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Truck accidents are one of the most dangerous auto accidents a person can be involved in. This is because commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which can easily cause devastation. People in passenger cars and motorcycles are the most at risk during a truck accident. During 2017, nearly 5,000 people were killed in truck accidents, and only 18% of those deaths were occupants of a truck.
When someone is involved in a truck accident more questions arise than answers. Many variables can contribute to any auto accident, but what makes truck accidents unique is that a company is behind a truck instead of another private party. A truck driver on the road is at work, and are required to follow rules like any other workplace. When these rules are broken by either the truck driver or the supporting company, the consequences are large. A victim of a truck accident may have these questions following the incident.
Companies design products not only for profit but for our benefit. However, sometimes these products fail and cause harm or death to consumers. A product can harm a person because of a manufacturing defect, a poor design, or from an inadequate warning. A defective product may not necessarily cause serious harm or death, but when consumers suffer it is the responsibility of companies to be held liable after the fact.
The important part about a product liability case is proving that something was wrong with the product and that an injury occurred. How a product is used when the injury occurred is also important. For example, if a consumer was tampering with the electronics of a product, they would not likely have a liability claim of they were electrocuted and hospitalized. Getting compensation after a faulty product affects a person's life can cover medical expenses and time away from work. If someone dies from a fault product then their family may be eligible for compensation instead. The following are deaths caused by negligent defects.
In an ideal world, we could take care of our loved ones as they get older. However, the children of elderly parents often have children of their own, and lives to maintain. Some elderly people require around the clock care, and unless a loved one volunteers to be a caregiver, they are left in the care of others. We trust healthcare providers to care for loved ones as they end their lives, but what happens when nursing home neglect is suspected?
Elders can be vulnerable due to their mental or physical abilities. The World Health Organization estimates 1 in 6 elders face some form of abuse. Even family members can participate in elder abuse, but a shocking 2 out of 3 elder focused healthcare workers admit to having abused a person in their care. Abuse can contribute to a faster deterioration of health, so family members need to recognize the signs of various nursing home neglect.
Premise accidents can happen anywhere. From a friends’ home to the grocery store, if a person is injured while on the property of another, they can file for a personal injury claim. The most common premise accidents are slips and falls, but a person may also have a case after a dog bite, fire, or swimming pool injury. There are many reasons why a person may fall, but the key to a personal injury lawsuit is proving negligence.
Although a property owner may not purposely cause harm to a person, if an accident could have been prevented, they may be considered negligent. Negligence is having the opportunity to fix an issue, such as a broken stair, but not following through. If a property owner is aware of an issue, they have the minimum obligation to put a warning up. For example, a wet floor sign is considered an adequate warning if surfaces are slippery inside a store after a rainstorm. If a person falls due to a medical condition, such as fainting, they would not likely be able to sue the property owner because there was no negligence involved on their part.
After any serious accident is a time of uncertainty. Luckily after an accident that happened at work, there are protections to alleviate some of the anxiety a serious injury can cause. It is a person’s legal right to file for workers’ compensation after a work accident, and certain benefits will be available based on the severity of the injury.
With a personal injury case, such as a car accident, to receive compensation for damages a person must sue the other involved party. With a workers’ compensation laws, an employee cannot sue an employer for an injury obtained while on the job. Instead, the employee will file for workers’ compensation. All employers are required to have workers' compensation insurance if an employee gets hurt. Workers’ compensation provides benefits such as pay for missed wages and medical care after a workplace injury.
For people who do not own a car or have limited access to public transportation, getting around can be challenging. Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft created a more reliable and transparent service available at our fingertips. Taxis are more prevalent in large cities, but with rideshare companies, a car will come right to you, and the distribution is growing rapidly. Rideshare companies allow drivers flexible income, but what happens when one of those drivers gets into an accident?
In most states, not having car liability insurance is against the law, but it is a requirement for all rideshare drivers. A personal insurance plan may not cover work as a driver, so Uber provides their drivers with additional coverage. This additional coverage only applies when a driver is actively working and the app is on - otherwise the driver’s insurance will cover them. If a driver’s coverage does not cover driving for rideshare, then Uber provides the following when a driver is waiting for a request:
No one expects to get into an accident with a truck. If anything, most drivers are extra cautious around such vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds in the United States. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, nearly 5,000 trucks were involved in fatal accidents in 2017. No matter the safety precautions other drivers take, they can still fall victim to poorly maintained fleets or exhausted drivers.
When it comes to truck accidents, it is drivers in passenger cars that are most at risk. Trucks are large and heavy, so while they could crush a small car, they keep the truck driver relatively safer. An accident with a truck can result in life-altering injuries for anyone involved. This can prevent a victim from returning to work and racking up medical bills, creating many uncertainties. Luckily, contacting a personal injury attorney can assist you after an accident to receive compensation for the accident.
A parent must care for and protect their child. However, what happens when a child is injured or dies due to the negligence of a doctor? We trust doctors to know what is in the best interest of our health, so it can be a difficult time when a child is endangered from a trust we put in a practitioner or hospital. When negligence is involved, it is possible to sue a medical professional for malpractice to collect compensation for pain and suffering.
Doctors agree to administer a certain standard of care across the board, but when those standards are not met, it is the patient that suffers. It is understood that doctors may not get a diagnosis or care right the first time, but it is when omission or negligence is involved that a patient may have a case for medical malpractice.
For an able-bodied person full-time in the workforce, becoming disabled may be an uncomfortable thought. Although many disabled people live happy and healthy lives, becoming disabled is an adjustment. In some cases, a newly disabled person may need modifications to their home, lifestyle, and working conditions. Luckily if an accident or incident that caused a permanent disability occurred at work, employees have certain protections under workers’ compensation.
When an employer in Illinois starts a business, they are most likely required to have a workers' compensation insurance for their employees. No matter how small a business is, or how many employees they have, it is required by law. This insurance protects workers in the event of an injury that prevents them from working long or short term. When a claim is accepted, workers’ compensation covers lost wages from time away from work and medical expenses.
Although auto insurance is required by law, when you consistently make on-time payments, you expect your insurance company to assist you after an accident. However, even though you may pay an insurance company, your claim is not guaranteed to be accepted. After a car accident, many things can give a person involved fear and uncertainty, and having a claim denied can provide additional stress during this tough time.
The requirements for filing a claim can be met as soon as the car accident happens. After the accident, calling 911 and filing a police report will be crucial to filing a claim with your insurance company. This acts as an official report about the accident. When filing a claim, you will also need the contact information from the other parties involved. You can call your insurance company as soon as being on the side of the road, waiting for police assistance. If you are insured, your insurance company may be able to assist right away if you are not able to use your car after an accident.
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2114 Deerpath Road, Aurora, IL 60506 630-907-0909
