Posted on April 29, 2020 in Blog Post

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. National campaigns aimed at reducing the number of distracted driving incidents have recognized the seriousness of the issue. Distracted driving is defined as engaging in other activities that take the driver’s attention away from the road. This type of behavior behind the wheel has been shown to compromise the safety of the driver, passengers, pedestrians, as well as other motorists. According to the Illinois State Police, driver inattention is a factor in over one million car accidents in the United States each year.

Types of Distraction

There are three main types of distraction when it comes to driving:

• Visual: Driver takes his or her eyes off the road
• Manual: Driver takes his or her hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: Driver takes his or her mind off of driving

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that when traveling at 55 mph, reading or sending a text message takes your eyes off the road for approximately five seconds, which is long enough for a car to cover the length of a football field. In these situations, it greatly reduces the driver’s stopping distance in the event the driver in front suddenly slows down or comes to a complete stop.

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 Posted on April 17, 2020 in Blog Post

Dogs are often referred to as “man’s best friend,” but as with any animal, they can be unpredictable and act aggressively in certain situations. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, with 800,000 of those bites requiring medical treatment. Depending on the circumstances, such as the size or breed of dog, a dog bite can be minor, but in other instances, the injuries can be serious to life-threatening. According to the Illinois Animal Control Act, a dog owner is liable for civil damages if the dog attacks an individual when that person is acting peacefully in a location where he or she is lawfully allowed to be. In other words, as long as a person is not trespassing or provoking a dog, the dog’s owner may be held responsible for injuries that the dog causes. In some scenarios, this may include physical and mental damage to a victim.

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 Posted on March 31, 2020 in Blog Post

When people visit a store or even their workplace or apartment building, they expect to be safe and free from dangers or hazards. In Illinois, the Premises Liability Act provides stipulations for business and property owners. The law states that owners are obligated to offer a safe and secure environment for their patrons who visit their establishments. When this responsibility is not taken seriously, accidents can occur. Injuries that occur as a result of negligent actions or poor maintenance may be grounds for a premises liability claim.

Examples of Improper Security Issues

There are various ways someone can get hurt on premises that are not properly maintained. Uneven pavement or slippery surfaces can cause a visitor to slip and fall. This type of accident can result in traumatic brain injury (TBI), broken bones, and even paralysis if a person lands wrong and damages his or her spinal cord. In other instances, defective electrical or plumbing systems can electrocute an unsuspecting guest.

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 Posted on February 28, 2020 in Blog Post

An employee who works in an office every day experiences a different work environment than a construction worker. Erecting or renovating buildings or homes requires physical labor and many hours outside in all kinds of weather conditions. It can also involve heavy and large machinery such as tractors or forklifts. This can pose significant risks to workers, even if proper safety precautions are taken. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), in 2018, one out of five worker deaths were in the construction industry. Even if a construction accident does not result in a fatality, it can cause serious injuries.

Safety Hazards

Due to the nature of the work, construction companies and contractors have a certain set of safety standards to follow. If an employer is negligent in following these rules, accidents can and do take place. There are four main incidents that are the leading cause of fatal construction worker injuries. These are referred to as the “Fatal Four.”

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 Posted on February 13, 2020 in Blog Post

Many people use public transportation on a daily basis to get to and from school, work, church, and even the grocery store. Mass transit is prevalent in big cities or urban areas. This form of transportation can include buses, elevated trains, ferries, and subways. They provide a convenient and easy way to get around, especially if someone does not feel like driving. However, since these vehicles and trains are typically operating in traffic, they are often more likely to be involved in a collision with other automobiles or pedestrians. A mass transit accident can cause serious to fatal injuries due to the sheer size of the vehicles and the number of passengers in them. If you are the unfortunate victim of a mass transit crash, you may be able to seek compensation for your pain and suffering depending on the circumstances that caused it.

Causes of Crashes

There can be many reasons why a car, bus, or train accident occurs. In some cases, it can be due to the negligent actions or inactions of a motorist. For example, an inexperienced or a fatigued driver can lose control of his or her vehicle, causing it to collide with another automobile, a person, or even a building. In other situations, the manufacturer or repair technician may fail to adequately inspect a mass transit part or engine.

