A work accident that happens in a split second can change someone’s life forever. Whether in an office, construction site, delivery truck, or another work environment, work injuries can be severe. If you or a loved one were the victim of a serious work injury, you may be interested in exploring your legal options. Most people know that workers’ compensation insurance exists, but they are unaware of exactly what workers’ comp covers or how they should go about pursuing compensation. Many injured workers are also unaware of their rights – a fact which is often exploited by employers and insurance companies.

Workers’ Compensation and Permanent Partial Disabilities

Equipment-related mishaps, slip and fall accidents, struck-by accidents, on-the-job car crashes, and other work accidents can lead to life-changing injuries. Spine injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputation injuries, and severe burns are just some of the work injuries that can leave a worker permanently disabled. If you or a loved one are in this situation, it is important to understand your rights under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. Injured workers who can no longer work or must work a different job may be entitled to permanent partial disability benefits (PPD).

PPD benefits vary from case to case. Sometimes, the amount of money a person receives is based on the difference between their pre-injury pay and their post-injury pay. Illinois law also provides a schedule of injuries that lists compensation based on injuries to certain body parts.

There are nearly countless ways a serious car accident can occur. Head-on collisions in which both cars are traveling toward each other are often some of the most severe. Sadly, fatalities and catastrophic injuries are not uncommon in head-on crashes. If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a head-on crash, read on to learn about your legal options under Illinois law.

Personal Injury Claims and Head-On Accidents

When two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions, the force of a collision is magnified. Head-on crashes often cause head, neck, and spine injuries, broken bones, internal damage, and other severe injuries. An individual involved in a head-on crash or frontal crash may never be the same again. Money cannot make up for such a horrific experience, however, it may help the injured person cover accident-related costs and move past the experience.

Sometimes, liability in a head-on crash is straightforward. For example, one driver may have been traveling the wrong direction on the highway due to intoxication by drugs or alcohol while the other driver was an innocent victim. Other times, both drivers’ actions contribute to a head-on crash. In the case of a shared-fault accident, an injured person’s entitlement to monetary damages may be reduced according to his or her share of fault.

Children are naturally curious. Unfortunately, this curiosity can sometimes lead to severe or even fatal injuries. If your child was hurt after wandering into a neighbor’s property, you may have questions about your legal rights. You may wonder if the neighbor is legally responsible for your child’s injuries. As with many legal questions, the answers to these questions vary based on the circumstances of the injury-causing accident. In some cases, parents can hold property owners liable for child injuries through a specific type of personal injury claim called a premises liability claim.

Attractive Nuisances and Illinois Law

Generally, property owners are only legally responsible for injuries suffered by guests to the property. Trespassers are not usually protected by Illinois premises liability laws. However, the rules are different when children are involved. “Attractive nuisances” are dangerous areas or objects that may injure a child.

Examples of dangers that may be considered attractive nuisances include:

Commercial semi-trucks are massive vehicles capable of causing catastrophic damage in an accident. If you or a loved one were involved in a commercial truck crash, you know this firsthand. Victims of truck accidents and the surviving family of fatal truck accidents may be entitled to financial compensation for their damages. They may be compensated for medical expenses, lost wages, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and more. However, to bring a successful claim, they need evidence of the at-fault party’s actions and the relationship between those actions and the crash. Often, proof of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) violations is a crucial part of this evidence.  

Hours of Service Regulations

Driving takes skill and attention – especially when operating a massive commercial truck. When a truck driver is sleep deprived, he or she is more likely to make mistakes behind the wheel that cause an accident. To reduce the incidence of truck accidents caused by drowsy driving, the FMCSA has instituted “Hours of Service” regulations. These rules limit drive time and require the truck driver to stop for rest breaks. The truck driver’s electronic logbook or the truck’s event data recorder may contain evidence of Hours of Service violations you can use to build your case.  

Cargo Securement

Trucks transport the majority of the goods transported across the U.S. Loose truck cargo can move around in the truck’s trailer, making the truck harder to control. Unsecured cargo may even fall off the truck and onto the road, causing a dangerous hazard for other motorists. The FMCSA requires that truck cargo be loaded and secured in such a way that it does not shift or become dislodged during transport. If improper loading and securement of truck cargo caused or contributed to your accident, you may be able to hold the trucking company liable for damages.

Being involved in a car wreck is not only frightening and traumatic, it can also lead to massive financial costs. An individual hurt in a car accident may require expensive medical care that lasts weeks, months, or years. They may also be unable to work during their recovery. Add the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle involved in the crash, and a car accident can easily cost a family tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you or a loved one were involved in a serious auto collision, you may be entitled to compensation for financial and non-financial losses.   

Factors That Influence a Car Accident Claim Payout

The amount of money that you could recover in a car accident injury claim depends on many different factors, including:

• The severity of the injuries - The worse the injuries, the greater degree of medical care needed to address those injuries. Someone who suffered cuts and bruises will obviously not need as much medical treatment as someone who suffered catastrophic injuries. Therefore, car accident claim payouts are usually higher when the injured person suffers significant injuries or injuries resulting in long-term disability.

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