Personal Injury

August 25, 2025

Los peligros de las bicicletas eléctricas en los carriles para bicicletas en Chicago

Las bicicletas eléctricas están en auge en popularidad, pero su presencia en los carriles para bicicletas de Chicago plantea serias preocupaciones de seguridad. Los abogados de lesiones en bicicleta de Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. han notado de primera mano el aumento de víctimas de lesiones relacionadas con bicicletas que llaman a nuestra oficina.

Las bicicletas eléctricas pueden alcanzar velocidades de hasta 28 mph, significativamente más rápidas que la mayoría de las bicicletas de pedales. Los estudios muestran:

Los ciclistas de bicicletas eléctricas sufren lesiones más graves, incluidas fracturas, traumatismos internos y conmociones cerebrales.

August 20, 2025

The Rising Dangers of Electric Scooters in Chicago

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Electric scooters, once touted as a fun and eco-friendly transportation alternative, have rapidly become a fixture on Chicago’s streets. Since the city first introduced rental e-scooters in 2019, usage has surged — with more than 3.7 million trips taken between mid-2022 and late 2023, compared to just 1.3 million in the program’s early years. Unfortunately, this growth has brought with it a troubling rise in injuries and legal concerns.

A Surge in Scooter-Related Injuries

Chicago hospitals are reporting a steady increase in scooter-related traumas. In a Chicago Suntimes article dated October 9, 2024, Dr. David Trotter of Advocate Illinois Masonic, a Level 1 trauma center, has reported seeing more patients suffering everything from cuts and broken bones to severe traumatic brain injuries caused by scooter crashes. Because many scooters reach speeds of 15 to 20 miles per hour, collisions can be as devastating as car crashes. The scooter injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. have also seen sharp rise in scooter injury cases just in the last two years.

July 8, 2025

Recent Dog Bite Decision Favors Victims

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have handled many dog bite injury cases and they almost always involve the Illinois Animal Control Act. A recent appellate decision in Scifo v. Haeger, 2025 IL App (2d) 240531, offers important clarification on the liability of dog owners under the Illinois Animal Control Act regarding the definition of “owner” under the act.

In Scifo, the plaintiff sued on behalf of her two-year-old son, M.S., who suffered a serious facial injury after being bitten by a German Shepherd named Walker in a public park. The dog had been brought to the park by Gary Haeger, who invited the toddler to pet the dog. Tragically, the dog responded by biting the child.

The lawsuit named both Gary and his wife, Sandra Haeger, as defendants, alleging that they were co-owners of the dog. Sandra, however, filed a motion to dismiss the claim against her, arguing that she could not be liable because she was not present at the park and had no control over the dog at the time of the attack.

June 27, 2025

The Dangers of Electric Bikes in Bike Lanes in Chicago

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Electric bicycles are booming in popularity, but their presence in Chicago’s bike lanes raises serious safety concerns. The bike injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have noted first had the increase of bike related injury victims that call our office.

E‑bikes can reach speeds up to 28 mph, significantly faster than most pedal bikes. Studies show:

E‑bike riders suffer more severe injuries, including fractures, internal trauma, and concussions.

June 21, 2025

Chicago Not Tracking E-Scooter Injuries

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

As anyone living in Chicago has noticed, the number of e-scooters on Chicago streets has grown drastically over the last few years. According to Chicago data, more than 3.7 million trips have been logged on rental scooters between 2022 and 2023 and this number is certainly growing. With this rapid growth have there been a corresponding increase of e-scooter injuries? The answer is unclear. Unlike some cities that maintain detailed injury reports, Chicago currently lacks centralized data tracking for scooter-related accidents. The Chicago Department of Transportation has confirmed it does not track the number of riders injured in e-scooter crashes, and scooter vendors like Bird and Lime don’t publish specific local statistics either (chicago.suntimes.com).

Although the 2020 CDPH pilot collected limited emergency department data, it remains partial at best—capturing only certain ED visits and lacking proper labeling of scooter injures. (chicago.gov).

The e-scooter injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have certainly noted a sharp increase of injured scooter riders contacting our office for legal representation.

