blog | Lane Brown, LLC

Have Fun and Celebrate Freedom in Chicago With These Memorial Day Weekend Events

Join us in remembering the sacrifices made by men and women in the U.S. military, and get out and celebrate our freedoms over the long weekend. There are a number of ways to enjoy Memorial Day weekend in Chicago. Here are some of the numerous events to choose from for 2015:

Wreath Laying Ceremony and Memorial Day Parade. The Memorial Day Parade in Chicago is one of the largest in the United States, honoring all of the people who have lost their lives defending our nation. Get started on Saturday with the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Eternal Flame at the Daley Center Plaza at 11 a.m., and then watch the parade kick off at noon with marching bands, active and veteran military personnel, the drum and bugle corps, and more.
Red, White, and Bar-B-Q. This annual barbecue festival and competition is put on by the Westmont Lions Club, and is the largest sanctioned Kansas City Barbeque Society contest in Illinois. The festival runs from May 22 through May 24, and features live music, incredible food, an all-ages carnival, cooking demonstrations, and more. Admission is free, so drop by and join the fun at Ty Warner Park in Westmont.
Bike the Drive. Take over Lake Shore Drive on your bike and support a great cause! The MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive event gives cyclists the chance to enjoy the open road and see the sights around the city while the route is closed to vehicles. Everyone is welcome, regardless of age or ability, so sign up now and join the event at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 24—and don’t forget about the after-party at Butler Field. The event benefits Active Transportation Alliance, which is focused on making biking, walking, and public transportation a safe choice for Chicagoland residents.
Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest. The Irish Fest is a much-anticipated event every Memorial Day Weekend, and this May marks its 29^th year. Don’t forget to get your tickets! The event will take place at Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, promising four days of music, food, fun, and other great ways to celebrate Irish culture.
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival. This music festival kicks off street-fest season in Chicagoland with food, libations, live music, and the work of local artisans. Put on by the Central Lakeview Merchants Association, the event kicks off on Saturday near the Belmont Red Line “El” stop and runs through Sunday. There is a suggested donation of $5.
St. Charles Fine Art Show. The Fine Art Show event, presented by STC Capital Bank, is a well-respected, juried art show that will showcase the work of 100 artists. On May 23 and 24, come to Downtown St. Charles to see artwork of all kinds, artist’s demonstrations, and live bands. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the many parks, restaurants, and shops St. Charles has to offer!

Do you know of another Memorial Day event that you’d like to share with our readers? Connect with Lane Brown on Facebook and tell us all about it!

Angry, Irritated, and Aggressive Drivers Cause Accidents and Take Lives

Heavy traffic, road work, delays, or even just a bad day can cause drivers to lose their tempers, and we’ve probably all had a few moments in our driving histories where we’ve gotten a little irritated—or even downright mad. However, allowing that anger and aggression to creep into your driving behavior is a big mistake. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has estimated that aggressive driving behaviors cause more than half of all traffic deaths and are a serious risk on the road.

Aggressive Driving Is More Than Just “Road Rage”

While “road rage” is one form of aggressive driving, it isn’t the only kind. The AAA Foundation mentions a number of other driving behaviors that may be motivated by anger or aggression, such as:

Speeding
Driving slowly in a passing lane
Tailgating other cars
Racing with other cars
Ignoring traffic regulations

While most drivers say that they believe aggressive driving is dangerous, around half of the drivers surveyed by the AAA Foundation reported that they had driven over the speed limit in the last month—one of the most common aggressive behaviors. And keep in mind that just one aggressive driver in the mix can trigger aggressive driving by others in the area.

Have you been hurt in an accident by an aggressive driver or “road rage” incident? You can get help with your legal questions by calling our law office at 312-332-1400, and you can also start getting informed by requesting a copy of our free book, The 8 Steps to Follow After Your Illinois Car Accident.

Erring on the Side of Caution When Caring for a Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse

While any sexual abuse survivor needs help and understanding during recovery, children can be especially vulnerable after trauma because they can’t always:

Report their symptoms
Ask for what they need
Talk through complex feelings
Identify the source of their troubles

This means that parents and caretakers have to take the time to think through a lot of difficult care decisions. While you don’t want to overwhelm your child with medical visits, counseling sessions, and potentially “triggering” situations, it is important to err on the side of caution before ruling out treatment options. Keep in mind that:

Children often take longer to speak up about sexual abuse.
The doctors and therapists caring for your child need special training and skills.
Physical symptoms and emotional trauma may not always be obvious or apparent.
Careful follow-up care gives your child the best chance to recover fully.
Some children struggle with physical, emotional, and sexual issues into adulthood.

