Posted on August 25, 2025 in Delivery Driver Accidents

A crash with a FedEx vehicle can have grisly results. If you have been injured in one of these accidents, you should know that you have a right to pursue compensation for your damages, which may include your medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, and loss of income. Before you file a personal injury claim, however, consider seeking out legal representation.

At Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., no case is too big or small for us. Our Orland Park, IL personal injury attorney is prepared to fight for your rights after a FedEx accident. We will work to hold all of the liable parties accountable for your damages.

When Can a FedEx Driver Be Held at Fault?

To recover compensation from a motor vehicle accident in Illinois, you must prove that you were not more than 50 percent responsible for the crash (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). Some common examples of fault on the part of a delivery driver include:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 11, 2025 in Car Accidents

All motorists have a legal responsibility to keep the road safe and avoid endangering other people. Unfortunately, not all drivers take this responsibility seriously. If you were hit by a driver who showed a clear disregard for safety, you may have a strong case for compensation through a personal injury claim. Our Orland Park, IL car accident attorney can help you file a claim against a careless driver to help you recover payment for your damages.

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we can help you get to the root of the accident and show who was at fault for the crash. Not only that, we will advocate for your rights to full compensation, holding the reckless driver responsible for the harm you suffered.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim Against a Drunk Driver

Some drivers overestimate their limit in regard to alcohol consumption. Others simply do not care about the law or the welfare of other people. In any case, drunk drivers should be held accountable for accidents they cause. At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we can help you gather evidence to prove that the driver was drunk behind the wheel and that he or she caused the accident, including a copy of the police report.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 28, 2025 in Truck Accidents

It is no exaggeration to say that many truck accidents are life-threatening. If you or a loved one has been badly injured in one of these collisions, it is only natural to want justice. But who can be held responsible? The answer depends on the specifics of your case. The trucking company itself can be held liable in some circumstances. A Cook County, IL auto accident attorney can help you pursue a claim, standing up for your rights.

No case is too big or too small for our firm. At Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we can assist with the process of filing a personal injury claim against a negligent trucking company.

Why Scope of Employment Matters in Truck Accident Claims

As a general rule, employers are responsible for any accidents caused by their employees – a legal principle known as vicarious liability. However, vicarious liability does not apply to every truck accident. A trucking company can only be held liable under this principle if the employee was acting "within the scope of his or her employment." This means that the employee must have been doing his or her job at the time of the accident.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 14, 2025 in Car Accidents

If you have been injured in an accident caused by another person, you may be entitled to significant compensation. In order to get the compensation you deserve, you must prove that the other party caused the accident through negligence. In Illinois, the law of comparative negligence can play a major role in how much compensation you receive for your damages. An Orland Park, Illinois personal injury attorney can work with you to maximize the value of your claim.

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we provide dedicated counsel and representation for a wide variety of accidents. As a solo attorney, Attorney Jaime Barker will provide you with one-on-one service, so you can rest assured that your case will not get passed to a junior associate. When you work with our firm, we will fight to reduce any allegations of negligence on your end.

Determining Fault for an Accident in Illinois

To recover compensation in a personal injury claim, you must show how the other party was negligent. In a few states, negligence is treated as "all or nothing," where you cannot recover anything at all if you share any responsibility for the accident. In Illinois, you can collect compensation for an accident even if you were partially at fault – up to a point. This legal standard is known as comparative negligence.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on June 28, 2025 in Personal Injury

When you buy a product, you expect it to be safe to use. Unfortunately, some products cause serious injuries and illnesses. Whether you use a defective appliance or an unsafe medical device, the harm you could suffer from these products can be painful, costly, and impact your life. Most personal injury cases require you to establish that someone else’s negligence directly caused your accident, injuries, and related losses. If you were hurt by a defective product, you may be wondering whether you have to prove someone was negligent to file a claim for compensation.

