For many Illinois residents, the winter season is an opportunity for skiing, sledding, riding a snowmobile, and other activities in the snow. However, many of these activities have a significant risk of injury or death. Snowmobile accidents kill an estimated 200 people every year and approximately 14,000 people are injured in snowmobile accidents annually. If you or a loved one were hurt in a snowmobile accident, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim for damages. You may be eligible for financial compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and more.

Inexperience and Unsafe Driving Top Causes of Snowmobile Wrecks

Snowmobiles are great for traveling in the snow or simply enjoying the Illinois countryside. However, these machines are also capable of reaching speeds of over 80 miles per hour. Snowmobile wrecks often lead to severe, life-changing injuries including paralysis.

Studies show that one of the top causes of snowmobile injuries and deaths is inexperience. Operating a snowmobile is not the same as driving a car, and some riders grossly overestimate their ability to safely operate a snowmobile. Excessive speed is another top contributor to snowmobile accidents. Riders who are racing each other or joyriding can lose control of the vehicle in a split second. Drug and alcohol use also contributes to many fatal and injurious snowmobile accidents.

Consumers use products to cook, clean, maintain their yard, travel, and complete countless other everyday tasks. Most people assume that any product available for purchase has been tested and proven to be safe. While this is generally true, unsafe products do sometimes reach consumers’ hands. When a consumer is harmed by a dangerous or defective product, he or she may be able to take legal action against the at-fault party. The injured consumer may be entitled to financial restitution. However, knowing whether an injury was caused by a defective product is not always easy.

Product Defects Can Cause Severe Injury or Even Death

Almost everyone who has used a hammer has accidentally struck their thumb or fingers at least once. Injuries from consumer products are not rare. However, some product injuries result in much more than a sore thumb. Sadly, people have even lost their lives due to dangerous or defective products.

Product defects can occur because the initial design of the product was defective or inherently dangerous or defects can occur due to mistakes during the manufacturing process. A product may also be considered defective if the product does not contain appropriate warning labels or instructions for safe use.

For many families, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other winter holidays involve alcohol. Whether it is eggnog, wine, or a special Christmas cocktail, many people enjoy alcoholic drinks over the holidays. Some parents find no harm in letting their teenagers share in the holiday spirits. However, letting your own child drink and letting someone else’s child drink are two different matters under Illinois law. Adults who let minors drink alcohol can face legal consequences under Illinois’s social host law.

Illinois Law Regarding Alcohol Consumption by Minors

In Illinois, you have to be at least 21 years old to drink. However, many parents wonder if they can let their underage children drink on special occasions. According to Illinois law, you may let your children drink alcohol if they are at home and under your supervision. You cannot let your children drink at a restaurant or bar. You also cannot let other people’s children drink. In fact, doing so can lead to significant legal consequences.

Homeowner Liability for Underage Drinking

You may decide that your underage child is mature enough to handle an alcoholic drink this holiday season. This is up to your discretion as a parent or legal guardian. However, parents who allow minors other than their own children to drink may find themselves in legal trouble. Providing alcohol to minors is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois. You can also face civil legal ramifications. Illinois’s Social Host Law makes adults responsible for injuries and deaths caused by underage drinking.

Dogs can be loving companions. However, they are also animals with sharp teeth and claws. Dog attacks are terrifying for the victim and can lead to long-term health complications. Tragically, some dog bite victims do not survive their injuries. Even more tragically, most victims of fatal dog attacks are children. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a dog attack, it is important to explore your legal options.

Is the Dog’s Owner Liable for My Medical Bills?

Dog bites are not only painful, they can also lead to significant medical complications. Nerve damage, puncture wounds, facial lacerations, and broken bones are just some of the injuries a dog bite victim may suffer. Many victims require extensive medical treatment including surgery and long-term ongoing treatment. Because dogs’ mouths are full of bacteria and other pathogens, dog bites can also lead to dangerous infections.

Each state handles dog bite liability differently. In Illinois, dog owners are liable for dog bite injuries if:

Countless different factors can coalesce in a car crash. Drivers may be distracted by their phones or in-vehicle controls, the road may be slippery due to recent rain, or a vehicle’s brakes may be in need of repair. Whatever the exact circumstances that led to a collision, car accident investigations are complicated. If you or a loved one were involved in a serious wreck, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. However, to recover compensation and hold the at-fault parties accountable, you must prove several elements. There are many different ways that personal injury attorneys investigate crashes in a personal injury case. Read on to learn more.

Evidence is Needed to Prove Liability and Damages

In any personal injury case, four main elements must be demonstrated: Duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Establishing a party’s duty of care is often the most straightforward of these elements. All drivers have a legal duty to follow traffic laws and drive with a reasonable level of caution. Breach of duty refers to the illegal or negligent actions taken by the at-fault party. This may involve negligent driving behaviors, negligent design or manufacture of a vehicle component, or another form of negligence or wrongdoing. Causation refers to the relationship between the at-fault party’s actions and the victim’s injuries. Damages are the financial losses suffered by the victim or victim’s family caused by the injuries or death.

Evidence is needed to prove these elements. Personal injury lawyers may use forensic evidence at the crash scene like vehicle damage, debris patterns, and skid marks. They may use footage from dash cameras or traffic cameras, photographs, and other documentary evidence. Many vehicles are now equipped with event data recorders that record technical vehicle information before, during, and after a crash. This information can be used to piece together exactly what happened during the accident and who is at fault.