Posted on September 03, 2021 in Personal Injury

Illinois personal injury law, or tort law, deals with injuries against people and property. Personal injury lawsuits are often based on the legal theory of “negligence.” In the context of a lawsuit, negligence means the failure to uphold a legal duty. For example, the owner of a restaurant has a legal duty to ensure that the property is in reasonably safe condition and does not pose a risk of injury to restaurant guests. Similarly, the owner or possessor of a newly constructed building has a duty to ensure that the structure meets the relevant building codes. Negligence also applies to car accident and truck accident cases. A driver may act negligently by driving too fast for the weather conditions. A trucking company may act negligently by failing to maintain the trucks.

If you were hurt because of another party’s negligence, you may wonder, “What if the accident was partially my fault?”

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 Posted on August 11, 2021 in Personal Injury

For many, one of the most enjoyable parts of summer is going for a dip in a swimming pool. Unfortunately, swimming pools can also be dangerous, and in some cases, even deadly. If you were injured or a loved one died while visiting a public swimming pool, waterpark, resort, hotel, or other establishment, you may have grounds for a legal claim against the liable party. You may be entitled to damages for medical bills, funeral costs, lost income or financial support, and more.

Injuries from Swimming Pool Accidents

When a party’s negligence leads to an injury, the injured person may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover financial compensation for damages like emergency room and hospital bills, medication, and lost wages from missed work. The injured person may also be entitled to compensation for non-financial losses such as his or her lost quality of life, physical pain, and disfigurement.

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 Posted on July 07, 2021 in Car Accidents

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are a daily occurrence in the United States. In fact, in 2019, 6,590 pedestrians were killed in accidents. If you were recently injured in a pedestrian accident, you should consult a personal injury lawyer promptly. Your lawyer can help you determine all the liable parties and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Responsible Parties for Pedestrian Accidents

If you were hit by a vehicle and suffered injuries, it is important to consider all the liable parties. Here are several parties that may be to blame for your injuries.

• The driver - In most cases, a negligent driver is responsible for a pedestrian accident. If a driver, for example, diverts his or her focus to a text message or other distraction, the driver may not notice a pedestrian crossing the street and hit that person. Other examples of negligent driving include speeding, failure to come to a full stop at a stop signal, drifting into the pedestrian lane, and fatigued driving.

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 Posted on June 04, 2021 in Work Injuries

Being injured is not something that anyone expects to happen, but when it does, it can significantly affect your life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 3.5 million workplace injuries that occurred in both private and governmental organizations in 2019. Most of the time when you are injured at work, you will be covered under workers’ compensation, which will typically pay for your medical bills and lost wages. In most cases, you will not be able to file a lawsuit against your employer for being injured at work. However, workers’ compensation benefits do not cover your full work wages, and this can leave you with expenses that you cannot afford to pay. In some rare cases, you might be able to sue your employer to help compensate for your injury.

Potential Reasons You Can Sue Your Employer

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 Posted on May 12, 2021 in Personal Injury

When you are injured because of someone else’s carelessness, you have the right under the law to be able to claim compensation for your injuries and losses related to them. However, not everyone will be willing to compensate you, even if they know the injury was their fault. In those cases, you can benefit from filing a personal injury lawsuit to attempt to legally force them to compensate you. Before your case can be successful, however, you will need to prove that the other person involved is at fault for the accident. In most cases, this is done by proving that the other person was negligent in their actions.

What is Negligence?

In the context of a personal injury claim, Illinois defines negligence as a person doing something that a “reasonably careful” person would not do, or failing to do something that a “reasonably careful” person would do. Negligence is often left to the judge or jury to interpret, taking into consideration the circumstances surrounding the accident.

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 Posted on April 29, 2021 in Personal Injury

A personal injury claim is a claim used to seek restitution after an injury caused by wrongdoing or negligence. Car crashes, truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, and many other situations can lead to a personal injury claim. The party responsible for the injury may be a property owner, business, trucking company, drunk driver, or another party. Personal injury claims not only hold the liable party answerable for the harm caused by their actions, they may also provide financial relief. The amount of compensation you can get in a personal injury case varies depending on the severity of the injuries and other factors.

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 Posted on April 09, 2021 in Personal Injury

Of the different types of injuries that a person may experience, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most serious. Unfortunately, injuries affecting the brain are not always recognized or understood. Following an incident such as a car accident or a slip and fall, a person will likely focus on forms of bodily harm that are immediately evident, such as broken bones. They may not even realize that they suffered a brain injury until several days or weeks later, and they may not associate their symptoms with the accident where the injury occurred. For those who have been injured, it is important to understand the effects that a brain injury can have, and by doing so, they can pursue compensation for the ways the injury has impacted their life.

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 Posted on March 12, 2021 in Car Accidents

Most people greatly underestimate the effect that being sleepy has on their ability to drive. According to the National Safety Council, being awake for 20 or more hours straight has the same effect on driving as being intoxicated. If you were injured in a car accident caused by a driver who was too fatigued to drive safely, it is important to know your rights. You may be able to hold the driver accountable and recover compensation through a personal injury claim.  

Negligent Driving Caused by Sleep Deprivation

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 Posted on February 05, 2021 in Premises Liability

In a split second, a slip and fall accident can cause agonizing injuries. If you or a loved one were hurt in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident, you may be interested in seeking compensation for your damages. Medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages may be recoverable through a premises liability claim. To receive compensation, however, you will need to prove that your injuries were caused by the property owner’s negligence.

Property Owner Negligence in a Slip and Fall Accident

Slip and fall accidents can lead to painful injuries that incur a massive amount of medical debt. Many slip and fall accident victims are also left unable to work or complete daily responsibilities because of their injuries. Financial compensation for these physical injuries and other losses may be available through a premises liability claim. However, the burden of proof in a slip and fall case is on the person seeking damages. This means that you and your attorney will need to demonstrate that the property owner or property occupier’s negligence caused the accident.

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 Posted on January 08, 2021 in Car Accidents

Being the victim of any type of car accident is stressful. However, when your accident is caused by an uninsured driver, the situation becomes even more complicated. If you or a loved one were in a car accident involving an uninsured motorist, you may be unsure of what to do next. You are likely concerned about how you will pay for vehicle repair costs, medical fees, and other costs incurred by the accident, and whether or not you are fully responsible for the costs. With the help of a reputable accident attorney, you will be informed of your options as an Illinois driver.

Car Accident Liability in Illinois

Typically, the insurer of the driver who is at fault for a car accident is responsible for paying the damages resulting from the accident. Car insurance is mandatory in Illinois, however, some people choose to drive without auto insurance and in violation of the law. Others forget to renew their policy or fall behind on payments and lose coverage. If an uninsured or underinsured driver causes an accident, the people who sustained injuries and vehicle damage may assume that they are on the hook for the accident costs. However, there are options available to car accident victims that they may be unaware of.

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