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A new law that took effect on January 1st will ban convicted sex offenders in Illinois from attending or participating in holiday events that are likely to involve young children. In the future, sex offenders will no longer be able to hand out Halloween candy, dress up as Santa Claus, or play the Easter Bunny at holiday events. Violators will face possible fines, jail time, and could have their probation or parole revoked. The law was reportedly sponsored by Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard. Senator Dillard said he chose to introduce the bill in response to multiple reported incidents where convicted sex offenders used holiday events in order to gain access to children in Illinois.

During the last Illinois legislative session, Senator Dillard also sponsored a bill designed to allow for the felony prosecution of individuals who attempt to lure children on their way to school into a motor vehicle. The law, which also went into effect at the beginning January, was proposed in response to a recent incident that purportedly occurred in DuPage County. In that case, a convicted sex offender allegedly tried to lure a 17-year-old girl who was walking to school into his van. Before the new law was passed, Illinois child luring laws reportedly only protected children under the age of 16.

Other new sex offender laws also go into effect in the New Year. The laws include professional licensing requirements for sex offender evaluators, risk assessment requirements for juvenile offenders who seek to be removed from the state offender registry, an expanded definition regarding what constitutes a child sex offender, and other changes.

In addition to criminal penalties, the victims of childhood sexual abuse may be eligible to file a civil personal injury case against their attacker or an entity that failed to keep them safe. Often, children who are sexually abused fail to come forward immediately out of fright or embarrassment. In the State of Illinois, the statute of limitations for sexual abuse of a minor is now longer than for other personal injury claims. Since 2011, kids who were the victim of sexual abuse have 20 years from their 18th birthday to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser. In addition, a victim who has repressed his or her memories of sexual abuse has 20 years from the date they realized they were abused during which to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately, minors who were sexually abused prior to 2011 may face a shorter statute of limitations. If you were the victim of childhood sexual abuse, you should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer to discuss your case.
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A recent school bus crash on Interstate 94 near Deerfield allegedly left 20 middle school children hurt. According to Sergeant Tim Moore of the Illinois State Police, the accident occurred after one of nine eastbound school buses traveling from Lake Villa to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont was struck from behind by one of two semi-trucks that had just collided on the roadway. The bus, operated by Durham School Services, was reportedly carrying 43 seventh graders at the time of the incident. Officer Moore said all 20 injured students were transported to three area hospitals by emergency crews from Bannockburn, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Lincolnshire, Wilmette, and Winnetka. He stated none of the students suffered a life-threatening injury.

School administrators and a representative for the bus company were allegedly dispatched to the scene of the accident immediately following the collision. In addition, a text and voice message system reportedly alerted district parents to the crash. Patricia Volling, Director of Business Services for School District 41, said the students were on their way to see a Chicago Wolves hockey game when the accident occurred. Instead, all uninjured students were transported back to school following the accident.

Although the exact cause of the collision is still under investigation, one of the tractor-trailer drivers, 47-year-old Brian Bosch of Franklin, Wisconsin, was cited for failure to reduce speed. State police said there was no reason to believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the injury accident.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 2,418 school bus accidents occurred throughout the state in 2008. 123 students and 99 school bus drivers were hurt as a result of those collisions. Because students normally do not wear seat belts while riding school buses, the injuries sustained in a crash can be catastrophic and life-altering. Common school bus wreck injuries include broken bones, head, neck, back, and traumatic brain injuries, and even death. The parents of a minor who was hurt while riding a school bus may bring a lawsuit on behalf of their child in order to recover medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and other damages. If your child was hurt in a Chicago Metro school bus collision, you should discuss your case with a skilled personal injury attorney.
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Several new Illinois traffic laws that are reportedly aimed at increasing safety are slated to take effect in 2013. Although some of the new laws simply amend those previously passed, others are completely new.

