Since the arrival of the recession a few years ago many Illinois families have been faced with the challenge of paying their mortgage while still being able to buy groceries.  Some things such as credit card payments may fall last in line in that situation. Eventually, the credit card company may sue or may sell the alleged debt to a “third party debt buyer” to collect on the debt.

On Nov. 12, 2013, Illinois will start issuing Temporary Visitors Driver’s Licenses (“TVDLs”) for undocumented immigrants.  On that date, TVDL applicants may schedule an appointment by calling the Illinois Secretary of State (“SOS”) at 855-236-1155 or visiting www.cyberdriveillinois.com. The SOS has emphasized that advance appointments are required at all designated facilities; walk-ins will not be served.

Folks, many people do not realize that there is significant legal help available for those who cannot afford a lawyer. These pro bono services may be offered for free, or at low cost, to you if you qualify. Some of the clinics that offer these services may ask you to undergo a quick financial analysis first to see if you are eligible under their guidelines. Many of them provide general legal services but many can be specific to certain problems that may arise in your life.

In Illinois, if you are injured in a work accident, you can check and see if your employer has workers’ compensation insurance by going to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (“Commission”) website here. If you do find out that your employer does not have insurance, the law may allow you to sue your employer directly in court on a negligence case and ask for damages such as pain and suffering.

Good afternoon folks. Happy Halloween. This is the haunted season, the time where witches and warlocks are all around us. This can be a fun time for young and old. I enjoy Halloween like the best of them. Always have, always will. Halloween is a time where people can throw their cares to the wind, dress up and pretend for a moment in time to be something they are not-a witch, a superhero, an actor…the list is endless. This is all harmless, good fun.

However, are these witches and warlocks in our presence during the rest of the year? Are we being tricked when all we wanted was to be treated in a fair manner? Forgive the pun. However, I digress about a serious topic.

Folks, I will admit it has been awhile since I have posted in the blogosphere. Well, I am back. However, I am asking you for a favor this time. As you know, in the past I have written on several topics such as Can I be fired for filing an IL work comp claim? Or, How Do I Get My Settlement Check Faster? 

We attorneys can talk and write all day…and in many cases…we do. Just ask my friends and family-they will tell you. But that does not tell me the legal topics that most interest you. Well, I am reaching out today to find out this information. I write this blog because I want to impart some knowledge to you.

The first question I normally hear a potential client ask me during  the initial interview process is if I make a workers’ compensation claim can my employer fire me? The answer is always yes, your employer can fire you. However, then my question for the potential client is, do you think your employer terminated you because you filed a workers’ compensation claim or because you asserted some right connected to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act? This may provide you with the means to sue your employer in court for what is commonly known as a retaliatory discharge action.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recently recommended that all states lower the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level for drivers to 0.05. According to the NTSB, the number of alcohol-related highway fatalities, has dropped from 20,000 in 1980 to 9,878 in 2011. They assert that this was as a result of lowering the BAC level to 0.08. 

So why should you care about some boring Illinois Senate bill? Why should you care that a person severely injured be given their settlement funds in a timely manner? Here is why. It’s because it is not a well-known fact to the public that a case does not just end when a settlement or verdict occurs. No, that is just the beginning. 

Many people like to quote stories about the “ridiculous” lawsuits that occur in our country. They cite to various anecdotes that are oft-quoted as the undisputed truth. Only one problem, many “facts” cited about these cases are not the truth, or the stories listed, such as in the “Stella Awards”, are complete fabrications.