Personal Injury Law Blog

Two little known causes of truck accidents

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. on Thursday, September 20, 2018.

Being a passenger in a vehicle can be freeing in some ways. You don't necessarily have to pay attention to the traffic, you can use your phone and you could even fall asleep if you want to do so. However, it also puts you in a precarious position since you completely rely on other drivers to keep you safe.

You may agree with other motorists who believe that staying safe is especially important around 18-wheelers. The size and weight of these vehicles makes them a formidable presence on Illinois's roadways. You probably already know that factors such as distraction, impairment and fatigue contribute to a large number of these accidents, but other, lesser-known factors also contribute to a large number of crashes involving trucks.

Delayed symptoms could indicate serious brain injury

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. on Friday, June 22, 2018.

Brain injuries and trauma to the head are some of the most common types of car accident injuries. However, many people are unaware of the true impact of their injuries until days or even weeks after the initial impact. Delayed symptoms could still indicate a significant medical issue.

If you are an Illinois accident victim, you may feel unsure about the true impact your accident injuries immediately after an accident. With brain injuries, it is difficult to predict how they will affect a victim as every person is different and has a unique health history. As a victim of an accident caused by another driver, you have the right to recovery, even if facing delayed symptoms.

Was the truck driver in your crash too tired to safely drive?

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. posted in blog on Friday, March 23, 2018.

Truck accidents happen for a variety of reasons. Some of them may not be directly under a truck driver's control, such as weather, unexpected mechanical issues or other drivers on the road. However, many factors leading to these crashes are within the control of the driver.

For instance, failing to get adequate rest could lead to a serious or deadly accident. Even if a driver remains within his or her hours of service, that doesn't preclude the possibility that the driver was too tired to safely operate a big rig.

The supersized problem of distracted truckers

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. posted in blog on Tuesday, December 26, 2017.

You may never forget the day your life changed forever. On the other hand, you may mercifully have no memory of the tractor-trailer accident that caused you catastrophic injuries and perhaps claimed the life of a loved one. While that loss may have been precious to you, your loved one was among approximately 5,000 others who died in accidents with big rigs in a single year.

Most horrifying of all may have been the news that the driver of the truck was distracted at the time of the accident. Perhaps the driver did not even apply the brakes because he or she was looking away from the road and failed to see that your vehicle and others had stopped or slowed down. This scenario plays out too often on today's fast-paced highways.

Despite your efforts, you could still be a truck accident victim

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. posted in blog on Friday, November 10, 2017.

Like many Illinois residents, you may have a substantial fear of traveling the roadways alongside semi-trucks. These larger vehicles could do considerable damage to your vehicle or to you in the event that an accident takes place. Because of these potential outcomes, increased apprehension around semi-trucks often affects numerous travelers.

Because you certainly want to do your part when it comes to avoiding unnecessary risks when driving near tractor-trailers, you likely take precautions to remain safe. However, some potential errors on your part may not have crossed your mind, and therefore, you may wish to consider avoiding the following scenarios as well.

Should you seek damages for emotional duress after an accident?

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. posted in blog on Friday, June 23, 2017.

If you were hurt in a serious car accident, not only are you dealing with the physical implications of what happened to you, you could also find yourself dealing with severe emotional trauma as well. A harrowing accident can be devastating. It can leave you with damages and scars that you may not be able to see but which are just as real as any physical injury you may have.

Like other Illinois accident victims, you may not be aware that, if you suffered because of the actions of another person, you have the right to seek financial compensation for not only your injuries but your emotional duress as well. Working with an experienced attorney can help you understand what your potential claim may be worth and how you should proceed.

Is your whiplash injury really that serious?

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. posted in blog on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

In the few moments that it takes two cars to collide, your life could change. From extensive damage to your personal property, to lingering and painful injuries, it may not be easy for you to recover and move on after even a seemingly minor accident.

Whiplash is a common car accident injury, and it is one that can linger and cause problems for Illinois victims for months or years. If you received a diagnosis of this type of neck sprain or neck strain, you would be wise to take your injury seriously, and seek the medical and legal help necessary to fight for a full recovery.

Medical malpractice and the boundaries of informed consent

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, January 6, 2017.

Medical professionals in Aurora carry a heavy responsibility. Not only do they hold their patient's health and well-being in their hands, but they also have a duty to reasonably inform a patient about the care they are to receive so that the patient can provide informed consent to any medical procedure. Failing to obtain informed consent can lay the foundation for a medical malpractice lawsuit should something go wrong during the operation. Yet, even defining the boundaries of informed consent can be a challenging legal issue.

Although a doctor needs to inform a patient about the potential risks of a surgical procedure to be performed, some may wonder if he or she also needs to disclose additional information such as his or her experience as a surgeon. Generally speaking, there are two standards with regard to informed consent. The first is the reasonable patient standard, which looks at the matter from the patient's perspective. Illinois does not follow this approach. The second standard, and the one recognized in Illinois, is the reasonable physician standard. Here, a doctor must disclose the risks associated with an operation as well as the likely results and any alternatives that are available, but only to the extent that another doctor in the same circumstances would make.

Field sobriety test results may help impose liability

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. posted in Drunk Driving Accidents on Friday, December 30, 2016.

This time of year, many Illinois residents partake in alcoholic beverages, often as part of a social gathering. Although this can be done responsibly, some in the Chicago-area, and throughout Illinois, choose to drive after drinking. These individuals may think that they aren't intoxicated, or they might erroneously think that drinking makes them a better driver because they are more attentive, but this is far from the truth. The fact remains that these drunk drivers can cause devastating accidents that leave victims with extensive damages.

Victims who suffer serious injuries may want to pursue legal action in hopes of recovering compensation for their losses. In order to succeed on these claims, though, victims must prove that the defendant was negligent, and that negligence caused the accident and their injuries. In a case of drunk driving, this may mean showing intoxication.

Mandated sleep apnea screenings could save lives.

On behalf of Konicek & Dillon, P.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Thursday, December 29, 2016.

If you have been following our blog, you are familiar with the hazards big rigs present to others riding in passenger vehicles throughout the Chicagoland area. Earlier in December, we discussed federal regulations that require the submission of daily vehicle reports. When trucks are inspected upon the completion of a shift, the proper maintenance and motorist safety are promoted. While mandating regular reviews of semi-trucks will not completely erase the chance for a truck collision with an automobile, it will limit the opportunity for defective trucks to hit the road.

Another proposal by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) aims to reduce the number of trucking accidents even further. This past June, both agencies announced their intention to require commercial truck drivers to undergo screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder that reduces alertness in the afflicted.

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