Staring January 1st, law enforcement officers will be required to request a chemical test for any driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of an injury accident or a crash during which a person was killed. For the law to apply, an officer must have probable cause to believe a motorist used drugs or consumed alcohol prior to the collision. In addition, the Illinois Secretary of State will begin revoking the driving privileges of motorists who are convicted of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs specified in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, Cannabis Control Act, or the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act on more than one occasion. Operator’s license suspensions will last for a period of five years.

In 2013, Illinois motorcyclists will be required to wait at least 120 seconds prior to legally driving through a red traffic signal that fails to change. Additionally, motorists may move their vehicle following a crash in order to avoid obstructing traffic without being charged with leaving the scene of an accident so long as they fulfill the information and aid requirements set forth in the Illinois Vehicle Code.

Beginning in the New Year, all motorists in Illinois will be prohibited from operating a mobile phone in a roadway construction zone or a maintenance speed zone. In addition, cellular telephone use will be prohibited within 500 feet of an accident or other emergency after an ambulance or emergency vehicle has responded to the scene.

In 2013, tractor-trailer and other commercial drivers will no longer be allowed to use a hand-held wireless telephone to talk, send text messages, or read emails while on an Illinois roadway. A violation of the new law will be considered a serious violation against a commercial operator’s license. The law is similar to a federal regulation that previously banned the use of hand-held cellular phones by interstate commercial vehicle drivers. The federal ban also applies to text messages and other electronic communications.

Beginning July 1, 2013, motorists charged with speeding more than 31 miles per hour above the posted limit will no longer be eligible for the option of court supervision. Court supervision requires someone who was accused of certain crimes in Illinois to avoid conviction by completing specific requirements during a specified time frame. The change was reportedly made in order to combat the dangers associated with traveling at excessive speeds and racing on Illinois streets.

In 2011, more than 280,000 motor vehicle crashes occurred on Illinois roads. Sadly, almost 85,000 people were hurt and more than 900 were killed as a result. The victim in a Chicago car accident may be entitled to receive damages for any harm that was caused by someone else’s negligent or illegal act. If you were injured or tragically lost a loved one in a Chicago auto accident, you are advised to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able.
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New Year’s Day is rapidly approaching. It is also reportedly the most dangerous time to be in a vehicle anywhere in the nation. Likely as a result of New Year’s Eve festivities, more people are purportedly killed in alcohol-related accidents on the first day of the year than any other. According to the AAA motor club, the public should enjoy greater protections from impaired motorists.

AAA Traffic Safety Advocacy Director, Jake Nelson, said the organization is concerned about drunken driving and supports tough policies designed to keep those convicted off of the streets. For example, AAA recently came out in support of ignition interlock requirements for anyone who was previously convicted of driving while intoxicated. An ignition interlock device requires a driver to blow into a plastic tube prior to starting a motor vehicle and at a number of intervals throughout the trip. If a driver’s blood alcohol level is .05 or higher, the automobile will not start or will shut off. Nelson claims such devices are the most effective means for keeping impaired motorists off of the nation’s roadways.

A survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reportedly found that about 90 percent of drivers believe their personal safety is threatened when a motorist chooses to drink and drive. In addition, an estimated 97 percent of Americans surveyed stated it is unacceptable for intoxicated drivers to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. The 2012 Traffic Safety Culture Index also allegedly found that about 80 percent of people feel individuals who were convicted of driving while intoxicated should be required to install an ignition interlock in their personal vehicle.

Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a recommendation in favor of laws that would require ignition interlock devices to be installed in the personal automobile of all first-time impaired driving offenders. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said such technology would help to decrease or eliminate what is currently the number one killer on roadways throughout the country.

According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, approximately 50,000 motorists are arrested for intoxicated driving in the state each year. An estimated 80 percent of those arrested are reportedly first-time offenders. Since 2009, Illinois motorists who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol may choose to have an ignition interlock installed in their vehicle for the period of time during which their licenses would typically be suspended. Once the required time frame is over, however, drivers are no longer required to maintain the device.

