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The Basics of Illinois Dram Shop Claims
Most personal injury lawsuits are brought against an individual whose negligent or intentional wrongdoing caused another person injury or death. For example, if a driver who is too busy texting and driving to watch the road causes an accident, a person injured in the accident may sue the driver. Many personal injury lawsuits involve drunk drivers. An individual who is driving under the influence of alcohol and gets in a car crash may be held liable for damages caused by the accident. However, you may be surprised to learn that a personal injury claim can also be brought against a vendor who sold alcohol to an individual who causes you injury. These claims are called “dram shop liability” claims.
Illinois Law Regarding Dram Shop Liability
Illinois statute allows a person injured by someone under the influence of alcohol to bring a claim against the vendor who supplied the intoxicated person alcohol. The claim may be in response to personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage.
Recovering Compensation for a Serious Brain or Spine Injury in Illinois
Injuries to the spine and brain can be some of the most catastrophic injuries a person can endure. Because the brain and spinal cord are responsible for the transmission of nerves, the body’s movement, and basic functions like talking and walking, damage to these essential organs can dramatically decrease a person’s ability to live life the way they did before the injury.
If you or a loved one have suffered a serious spinal cord or brain injury and the injury was caused by medical malpractice, a negligent property owner, or another form of negligence party, a personal injury claim may help you recover compensation. While no amount of money can make up for an injury that affects the rest of your life, proceeds from a personal injury lawsuit can help you manage the vast expenses caused by a major injury and hold the negligent party responsible for its wrongdoing.
How to Recognize Subtle Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
It is hard to believe that anyone could be so cruel as to abuse a sick or elderly person in a nursing home, but it does happen. Research shows that about one out of every ten U.S. adults over age 60 have experienced elder abuse. Nursing home abuse, as well as nursing home neglect, is tragically common in the United States. Many nursing home residents suffer from mental and physical illnesses that make it difficult to express when they are being mistreated or abused. Some residents may even keep abuse a secret because they are afraid that they will be retaliated against for reporting the abuse. If you have a loved one in a nursing home or other long-term care facility, be vigilant for signs that they are being abused.
Physical Signs of Abuse
Sometimes, telling the difference between an injury caused by accident and an injury caused by a nursing home staff member can be difficult. Signs of physical abuse can include bruises, cuts, scrapes, pressure marks, broken bones, dislocations, burns, and more. When nursing home staff cannot explain why a resident has an injury such as these, this is a red flag that something is not right.
Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
When you have been injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, or any other type of incident for which another was even partially responsible, it is easy to believe that insurance companies and other parties will do the right thing. Of course, the “right thing,” from your perspective, probably looks vastly different than from theirs. You deserve to be made whole and to have whatever expenses or losses you may have incurred as a result of your injuries fully reimbursed. Depending on the nature of your case, you may also be entitled to compensation for non-monetary considerations such as pain and suffering. Unfortunately, the other party, even it is your own insurance company, may not be quite so keen on paying you what you deserve. That is why it is important to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side.
What You Should Know About Drug Recalls
When a drug that has been prescribed for you is recalled, it can be a very frightening experience. One day, you are taking the drug as normal, completely unaware of any problems, and suddenly, headlines are decrying the dangers associated with the medication. Should you stop taking your medication? Should you call 911? In the resulting confusion, it can be challenging to know just what to do, but it is important not to make any health-related decisions without first speaking to a doctor or medical professional.
Educate Yourself
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) handles all drug recalls in the United States. This includes voluntary recalls originating with the drug manufacturer. If a drug has been recalled, the FDA—along with a number of other reputable sources—will almost always provide information online regarding the reasons and potential dangers associated with the recall. In many cases, the potential for problems only exists for a small subset of all patients currently taking the drug. For example, a particular drug may present a previously unknown danger to patients who have a specific, seemingly unrelated coexisting condition.
Preparing for Winter Driving in Northern Illinois
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.
What Is Accident Reconstruction and How Can It Help My Case?
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.
How Is Fault Determined in an Illinois Car Accident?
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.
Who Is Liable If You Are Injured in an Accident Caused by Falling Cargo?
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.
Understanding Serious Eye Injuries Following a Car Accident
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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