Bicycles are a fun and efficient way to get from one place to another, but they can be dangerous when sharing the road with regular-sized motor vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicyclists are more likely to be injured in a bicycle accident than the occupants of a vehicle. Since bicycle accident injuries can be serious and lead to permanent disability or death, it’s important to look at ways to address and prevent those injuries.

Throughout Illinois, in cities and rural areas, individuals have taken to riding bicycles to get around in a more healthy, cost-effective, and ecofriendly way.  While many drivers have grown accustomed to sharing the roads with bicyclists, accidents between motor vehicles and bicycles still happen. These bicycle accidents are especially dangerous for cyclists because they are more exposed on a bike, and their bodies usually take the force of the blow from the vehicle.

The National High Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2017, 26 pedalcyclists were killed in traffic accidents in Illinois. Under Illinois law, drivers in the state are responsible for rendering aid to injured cyclists after an accident occurs. This is due to the fact that motor vehicles and bicycles can cause such serious injuries to any cyclists.

Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP recently donated to two food pantries in Illinois. With winter on the way and the holidays rapidly approaching, the food pantries that provide food assistance to local families can use these donations to help them serve those in need.

In a recent ruling, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that an employee’s injuries from everyday activities, like bending, kneeling, and reaching, are compensable under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. This, however, will only be the case if the employee is reasonably expected to perform those actions incidental to their assigned duties.

The decision came after Kevin McAllister, the claimant, injured his right knee while he was working as a sous-chef at a restaurant in Illinois. His job duties included checking in orders, arranging the walk-in cooler, and preparing and cooking food.

On Friday, September 25th, part of Interstate 80 in LaSalle County just west of Ottawa was shut down due to a fiery crash involving six different vehicles. The crash happened just four miles west of Ottawa at 9:24 a.m. According to Illinois State Police and the LaSalle County Coroner, two individuals passed away and several others were injured. The deceased victims– a 47-year-old LaSalle woman and a 43-year-old Joliet man– were in two different vehicles. Three other drivers were injured and brought to local hospitals. One of those driver’s injuries are life-threatening.

Four of the vehicles, including a box truck, an SUV, and a van, were found fully engulfed in flames. Reports say that one of the vehicles was transporting batteries, which exploded when two other vehicles caught fire. Firefighters and paramedics were quick to get to the scene and treat injured victims and extinguish the fires. The State Police say that the collision occurred in an area where traffic was already slowed due to a nearby construction zone.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the country has been unprecedented. There have been so many changes to our everyday lives. One of the biggest changes is how we communicate. With the rise of social distancing and remaining at home when possible, many in-person interactions we used to have daily may not be happening at all.

This has especially affected those who live in care communities. While the physical separation can be difficult, there are virtual options for residents in these communities to stay in touch with their loved ones. Operation Smart TV is providing this opportunity for the residents of LaSalle Veterans’ Home.

Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP is a personal injury law firm in Peru, IL. We’re proud to be part of this community and support it whenever we can. We’re sponsoring Hometown National Bank’s Hometown Hero Sweepstakes to help show our appreciation for those who do so much for our community.

If you or a loved one took Zantac medication for heartburn or other issues that impact stomach acid conditions, you may have heard about the recent recall of the medication. Learning that a medication you’ve been taking has been recalled can be scary and a little bit confusing. You or a loved one may also have recently been diagnosed with cancer. While there are many reasons why cancer may develop, if you have taken Zantac for an extended amount of time, it’s possible that your diagnosis was caused by Zantac.

Renters insurance secures tenants’ families, assets, property, and futures. However, it’s estimated that less than 50 percent of tenants in Illinois have renters insurance. Because of this, a number of people run into legal problems every year when their property is damaged or when someone is hurt at their house or apartment.

If you rent in Illinois and do not have insurance, it’s important to understand what renters insurance covers and why it’s important to have the coverage in the event of an accident.

In today’s world, posting on social media about major events in your life has become second nature to many individuals. It’s only natural that after you’ve sustained an unexpected injury, you may feel inclined to write a post, and maybe even include pictures, to alert your friends, family, and followers about your misfortune and reassure everybody that you’re okay. You might even feel tempted to talk about how the accident happened and try to assign blame—especially if the accident was caused by another person.

Making the decision to post any information about an injury that you may be considering filing a personal injury claim for is a decision that can potentially harm your claim more than help it—especially when your emotions may be running high soon after the incident occurred. There are many reasons why this is the case. Let’s take a look at some of them.