Posted on April 16, 2020 in Personal Injury

Each year, millions of traffic crashes occur in the United States. While most of these collisions end up only causing property damage, there are millions of car accidents that end up causing extensive injuries, or they may even result in death. According to the latest information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 35,000 traffic fatalities in 2018, with more than 2.7 million people injured from crashes in the same year. Some of the most common injuries stemming from traffic accidents are traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which can be severe. If you have suffered a brain injury in a traffic accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about your options for seeking compensation.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury occurs when a person suffers a violent blow or jolt to the brain. TBIs can also be caused by an object penetrating the brain tissue, such as a bullet. The Mayo Clinic states that traumatic brain injuries are often a result of car accidents, although the severity of the injury varies depending on the circumstances of the crash. For example, the use of a seat belt, objects that struck a person's head in a collision, and the speed of the vehicle can all affect the degree of injury.

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 Posted on April 13, 2020 in Family Law

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) reports that one out of every two marriages ends in divorce. Married couples hear these kinds of statistics often, but the challenges for divorcing parents do not truly become a reality until their marriage becomes a part of this statistic. For parents experiencing a high-conflict divorce, these challenges can be detrimental to the whole family, especially to the children.

How to Help Your Children During Divorce

The very nature of divorce makes the process difficult for everyone involved. Even the most amicable, peaceful separations can dig up many mixed emotions for the family. Much like other losses in life, divorce grief usually unravels in layers over time. Just when you think you may be out of the woods and on the road to healing, a simple memory or argument can trigger an emotional setback. Children who witness episodes of high conflict between their parents during their separation tend to suffer the most, but there are steps parents can take to lessen these negative effects, including:

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 Posted on April 08, 2020 in Personal Injury

Everyone has their own preferred method of transportation, but we are all pedestrians at some point throughout our lifetime. Unfortunately, pedestrians were one of the groups that saw an increase in traffic fatalities in 2018. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 6,000 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2018. This is the highest number of pedestrian deaths that have been recorded since 1990, prompting much concern about the safety of our nation’s pedestrians. In many cases, pedestrian accidents are caused by negligent drivers. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a pedestrian traffic accident, an Illinois personal injury attorney can help you take the legal necessary steps to recover compensation.

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 Posted on April 07, 2020 in Immigration

Immigration can be a complicated and lengthy process, with many legal steps to complete. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). USCIS manages the naturalization and immigration system for the country. This includes processing and adjudicating different matters, including applications for work visas, asylum, and citizenship. The agency is also tasked with safeguarding national security, eliminating immigration case backlogs, and improving efficiency. The USCIS Policy Manual is an online archive for the agency’s immigration policies. Recently, USCIS added an update to the manual to clarify the requirements surrounding naturalization applicants’ absences from the United States.

LPR Requirements

Lawful permanent residence (LPR) means a non-citizen is authorized to work and live in the United States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status, that person is issued a permanent resident card, also known as a Green Card. Anyone who wishes to immigrate to the United States is not eligible until he or she completes the required time period of continuous residence as a lawful permanent resident.

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 Posted on April 02, 2020 in Family Law

Whether you find yourself in the early stages of the divorce process, have just recently made the mutual decision with your spouse to end your marriage, or are in the middle of litigation proceedings, divorce-related stress can be all-consuming. The difficult decision to say goodbye to your marriage can quickly take a toll on you emotionally, mentally, and even physically. Familiarizing yourself with healthy, constructive coping skills is crucial to manage divorce stress and keep it from negatively affecting your health in both the short and long term.

Key Coping Skills for Managing Stress

Even couples who divorce amicably and civilly must work at balancing the emotional effects of such a big life change. Keep the following tips in mind to better cope with common divorce anxieties:

1. Put yourself first - Chances are, you have heard self-help experts stress the value and importance of self-care during times of major life changes, including divorce. These recommendations exist for a reason — they work. Mental health experts remind us that maintaining our routines as much as possible is actually a part of self-care, particularly when it comes to maintaining daily exercise, sleep patterns, or lunch dates with friends. Another way to make self-care a priority is to give yourself permission to take breaks, invest your time and energy in activities that bring you joy, and share your time with others, such as involving yourself in a volunteer effort.

