School is just around the corner, and many families are making plans to get their children ready to go back to their classes. Depending on how far away the school is for the student, he or she may have the opportunity to conveniently walk to school. However, the students who walk to school need to make sure they know how to navigate their route as safely and smoothly as possible. At the same time, individuals operating motor vehicles need to be aware of certain times when students are likely to walk to and from school.

How Pedestrians Can Protect Themselves from an Accident

Pedestrians always have the right of way, and drivers should always make sure they are prepared to yield right of way to pedestrians to ensure a safe commute for both parties.

Many of today’s headlines regarding road safety focus on distracted or impaired drivers. While such concerns are valid and very dangerous, there are other issues to consider as well. For example, could the vehicle you are driving pose a risk to your safety? Mechanical or design defects in cars across America cause horrific injuries and death to innocent people. If you are preparing to hit the road to visit friends or family this holiday season, you should be sure that your vehicle is in optimal condition to make the journey.

Reporting Agency

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) was established to ensure vehicles on our roads are safe and comply with federal standards. If these standards are compromised, the agency has checks and balances in place for consumers. Since the agency was created, more than 400 million vehicles have been recalled to correct safety defects, along with tens of millions of tires, motor-vehicle components, and child safety seats.

When you have been injured in a car accident or any other type of accident for which another party was responsible, you have the right to collect full reimbursement for your losses. The law in Illinois, as in most other states, also allows you to seek additional compensation in some cases based upon the actions and intent of the liable party. In certain situations, you may be able to collect punitive damages that are designed to punish the person or entity who caused your injuries and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct in the future.

Compensatory Damages

The most basic premise of personal injury law is that you deserve to be made financially whole—to the extent possible—when you have sustained injuries as the result of someone else’s actions or negligence. In most cases, this means that the liable person or entity would be required to compensate you for:

Anyone who has experienced the unfortunate event of being involved in a car accident knows firsthand just how stressful the aftermath can be. Regardless of who caused the collision or how minor or major the damage, navigating the insurance claim process, tending to any injuries, and dealing with vehicle damage is often downright overwhelming.

Who is at Fault?

Following an auto accident, many questions arise as you begin the process of assessing the damage, exchanging insurance information, filing a claim, and reporting injuries. One of the first concerns is typically who will pay for repairs and any medical bills that are incurred. While your insurance agency might be capable of explaining your policy, it does no good if you do not understand your rights or what that policy means in the first place. It is important to know who is at fault and who is responsible for what expenses.

Every day, thousands of Illinois residents take the opportunity to get outside and enjoy recreational activities that often takes them onto the property of others. When you consider of someone else’ property, you probably think of their home, yard, lakeside cottage or cabin, or business property. What you may not always remember is that privately owned property may also include forested areas, open meadows, and waterfront land that provide inviting settings for enjoying the outdoors. Unfortunately, however, many individuals are injured during such activities, and due to existing laws in Illinois, a person injured during recreation on another’s property may have limited avenues for collecting damages.

Afforded Protections for Recreational Use

In 2013, the Illinois legislature officially addressed the concerns of landowners who were willing to offer the public use of their property but had reservations due to potential personal injury liability. Until that point, the law had only offered protections to owners related to hunting and other shooting sports on the owners’ land. Lawmakers realized that, in order to encourage conservation and outdoor recreation in the state, landowners need to feel secure in offering their property for such uses, and in August 2013, a new law provided the needed security.