Synopsis: Strong IL Appellate Court Ruling Outlining Appropriate Analysis of Recovery for IL WC Lien Claimants.Editor’s comment: This is a strong and unanimous statement by this Appellate Court relating to IL WC lien recovery. It is a must-read for anyone handling such matters. From what I can tell, it appears to be an appellate-level fight over approximately $5,000!! In Larsen v. Vaid, a police officer was injured in a 2017 on-duty automobile accident and received workers’ compensation benefits totaling $399,930.16 from IRMA, the Intergovernmental Risk Management Association, her employer’s workers’ compensation administrator. Claimant Vaid later settled her civil action…
Continue Reading July 2026; IL Appellate Court Clarifies Calculation of Litigation Costs in WC Lien Recovery; IL and Chicago Minimum Wage Increases Change Reserves on Wage Diff Claims and more

Finding out that the other driver is blaming you for a car crash you didn’t cause can be infuriating. After everything you’ve already been through, injuries, medical bills, missed work, and the stress of recovery, hearing someone twist the facts can make you wonder if you’ll ever be treated fairly. The good news is that […]
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Agricultural Law Updates for Illinois Farmers and Agribusinesses: July 2026 reviews several recent federal and state developments affecting producers, processors, rural communities, and agricultural businesses. In the July 2026 issue of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Agricultural Law newsletter, Rincker Law attorneys Sam Ellis and Cari Brett Rincker co-authored “Ag Law in the News: July 2026,” an overview of developments involving meat processing, fertilizer costs, agricultural research, rural water infrastructure, farm labor, conservation programs, biofuels, and the Illinois agricultural budget. Cari also serves as editor of the ISBA Agricultural Law newsletter.
Agricultural law is constantly shaped by changes in government…
Continue Reading Agricultural Law Updates for Illinois Farmers and Agribusinesses: July 2026

Rural Lawyer Shortages and Access to Justice: What Illinois Communities Can Learn From National Trends examines a growing challenge facing small towns and rural communities throughout Illinois and across the country. In the July 2026 issue of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Rural Practice newsletter, Rincker Law attorneys Cari Brett Rincker and Sam Ellis co-authored “Rural Law Practice in the News,” an overview of recent efforts to address legal deserts, strengthen rural legal services, and recruit attorneys to underserved communities. Cari also serves as a co-editor of the Rural Practice newsletter.
The developments highlighted in the article show that…
Continue Reading Rural Lawyer Shortages and Access to Justice: What Illinois Communities Can Learn From National Trends

Buses are complete monsters out on the road. They’re huge, make a lot of stops, take on a large number of people, and they make their way down our city streets and blocks without any type of safety restraint. There are no airbags and/or seatbelts on buses. There are a lot of different dangerous scenarios that can occur involving a bus. Accidents can happen often, especially when you consider how much time they spend on the roads. If you are in an accident involving a bus you may need a personal injury lawyer.
Due to their massive size, when…
Continue Reading Common Bus Accidents and Lawsuits

Accident News | Prospect Heights, Ill

A woman has been charged after authorities say she left the scene of a fatal pedestrian crash near Chicago Executive Airport in northwest suburban Prospect Heights. According to Prospect Heights police, officers responded shortly after 9 a.m. on May 3, 2026, to the area near 79 E. Palatine Frontage Road, where they discovered an unconscious man along a fence line near the airport’s public viewing area. Emergency responders pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene. During the investigation, police identified a Chevrolet Silverado as the vehicle involved in the collision and later identified 33-year-old…
Continue Reading Prospect Heights Woman Charged in Fatal Crash Near Chicago Executive Airport

Accident News | Illinois

A fatal two-vehicle crash in Hillside early Thursday morning left one person dead and another injured, prompting an ongoing police investigation. According to Hillside police, the collision occurred at approximately 4:54 a.m. on Mannheim Road near the intersection with Washington Street. Investigators said a Chevrolet Trailblazer traveling southbound collided with a Ford Mustang that was attempting to turn west onto Washington. The 22-year-old driver of the Trailblazer suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The 22-year-old driver of the Mustang was transported to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment of injuries. Authorities continue to investigate…
Continue Reading 1 Killed, 1 Injured in Hillside Crash

Short answer: When another driver pulls out in front of you — from a side street, driveway, parking lot, or by turning left across your path — that driver is usually at fault, because drivers entering or crossing traffic must yield the right of way. But Illinois uses comparative fault, so your own speed and attention can still affect the outcome.

