On Friday, September 25th, part of Interstate 80 in LaSalle County just west of Ottawa was shut down due to a fiery crash involving six different vehicles. The crash happened just four miles west of Ottawa at 9:24 a.m. According to Illinois State Police and the LaSalle County Coroner, two individuals passed away and several others were injured. The deceased victims– a 47-year-old LaSalle woman and a 43-year-old Joliet man– were in two different vehicles. Three other drivers were injured and brought to local hospitals. One of those driver’s injuries are life-threatening.

Four of the vehicles, including a box truck, an SUV, and a van, were found fully engulfed in flames. Reports say that one of the vehicles was transporting batteries, which exploded when two other vehicles caught fire. Firefighters and paramedics were quick to get to the scene and treat injured victims and extinguish the fires. The State Police say that the collision occurred in an area where traffic was already slowed due to a nearby construction zone.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the country has been unprecedented. There have been so many changes to our everyday lives. One of the biggest changes is how we communicate. With the rise of social distancing and remaining at home when possible, many in-person interactions we used to have daily may not be happening at all.

This has especially affected those who live in care communities. While the physical separation can be difficult, there are virtual options for residents in these communities to stay in touch with their loved ones. Operation Smart TV is providing this opportunity for the residents of LaSalle Veterans’ Home.

Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP is a personal injury law firm in Peru, IL. We’re proud to be part of this community and support it whenever we can. We’re sponsoring Hometown National Bank’s Hometown Hero Sweepstakes to help show our appreciation for those who do so much for our community.

If you or a loved one took Zantac medication for heartburn or other issues that impact stomach acid conditions, you may have heard about the recent recall of the medication. Learning that a medication you’ve been taking has been recalled can be scary and a little bit confusing. You or a loved one may also have recently been diagnosed with cancer. While there are many reasons why cancer may develop, if you have taken Zantac for an extended amount of time, it’s possible that your diagnosis was caused by Zantac.

Renters insurance secures tenants’ families, assets, property, and futures. However, it’s estimated that less than 50 percent of tenants in Illinois have renters insurance. Because of this, a number of people run into legal problems every year when their property is damaged or when someone is hurt at their house or apartment.

If you rent in Illinois and do not have insurance, it’s important to understand what renters insurance covers and why it’s important to have the coverage in the event of an accident.

In today’s world, posting on social media about major events in your life has become second nature to many individuals. It’s only natural that after you’ve sustained an unexpected injury, you may feel inclined to write a post, and maybe even include pictures, to alert your friends, family, and followers about your misfortune and reassure everybody that you’re okay. You might even feel tempted to talk about how the accident happened and try to assign blame—especially if the accident was caused by another person.

Making the decision to post any information about an injury that you may be considering filing a personal injury claim for is a decision that can potentially harm your claim more than help it—especially when your emotions may be running high soon after the incident occurred. There are many reasons why this is the case. Let’s take a look at some of them.

The loss of a loved one is tragic and one of the most challenging things a family can endure. When the death was the result of someone else’s negligent actions and could have been prevented, the situation can be even more difficult to deal with.  In addition to the grief of losing a loved one, there’s also the potential for a family to suffer financially if they depended on the deceased family member’s income. In the State of Illinois, a death that occurs because of the negligence of another can be the basis for a wrongful death claim. If you or someone you love is in a situation like this, it’s important to understand who can file a wrongful death claim and who is entitled to recover damages. While it’s understandable for a family to have reservations about the legal process, it is sometimes the only means of holding those who wrongfully caused a loved one’s death responsible and securing a comfortable future for those who have been left behind.

When you’re driving through a school zone, you may not be aware of the different laws and rules that apply. These laws and rules exist to keep children and those in charge of them safe from accidents. During school drop-off and when class ends for the day, a school zone is a busy area full of excited children, parents and guardians picking up their kids, and buses picking up children who live further away. As a driver, you want to make sure you’re well-versed in the laws and how to drive safely through these areas.

Even though there are mandatory automobile insurance requirements in Illinois, the limits are often insufficient to cover losses sustained by the victim of an automobile collision. Additionally, there are many negligent drivers who are completely uninsured or have an inadequate amount of insurance coverage. If a driver like that is involved in an accident, it can be challenging for the victim to receive full compensation to cover their losses. Fortunately, there are insurance coverage options that can alleviate the problem. There are benefits to carrying uninsured and underinsured coverage in Illinois on your own automobile policy.

As a motorist, you know that you have to share the road with cyclists, but it can be difficult on rural roads. City streets often have bike lanes and more room to allow cyclists to coexist with vehicles.  Rural roads don’t always have as much space for cyclists, and sometimes they don’t even have a shoulder.

When a motorist collides with a cyclist, it can result in catastrophic injuries or cause death.  If you or someone you love has been a victim of a bicycle accident, then you already know how devastating these collisions can be. In order to avoid getting into a wreck with a cyclist, drivers should follow these tips to avoid collisions.