Posted on December 27, 2019 in Car Accidents

We get insurance for a variety of reasons. It is a financial investment toward risk management. People will insure valuables, their health, or even other people for worst-case scenario situations. Not every insurance situation will cover 100% of damages, but they will lessen the financial burden after an illness, death, or stolen item. In Illinois, automobile insurance is required by law. When a car accident happens, it is the party that caused the accident’s responsibility to provide compensation for damaged property, medical bills, or pain and suffering. An insured driver will have assistance with this, but what happens when crashes involve uninsured or underinsured motorists?

What Are the Minimum Insurance Requirements?

There are minimum requirements for all auto drivers in the state of Illinois. All drivers are required to be insured at a minimum of the following:

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 Posted on December 15, 2019 in Car Accidents

While walking to work or going for a run, a person traveling by foot in close proximity to the road is considered a pedestrian. Most destinations require some walking, even if a person drives, so It is almost impossible to avoid being a pedestrian at one time or another. Unfortunately, this health and environmentally conscious form of transportation still has the potential for an accident, and like car and truck accidents, there are common causes.

The United States Department of Transportation reported in 2017 that there were 5,977 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents. Every 88 minutes it is estimated that a pedestrian dies as the result of getting hit by a motor vehicle. According to the same data, a pedestrian accident is most likely to happen in an urban area outside of an intersection at night. The highest percentages of accidents happen after the sun goes down, time depending on the season.

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 Posted on November 26, 2019 in Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are serious and often fatal to drivers in passenger cars. In 2017, over 4,000 victims died as a result of truck accidents. Although truck drivers can face fatalities, other people on the road are much more likely to have fatal accidents. There are several reasons why a truck accident may happen that is the sole responsibility of the truck driver or company. We cannot control the driving of others, but taking precautions around trucks can save your life.

Truck drivers and their vehicles go through long stretches of work. If a vehicle is poorly maintained, it can cause an accident that is completely out of the driver’s control. There are work limits for truck drivers to help eliminate fatigue on the road. However, there are often pressures from companies to fulfill a shipment within required times. These are cases where the truck driver or company would be negligent, and if an accident happened, the fault would be on them. These tips will help prevent accidents altogether and may eliminate your responsibility.

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 Posted on November 12, 2019 in Wrongful Death

It is possible to lose many family members during the span of a person’s life. Whether of old age, disease, or an accident, it is never easy to lose someone you love. Some losses can be expected and prepared for, but what happens when a family member dies unexpectedly due to someone else’s negligence? A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the victim's family if they believe someone can be held accountable for their death. It is similar to a personal injury lawsuit, except the next of kin files for compensation instead of the person injured.

The compensation sought in a wrongful death case is for medical bills of the deceased, funeral expenses, loss of wages, and loss of emotional support caused by the unexpected death of a family member. A family may be losing their main financial support which can put them at risk to debt and other unfortunate circumstances.

The spouse of the deceased or the next of kin has the immediate right to collect damages. An adopted child is considered a next of kin as a natural-born child would. If the deceased does not have a spouse or children, the person who supported medical treatment may be eligible for some compensation. A personal representative must be assigned to the deceased’s estate to move forward with a wrongful death claim. The personal representative may be entitled to some compensation if the deceased has no spouse or next of kin. Otherwise, the damages will be awarded to the immediate family for their care.

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 Posted on October 31, 2019 in Car Accidents

It is impossible to get through life without getting injured at some point. An injury may be mild and solved with a band-aid, but on the other hand, a serious injury can put a person out of work for a significant amount of time. Due to the size and force of automobiles, a car accident could put a victim in this situation. The good news is, when a person is significantly injured by someone else, they have been eligible for compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Personal injury has a wide umbrella of circumstances behind it. A patient who is injured by their doctor may be eligible, or a consumer who got hurt because of a faulty product. The key, in any case, is proving negligence. This is when an individual or company is liable because of their actions. Regarding car accidents, a person who was drinking under the influence, speeding, or otherwise driving recklessly, may be considered negligent in the event of a crash.