Regrettably, everyone traveling on the roadways is placed at risk whenever an intoxicated or otherwise impaired motorist makes the choice to drive. Tragically, the wounds that result from a crash with an intoxicated driver are often catastrophic or fatal. If you or a loved one was hurt in a collision with an impaired driver, you need a skilled personal injury attorney to help you protect your rights.
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As the winter season officially begins, Chicago area residents are likely to be faced with an increasing number of slippery conditions due to icy sidewalks and other potential weather-related fall hazards. Unfortunately, slips and falls can leave victims with serious and painful long-term injuries. Still, some simple and easy steps may help keep you and your loved ones out of the emergency room this holiday season.

According to Dr. John Fernandez, an orthopedic surgeon at Rush University Medical Center, one of the most important steps to avoid falling in inclement weather is to simply wear the proper shoes for current conditions. In addition, he said individuals should consider adopting a slower walking pace when it may be slippery outside. Dr. Fernandez also recommends abandoning anything in your hands if you happen to tumble. Instead, he said you should attempt to fall forward and use your hands to bear the bulk of the impact. If you happen to hurt your wrist in an icy or other fall, Dr. Fernandez stated the injury should only take about six weeks to heal.

Property owners in Illinois generally have a duty to ensure their business, home, or other real property is free from unreasonable safety hazards. In addition, a number of properties in Chicago and throughout the state are also regulated by established building codes and other safety standards. Still, many landowners fail to comply with codified safety rules. As a result, visitors may be harmed by negligent snow or ice removal, unsafe stairs, defective sidewalks, and a host of other hazards.

The injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident may include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, neck or spine injuries, and other soft tissue damage. Before collecting damages in Illinois, individuals who were hurt on someone else’s property must establish that they were injured as a result of an unsafe condition that the owner of the property knew or should have known existed. If you were injured in a slip and fall or other unexpected accident, contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to discuss your options for recovery.
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The Lockport Township was recently forced to come to grips with the second death of a 16-year-old high school student in less than three months. According to the Will County Coroner’s Office, a 16-year-old cheerleader and honors student was killed when the automobile she was driving was involved in a wreck with a pick-up truck at the intersection of Division Street and Cedar Road in Lockport. Emergency rescue crews allegedly transported the injured girl to Silver Cross Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The fatal crash reportedly occurred just miles away from Lockport High School where the Homer Glen teen was a junior.

The exact cause of the deadly accident is currently under investigation by local police. It is unclear whether the 49-year-old driver of the pick-up was injured. In September, a classmate was also killed in a similar automobile collision. In that accident, another 16-year-old reportedly died near the intersection of Lauffer and Haas roads in Homer Glen. According to at least one fellow student, the recent teen crash deaths have hit home and some claim to be paying more attention to their driving habits.

According to the nation’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle collisions kill more teenagers than any other cause of death throughout the country. On average, seven young people in the United States between the ages of 16 and 19 were killed in a car crash every day in 2010. During the same year, nearly 300,000 teenagers were injured in a motor vehicle wreck. In addition, teenagers are three times more likely to die in a car crash than individuals who are over the age of 20. Male teens are allegedly twice as likely to be killed in a car wreck as female teens. Sadly, most of these deaths are unnecessary and preventable.

Illinois graduated driver license laws were implemented in an effort to increase safety for young drivers and passengers. For the first year, Illinois drivers who are under the age of 18 may not operate an automobile with more than one passenger who is under the age of 20 and not an immediate relative in the vehicle. Before obtaining an operator’s license in Illinois, all teen motorists must also complete an approved driver education course. In addition, drivers under the age of 18 may not drive on Illinois roadways during certain hours.
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In late November, a 37-year-old cleaning contractor died after he fell into a 50-foot chemical tank in Wheeling. The Phoenix Industrial Cleaning foreman reportedly fell and landed on his head while cleaning a 6,000 gallon tank at Sunnyside Corporation. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office stated the Cicero man died from a combination of blunt force trauma and exposure to the chemical methylene chloride. The toxic chemical is typically used to strip paint, clean metal, and in certain industrial manufacturing processes. It is currently unclear whether the cleaning contractor was overcome by chemical fumes prior to his fall.

