Graduated driver licensing programs, which introduce young drivers to the road in stages, have saved many young driver’s lives. This is great news given traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 15-20. In 2005, 12.6 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were age 15-20. Yet this same group accounts for just 6.3 percent of the driving population. Thousands more teenagers are injured in car accidents every year.

Recent studies show that a comprehensive graduated driver licensing program can reduce teen crashes. A study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that Illinois’ new GDL law could reduce fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers by 38 percent.

So what is the Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing Program? Essentially, the graduated system establishes additional requirements during the instruction permit phase, with the goal of producing better-skilled 16-year-old drivers. Even with the provisions (effective January 1, 2008), age 16 remains the age at which a person who has successfully completed a driver education program may apply for a driver’s license.

Given the program’s goals of making the roads safer for our teen drivers and others who share the road with them, the personal injury law firm of Willens Law Offices is all for it. For more about the Illinois Graduated Driver License Program, please see www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/programs/gdl.html.

Bus accidents, though not as common as car accidents, tend to have serious, sometimes fatal consequences for the passengers. Buses obviously are much bigger than cars and most of them do not have seat belts nor are they required to have them.

Most bus accidents are caused by driver error, plain and simple. Driver error from incorrect judgment in reacting to a hazardous situation is common, as is going too fast for conditions. Sometimes bus driver fatigue is a factor. Another all too common factor in bus accidents is the lack of driver training. Intoxicated driving or drug impaired driving is another, though not nearly as common as the others.

Some busses have a “black box,” or engine control module, commonly found on airplanes. This piece of equipment is an invaluable tool in figuring out potential causes of an accident. There are many people and groups that think all motor vehicles should contain black boxes.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a bus accident, it is essential that you retain a skilled personal injury lawyer who is experienced in handling bus accident cases. Investigating a bus accident requires specialized knowledge on how to investigate an accident, what documents to obtain and how to analyze any data and other information. The right attorney will also ensure that proper procedures and deadlines are followed so that you do not mistakenly give up the rights you possess under the law. If you would like to discuss your bus accident case with a lawyer from Willens Law Offices, please feel free to call us at 312-957-4166. Consultations are free and confidential.

I can’t remember the last time a picked up a Chicago newspaper and did not see a story related to someone being killed in a car accident. For most people, while it’s disturbing information, usually they are able to read the story and move on with their day. As a lawyer who handles wrongful death car accident cases, I recognize that when a car accident takes the life of a loved one, it feels as though the world has turned upside down. While nothing can bring back the victim, sometimes the surviving family members have rights under the laws of Illinois.

When a family member dies in a car accident, the surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim in order to seek compensation. A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by the personal representative or special administrator of the deceased person’s estate. This “personal representative” has the power to file a claim if someone else’s negligent or intentional acts may have caused the deceased person’s untimely death. The personal representative brings files the claim on behalf of the deceased person’s spouse and/or next of kin.

In a wrongful death car accident case, the family may be able to recover monetary damages to pay the victim’s final medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages, society and companionship and grief or sorrow of the next of kin. If the fatal crash involved a drunk driver, the family may also be able to seek compensation under Illinois’ dram shop law.
The Illinois law firm of Willens Law Offices is comprised of experienced lawyers who are intimately familiar with how to handle car accident wrongful death claims. We fight hard to protect your rights while you grieve and honor your lost loved one after a crash. For a free and confidential consultation, please call us today at 312-957-4166.

February is Heart Health Month, and organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) are teaming up to kick off nationwide campaigns which encourage Americans to get their heart health checked – especially if they have risk factors for heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in three deaths is from heart disease and stroke which is about 2,200 deaths per day. These conditions are also leading causes of disability robbing people of their usual activities of daily living. Unfortunately, there is not yet a cure for heart disease, but early diagnosis, changes in lifestyle, and surgery or simple medications can go a long way toward protecting you from a serious heart-related event, such as a heart attack.

A majority of doctors take heart health issues very seriously and will work with a patient to properly diagnose heart disease. Most will work hard with their patients to preserve or improve heart health. However, sometimes failure to diagnose or properly treat heart disease can be grounds for a medical malpractice claim. If such is the case, you are best off contacting a medical malpractice attorney. If you feel that you or a loved one has been harmed as the result of medical negligence, the experienced Illinois medical malpractice attorneys at Willens Law Offices (312-957-4166) may be able to help you investigate and pursue a claim.

The Illinois residents feel fortunate to have survived the incident in which some of the passengers perished. While still on the ship after it crashed, the passengers were told by Costa employees, “Everything is under control. Go back to your cabins.” The Illinois family stated, “We soon realized that nothing could be further from the truth.” And they were right. Soon enough they were being told to “abandon ship.”

The family’s cruise ship nightmare did not end once ashore. After evacuating to dry land, the family received little to no help from ship employees. Ship workers were reportedly dismissive of people in need of help. “We would ask basic questions and the Costa employees would respond by saying they did not know and then walk away. Sometimes they wouldn’t even bother saying I don’t know before they walked away. This went on for days.” Through their own resources, bravery, an excellent travel agent, and the kindheartedness of an Italian cab driver, the Illinois family was able to make it the American Embassy, to a hotel and finally home to Illinois where they are healing from their physical and emotional injuries.

