Recent Blog Posts
Common Mistakes People Make When Filing a Claim for Workers' Compensation
To put it plainly, workers' compensation is there to help injured workers when they need it most. Compensation for a work-related injury is often used for medical expenses, lost wages, and even total disability if the injury was severe to the extent that the injured person became disabled because of the injury. Thankfully, the Illinois Workers' Compensation act mandates that employers provide workers' compensation insurance to their employees.
However, like many other government programs, the process for obtaining workers’ compensation can be difficult and highly complex. As a result, making a mistake when filing your claim can be easy. To ensure that no errors are made, contacting, and working with an experienced workers' compensation attorney is essential to ensuring the process is as smooth as possible.
Understanding Slip-and-Fall Claims in Illinois
There are very few certainties in life aside from death and taxes, but slip-and-fall accidents are certainly among them. Therefore, being involved in a slip-and-fall accident may seem relatively insignificant. However, slip-and-fall cases may not be as cut and dry as they appear, depending on the details of your injury.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation if you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident. Firstly, consider consulting with an experienced slip-and-fall attorney who will work with you to ensure you understand your rights and that a favorable outcome is pursued in your case.
Important Criteria for Slip-and-Fall Accidents
To have a valid slip-and-fall claim, your situation must meet specific criteria. The criteria are:
- You fell, either by slipping or tripping on the property of someone else
What You Should Know About Being Arrested for and Charged with Domestic Violence
Being charged with a crime can be an extremely nerve-wracking and stressful experience. The more serious the crime you have been charged with, the more stress you may feel. As with most stressful experiences, you may experience emotions that you are not used to. While it is understandable that you may feel this way, you must think as clearly as possible and act with the utmost caution.
If you have been charged with a violent crime like domestic violence, it cannot be emphasized enough how carefully you must conduct yourself. It is not an overstatement to say that your freedom may be on the line if you are found guilty of the charge. A domestic violence conviction can have a devastating impact on your life and career. If charged with an offense related to domestic violence, contact an experienced domestic violence attorney who will work with you and inform you of your rights and can instruct what can be done to build the most robust defense possible to pursue a favorable outcome on your behalf.
Navigating the Aftermath of a Truck Accident in Illinois
In the United States, thousands of people are seriously injured or die in truck accidents every year. In Illinois, interstate highways, such as the highways that intersect across the Chicago area, can be extremely deadly, especially if there is a traffic stop causing other traffic to slow down. In addition, other variables, such as construction or even debris on the road, can result in catastrophic accidents.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you may be at a loss for what to do. The most important thing you can do if you have been injured in a truck accident is to hire a knowledgeable truck accident attorney who can protect your rights and pursue compensation against any negligent parties involved.
The Importance of Hiring an Attorney After a Truck Accident
Many unique issues must be handled and dealt with in the aftermath of a truck accident. Experienced attorneys know how to work through complex issues and are privy on how to:
Third-Party Liability in Workers’ Compensation Cases
People who suffer injuries on the job can be entitled to workers’ compensation, and workers’ compensation benefits are usually paid regardless of fault. When an employer’s own negligence is the cause of a devastating accident, then people may want to pursue additional legal options beyond just workers’ compensation.
When Third Parties Are Liable for Workplace Accidents
If a person is involved in an accident while they are working, such as another person causing a motor vehicle accident while doing something for work, that person can recover workers’ compensation benefits that will help pay bills. The problem is that the employer is paying for those benefits and the employer did not cause the accident, the negligent driver did.
A third-party claim is a separate lawsuit a person files in addition to seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Virtually every claim will involve negligence and require a person to prove that another party had a duty of care, they breached that duty of care, that breach caused injuries, and those injuries have resulted in damages.
The Staggering Costs of Truck Accidents
A crash involving two tractor-trailers last month closed a portion of southbound Interstate 55 (I-55) near the Interstate 80 (I-80) interchange in Will County near Joliet. Closures were expected to last at least three hours because of the truck accident.
