For some people, enjoying a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, roller-coaster, or other ride is the highlight of a trip to an amusement park or fair. For others, just the thought of riding one of these rides is enough to put knots in their stomach. While the vast majority of amusement park, carnival, and fair rides are completely safe, accidents do happen. Sometimes a ride glitches because it has not been properly maintained. Other times, a ride operator makes a mistake and causes a malfunction.

 Whatever the reason, ride accidents are usually horrifying for the individuals on the ride as well as spectators watching from the ground. When negligent design, manufacture, construction, or operation is the cause of a ride accident which causes injury or death, a personal injury lawsuit can help recover damages.

Broken Track Being Blamed for Roller-Coaster Breakdown

An Illinois woman is reportedly out of the hospital after falling from a roller-coaster last month. The 45-year-old woman was attending the Plainfield Fest carnival when she decided to ride a roller coaster called the Iron Dragon. Another passenger on the Iron Dragon said, “Things started to feel really unstable. It felt like we sloped inward and crashed down… I saw a woman fly by me.”  Fortunately, the woman only fell about five feet. She was treated at a local hospital and released the same day. The accident is currently being investigated by the Illinois Department of Labor, Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division.

It is no secret that riding a motorcycle is extremely dangerous and could result in permanent or fatal injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,172 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in 2017. While driving a motorcycle is dangerous regardless of the situation, there are some preventative safety measures that can be taken to better protect yourself while riding on the roads.

What Can I Do Before Getting on my Motorcycle?

Driving a motorcycle requires different skills than operating your average car does. Motorcycle licenses are required in addition to a typical automobile driver’s license. One should spend ample time practicing in a controlled space before heading to busier roads. Inexperienced drivers can be the most dangerous.

Like any vehicle, motorcycles must be checked to ensure that everything is in proper working order. Many do not self-check their cars after taking them to the mechanic for a routine checkup. Motorcycle drivers should be taking additional measures. The NHTSA suggests checking the tire pressure and tread depth, hand and foot brakes, headlights and signal indicators, and fluid levels before riding your motorcycle.

Many people enjoy riding their bicycles in the summer, especially after a long winter. In Illinois, cyclists must obey the same traffic laws, signs, and signals that apply to motor vehicles. For example, bicyclists are required by law to ride in the same direction as vehicle traffic. However, even though bikes have the same rights as other vehicles, cyclists are much more likely to be injured in a motor vehicle collision.

Road rage is one issue that can have a significant impact on bicyclists. An aggressive driver who strikes a bicycle is likely to cause serious or fatal injuries. If you are hurt while riding your bike due to a road rage incident, you should seek legal advice and learn about your options for pursuing compensation from the driver who injured you.   

When you receive medical treatment or undergo surgery, you expect to receive the best possible care, including all necessary safety precautions and procedures. Unfortunately, that does not always occur. According to a Johns Hopkins study, more than 250,000 Americans die each year due to medical errors, while many thousands more are seriously injured, including long-term and permanent disabilities.

Many of these accidents are due to the negligence of medical staff and physicians, known legally as medical malpractice. Improperly trained staff and errors in judgment or care cause many injuries that severely impact an individual’s quality of life. If this happened to you or a loved one, contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can fight for the compensation your family deserves.

An enjoyable neighborhood walk or bike ride can turn nightmarish if you encounter an aggressive dog. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says around 4.7 million dog bites occur each year, with approximately 800,000 that require medical treatment. While large dogs like pit bulls and German shepherds can cause severe and disfiguring bite injuries, even small dogs can seriously injury such as attacking a bicyclist and causing a bike accident. These injuries can create high medical costs, loss of wages due to injury including unnecessary pain and suffering. In some instances, compensation for personal injury can be sought from the dog owner due to their negligence and inability to control their pet.

Rights of Dog Bite Victims

Most dog owners make mistakes and are unaware of the danger their pet possess. However, many are irresponsible and still take them out in public for walks and runs despite the risk of causing an accident or their animal attacking others nearby. Regardless of the circumstances, the Illinois Animal Control Act states that if a dog injured you and you did not provoke the animal or trespass on the owner’s property, the owner is liable for all costs related to your injuries. If you were peaceably conducting yourself in a location in which you were lawfully present, the owner is responsible for any injuries sustained.

Dog Attack Compensation

Dog bite injuries are typically covered by an individual’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. In this situation, an attorney will negotiate with the insurer for an agreeable injury settlement. If a negligent dog owner does not have sufficient insurance or has no coverage at all, they can be sued as part of a personal injury lawsuit. State law dictates there is no cap on damages compensation for dog bite injuries.