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 Posted on March 26, 2020 in Family Law

For those going through a divorce, the process of ending a marriage can all too often create a sense of tunnel vision. Due to the mental strain and the waves of emotion that come with this major life change, people tend to focus only on the immediate needs in front of them during such a time, like making it through the legal paperwork or court proceedings. Other priorities may also capture a person's attention in the midst of handling the technical details, from creating parenting plans and making new living arrangements to possibly relocating.

The Decision to Get a Divorce Is Only the Beginning

From the moment you and your spouse decide to end your relationship, the task of pursuing a divorce can be overwhelming, even when the decision is an amicable one. Sadly, calling it quits is just the beginning when it comes to moving forward. Once you make it through the actual divorce process, rebuilding your life piece by piece is a challenge, but it can also be an opportunity for positive growth and healthy changes. The key is to strategize and put a game plan in place for yourself so that you have a sense of direction and clarity following the end of your marriage.

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 Posted on March 25, 2020 in Immigration

Many people from other countries wish to become U.S. citizens through naturalization. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) governs the process that allows foreign nationals to enter the United States lawfully. In other situations, current permanent residents and U.S. citizens wish to bring their relatives to live and work in the United States. In order to enhance the efficiency of immigration proceedings, the USCIS is continually making updates to its policies and procedures. Starting on February 1, 2020, the Petition for Alien Relative will only be processed by USCIS if it is a domestic case or by the Department of State (DOS) for international cases.

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Form I-130 is the first step for an eligible relative to apply to immigrate to the United States and obtain a Green Card. This form is usually approved if it can be established that a relationship exists between you and your relative that qualifies for immigration to the United States. Once a petition is approved, the second step in the process is when the immigrant relative applies to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR). In some cases, the family member must wait until a visa number is available before applying. An immigrant visa is always available for immediate family members (spouse of a U.S. citizen; unmarried child under 21 of a U.S. citizen; or parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older).

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 Posted on March 18, 2020 in Immigration

The United States proudly labels itself “the land of the free and the home of the brave” and this tagline is fairly well known throughout the world. Because of this statement and the numerous rights that American citizens are granted, many foreigners look to the United States as a safe harbor when they need it most. Many will apply for immigration while others will seek asylum on American soil. Knowing the difference and understanding the application process can save individuals from experiencing further difficulties and persecution abroad.

What Is Asylum?

Individuals seeking asylum are looking for protection from a threat of persecution or if they were persecuted in the past. This is typically in regards to their race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, and/or political opinion. These are often protected rights that we take for granted as Americans but that many foreigners are not given. Those seeking asylum are known as refugees or asylees. These individuals have been forced to flee their own county due to persecution, war, or violence.

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 Posted on March 12, 2020 in Personal Injury

Car accidents are dangerous for drivers and passengers. Both adults and children alike can suffer serious injuries in a collision. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. Even children who do not die in car accidents can sustain significant injuries. The CDC reports that nearly 116,000 children suffered injuries from motor vehicle accidents in 2017. There is no way that you can know when an automobile crash is going to happen, but in the event your child is injured in a crash, contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer right away is key to seeking compensation for any damages.

The Importance of Car Seat Safety

The best way to protect your child when riding in a vehicle is to make sure he or she is restrained in an appropriate car seat. Illinois has laws that require children to be restrained in a certain way depending on their age, weight, and height. Children who are under the age of 2 years old should be secured in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 40 pounds or 40 inches tall. After they outgrow a rear-facing car seat, they can transition to a forward-facing seat that has an internal harness system. Children should never be placed in the front seat, especially if they are in a rear-facing car seat.

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 Posted on March 11, 2020 in Immigration

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently implemented the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule. As of February 24, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is mandating this implementation of its new Public Charge Rule across the United States. The new rule requires that a set of circumstances be applied to make a proposed determination of whether an intending immigrant is likely to become a “public charge” at any time after admission to the United States. This means the Intending Immigrant must demonstrate that he or she is capable of being financially independent in the United States after receiving residency. All Adjustment of Status applicants are subject to the new rule, although there are a few exceptions, including refugees, asylum seekers, U and T visa applicants, as well as special juvenile immigrants and interpreters.

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