Lake County, Illinois Legal Blog

Your profession may call on you to use a ladder day in and day out. For example, if you're a roofer, climbing up and down a ladder will soon become second nature.

As helpful as a ladder can be on a job site, it's also a big safety risk. Here are five ladder safety tips to follow at all times:

• Inspect your ladder before use: Don't assume that your ladder is in good working condition. Instead, inspect it for damage or defects, such as rust or missing rungs, before taking the first step.
• Place the ladder on firm and level ground: Where you place your ladder is every bit as important as what you do once you're on it. Firm and level ground gives your ladder a solid base for bearing your weight.
• Don't carry heavy loads: You can carry some items on a ladder, such as lightweight tools, but heavy loads are a no-no. Carrying a heavy item increases the risk of being pulled to the ground below.
• Watch where you set the ladder: For example, if you set your ladder too close to vehicle or pedestrian traffic, you run the risk of someone or something knocking into it while in use. Do your best to place your ladder in an area that's out of the way.
• Maintain three points of contact: You have four points of contact, including two feet and two hands. Maintaining a minimum of three points of contact at all times will enhance your safety.

Your divorce in Fox Lake will inevitably bring with it many changes. These changes can often place a heavy financial burden on you (even with the prospect of you receiving a property division settlement looming). The need to secure housing, complete job training or go back to school to increase your earning potential may be staring you in squarely in the face. One possible solution may be to use the money you have coming from your ex-spouse's 401k. Many come to us here at Soffietti, Johnson, Teegen, Argueta & Bawcum, LTD asking if they should consider cashing out those funds immediately. 

Typically, if you withdraw funds from a retirement account early, you are required to pay a tax penalty (which can be up to 10 percent of the withdrawal amount, on top of income taxes). Yet according to information shared by CNBC.com, a divorce is one of the rare instances where a withdrawal can occur without incurring a penalty. That is because the court issues a Qualified Domestic Relations Order that authorizes payment to be made to an alternate payee (you). Thus, you can conceivably take that money now and only have to pay income tax on it. 

As the heat of the summer months set upon us in Waukegan, you know that it is only a matter of time before the kids start clambering to get out and go swimming. Whether your local swimming destination is a neighbor's backyard or a community complex, you concern over your children's safety is the same. You understand that they are often naive to the dangers a pool can pose. Many have come to us here at Soffietti, Johnson, Teegan, Argueta & Bawcum, LTD after having gone through the turmoil of experiencing a child's drowning or swimming injury and wondering whether any legal recourse might be available to them. 

If you have been forced to endure the same scenario, then you will be happy to know that you may indeed be able to seek compensation under the attractive nuisance doctrine. Per the Cornell Law School, the attractive nuisance doctrine assigns liability to property owners whose land contain artificial attractions that (despite being dangerous) can be appealing to young children. This legal principle was initiall referred to as "the turntable doctrine" in that its first applications were in cases where kids were playing on railroad turntables. However, recent years have seen swimming pool accidents become one of the primary areas in which the attractive nuisance doctrine is employed. 

If you are like most people in Illinois, you do not go to work every day expecting to get hurt. However, a job-related accident and resulting injury can happen at any time, in any type of industry or job. When these events do occur, it is important that you know what type of benefits may be available to you and your family.

As explained by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, there are multiple types of financial benefits available to you via the workers' compensation program. If you die due to a workplace incident, your surviving spouse and children may be eligible for survivors' benefits. If you live but your injury prevents you from working for some period of time, you may receive financial compensation.