The 2022 DUI Fact Book from the Illinois Secretary of State establishes that there were 20,131 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests in 2020, and the 254 people killed in alcohol-related crashes represented 21 percent of the 1,195 total crash fatalities. There is little doubt that drunk driving accidents not only have the potential to cause serious injuries, but people often die in these collisions.
Both people who suffer injuries and family members who lose loved ones are entitled to seek compensation from drunk drivers in these cases. The Fact Book also noted that 86 percent of people arrested for…
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When Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field on January 2, it was an alarming reminder of the need for people who can help oversee important medical decisions when a person becomes unable to care for themselves. A power of attorney is a powerful legal document that designates an agent to perform specified actions, including making health care decisions.
The Illinois Power of Attorney Act became law as 755 Illinois Compiled Statute (ILCS) 45/ and provides that the requirements for a power of attorney are an agent being designated with a written description of their…
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As the weather turns to snow during the winter months, there is bound to be an increase in the number of wet floors in establishments all over Illinois. Business owners need to take steps to ensure that their guests are not at risk of slipping and falling. Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common kinds of personal injury claims in the United States. Individuals who are hurt in slip and fall accidents may seek financial compensation for damages such as medical expenses and lost income.
When a person slips or trips and falls in a public place…
Continue Reading Slip and Fall Season in Chicago Area 

Illinois has seen a flurry of news stories about pedestrian accidents recently that have alarmed many people who walk to and from destinations. This fall, a 43-year-old Aurora woman was flown to the hospital after being hit by the passenger side mirror of a passing truck. A 47-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a car while attempting to cross Algonquin Road in Lake in the Hills. On November 4, a 16-year-old student was taken to Lutheran General Hospital with possible head injuries was struck by a car Friday at the intersection of Dundee Road and Arlington Heights Road.
Continue Reading Can I File an Injury Claim for a Pedestrian Accident? 

As the weather in Illinois starts to get colder, people can be of the belief that construction projects will be on hiatus until summer arrives again. Nothing could be further from the truth as many construction workers will be battling the elements and still trying to complete a variety of jobs.
When any person is involved in a construction accident in the greater Barrington area of Illinois, it is always important to quickly retain legal counsel for help having a proper investigation into the accident performed. While most workers cannot sue their employers, supervisors, or co-workers for construction site injuries,…
Continue Reading Common Kinds of Construction Accidents in the Winter

Creating a will can be a complicated legal task. The process for executing a will is not nearly as simple as having the executor place his wishes regarding the disposition of his future estate property in writing and sign it. There is a legally-proscribed method for executing a legally effective will. The rules regarding how a will is to be executed are often interpreted quite strictly. A single deficiency in the execution procedure could lead to the entire will being held as invalid and set aside, forcing an estate into the intestacy process. To ensure that all formalities required for…
Continue Reading How is a Will Executed According to Illinois State Law?

Most people think of estate planning as deciding what happens to your belongings after you pass away. While this type of planning, called testamentary planning, is a very important part of estate planning, there is much more to it than that. A thorough, comprehensive estate plan also includes planning for potential future incapacity. People are living very long lives these days, and the fact is that many of us will one day reach a point where we can no longer make important decisions for ourselves, including medical decisions. By using a living will combined with powers of attorney, you…
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Distracted driving is responsible for on average, over 3,000 fatalities each year nationwide. These are some of the most preventable traffic deaths – all drivers must do to avoid these serious car accidents is to pay attention to the road. One of the most important duties drivers have is to remain aware of what is going on around them. Drivers who are simply not watching the road can find themselves causing a major wreck very, very quickly. Cell phones are one of the most common distractions. Countless public awareness campaigns regarding cell phone use while driving have likely had some…
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Probate is not a quick and easy legal proceeding. It can take time, money, and a lot of patience to get through. It can also take significant legal skills if there are difficulties at any point in the process. When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, probate may be the absolute last thing you want to deal with. The added stress of trying to handle a complex legal procedure alone can be overwhelming. There are parts of probate that may be frustrating or confusing. There are a lot of parties who need to be notified, and there…
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Most of the time, getting hurt in a car accident is a temporary problem. While being injured b a negligent driver can be deeply upsetting and physically painful, odds are, your life will eventually go back to normal. However, in the most severe cases, a car accident can be permanently life-altering. Not all injuries can be fully healed. Some people may find themselves needing help with tasks they used to be able to perform independently. Others will have to change career paths or miss out on achieving other goals they had. The one saving grace in this type of situation…
Continue Reading 4 Ways a Car Accident Can Change Your Life

When an injury from a car accident disrupts your life, the costs can add up quickly. It is not just the obvious out-of-pocket expenses like the medical bills from the day of the accident and the cost of your vehicle. Often, the true cost of a car crash cannot be accurately calculated until weeks or even months later. Some car accident victims ultimately have to change career paths, require ongoing medical treatment, or otherwise suffer hidden economic losses. This is one of the reasons that accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company too quickly and without consulting an attorney…
Continue Reading What Costs Could I be Compensated for After a Car Accident?

The fact is that most people who live to a certain age are likely to experience age-related mental incapacity. Alzheimer’s, dementia, and the natural effects of aging can lead you to become confused, disoriented, and unable to make important decisions or manage your own affairs. Someone else will have to step in and start making medical and personal decisions, as well as managing your finances. If no incapacity planning has been done, the most likely solution is court-ordered guardianship. Guardianship proceedings are public and can be very upsetting to the ward, who has little or no say over who the…
Continue Reading What is Incapacity Planning and Why is it Important?