Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog

Some people think that it's better, from a legal perspective, not to shovel snow from their sidewalk. This belief stems from the idea that not shoveling snow will somehow protect a property owner from getting slapped with a lawsuit.

This issue is directly addressed by the Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act. The Act is meant to protect property owners who clear ice and snow from their sidewalk. In general, so long as a resident makes an effort to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks, he or she won't be held liable for injuries resulting from a slip and fall on their sidewalk, except in cases of clear wrongdoing as defined by the Act.So what does this mean for slip and fall victims?

According to recent Illinois court rulings, property owners and snow removal contractors are immune from liability for injuries resulting from unnatural accumulations of snow and ice created or aggravated by the owner or snow removal contractor, unless their conduct was willful or wanton. What this means for slip and fall victims is that it is important to consult with an experienced injury lawyer who can give careful consideration to the specifics of an individual case in order to inform that person of his or her legal rights.

A slip and fall on an icy sidewalk can sometimes result in serious injuries. If you or someone you know have been the victim of a slip and fall on an icy sidewalk, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2012.

Kane County prosecutors have filed charges against Stephen P. Orland, a band teacher at West Aurora High. Orland, who had been teaching at the high school for 19 years, was suspended last May after charges were announced stemming from allegations of sexual abuse.

According to court documents filed by prosecutors, The teacher was confronted by the school’s superintendant after a janitor reported seeing him hugging a female student in the band room. The janitor also stated that the teacher ran away immediately after seeing the janitor. The documents filed also allege that following this incident the district superintendent warned Orland that he could be fired if found alone with a female student.

Kane County authorities also allege that Orland engaged in sexual acts with female students on school grounds. In Illinois, there are circumstances where employers, such as schools, may be held liable for sexual abuse committed by their employees. In those types of cases it is important to determine whether the employer knew or reasonable should have known of similar allegations of sexual abuse by its employee or of potential danger of such abuse, but continued to employ that person or allow him or her access to children.

To speak with an experienced sex abuse lawyer from the Klest Injury Law Firm,click here, or dial 866-264-7639, for a free consultation.

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission recently announced that Arctic Cat snowmobiles, models F, XF and M, were recalled due to a safety hazard. The affected snowmobiles can be identified by their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN). The snowmobile VIN numbers recalled include the following ranges: 105092 through 112175 or 800001 through 800033.

According to reports the headlamp fuse on these vehicles can fail causing a risk of disorientation to the operator when visibility is low. This condition poses a possible crash hazard.

Faulty consumer products and defective auto parts can cause serious injuries. An experienced injury lawyer can advise you of your rights and guide you through the legal process when seeking compensation for your injuries. The Klest Injury Law Firm has been representing injury victims in Illinois for nearly 30 years. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident due to no fault of their own, click here, or dial (866) 264-7639 to schedule your free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

This morning an elderly woman was seriously injured when a Loyola University shuttle busy struck her at the intersection of Bryn Mawr Avenue and Sheridan Road in the North Side neighborhood of Edgewater. The woman was taken to the hospital after the collision and is in critical condition.

A recent study indicates that 80 percent of pedestrian car accidents occur while a person is crossing the street at the crosswalk. These types of accidents often occur because of the carelessness of a negligent driver.

The Klest Injury Law Firm has been representing car accident victims throughout Chicago for nearly three decades. To speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Chicago, call 866-264-7639 or click here to schedule a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest 2011

Another devastating sex abuse scandal has erupted in college sports. This time Syracuse University assistant basketball coach, Bernie Fine, was fired amid allegations that he molested underage boys. This marks the third high profile college sex abuse scandal in 2011. The other two cases, which occurred at Penn State and The Citadel, involved failures by school officials to report the alleged abuse to police.

Employers, such as Universities, may be held liable for sexual abuse committed by their employees. In those types of cases it is important to determine whether the employer knew or reasonable should have known of similar allegations of sexual abuse by its employee or of potential danger, but continued to employ that person or allow him or her access to children.

To speak with an experienced sex abuse lawyer from the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639, for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

A man died in a two vehicle crash involving a drunk driver around 3 a.m. Sunday morning on Chicago’s South Side. The man was pronounced dead about an hour later after being transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. According to the fire department, one of the cars involved in the incident collided with a pole.

Others were also injured, but the crash is still under investigation as authorities have not identified which driver involved was intoxicated. Paramedics transported the other passengers in critical condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Another person was taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital.

The Illinois Department of Transportation reported that DUI related crashes are three times as likely to occur at night as during daylight hours. These incidents often result in serious or fatal injuries.

