In warm weather months, many Chicago-area residents head outdoors for leisure activities, such as running or biking. For pet owners, summer is an ideal time for taking their dogs on long walks. While the vast majority of dogs are friendly and docile, others can show signs of aggression, especially toward children who can often lack the ability to recognize aggressive or dangerous behavior. Below are some of the health ramifications due to dog bites as well as the steps that should be taken to ensure you will receive the compensation you and your family deserve.

The Dangers of Dog Bites

According to studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dog bite injuries are much more common than people would like to assume. Estimates by the CDC found that approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur throughout the United States each year. Considering the fact that children are much smaller in stature,  bites in sensitive areas such as the neck and head can result in facial scarring and significant damage to the throat.

On June 11, a Palatine man was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident in Elgin. Despite the fact that he was wearing a helmet, the injuries suffered in the collision ultimately proved fatal. Every year, thousands of people are fatally injured in motorcycle accidents throughout the United States.

According to statistics compiled by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), just under 5,000 people were fatally injured in motorcycle accidents, throughout 2017. Due to the limited protection that motorcycles provide their riders, the injuries suffered can be increasingly life-threatening. Motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries in an accident, than standard motor vehicle passengers. If you or a loved one is injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to significant injury compensation.

Seeking Injury Compensation

In the aftermath of a serious injury, it is entirely common to feel helpless. For motorcyclists, injuries suffered can range from spinal cord injuries to brain trauma. These types of serious injuries can leave a person with astronomical medical expenses and an inability to return to work for some time. Because of the severity of many motorcycle injuries, it is incredibly important to secure compensation in the aftermath of an injury.

Every year, thousands of bicyclists are seriously injured in accidents, throughout the United States. In many of these instances, the accidents involve an automobile. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 783 bicyclists were fatally injured throughout 2017, in accidents involving automobiles. Due to the limited protection that cyclists have while riding (even when wearing proper protective gear, and helmets), the injuries suffered in a collision with a standard motor vehicle can be life altering. In a significant number of these collisions, the accident was caused by the negligence of the motorist. Below we will examine simple steps you can take to secure injury compensation, in the case of a bicycle accident.

Speak with an Attorney

After a collision of any magnitude, the first and most important step you can take is to speak with an attorney. Even if you are not looking to secure injury compensation in an accident, a quality attorney can examine the events that lead up to the accident and prove whether or not your actions or the actions of the other party caused the collision. Selecting an attorney you can trust can be a difficult proposition. In order to know you are making the right decision, you should meet with the attorney in person and take an extensive look into their prior client experience.

Once you have hired an attorney it is important to take them through the events that caused the collision. If you have decided to pursue some form of injury compensation, the attorney must prove that you did not act in a negligent manner that added to the likelihood of the collision. In instances of bicycle accidents, negligence could come in the form of riding down a one-way street down the wrong direction, running a stop sign, or swerve in and out of traffic.

Every single year, thousands of Americans suffer injuries in rear-end collisions. From whiplash to traumatic brain injuries, even low speed rear-end collisions can result in significant injury. In many cases, these injuries can cost a person thousands in medical expenses while impacting their overall quality of life. Due to the monetary ramifications of many of these collisions, it is incredibly important to secure injury compensation from the responsible party. In order to secure the compensation you deserve, you must establish who was at fault for the collision. In the event of a motor vehicle collision, seek out quality legal assistance, as soon as possible.

Who Was the Responsible Party?

In the aftermath of the collision, you need to hire a skilled legal professional. After hiring your attorney, the two of you will examine the events that led up to the collision. This is done to explore whether or not the other party involved in the accident was acting in a negligent manner.

Rear-Driver Negligence: In the vast majority of rear-end collisions, the driver of the rear vehicle is responsible for the collision. It should come as no surprise that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of rear-end collisions. With the drastic rise in cell-phone use, many drivers are electing to text and drive. Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds, can be incredibly dangerous and constitute negligence. Speeding is also a leading cause of rear-end collisions.

Here in the state of Illinois, law enforcement officials are constantly on the lookout for inebriated drivers. According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, more than 27,000 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, throughout 2017 alone. Despite that fact, drunk driving is still a significant safety threat to travelers throughout the state. In 2017, alcohol was the primary cause of approximately 30% of all statewide traffic fatalities. In all, drunk driving leads to 330 fatalities, throughout 2017. If you or a loved one suffer an injury in a car accident, involving a drunk driver, it is important to contact an experienced attorney.

A Deeper Dive

Perhaps it should come as no surprise, that many drunk driving collisions occur during night-time driving hours. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, 32% of all fatal drunk driving collisions, in 2016, occurred between midnight and 4:00 am. Equally unsurprising is the fact that 41% of all deadly drunk driving accidents occurred on either Friday or Saturday. Tragically, drinking and driving can impact every kind of traveler. Drunk drivers are less likely to react to pedestrians or bicyclists, due to diminished reaction time and blurred vision.

With summer fast approaching, it should be noted that drinking and driving is more prevalent on holidays. Here in the United States, the Fourth of July is a notorious day for drinking and driving. Nationwide, 146 people were fatally injured in drunk driving collisions on July 4th, 2015. In the state of Illinois, more than 21% of all traffic fatalities that occurred on July 4th, 2016, were due to the irresponsible actions of drunk drivers. For additional information on how to react to a drunk driving collision, speak with a knowledgeable legal professional.