We can provide phone, zoom, or in person consultations

by

IMG_0009-225x300IMG_3709-225x300
Concrete islands, curb extensions and so-called “bump-outs” are often installed on Chicago streets in an effort to slow traffic, shorten pedestrian crossings or organize parking and traffic lanes. When properly designed and clearly marked, these improvements may serve an important safety purpose.

But when a concrete bump-out suddenly extends into the path of a bicyclist or e-scooter rider, particularly when it is difficult to see , the supposed safety improvement can itself become a serious hazard.

A recent tragic e-scooter death in Chicago demonstrates just how serious this problem can be.

Continue reading

by

IMG_E6764-172x300IMG_0567-288x300
Dogs are a part of everyday life in Chicago. We encounter them on sidewalks, in parks, in apartment buildings, at neighborhood restaurants and while visiting friends and family. Most of these encounters are harmless. But dog bites remain a serious source of injury in Illinois, and many attacks may be preceded by warning signs that people do not recognize.

A Chicago Sun-Times article, “Dog trainers stress importance of ‘recognizing yellow lights’ to prevent aggressive behavior and dog bites,” highlights both the frequency of dog-bite claims in Illinois and some of the behavioral signals that can appear before a dog attacks. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Illinois Ranks Among the States With the Most Dog-Bite Claims

Continue reading

by

An e-bike rider may suffer the same physical impact as a motorcyclist while receiving far less protection. The rider has no passenger compartment, airbag, seat belt, or structural frame. A turning vehicle, open car door, blocked bicycle lane, pothole, broken pavement, or unsafe path can produce a head injury, fracture, spinal injury, or permanent scarring in seconds.

Determining legal responsibility requires more than identifying where the rider fell. A lawyer must identify who controlled the vehicle or property, what rules governed the location, whether the rider had a legal right to use it, what notice the responsible party received, and what evidence still exists.

Chicago e-bike cases may involve several distinct claims:

Continue reading

by

A collision with a fully loaded tractor-trailer can change a family’s life in seconds. Unlike ordinary automobile accidents, truck accident cases involve federal safety regulations, multiple companies, electronic records, maintenance documents, and evidence that can disappear quickly if it is not preserved.

The first hours after a truck crash are often the most important.

A Truck Accident Is Rarely Just About the Driver

Continue reading

by

Electric bicycles have become part of everyday life in Chicago. Every day thousands of riders share the road with motorists. Unfortunately, as the number of e-bikes has increased, so have serious collisions. Illinois law places duties on both motorists and governmental entities. Understanding those duties can make the difference between recovering compensation and walking away with nothing.

Drivers Must Watch for Cyclists

Motorists do not own the roadway. Drivers must operate their vehicles with reasonable care, watch for cyclists before turning, opening doors, changing lanes, or crossing bike lanes, and obey Illinois traffic laws designed to protect vulnerable road users.

Continue reading

by

IMG_3835-225x300IMG_6736-225x300
Chicago is a city meant to be experienced on foot or on a pedal bike. Residents walk to work, families stroll through neighborhood streets and parks, children ride bicycles, runners use the lakefront, and visitors explore the city on sidewalks and trails.

But the way people move through Chicago is changing rapidly.

E-bikes, electric scooters, dirt bikes, electric motorcycles, e-wheels and other motorized devices have become increasingly common. Many riders use these vehicles responsibly. But when motorized vehicles are operated at excessive speeds, on sidewalks, through pedestrian areas or in areas intended primarily for walking and recreation, they can create a serious danger for people who have little protection in a collision. The pedestrian injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have seen first hand the consequences of these collisions.

Continue reading

by

dee8296b-2276-4a61-8de2-890c25c7bad9-300x169
The History of Tort Law and the American Jury: Putting Faith in Ordinary People

When someone is injured because another person or company was careless, the right to seek compensation may seem like an ordinary part of American law. But the modern personal injury case is the product of centuries of legal development.

American tort law did not begin with a single statute or constitutional provision. It grew from the English common law, was reshaped by American courts and legislatures, and continues to evolve as society, technology, transportation, medicine, and commerce change.

Continue reading

by

IMG_3439-225x300IMG_0009-225x300
Chicago has embraced “micromobility” as part of the future of urban transportation. E-scooters and e-bikes are promoted as convenient alternatives to cars—an inexpensive way to travel short distances, connect with public transportation, and reduce automobile traffic.

That is the vision.

But after another Chicago teenager was killed while riding an e-scooter, it is time to ask whether the reality on Chicago’s streets bears much resemblance to that vision.

Continue reading

by

IMG_3709-225x300
A heartbreaking tragedy on Chicago’s North Side has once again highlighted the dangers facing young e-scooter riders.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, 16-year-old Alex Blacio was killed after losing control of the e-scooter he was riding on North Western Avenue and being struck by a commercial truck. Police continue to investigate exactly how the collision occurred, and no conclusions should be drawn about fault while that investigation remains ongoing. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Regardless of how the investigation ultimately unfolds, the loss of another young life should be a wake-up call for parents, drivers, schools, and city officials.

Continue reading

by

A commercial truck crash begins two investigations at the same time.

Police and emergency personnel investigate the collision and protect the public. The trucking company, insurer, claims administrator, and defense counsel investigate the company’s exposure. The second investigation may begin before an injured person leaves the hospital.

Commercial trucking operations create records that do not exist in an ordinary passenger-car case. Electronic logging devices record driving activity. Engine systems may record speed and braking information. Dispatch platforms track routes and messages. Carriers maintain driver files, inspection reports, maintenance records, drug-testing records, cargo documents, and safety materials.

Continue reading
Contact Information
4141 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: 773-516-4100
Fax: 773-304-3185

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2014 – 2026, Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design