Staying at the accident scene is not only the ethical thing to do after a crash but it is also required by Illinois law. Unfortunately, people who cause an accident sometimes speed away in hopes of avoiding accountability for their actions. Even more unfortunately, some of these hit-and-run drivers get away with it. 

If you were injured in a hit-and-run car accident, you may be lost, confused, and unsure of what to do. You may wonder whether you can file an insurance claim considering the other driver is nowhere to be found, and you do not have their contact information. In this blog, we will discuss your legal options for recovering compensation for medical bills and other damages caused in a hit-and-run accident.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

The police are not always able to catch hit-and-run drivers. However, you may still be able to file an insurance claim and pursue financial compensation even if the at-fault driver is never apprehended.

Originally Published July 28, 2021 ---------- Updated May 19, 2023

Earlier this year, the Chicago Board of Education Inspector General reported that nearly 500 sexual abuse allegations were brought against Chicago public school employees in 2022. Sadly, this number reflects only a portion of the sexual abuse reports brought against teachers, religious authorities, childcare workers, medical providers, and other individuals in positions of authority.

Anyone who has experienced sexual abuse can attest to the fact that it changes your life forever. The psychological impact of the abuse lasts long after any physical injuries heal.

Choosing a nursing home is a difficult decision for many families. Selecting a facility that can provide the necessary care and support for your loved one is important. Unfortunately, nursing home negligence can occur, putting residents at risk for serious injury or harm. It is essential to understand the signs of nursing home negligence to ensure you can alert a personal injury attorney of what is going on and work with the attorney to ensure those responsible for the negligence are held accountable and that those who are being neglected can receive the care they need and deserve.

Look Out for These Signs of Nursing Home Negligence

One of the most common signs of nursing home negligence is unexplained injuries or bruises. If your loved one has unexplained injuries or bruises, it could be a sign of mistreatment or neglect. This can include physical abuse or neglect, such as failing to provide necessary medications or treatments.

Another sign of nursing home negligence is poor personal hygiene. If your loved one is not being bathed regularly, is wearing dirty clothes, or has an unpleasant odor, it could be a sign that they are not receiving adequate care or attention. Poor personal hygiene can also lead to serious health problems, such as infections or bedsores.

When someone experiences sexual abuse, life as they knew it is irrevocably changed forever. The statistics of sexual abuse in the United States are straight-up horrifying. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women will have experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime, while 24.8 percent of men will have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. Sexual abuse and its debilitating aftereffects can take on many forms. Sufferers may experience physical, mental, emotional, and psychological anguish related to their abuse.

What can sufferers do to help ensure their abusers are held responsible for the pain and suffering they have caused? Fortunately, those who have experienced sexual abuse have legal options at their disposal so that the individual who sexually abused them can be held responsible for the actions. This blog will discuss how those who have experienced sexual abuse may pursue a personal injury claim against their abuser. If you have suffered from sexual abuse, consider contacting an experienced sexual abuse injury lawyer who can ensure your rights remain protected and respected while working towards holding your abuser accountable for their heinous actions.

Holding the Responsible Party Accountable

It is essential to specify that personal injury cases are a form of civil law. In the context of filing a personal injury claim against someone who sexually abused you, since the situation is a part of civil law and not criminal law, the burden of proof is different than in a criminal case. In civil law, the burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, a lower standard than in criminal law, where the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. In addition, in Illinois, the statute of limitations with personal injury claims is two years, meaning you will have two years from the incident to pursue compensation against the at-fault party.

Auto accidents can result in all sorts of injuries, many of which are severe. One prime example is a herniated disk. While they are not one of the more commonly thought of spinal injuries, herniated disks can still have a significant impact on the lives of those injured in car crashes. If you have suffered a herniated disk in a car crash, a qualified personal injury attorney can help you understand the compensation you may be owed.

What is a Herniated Disk?

Between each of the vertebrae of your spine, there are small, donut-like disks. On the outside, they are thick and tough. On the inside, there is a soft, jelly-like substance. A herniated disk is one in which that jelly-like substance seeps through a tear in the exterior portion of the disk. This seeping can irritate nearby nerves, which may cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs. It can also result in further degradation of the disk, which, over time, can lead to friction between the spine’s vertebrae.

Symptoms of a Herniated Disk

Herniated disks can result in a range of symptoms, but most are related to numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in the legs and arms. While these symptoms may not indicate a severe problem, it is still important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing them. Any problems related to bowel and bladder dysfunction, pain in the neck, worsening symptoms, or progressive loss of sensation in the buttocks and upper legs—also known as saddle anesthesia—should be treated as an emergency.