Many people would agree that there is no such thing as a “victimless crime.” The most notorious crimes are those that are directly against another person, like murder, assault, battery, sexual assault, etc. Not only do these crimes often have a significant physical impact, but they can also have a large emotional and even financial impact on the victim and his or her family. For example, a person who is a victim of battery may have unexpected expenses stemming from medical costs, or a person who is a victim of driving while under the influence may experience costs pertaining to their vehicle, in addition to medical costs. Fortunately, you do have options for compensation if you have been injured as a victim of a crime.

Filing a Civil Lawsuit to Recover Compensation

In most cases, a victim of a crime has the right to file a lawsuit to recoup damages sustained in that crime, but there may be certain circumstances that may hinder your ability to collect. If the perpetrator of the crime does not have extensive assets, there may be nothing to sue for, however, in some cases, a person’s insurance may help pay expenses relating to a civil lawsuit. Discussing your case with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer will help you determine whether or not filing a lawsuit is advisable.

The Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Fund

The state of Illinois also has programs to help those who have been victims of violent crime. The Crime Victims Compensation Act states that victims of certain crimes can be eligible for up to $27,000 of financial assistance to help them and their families get back on their feet after the crime. To be eligible, a person must have been a victim of an eligible crime, such as sexual assault, sexual abuse, assault, battery, arson, murder, etc. The victim must also have reported the crime in a timely manner (usually within 72 hours, or seven days in cases of a sexual nature) and cooperate with any and all proceedings relating to criminal prosecution. The Crime Victims Compensation Act can provide funds to help with:

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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.

Illinois Insurance Requirements

The Act states that any TNC operating in Illinois is responsible for providing insurance coverage for drivers during the time that they have logged into the app until they accept a request for transportation. The TNC must provide $50,000 for death or personal injury, $100,000 for death and personal injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Once the driver has accepted a passenger’s request, either they or the TNC is responsible for maintaining at least $1,000,000 for death, personal injury, and property damage. In addition, at least $50,000 is required for uninsured and underinsured motorists.

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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.
• Whiplash: Another extremely common injury sustained from rear-end accidents is whiplash. This occurs when the head is forcefully thrown forward, then quickly snaps back, causing pain in the neck and shoulders. Most people recover from whiplash within a few weeks to a couple of months, but symptoms could become chronic and lasting in some people.
• Broken Bones: When you get into a rear-end accident, your hands are probably going to be on the wheel, meaning they are in the perfect position to get hurt during the collision. Broken bones in the wrist, hand and/or arm are common, but some people may also suffer from broken bones in the legs and feet.
• Spinal Cord or Back Injuries: Many people also experience back pain after a rear-end accident. This could be due to strain put on the back muscles during the collision or there may even be a more serious issue, like a slipped disc in the spine or spinal cord injury.

Our Park Ridge, IL Rear-End Accident Attorney Is Here to Help

Even though it may not seem like that serious of an accident, rear-end collisions can actually result in rather serious injuries that could affect your daily life. At the Quinn Law Group, LLC, we can help you determine who is liable for your accident so you can get the compensation that you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with our Glenview, IL rear-end accident lawyer, call our office at 847-232-7180.

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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.

Proving Fault for a Nursing Home Slip and Fall Injury

The majority of personal injury cases use the theory of negligence to prove a person at fault for another person’s injuries. In most cases, neither party is 100 percent at fault for the accident. As long as the person claiming damages is not more than 50 percent at fault for the incident, they can still pursue a personal injury claim. In some nursing home slip and fall incidents, it may not be completely the fault of the nursing home facility if a resident falls.

In many nursing home slip and fall cases, however, there are certain factors controlled by the facility that could potentially cause a slip or fall. To legally prove that the nursing home is at fault and was negligent, you must be able to prove that:

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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:

• A car fails to break in time when approaching an intersection or stopped traffic and rear ends another vehicle, which then collides with the vehicle in front of it.
• A vehicle suddenly and without warning slams on the brakes, causing an accident with the vehicle behind, which also collides with the vehicle behind them; and
• A vehicle is rear-ended at a red light, pushing it out into the intersection, causing another vehicle to collide with it.

Fault and Comparative Negligence in Illinois

Determining who is at fault for a car accident can be particularly puzzling when the accident involves more than two drivers. Your attorney will work with you to attempt to put the pieces of your accident together to build a timeline of the event and assign fault accordingly. Even if more than one person is at fault for the accident, you can still claim compensation, as Illinois follows the rules of comparative negligence for personal injury cases. This means that each participating party is assigned a percentage of fault and as long as you are not at more than 50 percent fault, you can still claim damages.

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