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Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accident Claims
Falling can lead to traumatic brain injuries, broken
bones, spinal injuries, internal organ damage, and more.
Something as simple as a broken handrail on a flight of
stairs or slippery floor can cause a person to suffer
agonizing injuries. People who are hurt in a fall may need
extensive medical treatment and ongoing care. Their
injuries may prevent them from working, maintaining their
home, caring for children, and enjoying life the way they
could before being injured. Fall-related expenses such as
these can quickly become overwhelming. If you or a loved
one have experienced a
slip and fall accident, you may be eligible for compensation.
What Are the Illinois Laws Regarding Premises Liability?
Premises liability laws pertain to an injured person’s right to pursue damages after being injured on another person’s property. According to the Illinois Premises Liability Act, property owners, managers, and occupiers have a legal duty to keep premises reasonably safe for people who are lawfully on the property. If a hazardous condition does exist on the property, the owner must take action to fix the condition or warn guests to the property about the unsafe condition.
Distracted Driving Accidents Kill and Injure Thousands Every Year
Few technologies have had the impact on Americans’ daily
lives that smartphones have had. You may use a smartphone
to stay connected with loved ones, check the weather
forecast, take pictures and videos, listen to music, and
more. Unfortunately, as smartphone technology becomes more
and more advanced, people become more and more reliant on
their phones. Some people cannot even put their phone down
when they are behind the wheel of the car. If you or a
loved one were hurt in an accident involving
distracted driving, you may have a valid personal injury claim.
Shocking Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 3,000 people died in car accidents caused by distracted driving in 2018, and many more were injured. Texting and driving has long been an issue on U.S. roads, but now, there are even more smartphone-related distractions to be concerned about. Social media, emails, and mobile game apps are just as distracting as texting is. Some motorists even admit to watching Netflix or other video streaming services while operating a car.
Can I Bring a Lawsuit Against a Property Owner After Being the Victim of an Attack?
Being the victim of a violent attack is one of the
scariest experiences a person can endure. If you have been
the victim of an assault, sexual assault, robbery, or
other act of violence, you know just life changing the
experience can be. Victims of violence are often left with
serious injuries including lacerations, broken bones,
internal organ damage, and more. Often, the psychological
harm caused by an attack is just as damaging as the
physical harm. The victim may be afraid to be alone or
even avoid leaving his or her house for long periods of
time. When an attack is caused by
inadequate security, it is possible that the owner of the property on which
the attack occurred may be liable.
When is a Property Owner Liable for Acts of Violence?
Property owners have a legal obligation to keep their premises reasonably safe for guests to that property. In many cases, an inadequate security lawsuit hinges upon the question of foreseeability. A property owner cannot be expected to prevent every possible injury to guests. However, if the property owner knew that other people had previously been harmed on his or her property due to insufficient security measures and did nothing to improve security, he or she is more likely to be considered partially responsible for an attack. If the assailant is caught, he or she will have legal liability as well. The injured person may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, ongoing medical care, lost income, and more.
You May Be Entitled to Compensation If You Were Hurt in a Boat Accident Caused by Negligence
As warmer weather approaches, many Lake County residents
are starting to get their boats ready to take out on the
water. Whether it is on a privately-owned boat or a
commercial vessel, nothing quite compares to the feeling
of bobbing with the waves and feeling the sun on your
face. Unfortunately, not all boat operators are as careful
as they should be.
Boat accidents
that result in severe injuries and even death occur every
year in the United States. When a person is injured or
killed as a result of a negligent boat operator, the
injured person or surviving family may be entitled to
financial compensation.
Inattention and Alcohol Use Lead to Serious Boat Accidents
Just over 630 people lost their lives in boating accidents in the U.S. in 2018, and thousands more were injured. Sadly, many of these accidents could have been prevented if the boat operator was acting in a safe, responsible way. Many people falsely believe that they do not need to be vigilant while operating a boat because they assume that they can react to any dangerous situation in time to prevent an accident. However, Illinois boaters and passengers are seriously hurt every season due to improper lookout and operator inexperience. Boat accidents are also common when boats are travelling at excessive speeds.
What is Involved in a Product Liability Claim?
The companies that design and manufacture consumer
products have a legal obligation to ensure that these
products are reasonably safe and do not pose an
unnecessary risk to consumers. Unfortunately, carelessness
and mistakes can cause some products to have dangerous and
even life-threatening defects. If you or a loved one were
injured by a
defective product, you may be wondering what your legal options are. A
product liability claim is a personal injury lawsuit
involving injuries caused by a flawed or dangerous
product. Through a product liability claim, an injured
person or the loved ones of a deceased person may be
eligible for financial compensation.
Types of Product Liability Lawsuits
Product liability claims may involve defective medical devices such as insulin pumps, automotive parts such as air bags or tires, children’s products such as sleepers or toys, food, drugs, and much more. Some product liability claims are based on the fact that the product’s design was already dangerously flawed before the product was even manufactured. The product may be structurally unstable, excessively flammable, contain toxic substances, represent a choking hazard to children, or is otherwise dangerous to the intended consumers of the product.
Personal Injury Lawsuits Involving Psychological or Emotional Suffering
A serious
slip and fall accident,
car crash, assault, or other frightening incident can leave
emotional scars that last years if not a lifetime. Trauma
can have profound short-term and long-term effects on a
person’s mind and body. Events that are particularly
shocking or disturbing are hard for our brains to process
and understand so the negative emotions of the traumatic
event can linger long after the actual danger has passed.
