Car accidents injure approximately 3 million individuals in the United States every year. While many of these injuries are minor cuts and bruises, traffic accidents can also result in severe injuries that affect the injured person for many months or even years. Sadly, many of these serious car accidents are avoidable. They may be caused by a driver who is not paying attention to the road, is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or worse, intentionally chooses to disobey traffic laws.

When a person knowingly drives in a way that puts the motorists, passengers, and pedestrians around him or her in danger, he or she may be charged with reckless driving. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident caused by reckless driving, a personal injury lawsuit may help you hold the reckless driver accountable for their wrongdoing.  

Illinois Law Regarding Reckless Driving

The Illinois Vehicle Code describes the crime of reckless driving. A person can be arrested and charged with reckless driving if he or she:

Illinois is known for its harsh winters. The combination of icy roads, low visibility due to snow, and an increased number of vehicles on the highways can make driving during the winter holiday season especially perilous. This time of year, many people are also attending holiday parties and events where alcohol is served, which increases the number of drunk drivers. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA) estimates that over 75,000 Americans are injured in car accidents that occur when it is snowing every year. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident this winter, contact an experienced attorney to learn about your options for compensation.  

Stay Safe While Traveling This Holiday Season

If you plan to travel for the holidays, there are several steps you can take to minimize your chances of being injured in a car accident. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can to do stop other drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol, violating traffic laws, or otherwise driving unsafely. However, you can ensure that you are taking steps to keep yourself and your passengers as safe as possible.

Safety experts and law enforcement officials recommend that you:

You may have already heard the news about a serious E. coli outbreak caused by contaminated romaine lettuce in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating three different E. coli outbreaks which are thought to have originated at farms in Salinas, California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising consumers to throw away any lettuce that they currently have which was grown in the Salinas region including packages of salad mixes, hearts of romaine, and even organic romaine lettuce. Restaurants and retailers are expected to throw out contaminated lettuce as well. If you or a loved one have contacted an E. coli infection after being exposed to contaminated romaine lettuce, you may be eligible for compensation through a defective product injury claim.

Symptoms of E. coli Infection

According to the CDC, 102 individuals from 23 different states including Illinois have been infected with E. coli due to the tainted lettuce. Ten of these individuals developed kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. Fortunately, no deaths have been linked to the contaminated lettuce, but E. coli infections can sometimes be fatal. Symptoms of E. coli infection include diarrhea which may be bloody, severe stomach cramps, fever, and vomiting. Symptoms often become apparent about 3-4 days after eating contaminated food or drink.

Personal Injury Lawsuits Involving Foods Contaminated with E. coli

If you or a loved one have suffered from an E. coli infection due to contaminated lettuce, a personal injury claim may help you recover compensation. Presuming negligence was involved, fault for your illness may lie with the company that grew the lettuce, the distributor, a retailer, or the restaurant that served you the contaminated lettuce. You may be able to get compensation for both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses like hospital bills, prescription medication costs, expenses related to diagnostic tests, and more. You may also be able to receive compensation for the time you had to take off of work because of your illness. Noneconomic damages such as your physical pain and emotional suffering may also be available.  

The trucking industry is essential to our way of life. Truckers haul more cargo than trains, airplanes, or ships, and they do so under conditions that few could tolerate. However, the trucking industry is also responsible for thousands of auto accidents every year, many of which are caused by falling or unsecured truck cargo. When freight is improperly loaded or secured, items can shift within the truck’s trailer or fall out onto the road. Truck accidents caused by loose cargo are often fatal or result in serious, life-changing injuries. If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident caused by falling cargo, you may be eligible for compensation.

Determining Fault in a Loose Cargo Truck Accident

There are typically several factors that lead to a truck accident. The truck driver may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or simply sleep deprived. The roads may be icy or wet from rain. In situations like these, small driving mistakes can be amplified many times over if the truck’s load is not secured properly. 

In other situations, there may be problems with the way the truck cargo was loaded or defects with the gear that holds the cargo in place. A single loose tiedown or a defective ratcheting device could cause the entire load to become unstable. 

The spinal cord’s main functions are to transmit nerve signals and coordinate the body’s reflexes. When the spinal cord is damaged, the results can be devastating. The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that over 17,000 individuals suffer from a spinal cord injury every year in the United States. There are nearly 300,000 Americans currently living with the negative health effects of a spinal injury. If you have suffered a spinal injury due to another party’s negligence, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

Reimbursement for Medical Expenses After a Spinal Injury

No amount of money could ever fully compensate someone for a catastrophic injury such as a severe spinal cord injury. However, financial compensation from a personal injury lawsuit can help an injured person and their family manage the enormous expenses incurred by a serious spine injury. A personal injury lawsuit may help you receive reimbursement for your current and future medical expenses including:

• Ambulance fees
• Surgery costs
• Prescription medication costs
• Expenses for x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and other diagnostic tests
• Expenses related to physical therapy and other ongoing medical treatments

Compensation for Other Considerations

Through a personal injury claim, you may be able to get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. However, when a person experiences a major spinal injury, they incur many more damages than just these.