Law & Information

The state of Illinois has introduced a staggering 214 new laws for the New Year, largely due to a very busy state legislature, according to a Huffington Post report. The new laws are now in effect as of January 1. As the state and the city of Chicago are increasing fines for IL residents found to be violating any state laws, it is important to know some of the more notable laws that may affect your everyday life. The following are just a few of the new rules to keep in mind while you’re traveling on the open roads of the Prairie State:

New Trucking Laws

In a new measure sponsored by an IL senator, commercial truck drivers are now allowed to travel the same speed as other motor vehicles in the state. The previous law only allowed them to travel the same speed in certain areas. In addition, truck drivers will now have to use hands free devices due to a ban on cell phone use while driving.

New Law for Motorcyclists and Bicyclists

For citizens on two wheels, all motorcyclists and bicyclists are now legally able to pass through a red light after waiting two minutes. The rationale behind this new measure is that bikes and motorcycles are typically not heavy enough to trigger the sensors that switch a light from red to green. The old law required them to wait for another vehicle to trigger the sensor before proceeding through the light.

Backseat Passengers Safety Belt Law

As of the first of this year, House Bill 219 states adult passengers riding in the backseat not wearing a seatbelt can be ticketed and fined. If found in violation of that law, a person could fine could be up to $25. The previous law only required individuals in the front seat to buckle up. Illinois is the 26th state to approve such a law.

A majority of the new 2012 laws for Illinois are intended to protect residents and keep them safe, so it is important to obey these new measures so as not to endanger yourself or others around you. However, being the victim of a personal injury accident may still be possible if others act in a negligent, reckless manner. If you have been injured in any type of accident that was caused by the negligence of another party, the personal injury attorneys in Chicago of the Bradley Law Firm can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a free consultation.

U.S. District Judge James V. Selna announced recently that he’s willing to let 51 personal injury and wrongful death cases against Toyota move forward, according to a recent article in The Chicago Tribune. The judge denied Toyota’s motion to dismiss in these cases in a preliminary opinion, but has not yet entered a final order. The cases were filed in response to Toyota’s recent problems with sudden acceleration and brake defects in its Prius line of motor vehicles.

In its motion to dismiss, Toyota argued that the plaintiffs couldn’t prove the acceleration and brake problems were caused by a design defect. Nevertheless, the judge allowed the lawsuits against Toyota to continue. The plaintiffs are suing Toyota for negligence, design defects, failure to warn, and fraudulent concealment, based on the problems with their Prius vehicles and Toyota’s responses to them. Earlier this year, Judge Selna refused to dismiss cases brought by Prius owners who claimed the acceleration problems had ruined the resale value of their cars.

Toyota has recalled over 10 million vehicles during the past year. Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received over 3,000 complaints about the sudden acceleration problem in Toyota vehicles, the Administration has only been able to confirm that four deaths were caused by the vehicle defect.

Each year, hundreds of products are recalled in the United States. In the worst cases, injuries or sometimes even deaths can be caused by defects in a product. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm, P.C. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call our law office today at 1-800-360-5072.

Car accidents are often very frightening and no one ever really expects to be involved in one. Just as you prepare your car for potential emergencies by packing a spare tire, a tool kit, and other supplies, you can also prepare your mind in case a car accident occurs. Consider these tips published by Good Wrench for what you should do if you are in a car crash.

• Check yourself, your passengers, and the people in the other car for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Do not move an injured person unless the person’s life is in immediate danger, such as if the car is on fire.
• Once everyone is safe and you’ve called the police, take some quick notes, make a sketch, and/or take photographs of the accident scene. Jot down whatever you remember about the moments before and during the accident. What color was the traffic light? When and where did you see the other vehicle? What, if anything, did you try to do to avoid the accident?
• Swap names, contact information, and insurance information with the other driver or drivers involved in the accident.
• Cooperate with police and emergency personnel.
• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. You may wish to contact them from the scene if possible. Your insurance company will be able to tell you what information they need or may even send a representative to collect information.

Finally, after a car accident, you may wish to consult an experienced Chicago car accident attorney. The lawyers at The Bradley Law Firm, P.C. have successfully handled a wide range of car crash cases and have the legal resources and experience that is necessary to help you seek compensation for your injuries. Call The Bradley Law Firm, P.C. today at 1-800-360-5072 to schedule a free case evaluation.

Every year, hundreds of Americans are injured by improperly designed, stored, or used holiday decorations. To help people recognize and avoid unsafe decorations, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers holiday decorating safety tips for you and your loved ones to keep in mind:

• Check that the label of an artificial Christmas tree’s says that it is fire-resistant before purchasing it. If you choose a real tree, buy one with bendable needles and pine resin, which indicate it is not dried out, and make sure it is watered regularly.
• If you use artificial snow, use it in a well-ventilated area, and always follow the instructions on the can. Otherwise, artificial snow can irritate the lungs.
• Check lights carefully before putting them up. Your holiday lights should not have any worn, frayed, or bare spots. The lights also shouldn’t have any broken or cracked sockets, or any missing bulbs. If your lights have any of these, buy new ones.
• Turn off all your lights and other decorations before leaving the house. Never leave a burning candle, fireplace, or any other open flame unattended. Never allow children to play with fire.
• Check other holiday decorations to ensure they are flame-resistant, especially if they are made from traditionally flammable materials like paper.

Being careful with holiday decorations can help prevent serious personal injury. Unfortunately, you may not always realize the problems with a defective product. If you have been injured by a defective product or because of someone else’s negligence this holiday season, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm. Call us at 1-800-360-5072 for a free and confidential consultation.