There are many different ways that someone can get hurt. Accidents can occur in various environments, including the home, public places such as parks, restaurants, or stores. Injuries can range from minor bumps and bruises to serious and even life-threatening conditions. In some cases, they can affect the rest of someone’s life. Slip-and-fall accidents might not sound like they would be that severe, but they can cause significant injuries to people of all ages. Although they are fairly common in inclement weather, especially in snowy or icy conditions, slip-and-falls can also occur in warm weather. Property owners have a responsibility to properly maintain their buildings and grounds; otherwise, visitors may suffer injuries.

Premises Liability Act

According to the Illinois Premises Liability Act, business and property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe and secure in order to prevent guests from any harm. If owners or managers fail to take reasonable care to maintain the property, they may be held accountable for damages that occur as a result. However, this law does not apply to individuals who are trespassing and get hurt on the property.

Injuries that are a result of the negligence of a property owner can be due to damaged sidewalks, staircases, hand railings, faulty elevators, or poorly maintained swimming pools. We all know that slipping on ice in the winter can be a common occurrence. However, swimming pool surfaces can be extremely slick due to all the water that splashes from the pool. In addition, restaurant floors or patios can be slippery if drinks or food spills and they are not cleaned up by staff members in a timely manner. In other cases, rotted wood can break apart, causing patrons or visitors to lose their footing or balance and fall.

There are many working parents in the United States. Finding child care options can be a daunting task, since parents are entrusting their child’s well-being with someone else. That is why it is important to find licensed facilities to ensure your child’s safety. Bruises, cuts, or scrapes can be the result of typical childhood roughhousing. However, not all injuries are unintentional, and they could be an indication of a serious accident. They can be caused by negligence or even abuse on behalf of a childcare provider. In Illinois, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) issues licenses to daycare centers to make sure they meet a set of standards for care. When these standards are not met, parents may be entitled to a personal injury claim if their child suffered while in their care.

Negligent Actions Can Lead to Tragic Accidents

Most children who go to a daycare center are typically there for eight or more hours if their parents work full time. This means they may eat, drink, and nap at the facility. An appropriate number of adults to kids ratio must be met to ensure proper supervision. Unfortunately, inadequate staff or maintenance are a few of the reasons that many accidents occur at childcare facilities. In other instances, failure to perform a thorough background check on employees may mean staff members who are not trained or qualified to care for infants or toddlers.

A few of the leading causes of accidents and the resulting injuries that children can sustain while at a daycare facility include:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most eating establishments were closed except for takeout or drive-thru service. This was done to help prevent the highly contagious virus from spreading. The good news is that restaurants throughout the state of Illinois are now opening up for dining outside on patios or spaced apart inside the establishments. After being under a stay-at-home order for the past several months, many Illinois residents are flocking to their favorite restaurant or bar for a night out. However, a fun outing can have an unexpected outcome if an accident occurs. There are several ways that a dining patrol can be injured. In the majority of cases, a negligent owner or operator may be to blame. That is why it is essential that you consult with a skilled personal injury attorney to learn your options for seeking damages.

Types of Accidents That Can Occur at a Restaurant

Some of the most common injuries sustained at a restaurant are the result of slip and fall accidents. Slippery surfaces can cause patrons to slide and lose their balance. Similarly, customers may trip on debris or objects on sidewalks or aisles. The causes of these conditions can include the following:

• Spilled food or liquid on flooring or hand railings
• Uneven pavement
• Poorly lit parking lots

Under the Illinois Premises Liability Act, all property owners in Illinois are responsible for keeping their premises clean and safe for those who visit, or at least provide a warning if they cannot keep the area free from hazards. Restaurant and bar owners or managers can be held accountable for injuries that occur within the dining area in addition to the walkways, patio, and parking lot. In order to prove negligence, accident victims will need to show that the restaurant created the hazard, knew of the hazard, or should have known of the hazard. These rules do not apply to people who are trespassing.

Chicago and its surrounding suburbs are notorious for heavy traffic. I-294 and I-90 are some of the most traveled tollways because of their convenience for getting into and out of the city, as well as from the south suburbs to the north shore. However, the roads are not as congested these days due to the governor’s stay-at-home order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with fewer vehicles out and about, there is still the risk of car accidents with injuries. Recent reports have shown an increase in traffic violations, such as speeding. In some cases, drivers may not obey the traffic laws since the roads are emptier than normal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost one-third of all motor vehicle accidents are rear-end collisions.

Negligent Behavior

Many actions can cause a car accident. One of the most common reasons for a rear-end crash involves a driver following the car ahead of him or her too closely, which does not allow adequate time to stop before colliding. This is especially true in bad weather, such as snow or icy conditions. However, there are other behaviors that can increase the chances of a crash. Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol greatly impairs a motorist’s judgment and reduces his or her reflexes and reaction time.

Some of the main factors that lead to a rear-impact collision include:

May is National Water Safety Month. Now that the weather is finally getting warmer in Illinois, many people are getting their boats ready to hit the water. These types of watercraft may include fishing, speed, pontoon, sailboats and even yachts. The Illinois Boating Education Certificate is also referred to as the Illinois Boating License. This document is proof that a person has met the mandatory boat safety education requirements for the state. However, even when all safety precautions are taken, just like vehicle collisions, a boating accident can occur, resulting in minor to serious and even fatal injuries. According to a report by the U.S. Coast Guard, there were approximately 2,500 recreational boating injuries and 633 boating fatalities in the United States in 2018. In some cases, the reckless or negligent behavior of another boater may be to blame for a boating accident.

Factors the Lead to Danger on the Water

There are many potential distractions onboard a boat, especially when there are many passengers in a party-like atmosphere. Operators of boats are expected to stay sober and alert while paying attention to their surroundings. Ignoring navigational rules on the water is considered a blatant disregard for safety. In addition, the wind, weather, and water can be unpredictable, requiring drivers to recognize early warning signs of hazards.

A few of the most common causes of a boating accident include: