Bars in Illinois are mostly places for harmless nights of fun with friends. People like to gather in bars to watch their favorite Chicago sports teams or just to sit back and relax after a long workweek. Unfortunately, not every trip to the bar ends on good terms. While most patrons mind their own business, some people struggle to control themselves under the influence of alcohol. Lowered inhibitions make disputes over even minor disagreements more likely; an audience of eager onlookers will often egg on an otherwise unlikely fight. 

Unlike in movies, where bar fights result in the good guy leaving triumphant and the bad guys laying still on the floor, bar fights in real life can cause serious injuries that require time-consuming and expensive treatment. If you have been assaulted in a bar fight, you may want to hold the party who injured you responsible in a personal injury lawsuit. 

Common Injuries Caused By Illinois Bar Fights

Because bars are full of glass and lightweight furniture, injuries from items that are thrown or smashed can be serious and even life-threatening. Other injuries resulting from physical contact with another person can be just as serious; facial injuries are among the most common and often require extensive reconstructive surgery to minimize long-term scarring and disfigurement. Other injuries include, but are not limited to: 

For many people, the worst thing they can imagine is the death of a loved one. Even if a person dies of natural causes at the end of a long life, family members may struggle with grief and sorrow as they deal with this loss. However, an untimely death can be much worse, and in addition to dealing with the emotional fallout, family members may also experience significant financial difficulties. In cases where a person was killed because of someone else’s actions, their loved ones may pursue a wrongful death lawsuit, and they will need to understand the types of compensation that they may be able to receive.

Damages Available in Wrongful Death Claims

Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, a person’s spouse and next of kin (which may include their children or other dependents who relied on the person for financial support) may pursue compensation from the person or party who was responsible for their loved one’s death. A wrongful death lawsuit may seek multiple types of damages, including:

• Lost income and benefits - If the deceased person was one of the primary income earners for a family, the loss of this income may cause significant difficulties for their spouse and children. The survivors may seek compensation for the income that the person would have been expected to earn throughout their natural lifetime, as well as any related benefits, such as health insurance or retirement savings.

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Even though fall accidents may seem like minor incidents, they can result in multiple types of serious injuries. A person who slips on a wet floor or trips over an obstacle can suffer bone fractures in the wrists, ankles, knees, or hips, traumatic brain injuries when they strike their head on the ground, spinal cord injuries, or dislocations in joints such as the shoulders or knees. When slip and fall accidents take place at a retail store, victims should be sure to understand when the store’s owner may be held liable for their injuries.

Property Owner Negligence and Premises Liability

Property owners must take reasonable steps to protect customers’ safety or anyone else who was invited to visit the property. This responsibility also extends to a tenant who is in control of property, including stores that lease space where they conduct business. An owner’s responsibility is known as a “duty of care,” and it requires them to correct any hazards that may endanger the safety of visitors or ensure that customers are warned about the potential risks that they may face due to these hazards.

There are multiple ways that a store owner may violate their duty of care, including:

While all types of motor vehicle collisions can be dangerous, those involving trains can be especially deadly. Due to the massive size and momentum of trains, any other vehicles involved in these types of collisions are likely to suffer extreme damage, and drivers and passengers may experience severe bodily harm or fatal injuries. Many train accidents occur at railroad crossings, and in these cases, those who have been struck by a train will need to understand who was responsible for their injuries and their options for pursuing compensation for their injuries.

Causes of Railroad Crossing Accidents

When a vehicle or pedestrian is struck by a train at a railroad crossing, multiple parties may be at fault, including:

• A railroad company - A collision may be caused by the negligence of a train operator, such as the failure to brake properly or use a horn to warn that a train is approaching a crossing. The company that employed the train operator may be held liable for the operator’s negligence. A railroad company may also be liable for accidents that occurred because it did not properly maintain equipment, such as the brakes or couplings on a train or the rails or switching equipment on a railroad. A railroad company is also responsible for maintaining safety equipment at railroad crossings, such as gates, lights, and signals, and a company may be liable for accidents that occurred because of faulty equipment.

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An animal attack or bite can cause severe injuries and possibly wrongful death for the victim. Thankfully, the state of Illinois maintains a level of control over animals. The law regulating animal attacks in Illinois is known as the Animal Control Act. According to the Animal Control Act, if a dog or other animal, without being provoked, attacks, or injures a peaceable person who is legally allowed to be where he or she is at the time of the attack, the owner of the animal is liable for civil damages to the victim caused by the attack. 

What Is Included in the Animal Control Act?

The Animal Control Act applies to all animals, however, dogs are typically the most likely culprit in an attack. If a person’s pet were to attack another person, the Animal Control Act could hold the pet owner liable for the related injuries and damages. Damages include medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, disability, disfigurement, lost wages, and other damages. However, this does require proof if the victim wishes to pursue a claim against the animal owner.