Law Blog

Personal injury cases hinge on evidence and testimony, and witnesses play a crucial role in building and proving a case. Understanding the value of witnesses, how to find them, and how to effectively use their testimony can be the difference between a successful claim and an unsuccessful one. Thi...

Gathering Your Thoughts and Documents

Your first meeting with a personal injury lawyer is an important opportunity to provide them with the essential details about your case. To make the most of this meeting, it's crucial to organize your thoughts and gather relevant documents. Start by jotting do...

Each year, millions of Americans suffer personal injury accidents and other related incidents, either from auto or trucking accidents, construction injuries, work-related injuries, slip and falls, premise or commercial liability, product liability, and/or animal bites. However, only thousands of ...

In contrast to property damage, personal injury refers to an injury to the body, mind, or emotions. If you have been injured due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Navigating the legal system to receive the compensation you deserve can be challengi...

Experiencing an injury from an accident can be a challenging and emotional time for anyone. Along with the pain, suffering, and change in normal life, you may also have to deal with various expenses such as medical bills, lost wages, and other related costs.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer can he...

As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain popularity, governments are looking to phase out gasoline-powered cars. California is at the forefront of the movement by considering a policy to ban the sale of new gasoline cars by 2035. With this ambitious strategy, the state plans to have more elect...

As colder months approach, people begin to plan vacations to escape the bitter, long Chicago winter. Renting short-term, privately owned vacation homes through websites such as Airbnb, Vrbo, etc. has become a popular alternative to traditional accommodations, such as booking a room or at a hotel ...

In today’s digital era, getting a ride is as easy as pressing a button on your phone. Rideshare apps, such as Uber and Lyft, are popular and convenient ways for people to get around town while reducing the number of drunk or impaired drivers behind the wheel. Yet, while this travel option may be ...

As the end of summer approaches, families will look to scratch activities off of their summer bucket lists. For many, this includes a trip to an amusement park for a fun-filled day riding roller coasters and enjoying other attractions. While amusement parks provide a fun way to take advantage of ...

Slip-and-falls or trip-and-falls are among the most common types of personal injury cases. A slip or trip and fall can often happen in the blink of an eye, and the general public may not know of the nuanced law behind liability. Whether there was a  spilled liquid on the ground in the store you w...

Products liability is a unique type of personal injury law, and in a way, comes with its own set of rules. There are a few categories of products liability, or ways in which a product can be defective or potentially cause injury. The three (3) main categories of products liability are design defe...

As the springtime nears, more people will be spending time outdoors. This includes children. When children play outside, they often play on playgrounds and playground equipment. With all the fun and exercise unfortunately also comes potential accidents. Children often are injured while playing on...

Generally, a defendant is liable for injuries caused by his actions or conduct, however, preexisting conditions complicate even the simplest of personal injury claims. Balestri v. Terminal Freight Cooperative Ass’n, 394 N.E.2d 391, 393 (Ill. 1979).


A preexisting co...

A product recall is a request to return, exchange, or replace a product after its manufacturer (or sometimes a consumer) discovers defects that could hinder its performance, harm consumers, or cause legal issues for the producers. It is likely that everyone has heard of a product being recalled a...

Boating is a popular activity when the warmer weather begins. Illinois and Chicago residents have easy access to Lake Michigan, where recreational boating is very common. Recreational boating is a leisure activity that consists of using a boat for activities such as fishing, water skiing, or trav...

Accidents and tragedies are not exclusively a problem on land; they also occur on the high seas. Cruise ships have been the center of many controversies from lack of necessary safety procedures to inadequate emergency medical care. When these tragedies inevitably occur, injured victims can still o...

During the spring and summer months, individuals are more inclined to participate in activities that may result in a burn injury. For example, spring and summer usually bring out bonfires, cookouts, and even fireworks. Even though these activities can be exciting, they can also result in a seriou...

Personal injury lawsuits typically arise out of accidents or behavior of a negligent defendant that a victim could not have predicted, including severe sport injuries. A sport injury is any type of injury sustained by a participant of a sporting event. These injuries can be categorized into two g...

With warmer temperatures around the corner, pedestrians will be more inclined to walk rather than be stuck in a vehicle or public transportation. However, with increased numbers or pedestrians comes the increased risk of pedestrian accidents. When a motor vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the c...

