The loss of a loved one is tragic and one of the most challenging things a family can endure. When the death was the result of someone else’s negligent actions and could have been prevented, the situation can be even more difficult to deal with.  In addition to the grief of losing a loved one, there’s also the potential for a family to suffer financially if they depended on the deceased family member’s income. In the State of Illinois, a death that occurs because of the negligence of another can be the basis for a wrongful death claim. If you or someone you love is in a situation like this, it’s important to understand who can file a wrongful death claim and who is entitled to recover damages. While it’s understandable for a family to have reservations about the legal process, it is sometimes the only means of holding those who wrongfully caused a loved one’s death responsible and securing a comfortable future for those who have been left behind.

When you’re driving through a school zone, you may not be aware of the different laws and rules that apply. These laws and rules exist to keep children and those in charge of them safe from accidents. During school drop-off and when class ends for the day, a school zone is a busy area full of excited children, parents and guardians picking up their kids, and buses picking up children who live further away. As a driver, you want to make sure you’re well-versed in the laws and how to drive safely through these areas.

Even though there are mandatory automobile insurance requirements in Illinois, the limits are often insufficient to cover losses sustained by the victim of an automobile collision. Additionally, there are many negligent drivers who are completely uninsured or have an inadequate amount of insurance coverage. If a driver like that is involved in an accident, it can be challenging for the victim to receive full compensation to cover their losses. Fortunately, there are insurance coverage options that can alleviate the problem. There are benefits to carrying uninsured and underinsured coverage in Illinois on your own automobile policy.

As a motorist, you know that you have to share the road with cyclists, but it can be difficult on rural roads. City streets often have bike lanes and more room to allow cyclists to coexist with vehicles.  Rural roads don’t always have as much space for cyclists, and sometimes they don’t even have a shoulder.

When a motorist collides with a cyclist, it can result in catastrophic injuries or cause death.  If you or someone you love has been a victim of a bicycle accident, then you already know how devastating these collisions can be. In order to avoid getting into a wreck with a cyclist, drivers should follow these tips to avoid collisions.

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission has announced an “emergency” amendment under The Rules of Evidence — Section 9030.70(a).  Under the “emergency” amendment a rebuttable presumption has been created for “first responders” and “front-line workers” who are diagnosed with COVID-19 during a COVID-19-related state of emergency.

The rebuttable presumptions include: (a) the exposure will be presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of the COVID-19 First Responder or Front-Line worker’s employment and that (b) the exposure will be presumed to be causally connected to the hazards or exposures of COVID-19 First Responder or Front-Line Worker’s employment.

Distracted driving is more of a problem every day.  It is the cause of most rear-end car accidents. In the United States between 2012 and 2014, almost half of all collisions between two vehicles were rear-end collisions, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.  An astounding eighty seven percent 87% of those accidents were caused by distracted driving.

The range of rear-end accidents vary from a minor accident that you don’t even pull over for to a major accident that causes serious injuries requiring you to be rushed to the hospital.  Whether the rear car’s driver is distracted or speeding to cause the crash, it’s important to know what potential back and neck trauma you could suffer from in a rear-end accident.

As the spread of COVID-19 continues to affect people on a global scale, we have to remember there are those that are putting their lives on the line every day to protect and care for others. For healthcare workers and first responders like paramedics, firemen, and police officers in the line of fire of the virus, there is the potential for these individuals to lose wages and time off of work, medical expenses, and other related losses if they get sick or injured due to new hazards that exist due to the virus.

It has yet to be seen how workers’ compensation cases will be handled when filing for contracting the coronavirus. We are closely monitoring the situation to determine how we can best serve clients during this difficult time. As just one example of a similar situation, today, the Chicago Tribune reported that a Chicago Police Officer contracted COVID-19 and passed away. The Tribute reported that officials are considering his death an on-duty death which would provide his family certain benefits they would otherwise not be entitled to. This ruling may provide some insight on how workers’ compensation claims may be handled.

Our clients are very important to us. Therefore, we are taking the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing suggested by the CDC seriously. While our office remains open, we are encouraging our clients to communicate with us via telephone, email, fax or text rather than coming to the office. In order to assure that our office continues to function appropriately to give our clients continued service, each of our lawyers and staff have the capability to work remotely and will make arrangements for paperwork to be exchanged as efficiently as possible.

We encourage everyone to protect themselves, their loved ones and those who are most vulnerable. The best way to prevent the spread of this illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus by avoiding contact with individuals who are sick or who may have been exposed to the virus. You can also protect yourself by washing your hands and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. For more information from the CDC on how to protect yourself, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP was recently nominated in the service category for the ‘Best of North Central Illinois’ business awards. We’re proud to announce that the votes are in, and our firm was voted as the winner in the personal injury law firm category. The voters were North Central Illinois citizens. We are honored to receive this recognition from our community. We will continue to maintain our strong work ethic and when fighting for justice for injured Illinois citizens.

Our lawyers are dedicated to providing trusted and reliable legal services to those who have been wrongfully injured. We believe that anyone who is injured has the right to be made whole again and to be treated with dignity and respect. That principle drives our lawyers to work hard every day to look out for and serve our clients’ interests in the best manner possible. For decades, we have been standing up for the rights of hard working people in North Central Illinois. Legal matters can get complex. We are here to explain and answer any questions our clients have about their potential claims.

Determining what to do immediately following a traffic accident can seem overwhelming. You may be suffering from a variety of injuries and not know what to do. After you’ve called 911 and received emergency medical attention, you’ll need to make sure that an official police report has been prepared.

If you decide to go forward with the help of a car accident attorney, they will take the necessary steps to  gather evidence and build a case so that you can get the compensation you deserve if you have been wrongfully injured.. While they will handle tracking down the majority of the evidence needed to support your claim, it’s good to know how to obtain a police report after a collision in Illinois. It’s likely both your lawyer and the insurance company will need the information recorded by the police officer at the time of the crash. The process is different for every state, and understanding how it works in your area can speed up the litigation process.