Springfield Legal Blog

Tips that might help you avoid a dog bite

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

You might be one of many dog enthusiasts in Illinois. Maybe you have one or several fur babies that are more like members of your family than they are pets. Then again, perhaps, dogs aren't really your cup of tea, but you understand your friends or relatives love their own. Finally, you might relate most to people who are terribly afraid of dogs. Whichever category you're in, it's helpful to learn as much as you can about how to avoid a dog bite.

First, it's not always possible to avoid an attack. However, it's always a good idea to be alert and cautious whenever a dog is nearby. Even if it's your own dog or a one that you're highly familiar with, dogs are dogs, and you can't predict what they might do at any given moment. There are certain signs, however, that would suggest a high risk of attack. If a dog attacks you, your greatest priority is to seek medical attention right away.

Wrong-way interstate drivers will be on your left

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC posted in car accidents on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Wrong-way accidents on the interstate are very frightening. They often happen at night and they often involve alcohol. They also happen so fast that drivers who are in the proper lane may have little time to react. Considering that it's a very violent crash, the idea that it happens year in and year out can make people wary.

You should be wary, and you should take steps to protect yourself. One key thing to remember is that the wrong-way driver on the interstate is probably going to be on your left.

Field sobriety testing -- do I have to comply?

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

Imagine this. You are driving home from a night on the town when, all of a sudden, an Illinois police officer is pulling you over. After a quick talk with the officer, he or she asks you to participate in field sobriety testing. What exactly does that mean, and do you have to comply?

Whether you choose to comply is up to you. Yes, you can refuse. Not many people know that. However, there are consequences for doing so. You have to weigh the pros and cons and do what you think is best for you.

Divorce myths: Men don't get alimony

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC posted in family law on Friday, March 13, 2020.

When alimony began, it typically required former husbands to pay their ex-wives after a divorce. Many people think that this is the only way it works.

However, as it turns out, that's just one of the more common divorce myths. The truth is that men or women can get alimony from their exes, regardless of gender. Many courts have gender-neutral policies. They just look at the economics of the situation and make a ruling without bias.

With tailgaters, focus on solving the problem

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC posted in car accidents on Thursday, March 5, 2020.

When someone starts tailgating, it's easy to focus on the severe danger this puts you in. It's easy to act emotionally. Many people do things like slamming on their brakes or slowing down even more just to make the tailgater angry. This is the beginning of a potential road rage situation.

Instead of doing that -- and putting yourself and everyone else in danger -- focus on solving the problem. Yes, the tailgater is a problem, and they are putting you in danger. Instead of being angry, think about how you can eliminate that danger.

Brain injury symptoms to watch for after an accident

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC on Friday, February 28, 2020.

Seeking prompt medical attention after a car accident is important. Most people in Illinois already know this, but the prospect of hefty medical bills scares many victims into ignoring their symptoms. Instead, it might feel easier to just go home even when those symptoms signal a larger problem -- a brain injury.

Brain injuries happen more often than you might think. When the sudden jolt of a blow impacts a person's head, the resulting injury can interfere with his or her brain function. Foreign objects that penetrate a person's skull can also cause serious injury. All of these situations can happen in a car accident, so it is easy to see why motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of brain injuries.

Healing from a dog bite can be brutal

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC posted in animal bites on Thursday, February 27, 2020.

Those who suffer from a dog bite need to be aware that the issues they face may last for a long time. Healing is not always the simple, straightforward process that people often assume it is. It can actually be a brutal process that is, in some ways, far worse than the pain from the initial injury.

For instance, some deeper wounds take a long time to heal, and people can suffer from very intense itching sensations while healing. This isn't something they can turn off or get away from. It's an ever-present sensation that can wreck their lives for weeks or months to come.

Most car accidents come from this one cause

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC posted in car accidents on Monday, February 17, 2020.

Does the road ever feel too chaotic? Accidents happen for so many reasons. You have to contend with drunk drivers, distracted drivers, inexperienced drivers, road sign and control issues, poor weather conditions and a whole host of other issues. It feels like accidents can happen for hundreds of reasons, so how do you avoid them?

One way to make things feel a bit more simple, though, is just to remember that most accidents have merely one cause: human error.

10 things not to do after getting divorced

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC posted in family law on Monday, February 10, 2020.

Post-divorce life is going to be different. How different depends on your individual circumstances. If you have children, for instance, it's going to be a lot more complex than if you do not.

Regardless of what it looks like, though, you don't want to make any mistakes that make things more difficult. Here are 10 to avoid:

Going out of your way to act spitefully toward your ex
Starting a new relationship too quickly
Pressuring your kids to side with you or with your ex
Mourning the end of the marriage for too long and not moving forward with your life
Making rash decisions to deal with stress, like spending too much money
Talking about your divorce online and oversharing on social media
Making your friends take sides, as the two of you probably had mutual friends
Keeping all of your feelings bottled up and refusing to talk about it
Blaming yourself for the end of the marriage
Making every little thing a battle with your ex just for the sake of it, not because those things matter to you

Some crash injuries could take hours or days to manifest symptoms

On behalf of Kerley & Talken PC on Monday, February 10, 2020.

As you head out on Illinois roads, you may give little thought to what could happen as you go about your plans for the day. While sharing the roads with countless others, some of whom may be more interested in reading a text than keeping watch on the task at hand, disaster could strike at any given moment.

If another driver's actions cause a crash to occur, you might walk away from the incident feeling somewhat shaken up but relatively unscathed. However, it might be in your best interests to use caution with what you do next as some common accident injuries can take hours, if not days to appear.