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.

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:

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.

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.

Some of the typical issues that may result in a collision in a work zone include:

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.

Similarly, reckless actions or behavior by another motorist can cause an auto accident with injuries. From the sheer force of the impact, occupants in a vehicle can hit their heads on the car’s doors, dashboard, or windshield, directly causing a TBI. Drunk or distracted driving are leading causes of crashes. Drivers who speed or disobey traffic laws may be found negligent through a personal injury claim brought against them by an injured party.