DePaolo & Zadeikis Blog Posts

In bicycle accidents caused by blocked lanes, the party responsible for blocking the lane is often liable for damages. Therefore, in accidents resulting from vehicles in bike lanes, the driver of the vehicle obstructing the bike lane is typically held liable for the resulting bicycle crash. However, depending on the circumstances of the accident, other parties could share liability for the accident, including the cyclist involved. Understanding how bike lane accident liability works is crucial for cyclists looking to pursue compensation for their injuries.

When cars don’t give cyclists enough space when overtaking, they can cause accidents that could lead to severe injuries or fatalities for the cyclists. Passing too closely could lead to the cyclist being hit directly, losing control, or swerving. Most states have laws requiring drivers to maintain a safe distance when overtaking cyclists, and failure to do so could lead to legal liability if an accident occurs.

Delivery drivers can get workers’ comp after a bicycle or e-bike crash in Illinois if they’re classified as employees and the crash occurred while they were performing their job duties. Workers’ compensation benefits are less likely to apply if the injured delivery driver is an independent contractor, off duty, or running personal errands at the time of the accident. Eligibility for workers’ compensation depends on the delivery driver’s employment terms and the circumstances of the accident. 

Liability for bicycle dooring accidents in Chicago typically falls on the person who opened the car door. Dooring accidents occur when an occupant of a vehicle suddenly opens a door into a cyclist’s path, causing the cyclist to collide with the door or avoid it by swerving into traffic, risking being struck by a moving car or truck. These accidents can cause severe injuries and even death.

Permanent and temporary disability benefits are a component of Illinois workers’ compensation that compensates workers for the wages lost because of the inability to perform their normal job duties. However, these disability benefits have key differences in purpose, duration, and payment structure. Understanding temporary vs. permanent disability benefits is crucial in determining the type of benefits you’re entitled to and ensuring you receive full compensation after a work-related injury in Chicago.

Plastic surgery is often sold as simple, safe, and transformative. But, when something goes wrong, the damage can be life-changing, or even fatal. Mistakes during cosmetic procedures can lead to serious injury, permanent disfigurement, or even death. Such was the case for a 39-year-old Chicago mother who went in for a routine liposuction procedure in November 2019 and died due to preventable complications.

A Belleville nursing home is under scrutiny following troubling allegations of abuse involving one of its residents. A certified nursing assistant was accused of biting a resident’s finger and causing visible injuries to the resident’s face, including a laceration and a black eye. 

A new Illinois law is setting stronger protections for one of the state’s most vulnerable populations—nursing home residents. House Bill 2474, signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in March 2025, addresses a longstanding issue: retaliation against residents who speak up about mistreatment, unsafe conditions, or inadequate care.

Skyscrapers create unique legal issues due to the high risks of injury and death on the job that workers face when working at towering heights and the legal complications surrounding liability for construction injuries. Illinois laws, the multiple parties involved, and complex insurance policies make navigating these cases more challenging.

State investigators recently determined that medication mismanagement on the part of the Goldwater Care nursing home in Gibson City directly led to a resident’s death. The resident died after receiving the wrong dosage of a powerful blood thinner for nearly a month.