Intoxicated driving kills approximately 10,000 people each year. Because it is so dangerous, driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol is illegal in all 50 states. While criminal penalties such as fines and jail time punish the intoxicated driver, the criminal court system does very little, if anything, to address the devastation suffered by victims of drunk drivers.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed by a drunk driver or drugged driver, you may want to consider taking action through the civil court system.  A personal injury claim against the driver may help you hold the driver accountable as well as recover monetary damages.

Fundamentals of a Drunk Driver Injury Claim

Under Illinois law, an injured person or the representative of a deceased person may file a civil claim for damages if:

Alimony, spousal support, and spousal maintenance are all terms used to describe the financial support a spouse pays to another spouse during or after a divorce. The laws about spousal maintenance vary from state to state. In Illinois, maintenance may be ordered by the court, or the spouses can negotiate a spousal maintenance agreement as a part of their divorce settlement.

If you are getting divorced in Illinois, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities regarding spousal maintenance.

Parties May Negotiate a Spousal Maintenance Agreement

In Illinois, the spouses themselves can negotiate a spousal maintenance agreement during the divorce process. The agreement will be binding on both parties and is often used when the spouses are able to come to an understanding without court intervention. Some spouses find mediation helpful for negotiating the terms of a spousal maintenance agreement.

There are more than 5 million motor vehicle accidents in the United States every year. Among the most common types of collisions are T-bone accidents, which often lead to serious back injuries. In a large number of cases, this type of crash is due to reckless driving. If you have suffered injuries as a result of a T-bone car accident at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices we know that the trauma is immense but we will work to make the legal process as smooth as possible.

Research Specifies Common T-Bone Accident Injuries

A recent study examined various collisions and the injuries they caused. The study looked at 933 patients and found that 146 patients were involved in T-bone accidents who overwhelmingly suffered cervical and lumbar spine injuries.

Types of Risky Driving Causing T-bone Accidents

T-bone accidents can lead to serious injuries due to the speed and the inability of the driver and passengers to brace for impact. Unfortunately, injuries can be life-altering or they can lead to death. T-bone accidents are often caused by speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence. Common forms of negligence that may make a T-bone crash more likely to occur include but are not limited to:

Immigrants have fought in just about every American conflict in U.S. history, and there are about 45,000 immigrants currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Last week, Congress approved the Veteran Service Recognition Act making it harder to deport non-citizen veterans. Although it still needs to go before the Senate before it can become law, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has already been directed to consider U.S. military service when deciding whether or not to initiate removal proceedings.

Deportation Proceedings

Deportation proceedings, also known as removal proceedings, usually begin when someone has a run-in with law enforcement, is caught in the middle of a raid, or ICE comes knocking on the door. While an immigrant is in ICE detention, the government determines if the deportation process will begin. That usually involves hearings to determine if the person should be removed from the United States. The Veteran Service Recognition not only recognizes a non-citizen’s service but adds a layer of protection when faced with possible deportation.

ICE and Non-Citizen Veterans

Current ICE policy calls on agents and officers to take into account U.S. military service when determining civil immigration enforcement actions against non-citizens. Here are the top three factors that may tilt the scales in favor of an immigrant:

Like any parent, you want to ensure your child’s safety at all times. If you are in the middle of a child custody battle or a divorce and you find out your soon-to-be ex is facing DUI charges, we would want to know about it. It would not matter if your child was in the car at the time of the arrest. Many children are killed in traffic accidents every year while riding in a car with a drunk driver. This could lead a judge to question the child’s safety and whether or not someone is a fit parent.

Guardian ad Litem

When a family court judge is trying to determine custody, the court will appoint a third party to investigate the family, especially if a parent is facing DUI charges. The court will assign a Guardian ad Litem or child representative to gather additional information. This representative is an attorney who has the child’s best interest at heart and will report back to the judge and give a recommendation.

Under Illinois law, the Guardian ad Litem has the authority to: