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Recent Blog Posts
Most Common Injuries from Rear-End Accidents in Illinois
One of the most common types of car accidents that occur are rear-end collisions. Rear-end accidents occur when a driver fails to stop before the front of their vehicle collides with the back of the vehicle in front of them. In many cases, rear-end accidents occur because of a driver error, such as being distracted while driving or misjudging the amount of time they had to brake.
Even if the vehicle was not going very fast when it hit the vehicle in front of it, the impact can cause serious injuries and damages to the driver who was hit. Some of the most common injuries that result from rear-end accidents include:
- Concussions: Concussions are one of the most common injuries sustained by those who have been in a rear-end accident. A concussion occurs when the soft matter of your brain is jostled around and bumps into your skull. This can cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, ringing in the ears, and even issues with concentration and memory.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim For a Nursing Home Slip and Fall Incident?
In the United States, it is not uncommon for families to move their older family members to nursing home facilities to help provide care. According to the latest data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were an estimated 15,600 nursing homes operating in the U.S. It takes a lot of trust to put a family member in a nursing home, which is why it can be heartbreaking if your family member becomes injured under their care. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, about half of all nursing home residents fall each year, with two-thirds of those residents falling two or more times throughout the year. Older adults have a higher chance of suffering serious injuries from slips or falls, especially those adults in nursing homes. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from a fall in a nursing home, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover costs associated with the injury.
Can I Recover Compensation From a Chain Reaction Car Accident in Illinois?
Not all traffic accidents were created equally. Some accidents, like fender benders, are minor and do not typically result in any major damage. Other times, car accidents can be more serious and can even involve more than two vehicles. Chain reaction accidents are common multi-vehicle accidents that occur for a variety of reasons. These accidents are often chaotic and occur quickly, making it difficult to determine who is at fault for the accident. If you have been in a chain-reaction car accident, an Illinois car accident injury lawyer can help you recover much-needed compensation.
What Are Chain Reaction Accidents?
In general terms, chain reaction accidents are traffic accidents that involve three or more vehicles that collide with one another. In most circumstances, a chain-reaction car accident occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, the force of which causes that vehicle to collide with another vehicle, and so on. Common chain reaction accident situations include:
Common Factors that Lead to Car Accidents in Construction Zones
People often say that Illinois has two seasons, winter and construction. Roadwork is often necessary to repair damaged streets and highways that take a pounding in the winter. However, construction zones can prove dangerous for drivers. Studies show that rear-end collisions are the most common type of work zone accident involving vehicles. In addition, fatal work zone crashes occur most often in the summer and the fall. In many cases, they take place on roads with posted speed limits over 50 mph. Understanding traffic laws for work zones can help in pursuing compensation for car accidents that occur in them.
Dangerous Driving Behaviors
There are several factors that can increase the likelihood of a vehicle accident regardless of the time or location, including weather, traffic flow, driver error, and more. When certain driving lanes are closed and routes are detoured, this can cause confusion for motorists. They may find themselves driving in unfamiliar territory and unsure of their surroundings. An abrupt change in the speed limit, as well as reduced or narrowed lanes for a sudden change in the traffic pattern can all contribute to colliding with other vehicles, concrete medians, or construction trucks, equipment, and workers.
Understanding How Negligence Can Lead to Brain Injuries
March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. It is important to recognize the common causes of brain injuries in an effort to treat and prevent these types of injuries from occurring in the first place. Although hitting your head can happen anywhere, there are certain factors that may increase the likelihood of this happening. For example, reckless driving can cause vehicle collisions or pedestrian accidents that result in severe head trauma. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) typically is caused by a sudden or violent blow or jolt to the head or neck. Mild traumatic brain injury can impact brain cells temporarily. More serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, bleeding, and tissue damage to the brain. These injuries can lead to long-term complications and even death.
The Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Studies show that falls are one of the leading causes of TBIs, followed by being struck by an object and being involved in a car accident. When an individual slips or trips and falls, they often hit their head on pavement or other hard surfaces. A slip and fall can occur because of unsafe conditions, such as debris, clutter, or uneven walkways. Property owners may be held liable for injuries if they knew about the hazards and did nothing to address or fix them.
What Are the Common Causes of a Motorcycle Accident in Illinois?
