Dogs are considered man's best friend. Unfortunately, not all dogs live up to this reputation. While many are lovable companions, dogs are also animals with sharp teeth and claws. Dog attacks can lead to severe injuries, both physically and emotionally. Nerve damage, lacerations, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and long-term disfigurement may all result from a serious dog attack.

Sadly, over half of the people bitten by dogs are children. If your child was bitten by a dog or otherwise injured by a dog, it is important to understand your legal rights and options.

Illinois Law Specifically Describes Liability for Dog Bites

State laws describing liability for dog-related injuries vary. Some states are called "one-bite rule" states because a dog owner is not liable for injuries the first time their dog injures someone. However, Illinois is a strict liability state. This means that, regardless of whether the dog had previously bitten or attacked someone, an owner is responsible for any injuries caused by their dog. There are a few notable exceptions to this rule: If the injured person was trespassing at the time of the attack or the dog was provoked, the dog owner is not liable for the person's injuries.

The number of pedestrian accidents that occur each year in the United States is alarming. According to a report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GSA), almost 7,500 people were killed in pedestrian accidents last year, an increase of almost 12 percent from the year before. This is the largest number of pedestrian accident fatalities recorded in 40 years. There are thousands more people hit by vehicles who do survive but suffer serious injuries that leave them with long-term or permanent disabilities.

Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

The most common cause of pedestrian fatalities is speeding, increasing by almost 10 percent in just one year. Per the GSA’s report, speeding is also becoming a significant factor in fatal pedestrian accidents involving children, with percentages doubling as the cause of the accident in a two-year period.

Distracted driving is also a major problem on roads, responsible for killing more than 3,000 people each year – many of those killed pedestrians. However, another issue that safety advocates and researchers have discovered that is becoming a more common factor in pedestrian accidents is distracted walking.

Some personal injury claims are relatively simple. You were stopped completely at a stop sign when a drunk or speeding driver rear-ended you. There is video footage of a grocery store employee spilling a drink and then walking away a few minutes before you slipped and fell. Your injuries are fairly minor and you will be able to return to work within a few weeks. These cases are more likely to result in a settlement and a fair payout that covers medical expenses, lost wages, and maybe the cost of a totaled vehicle. Other cases are much more complex. You have sustained a life-altering injury and will always need a home health aide. There is a disagreement over whether what your doctor did caused harm to you. The truck driver who hit you claims that you caused the crash. In these cases, one tool your attorney may use is the expert witness. 

What is the Role of an Expert Witness?

An expert witness is someone who can provide credible testimony about what they believe is true in your case. They step in when there is a factual, rather than a legal, dispute that the parties cannot agree on. There is no specific certification that an expert witness must hold, but they must be regarded as an expert in the topic matter they are going to testify about. In Illinois, an expert witness must be qualified by their “knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education.”

An expert witness will look at the evidence itself and apply their particular set of professional skills to the investigation. For example, if the fact in dispute is whether your tire blew because it was defective or because you installed it wrong, you would look for a tire expert. This person should be well-versed in accident reconstruction and tire design–ideally they should hold an advanced degree in this field. The expert witness can perform a skilled analysis of the accident and draw a conclusion about what most likely happened. 

When people think of premises liability lawsuits, they think of slip and fall accidents, or perhaps a shelf collapsing shelf in a grocery store. But sometimes premises liability is more about the activity that occurs at the property, rather than the property itself.

Property owners have an obligation to create a reasonably safe environment for entrants, this includes having adequate security measures to prevent crime and illicit activity. If the owner fails to employ such measures, and someone suffers an attack on their property, they may face a negligent security lawsuit.

 Essentially, a negligent security lawsuit alleges the victim suffered an attack on the property, such as a robbery or assault, because the owner failed to install necessary security features, like security cameras, adequate lighting, or the presence of a security guard.

Millions of Americans are injured in slip and fall accidents every year. According to the CDC, over 800,000 patients are hospitalized every year because of falls.

These injuries are often severe. People fall suddenly and rarely have time to brace themselves. They hit the ground with enough force to break bones and tear ligaments. In fact, one out of every five falls causes a serious injury.

Slip and falls can happen for a variety of reasons, including: