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Tips for Avoiding an Illinois Bike Accident
Now that the weather is warming up, many people may be anxious to get outside and enjoy the fresh spring air. Bicycling is not only a sport but also a common mode of transportation for citizens throughout Illinois. Since it does not use any gas, it is also considered to be environmentally friendly. Whether it is for exercise or getting to and from work, bicyclists can run the risk of getting into an accident. Due to their lack of protection and smaller size, if cars or trucks hit them, the consequences can be devastating. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 857 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2018. Even if they do not prove fatal, a bicycle accident can cause serious injuries that can have lasting effects. Although there are ways a bicyclist can avoid a crash, it is hard to control the actions of motorists. In some cases, a negligent driver may be held responsible for a bike accident.
What Are Common Birth Injuries Caused By Medical Malpractice?
For many people, expecting a baby can be a dream come true. A lot of expectant mothers may have healthy, uneventful pregnancies. However, labor and delivery can be difficult, especially when unexpected complications arise. Parents rely on medical professionals to take the necessary precautions to prevent any serious injuries to the mother or baby during childbirth. If a physician or nurse does not properly respond to these problems, the medical facility may be liable for any birth injuries that result. In certain situations, a medical malpractice claim may help cover financial hardship due to ongoing costs for medical treatment.
Complications During Childbirth
Just because a woman had an easy pregnancy does not necessarily mean she will have a smooth delivery. In some cases, a mother may have had a vaginal delivery for her first child, but her second child may require a Cesarean section. Doctors monitor a woman’s progress throughout the pregnancy, and they are also responsible for ensuring a safe delivery. If a medical professional fails to recognize signs of distress in either the mother or baby, this can lead to life-threatening complications.
Can Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Workers’ Compensation in Illinois?
Although most companies take steps to prevent workplace accidents, they can still occur regardless of the occupation. Depending on the circumstances, injuries can range from minor to life-threatening. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 5,250 employees died from a work-related injury in the United States in 2018. Workers’ compensation is a benefits system for workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses, paid by their employers.
The Illinois Workers Compensation Commission resolves disputes cases involving work-related injuries and illnesses between employees and employers. In certain scenarios, a worker may have a pre-existing medical ailment that can be aggravated by an injury at work. Pursuing a workers’ comp claim in these cases can be complicated, so it is important to have an experienced attorney assist you in completing the process.
Are Older Drivers at Risk for Causing a Car Accident?
Obtaining a driver’s license is a milestone in most people’s lives. In Illinois, a motorist must pass a written exam and a behind-the-wheel test before he or she can legally operate a vehicle. As drivers advance in years, they are required to renew their licenses. Depending on their age, this may require a vision screening to test their vision, as well as their capabilities behind the wheel. Although many elderly people still have a valid driver’s license, they may have a greater chance of being involved in or causing a car accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), nearly 5,000 drivers aged 70 or older perished in car accidents in 2018. Even if a crash does not result in a fatality, it can still involve serious injuries.
Illinois Driving Laws
Just as traffic laws are put in place to keep the public safe, so are driving laws. The purpose of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) testing is to identify older drivers who may have become unsafe behind the wheel. In some cases, an aging motorist may simply need a stronger eyeglass prescription. In other instances, driving privileges could be rescinded if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others when operating a motor vehicle.
Understanding Wrongful Death in Illinois
It is inevitable that we are to lose loved ones due to old age or an accident. However, when a loved one is lost unexpectedly due to another person’s negligence, it is the surviving family that suffers. The average cost for a funeral in Illinois is $10,000 including cemetery plans. If the head of a household is lost unexpectedly, the surviving family may not be able to make ends meet with a sudden loss of a family member and funeral costs to attend to. When a person’s death can be connected to another’s wrongdoing, the surviving family may be able to sue for wrongful death.
What Is Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death is when another party can be held responsible for the death of an individual through a wrongful act. If the act had not been followed through, whether negligence or default, then the death would not have occurred. Wrongful deaths can occur in many aspects of law including auto accidents, medical malpractice, and workplace accidents. For example, if a person dies as the result of a drunk driver, their surviving family could file for wrongful death because the accident would likely not have happened if the driver was sober and following the law.
Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois
Even while taking safety precautions as a pedestrian, it is still possible to get hit by a car or truck. In the United States, there were just under 6,000 pedestrian deaths in 2017. Although this was a decrease from the years prior, it is estimated that a pedestrian died every 88 minutes as a result of a pedestrian accident in the same year. Many more have been injured as a result of getting hit by a car. A pedestrian has little outward protection from a vehicle hitting them on the road. Head trauma, broken bones, or spinal damage are possible injuries a pedestrian can face. When faced with an auto-pedestrian accident, it is important to know your rights.
