Posted on November 11, 2019 in Car Accidents

It seems like just last week that Illinois residents were celebrating the summer with barbecues, fireworks, and family softball games. Almost without warning, the leaves have changed colors and, in fact, many deserted the trees on which they grew, leaving the branches exposed and looking like the dead of winter. Make no mistake, winter is on its way. That is why now is the time to get your car or truck ready for the cold and snow, taking every precaution to avoid dangerous and deadly winter auto accidents. 

Prevent Breakdowns

There are countless resources, both online and in auto shops, that will go into minute detail about the various points of concern for winterizing your vehicle. Not all, of course, are applicable to every car or truck, or even every driver, so check with your mechanic about your particular needs. There are a few basic things, however, that apply to anyone taking to the roads this winter, and by taking a few moments now, you can help to prevent unforeseen tragedy.

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 Posted on November 04, 2019 in Car Accidents

The moments after a motor vehicle crash can be extremely overwhelming, especially if you have been injured. It may be very difficult to keep the events straight in your mind and, then, to relay that information to the responding police officer. There may be a myriad of factors of which you were unaware that still played a significant role in causing the accident and your resulting injuries. In many cases, accident reconstruction is necessary in helping establish the true nature of the accident and exactly which parties may be held liable.

Get Started Immediately

For accident reconstruction to be most effective, it needs to begin as soon as possible following the crash. Any delay can result in the loss of evidence and telltale signs of what may have happened, such as skid-marks on the pavement, leaking fluids, and more. It is important to get an accident reconstructionist on site quickly, even if for just a short time, so he or she can take photos, make measurements, and observe any and all indications of what took place. He or she can also extract information from electronic data recorders, or so-called “black-boxes,” installed as a standard feature on many of today’s cars and trucks.

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 Posted on October 28, 2019 in Car Accidents

Establishing fault for a car accident is not always straightforward. Often, when motorists are involved in a car crash, there are a number of factors are at play. For example, outside distractions such as pedestrians, construction work, closed lanes, or heavy traffic can make an accident more likely to occur. Car accidents often involve several vehicles, and it can be extremely difficult to determine which car actually started an accident.

Proving who was at fault for a crash is crucial for several reasons. First, the at-fault party's car insurance company is usually responsible for paying repair costs for other vehicles involved in the accident. Secondly, if another person was injured in the accident, the at-fault party may be responsible for that person’s medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

No-Doubt Liability

Generally, auto insurance companies of the individuals involved in an accident will take a lead role in determining financial liability for a car accident. The insurance companies use the help of claims adjusters to determine which of the drivers involved in an accident was at fault.

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 Posted on October 17, 2019 in Car Accidents

Getting into a car accident can obviously cause significant personal injury. Such an accident can also result in significant financial losses, as well. Even automobile accidents which are not your fault can end up costing you and your family thousands of dollars. Imagine this scenario: You are driving down the highway when a flatbed truck pulls in front of you. Suddenly, cargo from the bed of the truck comes loose, falls, and strikes your windshield. You veer out of control and crash your vehicle, resulting in significant vehicular damage and several broken bones. Who is responsible for your injuries and the damage to your vehicle? Often, the answer to the question of liability in loose-cargo accidents is not clear-cut.

Falling Cargo Can Cause Fatal Car Accidents

A 2016 study conducted by AAA found that falling cargo was a factor in over 200,000 crashes between 2011 and 2014. Improperly secured cargo was the most common cause of these accidents. Road debris resulted in roughly 39,000 injuries and over 500 fatalities during the same time period. Loose cargo and road debris can cause serious neck and spine injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and worse. Even more devastating, some people injured by loose cargo are left in thousands of dollars of medical debt and are unable to work.

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 Posted on October 11, 2019 in Car Accidents

Most sighted people take their ability to see the world around them for granted. Sadly, it is often only after a person experiences vision loss or impairment that he or she recognizes the sense of sight as the gift it really is. When a person is blinded or sustains a serious eye injury after an accident, they might be unable to work or enjoy the same quality of life they had before. When a person or entity’s negligence causes another person a life-altering injury, the negligent party should be held accountable. Read on to learn about the most common types of eye injuries that can be caused by auto accidents.

