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As the weather warms up in Illinois, many people are preparing for summer and making plans to spend more time outdoors. For many, summer activities include bicycling. However, bicyclists will often need to spend time on the road, and riding near large and fast-moving vehicles can sometimes be dangerous. When drivers fail to follow the correct traffic laws or do not act safely when driving near bicyclists, dangerous bicycle accidents can occur. By understanding the laws that apply to motor vehicles and bicycles, bicyclists can determine when these accidents were caused by driver negligence, and they may be able to
Continue Reading 7 Steps Drivers Should Take to Prevent Bicycle Accidents

Many people do not realize that being arrested for driving under the influence carries an immediate administrative penalty. Even if a person is not convicted of drunk driving, he or she may still be subject to a statutory summary suspension. The suspension period is six months if the person failed a chemical blood alcohol content (BAC) test and 12 months if the person refused to take a BAC test.

Conviction for driving under the influence results in a driver’s license revocation of one year for a first-time offense. If your license was suspended or revoked, you may not drive any
Continue Reading I Lost My License for Drunk Driving. Now What?

Anyone who has ever suffered a back injury knows just how painful these injuries can be. When a work-related incident leads to a back injury, the worker can be left with limited capabilities. Some back injury sufferers are unable to work at all. Back pain is the leading cause of disability across the globe.
Auto accidents, strenuous activities, and repetitive stress are just some of the ways workers can suffer neck and back injuries while on the job. The results of a serious back injury can affect an individual’s life professionally, financially, physically, and psychologically.
Work Accidents and Repetitive Strain
Continue Reading Surprising Ways a Work-Related Back Injury Can Affect Your Life

Divorcing spouses may reach an out-of-court settlement regarding divorce issues like property division or the case may go to litigation. Regardless, the spouses will need to divulge detailed financial information about their income, assets, and debts. Without this information, it is impossible to make an informed decision about financial issues during divorce. Lying about financial information on a financial affidavit is against the law, but unfortunately, some spouses do it anyway.
If you are getting divorced, it is important to be on the lookout for signs of financial deception. Failing to disclose full, accurate financial information can significantly impact
Continue Reading 5 Signs of Hidden Assets in a Divorce Case

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that a person dies in a drunk driving crash every 52 minutes on average. It is estimated that approximately one-third of car accidents involve a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Most people know about the dangers of drunk driving but do not truly grasp the severity of the problem until drunk driving directly touches their own lives.
If you were seriously injured or your loved one was killed in a drunk driving accident, these numbers are no longer mere statistics. You know firsthand just how devastating a drunk driving crash
Continue Reading How Can a Civil Claim Benefit Me After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Whether it is a divorce, child custody dispute, paternity case, or another family law issue, children certainly complicate legal matters. Parents, grandparents, and other guardians want what is best for the children. When parties disagree about what is best for kids, the issue can escalate into a full-blown legal battle.
Best Interests Factors in Illinois Law
When a legal dispute involves children, the court seeks to determine the case outcome that serves the child’s best interests. Of course, understanding what is in the child’s best interests is not always easy. When evaluating child-related cases, the court will consider the
Continue Reading Understanding the "Best Interests" Standard in Illinois Family Law Cases

Everyone has experienced the sensation of fatigue or sleepiness. Your eyelids feel heavy, and your vision becomes blurry. It is hard to think clearly, and all you want is to take a nap.
Driving a car under these circumstances is extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, many people do so anyway. Drowsy driving is estimated to cause approximately 100,000 traffic accidents every year, resulting in 50,000 injuries and 800 fatalities annually.
If you were injured or a loved one was killed in an accident caused by a drowsy driver, you may be able to take legal action against the liable party. You may
Continue Reading Sleepiness Behind the Wheel Can Cause Catastrophic and Fatal Accidents

Co-parenting children with an ex-spouse can be challenging and frustrating. However, it is also an opportunity for a fresh start. If you are a parent who is recently divorced or plans to divorce soon, you may already be thinking ahead to the summer. When children are out of school on summer vacation, schedules and routines that were established during the school year can fall apart. Understandably, this can make managing a two-household family a bit more difficult for everyone involved.  
There is no way to completely eliminate the stress that comes with co-parenting after divorce, but the following tips may
Continue Reading 5 Tips for Newly Divorced Parents This Summer

Work injuries can happen to anyone in any industry. Occupational illnesses can develop due to unsafe work environments or chronic exposure to toxins. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, and other repetitive strain injuries can be caused by repetitive activities at work. Sudden accidents like falling or being struck by an object can lead to traumatic brain injuries, neck and back injuries, broken bones, and other painful injuries.

