Personal Injury Deposition Questions: How Illinois Claimants Can Prepare
Personal injury deposition questions often cover how an accident happened, your injuries, medical treatment, work history, and changes in daily life. Preparing means reviewing the facts with your attorney and learning how to give accurate answers under oath. You do not need a perfect memory, and you should never guess or memorize a script. For […]
Car Accident While Pregnant in Illinois: Medical Records, Insurance, and Injury Claims
If you are in a car accident while pregnant, seek medical attention promptly, even if you feel uninjured. Tell the treating team that you are pregnant and contact your prenatal care provider. Medical care comes before photographs, insurance calls, or deciding whether to make a claim. An Illinois injury claim then depends on evidence of […]
Are Personal Injury Settlements Taxable? An Illinois Claimant’s Guide
Personal injury settlements are not automatically taxable. Federal law generally excludes compensatory damages paid because of personal physical injuries or physical sickness. Punitive damages, settlement interest, and certain other payments can be taxable, even when they arrive in the same check. For Illinois claimants, state income-tax treatment generally follows federal treatment. The practical question is […]
Illinois Car Seat Laws: Age, Height, and Booster-Seat Rules for Parents
Illinois car seat laws generally require children younger than 8 to be properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system. Children younger than 2 must ride rear-facing in covered vehicles unless they weigh at least 40 pounds or stand at least 40 inches tall. A child’s eighth birthday does not necessarily mean an adult seat […]
Is Lane Splitting Legal in Illinois? What Injured Motorcycle Riders Should Know
No. Illinois does not permit ordinary motorcycle lane splitting, including riding between rows of stopped traffic. A rider may face a traffic citation for an unlawful passing or lane-use maneuver. If a crash happens, however, lane splitting does not automatically decide who owes compensation. An injured rider’s claim depends on how the collision occurred, whether […]
Wrongful Death vs. Survival Action in Illinois: What Is the Difference?
The main difference between a wrongful death claim and a survival action in Illinois is whose losses the claim addresses. A wrongful death action seeks compensation for the surviving spouse and eligible next of kin because of the death. A survival action preserves certain claims the deceased person had while alive, with recovery generally belonging […]
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in Illinois?
In Illinois, a wrongful death lawsuit is brought by the deceased person’s personal representative for the benefit of the surviving spouse and eligible next of kin. A spouse, child, or parent does not file a separate lawsuit simply because of that family relationship, but may be able to serve as the court-authorized representative. If no […]
Can You Sue the City of Chicago for a Sidewalk Injury?
Yes, you may be able to sue the City of Chicago for a sidewalk injury. A successful claim requires more than showing that you fell on public property. You must establish an applicable duty, an unsafe condition, a breach that caused your injuries, and the required notice of the condition. Governmental defenses can also affect […]
Who Is Responsible for an Elevator or Escalator Injury in Illinois?
Learn who may be responsible for an Illinois elevator or escalator injury, how duties differ, what evidence matters, and which filing deadlines may apply.
Falling Merchandise Liability in Illinois Stores
Who is liable for falling merchandise injuries in Illinois stores? Learn how to prove negligence, what compensation you may recover, and how to protect your claim. Free consultation.