If you have ever traveled on Interstate 90 or 294 in Illinois near Chicago, you know you share the road with other automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles. Highways and tollways are frequented by many drivers since that is typically the fastest and most direct route for them to take to their destinations. Regardless if you are driving for pleasure or work, you may be dealing with heavy traffic, construction zones, or inclement weather, including rain or snow. All of these factors can make driving dangerous whether it is during the day or night. Motorcyclists may be more vulnerable to accidents based on their sheer size compared to other vehicles. In some cases, injuries can be life-threatening and even prove fatal.
Dangers on the Road
Motorcyclists on average are five times more likely than passenger car occupants to be injured. There are several factors that can increase the likelihood of a motorcycle accident, including weather, driver behavior, and road condition:
Recovering Damages for PTSD Caused by Nursing Home Abuse
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is typically triggered as a victim or a witness of a devastating event. Symptoms can range from flashbacks to nightmares, and even debilitating anxiety. Although many people who suffer from PTSD have been involved in vehicle accidents or are victims of violent crimes, long-term care or assisted living residents can also develop PTSD over time. Nursing home abuse and neglect can leave a lasting effect on a patient, even leading to suicidal thoughts in some cases. A personal injury attorney can determine liability and hold negligent parties accountable for mental injuries such as PTSD.
Holding Liable Parties Accountable for Mental Injuries
When your relative reaches a point where they cannot live on their own, you entrust medical professionals and staff members to take care of them. Sadly, this is not always the case. A few of the ways that staff members can cause a patient to suffer from PTSD include performing the following acts:
Using Evidence to Determine Liability in an Illinois Truck Accident
Motor vehicle accidents can occur for various reasons, including inclement weather conditions, driver error, or mechanical failure. Although many of today’s cars and trucks have advanced technology aimed to prevent a crash, they may still happen, often resulting in serious and even fatal injuries. Certain in-car devices and systems can help in determining how or why a collision took place. In addition, other video footage near the scene or witnesses can provide crucial data regarding the events that led up to the incident. Gathering this important information can be essential when proving negligence and seeking damages in a truck accident.
Event Data Recorders
Event data recorders can include many different types of devices. According to the NHTSA, an EDR is a device that is installed in an automobile or a truck that records technical information (vehicle and occupant) for the seconds before, during, and after an accident. Part of an EDR’s recorded data reports on how and where a vehicle was driven. This may include speed, braking, steering, and more. Most EDRs can only store recorded data for a certain amount of time, so it is crucial to obtain it as soon as possible following an accident to increase the chances of receiving compensation if it shows that a truck driver acted negligently.
Can I Recover Damages if I Slipped on Snow or Ice in Illinois?
Wintertime can be fun for fans of winter sports, such as skiing, ice skating, and sledding. However, these sports are not without their risks. In Illinois, the temperatures can be extreme, including sub-zero days. Blizzard-like conditions may also bring heavy snow, sleet, and ice. Even just walking outside can be hazardous under some circumstances. When precipitation freezes, it creates slippery surfaces on pavement, wooden stairs, or decks. These areas can include private homes or public places such as restaurants, office buildings, or stores. If patrons, guests, or visitors slip and fall on slick walkways, they can sustain serious to life-threatening injuries. If you were hurt in this way, an experienced attorney can help you hold a negligent property owner or manager accountable.
Significant Injuries
Trying to walk in deep snow can be difficult, causing pedestrians to lose their balance. In addition, walking on ice may make a person slip and fall, landing on a hard surface. The sudden force of the impact can lead to debilitating consequences, requiring hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, or assistive care.
How Speeding Can Lead to Catastrophic Injuries in Illinois
The global pandemic that is COVID-19 has impacted many aspects of our lives this past year. Non-essential businesses have been temporarily closed throughout the country in efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Numerous essential employees who work in the corporate world have found themselves working remotely at home. The majority of people have been spending most of the past year at home. Although the roads are less crowded than they normally are, the rates of fatal car accidents have gone up.
According to reports from Top Driver, the fatality rate per mile driven increased despite many Illinois residents driving less due to stay-at-home orders. In the Chicago area, there has been a 14 percent increase in speeding, part of a dangerous trend of driving behavior during the coronavirus crisis. One reason for these statistics is due to the fact that some motorists feel as if they can speed now that there is not much traffic on their usual routes, including Interstates 90 and 294. However, traveling at faster speeds can increase the severity of injuries in the event of a collision.
Quinn Law Group, LLC
847-232-7180
350 S. Northwest Highway, Suite 300, Park Ridge, IL 60068
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