Attorney Joseph Klest has been representing injury victims in the Chicago area for nearly 30 years. To speak to an experienced injury attorney at the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

Joseph G. Klest, 2011 ©

New criminal charges have been announced in connection with the Penn State sex abuse scandal. Two top administrators from the university, Athletic Director Tim Curley and senior vice president for business and finance, Gary Schultz, are facing perjury charges for failing to report suspected child sex abuse by Penn State’s former defense coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Sandusky was arrested Saturday on charges of sex abuse. It is reported that the former football coach targeted boys he met through a charity he founded for at-risk youths called The Second Mile. The charity announced on Sunday that Sandusky ceased having any involvement with children through the charity since 2008 when he informed the organization that he was under investigation for sexually abusing young boys.

The Klest Injury Law Firm represents victims of sexual abuse in Illinois and throughout the country. The firm recently announced a milestone victory by receiving a $28,000,000 verdict in a sexual abuse case. This verdict represents the largest civil sexual abuse verdict in Illinois history and is among the largest in the nation. To speak to an experienced sexual abuse attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or call 866-264-7639.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

This year’s winter weather predictions for the Midwest are gloomy. According to media weather reports, the Great Lakes Region should expect a especially cold winter combined with above average snowfall. That should make even the seasoned Midwesterner want pack up and move to a sunnier place. For the City of Chicago, this means snow shovel sales are sure to go through the roof.

Despite these predictions, some Chicago residents believe they are better off not shoveling their sidewalks because doing so will open them up to the possibility of getting sued if someone slips on the ice in front of their house. This begs the question; “Am I better protected from liability if I don’t shovel my show?” A review of Illinois law should convince even the most stubborn Chicagoan that this is not the case.

To begin with, property owners in Illinois are generally not liable if someone is injured by falling on a natural accumulation of snow and ice on the sidewalk. But, they can be held liable if someone is injured due to an unnatural accumulation.

What does this mean for the homeowner? You may be surprised to find that Illinois courts have ruled that icy ridges and ruts caused by ordinary vehicle traffic in a business parking lot constitute a natural accumulation of snow and ice. This might not be the case for ice ruts caused by foot traffic. Therefore, you may want to consult with an experienced Chicago injury lawyer when dealing with a specific occurrence.

As for the Chicagoan who doesn’t want to shovel the walk, the Illinois legislature has tried to answer that question. The Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act states, “that it is undesirable for any person to be held liable for damages due to his or her efforts in the removal of snow or ice” from sidewalks. However, there are also Illinois court cases which state that this Act doesn’t apply to driveways. Here is yet another reason to consider consulting with an injury lawyer.

In addition to the Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act, the City of Chicago has an ordinance that requires residents to shovel the snow in front of their homes or they could get a ticket. In 2010, then Mayor Daley announced the city wouldn’t enforce the ordinance, but he still encouraged property owners to clear their sidewalks.

To speak with an experienced attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

A retired couple from Chicago were killed in a three-car accident in Goodhue County, Minnesota over the weekend. The couple were hit by a car traveling southbound on U.S. 52 as they were crossing the road headed westbound on Goodhue County Road 9. Authorities had detected alcohol on two of the three drivers.

Sadly, drunk driving accidents are a regular cause of wrongful death on our nations roadways. Even in cases where there were no fatalities, evidence should be properly reviewed to determine where a drunk driver consumed alcohol that lead to the accident in order to determine whether the bar that served the drinks may be held liable.

To speak with an experienced, Chicago drunk driving accident lawyer, click here, or dial 866-264-7639, for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

A Word War II-era plane crashed Friday afternoon during an air race in Reno, Nevada leaving ten people dead. Seven of those killed died at the scene and three others died later on at hospitals.
Local and federal authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. Officials have stated that although it is too soon to determine what caused the crash, some suspect it may have been due to mechanical problems.

Generally, the owner or operator of an airfield is responsible for maintenance and safety. Failure to properly execute that responsibility can lead to the owner’s liability.

If you or a loved one were injured or killed in an accident involving an airplane,, you should contact an attorney immediately to make sure that evidence relating to the incident is properly preserved. To speak to an experienced aviation accident attorney from the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest.

Harris bank located at 1951 Plum Grove Road in Rolling Meadows, IL, is still closed on Friday after a Jeep Cherokee crashed through the front of the building injuring a bank teller. No one else was reported injured in the crash.

Generally, in motor vehicle accident cases in Illinois, the insurance company of the negligent party is responsible for paying damages. For more information on this topic, it would be wise to seek the advice of an experienced attorney.

To speak to an experienced car accident attorney form the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.

Chicago roads become difficult to traverse in the winter. Consider these three tips when taking your car out in the snow:

1. Only go out if you absolutely have to. Reducing the number of trips you take reduces your exposure to winter driving hazars. The best way to avoid an accident is to avoid being out on the road.

2. If possible, drive only during daylight hours. This may not be possible for people who have to commute to and from work in the evening or early morning, but reducing night time driving in the winter, when possible, can make for safer travels.

3. Plan ahead. Commute times are longer when there is snow on the ground. Give yourself enough time to get to your destination on time safely.

To speak to an experienced car accident attorney form the Klest Injury Law Firm, click here, or dial 866-264-7639 for a free consultation.

© Joseph G. Klest, 2011.