Every year, there are a variety of new developments, perspectives, and insights that take place in the fields of personal injury and civil rights law. This can make it difficult to keep up with what is relevant in the ever-evolving legal space. However, at The Law Offices of David A. Kadzai, LLC, we strive to keep our clients informed about the law and the legal developments that may affect them, and we regularly publish blogs that provide helpful information about the legal issues we help clients address. Here is a list of our most-read blogs for 2022:

1. What Can I Do if I Am Falsely Arrested and Imprisoned in Illinois? - This blog explains the rights to due process that apply to all Americans and the steps people can take to respond to violations of these rights by law enforcement.

2. Can an Interrogation Violate My Civil Rights? - This blog looks at illegal tactics police may use during an interrogation to coerce confessions, including the use of violence.

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If you or a member of your family have suffered a serious injury, you may be unsure of how to proceed, especially if someone else was responsible. Making sure you receive the proper medical care can be confusing and difficult enough on its own, but if your ability to work has been affected, you and your family may be facing significant financial difficulties. To make matters more confusing, you may have been contacted by attorneys who claim that they can help you receive financial compensation, but you probably do not know how to choose the right attorney to help with your situation. By understanding the factors that may affect your choice of a personal injury lawyer, you can be sure that you are making the best decision for your case.

Questions to Ask When Selecting a Personal Injury Attorney

As you determine whether a lawyer will be the best person to represent you in your injury case, you will want to consider:

• Does the attorney have experience in personal injury cases? Many lawyers and law firms provide multiple types of services for clients. While a firm may market itself as a provider of personal injury services, it may focus primarily on other areas, such as family law, criminal defense, estate planning, or real estate. To make sure a lawyer will be able to provide you with the representation you need, you will want to make sure they have the necessary experience and devote a significant amount of their practice to personal injury cases.
• Does the attorney have experience in your type of injury? While an attorney may regularly provide representation for clients in personal injury cases, they may not have the necessary experience to address a particular type of injury. For example, a lawyer may usually assist clients with cases involving car accidents, and they may not have significant experience dealing with matters related to medical malpractice or nursing home neglect.
• Does the attorney have a record of success obtaining verdicts and settlements for clients? You will want to make sure the attorney has previously achieved success when representing clients in personal injury cases. The lawyer should be able to provide you with information about their case results, including the number of cases they have handled, the percentage of those cases that resulted in a favorable outcome for their clients, and the amount of money they have been able to recover by negotiating settlements or obtaining jury verdicts.
• Does the attorney provide legal services on a contingency basis? The costs involved in a personal injury lawsuit can be significant, and they may involve investigating the circumstances surrounding an injury, preparing and filing multiple types of documents, and hiring medical experts, accident reconstruction experts, or other experts. To ensure that you will not be required to pay these types of costs upfront, you will want to work with an attorney who handles cases on a contingency fee basis. When this type of fee structure is used, you will not be required to pay legal fees and expenses during your case, and your lawyer will only charge fees if they are able to recover compensation for you through a verdict or settlement.

Contact Our Hyde Park Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone close to you has been injured due to someone else's negligence, you probably have many questions about how you can address your needs and pursue financial compensation. At The Law Offices of David A. Kadzai, LLC, we can answer your questions and provide you with the assurance that you will have an experienced legal advocate fighting for your rights. To discuss your case with a South Side of Chicago personal injury attorney, contact us at 312-229-0050 and arrange a free consultation.

It is impossible to be fully prepared for a potential car accident, especially since you cannot predict the actions of others. Even if you obey all traffic laws and drive as safely as possible, other drivers may act negligently or recklessly, leading to dangerous collisions that can result in serious injuries and extensive property damage. To make matters worse, the person who caused an accident may be uninsured, making it difficult for you to receive coverage that will fully address your injuries and damages. Fortunately, one way you can prepare for this eventuality is by ensuring that your auto insurance policy includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Reasons to Consider UM/UIM Coverage

If a driver who causes an accident does not have insurance, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage will address the expenses related to the injuries that occurred in the collision. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage will apply in situations where a driver has insurance, but the limits of their policy will be insufficient to address the injuries you have suffered. You should consider including these coverages in your auto insurance policy for multiple reasons, including:

1. 11.8% of drivers in Illinois are uninsured. This means that you have more than a 1 in 10 chance of getting in an accident with someone who does not have insurance coverage. In these situations, you may have limited options for receiving compensation that will address your expenses.

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As the weather warms up in the spring and summer and people begin to spend more time outdoors, the number of pedestrians on the roads will increase. Unfortunately, this means that pedestrian accidents will be more likely to occur. Pedestrians who are struck by cars or trucks are likely to experience multiple types of severe injuries, and in many cases, these accidents are fatal. By understanding the reasons that these types of accidents occur, injury victims can determine who was responsible, and they can take action to recover financial compensation that will address their injuries and other damages.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Data released by the Illinois Department of Transportation for 2020 shows that while pedestrians were involved in only 1.3 percent of all motor vehicle accidents, these accidents accounted for 15.8 percent of fatal crashes and 5.8 percent of crashes involving injuries. The risks that pedestrians face are significant, and some of the most common factors that play a role in pedestrian accidents include:

• Alcohol use - Around 46 percent of all fatal pedestrian accidents involve some consumption of alcohol by either a driver or pedestrian. While pedestrians may be at higher risk of being injured if they have consumed alcohol, drivers who are intoxicated are much more likely to cause injuries to others. Drunk driving significantly affects a driver’s ability to notice and respond to pedestrians, and an intoxicated driver is much more likely to inflict serious or fatal injuries in a collision.

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Snow and ice are common issues that Illinois residents have to deal with during the winter months. When cold weather or winter storms result in slippery sidewalks, parking lots, or other walking areas, the risk of injury in a slip and fall accident increases significantly. Even though people are aware of these hazards and will usually take care to avoid injuries when walking outside during the winter, accidents can still occur. 

A fall on snow or ice can result in multiple types of injuries, including broken bones, sprained or dislocated joints, or traumatic brain injuries. People who have been injured may struggle with a variety of financial and personal issues during their recovery, and they will want to determine their legal options, including whether they may pursue financial compensation from the owner of the property where an accident took place.

Premises Liability and Unnatural Accumulations of Snow and Ice

When a person suffers injuries while they are visiting property owned by someone else, the property owner may be held liable for the person’s damages. Generally, premises liability laws will apply if an injury occurred because of hazards on the property that the owner should have known about and failed to take action to address. Property owners or tenants who manage and control a property must take steps to correct safety issues or provide visitors with warnings about potential risks.