Traffic signs and lights can alleviate some of the confusion at an intersection. However, there are a still number of issues even if an intersection is equipped with traffic control devices.  Driving through a traffic light is something drivers do so often that it might be easy to overlook some of the potential dangers. Here…

Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its preliminary data for 2019 fatalities in traffic-related crashes across the United States. Overall, traffic fatalities seem to have declined in 2019. If this is correct, 2019 would be the third consecutive year of declining traffic deaths in America. However, the NHTSA forecasts about a 1%…

Last week, the State of California brought a lawsuit against rideshare companies Uber and Lyft. It alleged that the companies improperly designated its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. By classifying drivers as independent contractors, Uber and Lyft have been avoiding workplace protections (like sick leave and overtime pay) and worker benefits (like workers…

Brooke Melton was a 29-year-old pediatric nurse.  One night after completing her shift, Brooke got into her 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt and headed to her boyfriend’s house to celebrate her birthday over dinner.  On her way, the ignition switch of Brooke’s Cobalt failed, the car stalled, and Brooke lost control of the vehicle.  She crossed the…

Across the world, businesses have lost billions of dollars in revenue. Millions of businesses are at risk of closing permanently. Millions of people are out of jobs.  In earlier posts, we have discussed the potential for claims under business interruption coverage in commercial insurance policies for businesses forced to close their doors due to the…

You’re watching TV late at night, or early in the morning, and an ad comes on. We’ve all seen them before: “Get in a wreck, I’ll get you a check” or “Hire the hammer.”  Vivid photographs of automobile wrecks appear soon after these promises of big bucks and fast cash. So, the question is out…

Yes, you can file a car accident case if your preexisting condition worsened after a crash. In fact, Illinois law protects you and guarantees that you can recover damages from an aggravated injury. Under Illinois law, people injured in a crash can recover all damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.) for injuries…

Many business owners are scouring their insurance policies in search of relief from the devastating financial anxiety caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.  Those business owners should also be scrutinizing any commercial or real estate lease they have to see whether it contains a force majeure clause, and if so, to determine the specific terms that…

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the subsidiary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is responsible for ensuring interstate trucking safety. Recently, the FMCSA announced that it is considering a change in its driver seizure policy. How does the current seizure policy work? Under the current policy, drivers with a history of seizures that…

Johnson & Johnson faces over 16,000 lawsuits nationwide related to baby powder products contaminated with talcum powder.  These lawsuits allege that for over 40 years, Johnson & Johnson has known that its products have been linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. However, J&J chose not to warn the public about its dangers.  Women who use…