Posted on October 27, 2021 in Personal Injury

Opting to go without a vehicle with the goal of leading a more eco-friendly, economically efficient, and active lifestyle is an admirable decision that is becoming increasingly widespread in urban areas of the United States. With this in mind, it is important for drivers and pedestrians alike to be aware of what is expected when sharing roads. 

Recent estimates suggest that pedestrian accidents have greatly increased in the past few years. While choosing to ride a bike or walk to work and social events may fit well into an individual’s lifestyle, pedestrians should understand what dangers they may face on the roads and what actions they can take to better avoid being involved in a pedestrian accident.

What Factors Most Often Lead to a Pedestrian Accident?

Certain dangerous behaviors, on both the driver and pedestrian part, are more likely to contribute to a pedestrian accident than others. 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on October 11, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Tractor-trailers, tanker trucks, flatbed trucks, and other large commercial trucks play a crucial role in transporting goods across the United States. Unfortunately, these trucks can also cause severe damage during traffic accidents. If you or a loved one were hurt in a truck crash, you may be left wondering how you will pay for the medical expenses resulting from the injury. Medical debt can be a huge burden on a family – especially when the injured person is also unable to work and earn an income after the crash.

If another party’s negligence or recklessness caused the crash, that party may be liable for the victims’ medical expenses. However, determining who is liable for a truck crash is often a difficult task.

Liability for a Truck Accident Varies

The costs resulting from a commercial truck accident are often high enough to bankrupt a victim. Medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle damage are just some of the expenses an injured victim may be forced to contend with. According to Illinois law, when a party’s negligence causes someone to be injured and suffer damages, that party is legally responsible for reimbursing the injured person for their damages. However, it is not always clear who is at fault for a truck crash. Liability could fall to:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 24, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

Patients with serious health conditions often require complex medical procedures and precise courses of treatment, and they rely on their health care providers to execute this treatment to the best of their abilities. Unfortunately, with so many important details to attend to, it is not uncommon for a medical professional to err, which may result in serious harm to the patient.

One common risk for patients is the potential for medication errors. If you have suffered harm after taking a medication and there is evidence of negligence on the part of a doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim.

How Do Medication Errors Occur?

A patient’s medication is often handled by several different parties before it is administered, and a variety of errors can occur throughout this process. Some of the most common mistakes include:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 10, 2021 in Construction Accidents

Many construction workers in Illinois are aware that if they are injured at work, they can obtain financial relief through their employer’s workers’ compensation coverage. However, the availability of these benefits may sometimes lead employees to overlook other sources of compensation. In many cases, it is possible to pursue a third-party personal injury claim to recover compensation for the full extent of the damages you have suffered in a construction accident.

When Is a Third-Party Claim Appropriate?

While workers’ compensation benefits may be available regardless of who caused your work-related injuries, the situations in which you can file a third-party claim are more limited. In order to pursue a third-party claim for construction accident injuries, you must be able to demonstrate that someone other than you or your employer was wholly or partially responsible for the circumstances that caused your injuries. Some examples of third parties who may be involved in construction accidents include:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 18, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Over the last couple of decades, with the growing prevalence of text messaging and smartphones, distracted driving has become one of the most dangerous risks of injury on the road. Most distracted driving accidents involve passenger vehicles, but commercial truck drivers can also fall prey to distraction. If you have been in an accident with a distracted truck driver, your injuries may be especially severe. However, you may also be entitled to substantial compensation, and a personal injury lawyer can help you take the necessary steps to secure it.

The Dangers of Cell Phones for Commercial Truck Drivers

For truck drivers, using a cell phone while driving is risky on multiple levels. Reading or typing a text message means that a driver’s full attention is not on the task of driving, and research shows that it may lead a driver to take their eyes off of the road for almost five seconds on average. Texting also typically requires the use of a driver’s hands, which makes it more difficult for the driver to make steering adjustments or otherwise control the vehicle.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 03, 2021 in Personal Injury

In a typical week, you may visit a number of places of business for the purposes of shopping, eating at restaurants, attending appointments, and more. Chances are, you rarely think twice about your personal safety when visiting any of these places. However, it is possible to suffer a serious injury in a place of business, and in many of these cases, the business owner is at fault. If you have been injured, an attorney can help you file a claim in pursuit of fair compensation.

Filing a Claim on the Basis of Premises Liability

Illinois law holds that both residential and commercial property owners have a duty of care to keep their properties reasonably safe for lawful visitors, including customers and other guests. When a business owner fails to uphold this duty and someone is injured as a result, the injury victim can pursue compensation on the grounds of premises liability.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 23, 2021 in Wrongful Death

When a person suffers serious injuries, the impact on their own life is clear. An injury victim may struggle with physical pain and limitations, mental stress, interruptions to their daily life, and financial challenges. However, it is also important not to overlook the impact on a victim’s family, especially if the injuries are ultimately fatal. Fortunately, surviving family members have the ability to recover compensation through a wrongful death claim when their loved one is killed due to someone else’s negligence.

When is a Wrongful Death Claim Possible?

As with a personal injury claim, a wrongful death claim requires evidence of negligence that led to the injuries suffered. Commonly, wrongful death claims are filed in response to motor vehicle accidents, whether the injuries are immediately fatal or they result in fatal complications later on. A wrongful death claim may also be warranted after other types of fatal incidents, including construction and other work-related injuries, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse or neglect.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 02, 2021 in Personal Injury

Based on recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more fatal alcohol-related car accidents in the summer than in any other season. In part, this is due to the prevalence of drinking on summer holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Fourth of July weekend. In order to protect yourself and your family, you should consider taking extra precautions when driving during the summer, especially on weekends and holidays. You should also know where to turn for help if you are injured by a drunk driver.

Avoiding Accidents With Drunk Drivers in Illinois

For most people, avoiding driving altogether in the summer, or even just during a holiday weekend, is unrealistic and undesirable. However, it is worth considering your travel plans to see if you can stay off the road during some of the most dangerous times. For example, rather than going out to a bar or to a party for the Fourth of July and driving home late at night, you might consider celebrating at home.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on June 28, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Drowsy driving does not get the same level of attention as other forms of driver negligence, like drunk driving and distracted driving. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) reports that driver fatigue is a serious and widespread problem, with conservative estimates indicating that it is responsible for 50,000 injuries and hundreds of fatalities each year. Driver fatigue is especially dangerous among commercial truck drivers, who often spend long hours on the road on a daily basis.

The Harmful Effects of Drowsy Driving

Driver fatigue can come about for a number of reasons, including long hours spent awake and on the road, driving late at night, and a general lack of sufficient sleep. When a driver is fatigued, they are at risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Even a so-called “microsleep” that lasts only a few seconds can have serious consequences for a driver traveling in traffic. For example, it can cause the driver to drift into another lane, or to fail to stop to avoid a rear-end collision.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on June 09, 2021 in Construction Accidents

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction sites are one of the most common locations for work-related injuries in the United States, and it is easy to understand why. Construction work tends to involve strenuous physical labor, and worksites feature a wide range of occupational hazards, including heavy machinery and equipment, dangerous materials, and ladders, and scaffolding. If you have been injured on a construction site, you may have a case for a personal injury claim, but it is important to determine who is at fault for your injuries.

Liable Parties in Illinois Construction Injury Cases

One of the most complicated aspects of construction accident cases is identifying the negligent parties. A number of different people and entities can influence the work environment on a construction site at any given moment. The identity of the at-fault parties in your case can influence both the amount and type of compensation you are eligible to receive, as well as how you go about pursuing it.

Continue Reading ››