If you or a loved one were injured or fell ill because of your job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Unfortunately, getting compensation for medical expenses and lost income
Continue Reading What Injured Workers Should Know About Utilization Reviews in Illinois Workers’ Compensation Cases

Protection orders and restraining orders are court orders often used to protect domestic violence victims from further mistreatment. The state of Illinois takes accusations of abuse, stalking, and harassment very seriously. Individuals who are worried for their own safety or the safety of their children may be able to get an Emergency Order of Protection (EOP) on the same day on which it is requested.

Unfortunately, many people hesitate to seek protection through an EOP because they do not know how protection orders work or the benefits an order can provide. Read on to learn answers to the most frequently
Continue Reading Answering Your Questions About Emergency Orders of Protection in Illinois

Most people drive on a daily basis. Losing your driving privileges can be a huge inconvenience. Many people subject to driver’s license revocations and suspensions are worried that their inability to drive will interfere with work and family responsibilities.
However, driving any vehicle is unlawful when your license is suspended or revoked. Driving on a suspended or revoked license can lead to criminal charges and significant penalties.
Understanding Driver’s License Suspensions and Revocations
An individual’s driver’s license may be suspended if he or she is arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) or receives three or more moving violations in
Continue Reading What Happens If I Drive While My License is Suspended or Revoked?

Construction workers have an incredibly important and incredibly dangerous job. Building and repairing structures and roads often requires workers to use dangerous equipment, climb to great heights, or work in deep trenches. Safety precautions can prevent most accidents, but construction site injuries and deaths can still occur. In fact, about 20 percent of worker fatalities in the United States occur in the construction industry.  
If you were injured while working in construction, it is important to understand your rights. You may be entitled to compensation for your lost income and medical bills. Depending on the circumstances of the injury, you
Continue Reading Construction Site Accidents: What Are Your Rights as an Injured Worker?

Many people assume that they will be granted a more favorable divorce settlement if their spouse cheated on them or they were otherwise wronged by their soon-to-be-ex. However, Illinois is a no-fault divorce state. Divorcing spouses do not need to show proof of marital misconduct like infidelity or mental cruelty to be granted a divorce. In most cases, the reason that the marriage is ending does not matter to Illinois courts. That being said, reckless or wasteful financial decisions during the marriage can impact the outcome of the divorce.
How Illinois Courts Divide Property
Divorcing couples in Illinois may be
Continue Reading Marital Misconduct and Property Division in Your Illinois Divorce

Commercial truck crashes often cause devastating damage to property and human life. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident involving a semi-truck or other large commercial truck, you may be looking for answers. Understandably, many victims of motor vehicle accidents want someone to blame. They want the at-fault party to be held accountable for the destruction they have caused. However, determining who is at-fault for a truck crash is often complex. A skilled truck accident lawyer can evaluate the evidence, determine the liable party or parties, and help you bring a claim for damages.
Fault for
Continue Reading Determining the Liable Party in a Commercial Truck Crash

Many people have heard the term “plea bargain” but do not know exactly what it means in the context of an Illinois criminal case. Whether you or a loved one are facing charges for driving under the influence, aggravated DUI, or another similar offense, it is important to understand what a plea bargain is and the advantages and disadvantages associated with plea bargains. There is no one-size-fits all strategy that works for DUI charges. The best way to explore your legal options after a DUI arrest is to speak with an experienced, knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer.
What Exactly is
Continue Reading How Do Plea Bargains Work in an Illinois DUI Case?

Did you know that the divorce rate for individuals over age 50 has more than doubled in the last few decades? Older couples divorce for many reasons. Some end their marriage because of infidelity or abuse. Others simply grow apart. Whatever your reasons for getting divorced, you should know that “gray divorce” is often more complex than typical divorce cases.
Valuing and Dividing Retirement Assets
One of the most important issues in a gray divorce is retirement. Money that spouses have put away for retirement is usually considered during asset division in a divorce case. Funds that were acquired
Continue Reading Three Unique Challenges in a Divorce After Age 50