Being pulled over on the suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) can create a situation where people feel the need to prove their innocence then and there. In doing so, they may think that they have no choice other than to complete a field sobriety test when prompted by the officer who pulled them over. 

While the logic makes sense, in all actuality, you do not have to agree to a field sobriety test in Illinois. Many people are not aware of this, but that is often because officers do not offer up that information unprovoked because it is not in their best interest to do so. 

However, knowing your rights is in your best interest, including the right to refuse a field sobriety test in Illinois. 

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The process of filing claims or lawsuits after a car accident can be overwhelming. When another driver hits you, the process of exchanging information, contacting a lawyer, and filing a lawsuit or personal injury claim may sound straightforward. But what do you do if the driver who hits your vehicle is an Uber driver who is on the clock? Is the process of filing a lawsuit involving a rideshare driver different? 

Determining Liability in Ridesharing Accidents 

To start with, it is imperative to determine liability, which is not always easy to decipher. You will have a perspective in terms of who you believe is at fault for the accident, but in order for your viewpoint to be recognized as a fact, negligence needs to be proven on part of the rideshare driver. 

Not only is negligence a difficult factor to prove, but there are also opposing parties who may have different recollections as to what happened. If you have a dashcam or a nearby witness captured footage of the crash, this visual documentation of events as they unfolded is invaluable. 

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Driving while drunk is a criminal offense in the state of Illinois. As such, if you are pulled over because you have been found to be operating a motor vehicle with alcohol in your system, you could be subjected to an array of penalties for breaking the law. 

Illinois Laws Regarding Driving While Drunk 

In Illinois, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) equal to or greater than 0.08% is considered intoxicated per se.  In other words, anyone driving a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration that exceeds 0.079% is considered to be driving while drunk. However, it is possible to face arrest for driving under the influence even if your BAC is under the legal limit. It is also illegal to operate a vehicle if you are impaired by prescription medications or controlled substances. 

Individuals who are operating commercial vehicles, such as school bus drivers, with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.04% are also legally drunk in the eyes of Illinois law. If you are under the age of twenty-one and operating any type of motor vehicle in Illinois, you can face penalties under the Illinois Zero Tolerance policy if your blood-alcohol concentration exceeds zero. 

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The winter months are upon us, and this is the perfect time of year for anyone who thrives in colder temperatures. From snow and sleet to ice, the winter season can be very enjoyable when you are prepared. Similarly, driving in the wintertime is manageable when you are properly equipped for the road conditions. But if you do not know what to expect and you head out on the road without preparation, you risk getting injured in a car accident.

Invisible Ice, Snow, and Sleet on the Road 

It is imperative to practice safety measures all year, but prioritizing safety is especially important during the winter months. The weather plays a key role in many seasonal accidents, particularly when it comes to sleet, ice, and snow on the road. 

As a driver, not all of these conditions are easy to detect, namely black ice and sleet. It is advisable to look into proper protocol when it comes to driving along ice, sleet, or snow. For instance, do you know what to do in the moment if your car begins sliding along a sheet of ice? 

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Trucks play a critical role in U.S. commerce. In fact, it could be said that if trucks ground to a halt, the American economy would grind to a halt as well. Although the economic benefit is undeniable, there are negative externalities to having so many large trucks on the road. For example, thousands of Americans are injured or killed in large truck accidents annually. Of course, many of these crashes involve a truck colliding with another vehicle. However, in other instances, the damage is not caused by the rig itself, but by what is inside of it. Semi-truck cargo spills are responsible for serious traffic accidents on Illinois roads every year. When a truck loses the cargo it is hauling, the potential for destruction is immense. The cargo could pose a hazard to other vehicles, and the truck may become imbalanced and either tip over or enter a jackknife. Victims are often left with debilitating injuries and may take months or even years to recover from. Additionally, they could face other obstacles, like medical debt and job loss. Although their circumstances are often dire, they may have legal recourse if the crash was a result of negligence or wrongdoing.

Who Could Be Liable for Truck Cargo Spill Accidents?

When people think of liable parties in the truck accident context, they tend to think of the driver; however, many different parties may actually be liable.

For example, if a driver was frequently told by the trucking company to disobey Hours of Service rules limiting a driver’s daily road hours, the trucking company may be liable. If the crash was caused by defective equipment such as defective tiedowns, the company that designed, manufactured, or sold the equipment may be liable. Though rare, if poor road conditions caused the truck driver to lose control and the cargo to break loose, the government agency responsible for road upkeep may even be liable for damages.

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