In many product liability cases, you do not need to prove negligence. Illinois law allows injured consumers to pursue claims for compensation based on strict liability, which focuses on the product's defects instead of the manufacturer's conduct or negligence. Our knowledgeable Cook County, IL product liability attorney can help you fight for maximum compensation.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on June 11, 2025 in Delivery Driver Accidents

You probably see Amazon, UPS, and FedEx delivery trucks on the roads every day. These huge companies deliver billions of packages every year to both businesses and residences. Like any other type of motor vehicle, these last-mile delivery trucks can cause accidents that harm others.

Last-mile delivery accidents often lead to complex personal injury claims. To maximize your compensation, it is best to work with our skilled Orland Park, IL personal injury lawyer.

What Complications Could You Face in a Last-Mile Delivery Crash Claim?

To obtain compensation in a personal injury case, you need to provide evidence that a specific party is directly responsible for causing your injuries and related damages. Several factors with last-mile delivery accidents can blur the lines and make determining fault and liability challenging.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on May 22, 2025 in Personal Injury

Summer in Illinois brings sun, festivals, and family adventures. But it is also a time of increased preventable injuries. As children race across wet pool decks or people drive off-road vehicles without helmets, the potential for accidents can escalate quickly. When those accidents are caused by someone else’s carelessness, they are not just misfortunes. They may be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.

Not every injury leads to legal action, but when someone’s negligence directly causes harm, the law may offer a path to recovery. If you want to know more, you can talk to our Cook County, IL personal injury lawyer in a free consultation.

How Do Serious Summer Injuries Happen?

Some of the most common summer injury claims arise in environments where adults are assumed to be paying attention but often are not:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on May 07, 2025 in Premises Liability

In Illinois, slip-and-fall accidents that occur because of someone else’s negligence can become personal injury claims, requiring the responsible party to pay for the related damages. However, not every slip-and-fall incident is a valid civil claim, even if it results in an injury. If you fell and were injured on someone else’s property, a Cook County, IL personal injury attorney will assess your case for liability and recoverable damages.

What Counts as a Slip-and-Fall Accident in Illinois?

The phrase "slip and fall" can be misleading. What constitutes a personal injury from a slip-and-fall accident under Illinois law can include many different scenarios, including tripping over an object or falling down stairs that did not have a handrail. What makes the accident a personal injury claim is that it occurred on another person or party’s property and happened because they failed to maintain safe conditions for lawful visitors.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 23, 2025 in Car Accidents

A drunk driving accident can change your life in an instant. If you were injured by an intoxicated driver, you may assume their fault will be obvious — but even in these cases, the burden still falls on you to prove that the other driver’s actions directly caused your injuries. Working with a skilled Cook County, IL DUI injury attorney is essential for building a strong personal injury case and recovering the compensation you deserve.

At Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we represent people who have been injured by impaired drivers in serious car accidents. We understand how to gather the right evidence and present a compelling case for financial recovery.

How Do You Prove the Other Driver Was Under the Influence After a Car Crash?

To start, your attorney must show that the other driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash and that their impairment contributed to the collision. Under Illinois law, a driver is considered legally impaired with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. The legal limit is lower for commercial drivers (0.04), and there is zero tolerance for drivers under age 21.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 08, 2025 in Car Accidents

Uber and Lyft are popular rideshare companies that complete billions of rides for global customers every year. Rideshare services are generally reliable, but accidents happen. When you are injured in a rideshare accident by another party, you may have questions about liability for the incident.

Our Illinois personal injury attorney at the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. understands how concerned you could be about your medical bills, lost earnings, and other losses after a rideshare crash. Illinois personal injury attorney J. Francis Barker offers free consultations to those who think another party’s negligence has injured them.

Liability May Be Complicated 

You requested your ride through Uber, and the driver crashed and injured you. Therefore, Uber should pay for your injuries, right? Not necessarily. Remember, your rideshare driver is an independent contractor, meaning liability in a crash may be more complicated than conventional auto accidents.

Continue Reading ››