A slip and fall accident can happen very suddenly and without warning. One moment, you are walking through the dairy section of your local grocery store, and the next you are in a neck brace being loaded into an ambulance. Generally, the party in control of the premises where you got hurt is liable for your injuries. However, in some cases, the injured party bears some responsibility for the accident.

In Illinois, the amount of compensation you are awarded may be reduced if you were partially at fault for your fall. If the accident was mostly your fault, you may not be able to recover anything. It is very common for premises owners to defend themselves by arguing that the injured person was at fault. You will need an experienced lawyer to help you fight back.

What is the Modified Comparative Negligence Rule?

Illinois uses what is called “modified comparative negligence.” In short, this means that the amount of your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 25% at fault for your accident, your award will be reduced by 25%. So, if you win $100,000 but were 25% at fault, you will only receive $75,000.

You might not love or want to be in a relationship with your spouse anymore, but you still love your furry, scaly, or feathery friends and want to keep them with you. Companion animals can be an excellent source of emotional support during difficult times. Many pet owners see their animal as a family member, however, courts in Illinois still see pets as property that you own. As such, pets are subject to the equitable division of property in a divorce action. Ideally, you and your spouse will be able to reach an agreement regarding pet custody. Otherwise, the court will make the decision that it feels is fair. While a pet is property, judges do understand that there can be a special bond between a human and a pet. An attorney may be able to help you put forth strong arguments regarding why you need your companion animal.

Reaching an Agreement About Pet Custody

There are a number of strategies divorcing spouses can use by agreement so that no one gets permanently separated from an animal they are bonded to. Some spouses who will be living reasonably close to each other choose to “take turns” with the pet, passing it back and forth on alternating weeks.

Those who also have (human) children may feel that the pet should stay with the children. Children may experience anxiety or sadness when they are separated from a beloved pet. Many divorced spouses choose to exchange custody of the pet when they exchange custody of the children. This strategy can also help provide children with a sense of stability.

Just getting a visa application approved so that you can lawfully enter the United States can take a lot of hard work. You probably had to submit quite a bit of paperwork and prove all sorts of things. The last thing you want is to put all the effort into coming here legally only to find yourself getting deported. Deportation happens to thousands of people, many of whom were hoping to become citizens.

Knowing some of the most common reasons that people get deported and how to avoid trouble can be very helpful. If you find yourself facing potential deportation, there are steps an attorney can take to help you. It is important to respond very quickly, as deportation can happen quickly.

Avoiding Problems That Can Trigger Removal Proceedings

Even if you are not purposely doing anything wrong, deportation or removal from the U.S. can be based largely on a technicality. Common reasons that immigrants and visa holders can face deportation include:

After an accident involving a drunk driver, it is usually fairly obvious that they have been drinking. As soon as they exit their vehicle, you can smell alcohol on them. They are slurring their words and stumbling or falling over. You have probably been around drunk people before and know generally what to look for.

Spotting a driver who is intoxicated by a substance other than alcohol can be a little more difficult. There may not be any kind of noticeable odor. Unless you have spent considerable time around drug users, you might not have a very developed sense of what to look for. In some cases, even trained police officers can fail to notice that a driver is under the influence of drugs. Knowing the signs of drug intoxication can help you catch on quickly if your car accident was caused by an impaired driver.

Signs of Drug Intoxication

There are often signs of an intoxicated driver’s impairment if you know what to look for. The problem is that most people who do not have a drug user in their life do not know what the signs of drug impairment are. When the driver who just hit you steps out of the vehicle, look out for:

A naturalization ceremony is the final step in the process of immigrating to the United States. At one of these ceremonies, people who were not born American citizens officially gain their citizenship. Once you become a citizen, you will be able to permanently reside in the United States in addition to gaining all the rights of a full-fledged citizen, like the power to vote. People who are going through this ceremony have put a lot of effort into reaching this point. It may take years from your first contact with UCSIS to receive final approval on your Application for Naturalization.

The day of the ceremony can be a very exciting and rewarding day for immigrants and their loved ones. Knowing what to expect can be helpful as well. If you are considering beginning the process of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, or are having some trouble along the way, Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can help.

When Can I Participate in a Naturalization Ceremony?

Once your Application for Naturalization has been approved and you have completed a final interview, you may be eligible to participate in a naturalization ceremony right away. Same-day ceremonies are sometimes available but not always. These ceremonies take place all over the nation, and now that COVID restrictions have been eased, they are now taking place in person again.