Personal Injury

February 19, 2026

The Hidden Dangers of Concrete Bump-Outs, Pedestrian Islands, and Protected Bike Lanes

Across Chicago city planners have installed concrete bump-outs, pedestrian refuge islands, and protected bike lanes in the name of safety and traffic calming. While these features are designed to reduce pedestrian injuries and slow traffic, they can also pose serious dangers to motorists, especially when they are poorly marked, poorly lit, or difficult to see, especially at night. At night during a rain storm or snow storm with the glare of on coming traffic, they are remarkably easy to hit. I know from first hand experience since I hit the pedestrian island pictured above on the left at night during a rainstorm causing over $800 of damage to my car. The only difference being that when I hit it, the pedestrian island had no signage. The signage has been added recently probably as a result of complaints by drivers who rammed it.

The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C., have seen firsthand how these roadway designs can contribute to crashes resulting in severe vehicle damage and significant personal injuries.

This article we discuss the risks of bump outs and and what can be done to alleviate the risk.

February 6, 2026

Seguridad en los cruces peatonales de Chicago: la realidad que enfrentan los peatones todos los días

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

La ciudad de Chicago ha realizado un esfuerzo concertado en los últimos años para hacer más seguro el cruce de calles para los peatones. La ciudad ha añadido extensiones de acera en los cruces peatonales, más señalización, ha pintado franjas tipo “cebra” en la calle y, en algunos casos, ha instalado luces intermitentes. Los abogados de lesiones personales de Chicago de Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. señalan que aún queda mucho por hacer. Este artículo enumera los obstáculos que todavía existen para que las calles sean más seguras para los peatones.

Muchos conductores simplemente no se detienen en los cruces peatonales

Probablemente todos en Chicago han experimentado estar de pie en un cruce esperando para cruzar mientras autos y camiones pasan a toda velocidad sin siquiera reducir la velocidad. Uno puede aventurarse al tráfico si es lo suficientemente valiente —o imprudente— como para dar por sentado que los vehículos se detendrán, pero esto no es recomendable. Algunos conductores están distraídos. Otros son impacientes. Algunos creen erróneamente que los peatones siempre deben esperar.

February 2, 2026

Slips and Falls on Snow and Ice in Illinois: Who Is Liable?

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Chicago winters are notorious for snow and ice and with them comes a sharp rise in slip-and-fall injuries. While many people assume that any fall on ice automatically creates a lawsuit, Illinois law draws important distinctions about who may be liable, where the fall occurred, and whether the accumulation was “natural” or “unnatural.” It is important to consult with an experienced lawyer to determine if you have a case. The Chicago slip & fall attorneys Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have handled many slip & fall cases and we are thoroughly familiar with the current law.

Understanding these distinctions is critical if you were injured in a winter slip-and-fall.

The General Rule in Illinois: No Automatic Liability for Snow and Ice

December 10, 2025

Bike Lanes in Winter: If Chicago Expects Cyclists to Ride, the City Must Keep Them Safe

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Chicago has made major investments in bike lanes—especially protected lanes designed to separate cyclists from vehicle traffic. These projects aim to reduce crashes, improve safety, and encourage alternative transportation. But as winter sets in, a serious question remains:

If Chicago expects people to keep biking in winter, are the bike lanes being kept safe enough to actually use?

At Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C., we represent injured cyclists and drivers alike. Winter biking highlights a growing conflict between safety, infrastructure, and real-world conditions on Chicago streets.

December 1, 2025

Winter Driving Hazards in Chicago: New Road Designs, Hidden Dangers & How to Stay Safe

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Chicago winters have a way of turning the familiar into the unpredictable. Streets you’ve driven for years suddenly feel unfamiliar beneath fresh snow, visibility narrows to a frosted tunnel, and road conditions shift hour by hour. The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., see firsthand how winter weather contributes to serious crashes—and this year, Chicago drivers face new roadway hazards that deserve special attention.

Below, we break down the risks, including a new and unexpected one created by recent roadway redesigns.

New This Winter: Hidden Bump-Outs and Raised Medians

October 31, 2025

Electric Scooters in Chicago: Fun Trend or Dangerous Vehicle?

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C., represent people who are injured on Chicago streets — pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, passengers. In the last few years, we’ve seen a new and very predictable source of serious injury: electric scooters.

Let’s talk honestly about why e-scooters are so dangerous, who’s getting hurt, and why the City of Chicago needs to take this more seriously. (And if you’ve been injured in an e-scooter crash — as a rider or as a pedestrian struck by one — you should know your rights.)

Who’s actually riding these scooters?

September 26, 2025

Are E-scooters Safe for Teenagers in Chicago?

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Shared e-scooters from companies like Lime and Lyft have become a familiar sight on Chicago streets. They offer a quick, convenient way to get around, but they also raise serious safety concerns, especially when children are involved. Parents, schools, and communities across the city have noticed clusters of kids riding scooters near high schools when the dismissal bell rings. The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have litigated cases involving injuries teenagers and we know how dangerous e-scooters can be.

Age Restrictions for Lime and Lyft E-Scooters

Lime requires riders to be 18 years or older with a valid driver’s license.

August 25, 2025

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

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

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.