Posted on September 13,2023 in Personal Injury

Seatbelts are crucial safety devices designed to protect vehicle occupants in the event of a car accident. However, what happens if you are injured in an Illinois car accident while not wearing a seatbelt? If this has happened to you, understanding the legal implications now is important, as it may impact your ability to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact a lawyer today to pursue the compensation you may be entitled to as a result of your injury. 

Contributory Negligence and Comparative Fault

Illinois follows the principle of comparative fault, which means that the court assigns a percentage of fault to each party involved in an accident. If you were injured while not wearing a seatbelt, the court might determine that you were partially responsible for your injuries. This is because failing to wear a seatbelt is considered contributory negligence. The degree of fault assigned to you will reduce the amount of compensation you can recover from the other party involved in the accident. 

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 Posted on September 08,2023 in Personal Injury

Trucks that are loaded improperly pose a significant risk on our roads, leading to devastating car accidents with potentially fatal consequences. If you were in an accident with an improperly loaded truck, contact an experienced attorney to ensure you understand the legal implications of the situation and can have a legal professional in your corner advocating for your rights and interests. 

Understanding the Risks

Properly loading a truck is crucial for maintaining stability, maneuverability, and safety. When a truck is improperly loaded, several risks arise, including:

1. Shifting cargo – Improperly secured cargo can shift during transport, affecting the truck’s balance and stability. This can lead to the driver losing control, causing accidents such as rollovers. 

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 Posted on August 24,2023 in Car Accidents

More electric vehicles are hitting the road in Illinois and first responders want to be prepared. Firefighters are finding out that it can take three hours or longer to put out an electric car fire. By 2025 one in ten cars will be electric. Part of the problem is that thousands of gallons of water are needed when an electric car erupts into flames. If you or your loved one suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of an electric car fire, you should try to seek the help of an Illinois personal injury attorney.

Who Can Be Responsible for My Injuries?

Under Illinois law, if things meant to keep you safe do not work, you and your family should get a lawyer to help you get compensation for what happened. Most cars use batteries called lithium-ion. They are different from the old batteries with lead. These new batteries are stronger and can be charged quickly. Inside the battery, there are a lot of tiny parts called cells. If these parts break, the battery can get very hot and start a fire. Firefighters usually cannot put out these fires easily, because they need a lot of water and special tools.

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 Posted on August 14,2023 in Catastrophic Injuries

Sustaining a catastrophic injury is a life-altering event. You may never be able to return to the job you had and the lifestyle you enjoyed. You may need extensive medical follow-up care including a stay in a rehabilitation facility or long-term physical and occupational therapy. Your daily needs have changed. You may require help with things you used to do independently without a second thought, such as getting dressed or cooking dinner. A catastrophic injury is likely to lead to major changes in the way you live. The expenses associated with care for a catastrophic injury can be astronomical. Aside from the cost of healthcare and medical equipment, you are likely losing income due to an inability to work. You are likely worried about how you will afford to meet your needs while you are not working or have been forced to take a lower-paid position. You may be able to recover these costs and more by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries. 

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 Posted on August 04,2023 in Personal Injury

Minor car accidents happen all the time. In most cases, there is little damage to the cars and no serious bodily harm. Serious car accidents are slightly more unusual. Serious car accidents occur when someone has suffered a grave or catastrophic injury. In these cases, it is highly likely that the driver who caused the accident was doing something quite careless, if not reckless or illegal. When you have been involved in a serious car accident, you likely have a lot of expenses to worry about. You may be missing work while medical bills pile up. The medical bills involved in these major accidents can be very high because you are likely to need intensive medical interventions. Many who have suffered a catastrophic injury will continue to need medical care for the rest of their lives. If you were seriously injured in a car accident, it is important to speak to an attorney as soon as you are able to. You may be able to recover most or all of your expenses related to the accident.

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 Posted on July 28,2023 in Truck Accidents

Driving a commercial truck takes skill and focus. Truck drivers must obtain a special license before they can begin performing the job. It is important for truck drivers to be sober while they are operating a massive vehicle capable of causing extreme harm to those around it. Making a single careless mistake while driving a commercial truck can cause devastation if the truck hits other vehicles or lands on a populated sidewalk. When a truck driver is under the influence of an illicit substance, they are far more likely to make a careless mistake. If you have recently been injured in a truck accident, drugs or alcohol could have been a factor in your crash. An attorney may be able to recover the results of the truck driver’s drug and alcohol screening in order to gain evidence that substances likely led to the accident. 

 

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 Posted on July 17,2023 in Personal Injury

Fires can be incredibly dangerous. Fire can engulf a residential building in mere minutes, leaving the people inside precious little time to get out. When a fire alarm works properly, it can alert a building’s occupants very quickly after a fire breaks out, buying anyone inside more time to get to safety. Unfortunately, fire alarms do not always go off when they are meant to. There can be several reasons a fire alarm may fail. There is a possibility that the fire alarm itself was dangerously defective in some way. There are a number of types of defects caused by the manufacturer’s, seller’s, or installer’s negligence. If the fault in your detector originated with an error made by the manufacturer or seller, you likely have a claim in products liability. If the error was caused by improper maintenance, you may have a claim in premises liability.  If you or your children were injured or a close family member passed away because a smoke alarm failed to go off, you may be entitled to compensation and should contact an attorney promptly. 

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 Posted on July 06,2023 in Personal Injury

With summer now in full swing, more people are looking to swimming pools and water parks as a way to cool off and enjoy the hot weather. Swimming can be excellent fun for children and adults, and also a great workout for those seeking more exercise. However, there is danger associated with swimming pools. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye when there is water involved. Sadly, children are very commonly injured in and around swimming pools. Of course, adults can suffer injuries around a swimming pool as well. Pools that are well-maintained, well-enclosed so that children cannot wander in, and guarded by a lifeguard are less likely to cause injury to those around the pool. If you or your child has been injured at a pool other than your own private pool, you may be entitled to compensation. An attorney can help you determine whether you may have a premises liability claim. 

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 Posted on June 29,2023 in Motorcycle Accidents

The number of people who enjoy riding motorcycles has grown immensely over the past couple of decades. It is estimated that there are approximately 8.6 million registered motorcycles in the United States, more than double what there were just 20 years ago. Although riding can be an enjoyable pastime, it is also one of the most dangerous, with a high risk of accidents and an even higher risk of catastrophic injuries and death in those crashes.

Motorcycle accidents often occur due to a combination of factors, such as high speeds, lack of protective barriers, and the vulnerability of the motorcyclist. The resulting injuries can be devastating, affecting not only the physical well-being of the victims but also their emotional, financial, and social aspects of life.

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 Posted on June 20,2023 in Truck Accidents

In the trucking industry, drivers are often pressured to meet tight delivery deadlines, resulting in long hours of continuous driving with minimal rest time. These practices increase the risk of driver fatigue, which has been identified as one of the leading causes of truck accidents. Since commercial trucks are so much larger and heavier than other types of vehicles, accidents are likely to result in serious injuries to other drivers and passengers. Because of these risks, it is important to understand the dangers of truck driver fatigue and the options for people who have been injured due to truck driver and trucking company negligence.

How Fatigue Can Affect Truck Drivers

Drowsy driving is often compared to drunk or intoxicated driving. Fatigue can have many of the same effects on a driver as alcohol or drug use, and it can significantly increase the chances of a dangerous truck accident. The effects of fatigue include:

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