration has reported that in approximately 4
percent of accident cases, the critical reason for the
crash can be attributed to either the vehicle itself or
the surrounding environment. In some of these cases, a
defective part or product
may be fully or partially responsible for the collision
and resulting injuries. If you have been injured in a
single-vehicle or multi-vehicle accident, an experienced
attorney can help you determine whether you may have a
claim for compensation based on
product liability.
New Monitoring System Could Reduce Illinois Uninsured Driver Accidents
According to recent estimates, more than 10 percent of
Illinois drivers lack the liability insurance required by
state law. When one of these
uninsured drivers
causes a
car accident
resulting in property damage—or worse, bodily injury—it
can make the process of recovering compensation more
difficult for the victims. Fortunately, Illinois
government is taking steps to address the problem of
uninsured drivers, including implementing a new electronic
verification system to identify drivers who violate the
state’s mandatory car insurance laws.
How Does the Car Insurance Verification System Work?
The Illinois Secretary of State’s new Illinois Insurance Verification System (ILIVS), goes into effect on July 1, 2021. All vehicles registered in Illinois will be subject to at least two annual checks, conducted at random intervals throughout the year, to determine whether they are covered by an active liability insurance policy. The verifications will be conducted automatically using records from auto insurance providers throughout the state.
What Happens if I Am Injured While Driving for Work in Illinois?
For many employees, driving is an important part of
their work responsibilities. Commercial truck drivers,
delivery drivers, employees who travel between work sites,
and even employees who occasionally run errands for their
employer during the workday will often find themselves on
the road, and this comes with exposure to the risk of
serious injury in a
motor vehicle accident. If you are injured while driving for work, it is
important to understand your options for recovering
compensation.
Workers’ Compensation Through Your Employer
In many cases, a person who is injured in an accident while driving for work is entitled to Illinois workers’ compensation benefits through their employer. Workers’ compensation claims do not require a demonstration of fault or negligence on the part of your employer, but in order to be eligible for benefits, the following must be true:
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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