Getting hit by a car can be a traumatic experience. After a pedestrian accident, it is important to make your safety a priority. If possible, remove yourself from immediate danger such as in the middle of the road. If your injuries are too severe, try to get assistance in order to move or have a safety warning until authorities arrive. Once safe, call 911 to report the accident. This will alert the police to come to the scene of the accident to begin an accident report. Statements will be taken from yourself and the driver. If you are able, take photographs of the scene, including your injuries. The more information you can gather, the more it can help your case when filing an insurance claim.
Most Common Workplace Accidents
From office workers to construction workers, it is possible for any person at work to become injured on the job. Some of the reasons people need to file for workers’ compensation overlap despite being in different industries. Luckily, no matter how dangerous a job can be, most employees are covered by workers’ compensation.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
No matter how large or small a business is, most employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. This provides protection to employees in the event they are injured as a result of conditions at work. Every employee is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they qualify for it. For example, an employee falling off a ladder and obtaining an injury that prevents them from working for a short period would likely qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. An employee who was recklessly engaged in drugs or alcohol while at work, and fell off a ladder, would likely not qualify for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation pays for missed wages as well as medical care as a result of a workplace accident.
Who Is Responsible for a Pedestrian Accident?
Pedestrian accidents can be fatal and it may seem obvious who is at fault for the accident, Illinois law may see it a different way. Although pedestrian deaths were down from the year prior, 5,977 people in the United States lost their lives due to being hit by a car.
As a fault state, Illinois breaks down damages by whose fault the accident was. When it comes to pedestrian accidents, it breaks down to who has the right of way. This is the legal right for a vehicle or pedestrian to proceed first when on the road. For example, at a four-way stop, the first driver to arrive at the intersection has the right of way, and then the driver to the right then has the legal right to cross.
There are two opportunities where a pedestrian can be hit while crossing the street - in a crosswalk and outside a crosswalk. Crosswalks are the safest point for people to cross, and pedestrians are often given the right of way - but that does not mean that a pedestrian cannot be blamed for an accident in a crosswalk. It is unlawful to cross in front of a moving vehicle close enough to cause danger to yourself and the driver. If there is no light system, then drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing the street in the crosswalk if the people on foot are halfway, or further, across the road. Drivers behind a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk may not lawfully pass.
Recreational Marijuana and Criminal Records
By: Kal Issa
With the passing of House Bill 1438, which allows for the legal possession of Cannabis, many individuals who have had criminal records based on the mere possession of certain amounts of marijuana will have the opportunity to have their criminal record wiped clean. That is because the bill will provide those individuals the ability to have their arrests, cases, and convictions expunged, making it as if it never happened at all.
House Bill 1438, known as The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, amends the Criminal Identification Act, which addresses the sealing and or expunging of certain criminal offenses. Sealing allows a record to be hidden from public view, while still being accessible to certain entities. Expungement, on the other hand, allows for the complete obliteration of a criminal record, essentially wiping the past away.
The new law allows previous “minor Cannabis offenses” to be completely removed from an individual’s history so long as the arrest, charge or disposition was for a Cannabis related offense involving less than 30 grams. This includes not only mere possession of Cannabis but even Possession with Intent to Deliver, Delivery of Cannabis or Manufacturing Cannabis. However, the prior offense must not be for delivering (or intending to deliver) to a minor nor can the offense have been associated with a violent crime.
Making an Insurance Claim After an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
Getting into a car accident is stressful enough, but what happens when there is an uninsured driver involved? Every car owner is required by law to have a certain coverage of liability insurance, however, one out of every eight drivers attempts to avoid responsibility. They may go unnoticed on the road until they are pulled over, or get into a car accident. An uninsured driver may have even had the proper insurance at one time, but canceled due to financial reasons. But, no matter the reasons, it is still possible to get into an accident with an uninsured driver.
What Are the Insurance Requirements in Illinois?
Every state has his or her requirements for the amount of coverage an insurance policy has. Illinois has the following minimum requirements:
- Property damage: $20,000
- Death or injury of one person: $25,000
- Death or injury of more than one person: $50,000
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9631 W. 153rd St., Suite 32, Orland Park, IL 60462
708-966-2408
