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What a Cyclist Should Do After a Rear-End Collision
Bike riding is a great stress reliever and a terrific way to stay in shape. However, there are great risks to cyclists while out on the road that could have dire consequences. Rear-end collisions from automobiles are a very real threat to any cyclist, whether driving safely or not. When suffering a bicycle accident, it is normal for a cyclist to feel panic, shock, and disorientation depending on the severity of the impact. Anyone who receives injuries due to a rear-end collision should seek out an attorney to ensure they receive compensation for damages.
Injuries From a Rear-End Collision
Injuries after being rear-ended on your bike can be similar to those sustained from a car-to-car collision. The only real difference is the impact and severity that a cyclist is elevated due to the lack of protection one is afforded in a motor vehicle. The possibility for injury is amplified since, more often than not, the only protection a cyclist has is their helmet.
Common Injuries Suffered During a Car Accident
Any car accident, minor or major, can result in injuries. Some injuries are not noticeable right away and may make their presence known hours to days later. Some of the same injuries suffered from a car accident may be present in other motor vehicle accidents such as trucks and motorcycles. In each situation, the accident can happen fast and culminate in severe consequences, so it is important to be able to reach out to your insurance company as well as an experienced personal injury lawyer for help following the incident.
Soft Tissue
Accidents can damage the body’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons. A contusion, sprain, or strain fits into this category of injury, and whiplash may also fall into this category. A contusion is a bruise that can happen very easily in even a minor “fender-bender.” A sprain is a partial tear to a ligament and often occurs in the knee, ankle, or wrist. A strain may result from the force of impact or having a muscle or tendon stretched improperly.
How to Seek Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury
A person’s life can be forever altered when sustaining a spinal cord injury (SCI). The spinal cord is one of the most significant parts of the human body. It is responsible for all internal organs, sensory organs, and muscles that sit below the neck. So what happens when this prominent part of the nervous system suffers a traumatic injury due to another person’s negligence? You get yourself a lawyer and sue the defendant for everything owed.
Getting Your Due
The very first thing (after receiving medical help) you should do when sustaining a spinal cord injury is to seek out legal representation. Though you can file a claim on your own, hiring a lawyer can ensure you file the right claim with the defendant’s insurance company.
Insurance companies will often attempt to minimize the impact their client had regarding the injuries. A tough and pragmatic lawyer with experience in personal injury cases can also ensure you never settle for a lowball compensation payout.
Most Common Causes For Car Crashes in Illinois
Car crashes happen far too often in Illinois, some of which result in serious injury and death. Some of the busiest interstate highways in the US can be found in Illinois which lends itself to many of the vehicle crash statistics found in the reports provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Most of the car crashes are caused by the same conditions or driver behaviors that plague the entire country. Persons injured in a car crash who hope to seek compensation for damages incurred should consult with a local attorney as soon as they are able.
Distracted Driving
Anytime a driver’s attention is pulled away from the road they run the risk of a serious accident that could see themselves or others injured. Typical driving distractions include:
- Texting while driving
- Eating while driving
Premises Liability for Injuries On Private Property
In Illinois, a landowner is liable for some of the damages for personal injuries that occur on those premises. However, it is on you to prove the injuries you sustained on the property were because of a dangerous condition found on the premises. A simple slip and fall on someone’s private property does not automatically entitle you to any compensation. Therefore, it is in your best interest to seek out an experienced attorney in these situations.
Proving Owner Negligence
Did the owner of the private property invite you or give consent for you to be on the property? The Illinois Premises Liability Act states that owners must show a reasonable duty of care to all visitors which includes the condition of the premises. However, if the visitor already knows about possible conditions that could potentially result in injury, or those conditions are blatantly obvious, then the owner owes no such duty of care. A duty of care is also not owed to any visitor if there are conditions that could cause injury that may be hidden, and the owner is unaware of them.
