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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.
Understanding How Negligence Can Lead to Brain Injuries
March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. It is important to recognize the common causes of brain injuries in an effort to treat and prevent these types of injuries from occurring in the first place. Although hitting your head can happen anywhere, there are certain factors that may increase the likelihood of this happening. For example, reckless driving can cause vehicle collisions or pedestrian accidents that result in severe head trauma. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) typically is caused by a sudden or violent blow or jolt to the head or neck. Mild traumatic brain injury can impact brain cells temporarily. More serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, bleeding, and tissue damage to the brain. These injuries can lead to long-term complications and even death.
The Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Studies show that falls are one of the leading causes of TBIs, followed by being struck by an object and being involved in a car accident. When an individual slips or trips and falls, they often hit their head on pavement or other hard surfaces. A slip and fall can occur because of unsafe conditions, such as debris, clutter, or uneven walkways. Property owners may be held liable for injuries if they knew about the hazards and did nothing to address or fix them.
What Are the Common Causes of a Motorcycle Accident in Illinois?
If you have ever traveled on Interstate 90 or 294 in Illinois near Chicago, you know you share the road with other automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles. Highways and tollways are frequented by many drivers since that is typically the fastest and most direct route for them to take to their destinations. Regardless if you are driving for pleasure or work, you may be dealing with heavy traffic, construction zones, or inclement weather, including rain or snow. All of these factors can make driving dangerous whether it is during the day or night. Motorcyclists may be more vulnerable to accidents based on their sheer size compared to other vehicles. In some cases, injuries can be life-threatening and even prove fatal.
Dangers on the Road
Motorcyclists on average are five times more likely than passenger car occupants to be injured. There are several factors that can increase the likelihood of a motorcycle accident, including weather, driver behavior, and road condition:
Recovering Damages for PTSD Caused by Nursing Home Abuse
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is typically triggered as a victim or a witness of a devastating event. Symptoms can range from flashbacks to nightmares, and even debilitating anxiety. Although many people who suffer from PTSD have been involved in vehicle accidents or are victims of violent crimes, long-term care or assisted living residents can also develop PTSD over time. Nursing home abuse and neglect can leave a lasting effect on a patient, even leading to suicidal thoughts in some cases. A personal injury attorney can determine liability and hold negligent parties accountable for mental injuries such as PTSD.
Holding Liable Parties Accountable for Mental Injuries
When your relative reaches a point where they cannot live on their own, you entrust medical professionals and staff members to take care of them. Sadly, this is not always the case. A few of the ways that staff members can cause a patient to suffer from PTSD include performing the following acts:
Using Evidence to Determine Liability in an Illinois Truck Accident
Motor vehicle accidents can occur for various reasons, including inclement weather conditions, driver error, or mechanical failure. Although many of today’s cars and trucks have advanced technology aimed to prevent a crash, they may still happen, often resulting in serious and even fatal injuries. Certain in-car devices and systems can help in determining how or why a collision took place. In addition, other video footage near the scene or witnesses can provide crucial data regarding the events that led up to the incident. Gathering this important information can be essential when proving negligence and seeking damages in a truck accident.
Event Data Recorders
Event data recorders can include many different types of devices. According to the NHTSA, an EDR is a device that is installed in an automobile or a truck that records technical information (vehicle and occupant) for the seconds before, during, and after an accident. Part of an EDR’s recorded data reports on how and where a vehicle was driven. This may include speed, braking, steering, and more. Most EDRs can only store recorded data for a certain amount of time, so it is crucial to obtain it as soon as possible following an accident to increase the chances of receiving compensation if it shows that a truck driver acted negligently.
Quinn Law Group, LLC
847-232-7180
350 S. Northwest Highway, Suite 300, Park Ridge, IL 60068
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