Recent Blog Posts
Civil Rights Violation Claims for Police Brutality
Protestors have been taking to the streets across the United States in response to the video depicting Tyre Nichols’s arrest. Unfortunately, videos showing violent police interactions with the public are not new, and this is not the first time a video like this has led to nationwide protests against police brutality.
In many cases, police brutality leads to physical injury, or even death. When these types of incidents occur, those affected may be able to file a civil rights violation claim against the police department involved.
Taking Legal Action After an Injury or Death Caused by Police Brutality
The victims of police brutality, or the family members of those killed due to police brutality, may be able to seek compensation for their injuries or loss. Claims can be filed against the officers involved in the incident and the department employing them.
Read Our Top 10 Personal Injury and Civil Rights Blogs for 2022
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 Kadzai Law Group, 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:
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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.
Why Have Fatal Car Accidents in the U.S. Increased Recently?
The roads throughout the United States can be dangerous, and car accidents occur on a regular basis. While multiple parties are aware of these issues, including automakers, government officials, and drivers and other road users, safety issues have continued to affect people, and the number of fatal accidents has continued to increase. Unlike many other countries, which have taken steps to improve roadway safety and reduce traffic fatalities, the United States has allowed for conditions that put many people at risk of harm. Those who are injured in car accidents will need to understand their options for pursuing compensation from a negligent driver or other responsible parties, and they can do so with the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer.
Reasons for Car Accident Deaths in the United States
The transportation system in the U.S. is designed with cars in mind, ensuring that as many people as possible can travel to their destinations quickly. Unfortunately, this emphasis on cars over people has led to safety issues that have resulted in increasing numbers of traffic fatalities. In 2021, almost 43,000 people were killed in car accidents, and many more suffered serious injuries. This represented an increase of more than 10 percent from 2020, continuing a troubling trend in which overall car accident rates have risen significantly over the last decade.
How to Recognize the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
No one wants to worry about the possibility that their elderly loved one may have been mistreated while residing in a nursing home. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect are all too common. According to the National Institute on Aging, around 10 percent of people over the age of 60 have experienced some form of abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, financial, sexual, or neglect.
Family members can play a key role in preventing nursing home abuse by catching it early on. Visiting your loved one regularly and being familiar with the staff at a nursing home will help you notice any changes in your loved one’s behavior or appearance that could be indicative of abuse. It is important to be aware of the signs of abuse and neglect so that you can take action if you suspect that your loved one is being harmed.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Three Reasons Why Drunk Driving Is Likely to Lead to a Car Accident
It is no secret that drinking and driving do not mix. The dangers of drug or alcohol use by drivers are well known, yet many people continue to get behind the wheel even though they know that their use of these substances has made them incapable of driving safely. In fact, the number of people who are seriously injured or killed in these types of accidents is on the rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-related crashes claimed 11,654 lives in 2020, and this was a 14 percent increase from the previous year.
Car accidents caused by drunk driving can be very serious, and victims may suffer multiple types of serious injuries. Drivers who acted irresponsibly by using alcohol or drugs before getting behind the wheel will usually be considered to be at fault for an accident, and victims may pursue compensation for their injuries and damages, or a drunk driver may be held liable for someone's wrongful death. To ensure that they will be properly compensated, victims can work with a personal injury attorney who can protect their rights and advocate for their interests.
What You Need to Know When Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer
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:
Am I Owed Compensation After a Hazmat Truck Accident in Chicago?
An accident involving motor vehicles should not be taken lightly, more so if one of those vehicles is a hazmat truck. Since hazmat trucks pose a greater risk to those they share the road with, there are various federal regulations they must adhere to. Truck drivers and affiliated companies are responsible for accidents caused by equipment failure, unsecured cargo, reckless or distracted driving, as well as driving under the influence. If you have been involved in a hazmat truck accident, you may be in need of a personal injury lawyer.
FMCSA Truck Regulations
It is important to note the danger a hazmat truck presents to the road. This additional level of danger can be credited to the obvious, hazmat trucks carry hazardous materials. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has defined 9 classes of hazardous materials a hazmat truck may be carrying; explosives, gasses, flammable liquid, flammable solids and spontaneously combustible materials, oxidizers and organic peroxides, toxic materials and infectious substances, radioactive materials, corrosive materials, as well as miscellaneous hazardous materials that are not included in the other categories. When materials such as gasoline and other combustible substances are spilled onto the road it may lead to slippery driving conditions or explosions. Incidents involving hazardous spills can result in car pile-ups, untreatable injuries, and fatalities. Even if you are not directly involved in the accident, airborne hazardous toxic gasses can travel miles away from the site of the leak, and exposure to these gasses can lead to lifelong respiratory ailments and neurological conditions.
Head and Brain Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities must ensure that residents are protected and safe. A crucial aspect of this responsibility is preventing accidental injuries. Falling is especially dangerous for elderly and disabled individuals. A minor fall accident can have catastrophic consequences.
Many residents cannot move around independently. They need assistance to get in and out of bed, use the bathroom, or go to common areas of the nursing home facility. When residents are not given the help they need, they may try to move on their own, leading to slip and fall or trip and fall injuries. Falling can cause potentially life-threatening head injuries.
If your loved one suffered a head injury or traumatic brain injury because of an avoidable nursing home fall accident, contact a nursing home injury lawyer for help.
Environmental Hazards and Negligent Supervision Can Cause Falls
5 Reasons Why You Need Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
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:
What Are the Top Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Illinois?
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: