Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog

If I Try to Pet a Dog and It Bites Me, Do I Have a Personal Injury Case in Illinois?

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Fri, 22 May 2026 18:10:41 +0000

Dogs are beloved companions, and many people naturally approach friendly-looking dogs to pet them. But what happens if a dog suddenly bites you after you try to pet it? Many injured people assume they cannot recover compensation because they voluntarily approached the animal. Under Illinois law, however, that is not always true.

At Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., our Chicago dog bite injury lawyers help people understand their rights after serious dog bite injuries. Illinois law is generally favorable to dog bite victims, but there are important exceptions and defenses that may affect a case.

Illinois Dog Bite Law: The Animal Control Act

Do I Have a Case if I Am Hit by a Car While Crossing Mid-Block?

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Tue, 19 May 2026 20:33:53 +0000

In a busy city like Chicago, pedestrians do not always cross the street at an intersection or inside a marked crosswalk. People often cross “mid-block” — meaning they cross the street somewhere between intersections. Sometimes it happens because the nearest crosswalk is far away. Other times, a person may be walking to a parked car, a bus stop, a restaurant, or simply trying to save time.

But what happens if a pedestrian is hit by a car while crossing mid-block? Does the pedestrian automatically lose the right to bring a personal injury claim?

Under Illinois law, the answer is no.

Brake Unsafe Truck Equipment: Defects, Tire Failures, Coupling Hazards, and Rear Impact Guards

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Mon, 18 May 2026 11:36:42 +0000

Federal trucking regulations define unsafe equipment with unusual specificity. The law does not merely instruct motor carriers to use “safe trucks” in general terms. It identifies particular components, defects, records, inspections, qualifications, and corrective duties. That specificity matters in trucking litigation because a crash often follows a sequence of preventable mechanical failures.

Part 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations governs inspection, repair, and maintenance. It requires motor carriers to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain commercial motor vehicles under their control. It also requires parts and accessories to remain in safe and proper operating condition at all times.

At Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., our Chicago trucking attorneys evaluate unsafe equipment claims by asking a basic question: Did the carrier put a vehicle on the road that federal law required it to inspect, repair, or remove from service?

If I am Hit By a Car While Riding a E-Scooter in Chicago Do I Have a Case?

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Wed, 13 May 2026 19:25:41 +0000

Chicago has seen a sharp increase in e-scooter use, along with a rise in serious crashes and fatalities. The City recently launched a new e-scooter safety campaign following several deadly incidents involving scooters and motor vehicles. (FOX 32 Chicago) The e-scooter injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer have seen a sharp rise in e-scooter cases in the last to years, most involving serious injuries.

For injured riders, one of the biggest questions is simple: If I was hit by a car while riding an e-scooter, do I have a case?

In many situations, the answer is yes.

Unsafe Equipment in Trucking and Federal Maintenance Duties

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Tue, 12 May 2026 11:16:34 +0000

The safety of a commercial motor vehicle does not begin when the driver enters the highway. It begins in the maintenance yard, in the inspection file, in the brake shop, in the driver vehicle inspection report, and in the motor carrier’s decision to either correct or ignore known defects. Federal trucking law recognizes this reality. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations impose an affirmative system of inspection, repair, maintenance, documentation, and correction because unsafe equipment can transform an ordinary trip into a catastrophic event.

Part 396 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations governs inspection, repair, and maintenance. Its scope reaches motor carriers, officers, drivers, agents, representatives, and employees directly concerned with the inspection or maintenance of commercial motor vehicles. It also reaches intermodal equipment providers and their relevant personnel. The regulation, therefore, frames maintenance as an institutional obligation, not merely a driver’s personal responsibility.

At Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., our Chicago trucking attorneys examine equipment safety as a central issue in serious trucking cases. A crash may appear, at first, to involve driver error. But the deeper question often asks whether the truck should have operated at all.

When Trucking Companies Call Drivers Independent Contractors, Injured Drivers Can Lose Everything

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Sat, 09 May 2026 01:10:05 +0000

The modern trucking industry relies heavily on labor arrangements that often blur the line between employment and independent contracting. In many cases, trucking companies characterize drivers as independent contractors while retaining substantial control over the manner, timing, and economic terms of the work. This tension between contractual form and workplace reality carries serious consequences, particularly when a driver suffers a disabling injury.

The issue does not concern terminology alone. Worker classification determines access to fundamental protections, including workers’ compensation, wage replacement, unemployment insurance, employer-funded benefits, and other statutory remedies. When a company classifies a driver as an independent contractor, it may attempt to avoid obligations that the law imposes on employers. The injured driver then bears risks that the employment law system ordinarily allocates to the enterprise that controls and profits from the work.

At Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., our Chicago trucking attorneys litigate serious trucking cases and understand how classification disputes can affect injured drivers and their families. These cases require careful factual analysis, close attention to the governing legal standards, and a willingness to look beyond the words of a contract.

If you have a crash with a police vehicle in Chicago, do you have a personal injury case?

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:14:22 +0000

You are driving through an intersection on a green light in Chicago when you notice from your peripheral vision a cop car coming from the cross street at high speed with flashers on but no siren. You put on the brakes and you feel lucky you were able to avoided a crash. Not everyone is so lucky. With all the police activity in Chicago, crashes involving police vehicles responding to calls are not uncommon. With a dense urban environment, frequent emergency responses, and busy intersections, these collisions happen with surprising (or unsurprising) regularity, and they often result in serious injuries to innocent drivers who simply had the right of way.

The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., get calls from people who have been in an accident with a police car. A common question is: Can you sue the police? The answer is yes, but the law in Illinois makes these cases far more complicated than a typical car crash.

The Critical First Question: Was the Officer Responding to an Emergency?

Más bicicletas en primavera: riesgos y responsabilidades para los conductores en Chicago

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Fri, 01 May 2026 16:45:15 +0000

A medida que Chicago finalmente se descongela tras otro largo invierno, las calles comienzan a cambiar. Las temperaturas más cálidas significan más peatones, más actividad al aire libre y, lo más importante, un fuerte aumento de ciclistas compartiendo la vía. Para los conductores en todo Chicago, este cambio estacional trae nuevos riesgos y responsabilidades.

En Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., un bufete de abogados de lesiones personales que representa a demandantes en Chicago, esta es la época del año en la que, lamentablemente, comenzamos a ver más lesiones relacionadas con bicicletas, muchas de las cuales son completamente prevenibles.

Más bicicletas, más riesgo

Spring in Chicago Brings Out the Bikes

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:39:27 +0000

As Chicago finally thaws out after another long winter, the streets begin to change. Warmer temperatures mean more pedestrians, more outdoor activity, and importantly, a sharp increase in bicyclists sharing the road. For drivers across Chicago, this seasonal shift brings new risks and responsibilities.

At Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., a Chicago plaintiff’s bike injury law firm, this is the time of year when we unfortunately begin to see more bike-related injuries, many of which are entirely preventable.

More Bikes, More Risk

When an Electric Bike Hits a Pedestrian in Chicago: Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Apply?

Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 17:46:17 +0000

Electric bikes are no longer a novelty in Chicago—they are everywhere: downtown streets, neighborhood bike lanes, and heavily trafficked pedestrian areas like the Lakefront Trail. With that rise comes a legal question we are increasingly seeing at Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C., a personal injury law firm.

👉 If a pedestrian is struck by an uninsured electric bike rider, can the pedestrian recover under their own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage?

The answer depends on a critical legal issue under Illinois law: