After an accident, you might expect the other party’s insurance company to work with you to make sure things go as smoothly as possible and pay you the full compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages you sustained as a result of someone else’s negligence. Unfortunately, that does not often happen.

In general, insurance companies don’t want to settle you claim easily or provide you with the full amount you may be entitled to. Before they will compensate you for your injuries, they will ask that you get them hard proof of your medical bills, proof of wage-loss and proof of permanence of your injuries. There are instances where an insurer may feel they can lower the amount of compensation they will offer you because you are not represented. 

In other instances, they will see that there could be significant exposure and try to get you to settle your claim short of what the true outcome should be when you are not represented. They may also try to frustrate you in the hope that you will either drop the case or accept the lower amount they’re offering. No matter which tactic you are experiencing, you may benefit by having an accident lawyer to represent you.

As the novel coronavirus spreads across Illinois, the United States, and the rest of the world, it’s imperative we do what we can to protect those that are most at risk for severe complications from the virus. Elderly people and those with conditions that compromise their immune systems currently fall into the most at-risk category. Because of that, it’s important for Illinois nursing homes to take action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

When nursing homes fail to properly contain a virus, they can be cited for problems with infection control. Across the country, 9,700 of the 15,000 nursing homes were cited by the federal government at least once during the last two inspection cycles. This means that approximately 63 percent of nursing homes in the United States were cited at least once between February 2016 to February 2020 for failing to handle infections properly.

On March 31, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that Illinois’s stay-at-home order is extended until at least the end of April in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19. For many residents, this means hunkering down at home and doing their part to flatten the curve. For others, it means being on the frontlines and working in hospitals and other medical facilities to care for those who are ill.

No matter your circumstance during this trying time, let’s take a look at some tips to protect you and your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s important to note that information related to the virus changes daily. As such, everything discussed below is accurate as of April 2, 2020. Refer to local and federal health organizations for the most up-to-date information.

Our clients are very important to us. Therefore, we are taking the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing suggested by the CDC seriously. While our office remains open, we are encouraging our clients to communicate with us via telephone, email, fax or text rather than coming to the office. In order to assure that our office continues to function appropriately to give our clients continued service, each of our lawyers and staff have the capability to work remotely and will make arrangements for paperwork to be exchanged as efficiently as possible.

We encourage everyone to protect themselves, their loved ones and those who are most vulnerable. The best way to prevent the spread of this illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus by avoiding contact with individuals who are sick or who may have been exposed to the virus. You can also protect yourself by washing your hands and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. For more information from the CDC on how to protect yourself, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

After a night out in the city, you might think that renting an e-scooter is a safer and more cost-effective way for you to get home. If you’ve been enjoying a few drinks, however, this line of thinking could be dangerous. Driving a rental scooter while drunk is just as dangerous as getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

It’s also just as illegal. Here’s what you need to know about the DUI laws and consequences in Illinois:

Michael Krzak and Matthew Rundio have been recognized as Leading Lawyers for 2020. Krzak Rundio Law Group is honored to have received this recognition, as our lawyers strive to provide the best representation possible for our clients.

Leading Lawyers are recommended by their peers to be among the top lawyers in different areas of practice. According to Leading Lawyers, less than five percent of all lawyers licensed in each state have received the distinction. Krzak and Rundio also received this award in 2019.

Michael Krzak was recommended by his peers in aviation law and general personal injury law. As a hard-working attorney, he approaches each case with dedication and perseverance. Mr. Krzak has successfully tried a number of cases, resulting in positive verdicts for his clients. One case, involving a woman who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after a car accident, achieved a $2.583 million verdict—which set a new legal record in Illinois. He also tackles highly complex aviation crash cases, including commercial aviation cases and crashes with small aircraft and helicopters.

There were over 300,000 car accidents in Illinois last year and less than 1,000 were fatal, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). But how many of those crashes were caused by winter weather? IDOT reported that nearly 80% of fatal crashes occur on dry roadways, meaning that winter weather only accounts for less than 20% of fatal car accidents.

This winter, at least one person has already been killed in a car accident caused by snow.

In mid-November, a driver lost control and crossed into the oncoming lane because it was snowing, and the road was covered with snow. Unfortunately, the driver hit and killed the driver of another car, as a local CBS station reported. This terrible incident shows that you need to practice extreme caution when driving in inclement weather because accidents can easily become deadly.

Supporting the arts gives artists opportunities to share their craft with the community. Chicago has a variety of talented artists that deserve a platform where they can be heard. The lawyers at Krzak Rundio Law Group, a personal injury firm in Chicago, believe in supporting the artistic community in the city. This is why we’ve become a sponsor of the Blank Theatre Company.

Supporting this company allows the theatre to make their shows more accessible for both their artists and audience members. Promoting inclusivity in theater means more people will be able to enjoy it—whether it’s through participating or spectating.

Driving in Chicago can be intimidating. Like any city, there are many factors to take into account at all times—street signs, signals, pedestrians, cyclists, and heavy traffic. While streets are well-marked and GPS directions are pretty reliable in our city, there are still some things you’ll need to know before getting behind the wheel in Chicago.

While you should always pay attention while driving,  in cities you should be even more aware of your surroundings. There are so many moving parts and things going on that you need to be more alert. Don’t let that stress you out, though! Try to stay as calm as possible so that you make good decisions and do not make a mistake or succumb to road rage.

We’ve all been told to look both ways before crossing the street, but that doesn’t always guarantee that we will make it across safely. Just last year, the Illinois Department of Transportation reported nearly 3,000 crashes involving pedestrians in Chicago alone, and 43 of those were fatal.

You might think those accidents were a result of bad weather or poor lighting, but the majority of accidents occurred on dry roads and in broad daylight. On top of that, over 70% of drivers were reported to be in normal condition, which means they were not impaired or fatigued.

We can’t control the world around us, but we can practice extra caution in an attempt to avoid serious injury. In order to stay as aware of your surroundings as possible, you should know which intersections in Chicago are the most dangerous for pedestrians.