Posted on March 20, 2020 in Car Accidents

Car accidents can be incredibly scary and confusing experiences. While nobody wants to get into a car accident, there are several steps you can take in the aftermath of a traffic incident to help ensure your own well-being while also boosting your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve for what happened. Here, we outline the most basic steps any car accident victim should take when an incident occurs.

1.      Stop your car

As soon as an accident occurs, pull your car to a safe location on the side of the road or in the median if you are able to do so. Do not leave the scene of the crash, as this is a crime in Illinois. Even if the incident seems minor, stay at the scene of the incident.

2.      Get police and medical assistance immediately

Use your cell phone to call the police or have somebody else call 911 for you. Let the dispatcher know where the incident occurred and whether or not anybody is injured. It is important that both police and EMS are notified. The police officer’s accident report will be a valuable piece of evidence for your insurance claim. EMS will assess your injuries and take you to the hospital if necessary. You should always seek medical assistance after any car accident to both ensure your well-being and to establish that any injuries occurred due to the accident.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 15, 2020 in Medical Malpractice

Anytime we see a medical professional for assistance, we expect to be treated with a high level of care. While there can always be unforeseen complications with any medical procedure, it is often the case that a healthcare professional’s negligence contributes to a patient’s injury. Obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) can also make mistakes, and they regularly face medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois. It is important to understand what OBGYN malpractice looks like and what you can do if you or a loved one are harmed due to the actions of an OBGYN.

OBGYN negligence explained

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the country. In general, medical mistakes occur in a variety of ways, including:

• Misreading results
• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 10, 2020 in Truck Accidents

Getting into a truck accident can be a scary experience. If you have been injured in an accident due to the negligent actions of a truck driver or trucking company, you should be compensated for what happened. Unfortunately, the insurance claims process for an Illinois truck accident case can become incredibly complicated and drawn out. There are several steps to the truck accident claims process that you should be aware of. Please keep in mind that a skilled Illinois truck accident lawyer will be able to help guide you through each step of your case.

First stage for a truck accident claim

The first stage of a Springfield truck accident claim begins right after the accident. This is the time to focus on your well-being. You must seek medical attention while at the same time pursuing your claim. Every aspect of the case needs to be documented. Save every piece of evidence related to the case. This includes:

• Any video or photo surveillance

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 08, 2020 in Uncategorized

The long-anticipated wait for legal marijuana in Illinois is over. On January 1, 2020, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. With any major changes in state laws, it is important that Illinois citizens thoroughly understand every aspect of what is legal and what is not legal. This law did not throw open the floodgates, and there are still restrictions in place.

Understanding Marijuana Laws in Illinois

We want to answer some of the most commonly asked questions related to legal marijuana in Illinois.

Who can buy marijuana in Illinois?

Anyone over the age of 21 is allowed to buy marijuana products from licensed Illinois sellers.

Who can sell marijuana in Illinois?

Medical marijuana dispensaries are currently the only sellers of recreational marijuana. By mid-2020, Illinois will grant additional licenses to more stores, processors, cultivators, and transporters. Up to 295 stores could be in operation by 2022.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 07, 2020 in Car Accidents

Getting into an accident can be a scary experience, and the aftermath can become complicated. If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, you will want to gather all of the evidence necessary to help your personal injury claim with their insurance carrier. This can include obtaining video footage from security cameras that may have caught the incident through their lenses. However, obtaining this evidence is not always straightforward.

What are the chances a crash was caught on camera?

Accidents happen on all types of roadways, near businesses, and near homes. If an accident happens near any establishment, there is a good chance that it was caught on camera. More and more, we are finding that cameras are being used for various reasons.

Businesses have security cameras inside and outside that may capture an accident on the roadway or in a parking lot. Private homes also have security cameras. This is certainly the case with the affordability and popularity of doorbell cameras that often capture incidents on the street in front of a home.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 09, 2019 in Uncategorized

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unintentional injuries are the leading cause of mortality among children in the US. According to the CDC, approximately 12,000 Children die each year due to unintentional injuries. It is important to understand what an unintentional injury is, statistics of injury by age group, how to prevent these injuries, and what to do when negligence causes an unintentional child injury.

What is an unintentional injury?

The term “unintentional injury” is used to describe an injury that happens that was unplanned. Typically, an unintentional injury:

• occurs in a short period of time (seconds or minutes)
• has a harmful outcome that was not sought
• has an outcome that was the result of physical energy in an environment (trauma) or normal body functions being blocked (e.g. drowning)

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 09, 2019 in Uncategorized

One of the most popular activities for children to participate in is riding a bicycle. Children all over Illinois ride their bicycles each day. However, bicycle crashes are among the leading causes of unintentional child injuries. Bicycle accidents can lead to serious and disabling injuries for children, and they are often caused by another person's negligence.

How often are children hurt and bicycle accidents?

Unintentional injuries are those that someone did not mean to cause. However, that does not mean that the incident was not caused by negligence. Many children's injuries occur due to the negligence of another person.

During the latest reporting year in Illinois, there were 2,696 people injured in bicycle accidents. Twenty-six people lost their lives in bicycle crashes that year. A total of 883 of the bicycle accident injuries occurred in those under the age of 18.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 02, 2019 in Uncategorized

Traumatic accidents are the leading cause of child injuries and deaths across the United States. Most traumatic accidents that happen to children are preventable. Home fires are more common than most people realize. Parents, guardians, and caregivers can take steps to keep little ones safe from fire in the home.

Tips for keeping kids safe from burns

1. Teach fire safety to your kids

Education is important, and the earlier kids start to learn about fire hazards, the better. This includes fire prevention and fire survival. Explain to your kids why fire safety is important and that fire is not a toy.

2. Install smoke alarms

Smoke alarms save lives. Make sure you have them installed near the kitchen, on each level of the home, and near sleeping areas. Test the batteries every month and replace the batteries once a year. Make sure your kids know what the smoke alarm sounds like and what it means.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 27, 2019 in Uncategorized

No parent wants to see their child injured in a car accident. If that does happen, parents want to do what they can to help their child recover. If the car crash was caused by another person’s negligence, you should be entitled to compensation. It is vital that children injured in a car accident get the coverage they need.

How is an insurance claim different for minors?

Most car accident victims receive the compensation they need through insurance claims, whether through their own or the at-fault driver’s carrier. Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a minor in a crash and they cannot legally file a claim. An individual called a “next friend” will file the claim on the minor’s behalf. Usually, the minor’s parent or guardian is considered the “next friend.”

What if a personal injury lawsuit is necessary?

There are times when a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary for a car accident victim to recover the compensation they deserve. This could be the case if the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier refuses to offer a fair settlement or if a claim is denied. For personal injury lawsuits, it is recommended that a victim and their family work with a car accident attorney.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 26, 2019 in Uncategorized

Without getting into the debate about whether spanking should be used to punish children, it is helpful to understand that there are indeed laws related to child punishment. In general, the state of Illinois leaves it up to parents to decide how best to discipline their child. Corporal punishment is not against the law – unless it becomes excessive.

Spanking is one of the most common forms of punishment used by parents, so we wanted to discuss whether or not the practice is actually illegal.

Understanding Illinois spanking laws

We want to turn to the law in Illinois that is responsible for this topic, the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act Section 325 ILCS 5/3. This law does allow a parent to spank their children. The law does state that parents must use only a reasonable amount of force and cannot “excessively” spank their children.

Continue Reading ››