If your child has survived sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted adult at school, work, or play, he or she may struggle with the effects for years to come—and sometimes into adulthood. As a parent, you know you need to put a lot of thought and care into helping your child recover, but it isn’t always easy to know what to do or how to get started. Talking with one of our experienced attorneys can help you understand your legal rights, plan for your child’s long-term care, and give your family the tools it needs to recover from a traumatic event. Learn more today by calling 312-332-1400.

Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse May Struggle With Long-Term Effects

When you find out that your child has been sexually abused, the priority is obviously on their immediate needs for treatment and care. However, don’t let their long-term recovery fall by the wayside. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often deal with significant problems related to the abuse for many years afterward, and they may need ongoing counseling and other kinds of professional support as they develop into teens and young adults. Making sure that they have access to the medical and emotional support they need in the years to come can have a positive impact on their development and contribute to a healthy recovery.

Long-Term Therapy May Be Necessary for Children Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse

After the immediate medical and emotional needs of your child have been addressed, it’s time to start thinking about how the sexual abuse may follow them into adulthood and what can be done to ease their recovery over time. The effects of abuse can interfere with a child’s social development, emotional wellbeing, and performance at school or work well into adulthood, and these long-term issues often include:

Depression, anxiety, and self-worth issues
Persistent feelings of guilt, blame, and shame
Body image and eating disorders
Problems in family, friend, and love relationships
Sexual issues

Abusers who prey on the children in schools, churches, day care, and youth-serving organizations should be held responsible for the unthinkable harm they have done to the lives of innocent children. If you have questions about helping your child recover or about your family’s rights, please don’t hesitate to give our law office a call at 312-332-1400 for free and confidential help with your concerns.

You Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Asking for a Fair Outcome After a Truck Accident

Sometimes, it’s pressure from the insurance company that is making you feel a little guilty—or even accusations that you did something wrong before, during, or after the truck wreck that should reduce the amount of your claim. Sometimes, it’s just the shock of seeing the true “price tag” on the full extent of your injuries and losses. Either way, you shouldn’t feel guilty about asking for what you legitimately deserve from the insurance company for what you’ve been through because of the accident.

You have a legal right to recover financially when you are hurt because a negligent trucker or trucking company caused an accident. Realize that:

You were hurt because of someone else’s negligence. You didn’t ask to get hurt, and you are suffering life-changing injuries because someone else made a bad decision or didn’t follow through with their responsibilities.
Your injuries could affect you and your family for years to come. The injuries caused by an 18-wheeler or other large, commercial truck are often very serious and disabling. Your injury claim should account for the care you will need over your lifetime because of the accident.
You may have lost more than the cost of your medical bills. A serious truck accident can affect your ability to work, take care of your family, and participate in day-to-day activities. It can also leave you in severe, long-term pain. This is part of the reason why the law allows the victims of truck accidents to recover for less obvious costs, like pain and suffering.

Don’t accept less for the painful experience you’ve been thrown into by a negligent truck driver or trucking company. You can get the help you need to fight for your rights by contacting our law office today at 312-332-1400 or starting an online chat with one of our live operators.

Study Shows That Drivers Are Distracted by More Than Just Calls and Texts

We spend a lot of time talking about some of the most common causes of distracted-driving accidents, like texting or taking calls behind the wheel. But even though cell phones and smartphones are involved in a large number of wrecks, they’re not the only distraction behind the wheel. A recent study was highlighted in the Chicago Tribune—just in time for April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month—that shows that drivers may be distracted by anything from a quick kiss to guitar practice behind the wheel.

Drivers Admit to All Kinds of Scary Distractions Behind the Wheel

Erie Insurance surveyed approximately 2,000 drivers during an informal, three-day study of distracted driving at the end of February 2015. Although it wasn’t conducted as a scientific study, their results showed that about thirty percent of drivers admitted to taking risks by texting and driving—but smaller percentages of drivers admitted to engaging in a whole range surprising and potentially dangerous distractions while driving, including:

Taking “selfies”
Putting in contact lenses
Dental hygiene, like brushing and flossing
Putting on makeup
Styling hair
Changing drivers while a vehicle is in operation

In fact, Erie Insurance says that simple daydreaming behind the wheel leads to more fatal accidents than any other type of distraction. Remember that you are distracted any time something takes your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, or your mind off the task at hand—and any distraction can be a danger to others on the road.

If you or a family member has already been seriously hurt by a distracted or reckless driver, you can get immediate help with your questions today. Read through a free copy of our book, The 8 Steps to Follow After Your Illinois Car Accident, or reach out to our law office directly at 312-332-1400.