Articles Posted in Personal Injury

In Illinois, the law has long recognized limitations in premise liability claims that fall under what has come to be known as the ‘open and obvious doctrine.’ The basic idea behind this doctrine is that landowners should not be required to foresee or protect against injury when the openness and obviousness of a dangerous condition is so clear that an entrant should be to prevent their own harm through the exercise of ordinary care.

Essentially the rule allows landowners to defend claims by asserting that the duty of reasonable care does not extend to open and obvious hazards. As a result, property owners have often escaped liability, while premise liability claimants have been presented with obstacles to obtaining financial compensation. A bill introduced this year, though, seeks to amend Illinois’ Premises Liability Act by altering the manners in which duty of care issues are evaluated in open and obvious hazard cases. By increasing landowners’ exposure to liability, and decreasing preclusions and limitations on recovery for victims, we find that HB 1441 provides a more equal balance between the rights of each parties.

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As seasoned practitioners, the Chicago attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have provided representation to Illinois residents in a diverse range of personal injury cases. During our decades of practice, we have continued to relay to our clientele that open and honest communication is a two-way street. On one side there is our promise to you, the client, which extends not only from our obligations as professionals, but from our personal desire to help persons harmed by others. On the other side there is your agreement to us, your legal advocates, to be as candid as possible in relaying any information to us that may be relevant to your claim, so that we represent you in the most effective manner possible.

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The Chicago Accident & Injury Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. take note of South Side Collision that left three injured. The accident occurred on March 4, 2014 at approximately 10:40 p.m. in the Woodlawn neighborhood near Marquette Drive.

According to officials, a truck and an ambulance collided on Lake Shore Drive. Amongst the injured were a firefighter and a paramedic, who were transported to University of Chicago Medical Center for their injuries. A third victim also sustained injuries and was taken to Jackson Park Hospital.

Details regarding the cause of the accident were not immediately available, as the investigation continues.

A mother whose child suffered personal injuries as a result of school bulling could not maintain a lawsuit against the School District, its superintendent, or the school principal according to the Fourth District of the Appellate Court of Illinois.

Beginning in August 2011, Vilma Hascall complained to the principal of her child’s elementary school about a “bulling situation” involving her child and three classmates. Although the principal promised to “address” the situation, it appears that the principal did not do much because the bullying continued. The mother requested a meeting with the school district superintendent, the principal, the child’s classroom teacher, the police, and the parents of the children that had bullied her child. She only met with the superintendent and the principal who assured her that they will contact the parents.

The bullying continued, however, and the child was cornered into a school bathroom and threatened and harassed. Ms. Hascall complained to the police and the principal called her promising to “take appropriate disciplinary actions.”