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 Posted on October 14, 2019 in Dog Bites

Dogs can provide comfort as pets, and some have additional professional duties such as being a service animal for a disabled person. It is easy to forget that dogs are animals with their thoughts and feelings, and that is when dog bites happen. The average dog can exert 269 pounds of pressure with a single bite, so when a dog is provoked, the physical damage can be serious.

Children are especially susceptible to dog bites. A young child may not be aware of the warning a dog gives off, and may not understand personal boundaries. Because children are smaller, an injury from a dog can be more severe, and they are at a higher risk of infection. Children should always be supervised with animals, even ones they are familiar with. Half of all dog bites occur from a familiar dog or family pet.

Why Are Dog Bites Dangerous? 

Like any external wound, a dog has the chance to get infected. However, due to the force of a bite and bacteria in a dog’s mouth, most dog bites that break the skin do get infected. This can include Staphylococcus or Pasteurella, which require antibiotic treatment. These bacteria may not affect the dog but are present in their saliva. Dog bites can get bacteria as deep as muscle and bone layers, on top of the already physical damage. After a dog bite, the most important step is to clean the wound for this reason.

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 Posted on September 29, 2019 in Slip and Fall Accidents

It is easy to mistake footing and trip, but what happens if a slip and fall is caused by property owners’ negligence? Property owners have a responsibility to keep their home or business safe for other invited occupants. A slip and fall may not sound like a big deal, but they can leave permanent damage, or even death, to a victim. If trauma is caused to an individual because of negligence, they may be eligible for compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

What Is Negligence?

In regards to property, negligence is knowing about or ignoring an issue, that caused a person to get hurt. Property owners, both private and businesses, are expected to keep reasonable maintenance of a property for the safety of invited parties. A personal injury case relies on the plaintiff being able to prove negligence. For example, if a person slips in a grocery store and sustains a head injury, they may have a case for negligence if there was no wet floor warning. Who is allowed on the property is also a contributing factor in whether someone can call negligence. If someone trespasses in an abandoned barn and the floor collapses, and the trespasser obtains a head injury, the property owner would not likely be held liable because the injured person was breaking the law.

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 Posted on September 17, 2019 in Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle ownership has many benefits compared to relying on a car for transportation. They are lighter, cost-effective in fuel, and often require less financial investment upfront than a car. However, many people avoid motorcycle use due to the associated dangers behind it, and the fear of getting in a motorcycle accident.

Despite the benefits of motorcycle ownership, they do provide less protection to drivers and riders than a standard car. Cars have a full external shell as well as added safety precautions such as airbags. To combat this, responsible motorcycle riders often wear safety gear. Helmets are not required in Illinois for adult riders but are one of the most impactful steps a motorcycle driver can take in regards to safety. A helmet may not completely prevent a head injury in the event of a crash, but it could keep a person alive. Heavy-duty jackets, boots, and gloves will also help protect a rider.

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 Posted on August 28, 2019 in Medical Malpractice

No matter how sick a patient is, they expect their doctor to listen to their concerns and then prescribe a treatment or course of action. When a doctor or other medical professional makes a mistake that causes harm to the patient it is medical malpractice. When administering care, physicians, nurses, and hospitals have a standard of care to maintain with a patient. The key to a medical malpractice personal injury case is to prove negligence, and that negligence had a negative effect on the patient’s life.

In 2018, Illinois had over $300 Million in payouts having to do with medical malpractice. That averages out to $23.50 per capita and is an 11.49% increase from 2016. Of all paid out claims, 30% resulted in the death of a patient across the United States. Learn to recognize the potential signs of medical malpractice before it is too late.

The most common claim stems from the wrong diagnosis or a failed diagnosis. Both are harmful to a patient because it delays life-saving treatment for potentially curable diseases. For example, a headache does not necessarily mean a patient has a brain tumor. However, if they are displaying additional symptoms, and just treated for migraines - it may be too late once the proper diagnosis is reached. Furthermore, when a wrong diagnosis is made, the course of action may make the patient’s condition worse. If a diagnosis does not feel right, seek a second opinion. Even with getting proper treatment with a new physician, the first doctor can still be sued under negligent conditions

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 Posted on August 19, 2019 in Car Accidents

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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