The crash led to soybeans and water bottles covering all lanes of I-55, and the accident is a good reminder of the chaotic scene that can unfold following truck accidents. Major commercial trucks are usually hauling a variety of goods, and collisions can lead to various items being strewn across roadways.
Possible Damages in a Truck Accident Case
When it comes to most commercial truck accident cases, the people who suffer injuries in wrecks are right to wonder what kind of damages they may be entitled to. In most cases that go to trial, a jury award is for compensatory damages that can include both economic damages and noneconomic damages.
Avoid A Repeat DUI Conviction This Holiday Season
A 53-year-old Joliet man landed in the Will County Jail after Joliet police said he was pulled over for improper lane usage. The man had a revoked driver’s license for previous DUI arrests. When you are facing possible repeat DUI charges in Illinois, you absolutely must invest in retaining legal counsel as soon as possible.
Prosecutors handling repeat DUI cases are seeking convictions and want to ensure that alleged offenders will be punished accordingly. You will need proven legal help in defending yourself against what are, in many cases, felony charges.
Repeat DUI Penalties in Illinois
The good news is that, so long as a case does not involve any aggravating factors, first and second DUI convictions in Illinois are usually Class A misdemeanors punishable by fines of up to $2,500 and/or up to one year in jail. The problem becomes that a third or fourth DUI offense is a Class 2 felony, a fifth offense is a Class 1 felony, and a sixth or subsequent offense is a Class X felony.
Dealing with Dog Bites in Will County
Will County is very friendly towards dogs, and the Forest Preserve District of Will County has six dog parks in the county. As much fun as people can have with their dogs, there are cases in which dogs can defy expectations, act aggressively, and bite innocent people.
Dog bites can be incredibly frightening for people to deal with, and it can be very confusing for victims to know how to recover financial compensation for their medical bills and other costs stemming from dog bites. Even if it is difficult, it is important to take certain steps to protect your legal rights following any dog bite.
Proper Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
When you are bitten by a dog, you will need to first focus on your own medical care. Do not hesitate to visit a hospital so you can be confident that you are getting any wound properly treated. In general, try to wash your wound, slow the bleeding with a clean cloth, wrap the wound, and be mindful of signs of infection.
Does Crime Increase on Halloween?
Halloween can be an incredibly fun holiday. Parties are happening everywhere, filled with adults and children alike in costumes they have picked out or made themselves. Wearing a costume can allow a person to assume a sort of alter-ego for the evening. It can be said that the holiday itself invites trouble. Unfortunately, some individuals take the fun too far and find themselves in jail. It is generally true that certain crimes become more common than usual in the time period surrounding Halloween. Property crimes and drunk driving tend to spike during this time period.
It is easy for people celebrating the holiday to be peer-pressured or goaded into doing something that is against the law, especially where alcohol and other substances are involved. If you are among the crowd arrested this Halloween, it is important that you take the situation very seriously. Criminal charges do not go away when the Halloween season ends, and a record could follow you for the rest of your life.
Can I Get Arrested for Having Legal Cannabis in My Car?
Adult residents of Illinois are now permitted to possess and use cannabis for medical or recreational purposes. THC products are generally regulated similarly to the manner in which alcohol is regulated. These regulations control how people in Illinois can handle and use cannabis. A few important rules include those governing how cannabis may be transported in a vehicle. Most Illinois residents know that they cannot drive with an open beer or glass of wine in their cupholders, as allowing people to do so would make it very easy for drivers to become intoxicated while behind the wheel.
Similar open-container rules apply to cannabis. Even if you are not actively under its influence, you could be charged with a misdemeanor drug offense for having open and accessible containers of THC products in your vehicle. You can also be charged with a DUI for driving after using cannabis based on the concentration of THC in your body. If you are charged for possessing cannabis in a vehicle or driving under the influence of cannabis, it is important to secure legal representation as soon as possible.