Posted on July 26, 2021 in Personal Injury

When a person chooses to drive drunk, everyone around them is at risk of serious injury or death, including the driver themself, their passengers, and the occupants of other nearby vehicles. If you are injured in a collision with another driver who was drunk, you may pursue compensation through a personal injury claim.

However, according to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a significant portion of serious drunk driving accidents are single-vehicle crashes. If you are injured in a single-vehicle accident while riding with a drunk driver, can you still recover compensation? In many cases, the answer is yes.

Serious Injuries in Single-Vehicle Drunk Driving Crashes

Drunk drivers can cause serious accidents whether or not there are other vehicles around. Alcohol impairment can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and veer off the road, which may cause a rollover. In other cases, a drunk driver may collide with a tree, utility pole, barricade, or another stationary object at high speed. Depending on the severity of the accident, the driver and passengers can suffer severe trauma to the head, spinal cord, limbs, and internal organs.

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 Posted on July 23, 2021 in Immigration

The United States has a complicated history with undocumented immigrants or those who come to the U.S. without lawful immigration status. Many undocumented immigrants are at risk of removal or deportation, but in recent years, the Obama and Biden administrations have attempted to provide protections for some, including through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. However, a recent ruling from a federal judge in Texas has called the future of this program into question.

What is the DACA Program?

The DACA program, established by an executive directive from President Obama in 2012, allows certain undocumented immigrants to apply for the deferment of removal proceedings that may be initiated against them. Since the start of the program, applicants have been required to demonstrate that they meet certain criteria. For example:

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 Posted on July 15, 2021 in Family Law

Spousal maintenance is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Illinois divorce process. While the division of marital assets is a part of all divorces, and child support is a part of all divorces involving minor children, spousal support is much more situational. You may be able to secure spousal support through a prenuptial agreement or a divorce settlement agreement with your spouse. However, if you cannot reach such an agreement, you will have to demonstrate to the court that maintenance is warranted in your case.

Temporary Maintenance During the Divorce Process

Your need for financial support may begin as soon as you and your spouse separate and the divorce is filed. This is especially true if you do not have easy access to your marital assets. You can pursue temporary maintenance by filing a petition with the court that has jurisdiction over your divorce.

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 Posted on July 12, 2021 in Immigration

For an immigrant to come to the U.S. on a fiancé(e) or family-based visa, they need an affidavit of support from a sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Typically, the sponsor role is fulfilled by the person who files the petition for immigration on behalf of their relative or fiancé(e). If you intend to serve as a sponsor, it is crucial that you understand your responsibilities and obligations and what may happen if you do not fulfill them.

Commitments Made in an Affidavit of Support

When you sign an affidavit of support for another person’s immigration, the primary commitment you make is to take financial responsibility for supporting that person once they become a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the U.S. After achieving LPR status, immigrants are legally permitted to work in the U.S., so they are often able to support themselves at least partially. However, if they cannot do so, you are responsible for providing for their financial needs.

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 Posted on July 07, 2021 in Personal Injury

If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident, you have the right to claim compensation from the negligent driver or trucking company. However, to increase the chances of a successful claim, you will need substantial evidence to demonstrate the negligence of these parties. Often, one of the most important sources of evidence is the truck’s “black box,” more formally known as its Event Data Recorder (EDR).

What Data Does a Truck’s Black Box Record?

An EDR is specifically designed to record data about a vehicle in the seconds surrounding a collision. EDRs are not federally mandated for commercial trucks, but most new vehicles have them installed. If a truck is equipped with an EDR, all of the following data may be recorded when an accident occurs:

• The truck’s speed and RPM immediately before, during, and immediately after the crash
• Engagement of the acceleration pedal and/or brakes in the time surrounding the collision

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 Posted on July 02, 2021 in Family Law

An often-overlooked challenge for families who have been through a divorce is adjusting their holiday celebrations. Holidays after a divorce can be emotionally difficult, as they may be a reminder of happier times. They can also be logistically difficult, as parents must decide how to allocate time and arrange for exchanges and transportation fairly.

