Posts by Regina P. Etherton & Associates, LLC
Have You or a Loved-One Been Injured on a Construction Site? What you need to know about OSHA’s “Fatal Four”
The most recent data available confirms that there were 5,486 construction worker fatalities in 2022. One of the jobs of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is to implement rules that will keep construction sites safer. The most common injuries on construction sites are outlined by what OSHA called, the Fatal Four. These injuries include…
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know About the Illinois Premises Liability Act!
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, whether it’s a store, office building, a residential property or commercial establishment, it’s essential to understand your rights under the Illinois Premises Liability Act (740 ILCS 130/1). This law makes it easier for lawful entrants to seek compensation for the injuries they suffered on someone else’s property.…
Read MoreWeighing the Scales: What Proof Do You Need to Win?
Many people have heard the phrase “beyond a reasonable doubt” from TV shows or movies; however, that doesn’t apply to all types of cases. While this standard is used in criminal cases, civil cases use a different burden of proof called “preponderance of the evidence.” So, what’s the difference? The criminal standard of “beyond a…
Read MoreWhat is an Expert Witness in a Personal Injury Case?
In personal injury cases, having the right evidence is very important to proving your claim. An effective way to support your case is through the use of expert witness testimony. What does that mean? An expert witness can provide specialized knowledge to explain to the jury certain aspects of your accident, claim and/or injury. Some…
Read MoreWere you injured from a Slip and Fall? What you need to know about the Illinois Premises Liability Act!
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, whether it’s a store, office building, sidewalk, or another type of commercial space, it’s essential to understand your rights under the Illinois Premises Liability Act (740 ILCS 130/1). This law provides that all lawful entrants are owed a duty of reasonable care. This means that business and…
Read MoreYou are sued, but you did nothing wrong. Do you really need to go to trial?
Suppose you are a business owner and someone gets injured in your store by recklessly climbing the shelves. They file a lawsuit against you, but you did nothing wrong. Do you have to go through a whole trial? The answer is technically no. You will have to hire an attorney to respond to the lawsuit,…
Read MoreFinders Keepers? Lost Property and Determining Ownership
Imagine you find a valuable watch in your backyard that does not belong to you or your family. It was on your property, is it yours to keep? In determining ownership of lost property, the law considers three different kinds of property. First, there is simply lost property. This is property that is unintentionally left…
Read MoreCan I Sue if My Spouse was Injured? Loss of Consortium Claims in Illinois
There are certain events, such as accidents while working, auto collisions, and medical malpractice, which can leave an everlasting effect on a spouse. As an example, when a spouse dies, the other spouse has lost that deceased spouse’s wages, income, etc.… There can be economic as well as non-economic ramifications to the uninjured spouse. While…
Read More“Judgment Proof” Defendants
Before filing a lawsuit there are many factors to consider in determining the likelihood of success on the merits. One such consideration: is the defendant insured and/or does he/she have assets to satisfy a judgement. In many cases, a defendant does not have sufficient assets. Perhaps he/she doesn’t have insurance, works part time, and has…
Read MoreHeads up! The Baseball Rule and Implied Assumption of Risk
It’s summertime and you are excited about attending a baseball game at Wrigley Field. You are sitting in the sun ready to take a big bite out of your hot dog when a ball is hit into the stands. You look up, blinded by the sun, and don’t see the ball until it is too…
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