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 Posted on January 21, 2020 in Blog Post

Making a quick trip to the grocery store or a favorite clothing retailer is something many people do on a weekly or even daily basis. Most shoppers do not expect to sustain an injury, but it happens more than one might think. There are various ways a customer can get hurt at a store, such as slipping and falling or having products fall on top of them. According to the Illinois Premises Liability Act, all property owners have a duty to provide a safe environment for their clients or customers. Premises liability is a legal term that involves personal injury cases that are caused by unsafe or defective conditions on another party’s property. If retail owners fail to take reasonable care, they may be held accountable for damages that occur in their establishment.

Unsafe Conditions

Under Illinois law, customers are considered “invitees” and therefore are entitled to a reasonable amount of care while on store property so they are not harmed. The areas where shoppers should be safe from undue harm include parking lots, restrooms, dressing rooms, and aisles/walkways. Retailers are responsible for routine maintenance and cleaning of their stores to make sure everything is in proper working order and free from debris or hazards.

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 Posted on January 16, 2020 in Blog Post

Many people dine out every day in the United States. According to statistics, on average, Americans eat out between four and five times a week. In many cases, it can be out of convenience to save time while juggling work and child-rearing commitments. In addition, families often gather together at their favorite eatery to celebrate a birthday or a holiday. However, a nice evening out can sometimes turn into a nightmare. Restaurant accidents may cause a patron to suffer minor to severe injuries, depending on the circumstances. For example, if a person slips and falls, he or she can sustain serious damage to a body part. There are other mishaps that can cause injury to restaurant-goers, and they are often caused by the negligence of the property owner. That is why it is imperative that an injured party consults with an experienced personal attorney regarding a premises liability claim.

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 Posted on December 27, 2019 in Blog Post

Nobody expects to get into a car accident -- that is why they are called accidents. They happen at random times and can be unsettling for those who are involved in them. Some people may go into shock after a car accident, while others jump into action to accomplish what needs to be done. Most people would agree that the first thing you should do after a car accident is to try to assess the situation and determine if anyone has been hurt. Even if nobody seems to need immediate medical attention, you should still call 911. The dispatchers can send police out to the scene of your accident and if needed, an ambulance as well. Even if the accident does not seem that serious, here are a few reasons why you should call the police:

• You do not know the extent of the damage to your vehicle. Sometimes in life, there is more than meets the eye. This can be true when it comes to your vehicle after an accident. These days, cars have fair more sophisticated sensors and electronic components that can become damaged easily. Car repairs can become very expensive very quickly and it can be a headache trying to get your insurance company to cover the cost of these repairs if you cannot establish that the damage occurred because of the accident.

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 Posted on December 13, 2019 in Blog Post

In the United States, finally getting your driver’s license is a rite of passage that many teenagers enjoy when they turn 16. Though the feeling of driving without parental supervision is exciting to most teenagers, with great freedom comes great responsibility. Teen drivers can pose a risk to themselves and others because of their inexperience on the road and increased likeliness to participate in dangerous behaviors while they are driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 3,200 teen drivers were involved in fatal crashes in 2017. Further, car crashes are still the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. Teens are not the only ones who can be injured in a car accident, however. Often times, the risky behaviors that they engage in also put others on the road at risk. Here are a few dangerous behaviors that could result in a car accident:

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 Posted on November 26, 2019 in Blog Post

Pedestrian accidents can be some of the most dangerous traffic accidents that can occur. Pedestrians are at more of a risk than other motorists for serious injuries because of the lack of protection that is given to those in motor vehicles. Because of this, pedestrian accidents can turn out deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 6,200 people killed in pedestrian accidents in 2018, an increase of nearly 4 percent from 2017. The NHTSA has focused efforts on reducing pedestrian accidents and have identified certain factors that are commonly present during pedestrian accidents in the U.S. Here are a few things that have been discovered about the risk factors for pedestrian accidents.

Gender Matters

When it comes to pedestrian accidents, males were more likely to be killed in crashes than females. The NHTSA found that more than two-thirds or around 70 percent of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents were men. In fact, the overall male fatality rate for pedestrian accidents for every 100,000 people was 2.60, which is more than double the rate for females, which is around 1.07.

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