Many different things can cause car accidents, but one of the most common reasons cars and trucks crash is tire damage. Semi-trucks, especially, have heavy loads that bear down with great pressure on many tires, potentially exposing the vehicles around them to the risk of tires blowing, shredding, or otherwise breaking and causing serious accidents. 

Tire accidents can be especially difficult to prevent because the average person may not know when their tires are too worn to be used safely, leading them to inadvertently cause an accident through improper tire maintenance. Other times, serious injuries are caused when a tire manufacturer makes a defective tire, causing it to malfunction while in use. Still other crashes happen when truck drivers, inspectors, or cargo companies fail to appropriately inspect and maintain commercial trucks. If you were in a car accident because another driver’s tire blew out or shredded in the roadway, it is important to be able to prove this was the cause of the crash. 

Common Tire Defects and How to Prove They Caused a Crash

Although car crashes caused by tire issues can happen for many reasons, the most common include: 

Distracted driving, defined as any activity which diverts a driver’s attention from the road, is a major contributor to car crashes that cause severe injuries and death. In a national analysis on which states have the most serious problems with distracted driving fatalities, Illinois ranked number eight on the list - meaning it is one of the worst states for distracted driving deaths. 

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed by a distracted driver, taking action by filing an injury claim may be the last thing you feel like doing. But you do not have to suffer alone. An Illinois distracted driving car crash attorney can do the hard work of investigating the accident, collecting evidence, and pursuing compensation on your behalf through a negotiated settlement or lawsuit. 

What is Considered Distracted Driving? 

As the CDC notes, if you are driving at 55 miles an hour, taking your eyes off the road long enough to send a text is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

Some of the most gruesome road accidents occur when shifting loads fall off of commercial delivery trucks and crash into the roadway or hit other cars, pedestrians, or cyclists. Entire families can be killed and lives changed forever in a split second when truck accidents like this occur. Because the consequences of falling truck cargo can be so disastrous, there are strict federal regulations around loading trucks. Depending on the cause of the accident, the trucking company, the driver, or the company that loaded the truck may be held responsible. 

Who is Responsible for Falling Cargo Truck Accidents? 

In an effort to reduce shifting or falling cargo, federal regulations have been put into place that dictate how trucks may be loaded. Different loads require different ways of securing the material and trucking or shipping companies are responsible for making sure employees know how to secure cargo properly. Drivers are also responsible for making pre-trip inspections to make sure everything is loaded correctly and that the truck is fit to drive safely. 

Because there are potentially three parties involved in contributing to a trucking accident - the trucking company, the shipping company, and the driver - the nature of the crash may allow all three to be held responsible. All three parties should have comprehensive insurance coverage, and it is from this insurance that victims typically get their compensation. 

Even using the utmost caution, we spend at least eight hours a day at work, and eventually, most of us are bound to get hurt in one way or another. Although the number of fatal workplace injuries dipped somewhat in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, as the unemployment rate continues dropping, workplace injuries are expected to rise again. 

Illinois requires nearly every worker to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance provided by their employer. However, just because an employer has workers’ compensation insurance does not mean that they will be willing to pay or willing to pay fairly. Sometimes employers even flout the law and do not get workers’ compensation at all. If you have been injured at work, you may want to seriously consider getting help from an Illinois workers' compensation attorney who can help. 

What Does a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Do? 

The responsibility of a great workers’ compensation attorney is to secure the best possible outcome in your case. They know the system and the kinds of mistakes that often trip people up. Attorneys with experience resolving workers’ compensation cases also have the knowledge to go toe-to-toe with insurance companies and non-compliant employers. 

As our bodies age, natural changes occur that can make everyday activities more difficult. Eating and drinking, activities most of us take for granted throughout our lives, become much more challenging for many elderly adults. For those who live in nursing homes or assisted living centers, choking hazards are particularly dangerous because staff usually have to manage the needs of several residents at once. When a nursing home is understaffed or employees are poorly trained, residents can choke and suffer serious injuries and even death. If you have a loved one who has suffered from Illinois nursing home negligence in a choking incident, read on. 

How Common are Choking Accidents in Nursing Homes? 

Choking incidents are alarmingly common in the elderly population. Over half of people who die from choking every year in the United States are older than 74, making nursing home residents especially vulnerable to this dangerous risk. There are many reasons for this, including: 

• Reduced saliva - Saliva thins and production is reduced in elderly people, making it harder to break down food in the mouth and lubricate it as it moves down the throat. 

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