During the winter months, outdoor enthusiasts take on the slopes to practice their skiing and snowboarding skills. However, even though these outdoor activities can be fun and thrilling, they can also be extremely hazardous. When participants take proper safety precautions, they can typically pre...

Imagine you’re walking on the city sidewalk, admiring the fresh fallen snow, when all of sudden you slip and fall, severely injuring yourself. What happens next? In the state of Illinois, cities and municipalities are typically protected from lawsuits. In order for a victim to bring a case agains...

Dog Bites and Strict Liability – What Does it Mean for You and Your Loved Ones? 

When it comes to the law regarding dog bites, all states are typically very similar. However, where the legal rules for dog bites start to become a bit muddled is in the liability. Here in Illinois, the state follows ...

With less than three percent (3%) of civil cases ever going to trial, often times most civil cases settle before the parties even get to trial. The addition of section 735 ILCS 5/2-2301 into the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure provides a simplified way of making it easier and more efficient way ...

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sherwood Law Group continues to navigate new and emerging legal issues. One of those issues include the increased accidents involving delivery and ride share drivers. Today’s article will focus on personal injury accidents and specifically automobile or truck...

Technology has come to play a crucial part in our everyday lives.  From answering emails, to catching up with friends, to mindlessly scrolling through social media, we are constantly using our smartphones and smartwatches.  Advances in technology make it easier to use smart-devices for a wide ran...

Look out Chicago! It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a skateboard.. No…. It’s just your new, dockless, electric scooters! As Chicago strives for a smaller carbon footprint, the time has finally come for 2,500 scooters to be rolled out along the streets of Chicago. Efficient, edgy, fast and reliable....

Whether you own a dog or know someone who owns a dog, it is not unusual to encounter the incident of a dog bite. Illinois, and more specifically Chicago, law provides protection for citizens from dog attacks. Furthermore, the law establishes that liability is placed on the owners of the dogs in m...

As technology advances, it becomes more and more crucial in our everyday lives. Ranging from smartphones to smartwatches, people are constantly connected through technology. Although useful, these technology devices can pose a huge danger if used while driving. In Illinois, the distracted driving...

Winter is officially upon us in Chicago, and with it has come the start of freezing temperatures, snow, and dangerous driving conditions. With the winter weather inevitably comes snow- and ice-covered sidewalks. The question then becomes: what happens if I slip and fall due to snow and ice accumu...

The Illinois Health Care Services Lien Act was put into effect to essentially ensure that medical providers are paid for their services by allowing healthcare professionals and providers to place a lien on all claims arising out of a patient’s injuries. However, the Act does provide some protecti...

As people continue to choose a healthier and greener lifestyle of riding a bike, the amount of bicycle related accidents has become more frequent. Although many safety precautions have been initiated to protect cyclists, injuries are still inevitable. A common fear among cyclists is the fear of h...

In Illinois, the amount of punitive damages assessed is often quite unpredictable. Unlike awards for compensatory damages that tend to be calculated in a precise manner, the valuation of punitive damages can range widely. As such, it is extremely important to be aware of the possibility of being ...

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates the nation’s second largest public transportation system. CTA Facts at a Glance. In 2017, on an average weekday, 1.6 million rides were taken across CTA. Id. CTA has 1,864 buses that operate 129 routes and 1,536 route miles. Buses make about 19,237 tri...

As technology continues to revolutionize the world around us, we must be cognizant of the new risks that are inevitably involved. This is especially true with autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles have been gaining popularity with the thought that fully autonomous vehicles will help reduce the...

Internet services such as Google Street View (“Street View”) and Google Maps offer litigants a new realm of discovery resources that did not exist before. These images enable a party to compare images of a location that may have been taken years apart from each other. Although there is some guida...

            Amusement parks are popular summer activity, especially for families and kids. Although amusement parks are relatively safe, injuries still occur frequently. To protect themselves, amusement parks and other facilities will often require the guest to complete a waiver of liability befo...

Social media plays a prominent role in the daily lives of millions of people, whether it is to receive a news update, to stay in touch with friends and family, or to gain social recognition. Social media enables a wealth of information to become disposable almost instantaneously. For lawyers, the...

On January 22, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) held in a 5-4 decision that statutes of limitations for state law claims joined in a federal lawsuit are tolled until 30 days after a federal court dismisses the claims. This decision applies to state law claims brought in fed...