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Recent Blog Posts
Actor’s Death Emphasizes the Importance of Illinois Bicycle Safety
The recent death of 32-year-old “School of Rock” actor Kevin Clark in a Chicago bicycle accident is a sobering reminder of the tragic consequences that bicyclists can face when they are hit by a motor vehicle. Each year in Illinois, more than 2,000 bicyclists are injured in car crashes, and unfortunately, some of them do not survive. You should be sure to take all reasonable safety precautions whenever you travel by bicycle, as well as be aware of what you can do if you or a loved one is seriously injured.
Promoting Bicycle Safety in Illinois
As a bicyclist, there are many things you can do to protect yourself from injury in a collision with a car or motor vehicle. These include:
- Wearing a helmet - Helmets are not legally required for bicyclists in Illinois, but those who wear them are up to 85 percent more likely to avoid a traumatic brain injury.
Who Is Liable For Injuries on Playground Equipment in Illinois?
Now that the weather is getting warmer, parents and child care providers will likely be spending more time outside with children, including on the many playgrounds throughout Illinois. Playground equipment can be a great way to keep children active and entertained, but unfortunately, it can also lead to injuries, some of which are serious. If your child is injured on a piece of playground equipment, it may be possible to recover compensation if there is evidence of negligence that contributed to their injuries.
Common Cause of Playground Injuries Among Children
Children can be injured on playground equipment in many different ways. Some common causes and contributing factors in playground injuries include:
- Lack of proper supervision - Without a responsible adult keeping watch, children can easily injure themselves even on reasonably safe equipment.
Who Is Liable for Injuries in Illinois Work Zone Car Accidents?
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2019, more than 30 people died and more than 1,700 were injured in work zone car accidents. Drivers, passengers, and road workers are all at risk of injury in a work zone crash, and in many cases, the resulting injuries are severe and life-altering. In order to recover fair compensation for your injuries, it is important to understand how liability is determined in these accidents.
Possible Liable Parties
Depending on the circumstances leading to a crash in a work zone, a variety of parties could be found negligent. These include:
- Drivers involved in the accident - As with most car accidents, negligent drivers are the most common at-fault parties in work zone crashes. Although work zones may present more accident risks, drivers are responsible for reasonably considering those risks and adapting their behavior accordingly. If a driver fails to reduce their speed or stay alert to lane shifts, construction barricades, and workers on the road, they can be liable for resulting injuries.
How Do I Recover Compensation Through Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
If you are injured in a car accident because of the actions of another driver, your case for compensation relies on your ability to demonstrate that driver’s negligence. However, compensation usually does not come directly from the driver, but rather from their car insurance provider through their liability coverage. If the driver is uninsured, this is a major obstacle to the success of your claim.
Fortunately, you likely have another option for covering your medical bills and other losses if the at-fault driver lacks insurance. Namely, you can file a claim with your own insurance provider through your uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is required on all Illinois car insurance policies. However, ensuring that you receive the full compensation you deserve can still be a difficult process.
What Should I Do If I Am Injured in a Public Transportation Accident?
Public transportation, including CTA buses and commuter trains, offers many benefits to Illinois residents, including convenience, reduced costs, and a lower environmental impact. However, choosing to use public transit also means placing your trust in the driver or operator to keep you safe from injury. If an accident happens because of the negligence of the driver or another party, you may be seriously injured. In this case, you should know the steps you will need to take in order to recover fair compensation.
Get Medical Help and Hire an Attorney
As with any personal injury case, there are a couple of things you should be sure to do as soon as possible after the accident. The first is to seek medical attention. This ensures that you have detailed information about the extent of your injuries, both for the sake of getting the treatment you need and for creating a record to support your injury claim. Second, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney. Your lawyer can help you immensely with the following steps and give you a better chance of recovering full compensation for your damages.
Recovering Compensation from a Drunk Truck Driver in Illinois
It is an unfortunate reality that many people choose to drive under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, putting themselves and others at risk of serious injury or death. While this problem is more prevalent among drivers of passenger vehicles on their personal time, some commercial truck drivers also operate under the influence while they are on the job. Accidents involving drunk truck drivers can have especially dire consequences, as their large vehicles are capable of causing extensive damage. If you or a loved one was injured by an intoxicated truck driver, it is important to ensure that you are compensated fairly.
Gathering Evidence of a Truck Driver’s Negligence
What Are Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Illinois?
As temperatures are warming up and spring is coming into full bloom, more people are taking their motorcycles out of their garages, out from under their tarps, and out onto the open road. Riding a motorcycle can be a refreshing activity on a brisk spring day in Northern Illinois, but it can also be dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were an estimated 84,000 motorcyclists injured in motor vehicle crashes across the United States in 2019. Car accidents happen all of the time for a variety of reasons, but when accidents happen because of the negligence of another person, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to claim compensation for your injuries.
Common Motorcycle Injuries
Motorcyclists are extremely exposed to the elements when they ride, which is why safety advocates highly recommend wearing safety clothing along with a DOT-approved helmet. Even still, accidents involving a motorcyclist and an actual vehicle typically result in the majority of the injuries being sustained by the motorcyclist. Some of the most common injuries include:
Important Issues Personal Injury Claimants Often Overlook
Personal injury law deals with injuries and deaths caused by another party's illegal, reckless, or negligent actions. The party liable for an injury may be an individual, a commercial business, the owner or occupier of the property on which the injury occurred, or even a government entity. Personal injury lawsuits can be an effective way to hold a party accountable for the harm caused by negligence or wrongdoing. It may also serve as a means of financial recovery for the claimant. Personal injury claims are also subject to critical deadlines and rules – many of which are often overlooked.
Key Considerations if You Wish to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Many misunderstandings and myths are surrounding personal injury law. If another party harmed you or a loved one and you are interested in seeking compensation for damages, it is essential to keep the following considerations in mind:
What Are the Laws in Illinois Regarding Boating Accident Injury Claims?
As the weather heats up in Lake County, more and more people will be out enjoying the sunshine on a boat. Unfortunately, the increase in boating activity also results in an increased risk of boating injuries and fatalities. If you or a loved one were hurt in a boating accident, it is important to know your rights. You may be entitled to compensation for the damages that you or your loved one suffered as a result of the accident.
Who is Liable for Boat Accidents in Illinois?
A personal injury claim may allow for the recovery of medical bills, lost income, and other damages after a boat accident. For a successful boating accident injury claim to be possible, the injury or death must have been caused by the negligent or wrongful act of another. Some of the most common causes of boating accidents include:
- BUI - Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is estimated to be a contributing factor in half of all boating accidents
Distracted Driving Month Stresses the Dangers of Driver Inattention
By now, everyone has heard about the dangers of distracted driving. Many states, including Illinois, have instituted laws prohibiting the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. April has been identified as national Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Unfortunately, knowledge does not always equate to action. Many drivers still engage in activities other than driving behind the wheel. Distracted driving leads to thousands of car crashes a year. If you or a loved one have been injured in a collision caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages.
Study Suggests Distracted Driving Collisions Are Much More Frequent Than Previously Estimated
According to a recent study analyzing over 85,000 auto collisions, 57 percent of crashes involved cell phone use. About 17 percent of the crashes studied involved cell phone use less than five seconds before the impact. Of the 25 most populous cities in the U.S., Chicago ranks second in terms of phone use while driving. Distracted driving collisions involving other vehicles as well as crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians led to nearly half a million injuries and thousands of deaths in 2018 alone. Many experts believe that the problem is only getting worse.
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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