Posted on November 25, 2019 in Uncategorized

If you are a parent or guardian, you do everything possible to keep your kids safe. However, many people do not realize how dangerous clothing can be for a baby or a small child. Clothing, jewelry, and accessories can all become hazards and cause serious child injuries. Below, you will see some of the most common hazards these items can present to children.

Cords and drawstrings in children’s clothing

You should never put anything on a baby or small child that has cords attached to it. These cords can easily get wrapped around their necks and get caught in the playground or other equipment. Babies and small children do not usually have the strength or ability to get the cords unwrapped. Do not use any of these items on babies:

• hoodies or any other tops with cords or drawstrings
• hats with cords or strings
• ribbons
• necklaces

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 Posted on November 25, 2019 in Uncategorized

Regardless of where you are in Illinois, whether in a city or a rural part of the state, you are likely to see children in and around the roadway. Whether they are playing or getting to and from their destination, children are vulnerable to injuries from accidents by motor vehicles. If your child, or the child of a loved one has been the victim of a motor vehicle accident in Illinois, contact our office to schedule a free consultation today. We can help guide you towards your best legal options.

How common are pedestrian accidents?

Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are common in Illinois. During the latest reporting year in the state, there were 4,940 total pedestrian accidents in Illinois. Out of those, there were:

• 148 total pedestrian crash fatalities

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 Posted on November 25, 2019 in Uncategorized

Whether you are putting your child in a daycare for the first time of switching daycare centers, you need to be sure the facility and staff are safe. Most parents are nervous about putting their kids in daycare. After all, this means relying on someone else to care for their child. While there are plenty of great daycares, there are also many that are dangerous.

When you are looking for a daycare, be sure to tour multiple locations and watch out for these 10 signs that the daycare is bad for your child. If you suspect your child or the child of a loved one has suffered a child injury in Springfield due to lack of supervision at a daycare or negligence, contact our office to schedule a free consultation.

1.    Staffing is inadequate

There must be enough caregivers for the children in a daycare. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends one member of staff for every three to five smaller children, and one member of staff for every seven to ten older children. Similarly, you should be wary of frequent staff changes. When there is high turnover, it could be a sign that the workers are unhappy with the program.

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 Posted on October 28, 2019 in Uncategorized

Car accidents are a common occurrence in Illinois, particularly in and around major cities. Just about everyone drives or rides in a vehicle on a regular basis and most people have been involved in car accidents. Americans are fascinated with the British royal family, and many citizens were recently shocked to learn that, yes, even royals get into car accidents.

A royal car accident injury lawsuit?

Earlier this year, Prince Philip, the husband of the Queen of England, was involved in a serious car crash near the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk. The incident happened when the 97-year-olds Land Rover slammed into a vehicle carrying two women, aged 28 and 45, as well as a nine-month-old baby. The prince’s vehicle flipped onto its side. Though he will not face any charges, Prince Philip could be facing a car accident lawsuit.

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 Posted on October 21, 2019 in Uncategorized

Halloween is probably one of your kid’s favorite holidays. They get to dress up as their favorite character from this last year, have fun with friends, and get plenty of candy. However, if you have children who love to trick or treat, you should start planning for the big night a few days ahead of time. Even though you may not have their costumes ready yet, it is never too early to start planning for safety. There are several aspects of Halloween fun that can lead to personal injuries, but these can be minimized by following some important steps.

Carving that Pumpkin

Pumpkin carving can be a great family activity, but it also involves sharp tools.

• Small children should never be allowed to carve the pumpkin.
• Children can draw faces and shapes on the pumpkins with markers, but adults should do the carving.
• Do not let children light the candles inside the pumpkin. Consider using a flashlight inside instead.

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 Posted on October 19, 2019 in Car Accidents

Defining subrogation

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 Posted on October 18, 2019 in Personal Injury

Most people understand that exposure to asbestos is dangerous for humans, though many people do not understand what asbestos is or where it is found. Unless you have been exposed to this hazardous material or know someone who has, you probably do not think about is every day. Understanding what asbestos is and how to avoid exposure is the most powerful way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. If you believe you've been affected by asbestos, contact our office today to speak with an experienced Springfield personal injury attorney over a free consultation.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural substance that is found in rocks and soil. These mineral fibers have been used by manufacturers for many reasons over the years because they are flexible and resistant to heat, electricity, and chemicals. Over the years, asbestos was widely used to make construction materials, textiles, automotive parts, and more.

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 Posted on October 18, 2019 in Car Accidents

Car accidents are a common occurrence in Illinois, and car accident injuries especially around major cities. All drivers must have insurance coverage in order to operate a vehicle legally, though the Insurance Information Institute says that approximately 13.7% of all drivers in Illinois are uninsured. What happens if you are struck by an uninsured motorist?

The Illinois car insurance minimums

The minimum car insurance coverage requirement for drivers in Illinois are:

• $20,000 bodily injury per person per accident
• $40,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident
• $15,000 property damage liability
• $20,000/$40,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury
• $25,000/$50,000 underinsured motorist coverage
• $15,000 with $250 deductible uninsured motorist property damage

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 Posted on September 26, 2019 in Car Accidents

When you get into a car accident in Illinois, the aftermath can be confusing, especially if you are dealing with injuries. One of the most important things you need to be aware of is the statute of limitations placed on car accident cases in the state.

Statutes of limitations outline time frames in which a person has to file a claim for damages or injuries after an incident. These limits are strict, and claims filed after the time frame has passed are almost always dismissed.

For most car accident cases in Illinois, actions for damages or injuries must be started within two years from the date the accident occurred.

If a person was killed in a car accident, a wrongful death claim must be filed within two years from the time of the crash or within one year of a person’s death, whichever date is later.

For cases in which the claims are for vehicle damage only, you have five years to make a claim in court.

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 Posted on September 26, 2019 in Uncategorized

Most children start kindergarten at age 5, though some areas have kindergarten programs for children who are only four years old. While most parents like the idea of getting their children into school as soon as possible, there are instances of parents holding their kids back from kindergarten until age six.

Why would any parent want to do this?

By holding a child out of kindergarten until age six, some parents hope their kids will have an academic or athletic advantage over their younger classmates. In other cases, parents may want to give a child who is lagging a bit behind a chance to “catch up” developmentally. Holding the child back would effectively make them a year older than most of their classmates throughout their entire school career. Coined after the football term, this has been called academic redshirting.

Now, legislators in Illinois are considering a bill that would require children to start kindergarten by age five instead of six.  The proposed bill would require children who are five on or before May 31 to attend kindergarten. However, parents of five-year-olds with birthdays during the summer would have the choice of whether to send their child to kindergarten or wait an additional year.

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