Posted on May 02, 2017 in Personal Injury

For parents and caretakers, child passenger safety is of paramount importance. Children are extremely vulnerable in car accidents, and for that reason, there are additional safety requirements meant to protect them.

Requirements of the Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act

The Child Passenger Protection Act mandates that children under eight years old use a child safety restraint system.

For children who are the proper size for a booster seat, a safety belt that has both a lap and shoulder strap must be used. If the back seat of the car does not have such a belt, Illinois law provides that a child who weighs more than 40 pounds does not need to use a booster seat and may use the lap belt only.

Child Safety Restraint System Guidelines

In addition to following the car seat manufacturer’s instructions, the state of Illinois also offers the following guidance.

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 Posted on April 28, 2017 in Family Law

While most wedding trends include things like hairstyles, locations, and colors, a new and different sort of trend has entered the scene recently. It is known as the prenuptial agreement. Of course, they have always offered potential benefits to marrying couples; they just have not ever been all that popular. Instead, they were considered one of the least romantic ways to tie the knot. Now they are the norm. What has changed? The following explains.

Difficult to Value Property

Traditionally, prenuptial agreements covered straightforward assets – or assets that are easy to value: homes, cars, incomes, collections, and family heirlooms. More recently though, they have been extended to include concepts and ideas, such as copyrights, trademarks, and software applications. These types of assets are known as intellectual property, and they can be difficult to value in divorce. Using a prenuptial agreement prior to the marriage can clarify who owns the intellectual property, and it can set parameters on what the joint or non-owning spouse may be entitled to there are ever any proceeds from the asset. At the very least, it can keep a non-owning spouse from selling an idea that does not belong to them during the divorce process.

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 Posted on April 25, 2017 in Personal Injury

A dog bite is a serious injury that can lead to severe wounds, exposure to disease, and the need for rehabilitation and reconstructive surgery. A dog bite can also lead to mental anguish that can require psychological treatment.

While any dog breed can attack, some breeds are known to be more aggressive. Also, certain dogs have been bred to be more powerful and to have a stronger bite.

The following list notes 10 dog breeds with the strongest bites and the breed’s bite force in pounds per square inch. These figures were generated by using digital bite meters.

1. Kangal with a bite force of 743 pounds;
2. Mastiff – 556 pounds;
3. Wolfdog – 406 pounds;
4. Rottweiler – 317 pounds;
5. African wild dog – 317 pounds;
6. American bulldog – 305 pounds;

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 Posted on April 25, 2017 in Immigration

Since the changeover to the new administration, there have been numerous unanswered questions about the status of immigrants, especially those who are part of various special interest groups. Perhaps no one is more at risk than the unaccompanied minors who make the trip from Central and South America, and it is entirely understandable that many may wonder about what awaits them when they arrive.

Current USCIS Regulations

Currently, unaccompanied minors may seek Special Immigrant Juvenile status. Or, they may apply for asylum on their own, depending on their situation, if they have no family in the country to sponsor them. Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status is designed to assist minors who have been abused or abandoned, and as such, has certain restrictions—a juvenile may obtain a green card through the program, but he or she may never petition for his or her parents to do the same, unlike immigrants who adjust status after reaching 18 years of age.

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 Posted on April 21, 2017 in Family Law

Blended families come in all shapes and sizes. Each one is unique, but they all have one thing in common: shared children. It is the best interests of these children that should take precedence in all that the families say and do. One family is setting the example by showing up to soccer games in customized, blended family jerseys. How are they making it work, and how can you adapt their style to fit your family? The following explains.

Remember to Be Mindful of the Child’s Comfort Level

Although a new relationship may be the last thing on the mind of some divorcing couples, others have been working on their transition for years. As such, they may already be romantically involved with someone else. Unfortunately, children can find these new relationships jarring, painful, or even traumatizing. The effect is heightened if they have not yet had the chance to adjust to the divorce. So, regardless of where parents are at in their new relationships, it is crucial that they stay mindful of their child’s comfort level.

