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.

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:

• Manufacturer defects - If a motorcycle is poorly designed or has defective parts, the company that made it can be held liable for any injuries or deaths resulting from an accident due to faulty equipment.
• Unsafe lane changes - When other drivers fail to signal or look in their blind spots when changing lanes, they can easily collide with a motorcycle in that lane.
• Open vehicle doors - Many motorcycle accidents occur when a car driver opens the door of their parked vehicle as a motorcyclist is approaching on the side.
• Reckless driving - As a leading cause of any auto accident, speeding or going over the posted speed limit reduces the ability to stop in time and leads to a multi-vehicle collision.
• Driving under the influence - People who drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs significantly reduce their reaction time and ability to judge distance.
• Lane splitting - Driving between two lanes of traffic is very dangerous, since other motorists may not see a motorcycle when changing lanes.
• Sudden stops - When other drivers on the road follow too closely or tailgate and then abruptly stop, a motorcyclist can suffer serious injuries or death due to the impact of the rear-end collision.
• Driver error - New or inexperienced drivers often make dangerous or hasty moves behind the wheel, and they may not notice a motorcycle rider next to them until it is too late.
• Left-turn accidents - Right of way errors or misjudgments of distance while making a left turn are common causes of injury and death to motorcycle riders.
• Hazardous road conditions - Uneven pavement, potholes, snow, and ice, in addition to inadequate signage, can cause a motorcyclist to lose control of his or her vehicle and veer into oncoming traffic or into a ditch.

Contact a Des Plaines Personal Injury Attorney

A motorcycle accident can cause catastrophic injuries to a rider due to the lack of protection on this type of vehicle. If you were hurt or your loved one died as a result of a motorcycle crash, you may be able to bring a lawsuit against any negligent parties. At Quinn Law Group, LLC, we understand how any type of accident can negatively impact those involved. Speaking to an accomplished Park Ridge personal injury lawyer as soon as possible can increase your chances of obtaining compensation. Attorney Patrick Quinn has more than 15 years of experience helping victims recover damages so they can move on with their lives. Call our office today at 847-232-7180 to set up your free consultation and learn more about the legal options available to you.