Chicago Illinois Legal Blog

Navigating an Illinois roadway can be dangerous whether you are driving, riding as a passenger or walking. Motor vehicle accidents often occur suddenly, with little to no notice, resulting in serious, even life-threatening injuries. Perhaps, you were sitting at a red light when another car crashed into your vehicle from behind.

This type of accident is common, and is often caused by drivers who were distracted instead of focused on the task at hand. Someone reading a text message may not notice that traffic has slowed or stopped entirely. Alcohol consumption is another common factor of collisions at traffic lights or intersections. It is not your responsibility to make sure a stranger does not get behind the wheel with a blood alcohol content that exceeds the legal limit.

Some jobs in Illinois are more dangerous than others. Nearly every worker in every type of industry can suffer a personal injury on the job. There several workplace injuries that are most common in the average job setting. Even if a person works behind a desk in an office, it pays to have a basic understanding of the workers' compensation claim process in case an injury or legal problem arises.

Heat-related injuries such as burns are among the most common across the country. Nearly 16,000 workers suffer thermal injuries every year. Such injuries typically necessitate taking six or more days off work to recover. Those who are regularly exposed to the elements as well as those who work near chemicals and other hazardous substances are at risk for these types of injuries.

There are approximately 13,000 mines in the United States, some of which are located in Illinois. The mining industry is prone to workplace accidents. In fact, it is known to be one of the most dangerous industries of all. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it has come up with a way to keep miners safer on the job.

As many as 6,000 workers are injured in mines every year. While some miners suffer injuries in unexpected accidents, others develop lung diseases and other illnesses due to exposure to toxins in the workplace. The CDC claims that failure to implement safety procedures and adhere to regulations increases the number of worker injuries that occur in the mining industry.

Like most other states, Illinois roadways are often highly congested with traffic that is moving at highway speeds. It often takes great caution, alertness and swift reactions to avoid a collision. When drivers are addicted to smartphones, they tend to use their phones while driving, even when there are laws prohibiting it. In fact, many motor vehicle accidents are caused by distracted drivers who were using smartphones at the time.

One can often recognize a smartphone addict by certain symptoms. For instance, a person who becomes angry or agitated upon losing access to his or her phone is suggestive of addiction. This person might also have trouble sleeping at night due to too much blue screen light during the day. If he or she also has trouble keeping still without looking at his or her phone every few minutes, it is logical to assume that the individual has become addicted to the phone.