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.

Three conditions must be met in order for a business to be held liable (or responsible) for the injury of a patron on the premises:

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:

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:

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.

Many car accident victims who find themselves in this position are often surprised to find that their own insurance company is not always eager to pay the claim and reimburse them for their economic and noneconomic losses. The insurance company may try to settle the case for far less than what the victim is actually entitled to or they may attempt to deny the claim completely. Insurance companies are in the business to make money and any time they have to pay out a claim - even to their own clients - this cuts into that profit.

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.
• You only recover damages for physical injuries - Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents do not just result in physical injuries. They can also lead to emotional distress and pain and suffering. In Illinois, you can recover compensation for these damages too.
• If the property owner cannot pay, you are out of luck - Sometimes property owners may tell slip and fall victims that they cannot afford to pay for their injuries out-of-pocket. However, most of these owners are required to carry insurance. If you suffer an injury on their property, their insurance company will pay for the damages.
• You should settle your slip and fall case quickly - After you suffer a slip and fall accident, the property owner’s insurance company may try to persuade you to settle your case immediately. While it may be tempting to accept an early settlement and get on with your life, you should wait. An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer should assess the true value of your injuries and negotiate a fair offer.

Contact a Park Ridge, IL Personal Injury Lawyer

If you are the victim of a slip and fall accident, the Glenview premises liability attorneys at Quinn Law Group, LLC can help. We know how devastating a slip and fall accident can be and want to help you pursue compensation. Call us at 847-232-7180 to schedule a free consultation.