According to the Wheeling Fire Chief, Keith MacIsaac, emergency responders arrived at the company to find the cleaning contractor at the bottom of the chemical tank. MacIsaac said although the man was not wearing a safety mask, one was located nearby inside the tank. He also added that the chemicals kept in the tank create an environment that is oxygen-deficient and would pose an immediate health danger to anyone who enters. Rescue crews who responded to the tragedy were purportedly required to undergo decontamination measures due to possible chemical exposure.

The nation’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reportedly investigated the fatal incident. OSHA was created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and is tasked with investigating whether employers complied with federal health and safety regulations following any serious workplace accident that occurs in the United States.

Although workplace accidents such as this one are normally subject to state Workers’ Compensation laws, an injured employee or the family of someone who was killed as a result of the actions of a third party may be entitled to recover additional compensation for their harm. Regardless of who is at fault, a worker who is injured in Illinois is entitled to receive disability pay, the costs associated with his or her medical treatment, and compensation for any injuries that resulted from an accident at work. A skilled personal injury attorney can help you file your claim.
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Throughout the holiday season, Americans are regularly cautioned against imbibing too much at holiday parties and driving home impaired. Unfortunately, other safety hazards are also more common in the fall. According to data recently compiled by State Farm Insurance, more grease and cooking fires occur in the United States on Thanksgiving Day than at any other time. In addition, the State of Illinois reportedly ranked number two for the number of holiday cooking fires nationwide over the last five years. Only Texas had a higher rate of statewide cooking-related fires on Thanksgiving Day. Many believe the increased number of fires has resulted from the recent popularity of turkey fryers.

The National Fire Protection Association alleges that deep fryers result in at least $15 million worth of property damage every year. Additionally, the oil used in such devices can potentially cause devastating physical harm to both adults and children. Fortunately, the majority of turkey fryer fires can be prevented. For example, deep fryers should not be used on a wooden structure such as a deck and they should be kept away from any buildings or other objects that may ignite. Other safety measures include ensuring that a deep fryer is not left unattended and keeping a functioning fire extinguisher that is rated for grease nearby. The Illinois Fire Marshall also cautioned against using water to put out a grease fire.

The potential for cooking-related injuries has allegedly caused physicians at Loyola University Medical Center to discourage the use of turkey fryers. The hospital is reportedly still treating an 87-year-old Mount Prospect man for burn injuries he sustained after he fell into a turkey fryer on Thanksgiving Day in 2011. According to a representative for the medical center’s Burn and Trauma Unit, Dr. Tom Esposito, drinking or becoming distracted by guests or cellular phones while cooking also increases an individual’s burn risk. He warned that children should always be kept away from a fryer or oven and ideally they should be kept out of any area where hot food is prepared.

According to the American Burn Association, an estimated 450,000 Americans required medical treatment for a burn injury in 2011 and about 55 percent of them were hospitalized. In addition, approximately 3,500 people died as result of their burns. Of those individuals who were admitted to a specialized burn center, an estimated 68 percent of burns occurred at home, 10 percent happened at a place of work, and seven percent resulted from an accident that occurred on a roadway.

