Distractions while driving come in various forms. Perhaps a driver is overwhelmed by the complex travel details of dropping someone off at the airport or is simply admiring the holiday lights and misses a stop sign. Whatever the case may be, distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents in the United States. In 2020, there were nearly 250,000 vehicle accidents in Illinois and nearly four percent of those crashes involved distracted driving. Taking your eyes off the road for even a second can make you veer into incoming traffic, causing severe personal injuries. 

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving happens anytime a driver stops paying attention to the rules of the road because they are doing something else. Here are some examples of distracted driving, which, while they are not against the law in Illinois, can certainly lead to accidents:

• Visual – Changing the radio station or checking out Christmas lights

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Currently, some two million people are living with an amputation in the United States and traffic accidents are the second leading cause of amputations. No matter how cautious you may be behind the wheel, you are still putting your life at risk every time you take to the road. Catastrophic injuries suffered in a car accident can have a significant negative impact on your life and if you or a family member has been injured in a car crash, you should consider seeking car accident injury compensation.

Do Not Wait Too Long

We understand that your recovery is first and foremost. However, you cannot let too much time pass by. If your hope is to recover compensation for the injuries and losses you suffered, it is imperative that you take legal action before it is too late. In the state of Illinois, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. 

If your injuries are the result of someone’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. You may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical bills. These damages can include the following:

Snowfall puts us a little closer to the holiday season. The colder weather also makes it tempting to stay indoors and forget about shoveling the snow. You may opt to have packages and food dropped off at your front door so you never have to leave home. But what if the delivery folks take a tumble and fall? Falling on a patch of snow or ice can be painful and dangerous. Who is liable if they, or a guest on your property, slip and fall because you failed to remove the snow?

Natural Accumulation of Snow

Under state law, no one is required to remove snow from their private property. People are encouraged to remove the snow but it is not mandated under the law. Since you are not required to do anything with the snow that naturally accumulated on your sidewalk as the homeowner you are protected from liability. The law only makes a homeowner liable for any personal injuries if they remove snow or ice from sidewalks in a manner that would intentionally harm another person.

Unnatural Snowfall Creates Liability

To have an actionable claim against a property owner you must show that the property owner aggravated a natural condition or that the snowfall was not natural. If the property owner intentionally pours water on the sidewalk so that it freezes, the owner would be responsible for injuries. 

Department stores will soon be bustling with holiday shoppers and after-hours toasts will abound. But a fall can quickly put an end to that holiday cheer. Maybe flooring hazards are to blame or perhaps too much eggnog. If you slip and fall during the holiday season, depending on the situation, you may have a premises liability case on your hands.

Is Your Fall Due to a Property Owner’s Negligence or Your Own?

Sometimes accidents are caused by a property owner’s negligence. A fall can lead to serious injuries resulting in broken bones, concussions, and back injuries. Commercial property owners are responsible for the safety of their guests, so they need to properly maintain the facility and have warnings informing guests about any unsafe conditions.

However, a property owner is likely to try to pin the fault for a fall on a patron. In Illinois, there is a law called modified comparative negligence. If the court determines that your actions contributed to your fall, any settlement could be significantly lower than it may have been if it was not your fault. If it is determined that you are 50 percent or more at fault, you may not get any compensation at all.

Parents trust childcare facilities to provide a safe environment for their children. Unfortunately, accidents happen. When a child is injured while in the care of a daycare, the question then becomes: Who is liable?

In Illinois, daycare facilities are held to the same standard of care as any other business that provides childcare services. This means that the daycare must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the children. In many cases, child-related injuries are directly related to a facility's substandard practices or negligent care.

If your child has been injured while in the care of a daycare, afterschool program, preschool, or another childcare facility, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the facility. An experienced Illinois personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options.