Cell phones, GPS systems, kids in the backseat, and countless other factors can lead to distracted driving. Driving takes a great deal of concentration. Drivers must pay attention to traffic signs and signals, other motorists, and pedestrians simultaneously. Failure to pay close enough attention to the road and surroundings can lead to horrible accidents.

To bring attention to the ongoing problem of distracted driving, April has been designated as distracted driving awareness month. If you or a loved one were injured in a car crash caused by a distracted driver, you should know your rights. You may be able to hold the distracted driver accountable and seek financial compensation for your damages.

Dangers of Distracted Driving

Despite advances in automotive technology and safety, The National Highway Safety Administration reports that fatal auto accidents rose 17 percent from 2019 to 2021. Many experts believe that the increase in smartphone use behind the wheel and complacency while driving has contributed to the increase in fatal crashes.

The average person uses consumer goods on an everyday basis. From appliances and tools to children’s’ toys and motor vehicles, consumer products are a vital part of modern living. Consumers expect that the products they use are safe and will operate correctly. However, not every product meets these expectations. Defective products can represent serious and potentially fatal hazards. If you or a loved one were injured by a defective product, you may be able to take legal action against the at-fault party and recover financial compensation.

Liability for Dangerous Products in Illinois

The companies that design, create, and distribute products are legally responsible for ensuring that the products are not unreasonably hazardous. If a company fails to meet this expectation and a customer is harmed as a result, the injured person may be entitled to monetary damages.

The at-fault party for a dangerous product injury may be:

Unfortunately, many people struggle to express their feelings in an appropriate way. Fears about COVID-19, problems at home, work frustrations, and other issues can cause a person to lash out at others while driving. Studies show that incidences of road rage are on the rise. The AAA foundation states that aggressive driving is a contributing factor in over half of all fatal car crashes. It is estimated that road rage leads to 1,800 injuries and 30 deaths each year in the U.S.

If you or a loved one were injured in a collision caused by another driver’s road rage, you should know that you have options. In addition to any criminal charges the driver faces, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim.

What is Road Rage?

There is no one definition for road rage, but it is usually characterized by driving behaviors that are intentionally dangerous. Aggressive drivers may tailgate, weave in and out of lanes, slam on their brakes, or yell at other drivers. Sometimes, this behavior escalates to deliberately colliding with other vehicles or running another vehicle off the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that following too closely, driving under the influence, speeding, and erratic lane changes often coincide with road rage accidents.

Nursing homes help keep our loved ones safe when they can not care for themselves. Sadly, understaffing and other issues can lead to substandard care in nursing home facilities. Sometimes this substandard care escalates into neglect or abuse of residents. One significant issue that poses a great risk to residents’ health is bedsores. Bedsores, or decubitus ulcers, are wounds that develop on skin exposed to excessive periods of pressure. In addition to being painful, these sores can lead to serious and even fatal medical complications.

How Do Bedsores Develop?

Bedsores almost always develop on people with limited mobility. Individuals with full mobility can get up and move around, which relieves pressure on body parts and encourages blood flow. However, nursing home residents who cannot sit up, stand, or walk on their own may be in one position for long periods of time. This can cause bedsores to form on the body parts that are under pressure. Bedsores often form on the tailbone, back, backs of feed, and back of the head.

How Can Bedsores Be Prevented?

Nursing home staff can prevent bedsores by moving residents who cannot move themselves. For example, they can help residents roll over or move residents from a bed to a wheelchair. Unfortunately, repositioning residents is a responsibility that often gets neglected. If a bedsore forms, it begins as a red patch of skin. If the pressure is not relieved, the bedsore becomes a discolored sore or blister. Bedsores can eventually become deep craters in the skin that damage the muscles and bones underneath.

In an study conducted by Allstate, nearly 90 percent of drivers surveyed admitted to driving faster than the posted speed limit. Approximately 40 percent admitted to driving more than 20 miles an hour over the speed limit. Even though it is dangerous, many drivers speed.

If you were hurt in a car accident while you were speeding, you may question whether you can still file an injury claim and seek monetary compensation for your damages. The answer, like many answers in personal injury law, depends on the unique circumstances of your case. Read on to learn how speeding may impact an accident victim’s ability to successfully recover compensation after an accident.

Who Is At Fault for the Collision?

Illinois is an at-fault state when it comes to car accident claims. This means that the at-fault’s insurer is typically responsible for paying for accident-related costs. However, determining who is at fault for an accident is not always as easy as it may initially seem. Often, the actions of multiple parties contribute to a serious wreck. In shared liability cases such as these, fault may lie with several drivers. Illinois uses a legal theory called “comparative negligence” when more than one party is liable for an injurious accident.