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Most Common Reasons For Illinois Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents occur far too often, mostly due to the negligence of another vehicle sharing the road. Most bicycle accidents can be avoided if citizens follow established traffic laws, such as not driving distracted or under the influence of alcohol. Sadly, there are many common ways in which accidents happen to cyclists out on the roadways. If you or a loved one have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Distracted Driving
A common occurrence in more than just the state of Illinois, distracted drivers are responsible for a large number of accidents across the entire United States. Drivers who choose to stare at their smartphones, eat or shave while driving, or those who simply take their eyes off of the road for any reason are a detriment to traffic safety and anyone driving a bicycle.
Necessary Evidence For An Illinois Car Accident Injury Lawsuit
There are many car accidents each year and a good few of them will result in serious injuries due to the negligence of a driver. It is not uncommon to see personal injury lawsuits as a response to these car crash incidents. However, for the injured party to receive compensation for damages, it will require evidence that proves their claim. A non-nonsense, skillful attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to prove your injury claims in court.
Why Evidence is Important in an Injury Claim
Evidence is necessary to prove fault in the accident on the part of the defendant and how much the accident cost you in damages. It is a good idea to collect as much evidence from the scene of the accident as you possibly can. On-scene evidence can include photos or video footage, witness testimonies, and the official police report of the accident. Evidence for damages can include medical records, car repair receipts, and medical bill statements.
What a Cyclist Should Do After a Rear-End Collision
Bike riding is a great stress reliever and a terrific way to stay in shape. However, there are great risks to cyclists while out on the road that could have dire consequences. Rear-end collisions from automobiles are a very real threat to any cyclist, whether driving safely or not. When suffering a bicycle accident, it is normal for a cyclist to feel panic, shock, and disorientation depending on the severity of the impact. Anyone who receives injuries due to a rear-end collision should seek out an attorney to ensure they receive compensation for damages.
Injuries From a Rear-End Collision
Injuries after being rear-ended on your bike can be similar to those sustained from a car-to-car collision. The only real difference is the impact and severity that a cyclist is elevated due to the lack of protection one is afforded in a motor vehicle. The possibility for injury is amplified since, more often than not, the only protection a cyclist has is their helmet.
Common Injuries Suffered During a Car Accident
Any car accident, minor or major, can result in injuries. Some injuries are not noticeable right away and may make their presence known hours to days later. Some of the same injuries suffered from a car accident may be present in other motor vehicle accidents such as trucks and motorcycles. In each situation, the accident can happen fast and culminate in severe consequences, so it is important to be able to reach out to your insurance company as well as an experienced personal injury lawyer for help following the incident.
Soft Tissue
Accidents can damage the body’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons. A contusion, sprain, or strain fits into this category of injury, and whiplash may also fall into this category. A contusion is a bruise that can happen very easily in even a minor “fender-bender.” A sprain is a partial tear to a ligament and often occurs in the knee, ankle, or wrist. A strain may result from the force of impact or having a muscle or tendon stretched improperly.
How to Seek Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury
A person’s life can be forever altered when sustaining a spinal cord injury (SCI). The spinal cord is one of the most significant parts of the human body. It is responsible for all internal organs, sensory organs, and muscles that sit below the neck. So what happens when this prominent part of the nervous system suffers a traumatic injury due to another person’s negligence? You get yourself a lawyer and sue the defendant for everything owed.
Getting Your Due
The very first thing (after receiving medical help) you should do when sustaining a spinal cord injury is to seek out legal representation. Though you can file a claim on your own, hiring a lawyer can ensure you file the right claim with the defendant’s insurance company.
Insurance companies will often attempt to minimize the impact their client had regarding the injuries. A tough and pragmatic lawyer with experience in personal injury cases can also ensure you never settle for a lowball compensation payout.
Most Common Causes For Car Crashes in Illinois
Car crashes happen far too often in Illinois, some of which result in serious injury and death. Some of the busiest interstate highways in the US can be found in Illinois which lends itself to many of the vehicle crash statistics found in the reports provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Most of the car crashes are caused by the same conditions or driver behaviors that plague the entire country. Persons injured in a car crash who hope to seek compensation for damages incurred should consult with a local attorney as soon as they are able.
Distracted Driving
Anytime a driver’s attention is pulled away from the road they run the risk of a serious accident that could see themselves or others injured. Typical driving distractions include:
- Texting while driving
- Eating while driving
Premises Liability for Injuries On Private Property
In Illinois, a landowner is liable for some of the damages for personal injuries that occur on those premises. However, it is on you to prove the injuries you sustained on the property were because of a dangerous condition found on the premises. A simple slip and fall on someone’s private property does not automatically entitle you to any compensation. Therefore, it is in your best interest to seek out an experienced attorney in these situations.
Proving Owner Negligence
Did the owner of the private property invite you or give consent for you to be on the property? The Illinois Premises Liability Act states that owners must show a reasonable duty of care to all visitors which includes the condition of the premises. However, if the visitor already knows about possible conditions that could potentially result in injury, or those conditions are blatantly obvious, then the owner owes no such duty of care. A duty of care is also not owed to any visitor if there are conditions that could cause injury that may be hidden, and the owner is unaware of them.
Most Common Causes For Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can occur at any time, anywhere. Some accidents occur more often than others and, as a pedestrian, you should understand what to look out for to prevent an accident from happening to you. You should also know exactly what your legal rights are in the event that you do suffer an accident. Who better to explain the legalities than a personal injury attorney?
Pedestrian Accident Causes
Some events can transpire that put both a pedestrian and a driver in the wrong when it comes to negligence that results in an accident. It is important to be able to identify why pedestrian accidents occur so those liable can be held responsible in compensation claims cases.
The following are common causes of pedestrian accidents that can happen to anyone:
- Jaywalking
- The driver or pedestrian is intoxicated or distracted
Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots
When you think of parking lot accidents, you probably picture two vehicles in an accident. However, it is reported that one in five accidents takes place in a parking lot, killing 500 or more pedestrians each year and injuring over 60,000 people.
In running last-minute errands, motor vehicle drivers may not be paying full attention to their surroundings. One study found that 9% of pedestrian fatalities are the result of backing up vehicles. Driver inattention combined with a large number of pedestrians and no designated place for people to walk accounts for a substantial number of accidents.
If you have been the victim of a parking lot accident, you need the Waukegan pedestrian accident attorneys at Salvi & Maher, LLP to advocate on your behalf.
Why are There So Many Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots?
Most motorists do not take the same care in a parking lot as they would on the road. The most common reasons for pedestrian accidents are:
Common Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents
With limited protection, motorcyclist injuries are far too common. A reported 82,686 motorcyclists sustained injuries in collisions in a recent year. A motorcyclist who has to swerve to avoid a collision runs the risk of losing control.
Riders do not realize the risk of mounting their bike. Our Waukegan motorcycle accident attorneys want to keep you informed, so we have listed the most common motorcycle accident injuries that our firm sees
Traumatic Brain Injuries
The sudden force of impact in a motorcycle crash can result in a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Unfortunately, motorcyclists face a significantly higher risk of having a TBI than drivers. A TBI disrupts normal brain activity.
A TBI may be a closed or open brain injury. In a closed brain injury, a violent blow to the head results in the brain moving rapidly back and forth within the skull, causing brain tissue to get damaged. In an open brain injury, brain tissue is damaged when an object penetrates the skull
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.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