Who has the right of way?
Illinois traffic law requires a driver entering a roadway, crossing an intersection, or turning left to yield to oncoming and through traffic that is close enough to be a hazard. A driver who…
Continue Reading Someone Pulled Out in Front of Me — Who Is at Fault in Illinois?

Short answer: If an unlicensed or no-license driver hit you in Illinois, you still have the right to recover compensation. Their lack of a license does not reduce your claim — the at-fault driver is still responsible. The real challenge is often whether they have insurance, which is where your own coverage can protect you.

Does it matter that the other driver had no license?
For your injury claim, what matters most is who caused the crash, not whether the other driver was licensed. Driving without a valid license is illegal and can support your case, but you still have…
Continue Reading I Was Hit by an Unlicensed Driver in Illinois — What Are My Rights?

Short answer: In Illinois, you are usually not automatically responsible just because you own the car someone else was driving. Your auto insurance typically covers a permissive driver, but your personal liability usually depends on whether you were negligent in letting that person drive — for example, lending your car to someone unlicensed, intoxicated, or unfit to drive.

Does Illinois make the car owner automatically liable?

No. Illinois does not have a general law that makes a vehicle owner automatically responsible for every accident caused by someone they let borrow their car. Fault normally follows the driver who caused the…
Continue Reading If Someone Else Was Driving My Car and Caused an Accident in Illinois, Am I Liable?

Family harmony after you die depends less on how much you leave behind than on how clearly you explain your plans. Clear estate-planning documents and thoughtful communication can reduce the risk of family conflict after your death. Unequal inheritances, outdated documents, and unclear instructions often lead to disputes between siblings, stepchildren, and surviving spouses.
A Yorkville, IL estate planning attorney can walk you through the tools available in 2026 to build an estate plan that limits confusion and lowers the odds that grief turns into a legal battle.
How Can Illinois Families Avoid Fighting Over an Inheritance?
Many estate disputes…
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Divorce affects many American families each year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the national divorce rate for women was 7.1 per 1,000 women in 2022. Even after a divorce is final, disputes can continue when a former spouse refuses to follow the property or payment terms in the decree.
If a former spouse is not complying with a divorce decree in 2026, a Grapevine, TX high-asset divorce attorney can explain how enforcement works and the available legal options.
What Counts as a Violation of a Texas Divorce Decree?
A violation may occur when a former spouse fails to…
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When someone has been injured in a car accident, their world can change in an instant. They’re overwhelmed with medical appointments, insurance adjusters, lost wages, and uncertainty about the future. Choosing an attorney isn’t just another business decision—it’s a deeply personal one.
So what makes someone choose one law firm over another?
That question was the focus of a recent conversation between Disparti Law founder Larry Disparti and nationally recognized attorney Mike Morse on the Fireproof Podcast. During the discussion, Larry shared insights into building one of Chicago’s most recognized personal injury law firms and why true success has…
Continue Reading The Power of a Law Firm Brand: Why Trust Matters Long Before an Accident Happens

Losing a family member because of someone else’s carelessness brings an overwhelming amount to deal with, and the legal side of it often gets confusing fast. Illinois actually recognizes two distinct types of claims after a death like this, and understanding the difference matters for what a family can ultimately recover.
The Survival Act Covers What The Person Experienced
Illinois’ Survival Act allows the deceased person’s estate to pursue the claims that person could have brought had they lived. This includes medical expenses from the time between the injury and death, lost income during that same period, and compensation for…
Continue Reading Two Claims Families Can Pursue Together

Chicago has one of the largest automated traffic enforcement networks in the country, and that footage does more than generate tickets. When a crash happens near a monitored intersection, camera footage can become one of the clearest pieces of evidence available for figuring out who was actually at fault.
Why Chicago Relies So Heavily On Camera Enforcement
The city places red light and speed cameras at intersections based on crash history, prioritizing locations with a high rate of dangerous angle crashes. According to the city’s own red light camera enforcement program page, cameras at these intersections have been associated…
Continue Reading How Traffic Cameras Shape Fault Findings

As the summer continues in Chicago, so does the music festivals that have become a big part of the city’s culture.  While it’s an event that’s meant to be enjoyed by those locally or visiting from out of town, it’s also important for attendees to do what they can to remain safe.  That’s where Attorney Howard Ankin of Ankin Law comes in.  As someone who has practiced injury law in Chicago for over three decades – and has attended a number of festivals on his own – Howard knows a few things that people can do to keep themselves safe. …
Continue Reading Attorney Howard Ankin’s Tips for Staying Safe at Music Festivals