Most Common Causes For Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can occur at any time, anywhere. Some accidents occur more often than others and, as a pedestrian, you should understand what to look out for to prevent an accident from happening to you. You should also know exactly what your legal rights are in the event that you do suffer an accident. Who better to explain the legalities than a personal injury attorney?
Pedestrian Accident Causes
Some events can transpire that put both a pedestrian and a driver in the wrong when it comes to negligence that results in an accident. It is important to be able to identify why pedestrian accidents occur so those liable can be held responsible in compensation claims cases.
The following are common causes of pedestrian accidents that can happen to anyone:
- Jaywalking
- The driver or pedestrian is intoxicated or distracted
Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots
When you think of parking lot accidents, you probably picture two vehicles in an accident. However, it is reported that one in five accidents takes place in a parking lot, killing 500 or more pedestrians each year and injuring over 60,000 people.
In running last-minute errands, motor vehicle drivers may not be paying full attention to their surroundings. One study found that 9% of pedestrian fatalities are the result of backing up vehicles. Driver inattention combined with a large number of pedestrians and no designated place for people to walk accounts for a substantial number of accidents.
If you have been the victim of a parking lot accident, you need the Waukegan pedestrian accident attorneys at Salvi & Maher, LLP to advocate on your behalf.
Why are There So Many Pedestrian Accidents in Parking Lots?
Most motorists do not take the same care in a parking lot as they would on the road. The most common reasons for pedestrian accidents are:
Common Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents
With limited protection, motorcyclist injuries are far too common. A reported 82,686 motorcyclists sustained injuries in collisions in a recent year. A motorcyclist who has to swerve to avoid a collision runs the risk of losing control.
Riders do not realize the risk of mounting their bike. Our Waukegan motorcycle accident attorneys want to keep you informed, so we have listed the most common motorcycle accident injuries that our firm sees
Traumatic Brain Injuries
The sudden force of impact in a motorcycle crash can result in a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Unfortunately, motorcyclists face a significantly higher risk of having a TBI than drivers. A TBI disrupts normal brain activity.
A TBI may be a closed or open brain injury. In a closed brain injury, a violent blow to the head results in the brain moving rapidly back and forth within the skull, causing brain tissue to get damaged. In an open brain injury, brain tissue is damaged when an object penetrates the skull
The Holidays Can Be Disrupted by a Drunk Driver
During the holidays, many people like to enjoy a drink with friends and family. Giving us a chance to unwind, we may not think too much about having a beer or two before getting in our cars to drive home.
Many people do not realize what effect a few drinks may have on our motor and neurological capabilities. In fact, a 140-pound man who has just three drinks in a one-hour period may be at the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08 percent.
If you have been injured by a drunk driver, our Waukegan drunk driving accident attorneys are here to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Holiday DUI Statistics
It is easy for people to lose count of how many alcoholic beverages they have consumed, resulting in devastating consequences for themselves and others.
The statistics are startling:
- In a recent year, 11,654 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, with 209 of these deaths occurring during the holidays
Causes of Fatal Truck Crashes
It takes the driver of a large truck the length of two football fields, or about 525 feet, to bring a fully loaded tractor-trailer to a complete stop. If the road is wet or if there is inclement weather, it will take a truck driver longer to stop.
This is just one example of what may cause a fatal truck crash. With brick-and-mortar stores becoming scarcer, interstate commerce is increasing. With an increase in commerce comes a surge in shipping goods long distances and, expectedly, more tractor-trailer trucks on the roads.
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal truck crash, our Waukegan fatal truck accident lawyers are available to provide you with the support you need.
Common Causes of Truck Accident Fatalities
In 2021, there were 4,714 fatalities due to large truck crashes, with 68 percent of those killed being passenger vehicle occupants.
Contact a Lake County Vehicle Accident Attorney Who is Ready to Help You
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our office. Call 847-662-3303 to set up a free initial consultation at one of our four convenient locations. There is no risk because we only collect fees if you collect compensation. With offices in Libertyville, Waukegan, Richmond, and Chicago, we represent clients in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage County, and McHenry County.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
