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Recent Blog Posts
What Happens if I Slip and Fall in an Illinois Restaurant?
Illinoians today dine out more than they ever have, saving themselves the time and effort of preparing meals after a long day of work. Unfortunately, people dining out more often also means an increase in mild and serious injuries that occur on Illinois restaurant premises. Restaurant owners have a duty of reasonable care to their customers, and nobody wants their evening out spoiled by a disaster because of negligence on the part of a restaurant owner. But because injuries do sometimes occur at restaurants, the injured party should always consider learning about their legal options with an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney.
What Is a Duty of Reasonable Care?
No matter the type of business, Illinois law requires property owners and businesses to provide a safe environment for visitors, guests, and customers. This is called a duty of reasonable care and business owners can exercise their duty of reasonable care by posting warnings about the danger (such as wet floor pylons) and ensuring proper maintenance.
July I-294 Accident Illustrates Common Causes of Trucking Crashes
A fatal crash involving two semi-trucks on I-294 Tri-State Tollway occurred at the beginning of July when one truck stopped due to construction and was rear-ended by another semi that failed to stop. The first driver went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, but the driver of the second truck was pronounced dead at the scene.
Although this particular accident involved two semi-trucks, passenger vehicles driving on I-294 are also at significant risk from truck accidents. The disparity in size between a truck and a car is substantial and is a major factor in the high rates of serious injury and death resulting from these kinds of accidents.
What Are Common Causes of Semi-truck Accidents?
Investigations of semi-truck accidents with other trucks and passenger vehicles show they are caused by several common factors. Unfortunately, most of these factors are predictable and avoidable, and include:
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Residents with Dementia
Elderly people with dementia require more help with their daily activities than those without the condition. If you have a loved one with dementia, you may have decided to place him or her in a nursing home to be properly looked after. Unfortunately, nursing home residents who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease have a higher risk of suffering abuse. It is important to recognize the signs of nursing home abuse and take legal action if necessary.
Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse
When family members place their loved ones in nursing homes, they expect that nursing home staff will treat the resident with the respect and dignity they deserve. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse occurs, especially among residents with dementia. Common types of nursing home abuse include physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse.
Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home residents with dementia are more vulnerable to nursing home abuse because they often forget about the incidents or cannot communicate what happened. Be on the lookout for the following warning signs which may indicate your loved one is being abused:
Can You Get Compensation if the Driver Who Hit You Is Uninsured?
If you get into a car accident, you may expect the at-fault driver’s insurance company to pay for your damages. But what do you do if you get into an accident with someone who does not carry auto insurance? In Illinois, drivers are required by law to carry car insurance. Unfortunately, not all drivers abide by this law. In fact, in 2019, 12.6 percent of drivers in the state were uninsured. If you were recently involved in a car accident caused by an uninsured motorist, you may wonder what your legal options are. It is important to discuss your case with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer promptly.
Taking Advantage of Uninsured Motorist Coverage
In Illinois, auto insurance companies are required to give you the option of purchasing uninsured motorist coverage. The coverage is intended to pay for any expenses and losses caused by injuries, as well as property damage that occurs in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist. To receive compensation for your losses, you will need to file a claim with your own insurance company.
Common Misconceptions About Slip and Fall Accidents in Illinois
Whether it is due to liquid spills at grocery stores or icy sidewalks, many people suffer slip and fall accidents in Illinois every year. These accidents can result in various types of serious injuries, including sprains, head injuries, broken bones, and spine injuries. If you were recently hurt in a slip and fall accident because of someone else’s negligence, you should get in touch with a personal injury lawyer.
Slip and Fall Myths You Should Not Believe
Although slip and fall accidents often result in injuries, not everyone pursues lawsuits because of the misinformation they hear. Here are a few common myths about these accidents you should be aware of:
- You cannot sue if the property owner was not aware of the dangerous condition - Some slip and fall accident victims are reluctant to pursue compensation because the owner did not know about the hazardous condition that resulted in the accident. However, the property owner does not have to know about the dangerous condition. As long as the owner should have known about the condition, you have a right to pursue damages.
How Much Coverage Do Ridesharing Drivers Have in Case of an Accident?
