Posts by Regina P. Etherton & Associates, LLC

Owning a pet comes with a variety of responsibilities, and in Illinois, some of these responsibilities are clearly defined under the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5). Disregarding these duties can result in fines and liability. Illinois law takes pet bites very seriously. If a pet bites another person, the owner is required to…

We have all heard that once it is on the internet it is out there forever—but, it also may make its way into court. The internet has created an atmosphere for communication with others in various ways and sharing more of our personal lives. Since sharing things with the world via the internet solidifies its…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…