Articles Posted in Personal Injury

Water Tower Place is one of Chicago’s best-known shopping destinations. Located at 835 N. Michigan Avenue on the Magnificent Mile, the property features multiple levels of shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and other attractions. Its location in the heart of downtown Chicago means that thousands of shoppers, tourists, employees, families, and pedestrians may pass through or around the property.

With so many people using the property and the surrounding streets, accidents can happen. A visitor could slip on a wet floor, trip over a dangerous condition, fall on stairs or an escalator, be struck by a falling object, or suffer injuries in a collision in the surrounding pedestrian and traffic areas.

When an accident occurs, determining who is legally responsible can be complicated. Depending on the circumstances, a claim could potentially involve the property owner, a store or restaurant, a maintenance company, a security company, a contractor, a driver, a manufacturer, or another party. Continue reading

Being hit by a car while walking in Chicago can leave a pedestrian facing serious injuries, expensive medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about what happens next. In the aftermath of an accident, one of the most important questions is often: What insurance covers a Chicago pedestrian accident?

The answer can be more complicated than many people realize. Depending on the circumstances, several different insurance policies may provide coverage after a pedestrian is struck by a car, truck, rideshare vehicle, commercial vehicle, or another motor vehicle. The at-fault driver’s auto insurance may provide coverage. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also apply. Medical payments coverage, health insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and other policies may potentially provide benefits depending on how and where the accident occurred. Continue reading

Walking is one of the best ways to experience Chicago. Whether you’re commuting to work in the Loop, exploring Millennium Park, visiting Wrigleyville, or walking your dog in one of the city’s many neighborhoods, being a pedestrian comes with serious risks. Heavy traffic, distracted drivers, rideshare vehicles, bicyclists, and changing weather conditions all contribute to pedestrian accidents throughout the city.

Unfortunately, pedestrian fatalities have increased nationwide over the past decade, and Chicago has not been immune to this troubling trend. While drivers have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care around pedestrians, everyone who walks near roadways should take steps to protect themselves.

In this blog, we discuss five of the most effective ways to stay safe as a pedestrian in Chicago and reduce your risk of being seriously injured in an accident. Continue reading

The Fourth of July is one of the busiest weekends of the year on Chicago’s waterways. Thousands of residents and visitors head to Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, Monroe Harbor, Burnham Harbor, Diversey Harbor, and nearby lakes to celebrate Independence Day with boating, fireworks, and waterfront parties. While the holiday is known for fun and celebration, it is also one of the most dangerous weekends for recreational boating accidents.

Every year, law enforcement agencies increase patrols during the Fourth of July because boating crashes, injuries, and fatalities rise dramatically during holiday weekends. Alcohol consumption, overcrowded waterways, inexperienced boat operators, nighttime navigation, and distracted boating all contribute to a higher risk of serious accidents. Nationwide, the U.S. Coast Guard consistently identifies the Fourth of July holiday as one of the busiest and deadliest boating periods of the year.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Chicago boating accident, understanding why these crashes occur and who may be legally responsible is critical to protecting your rights. Continue reading

After an accident, most people focus on recovering from their injuries and getting their lives back on track. Unfortunately, many injury victims unknowingly make mistakes that can significantly reduce the value of their personal injury claim or even jeopardize it entirely.

Whether you were injured in a Chicago car accident, truck crash, motorcycle collision, slip and fall, dog attack, or another preventable incident, the actions you take in the hours, days, and weeks after an accident can have a major impact on your case. Continue reading

When you’ve been injured in an accident, speaking with a personal injury lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take toward protecting your rights and pursuing compensation. However, what you say, and what you don’t say, can significantly impact your case. Many accident victims make the mistake of withholding information, downplaying their injuries, or making statements that may harm their credibility.

At John J. Malm & Associates, we’ve represented countless clients in Chicago and across Illinois who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. Our experienced attorneys understand that communication is the foundation of a strong attorney-client relationship. The more transparent you are with your lawyer, the more effectively we can build your case, protect your interests, and secure the compensation you deserve. Continue reading

When people think of personal injury claims involving knee injuries or shoulder injuries, they often envision torn ligaments, fractured bones, surgeries, physical therapy, and permanent limitations. What’s less visible but just as real (sometimes more debilitating) is the psychological harm that can accompany traumatic physical injury. Among the psychological consequences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one that plaintiffs and their attorneys increasingly recognize, and, under the right facts and with appropriate evidence, can seek to recover as part of the damage package. Continue reading

Nighttime pedestrian accidents are a persistent and deadly problem in Chicago. When streets are poorly lit, pedestrians are far harder for drivers to see, crosswalks and sidewalks become hazard zones, and split-second decisions turn into life-changing injuries or fatalities. In this blog, we explain how inadequate lighting contributes to nighttime pedestrian crashes, summarize recent Chicago and Illinois data, review research on lighting as a safety countermeasure, and outline practical steps pedestrians can take to reduce risk. Continue reading

Jury trials in personal injury cases can be unpredictable, but certain factors consistently lead juries to award higher verdicts. Whether it’s the severity of injuries, the defendant’s conduct, or the quality of legal representation, understanding these reasons can shed light on what motivates jurors to side with plaintiffs and award substantial damages.

At John J. Malm & Associates, with offices in Naperville and St. Charles, our award-winning team leverages decades of litigation experience to achieve justice for our clients. This blog explores the top seven reasons juries decide to award higher verdicts in personal injury cases and explains how damages are calculated. Continue reading