Airbag Injuries Are More Common Than You Might Think

Many people incorrectly imagine airbags as soft pillows designed to cushion the driver and passengers in the event of a crash. Although airbags are tremendously helpful at reducing fatalities in car accidents, they can also be the cause of certain injuries.  Airbags contain nitrogen gas and other chemicals which are activated during a car crash in order to rapidly fill the airbag with gas. The average airbag deploys at a speed of up to 186 miles an hour and is filled within about 0.03 seconds. While airbags are designed to prevent more traumatic head injuries, they have been known to cause retinal detachment and traumatic cataracts.

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 Posted on October 03, 2019 in Medical Malpractice

The birth of a child should be one of the best experiences of a new parent’s life. However, when medical malpractice or negligence is a factor during an infant’s birth, the results can be tragic. Birth injuries can result in years or even a lifetime of expensive and often painful medical procedures and ongoing medical care. If your child was injured during his or her birth due to medical negligence, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

Types of Injuries That Can Occur During Birth

Birth injuries can occur during several different states of the delivery process. Some of the most common birth injuries include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Erb's palsy
• Nerve damage including brachial plexus Injuries (BPI)
• Perinatal asphyxia (lack of oxygen which can cause permanent neurological damage)
• Bone fractures

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 Posted on September 30, 2019 in Car Accidents

By now, you have almost certainly heard the warnings about the dangers of texting while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AT&T, AAA, nonprofits, and other organizations have spent millions of dollars on campaigns to stop texting and driving. However, there are many other ways that drivers become dangerously distracted on the road, often leading to devastating accidents.

Children Can Be More Distracting Than Texting

If you have children, you probably spend a great deal of time transporting them to and from school, friends’ houses, and after-school activities. According to several studies, when your children are in the car, you may be driving while distracted. One study showed that children were twelve times more distracting to a driver than texting was. Research has also shown that parents with children in the car spend, on average, three minutes and twenty-two seconds with their eyes away from the road for every sixteen minutes they are diving.

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 Posted on September 22, 2019 in Premises Liability

Slipping and falling can cause devastating injuries in mere seconds. A person who falls and hits their head on concrete, for example, may suffer a traumatic brain injury which leaves them with agonizing pain and other adverse symptoms for months. Slip and fall injuries can also incur tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of medical bills. A serious fall can take away a person’s independence, their ability to work, and significantly decrease their quality of life. If you or someone you know was injured in a slip and fall accident, you may wish to pursue compensation through a premises liability lawsuit. In order to be awarded financial damages for injuries related to a slip and fall, you and your legal team must prove liability, or responsibility, for the accident.

Legal Responsibility for Your Injuries May Lie with the Property Owner or Manager

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 Posted on September 12, 2019 in Premises Liability

Imagine this scenario: You are at a friend’s house enjoying a party. While walking upstairs, you experience a horrible slip and fall. You are taken to the hospital where you learn you have significant injuries that will require thousands of dollars’ worth of medical care, corrective surgery, and physical therapy. Even worse, you will be out of work for months, so you will lose money this way as well. You may be asking yourself, “Would my friend’s homeowner’s insurance cover any of these expenses?”

Does the Property Owner Have Insurance?

The first question to consider if you have been injured at a friend or neighbor’s house is if the property owner even has homeowner’s insurance. Fortunately, most homeowners do. Mortgage companies require homeowner’s insurance, so if a person has a mortgage and is still paying off their house, they should have homeowner’s insurance. However, there is still the chance that a person who owns their home free and clear and has no mortgage might not have homeowner’s insurance.

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 Posted on September 06, 2019 in Personal Injury

If you have been injured in a car crash or any other accident caused by another party’s actions or negligence, you might be able to pursue compensation for the injuries you have sustained. Compensation is generally available to cover medical expenses, time away from work, and damage to property, as well as more subjective losses such as pain, suffering, and permanent scarring. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to collect compensation after an accident, especially if a lawsuit is necessary.

Filing Your Claim

In most situations, the first step toward recovering compensation after an accident is filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Depending on the situation, you might do so by going through your own insurance company first or you could file directly with the other party’s carrier. Your claim will almost certainly include the police report and any other evidence that might help prove that the other party was to blame for your injuries.

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