Central Illinois Law Blog

When people in Illinois are hit by another car, they may not be aware of all of their injuries right away. The adrenaline rush, emotional trauma and excitement of the crash may obscure some of a person's injuries. In other cases, the physical effects of the crash may not be felt until several days later. While the effects may be delayed, that does not mean that these injuries are less serious; in some cases, delayed injuries may include traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage. This is one reason for people to seek medical attention after a car accident, even if they think that they are uninjured or that they know the extent of the damage.

Headaches can be red flags after a car accident, especially when they begin a few days after the crash. It could indicate that a person has a head or neck injury, a blood clot on the brain or a severe concussion. A headache isn't the only sign of a traumatic brain injury after a crash. Personality changes can also be signs of a previously undiagnosed concussion.

Tesla recently released a document that it proclaims to be a safety report. However, those who have seen the report believe that it lacks the proper context to make the types of claims that it does. For instance, it says that Illinois drivers and others who use the Tesla Autopilot feature get in fewer crashes than those who turn it off or don't have it at all. However, it doesn't say why a driver would turn the feature off or otherwise not use it. It could be because a person is using the car in an environment where Autopilot isn't meant to be used.

Tesla also refused to go into greater detail about incidents in which vehicles equipped with Autopilot were involved in accidents. For example, it refused to say how severe the accidents were or if anyone suffered serious injuries. There was also no mention of whether an accident was caused by a drunk driver or if it occurred during the day or at night.

Skateboarding is a popular activity, sport and mode of transport in Illinois, but it can also be dangerous. According to a skateboarding enthusiast and instructor, the risk of injury is part of the draw of the pass time. When people get hurt while skateboarding, though, the owner of the property where they were hurt might have liability.

Premises liability is a legal claim whereby the owner of public or private land may be found liable for injuries that occur on the property. It is more likely that the landowner will be found liable if the event that led to injury was foreseeable. Premises liability applies to cases where the injured party was invited onto the property and it may also apply where a person is hurt in an area that is tempting for skateboarders, even if they were not invitees.

Illinois drivers may know what hydroplaning is, but they may not have given it much thought. While slowing down and avoiding large puddles can usually prevent hydroplaning, there are other times when it's unavoidable. Drivers should especially be cautious during the first 10 minutes of rainfall when water and the oily residue on the road mix together to form a slippery surface. Afterwards, most but not all of the residue will be washed away.

Hydroplaning occurs when the tires, encountering more water on the road than they can handle, push the water underneath them and create a thin layer of water between them and the road. The tires thus lose traction and may cause the car to slide or skid uncontrollably. Hydroplaning can result in serious crashes.