Matthew Passen of Passen & Powell recently completed his year-long term as Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section (YLS) comprised of over 9,000 attorney-members in the greater Chicagoland community. During his term, Mr. Passen implemented a new public service program, End Distracted Driving (EndDD.org), to combat the growing epidemic of distracted driving accidents resulting in… Read More
Degloving Injuries: Motor Vehicle Accidents and Workplace Injuries
One of the most gruesome and devastating types of traumatic injuries a person can undergo is a degloving injury. Indeed, we had a difficult time finding an image to assign to this article, for fear that an image of a degloving injury would be too gruesome for our readers. In our law practice, we most often… Read More
Motorcycle Accidents: Common Causes and Prevention
Motorcycles have the same right to share public roadway with other vehicles. The unfortunate reality, though, is that even low-speed crashes involving motorcycles can result in devastating injuries or death. Therefore, all drivers should keep in mind ways to avoid motorcycle accidents. The first step to preventing motorcycle crashes is awareness of the most common… Read More
Study Finds Brain Imaging Can Predict Pain Intensity
Pain and suffering is often difficult to measure, even by the most experienced pain specialists. Patients are typically asked to rate their own pain on a scale of 1-10. Although there are objective ways to confirm physical and psychological injuries consistent with pain, the nature and extent of pain is typically measured by the patient’s… Read More
Spinal Cord Injuries and the Law
The term “spinal cord injury” refers to a broad range of injuries causing damage to the spinal cord, causing either a loss of feeling or a loss of motor control in some part of the body. The degree of injury and loss varies widely depending upon the location of the spinal damage and the severity… Read More
Motorcyclists No Longer Required to Wait at All Red Lights
Effective immediately, new state legislation allows motorcyclists to proceed through some red lights. The new legislation, signed by Governor Pat Quinn last week, requires that motorcyclists wait a reasonable time, defined as at least two minutes, at every red light. They may then proceed through the light if the roadway is clear. Our experienced Chicago… Read More
Another Motorcycle Fatality Caused By a Careless Motorist
With summer in full swing, it is also the season for increased motorcycle riding – and increased motorcycle fatalities. With summer comes more motorcycle commuters, more weekend warriors, and more vacationers on their motorcycles. But the increased presence of motorcycles on our roads seldom leads to increased awareness by automobile drivers of their presence. This… Read More
Another Fatal Left-Hand Turn Motorcycle Accident
Recently, in the latest in a long-running string of deadly or disabling motorcycle accidents in Chicagoland, there was an accident downtown involving two motorcycles and one automobile. One of the two motorcyclists died in the crash, while two other people were injured. The crash occurred in Chicago’s Ravenswood area, and occurred in the early morning… Read More
New Laws Take Effect in Illinois
On January 1, 2012, 214 new laws went into effect in the state of Illinois. Most laws are highly industry-specific, and will have no bearing on real people or the way they live their lives. But a few govern each of us directly. Others will have a direct impact on our comfort and safety, even… Read More
Your Rights When a Drunk Driver Strikes
Who Is at Fault? This may seem like an obvious question: the drunk driver whose careless driving caused injury to another is, of course, at fault. However, others may be legally accountable as well. For instance, if the drunk driver was a minor, or was served alcohol while visibly intoxicated, you may have a cause… Read More
