Peoria Illinois Personal Injury Law Blog

Safe driving in ice and snow may be difficult, but it is possible. There are specific steps you can take to lower the odds that you get into an accident. Nothing guarantees you'll never crash, of course, but that's true all year around. You do not have to fear winter driving if you simply take the time to understand how it is different and how you can approach it.

Watch out for shade

Marijuana was legalized in the state of Illinois earlier this month, but according to the 2020 DUI Fact Book, published by the Illinois Secretary of State's Office, driving while impaired by marijuana is still prohibited. Much like with a DUI stop for alcohol use, if an officer stops a vehicle and sees signs that the driver is under the influence of marijuana (e.g., red eyes, drowsiness, etc.), the officer will request that the driver submit to field sobriety tests. Based on the results, the officer may arrest the driver and take him or her into the station, where they will be asked to submit to a blood, breath or urine test within two hours of the traffic stop. If the driver is found to have more than 5 nanograms of THC, the main active chemical found in marijuana, per milliliter of blood, or more than 10 nanograms of THC per milliliter of any other bodily substance, they could lose their license and face criminal charges. However, there is concern that these results may not be solid proof of driver impairment as THC can remain in someone's body long after the effects have worn off.

Motorists who drive under the influence may be charged criminally, but their actions can also be the basis of a civil lawsuit. For example, if one were involved in an auto accident caused by a driver under the influence of alcohol or marijuana, they may file a civil lawsuit against them for damages, including medical expenses and lost wages. If the driver was convicted of a DUI in criminal court, that can help the victim's case in civil court. Keep in mind that the standard of proof is much higher for criminal cases than civil cases though, so even if the driver was not convicted, an accident victim may still have a good chance to recover damages civilly.

Stores and restaurants have a responsibility to ensure that their premises are safe for customers. If someone is eating at a restaurant and slips and falls due to an unsafe condition on the premises, the restaurant could be held liable for the injured party's damages. An Illinois Steak N Shake is being sued by a restaurant patron who was injured in a slip and fall accident at the restaurant.

The restaurant patron reportedly entered the men's restroom at the Steak N Shake when he slipped and fell on a puddle of water that was on the restroom floor, near the door. The man claimed that he suffered disabling injuries as a result of the incident, and that he suffered a loss of normal life.

We think of dogs as lovable, happy animals, so it can be difficult to picture them causing serious injury. However, an estimated 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year, and approximately half of them are reportedly small children.

In the best-case scenario, a dog bite doesn't break the skin, and only requires you to wash the injured area, apply antibiotic cream and cover the area with a bandage. However, when a dog bite breaks the skin, there is a possibility that bacteria from the dog's mouth will enter the person's body through the wound, causing infection, including capnocytophaga infection, sepsis, rabies or tetanus. Washing the wound immediately may help you avoid getting an infection.