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Understanding Illinois Car Accident Laws - What You Need to Know
According to Illinois law, car accident victims have the right to hold negligible drivers accountable for their losses, including lost wages, medical expenses, property damage, and suffering and pain. If you or a loved one were hurt in a crash, you may be entitled to financial compensation for these losses.
How Does Fault Affect a Car Accident Case in Illinois?
Illinois is a "fault-based" state, meaning that the individual at fault for the crash is also responsible for the resulting vehicle damage, injuries, and other losses. The at-fault party is usually another driver. However, businesses, trucking companies, vehicle manufacturers, and several other parties may also be at-fault for a car accident.
Requirements for Car Insurance Illinois
A key question that needs to be answered after a car accident is whether the drivers involved in the crash have the proper auto insurance. Illinois drivers must have a minimum of $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury coverage and $20,000 property.
Illinois Law Regarding Non-Bite Injuries Caused by a Dog
Anyone who has been around dogs can confirm that their behavior is sometimes unpredictable. A large dog may run and jump on somebody, knocking them to the ground where they suffer a serious head or spine injury. Dogs who think a neighborhood child is a threat may try to attack the child. Sometimes, dog-related injuries occur not because the dog is aggressive, but because the dog is playing and does not realize its own strength. However, this can still lead to serious injuries.
If you or a loved one were injured by a dog, you may have several questions about your legal rights and options. According to Illinois law, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs in most circumstances. These laws typically apply to dog bite injuries, but the law also covers people who have suffered another type of dog-related injury.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Caused by Fall Accidents
Falling and hitting your head can lead to severe injuries to the skull and brain. Even if the skull remains intact, the brain may strike the inside of the skull and become damaged. An injury to the brain can lead to severe symptoms that dramatically impact a person's everyday life. Depending on the severity of a brain injury, a person may be left with disabilities that prevent him or her from working or enjoying life to the fullest.
If you or somebody you care about suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall, you might be able to take legal action to recover financial compensation for damages.
Fall Accidents Caused by Unsafe Properties
Illinois law states that property owners and property managers may be liable for injuries that occur on their properties due to hazardous conditions. A property owner cannot completely guarantee that no injuries will ever occur on the property. However, the property owner is expected to maintain reasonably safe premises.
Tips for Negotiating a Settlement After a Car Crash in Lake County
Car crashes can lead to head injuries, neck injuries, internal organ damage, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, burns, and lasting emotional trauma. Victims of car accidents may be entitled to compensation for the damages caused by the accident. Auto insurance is designed to cover accident-related expenses. However, many people who get into a crash soon realize that insurance companies make it very difficult to secure the compensation they need. One of the most challenging parts of securing compensation after a crash is negotiating a settlement with the insurance company.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a car crash in the Waukegan area, consider working with a car crash injury lawyer who can communicate with the insurance company and negotiate a settlement that covers your losses.
Recognize that the Insurance Company is Not Your Friend
Insurance adjusters are employed by the insurance company. They are going to look after the insurance company’s interests before your interests. Just like any other business, insurance companies want to make money. This means that they may use various tactics to try to undervalue your claim.
5 Parties That May Be Liable for Damages After a Commercial Truck Crash
If you or someone close to you was recently injured in a commercial truck crash, you might be desperate for answers. Who is to blame for the accident? Will the at-fault party be forced to pay damages? How can I hold the liable party accountable?
Answering these questions is rarely easy. Many different parties can be held accountable for a commercial truck crash, and it is important to investigate all of the possible sources of liability in your case.
The Truck Driver
Many people automatically assume that a commercial truck driver is at fault for a crash. While this is often the case, it is not always the truck driver's fault. The truck driver may be liable for a crash if the driver was driving negligently at the time of the accident. Fatigued driving caused by Hours of Service violations, intoxicated driving, speeding, and inattentiveness are all possible causes of a truck crash.
Seeking Damages After a Rear-End Collision
Rear-end collisions in which one vehicle crashes with the back of another vehicle can lead to serious injuries, including whiplash, and spinal cord trauma. Drivers who cause rear-end accidents may be held accountable for the damages caused by their negligence.
If you or a loved one were hurt in a rear end collision, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover financial compensation. Compensation may be available for your medical bills, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and more.
Is The At-Fault Party Always the Rear Driver?
In the vast majority of cases, the person in the vehicle that is behind the other vehicle is liable for a rear end collision. Rear end collisions are often caused by drivers who are texting and driving, intoxicated, or simply not paying attention. Drivers are expected to keep their distance from the vehicles in front of them to avoid colliding with the vehicles. However, there may be cases in which the driver in the front is liable.
Product Liability and Dangerous Children's Products
As a parent, your child's safety is likely a top concern. Parents worry about stranger danger, school safety, and other external dangers, but there may also be dangers lurking in the products parents buy for their child. In recent years, dangerous children's products have been recalled due to potential risks of injury or even death. Product liability law holds manufacturers accountable for their products by requiring them to pay for damages resulting from accidents caused by unsafe products.
Types of Product Liability Concerns for Children
The most common product liability claims related to children’s products involve toys, clothing, and furniture. Toys may contain small parts that can be choking hazards or other dangerous pieces, while clothing may have loose threads or adornments that can cause strangulation. Furniture such as cribs may lack proper safety features that could prevent tipping or collapsing.
Seeking Justice After Injuries Suffered in a Fire or Explosion
Being injured in a fire or explosion is one of the most painful and traumatic things a person can go through. If you or a loved one suffered burns, respiratory injuries, or other injuries in a fire, you may be able to seek justice through a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim is a civil claim brought against a party for that party's negligent or wrongful actions. The defendant in a personal injury claim may be a business, product manufacturing company, property owner, trucking company, negligent driver, or a number of other parties.
Burns and Smoke Inhalation Injuries Caused by Negligence
Modern homes and businesses have smoke detectors, fire escapes, and other fire prevention measures. However, these measures are not always enough to prevent a fire or explosion from occurring. Building code violations, failure to install adequate fire prevention equipment, negligent practices, mistakes, and oversights can lead to fires resulting in severe harm.
Wrongful Death Damages for Fatal Car Accidents in Illinois
A wrongful death claim is a civil legal action taken by the representative of a deceased person. This representative is often a surviving spouse or close family member. If your loved one passed away in a fatal car crash in Illinois, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver or other liable parties.
Damages that may be available in a wrongful death claim for fatal car accidents in Illinois include economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can reimburse the deceased person’s family members for financial losses associated with the accident while non-economic damages address the non-financial suffering caused by the death.
Possible Damages in an Illinois Wrongful Death Claim
Losing a loved one is not only shocking and traumatic, but it can also bring significant financial loss. Economic damages recognize this financial suffering by providing compensation through monetary damages.
Can I Sue a School for My Child’s Injury?
The last place a child should be seriously injured is at school. Schools should be safe environments, free of dangers that pose a risk of injury or death. However, this is not always the case. If your child was injured at school, you may have questions about your legal rights. Can you hold the school accountable by suing the school district? Can you force the school to pay for your child’s medical expenses?
Like most personal injury matters, the answer to these questions depends on the exact circumstances of the injury.
Injuries Caused by Willful or Wanton Disregard for Safety
Suing a public school is not the same thing as suing a private organization or company. Public schools are government entities and there are special rules surrounding lawsuits against the government. To successfully sue a public school or school district, you must show that the school or staff acted with “willful or wanton” indifference toward safety. In other words, the school must have acted with extreme negligence.
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.
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