Getting stuck in congested traffic is nobody’s idea of fun. You are right to feel annoyed when traffic slows to a crawl. The only upside of a traffic jam is the reduction in serious collisions. There might be a minor fender bender from someone driving too close.

On the other hand, the risk of catastrophic crashes increases when the speed of the cars on the road increases.

One of the first issues that a car accident investigator will examine is the speed of the cars at the moment of impact. Vehicle speed can significantly impact car accident injuries and help determine who can be held accountable.

Prince Law Firm is a team of dedicated car accident attorneys who conduct a thorough investigation into our clients’ accidents, finding all relevant evidence to support the claim.

If you’ve been in a car accident, and speed was a factor, it’ll help to understand how a car’s speed can intensify accident injuries.

When someone files a personal injury claim, they must prove their case to recover compensation. “Burden of proof” refers to the legal standard a plaintiff must meet to show that the defendant was responsible for damages or injuries.

This is a crucial concept for anyone pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, as failing to meet the burden of proof will likely result in your claim being denied.

The Standard of Proof in Personal Injury Cases

In a personal injury case, the burden of proof is based on the “preponderance of the evidence,” which means that you (the plaintiff) have to show that it’s more likely than not that your injuries were a direct result of the defendant’s actions or negligence.

Unlike a criminal case requiring proof to be “beyond a reasonable doubt,” personal injury claims have a lesser threshold.

The plaintiff must present enough evidence to tip the scales in their favor, even if only slightly.

Illinois law requires that some vehicles get periodic inspections to help make sure that they meet state safety and environmental limits. These inspections are designed to help reduce emissions, improve road safety, and ensure vehicles operate efficiently. It can even help reduce the chance of a car accident due to a mechanical issue.

Being aware of and complying with Illinois’ car inspection laws can help drivers avoid fines or penalties.

No one checks into a hospital for a vacation. If you go to the hospital, it is because you have a health issue that needs to be taken care of. Even with the excitement of having a baby, going into the hospital can trigger stress and anxiety for many. The hope is that you come out of the hospital better than when you went in, but there are no guarantees. Sometimes, there is nothing more that a doctor can do.

Unfortunately, there are also scenarios where you could leave the hospital in a worse condition because of negligence. In that case, you could be dealing with an issue of medical malpractice, and that is when you need the guidance of a supportive attorney, like you would find at Prince Law Firm. We have helped many clients navigate the complexities of a medical malpractice claim.

No matter what industry you work in, some level of risk is always involved. Even a relatively safe job in an office could lead to on-the-job injuries, like repetitive stress or back pain.

But for certain jobs in Illinois, the dangers are more than a few paper cuts or sore muscles.

From massive construction projects in Chicago to sprawling farms in rural Illinois, workers face serious daily hazards, some even life-threatening.

If you’ve wondered which of these jobs leads to the most workers’ compensation claims, here’s a rundown of the 10 most dangerous workplaces in Illinois.

Being in an accident with a truck can be a chaotic and traumatic event, but gathering the right information at the scene is crucial.

Whether you’re a driver, passenger, or witness, knowing what details to collect can help protect your legal rights and strengthen any insurance claims. Big rig accidents often involve multiple parties, including trucking companies, insurers, and legal firms, making it crucial to document everything accurately.

Potholes are more than just a nuisance on the road—they are a serious hazard for drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

In Illinois, where harsh winters and fluctuating temperatures cause frequent road damage, potholes are a common sight. These road defects can lead to flat tires, bent rims, misaligned suspensions, and even dangerous car accidents.

Our cars are probably the biggest mechanical system we use daily and take for granted. As long as you’ve got gas in the tank or a charge on the EV battery, you expect the car to turn on when you start the ignition. What you don’t always think about are your car’s 30,000 parts that need to be in perfect working order for it to start and safely make it from point A to point B.

Obviously, not every one of those 30,000 parts is considered a critical system, but it only takes one defect to trigger a cascade effect that can end in a devastating accident. If that defect can be traced back to the car’s manufacturer or the negligent mechanic who installed it, those parties could be held responsible for the accident. It would be important to know if the accident caused damage or injury to some other driver.

The only parties legally required to report an accident in Illinois are police officers. Illinois statute 625 ILCS 5/11-408 states that an officer must report the crash within 10 days of conducting an investigation into the collision. However, there are specific laws in place regarding how tow trucks can respond to accidents, and what information they are legally required to provide before hooking up the damaged car and towing it away.

Illinois has a long history of questionable activity taken by tow truck drivers. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Chicago is the second most affected major city when it comes to towing abuses. Some of the noted issues plaguing the city and state include towing fees in excess of $3,000, tow trucks using police scanners to race to the scenes of accidents, thousands of dollars in fees to release cars from storage yards, and more. While fraudulent and rogue tow truck companies are still a major issue in the state, there used to be fewer protections available for affected motorists.

Wrongful death cases are among the most challenging legal matters, especially when they stem from medical situations like hospitalizations. Families who are dealing with the death of a loved one in a hospital often wonder whether negligence or malpractice played a role.