Chicago Law Blog

There is little doubt that traveling at high speeds is dangerous and reckless. The victims seriously injured in high speed car accidents, and/or their families, are often left to deal with the aftermath of these accidents, especially the financial consequences. Fortunately, consulting an Illinois personal injury lawyer need not contribute to the financial concerns, as many lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means no initial costs for the client.

The families of four people seriously injured in a high speed car accident over a recent weekend in June may be in precisely such a situation where they have to make decisions about the way forward. The accident happened on a recent Friday evening, just after 8:30 p.m. Reports indicate the car the four people were traveling in was going very fast when the driver hit two poles planted next to one another.

One of the more concerning issues in Illinois, as in the greater American society today, is the neglect of elderly patients in care facilities. The neglect of the elderly is considered to be one of the more prevalent forms of nursing home abuse. When a patient does not get the necessary standard of care, it constitutes neglect.

There are a number of signals that may point to the possibility to neglect of a patient, especially when a combination of these signals are evident. Warning signs may include lack of personal hygiene and unsanitary living conditions, as well as malnutrition and dehydration. One should also be concerned when it appears as if the elderly patient seems not to receive the needed assistance to move around enough or shows signs of injuries that seem inexplicable.

When the negligence or recklessness of a driver of a motor vehicle results in injuries to other road users, the driver may find him or herself answering to personal injury or wrongful death claims. Many Illinois personal injury lawyers assist the victims of car accidents in the filing civil claims, based upon a contingency fee basis. In short, this means that there will be no initial costs to the client.

The family of a 49-year-old man who passed away after a car accident may find solace in the knowledge that a wrongful death claim may be appropriate. The accident happened just before 9 a.m. on a recent Sunday morning in May. It is reported that the deceased was northbound on Route 71 when his vehicle was struck head-on by another vehicle, which crossed the center line.

Distracted driving is not a new concept. Car accidents due to drivers being distracted by their passengers, the radio or even eating and drinking have been happening for many years,. However Illinois officials are of the opinion that smartphones are the most dangerous distraction of all.

Statistics indicate that every year 1.6 million car accidents happen because drivers are distracted, and during 2015 alone, 3,477 fatalities occurred due to distracted driving in the United States. A recent survey among U. S. drivers indicates that 81 percent of them recognize the dangers of texting as a driver, but at the same time approximately 50 percent admit to texting while driving as recently as the last 30 days. It is particularly young drivers who are the most at risk, as they have grown up with the technology. Illinois traffic officials, in conjunction with the American Automobile Association, are planning to create awareness of the dangers involved with using a phone while driving by stigmatizing the habit, education and enforcing the law.