Posted on April 30, 2022 in Personal Injury

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable users of our transportation system. Any accident involving a pedestrian has a higher likelihood of injury. Sadly, pedestrian accidents have been on the rise in recent years, reversing a trend of steadily improving pedestrian safety. Many factors can cause pedestrian accidents, including driver behavior, unsafe infrastructure, and pedestrian behavior. If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured or killed in a pedestrian accident, it is important to be represented by lawyers who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

Factors that Contribute to Pedestrian Accidents

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest contributing factors of pedestrian accidents. These include but are not limited to:

• Alcohol – Alcohol-impaired drivers and pedestrians account for almost half of fatal crashes involving a car and a pedestrian. Alcohol can impair the judgment of both drivers and pedestrians and lead to severe collisions.

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 Posted on April 30, 2022 in Immigration

Forced marriage means that one or both people have been forced into a marriage that is against their will. The United States considers forced marriage to be a serious human rights abuse and is working domestically and abroad to end the practice. Those who have been or are being forced into marriage are victims. As such, they have not broken any laws of the United States and may be eligible for immigration relief.

What is a Forced Marriage?

When an individual does not have a choice on who they marry or when the marriage takes place, that is a forced marriage. Forced marriages can be accompanied by threats of physical or emotional abuse, deception, or even threats to immigration status. It can happen in any culture and to people from any educational and economic background. In the United States, perpetrators of forced marriage may be charged with crimes including domestic violence, assault, kidnapping, child abuse if the victim is underage, rape, threats of violence, and other charges.

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 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Immigration

Once foreign students who are studying in the United States are nearing their graduation or the end of their visa time, they may start seeking the opportunity to become fully employed here. Also, if they have desirable skills, employers may seek them out and offer them employment. If you are a foreign national who would like to apply for an Adjustment of Status to your visa based on employment, there are certain requirements that must be met for the application to be approved. Our experienced legal team can help you and your potential employer navigate the process.

Requirements to Adjust Your Visa to Employment-Based Status

In order to be eligible to change from a student visa to work-related visa, there are many requirements that must be met. These include the following:

• You must be physically present here in the United States.
• You must be here on a legal visa, including a student visa or temporary H1B visa.

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 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Family Law

Going through a divorce can be a stressful and emotional time. In addition to the lasting impact on your family life, there can be many practical decisions about finances, property, and other assets that have to be made. However, if you have very few assets and meet other qualifying factors, you may be eligible for a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage under Illinois Law. This is a quicker and less costly process, but it comes with strict requirements and neither party may seek any spousal maintenance during the process or after the divorce is finalized. An experienced divorce attorney can help determine if this approach fits your situation.

Qualifications for a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage

The strict qualifications for following this process are spelled out in Illinois law:

• Both spouses must be residents of the state of Illinois.
• Your marriage must not have lasted more than eight years.

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 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Personal Injury

Whether it is caused by tailgating, speeding, drunk driving, or distracted driving, a rear-end collision can cause serious injuries to the occupants of the car that was struck. Since many rear-end accidents come as a surprise to the vehicle that was hit, the driver and passengers rarely have time to brace for the impact.

While speed can definitely play a factor in the severity of many injuries associated with rear-end collisions, even a seemingly minor accident can cause injuries with lasting pain, which may require medical treatment and even physical therapy. If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, our lawyers can help advocate on your behalf for compensation for your pain and suffering you may be eligible to receive.

Common Injuries to Drivers and Passengers

Here are just a few of the most common injuries that those in rear-end collisions often suffer:

• Whiplash - When your head moves quickly forward and back due to a rear-end collision, it can cause ligaments, tendons, and other neck muscles to tear, leading to ongoing pain. In serious cases, whiplash can cause blurred vision, numbness, difficulties concentrating or with memory, and even sleep disturbances and emotional issues.

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 Posted on April 05, 2022 in Family Law

If you are considering a divorce and have children, you know you will face a series of difficult choices. Decisions must be made on living arrangements, custody rights, child support payments, and other difficult decisions. If you and your spouse are willing to cooperate, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is one tool available to you which can avoid the traditional divorce litigation process and risk leaving the final decision on these matters to a court. Besides addressing the division of marital assets, ADR can be used to determine parental responsibilities, parenting time, child support, and spousal support payments. An experienced family law attorney will be able to guide you through this process to a successful outcome.

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 Posted on March 31, 2022 in Personal Injury

One of the many disadvantages that victims of catastrophic injuries often suffer is having to navigate the complexities of various legal and governmental systems as they try to obtain compensation and benefits that are necessary for living with a disabling condition. While personal injury attorneys are known for helping clients pursue lawsuits against the party who is directly responsible for the client’s injury, victims of these injuries may not realize that they can also get help with issues like workers’ compensation claims and Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.

If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt or killed by a car or truck accident, poor medical care, dangerous premises, or while at work on a construction site, you may need the help of an Illinois personal injury attorney in more than one area as you adjust to a new reality.

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 Posted on March 16, 2022 in Immigration

One of the most common avenues for immigration to the United States is through sponsorship by a family member. A person who is a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident with a valid Green Card may be able to sponsor people in other countries for family-based visas. However, it is important for families to understand the different types of visas that may be available, the procedures they will need to follow when applying for these visas, and the legal issues that may potentially affect their ability to live together in the United States.

Visa Eligibility Depends on Family Relationships

A person’s ability to provide sponsorship for family-based visas will depend on their own legal status and their relationship to the family member(s) who are looking to immigrate to the U.S. Generally, U.S. citizens will have an easier time sponsoring family members, and they will often be able to bring immediate family members to the country without a significant waiting period. In cases where Green Card holders wish to sponsor immediate family members for immigration or when citizens wish to sponsor more distant relatives, waiting periods may apply, and a limited number of visas are available.

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 Posted on March 14, 2022 in Personal Injury

City buses and trains provide much-needed affordable public transit options to many people, especially in congested city areas. While these methods of transportation certainly have their benefits, bus drivers and train conductors are prone to making the same kinds of driving errors as anyone else. Because buses and trains are so large, the consequences of a driver error can be serious and even fatal. If you have been injured as a driver or pedestrian by a city bus or train, or by any other government vehicle, you may want to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries.

Keep Detailed Records of Medical Treatment

The first thing any victim of a motor vehicle accident should do is seek medical help. If, following an accident, you can safely take pictures and document what happened, you may want to do so, but do not put off seeking urgent medical treatment because you want to preserve evidence. Call the police and allow them to document facts about the accident.

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 Posted on March 11, 2022 in Immigration

Following an invasion by Russian forces that began on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been in a state of war, and millions of people throughout the country have been affected. Since then, more than one million refugees have fled the country, and more are likely to seek protections and escape a dangerous situation. While some Ukrainian immigrants have sought asylum in the United States, there are thousands more who were already in the country who may be concerned about their safety if they face deportation. Fortunately, these immigrants may be able to receive protection from removal by qualifying for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Biden Administration Grants TPS to Ukrainian Immigrants

Temporary Protected Status is a designation that may be put in place by the Department of Homeland Security, preventing immigrants from certain countries from being returned to locations where they may be at risk of harm. This status may be granted based on armed conflicts in a country, natural disasters, or other conditions that affect people’s safety. People from a country with TPS designation may receive protection from deportation for a certain amount of time.

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