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Recent Blog Posts

Could Self-Driving Cars Cut Down On Accidents?

 Posted on November 08, 2013 in Personal Injury


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Divorcing Someone with Mental Illness: Special Considerations

 Posted on November 07, 2013 in Family Law

illinois-divorce-mental-illnessThe anxiety of divorce can be amplified when you are attempting to part ways with a partner afflicted with mental illness. According to Susan Pease Gadoua, founder and executive director of the Transition Institute of Marin in California, understanding the scope of the mental illness before getting a divorce can be helpful in preparing you for some of the challenges you might face.

One of the challenges in considering dissolving a marriage with a mental ill partner is that he or she may lead you to believe that they need you in order to cope with their illness or overcome it. This can feel like an extra burden and may make you feel guilty, too. If you have already put in months or years of helping your spouse manage or work through the issues related to their mental illness, making that final determination to divorce is all the more difficult.

Gadoua says that guilt over leaving a partner is a leading reason why partners stay in these relationships and marriages. One of the biggest challenges in living with a mentally ill partner is that behaviors that would be “red flags” or reality checks in other relationships become everyday normality for the healthy partner.

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$30 Million Settlement in Boston Scientific Defective Device Case

 Posted on November 03, 2013 in Personal Injury


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Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit For an Accident that Occurred Years Ago?

 Posted on October 30, 2013 in Personal Injury


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What is the Difference Between Annulment and Divorce?

 Posted on October 28, 2013 in Family Law

If your marriage is on the rocks and you and your spouse feel you have no choice but to separate, there is another route you may have the option to take instead of divorce: annulment. Divorce, by law, dissolves, terminates, or ends a legally valid marriage. Annulment, on the other hand, “erases a marriage by declaring the marriage null and void and that the union was never legally valid.” Although annulment technically erases your marriage, it is true that the marriage record will remain on file.

A simple way to understand the divorce vs. annulment topic is to think of divorce as ending a marriage, making both parties involved single again, while an annulment ends the marriage because the parties agree the marriage should not have happened or was never legal.

Definition of DivorceThere are various reasons to turn to annulment rather than divorce, which include:

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How to Stay Safe on Dangerous Illinois Roads

 Posted on October 25, 2013 in Personal Injury

Now that the weather is cooling off and the rain is coming down, the roads are becoming more dangerous. Rain begins to freeze and turn to snow or hail, so the roads get slippery in the fall and winter seasons. It is important to drive cautiously to keep yourself safe from a possible car accident and Illinois personal injury claim. The Weather Channel has shared some tips for staying safe on dangerous roads. The easiest way to stay out of harm's way when road conditions are bad is to remain indoors, but if you must go somewhere, here are some driving tips. If you are driving on icy roads:
  • When stopping at a light or for traffic, begin stopping early and leave plenty of room behind the car in front of you. Use three times the space normally taken to brake.
  • Use your lights on even in the middle of the day. If snow or rain is heavy, visibility will not be clear.
  • Avoid cruise control on icy roads.

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How Brains Operate: Insight into Accident Cases

 Posted on October 24, 2013 in Personal Injury

The brain is one organ that still has many mysteries to unlock. Two people could each have seemingly identical blows to their heads that result in completely different brain injuries. Different parts of the brain could be affected, which may lead to diverse issues throughout the body. Injuries can occur from something as small as a fall on a bike to something much more serious like a car accident or even playing too roughly with friends or getting shoved and hitting your head on a hard surface. When someone suffers from a brain injury, a number of changes can occur including how a person acts, thinks, feels, and even moves. Other effects that may take place that are less noticeable to others include body temperature regulation, bowel and bladder control, and blood pressure. The Brain Injury Association of America explains different areas of the brain that, if injured, can affect certain functions. Parietal Lobe:
  • Differentiation of sizes, colors, and shapes

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Illinois Prenuptial Agreement Basics

 Posted on October 21, 2013 in Family Law

If you have ever listened to the song “Gold Digger” by Kanye West, you’ve heard the term “prenup”, which is short for prenuptial agreement. However, although we know that it can have something to do with money, not many people know what exactly prenuptial agreements are or what they can entail.

Attorney Explaining Prenuptial AgreementOne legal dictionary states that a prenuptial agreement is a “written contract between two people who are about to marry, setting out the terms of possession of assets, treatment of future earnings, control of the property of each, and potential division if the marriage is later dissolved.”

While many people believe that prenuptial agreements are reserved solely for the rich, a prenup can benefit any couple. Regardless of financial status, a prenuptial agreement can be used to pass separate property to children from a prior marriage, clarify financial rights, avoid arguments in during a divorce, and to get protection from debts.

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The Dangers of Pets in Cars

 Posted on October 18, 2013 in Personal Injury


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How to Interact with the In-Laws Post Divorce

 Posted on October 17, 2013 in Family Law

in-laws-after-divorceRelationships with in-laws can be tricky to start with, but navigating those waters during and after a divorce can bring extra tension to the situation. If you do have mutual children with your former spouse, it’s natural to want to encourage them to maintain relationships with their grandparents, but it also may put you in a tough spot to communicate with what might be your former spouse’s biggest allies. Implementing a few tips for interaction may help you work through this difficult aspect of divorce.

Encourage Positive Relationships

According to Grandparents.com and Lillian Carson, Ph.D. of the book "The Essential Grandparents' Guide to Divorce: Making a Difference in the Family," that children who have relationships with their grandparents should continue to enjoy time with them in as similar-as-possible environments to that of pre-divorce.

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