December 17, 2024

Slip & Fall Injuries in Chicago

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common types of personal injury cases in Illinois. They often occur in grocery stores, big box stores, Targets, Home Depot and all other stores open to the public. Injuries can be serious, such as broken bones, head trauma, or spinal injuries. These types of cases can be difficult to prove so it is important to hire experienced slip and fall lawyers such as Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. to handle your case.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are often caused by dangers that could have been prevented with proper care. Common causes include:

December 12, 2024

Stairway Injuries Common in Chicago

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The slip & fall attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. note that the most common premises injury cases are falls on stairs. Walking down stairs is inherently dangerous since a fall from heights creates the force necessary to cause serious sprains, fractures and head traumas. The act of walking downstairs requires balance, coordination and focus. If the stairs are slippery or if there are defects such as cracked cement or inadequate lighting, then falls become more likely.

The Dangers of Unsafe Stairs

Every year, thousands of people suffer injuries due to unsafe staircases. According to the National Safety Council, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths in the United States. Stairs are particularly dangerous, with research from the American Journal of Emergency Medicine estimating over one million stair-related injuries annually.

November 26, 2024

Is There Liability in Chicago if I Slip and Fall on Icy Stairs? The Answer is “It Depends.”

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Written and reviewed by Peter Zneimer

You are visiting at a friend’s house and as you are walking down their front stairs, you slip and fall on ice and break your arm. Do you have a cause of action against your friend for your injuries? That is a common question that the personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. receive during winter months. The answer is: “it depends”.

In Illinois, landowners and occupiers have no common-law duty to remove natural accumulation of snow and ice from their property. Additionally, even if the landowner has made an attempt to clear ice and snow but did not clear it all, the landowner is not liable for any injuries caused by slipping and falling on that ice or snow. See the case of Murphy-Hylton v. Lieberman Management Services, Inc., 2016 IL 120394. This “natural-accumulation” rule was further codified for owners of residential units in the “Snow and Ice Removal Act” 745 ILCS 75/1 which states that the owner of a residential property who removes or attempts to remove ice and snow from his or her sidewalks shall not be liable for personal injuries caused by the icy or snowy condition.

September 13, 2024

Melbourne Bans E-Scooters for Safety Reasons

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Chicago has witnessed a dramatic increase of e-scooters riders on the roadways and bike paths in recent years propelled propelled by e-scooter ride share companies like Divvy and Lime setting up stations. With increased number of e-scooter riders, the e-scooter injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. has also observed a dramatic increase of people injured in e-scooter accidents. Driving around Chicago, one witnesses e-scooters everywhere. One sees people riding on the bike paths, riding on the sidewalk, riding with traffic and riding against traffic. To add to the confusion, e-scooter riders have a tendency not to follow traffic rules like stopping at stop signs and stopping for red lights.

The influx of e-scooter riders on the sidewalks and on roadways have not only lead to more accidents but also more complaints from pedestrians who must dodge e-scooters. With more complaints comes more regulations. Some cities have gone a step further and have banned e-scooters all together. The city of Melbourne has recently voted to end its contracts with e-scooter operators, Lime and Neuron ending a two year trial period. “I have heard in recent days from residents, from traders, from visitors to Melbourne, literally begging us to bring the trial to an end to make our city safe again” Melbourne Mayor Nicolas Reece was quoted in saying at a news conference.

Though the e-scooters were popular, averaging 6,800 daily trips according to city statistics, the popularity also came with a sharp rise in complaints from pedestrians on footpaths and a sharp rise in emergency room visits. The Royal Melbourne Hospital reported 256 e-scooter related injuries in 2023, including one death.

August 14, 2024

Motorists in Chicago Do Not Stop For Pedestrians in Crosswalks

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Written and Reviewed by Peter Zneimer

Chicago in recent year has invested heavily in improving cross walk safety. The city has added cross walk signs to many crosswalks. Some have included warnings that it is a violation of state law not to stop for pedestrians in a cross walk. The fanciest crosswalks have flashing lights that are activated by pushing a button that warn motorists that pedestrians are crossing. The City’s efforts to upgrade pedestrian safety should be commend given the rise of pedestrian injuries in Illinois. The personal injury injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. note that pedestrian accident cases typically have severe injuries because these accidents most often involve a motor vehicle striking a human body.

Given the steady rise of of pedestrian deaths in Cook County the money spent on improving pedestrian safety is wisely spent. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) pedestrian accident fatalities in Cook County increased by 28% between 2016 and 2020. In another study done by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) study showed that pedestrian deaths in Illinois rose 55% from 2005 to 2020.