Posted on August 24, 2020 in Motorcycle Accidents

As is the case with any sense of freedom, no one wants to restrict their experience. Riding a motorcycle is the most open, free way to traverse Illinois roads. You can feel the wind hitting your body, see everything around you, and experience the feeling of speed without additional barriers standing in your way. However, this sense of exhilaration comes with a cost. Motorcycle riders are at the highest risk of sustaining injuries in an accident. With little standing between their bodies and the asphalt, many motorcyclists ride until they get into an accident that scares them from continuing on with their hobby. Studies show that the most common body parts that are harmed include head and neck injuries.

Helmet Safety

Illinois is one of the few states that allows motorcyclists to decide if they would like to wear a helmet while riding. While the option to wear a helmet provides motorcycle riders with the freedom to choose their level of protection, it leaves many riders with traumatic brain injuries or long-lasting neck issues. Studies have shown that wearing a helmet significantly reduces the chances of sustaining head and neck injuries, though many riders still decide against wearing them.

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 Posted on August 11, 2020 in Car Accident

In Illinois, you have likely seen the phrase “Click It or Ticket” posted above major highways or on the side of busy roads, warning about the potential legal consequences for failure to wear a seat belt. Because of the devices’ proven safety benefits, the state of Illinois requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts at all times. This includes those riding in cars that are equipped with airbags. This law became effective in July 1985 to address the low number of drivers and passengers wearing seat belts while riding in cars. Since the installation of this legislation, seat belt usage has skyrocketed, increasing from 15.9 percent in 1985 to 93 percent usage rates in 2016. Despite the vast majority of drivers and passengers following Illinois’ seat belt requirements, there are some who continue to refuse to use the additional safety measures. Those who decide against wearing a seat belt and get involved in a car accident can face more severe injuries than those wearing seat belts, but surprisingly, Illinois does not recognize this decision as a form of negligence.

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 Posted on August 07, 2020 in Personal Injury

Dogs are one of the most common family pets in the United States, with over 70 million dogs spread throughout the country. Despite the stereotype that dogs are "man’s best friend," dog bites account for 90 percent of all animal bites. Some breeds have been labeled as family-friendly while others are known to be especially aggressive. While these categories have some weight to them, the truth is that any dog can snap at any time. Dog bites may sound fairly minor, but with over 4.5 million dog bites occurring in this country each year, over 27,000 victims require reconstructive surgery as a result of the bite’s damage. No matter your age or experience with dogs, it is imperative that you know how to prevent dog bite attacks, especially as a parent. Since you can encounter dogs in any environment, these tips can save you and your kids lots of pain, time, and money.

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 Posted on August 04, 2020 in Medical Malpractice

Modern times have led to a reduction in mom-and-pop pharmacies and an increase in commercial pharmacies that dominate this business. While some may argue that retail pharmacies have resulted in a more systemized approach to the dispensation of prescriptions, it may have also opened the door to less individual attention being paid to consumers. While everyone makes mistakes in their job, a medical professional or pharmacists’ errors can lead to deadly results. An investigation run by the New York Times presented a pharmacist’s acknowledgment of these unfortunate errors, attributing the issue to a shortage of staff. One anonymous pharmacist from South Carolina admitted to making 10 to 12 errors that year -- and these were only the errors that were caught. While patients have little control over the prescriptions that they are given, there are a few ways that they can mitigate their risk of taking incorrect medication.

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 Posted on July 31, 2020 in Personal Injury

With I-90 and I-290 passing through northwestern Cook County, Illinois motorists share the road with a large number of semi-trucks and are at risk of falling victim to the accidents they often cause. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reports over 10,000 accidents involving large trucks each year, with a troubling 5.2 percent increase in fatalities caused by semi-truck accidents from 2017 to 2018. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be facing not only severe injuries and costly medical expenses, but also the challenge of identifying all liable parties in order to seek compensation.