For the past decade, Uber has been the most popular ridesharing service in the United States and has actually been named the world’s most valuable start-up company. Uber paved the way for other ridesharing companies, like Lyft and various other ridesharing companies throughout the world. While ridesharing offers convenience for its passengers, it can have its downsides. If you are in an accident while you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft ride, you may have difficulty trying to determine how you can recover compensation for injuries you sustain. One of the biggest questions any person has after a car accident with a ridesharing company is, “Who can I hold responsible?”
Defining Ridesharing Companies
In the state of Illinois, ridesharing companies are referred to as “transportation network companies,” or TNCs. The Transportation Network Providers Act is the legislation that governs the legalities behind insurance and ridesharing companies in Illinois. According to the Act, a TNC is a company that uses a digital network or app to connect passengers with TNCs. For a service to be considered a TNC, the company itself must not own, operate, control, or manage vehicles that are used by its drivers.
Most Common Injuries from Rear-End Accidents in Illinois
One of the most common types of car accidents that occur are rear-end collisions. Rear-end accidents occur when a driver fails to stop before the front of their vehicle collides with the back of the vehicle in front of them. In many cases, rear-end accidents occur because of a driver error, such as being distracted while driving or misjudging the amount of time they had to brake.
Even if the vehicle was not going very fast when it hit the vehicle in front of it, the impact can cause serious injuries and damages to the driver who was hit. Some of the most common injuries that result from rear-end accidents include:
- Concussions: Concussions are one of the most common injuries sustained by those who have been in a rear-end accident. A concussion occurs when the soft matter of your brain is jostled around and bumps into your skull. This can cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, ringing in the ears, and even issues with concentration and memory.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim For a Nursing Home Slip and Fall Incident?
In the United States, it is not uncommon for families to move their older family members to nursing home facilities to help provide care. According to the latest data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were an estimated 15,600 nursing homes operating in the U.S. It takes a lot of trust to put a family member in a nursing home, which is why it can be heartbreaking if your family member becomes injured under their care. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, about half of all nursing home residents fall each year, with two-thirds of those residents falling two or more times throughout the year. Older adults have a higher chance of suffering serious injuries from slips or falls, especially those adults in nursing homes. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from a fall in a nursing home, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover costs associated with the injury.
Can I Recover Compensation From a Chain Reaction Car Accident in Illinois?
Not all traffic accidents were created equally. Some accidents, like fender benders, are minor and do not typically result in any major damage. Other times, car accidents can be more serious and can even involve more than two vehicles. Chain reaction accidents are common multi-vehicle accidents that occur for a variety of reasons. These accidents are often chaotic and occur quickly, making it difficult to determine who is at fault for the accident. If you have been in a chain-reaction car accident, an Illinois car accident injury lawyer can help you recover much-needed compensation.
What Are Chain Reaction Accidents?
In general terms, chain reaction accidents are traffic accidents that involve three or more vehicles that collide with one another. In most circumstances, a chain-reaction car accident occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, the force of which causes that vehicle to collide with another vehicle, and so on. Common chain reaction accident situations include:
Common Factors that Lead to Car Accidents in Construction Zones
People often say that Illinois has two seasons, winter and construction. Roadwork is often necessary to repair damaged streets and highways that take a pounding in the winter. However, construction zones can prove dangerous for drivers. Studies show that rear-end collisions are the most common type of work zone accident involving vehicles. In addition, fatal work zone crashes occur most often in the summer and the fall. In many cases, they take place on roads with posted speed limits over 50 mph. Understanding traffic laws for work zones can help in pursuing compensation for car accidents that occur in them.
Dangerous Driving Behaviors
There are several factors that can increase the likelihood of a vehicle accident regardless of the time or location, including weather, traffic flow, driver error, and more. When certain driving lanes are closed and routes are detoured, this can cause confusion for motorists. They may find themselves driving in unfamiliar territory and unsure of their surroundings. An abrupt change in the speed limit, as well as reduced or narrowed lanes for a sudden change in the traffic pattern can all contribute to colliding with other vehicles, concrete medians, or construction trucks, equipment, and workers.
Quinn Law Group, LLC
847-232-7180
350 S. Northwest Highway, Suite 300, Park Ridge, IL 60068
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