Recent Blog Posts
The Holidays Can Be Disrupted by a Drunk Driver
During the holidays, many people like to enjoy a drink with friends and family. Giving us a chance to unwind, we may not think too much about having a beer or two before getting in our cars to drive home.
Many people do not realize what effect a few drinks may have on our motor and neurological capabilities. In fact, a 140-pound man who has just three drinks in a one-hour period may be at the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08 percent.
If you have been injured by a drunk driver, our Waukegan drunk driving accident attorneys are here to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Holiday DUI Statistics
It is easy for people to lose count of how many alcoholic beverages they have consumed, resulting in devastating consequences for themselves and others.
The statistics are startling:
- In a recent year, 11,654 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, with 209 of these deaths occurring during the holidays
Causes of Fatal Truck Crashes
It takes the driver of a large truck the length of two football fields, or about 525 feet, to bring a fully loaded tractor-trailer to a complete stop. If the road is wet or if there is inclement weather, it will take a truck driver longer to stop.
This is just one example of what may cause a fatal truck crash. With brick-and-mortar stores becoming scarcer, interstate commerce is increasing. With an increase in commerce comes a surge in shipping goods long distances and, expectedly, more tractor-trailer trucks on the roads.
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal truck crash, our Waukegan fatal truck accident lawyers are available to provide you with the support you need.
Common Causes of Truck Accident Fatalities
In 2021, there were 4,714 fatalities due to large truck crashes, with 68 percent of those killed being passenger vehicle occupants.
Dooring Bicycle Accidents and Pursuing Legal Action
Bicyclists face a host of dangers when sharing the road with motor vehicles. Some of these dangers include distracted drivers, adverse road conditions, and vehicles passing too closely. Such threats are enough to make a pedalcyclist never want to mount their bike again.
In a recent year, the United States was home to 966 bicyclist deaths, with 41,615 cyclists suffering injuries. Presently, a growing issue is dooring accidents. A dooring accident takes place when a parked motorist opens his or her vehicle door directly in the pathway of a bicyclist.
If you have been injured in a “dooring” accident, you deserve trustworthy representation that can only be found in a Waukegan bike accident attorney.
More Delivery Trucks Can Mean More Truck Accidents
With the decline of malls and brick-and-mortar stores, online shopping has increased dramatically in recent years. While customers may enjoy the convenience of online purchases, there are significantly more delivery trucks on the road than ever before.
With a rise in delivery trucks comes an increase in accidents. Since truck drivers have more demanding schedules during the holidays, many drivers may fail to drive cautiously. Even with an unyielding schedule, a truck driver’s negligence should not go unpunished.
If you have been in an accident with a delivery truck, you should contact a Waukegan truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
UPS and FedEx Truck Accident Statistics
As of 2022, United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) drivers have traveled over 3.4 billion miles. As of November 2023, UPS reported the following:
Parking Lot Accidents Can Cause Injuries
Parking lot accidents are often overlooked as minor inconveniences, but they can often result in serious injuries and even deaths. According to national statistics, 500 deaths occur in parking lot accidents every year in the US, and it is safe to say that many more people are injured. If you have been injured in a parking lot accident, call a Waukegan car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Our attorneys will review the facts of your case for free and advise you on your legal options.
The Risks and Injuries of Parking Lot Accidents
Parking lot accidents can result in extremely serious injuries. Even seemingly minor accidents can cause significant harm to both drivers and pedestrians. Some common injuries that can occur in parking lot accidents include:
Common Injuries to Back Seat Passengers in Crashes
With the advancement of vehicle safety, drivers and passengers are safer on the road. Even so, more data is highlighting the dangers of being a backseat passenger.
Unrestrained backseat passengers are more likely to die in a car crash than those wearing seat belts. While buckling up significantly reduces the risk of death, it does not mean that a backseat passenger will be completely safe in a collision.
Our Waukegan car accident lawyers would like to discuss potential injuries facing rear passengers.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Anytime someone experiences a forceful blow or strike to the head, there is the risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI may involve something penetrating the skull (open head injury) or blunt trauma to the head without penetration (closed head injury).
Helmets Do Not Always Protect Against Head Trauma
Helmets are known to save lives. Considered reliable protection, helmets have been proven to reduce deaths by 73% among helmeted riders when compared to riders not wearing a helmet.
Although reliable protection, helmets are not foolproof. There is no sure way to entirely prevent head trauma, including a concussion. If you have suffered head trauma while wearing a helmet, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Speak with a Lake County injury attorney about a possible case.
The Benefits of Wearing a Helmet
When you hit a hard surface, the foam part of a helmet absorbs the forces that would impact the brain, while the hard shell disperses the force of impact over a large area.
The Costs of Accidental Fractures
Whether it be due to a motor vehicle collision, getting injured on the job, or slipping in your bathtub, accidental fractures cost victims millions of dollars each year. Even though a fracture may not seem serious, different fractures range in severity, with some fractures potentially becoming life-threatening if left untreated. If you have sustained an accidental fracture, you need to speak with a Lake County injury attorney to determine what damages you may be able to recover.
What is a Fracture?
A fracture is a broken bone. It can happen if your body experiences a trauma, like if you fall, are in a car accident, or if you are injured playing a sport. A bone fracture can occur when something hits your bone with enough force to break it in at least one place.
Common Injuries to Bus Passengers
With buses making frequent stops to drop off and pick up passengers, this form of public transit carries inherent risks. As a bus passenger, you have no control of the drive; you are simply along for the ride. If you have been injured in a bus accident, it is important that you receive appropriate compensation, and that begins with hiring an experienced Lake County passenger injury lawyer.
Types of Injuries in a Bus Accident
A bus passenger may experience any of the following injuries if in a crash:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is any violent blow or strike to the head that disrupts a person’s normal brain function. In 2021, 69,473 people died due to TBI-related injuries.
What is Wrongful Death in Illinois?
Illinois law defines wrongful death to be the death of a person due to the “wrongful act, neglect, or default” of another. Losing a loved one is always difficult, but knowing that another person is responsible for your family member’s death can make the loss unbearable.
Besides the emotional impact of losing a family member, you may be experiencing financial hardship. If you have lost a loved one due to another’s wrongdoing, you may require the counsel of a Lake County wrongful death lawyer.
Examples of Wrongful Death Cases
A wrongful death suit exists when a party causes the death of another person through negligence, wrongdoing, or a failure to act. A family may pursue a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for their financial and emotional losses.
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.