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A drunk driving accident in Chicago can cause devastating injuries, substantial financial losses, and, in the most serious cases, death. When an impaired driver causes a crash, the driver may face criminal consequences, but the injured person may also have a civil claim for compensation. In some circumstances, Illinois law allows an injured person to pursue a Dram Shop claim against a business or other party that provided alcohol that caused the driver’s intoxication.

These cases can be complicated because there may be multiple potentially responsible parties, including the drunk driver, an insurance company, a bar or restaurant, a liquor store, or another alcohol provider. Understanding how drunk driving claims and Dram Shop claims work is important after a serious Chicago-area crash. Continue reading

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Water Tower Place is one of Chicago’s best-known shopping destinations. Located at 835 N. Michigan Avenue on the Magnificent Mile, the property features multiple levels of shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and other attractions. Its location in the heart of downtown Chicago means that thousands of shoppers, tourists, employees, families, and pedestrians may pass through or around the property.

With so many people using the property and the surrounding streets, accidents can happen. A visitor could slip on a wet floor, trip over a dangerous condition, fall on stairs or an escalator, be struck by a falling object, or suffer injuries in a collision in the surrounding pedestrian and traffic areas.

When an accident occurs, determining who is legally responsible can be complicated. Depending on the circumstances, a claim could potentially involve the property owner, a store or restaurant, a maintenance company, a security company, a contractor, a driver, a manufacturer, or another party. Continue reading

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Being hit by a car while walking in Chicago can leave a pedestrian facing serious injuries, expensive medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about what happens next. In the aftermath of an accident, one of the most important questions is often: What insurance covers a Chicago pedestrian accident?

The answer can be more complicated than many people realize. Depending on the circumstances, several different insurance policies may provide coverage after a pedestrian is struck by a car, truck, rideshare vehicle, commercial vehicle, or another motor vehicle. The at-fault driver’s auto insurance may provide coverage. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also apply. Medical payments coverage, health insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and other policies may potentially provide benefits depending on how and where the accident occurred. Continue reading

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Labor Day weekend is often associated with one last summer getaway, backyard barbecues, sporting events, family gatherings, and celebrations with friends. Unfortunately, the holiday weekend also brings a serious danger to Illinois roads: impaired driving.

When a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or using drugs, that decision can have devastating consequences for everyone sharing the road. A drunk or impaired driver may cross the centerline, run a red light, rear-end another vehicle, drift into a neighboring lane, or fail to react to traffic. The resulting collision can leave innocent victims with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, or permanent disabilities. Continue reading

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A car accident can cause serious injuries even when there are no broken bones, dramatic cuts, or obvious signs of trauma. One of the most common—and frequently underestimated—injuries following a collision is a concussion.

A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this movement can cause chemical changes in the brain and stretch or damage brain cells. Symptoms can affect how a person feels, thinks, acts, and sleeps.

Yes, you may be able to receive compensation for a concussion caused by a car accident. If another driver’s negligence caused the collision, an injured person may have a personal injury claim seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Continue reading

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Chicago is a city built for walking. Millions of residents, workers, students, tourists, and commuters use the city’s sidewalks every year to reach public transportation, businesses, schools, parks, restaurants, and their homes. But while sidewalks are supposed to provide pedestrians with a safe path separated from vehicle traffic, cracked pavement, uneven slabs, potholes, missing sections, snow and ice, and other hazards can turn an ordinary walk into a serious trip and fall accident.

The question is not simply whether Chicago’s sidewalks are safe. The more important question is whether a particular sidewalk was reasonably maintained and whether the person or entity responsible for that sidewalk knew, or should have known, about a dangerous condition. Continue reading

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Uber and Lyft have transformed the way people travel, but rideshare accidents can create complicated personal injury claims. Unlike a typical two-car collision, an Uber or Lyft accident may involve the rideshare driver, another motorist, the rideshare company, multiple insurance policies, and questions about what the driver was doing in the app at the precise moment of the crash.

That complexity is one reason accident victims should be extremely cautious about accepting a quick settlement from Uber, Lyft, or an insurance company representing a rideshare driver. A settlement offer may appear attractive when medical bills are arriving, you cannot work, and you need money immediately. But accepting a settlement generally means giving up the right to seek additional compensation later. Continue reading

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Commercial truck accidents are among the most devastating crashes on Illinois roads. Because tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, collisions often result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. After a serious truck accident, one of the first questions investigators, trucking companies, and injured victims may ask is whether the truck driver was impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Federal law requires commercial motor vehicle drivers to undergo drug and alcohol testing in certain circumstances following a crash. These testing requirements are designed to improve highway safety, identify impaired drivers, and hold negligent trucking companies accountable. For victims pursuing a personal injury claim, the results of a post-accident drug or alcohol test can also become critical evidence.

At John J. Malm & Associates, we have represented victims of serious truck accidents in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Understanding when drug testing is required, what substances are tested for, and how these results may affect a personal injury lawsuit can help injured victims protect their legal rights. Continue reading

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Choosing a nursing home for a loved one is one of the most important decisions a family can make. While many Chicago nursing homes provide compassionate, high-quality care, others fail to meet state and federal standards designed to protect vulnerable residents. When inspectors identify violations, they issue citations or deficiencies that can range from relatively minor issues to serious violations that place residents in immediate danger.

The two primary agencies responsible for regulating nursing homes in Illinois are the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Together, these agencies conduct routine inspections, investigate complaints, and enforce laws intended to ensure nursing home residents receive safe, dignified, and appropriate care.

For families, understanding why nursing homes are cited can help identify warning signs of neglect or abuse before a loved one suffers serious harm. It can also provide valuable insight into whether a facility has a history of recurring problems. Continue reading

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Commercial trucks are essential to the American economy, transporting nearly every product consumers use each day. However, because fully loaded tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, collisions involving these vehicles often result in devastating injuries or fatalities. While any crash involving a semi-truck can be serious, certain types of truck accidents are especially dangerous because of the tremendous forces involved and the unique operating characteristics of commercial vehicles.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 168,000 people were injured and over 5,000 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in a recent reporting year, with occupants of passenger vehicles accounting for the majority of fatalities. Large truck crashes have steadily increased over the past decade despite improvements in vehicle safety technology.

Understanding the most dangerous types of truck accidents can help motorists recognize hazardous situations, drive more defensively around commercial vehicles, and better understand why victims often suffer catastrophic injuries after these crashes. Continue reading

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Naperville Office
1730 Park St #201
Naperville, IL 60563
Phone: (630) 527-4177Fax: (630) 527-4178
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1700 Lincoln Hwy #G
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Phone: (630) 524-2323

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