The death of a loved one is a terrible shock. In addition to the grief survivors suffer, plans for the future must be completely recalibrated; for example, when the deceased individual is the primary breadwinner for a family, children are deprived both of a parent and that parent’s crucial financial support. In cases like these, a wrongful death lawsuit can be a lifeline for suffering families. If you recently lost a loved one and are wondering whether you can take legal action, read on. 

Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? 

Illinois law allows a person’s next of kin to recover damages for wrongful death. “Next of kin” is generally the decedent’s spouse and children. If the decedent is not married, children and sometimes even parents can file a lawsuit. For example, if an infant is killed during childbirth because of a medical mistake, the parents may be able to sue the doctor responsible for the error. 

If the person who died is not married and has no children, the people who may be considered “next of kin” may broaden to apply to other relatives like grandchildren or grandparents. Friends and fiancés are generally not considered next of kin.

People can be seriously injured when they slip, trip, or fall, and the hazards of poorly tended surfaces are heightened for elderly and disabled individuals. Accidentally falling is one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths in America, and millions of people are treated in the hospital for injuries sustained in falls. It is important to understand your rights in Illinois if you are injured when you slip and fall. You may be eligible to receive compensation from the responsible party for your injuries, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. 

How Does Illinois Premises Liability Law Work? 

The Illinois Premises Liability Act is intended to hold property owners and managers responsible if someone who has a right to be on the property is hurt because of carelessness or negligence on the part of the property owner. In some cases, property owners may be liable for injuries that occurred even when someone was trespassing. 

This is because property owners and managers have a responsibility, or a legal “duty,” to make sure people on the property are safe from injury. This involves keeping the property safely maintained and removing or alerting visitors about dangerous conditions as soon as they are known. 

The truckers and deliverymen and women who ensure the rest of Americans receive their packages and food on time often need to have commercial driver’s licenses (CDL). Getting a CDL requires extensive training in recognition of the serious responsibility that comes with driving vehicles carrying significant weight or dangerous substances. 

Because of this responsibility, Illinois law is highly circumspect when it comes to articulating CDL violations and the consequences such actions involve. If you are a CDL driver or want to be and have questions about license violations or reinstatement, speak with an attorney right away. 

Common CDL Violations

While certain violations, such as driving under the influence, might be more well-known, other violations may surprise you. Just a few common CDL violations include: 

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. 

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.