Willens is an award winning lawyer who represents individuals and families in personal injury and wrongful death actions. Most recently, he was designated by his peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer, an honor given to only 5% of Illinois lawyers. Willens says, “We believe it is in the best interests of the cruise line and our clients to bring this matter to a quick resolution but if the cruise line chooses not to negotiate or negotiations fail, a lawsuit will follow.”

The at fault driver has not yet been arrested or charged with any crimes relating to the accident. The forensics reports that will indicate the driver’s speed and sobriety level are still several days away.

Far too often, people injured in head-on collisions are innocent people who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately, it only takes one negligent or reckless driver to permanently change someone’s life or destroy a family forever. While it may sound morbid at this tragic time, the family of the deceased victim and the other injured victims are well advised to speak with an experienced lawyer right away about their options. The lawyer can begin preserving evidence and conduct an independent investigation while injuries heal and the families mourn.

Unfortunately, this is a common story. There are thousands of injuries and at least a hundred deaths reported every year in the U.S. due to snowmobile accidents. Snowmobiles are fun, but dangerous. Here are some safety tips to help prevent snowmobile accidents.

1. Take a snowmobile safety course and learn the snowmobile laws and rules for the area you are in.
2. Never drive your snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
3. Be especially safe when approaching roads or railroad tracks.
4. Take it slow and drive at a safe speed given the conditions.
5. Always be alert for hidden obstacles such as downed trees or barbed wire.
6. Check the weather before riding your snowmobile and avoid operating a snowmobile in during storms.
7. Ride with a friend.
8. Be especially careful when in an unfamiliar area.
9. Stay on clearly established trails and marked areas.
10. Avoid frozen bodies of water.
11. Be especially careful when driving a snowmobile at night.

Have fun, but be safe! By being safe, you help prevent injury to yourself and others.

Nevertheless, this woman’s family may have rights and is best advised to promptly contact a lawyer who is skilled and experienced in handling wrongful death cases. While this may sound morbid given this tragic event just happened, I can assure you that the insurance company for the driver involved has already started its investigation.

Wrongful death claims often result when a person is killed as a result of an accident. In this case, the conduct of the driver will be an issue in any potential liability for the car accident as will the conduct of the victim. The driver, through his/her insurance company, may be liable to pay monetary damages to the family of the pedestrian, particularly if he/she is found to have been distracted or in violation of traffic laws at the time the crash occurred.

Experienced legal counsel would be able to assist the victim’s family while they mourn for her. The family needs a lawyer to level the playing field.

Car accidents are unfortunately a common event in our mobile society. Far too often, they result in serious injuries or death. Because of the potential for such harsh consequences, it is important to obtain enough car insurance coverage to adequately protect ourselves and our families. The minimum level of insurance available in Illinois of $20,000 can fall well short of providing the protection we need.

Most people assume that increasing their insurance coverage means a big increase in cost to them, when in fact that is usually not the case. For example, according to one of the largest insurance companies in the Midwest, increasing a policy from limits of $100,000/300,000 (that is, a limit of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident) to $250,000/500,000, on average, involves an increase in premiums that can be less than $30 semi-annually. This is a pretty small price to pay for a significant amount of additional coverage.

The other VERY important consideration with respect to auto insurance that I cannot stress enough involves uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) coverage. UM protects us when a driver that causes injury does not have car insurance. UIM comes into play when another driver has limits that will not fully cover the injuries involved. The semi-annual premium increase of less than $30 in the above example would also include raising limits of UM and UIM to $250,000. It is crucial to ask your insurance agent about UM and UIM coverage. Far too often, it is the most irresponsible drivers on the road that do not carry enough car insurance or none at all. UM and UIM provides an important and relatively inexpensive method of insuring ourselves and our families for injuries received in an automobile collision.

Regardless of what insurance company you decide purchase insurance from, please make sure you obtain adequate coverage. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use it, but better safe than sorry.

Unfortunately, we get these calls far too often. Insurance companies will often make an offer to settle a claim soon after an accident. Sometimes the insurance companies can be very persistent in persuading you to accept their offer. They may even try to convince you that having your own lawyer is not in your best interest. They do these things for a reason. They want you to sign a release so they can absolve themselves of responsibility… for good.

Whenever I meet with a new client, I tell them that we should not even consider settlement until they are done treating or we know the full extent of their condition. I tell them that if we try to get a case settled a few weeks or a few months after an accident, an insurance company will sense weakness. We would be sending a message that the injury is not significant or the injured victim (and/or me for that matter) is anxious to get money. These messages will be harmful when trying to obtain fair and full compensation for the injuries.

The appropriate time to settle a personal injury claim varies on a case by case basis. However, timing is important and the quick settlement may not always be the best settlement.