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 may also be able to pursue a third-party claim and seek further damages.

Injuries From Construction Accidents

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established strict safety regulations for the construction industry. Unfortunately, these standards are not always followed. Mistakes and carelessness can lead to preventable accidents in which workers and bystanders are severely injured.

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 a Truck Accident is Often Complicated

Many factors can lead to a serious truck accident. In some cases, multiple parties’ actions lead to the crash. Fault for a truck crash may lie with:

• The truck driver – Operating a massive semi-tuck or flatbed is no easy task. It takes skill and attention to drive a truck safely. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, texting and driving, falling asleep at the wheel, and negligent driving can lead to a crash.
• The trucking company or carrier – Even if the truck driver’s actions ultimately caused a crash, the driver’s employer may ultimately be liable for damages in a truck accident case. The trucking company may also be liable if the company was negligent in the hiring or training of drivers.
• The truck’s owner – The party who owns the truck may be liable if inadequate maintenance or other issues with the truck caused the accident.
• The party who loaded cargo – Commercial trucks are often used to haul freight or cargo. If a truck is not loaded properly, freight can cause the vehicle to be off balance and hard to control. Cargo may shift around in the truck or even fall off of the truck, causing a deadly hazard on the road.
• An auto parts manufacturer or designer – Defects in a commercial truck’s braking system, steering system, hydraulics, tires, or other components can cause an accident. The party that designed, manufactured, or sold the defective parts may be fully or partially liable for a truck crash.
• Other motorists on the road – Sometimes a truck crash is fully or partially caused by another motorist. For example, a truck driver may need to slam on the brakes or swerve out of the way because of another driver’s reckless driving.

Contact a McHenry County Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one were involved in a serious truck accident, contact Botto Gilbert Lancaster, PC for help. Our Crystal Lake personal injury attorneys can gather and preserve evidence, determine the liable party, and help you seek financial compensation for your damages. Call our office today at 815-338-3838 for a free, confidential consultation.

Whether you lost your spouse, parent, child, sibling, or another family member, a death in the family is always tragic. The heartbreak is even more profound when a loved one’s death is preventable.

Illinois law allows surviving loved ones to file a civil claim for deaths caused by another party’s reckless or wrongful actions. A wrongful death claim cannot bring a deceased person back, but it may provide the restitution the surviving family needs and deserves.

When Can You Sue for Wrongful Death in Illinois?

Each state handles wrongful death actions slightly differently. In Illinois, the victim’s spouse or next of kin may seek restitution through a wrongful death claim. A “wrongful death” is one that is caused by another party’s actions – whether those actions were intentional or unintentional. The at-fault party may be an individual or an entity such as a business.

Car accidents can have serious consequences, especially when the person who caused the accident was driving drunk. Physical injury, emotional trauma, vehicle damage, and long-term medical care are all too common after a bad drunk driving incident. Although the drunk driver is often the person facing a lawsuit, the bar at which the driver got drunk may, under certain circumstances, also be held responsible for the accident. If you have suffered personal injury in a car crash caused by someone driving under the influence, read on. 

What is Illinois’ Dram Shop Act? 

All states have laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors, or so-called “dram shop” laws. Most states, including Illinois, combine these laws with statutes that allow bars, restaurants, and other establishments that serve and sell alcohol to an intoxicated person to be held liable for injuries caused by that person’s actions when they exit the premises. 

Each state’s dram shop law is slightly different. In Illinois, the Liquor Control Act or “Dram Shop Act” allows commercial vendors to be held liable for damages or injuries caused by a drunk driver so long as the following criteria are met: 

Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists often have to share the same roads. When motorists fail to obey traffic laws and pay attention to their surroundings, they may collide with pedestrians or cyclists causing catastrophic accidents. A human body is no match for a motor vehicle and pedestrian accident victims are often left with severe, life-changing injuries. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a pedestrian accident, read on to learn about your legal options.

Pedestrian Crashes Caused by Negligent Drivers

Part of being a responsible driver is remaining cautious of other people on the roads. Many pedestrian crashes are caused by distracted driving. Pedestrian accidents may occur because a driver is absorbed in his or her smartphone, looking down at the car’s GPS system, distracted by passengers, or simply daydreaming. Drivers intoxicated by alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications may also present dangers to pedestrians. Speeding, running a red light, or other traffic violations can result in devastating pedestrian injuries as well. If you or a loved one were involved in a pedestrian crash caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Seeking Justice and Reimbursement Through the Insurance Company

Drivers in Illinois must carry car insurance by law. If someone is struck by a car, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is usually the first place they seek compensation. Unfortunately, dealing with the auto insurance company can be confusing and frustrating – especially when recovering from a serious injury. Insurance companies may offer a very low payout or deny the driver’s liability for the accident. If an injured person cannot negotiate a reasonable settlement from the insurance company, the next step may be to file a personal injury lawsuit.