You can have a strong slip and fall case if no one saw you fall in Chicago. Illinois does not require eyewitness testimony to prove liability. Rather, what matters is your ability to show that a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries. You could do this through physical evidence, surveillance footage, incident reports, medical records, and expert assessments. With this type of proof, you may still qualify for compensation.
Property owners in Illinois could be liable for slip and fall injuries if a wet or slippery floor created an unreasonable risk, the owner knew or should have known about the risk, and did not warn people about the floor or fix the hazard. Having no wet floor sign could render a property owner responsible, but liability is not automatic.
If you were hit by a car outside a crosswalk in Illinois, liability depends on the facts of the accident, not automatically on where you crossed. State law does not prevent injured pedestrians from recovering compensation simply because they jaywalked. Drivers still owe a duty of care to avoid collisions and sometimes fall short of this duty because of behaviors such as speeding, driving distracted, or driving under the influence. Illinois comparative fault rules determine whether and how much compensation you, as a pedestrian, can recover.
Your employer can’t force you to work light duty after a work injury in Illinois if the light duty exceeds your medical restrictions. However, refusing an employer’s light-duty offer that aligns with your medical restrictions could result in the loss of your workers’ compensation payments for temporary disability. You also risk losing your job. It’s important to seek legal advice from a workers’ compensation lawyer if you’re unsure about accepting a light-duty assignment.
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.
Bicycles have narrower tires, fewer shock-absorption features, less stability, and lack the protective metal casing that vehicles have. These factors make bicycles more vulnerable to potholes and poor road maintenance, causing serious accidents and injuries in Chicago, such as head trauma, dental injuries, road rash, fractures, and spinal injuries. Understanding the factors behind why poorly maintained roads cause bicycle accidents and the liability issues in such situations can help you protect yourself and seek justice if you’re involved in a crash.
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.
