Posted on December 00, 0000 in Criminal Law

In Illinois, a DUI arrest can occur not only when an officer believes that someone is driving under the influence of alcohol, but a DUI arrest can occur when an officer has probable cause that an individual is driving under the influence of any controlled substance or marijuana. Currently, most breath analysis equipment is only able to determine the presence and/or amount of alcohol in a driver’s system. In order to determine whether or not a suspected drunk driver has any other controlled substance in their system (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines, etc.), an officer will normally request that the driver submits to blood testing at a hospital (“blood draw”).

The United States Supreme Court has held that breath analysis testing is not subject to Fourth Amendment protection, while blood testing is subject to that protection. [1] This is important because if testing is subject to Fourth Amendment protection, law enforcement will be required to obtain a search warrant issued by a judge for any testing. There are many exceptions to this warrant requirement. For the purposes of this topic, the exception to the warrant requirement that has the most impact is called exigency.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Slip and Fall Accidents

Having a baby can be one of the most exciting experiences in a person’s life. For a woman, especially, giving birth is both exciting and frightening. During the nine-month period, there are many safety measures that women must take in order to protect herself and her baby. One of the most common injuries that pregnant women and their unborn babies endure comes from slip and fall accidents, potentially causing serious complications to both parties.

What Can Happen After a Slip and Fall Accident?

Pregnancy has a massive change on the woman’s body. Since her center of gravity adjusts so significantly, she often has difficulty maintaining her balance. Slightly over 25 percent of all pregnant women experience a fall at some point in their pregnancy. Even though there may be few complications after some falls, some of the potential complications to look out for include but are not limited to:

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Car Accidents

A car accident can be a very life-changing event. As scary as car accidents always are, there is always the risk of developing physical problems following an accident. One of the most common injuries following a car accident is a concussion. If you have been injured in a car accident, you may not always know that you are suffering from a concussion, as this type of injury is often difficult to diagnose.

Signs of a Concussion

Symptoms of a concussion may not appear for weeks following a car accident. Research has shown that one incident of mild brain trauma or concussion is sustained every 21 seconds in the United States. Even though a concussion is fairly common, it is important to fully understand the signs of a concussion to properly treat the injury. Some of the symptoms of a concussion include but are certainly not limited to:

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Car Accidents

Having a child is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. To make sure that your child is safe in your car at all times, it is very important to understand when to use booster seats and when to remove the booster seats. If your child is very young and not in a booster seat, the chances of him or her being seriously injured in a car accident are greater than that if he or she is in a booster seat.

The Benefits of Booster Seats

If a child is only protected by someone else’s lap or by a shoulder harness, the chances of him or her being injured in a car accident is 59 percent greater than if the child is appropriately strapped in a five-point harness or booster seat. Booster seats have the advantage of raising the child up and giving him or her room to sit comfortably with no slouching. Booster seats also give the benefit of having the lap belt across the upper thighs and not the abdomen. Restraining force is then kept away from the abdomen by increasing the lap belt angle at the time of a car accident.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Car Accidents

It is very important for all of us to stay healthy. This can include eating healthy food, exercising regularly, and generally taking care of our bodies. Unfortunately, there are situations where we have medical issues that cannot go away, no matter how hard we try to stay healthy. Some of these medical conditions can greatly increase the likelihood of a car accident, including diabetes, epilepsy, and irregular heartbeat. These medical conditions can also increase the likelihood of more serious injuries, deaths, longer hospital stays, and more costly hospital payments.

How Is an Irregular Heartbeat Linked to Car Accident Injuries and Deaths?

An irregular heartbeat, also known as atrial fibrillation, is a common heart rhythm disorder. Research has indicated that having an irregular heartbeat can greatly affect the likelihood of dying if involved in a car accident.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Slip and Fall Accidents

A fall in a retail store or restaurant can come at any time. What should have been a quick grocery shopping trip can turn into a painful accident that requires extensive medical care and time off work.

While such an incident happens in the blink of an eye, getting you the compensation you deserve can take much longer. At our firm, we strive to get our clients compensation as quickly as possible while still protecting all of their rights.

There are numerous hazards that could cause a slip in fall in a retail store or restaurant. When business owners fail to take proper care to provide a safe environment for customers, they risk the health of everyone. It is important to hire an attorney to keep these businesses accountable.

In our legal practice, we see many hazards, again and again, that cause slip and fall accidents. These include:

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Truck Accidents

Semi-trucks are a danger on the road. Their large size means that they can cause significant damage to much smaller cars and trucks. Accidents involving semi-trucks are likely to be serious. If you are not at fault in a truck accident, you should not be responsible for costly medical bills and damage to property.

Tractor-Trailer Accidents by the Numbers

Unfortunately, semi-truck accidents are all too common in Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 19,945 accidents involving tractor-trailers in 2014, the most recent year data is available.

Of those nearly 20,000 accidents, 111 involved fatalities and 3,198 caused injuries. Also in 2014, there were 44,495 people involved in an accident with a semi-truck. Of that total, 120 died and 4,450 sustained non-fatal injuries, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in DUI

As reported by Lorraine Swanson of The Patch on July 2, 2018, the Village of Orland Park had the most DUI arrests of any southwest suburb in Cook County.

Orland Park landed in the top 20 of Illinois municipalities and led the south suburbs in for DUI arrests in 2017. Orland Park officers logged 216 arrests of buzzed drivers, according to the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists' annual DUI arrest survey.

AAIM is an Illinois-only citizen activist group founded in 1982 by victims of drunk driving based in Schaumburg. The group promotes prevention, victim advocacy and legislation for tougher drunk driving laws and is a recognized expert in this area.

The south suburban police departments in the Patch network that responded to the 2017 AAIM survey ranked as followed:

• #12 Orland Park, 216 (184 arrests in 2016; ranked 16)
• #19 Oak Lawn, 162 (223 arrests in 2016; ranked #11)

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Car Accidents

Being injured as a pedestrian in a collision with an automobile can be extremely serious. These pedestrian accidents are also common. It is estimated that a pedestrian is injured every eight minutes in the United States. Pedestrian accidents can also be deadly. In fact, the United States averages to one crash-related pedestrian death every 1.6 hours.

How Pedestrians Are Injured

No two accidents are alike, and that is one reason why an attorney will be helpful in making your best arguments to an insurance adjuster or a judge and jury. However, most pedestrian-car accidents follow a similar injury pattern.

First, the car’s front bumper strikes the pedestrian’s lower leg area. Then, with the legs moving in the same direction as the vehicle’s travel, the upper body hits the car hood or windshield.

Thus, there are typically three points where the pedestrian is hit:

1. Between the lower leg and bumper;

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 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Car Accidents

Fatalities from hit and run accidents have never been higher in this country, according to a 2018 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

According to the study, 2,049 people died in hit and run accidents in 2016. This figure is an astonishing 62 percent increase from 2009. AAA reports that 2016 is the year with the most fatalities since 1975 when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting numbers on fatal motor vehicle collisions.

The study found that the states with the highest rates of fatal hit and runs were New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida. The states with the lowest rates were Maine, Minnesota, and New Hampshire.

What Is a Hit and Run Crash?

A hit and run collision occurs when at least one person leaves the accident without offering appropriate information or help to the other parties. Failing to report the accident can also be considered a hit and run.

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