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 Posted on April 18, 2017 in Immigration

During the Obama years, the administration would most often try to combat the issue of unauthorized immigration by focusing on the abusive and exploitative employers that would hire undocumented immigrants and pay them less than U.S. citizens. The new administration appears poised to shift course, going as far as possibly re-instituting the dramatic workplace raids that were common during the presidency of George W. Bush. If this comes to pass, and your workplace is targeted, it can make an enormous difference for you to understand your rights—and to understand that everyone has certain rights, even the undocumented.

How Are Employers Punished?

The Obama administration focused on punishing employers for being willing to hire undocumented immigrants. This is, at least in some ways, eminently logical; if there are no opportunities for undocumented workers in the U.S., they will likely not come to seek them. However, the current penalties to employers, at least those assessed if an audit discovers discrepancies in employees’ work papers, are nowhere near stringent enough to warrant much of a reaction from the employers themselves.

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 Posted on April 18, 2017 in Personal Injury

Automated, self-driving cars were supposed to be the wave of the future— technology that would decrease the number of car crashes that occur each year. Are they really the answer, though? Or do they have the potential to do more harm than good? Two recent accidents in Arizona, both of which involved automated cars, suggest there may be some major issues at hand.

A Look at the Accidents

The two vehicles—one a Tesla, the other an automated Uber—crashed in Arizona within the same week. The first incident, which occurred in Phoenix, involved the Tesla and an on-duty motorcycle officer. News sources indicate that the officer had been stopped at a light while exiting the highway. The Tesla stopped briefly, directly behind the officer, but then moved forward. The driver of the Tesla stated he had been using the vehicle in the autopilot mode, but authorities were not able to verify this. No one was injured in the crash, and the on-duty officer stated the crash was not severe enough to even warrant a report or investigation.

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 Posted on April 14, 2017 in Family Law

Divorce can bring on a confusing mix of emotions and high levels of stress. Often, this is because couples are not certain of what to expect during the process. Rest assured that, although every divorce is unique, many contain similar aspects. Though complex and different in their application from one divorce to the next, understanding these major and common issues can help reduce the anxiety that you may be feeling and prepare you for the journey ahead.

Division of Marital Assets

Unless you and your spouse developed a comprehensive, well-planned prenuptial agreement, it is likely that you will need to go through the division of marital assets. Despite common misconception, this is not a 50-50 split in Illinois. Instead, Illinois is an equitable distribution state, which means you and your spouse will split your property, assets, and debts in a “fair” manner. What equitable means will vary from one couple to the next, and how each couple determines it will depend greatly on their situation.

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 Posted on April 11, 2017 in Personal Injury

Consistent safe driving practices is ideal. However, at the end of the day, the reality is that accidents do happen. Additionally, when accidents involve large trucks, the destruction and ensuing injuries can be catastrophic.

Many regulations are in place to promote safe driving by truckers on our roads. These regulations include limits on driving hours, maintenance requirements, and weight limits. One factor which can also contribute to a deadly truck accident is the negligent hiring of a dangerous driver by a trucking company.

If you or a loved one was involved in a serious truck accident and you suspect the driver was driving in a dangerous manner that contributed to the accident, retain the services of an experienced truck accident attorney. Your attorney will make an assessment of your rights and potential to recover monetary damages for your injuries and losses.

Obligations of Trucking Companies

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 Posted on April 11, 2017 in Immigration

Many countries around the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States, have become signatories to what are called safe third country agreements. These agreements essentially restrict asylum seekers in terms of when and where they may apply, which can sometimes have little effect on individual cases. However, they can sometimes cause significant problems, especially if an entire family wants to immigrate or pass through. In the current climate, knowing your options is imperative if you intend to apply for asylum in the United States.

Differences in Ports of Entry

The United States has a safe third country agreement with Canada, classified as a treaty and implemented in 2004. Under this agreement, refugees or anyone intending to make an asylum claim in one of the two countries must do so in the country they enter first. The crux of the matter, however, is that the agreement only applies to those who choose to make their claim when entering via a land border, and even then, there are exceptions to the rule. If someone drives or walks across the international border, and wishes to make a refugee claim, he or she will be barred from doing so unless the individual meets one of the four categories of exception.

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