Last updated 6 months ago
Even when driving responsibly, accidents and injuries can occur. When you add in a distracting or dangerous behavior, the chances for an accident increase dramatically. Read more about the impact of distracted driving with the following resources.
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This article illustrates just how dangerous an accident with a semi-truck can be—especially if the driver is under the influence of drugs.
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In South Carolina, a distracted driver caused the deaths of two bicyclists. Read more about the case here.
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This report comparing drunk drivers and distracted drivers will make you think twice before picking up your cell phone when you’re on the road.
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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lists the laws regarding cell phone use while driving in every state.
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For a different take on distracted driving, read this article about Jennifer Smith, a woman who sued cell phone companies after her mother was killed by a driver who was on his cell phone.
If you have been injured in an accident due to the negligent driving habits of another, contact the personal injury attorneys with Malman Law in Chicago at (312) 983-6193.
Last updated 6 months ago
After a car accident, you and the other driver may have very different versions of events that took place and the cause of the accident. Thankfully, the iCar BlackBox app will clear up any confusion.
This app records events and conditions before and during a crash, such as vehicle speed, road conditions, and the force of the crash. When a collision occurs, iCar BlackBox will also send a customized message to your emergency contacts via text message and e-mail and call 911 for assistance. Even if no one else is around, you’re never alone if you have the iCar BlackBox app.
Sadly, accidents do happen on the road. If you’ve been in an auto collision, don’t let the other party try to blame you for it. Instead, call Malman Law today for advice regarding your legal options to recover damages. You can reach our Chicago office by dialing (312) 983-6193.
Last updated 7 months ago
When an employee is injured during the course of his job, he may be entitled to workers' compensation. Under this system, a worker receives compensation for medical expenses and missed work hours but relinquishes his right to sue his employer for damages in court. Read on for more information about this important program.
Qualifying for Workers' Compensation
To qualify for worker’s compensation, an employee must have been injured or developed an illness while performing the duties of his job. Workers may also be eligible for partial compensation if a preexisting illness was exacerbated by the duties of their job. For most injuries, employees must file a worker’s compensation claim within three years after the injury; however, some illnesses have a longer statute of limitations to allow for the increased time it may take for the disease to manifest. Claims for radiation poisoning, for example, have a 25-year statute of limitations.
Workers' Compensation Benefits
Benefits paid under this compensation program range from payment of medical bills to wages paid during temporary disability to wages for permanent disability. Worker’s compensation is designed to apply to all levels of injury, and it is mandatory for all employers in Illinois to have worker’s compensation insurance or to apply for permission to self-insure.
Applying
To receive compensation for an injury, a worker must file a claim to prove that the injury was directly caused by work activities. If the employer disagrees with the claim, the two parties can appear before a judge for arbitration in order to decide the outcome of the claim. If the outcome is still unsatisfactory, the decision can be further appealed. Regardless of the outcome of the claim, an employer cannot legally fire a worker for filing for worker’s compensation.
A work-related injury could impede your ability to make ends meet and bring hardship to your family, if you don’t correctly file for worker’s compensation. For help filing a claim, call Malman Law at (312) 983-6193.
Last updated 7 months ago
Last year, drivers using cell phones were the cause of three thousand deaths and many more injuries. To understand Illinois’s laws about this dangerous behavior, and the legal precedent being established around the country, read on.
Illinois’s Laws
Under Illinois law, it is legal to use a cell phone driving, with several exceptions. Cell phone use is illegal in construction zones and school zones, in the city of Chicago, and for anyone under the age of nineteen and school bus drivers. Texting while driving is illegal at all times. These laws are primary laws, meaning that a police officer can pull a driver over and issue a citation simply for using a cell phone, without needing to witness another violation.
Legal Precedent
As more states institute laws regulating cell phone use while driving, legal precedent regarding this issue is becoming more defined. A Las Vegas woman who killed two people while driving recklessly and talking on her phone faced two counts of manslaughter, for example. In South Carolina in 2010, the families of two bicyclists killed by a driver on his cell phone each received $2.5 million in damages. These cases are extreme examples, but distracted drivers all around the country are facing penalties for their actions. In states that outlaw talking on the phone while driving, violators face expensive tickets even if they do not cause an accident. Additionally, if an employee is driving while on the phone to conduct work-related business, any harm he causes may result in a lawsuit against his employer, who presumably endorsed the dangerous practice. Legislators hope that these laws will deter cell phone use while driving, though this has not been the case yet.
Have you been injured by a driver who was texting or talking on his cell phone? For assistance filing a lawsuit, call (312) 983-6193 to set up a consultation with Malman Law in Chicago. The experienced attorneys in our office can help you get the damages you deserve. Our fees are contingency-based, so we don’t get paid unless you win.
Last updated 7 months ago
Eleven thousand spinal cord injuries occur in the U.S. every year, and about 200,000 Americans live with spinal cord injuries every day. Read on to learn how these serious injuries happen, their repercussions, and victims’ legal options.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Injuries to the spinal cord can result from many situations. Car accidents are the most common cause, followed by acts of violence like stabbing or shooting, falls, and sports injuries. No matter the cause, there are two types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete. Complete spinal cord injury results in a complete lack of feeling and motor control below the injury, while incomplete injury may leave some feeling or motor control below the point of injury.
The injury’s effects depend on its location. For example, injuries to the upper spine can result in quadriplegia, while injuries farther down lead to in paraplegia. Each patient will experience different effects from a spinal cord injury, but some of the most common are lack of bladder and bowel control, loss of motor function, and sensory changes. Patients with spinal cord injuries often require special medical equipment or care, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime. Spinal cord injury patients may also have trouble returning to work and their normal lives.
Legal Options
If a spinal cord injury was caused by an accident or act of negligence, the patient may be able to receive compensation from the responsible party. Victims of spinal cord injuries should contact an attorney as soon as possible to avoid the statute of limitations running out. A skilled personal injury attorney will be able to advise the client about legal options, like filing a lawsuit to receive compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and income loss. Through these damages, the court will seek to return the plaintiff to his or her previous standard of life.
If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury, call Malman Law today to discuss your legal options for compensation for medical bills, income loss, and pain and suffering. To reach our Chicago office, call (312) 983-6193.