Possible Parties at Fault in a Truck Accident

Any accident caused by the negligence of another party can result in compensation for injury victims, but depending on the nature and causes of a truck accident, a number of parties may share in the liability. Some of the most frequently at-fault parties include:

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 Posted on July 29, 2020 in Personal Injury

Illinois’ Secretary of State reported that as of 2020, there are 300,000 registered motorcyclists currently on the roadways, and this number is expected to rise each year. Chances are, you or someone you know has been impacted firsthand by a motorcycle accident or has heard of at least one incident of fatality due to a collision. With the ongoing increase of motorcyclists out and about and the significant number of accidents that take place each year -- over 2,000 injuries reported in 2018 -- it pays to take a look at some of the major reasons motorcyclists face such danger on Illinois roadways.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes

There are countless reasons motorcyclists fall victim to collision and injury, including the reckless or negligent actions of vehicle or truck drivers. Some of the most common causes of crashes include:

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 Posted on July 23, 2020 in Personal Injury

Whether you are a casual, recreational bicyclist or bike riding is your primary mode of transportation and a way of life for you, the warm, sunny summer season provides a prime opportunity for you to be outdoors on your bicycle. However, as you hit the trails or roadways this summer in Illinois, it is crucial to protect yourself from potential bike accident injuries by keeping some key safety tips in mind any time you venture out.

Essential Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

In 2018, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported a 6 percent increase in cyclist deaths, with nearly 900 bike rider fatalities on record, and here in the state of Illinois, bike riders, among other types of pedal cyclists, contributed to the nearly 3,000 riders who were injured in the year 2017. This data serves as an important reminder that a proactive approach to our safety is a must. Here are three essential tips to keep in mind when riding your bike in the summer season:

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 Posted on July 17, 2020 in Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), research shows an unfortunate uptick in the number of pedestrian accident deaths on America’s roadways in recent years. In the year 2018, our nation saw the highest rate of such fatalities since 1990 -- a 3.4 percent jump since 2017, which averaged out to one pedestrian death every 84 minutes. While this data highlights extreme cases, even minor injuries incurred by pedestrians due to negligent drivers can be costly, painful, and life-altering, depending on the nature of the injury.

Which Issues Pose the Biggest Threats?

Considering trends in increasing incidents of pedestrian injury, it is worth taking a look at the conditions and factors that are most often responsible for these accidents. Compiled data from the NHTSA reveals that all of the following factors make a significant difference in a pedestrian’s safety when he or she is en route to a destination:

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 Posted on July 09, 2020 in Personal Injury

Whether you reside in a bustling urban environment or a suburban, rural neighborhood, public and mass transit offers an array of benefits for daily commuting purposes, including decreasing your chances of car accidents and injuries. This is especially the case for those interested in eco-friendly commute options and for those who desire to avoid the expenses that come with owning and driving their own vehicle. As a more cost-effective and environmentally conscious option, commuting by public transit is reportedly 10 times safer than driving in your own car, according to reports from the National Safety Council’s (NSC) official Safety + Health magazine. All of these factors combined make commuting by bus or train an advantageous option, no matter where you live. However, there are factors that any public transportation passenger should know regarding the safety of riding in these types of vehicles.

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 Posted on July 02, 2020 in Car Accident

We all know the basic dos and don’ts of proper driving etiquette to avoid car accidents, even if a good amount of time has passed since we last took a driver’s education class. Common sense when it comes to rules of the road tell us not to drive while distracted or drowsy, not to drive aggressively, and not to drive while under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. While these standards might seem obvious, there are other common traffic mishaps that we often fall victim to on a regular basis. Such poor driving habits can place us at significant risk for collisions and injuries, which makes the need for practicing defensive driving techniques critical each time we get behind the wheel in Illinois.

Poor Driving Behaviors to Watch for on the Roadway

Every state, including Illinois, has certain traffic laws that must be followed to maintain your driving privileges. However, not everyone obeys these rules, which can include making the following infractions:

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