When people hit the road for a vacation or to commute to their jobs, they typically do not expect to be involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, vehicle collisions can and do occur on a fairly regular basis throughout the United States. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), there have been just over 500 vehicle fatalities on Illinois roadways as of this writing. In some cases, crashes can be caused by inclement weather. However, sometimes they are the result of the reckless behavior of a motorist.

Every driver has a duty of care to drive safely in an effort to protect himself or herself, as well as other motorists and passengers who are traveling on the road. Due to its size, the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs have many public modes of transportation. The drivers of these vehicles have a special duty of care to protect their customers from harm, including injuries sustained in a car accident.

Common Carrier Vehicles

Any vehicle that transports passengers for hire is referred to as a “common carrier.” Examples of these types of vehicles include buses, taxis, or limousines. Typically, the duty of care that the owners or operators of these automobiles have to their passengers is considered higher compared to other drivers. An example of this enhanced care requires the driver of a common carrier vehicle to look multiple times when checking oncoming traffic before turning at an intersection, when changing lanes, or before merging onto the highway to ensure it is safe to do so. When a driver fails to enforce or enact a high level of care, it may be classified as negligence, and any victims of an accident may be entitled to compensation for injuries suffered.

Undergoing any kind of surgery can be intimidating for patients of all ages. Regardless of the injury or medical condition, “going under the knife” can pose certain risks even for someone who is healthy or has no underlying issues. In some cases, complications may arise during the surgical procedure that could not have been predicted. However, in other situations, negligence on the part of the surgeon or medical staff may put a patient’s life in danger. Several factors can play a role, such as a physician’s incompetence, reckless behavior, or miscommunication between the surgical team assisting. If you or your loved one has suffered due to surgical errors, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim.

Failure to Provide Standard of Care

Medical mistakes can happen when healthcare professionals fail to uphold an expected standard of care. This includes noticing signs and symptoms of distress in a patient before or during a surgery. Medical negligence can take a variety of forms, but in the case of malpractice, it may result in devastating results for the patient. In certain cases, a person may die as a result of a complication, or if he or she survives, may have debilitating effects for the remainder of his or her life.

Some of the causes of a medical or surgical error are due to a lack of experience on the part of the doctor. If this is the physician’s first time performing this type of surgery, he or she may not be fully prepared for how to resolve any complications that arise. Carelessness can also be a factor, such as when a medical professional is fatigued or was drinking prior to reporting for work that day.

Often referred to as man’s best friend, a dog is a popular family pet. Although the majority of breeds are friendly and passive, there are some kinds of dogs that can become aggressive under certain circumstances. Any pet can act out if they feel threatened, provoked, or when they are protecting their offspring. An animal attack can result in minor to serious and even fatal injuries. Dog bite victims may suffer long-term effects, requiring surgery, physical therapy, as well as psychological counseling. In some cases, a negligent pet owner may be held liable for your pain and suffering, in addition to lost wages.

Lifelong Consequences 

Some of the most common injuries in the aftermath of an animal attack may require stitches to repair. More serious injuries can result in damage to the back or neck, which can cause an individual to be paralyzed. However, even for physical scars or injuries that can heal, a dog bite victim may suffer long-term damage. For example, many people who are attacked by an animal experience emotional or mental conditions related to the incident. Feelings of anxiety or a lifelong fear of animals may be a result. Regardless of the nature of the injury, it can require extensive rehabilitation.

June is National PTSD Awareness Month. PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. According to Mayo Clinic, PTSD is defined as a mental health condition in which an individual has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Examples of incidents that can cause PTSD include pedestrian or vehicle accidents, assault and battery, death of a loved one, and more. Statistics show that roughly one in five survivors of traffic collisions suffered from PTSD in 2018. In some situations, the negligent actions of another motorist may cause a car accident with injuries. Occupants can sustain minor bumps and bruises, or they can suffer serious to fatal injuries depending on the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Typical Symptoms of PTSD

The signs and symptoms of PTSD may not surface until weeks or months after the accident. In many cases, certain things can trigger or enhance the anxiety a car crash victim is already feeling after the accident. The sound of screeching tires, emergency sirens, or horns blaring may cause a victim to have a panic attack. He or she may be afraid to travel in a car either as a passenger or a driver. The condition can be debilitating, to the point where it interferes with work or family duties.

Below are a few of the most common symptoms of someone with PTSD may experience:

Coronavirus has changed our daily lives over the past several months. The global pandemic led to stay-at-home orders across the country, including Illinois. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), speeding and reckless driving during the crisis have led to a higher number of car accidents and fatalities on U.S. roadways recently. Reports show that even though many Americans are driving less because of stay-at-home orders, the fatality rate per mile driven increased by 14 percent compared with March 2019. Motorists may be speeding since there are not as many cars on the road now. During the first few months of 2020, Illinois alone saw an increase of 11 percent in vehicle-related deaths.

Reasons for Reckless Driving Behaviors Amidst COVID-19

Chicago is typically known for bumper-to-bumper traffic, but with so many employees working from home now, the highways are much less congested, giving drivers a false sense of security and freedom. Some motorists figure police are busy dealing with COVID-related calls or enforcing public gathering limits that they are not as focused on speeders. In other cases, people may think that law enforcement is limiting direct contact with drivers so they are not pulling over motorists or issuing as many tickets for speeding or other traffic violations. However, speed limits are put in place for a reason, namely to prevent crashes. Traveling 20, or 30 mph over the posted speed limit can cause a driver to lose control and collide with other cars, trucks, pedestrians, or even crash into cement medians or buildings. The force of the impact when going that fast can lead to severe to life-threatening injuries, such as broken bones, internal bleeding, or burns to the skin if a vehicle explodes.