Burn accidents can result from any number of causes including cooking or building fires, car wrecks, electrical accidents, scalding, and industrial or other workplace accidents. Serious burns often cause excruciating pain and disfiguring injuries that can require long-term medical care. If you were severely burned as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for your pain, suffering, medical expenses, loss of income and benefits, and other damages. A skilled personal injury lawyer can discuss your options for recovery with you in more detail.
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Although all vehicles manufactured or sold in the United States must meet rigorous federal safety standards, the occupants of some motor vehicle models are reportedly more likely to be injured in a car accident than others. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, some automobiles tend to protect passengers better than others in a crash. The organization recently ranked model year 2009 through 2011 motor vehicles based on the frequency of personal injury insurance claims filed following a collision. Not entirely surprising, the occupants of many small cars allegedly fared the worst when an accident occurred. Despite the Highway Loss Data Institute data, small cars are reportedly selling quickly due at least in part to recent high gasoline prices.

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, the Toyota Yaris had the highest personal injury claim rate of all vehicles travelling on roads throughout the nation. Other small cars like the Nissan Versa, Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Suzuki SX4 also allegedly fared poorly for passenger safety. Institute data suggests larger vehicles like full-size pick-up trucks and sport utility vehicles generally have fewer crash-related personal injury claims. The organization’s Senior Vice-President, Kim Hazelbaker, said personal injury claim data tends to illustrate which vehicles are better at protecting passengers from harm. She also stated such claim frequencies tend to demonstrate that smaller vehicles are not as good at protecting automobile occupants as larger vehicles. In addition, high-performance cars also reportedly have a higher than average number of personal injury claims following a wreck. Some believe this is because such vehicles allegedly attract more aggressive drivers.

The Highway Loss Data Institute is an organization that is supported by the insurance industry. It is affiliated with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety which performs annual crash tests on new motor vehicles. The Institute maintains a national database related to personal injury, collision, property damage, and comprehensive insurance claims. The information is then reportedly adjusted to control for the gender and age of a motorist as well as the location of a crash and insurance policy deductibles. According to the organization, insurance claim information is useful to consumers who are shopping for a new vehicle because drivers can take into account both safety and insurance rates prior to making a purchase.

Chicago Metro residents tend to spend a lot of time in their vehicles. Unfortunately, accidents are bound to occur with so many drivers on the road. Automobile collisions may be caused by many factors including motorist inattention, carelessness, or impairment. If you were hurt in a car accident that was caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for any injuries you incurred as a result of the crash. A committed car accident lawyer can help you file your personal injury claim.
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A 56-year-old Orland Park man recently settled a brain injury lawsuit for a record $5.1 million. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning worker was reportedly hurt in a March 2005 accident when a forklift operator working three stories above the man accidentally dropped building materials on him at a Chicago construction site. The pile of lumber allegedly hit the worker on the head and left the man with a concussion as well as a diminished memory and reduced learning capacity. The man later filed a lawsuit in DuPage County against the building’s general contractor, Dubin & Associates, and subcontractor, Asbach & Vanselow, alleging their negligence caused his traumatic head injury.

The worker’s lawsuit reportedly relied heavily on a medical study recently conducted on former National Football League players. Researchers purportedly analyzed the brain function of former players who endured head injuries while playing professional football and found that a single concussion could cause permanent issues with an individual’s brain function. Many of those issues were allegedly similar to those experienced by the injured worker.

Unfortunately, thousands of workers throughout the United States are hurt or killed in construction accidents each year. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created OSHA in an effort to reduce or eliminate such worker injuries and deaths. The Act requires employers to provide workers with a reasonably safe working environment, safety training, information regarding possible workplace safety hazards, and more. In addition, employers must comply with all federal health and safety regulations. When a serious workplace injury occurs, OSHA will normally investigate whether an employer complied with established safety standards.

In general, Chicago workplace accidents are subject to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. The Act generally precludes an employer from being held responsible for workplace accidents. Still, in some cases a third party who failed to adhere to state or federal safety regulations may be held liable for a worker’s injury. A general contractor, architect, equipment manufacturer, and others may be sued for negligence when a worker is hurt in a preventable construction accident. Because the amount of time during which you may file a lawsuit is limited, you should contact a hardworking attorney to discuss your options for financial recovery following any Chicago construction accident injury.
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