Summer holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day may not carry as much importance as other holidays throughout the year, but they are still valuable times for parents and children to enjoy each other’s company. With this in mind, you should consider what you can do to make sure the summer holidays are still enjoyable for the whole family.

Create a Solid Parenting Plan

A parenting plan should not only include a regular parenting time schedule throughout the year, but also specific considerations for holidays. Illinois provides a statewide form to guide parents in the creation of a parenting plan, and this form offers various options for sharing the holidays. You and your co-parent may decide to alternate certain holidays every other year, or you may wish to create a more customized arrangement. For example, your plan could stipulate that one parent has the kids from Friday evening through Sunday morning of the Fourth of July weekend, while the other parent has the kids during the day on Sunday and into Monday.

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 Posted on June 28, 2021 in Personal Injury

Over the past couple of weeks, DuPage County has experienced several instances of severe weather, including thunderstorms, a tornado, and heavy rainfall with possible flash flooding. These dangerous weather conditions can not only cause damage directly, they can also indirectly lead to damage in a motor vehicle accident. If you have been injured in a car accident in wet or rainy conditions, you should determine whether a personal injury claim is possible.

Driving Hazards in Rainy Conditions

According to a recent study, even light rainfall contributes to the increased likelihood of a fatal car accident. Heavy rainfall can be even more dangerous, creating the following conditions that can lead to accidents involving death or serious injuries:

• Decreased visibility - A torrential downpour can greatly reduce the distance a driver can see in all directions, making it more difficult to notice and respond to accident hazards.

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 Posted on June 23, 2021 in Immigration

One of the factors contributing to the immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border is the influx of immigrants from Central America, including Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, who are seeking refuge. In recent months, the Biden administration has made various efforts to address this crisis. Most recently, the administration announced the reinstatement of the Central American Minors (CAM) program with expanded eligibility criteria. As a result, parents and legal guardians of children in Central America may have more options for securing their legal immigration to the U.S.

About the Central American Minors Program

The CAM program began during the Obama administration and allowed certain qualifying parents with Central American citizenship to apply for legal refugee status for their qualifying children. Since the program’s inception, parents were eligible to apply if:

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 Posted on June 17, 2021 in Family Law

Divorce can be tough on everyone involved, including your children. Your kids may be afraid that their family is falling apart and that they are partially to blame. As a parent, it is important to make your kids’ happiness a priority and do everything you can to help them through this stressful ordeal.

Here are a few tips for raising happy kids during and after your divorce.

• Reassure your kids that the divorce is not their fault. Unfortunately, many kids assume that their parents’ divorce is their fault. They may believe that if they had behaved better, their parents may still be together. That is why you should repeatedly tell your children that your divorce had nothing to do with them. Explain that you and your ex no longer get along, but that you still love them very much.

• Avoid badmouthing your ex. If you feel bitterness and anger toward your ex, it may be tempting to call him or her every name in the book. However, before you talk poorly about your ex, think about how it will make your children feel. Hearing negative comments about their parent can make your kids feel very uncomfortable and believe they have to choose sides.

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 Posted on June 09, 2021 in Immigration

In our last blog post, we discussed defense options and strategies for immigrants facing deportation or removal. Since then, an Illinois House Bill addressing immigration has passed in the state Senate and is awaiting review by Governor Pritzker. If the bill is ultimately approved, it could provide additional support to those facing immigration court proceedings in Cook County.

What Does House Bill 2790 Include?

The recently passed HB 2790 would update a section of the Illinois Counties Code that addresses the types of cases in which public defenders are able to represent defendants at no cost. Currently, Illinois public defender services are limited to cases in criminal and juvenile court. HB 2790 would expand their services to immigration court cases, including those involving deportation and removal, but only “in counties with a population over 3,000,000”. Based on the most recent census data, this only applies to Cook County, with DuPage County being the next closest at only 929,060.

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