Commercial drivers are a crucial part of the American economy, especially in a world where Covid and other challenges prevent easy or regular access to stores. More people than ever are doing the majority of their shopping online, and the significant supply disruptions that occur when truckers are overworked or unavailable attest to the importance of these jobs. 

Although commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders are essential to helping our daily lives continue normally, they are human just like everyone else and sometimes make serious mistakes like drinking or taking drugs before driving. A DUI on a commercial driver’s license can have serious consequences, to say nothing of what can happen when a big rig driver loses control of his truck because he is not thinking clearly. If you are facing DUI charges on your CDL, get help from an aggressive criminal defense attorney right away. 

The Legal Alcohol Limit Is Lower for CDL Drivers

While the legal alcohol limit is .08 for standard drivers and even for Uber and Lyft drivers, CDL drivers are restricted to a blood alcohol limit of just .04. For drivers, especially female drivers, this can be as few as two drinks. This means that even if a driver does not feel drunk, he or she may still be over the legal limit for CDL drivers. 

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One of the best parts of summer is enjoying the warm weather by the side of a swimming pool. Kids stay busy and parents enjoy having the kids out of the house and tuckered out at the end of the day. However, pools also come with serious injury risks, as thousands of people, both children and adults, are injured in swimming pools every year in America. 

Many of the children who are injured will face a long, uphill battle toward recovery. Their parents will likewise struggle with the healing process as they face expensive medical and rehabilitative treatment for their child, as well as the emotional burden of helping their child recover from their injuries. If you or your child are injured in a preventable Illinois swimming pool accident this summer, it may be helpful to know the basics of Illinois premises liability law and have the help of an experienced swimming pool injury attorney. 

When Is a Pool Owner Responsible for an Injury? 

The law in Illinois requires swimming pool owners to maintain their property, provide appropriate security around the pool, and keep the pool and the surrounding area free from safety hazards. This is true whether the pool is in a private backyard, an apartment complex, or a public swimming pool. 

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Summer is in full swing in Illinois and kids are out of school. For young adults that just graduated high school or are visiting from college for the summer, the freedom can be downright intoxicating. Add literal intoxicants like THC or alcohol, and the mix can sometimes be disastrous. 

Young adults—young men, in particular—generally still do not have a fully developed frontal lobe, which is the part of the brain responsible for making decisions and accurately predicting the consequences of those decisions. When drugs, alcohol, or peer pressure are added to the inevitable lack of maturity and underdeveloped decision-making skills that come with young age, risk-taking behaviors increase. While most activities are relatively harmless—and even those that are harmful are often escaped without causing serious damage—sometimes the consequences of poor decisions require the help of an Illinois criminal defense attorney. 

Certain Types of Crime Are More Common During Summer Months

While men and women, old and young, are all capable of committing criminal acts, certain types of crime tend to be almost exclusively committed by young men. Immaturity may not be an excuse for committing crimes, but it is at least an explanation for many of them. The most common crimes committed by young adults during the summer months include: 

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As the Fourth of July approaches, experts are urging families and individuals who plan to use fireworks to use extreme caution when handling these dangerous products. While fireworks may seem harmless, every year tens of thousands of Americans are injured by even the smallest fireworks, including sparklers and snaps or poppers. Practice firework safety this summer season, and if you do sustain an injury because of someone else’s reckless actions, speak with an Illinois personal injury attorney to see if you can take action. 

Common Firework Injuries

There are gruesome videos online demonstrating the explosive force of fireworks on human dummies, allowing skeptics can see just how powerful and dangerous fireworks can be. People frequently sustain serious injuries from fireworks, including: 

• Burns
• Lacerations and cuts
• Open wounds and hemorrhaging 
• Injured facial bones
• Reproductive tissue injuries, especially for males
• Vision and hearing loss
• Concussions and brain injuries 

When Can Someone Recover Damages for a Firework Injury? 

If the person using the firework was negligent or reckless, and their behavior causes you an injury that results in damages, you may be able to bring a legal claim against them. People frequently recover compensation for physical pain and suffering, lost wages, lost quality of life, and medical bills. 

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While Illinois has legalized recreational marijuana, there are still boundaries around when and where it can be safely used. Like alcohol, marijuana is an intoxicant that muddles the body and brain’s typical responses to stimuli. Although many people feel as though they can safely drive after ingesting cannabis, research shows that a high driver’s chances of getting into a car accident increase dramatically. However, unlike alcohol, getting a ticket for driving with cannabis in a driver’s bloodstream is complicated because THC can remain in your system for many days after the last time it is used. If you have been pulled over and charged with driving under the influence of marijuana, here are three things you should know before you call an Illinois DUI defense attorney who can help you fight the charges.

Even If an Officer Smells Marijuana, They Cannot Search You Without a Warrant

Previously, Illinois used the so-called “plain smell” rule that allowed officers to search a vehicle without a warrant if he or she claimed to smell marijuana. But after a 2021 circuit court ruling, the smell of marijuana is no longer a probable cause for a warrantless vehicle search. If a police officer says he smells marijuana, you do not need to let him search your car. You also do not need to consent to chemical testing, although refusing a chemical test still might lead to your immediate arrest.

You Can Fail a Drug Test Even If You Are Not High

Because frequent users of cannabis can test positive for THC in their system long after they last used it, chemical tests can suggest a driver was high even if he or she was not. More than 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood can result in a DUI conviction unless the driver is a medical marijuana user, and it can be difficult to fight the prosecutor’s case by claiming you were not high at the time of arrest. 

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