Many people who have been through a traumatic event develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other psychological conditions. These mental health conditions can make it hard if not impossible to work and live a normal life. In some cases, a personal injury lawsuit may allow a person suffering from the effects of trauma to receive financial compensation for their mental injuries.
Legal Options After a Serious Bicycle Accident Involving a Motor Vehicle
The weather is finally starting to warm up in Illinois,
and that means that more and more people will be out
enjoying the sunshine on their bicycles. Riding a bike is
a healthy, environment-friendly, and enjoyable mode of
transportation, but it is not without its risks. More than
850 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents in the U.S.
in 2018 and
cyclist accidents
continue to happen. Ideally, every motorist that shares
the road with a cyclist would be especially aware of the
cyclist’s safety, but unfortunately this is not always the
case. If you or a loved one have been in a car accident
while riding a bike, read on to learn about your legal
options.
Bike Accident Injuries Can Be Severe
A bicycle is no match for a motor vehicle. Most cars, trucks, and SUVS on the roads today weigh several thousand pounds or more while an average bicycle typically weighs about 20 pounds. Specialty bicycles, such as those for racing, can weigh significantly less than average. A cyclist has virtually no protection in the event of an auto accident. Bicycle riders who collide with a motor vehicle may suffer road rash, broken bones, amputations, traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries, spine and neck injury, dental and facial injuries, and more. These injuries may leave the cyclist severely hurt or even permanently disabled. The injured cyclist may require extensive medical treatment and be unable to return to work or care for his or her children. Injuries such as these not only reduce the quality of the injured person’s life, they can also result in crushing debt and long-term financial harm. Fortunately, some people injured in bicycle accidents are able to receive compensation for their damages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drunk Driving Accident Claims
Driving under the influence of alcohol is against the
law in all 50 U.S. states, but, unfortunately, many people
choose to drive while intoxicated anyway. Sadly, nearly 30
people die every day in the U.S. in
alcohol-related traffic accidents
and many more are seriously injured. If you have been
injured or you have lost a loved one in a drunk driving
accident, an experienced personal injury attorney can help
you explore your options for compensation.
When is an Intoxicated Driver At-Fault for an Accident?
The majority of personal injury claims involve a party who was negligent or reckless in some way. It is typically up to the claimant and his or her attorney to prove that the responsible party’s negligence caused the claimant’s damages. However, in most drunk driving accidents, the intoxicated driver faces criminal DUI charges and could be presumed to have been negligent. If the person who hit you was arrested, charged with, and convicted of DUI, the presumption is created that the driver was acting negligently. You will only need to prove that he or she violated a public safety statute that is intended to protect you and that this violation caused your injuries. It is important to note that a successful personal injury claim is still possible even if the driver was not formally charged with driving under the influence.
Who Is Liable for Damages Caused in a Parking Lot Accident?
Concerns about the coronavirus have caused many grocery
store items to be much scarcer than they normally are.
Items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and bleach are
flying off shelves minutes after being stocked. Store
parking lots across the country are packed with hurried
customers stocking up on supplies, so the risk of
parking lot car accidents
is especially troubling. If you or a loved one have been
involved in a car accident in a parking lot, you may
wonder who is legally responsible for the accident.
Liability in Parking Lot Car Accidents
Some people assume that parking lots are basically free-for-all zones which are outside the bounds of traffic laws. However, parking lots do have right-of-way rules that drivers are expected to follow. When drivers disregard these rules, serious vehicle or pedestrian collisions can occur. The two main types of parking lot lanes are feeder lanes and thoroughfare lanes. Feeder lanes are the smaller lanes between rows of parking spaces and thoroughfares are the wider lanes that typically exit to the main street. Drivers in thoroughfares usually have the right-of-way. However, regardless of the type of lane, all drivers must yield to approaching vehicles and pedestrians. Anyone entering or exiting a parking space is expected to yield to pedestrian and vehicle traffic around them and only move the vehicle if the coast is clear. If a driver causes an accident because he or she disregarded right-of-way rules, it is likely that this driver will be liable for the damages caused in the accident.
Driver Fatigue May Be Just as Dangerous as Drunk Driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), over a third of U.S. adults are
sleep-deprived on a regular basis. Experts suggest that
adults get at least seven hours of sleep each night, but
many of us are getting far less than that. Sleep
deprivation can have a significant impact on
concentration, reaction time, and coordination.
Driving while sleep-deprived
dramatically increases a person’s chances of being
involved in an auto accident. According to research from
AAA, missing just one or two hours of sleep doubles a
driver’s chances of being involved in a car crash.
Drowsy Driving Thought to Be a Factor in 20 Percent of Fatal Car Accidents
When a driver is too tired to drive safely, he or she does not only put his or her own life at risk, he or she also endangers the lives of other motorists, passengers, and pedestrians. Sleep-deprived truck drivers are especially worrisome. Although federal law mandates that truck drivers get a certain amount of sleep and take regular rest breaks on the road, many drivers do not adhere to these standards. Drivers may be expected to meet tight deadlines and may therefore skip sleep in order to meet these deadlines. Some truck drivers and trucking companies even falsify log books in order to conceal the fact that truck drivers drive while dangerously sleep-deprived.
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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