Auto Accident on U.S. Hwy. 41 and IL Rte. 22 in Lake Forest, IL

There was an auto accident in Lake Forest, IL, on Wednesday, March 8th, 2017. The accident occurred on U.S. Hwy. 41, northbound, north of IL Rte. 22.
Auto Accident on RTE 22

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens is a Lake County personal injury law firm with offices located in Antioch.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Auto Accident on U.S. Hwy. 41 and W. Park Ave. in Highland Park, IL

There was an auto accident in Highland Park, IL, on Wednesday, March 8th, 2017. The accident occurred on U.S. Hwy. 41, southbound, south of W. Park Ave.
Auto Accident Highland Park, IL

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens is a Lake County personal injury law firm with offices located in Antioch.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C.

Auto Accident on Cedar Lake Rd. and Beachview Dr. in Round Lake Beach, IL

There was an auto accident in Round Lake Beach, IL, on Tuesday, March 7th, 2017. The accident occurred on Cedar Lake Rd. at Beachview Dr.
Client Awarded Over One Million Dollars

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens is a Lake County personal injury law firm with offices located in Antioch.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C.

Auto Accident on Lewis Ave. and Grand Ave. in Waukegan, IL

There was an auto accident in Waukegan, IL, on Tuesday, March 7th, 2017. The accident occurred on Lewis Ave., northbound, north of Grand Ave.
Auto Accident Lakeview

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens is a Lake County personal injury law firm with offices located in Antioch.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C.

Auto Accident on IL Rte. 120 and Alleghany Rd. in Grayslake, IL

There was an auto accident in Grayslake, IL, on Thursday, March 2nd, 2017. The accident occurred on IL Rte. 120, westbound, west of Alleghany Rd.
Auto Accident on IL Rte

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens is a Lake County personal injury law firm with offices located in Antioch.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C.

Auto Accident on IL Rte. 132 and U.S. Hwy. 41 in Gurnee, IL

There was an auto accident in Gurnee, IL, on Thursday, March 2nd, 2017. The accident occurred on IL Rte. 132, west of U.S. Hwy. 41.
Auto Accident

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens is a Lake County personal injury law firm with offices located in Antioch.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Insightful Understanding of Taxability of Auto Accidents

Auto Accident AttorneySettlement of auto accidents is one of its own kind of hassle. However, receiving a call from the IRS for paying its share comes with more stress and hassle. Taxes are complex, and greatly depend on the situations or circumstances. Just like many other tax complications, the answer to your query about taxability of auto accidents is that ‘it depends on the situation’.

The total of your auto accident settlement is broken down into settlements for different kinds of injuries, including these.

  • Medical injuries
  • Car damage
  • Psychological injuries
  • Loss of the wages
  • Property damages
  • Punitive damages etc.

The taxability of settlement depends on the kind of injury. Following is a clearer overview of taxability for each type of injury.

Loss of the Wages
The salary you receive is taxable. Similarly, the settlement money you receive for the loss of wages is also taxable. The settlement, in this case, is taxable because it is intended to settle or compensate for the salary that you would have received, had the auto accident not happened. Sometimes, the jury awards the victim for compensating the loss of the wages, irrespective of the settlement. The jury award is also taxable, if it is provided to compensate for the loss of the wages.

Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is listed under the category of emotional distress. Pain and suffering is complex and confusing in a way that it blends with the physical damage. However, the medical settlement for physical damage is based on your medical bills, which include visible or invisible injuries. Pain and suffering is not reported separately. However, it is broken down separately for the settlement. For example, a person breaks an arm in auto accident. The physical pain will be compensated with medical settlement. The inability to move around without support will be compensated with suffering settlement.

Emotional suffering is the distress and trauma caused by the physical inability. It is compensated with emotional suffering settlement. The money, which the person receives for physical suffering is non-taxable according to the IRS. However, the money, received for emotional distress, is taxable.

Medical Costs
IRS provides lenient laws for medical bills. The compensation for medical bills is non-taxable in a majority of the cases of auto accidents. However, if the compensated person has already received reimbursements for unaffordable medical expenses in the previous tax return, then the reimbursement is taxable.

Property/Vehicle Damage
The rule is simple. When you pay for repairing your car or any other property, you don’t pay the taxes. Similarly, the compensation you receive for vehicle/property damage is non-taxable.

Punitive Damage
According to the IRS, punitive damages are taxable, irrespective of the physical damage or the damage caused by the wrongful driving or bad behavior of the opponent.

By understanding the complexity of taxability of the auto accidents, you can apply for the justified settlements. However, as mentioned earlier, taxes greatly depend on the situations. Therefore, you would need a professional attorney to apply for the settlement.

Personal Injury Attorney

Contact Robert T. Edens, P.C. at 847-395-2200 or online today for scheduling a free consultation or discussing your auto accident settlement needs.

Auto Accident on IL Rte. 21 and Casey Rd. in Waukegan, IL

There was an auto accident in Waukegan, IL, on Thursday, February 16th, 2017. The accident occurred on IL Rte. 21 northbound, North of Casey Rd.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens is a Lake County personal injury law firm with offices located in Antioch.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C.

Prescription Drug Abuse: A Growing Cause of Car Crashes

A Public Health Reports’ study has revealed that marijuana, prescription drugs, and a combination of over-the-counter drugs are increasingly being found in the blood of victims of fatal traffic accidents in the United States. Misuse of prescription drugs can result in impairing a driver, the effects of which are somewhat similar to driving after drinking alcohol. Driving under such a condition puts driver and passengers, as well as other people sharing the road at high risk.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 10 million people in the United Sates have been reported driving under the influence of prescription drugs and alcohol in 2014. The survey findings indicate that men are more likely to drive drugged than women, and the percentage is the highest in the age bracket of 18 and 25. It is of paramount importance that driving after taking prescription and non-prescription drugs is stopped and more emphasis is put on educating people about its dangers.

Drugs that Make Driving Dangerous

Depending on the nature, different types of drugs have varying affects on the brain. While doctors mostly prescribe taking a single pill or tablet at a time, sometime people increase dosage on their own thinking it will provide them relief in less time.

One of the most commonly found drugs in car crashes is medical marijuana. It is known to slow reaction time, decrease coordination, and impair judgment of distance. Moreover, tests have shown that marijuana usage decreases attentiveness, diminishes the ability to draw information from surroundings, and sometimes causes hallucinations. All these signs make driving under the influence of drugs like medical marijuana highly dangerous.

Some prescription drugs that can negatively affect a driver include:

* Benzodiazepines

* Opioid pain relievers

* Prescription painkillers

* Hallucinogens

* ADHD drugs

* Antidepressants

* Stimulants

You should ask your doctor whether it is safe to drive after taking the drugs they have prescribed to ensure your safety.

Steps for Preventing Drugged Driving

Several public health professionals have developed social strategies to prevent people from getting behind the wheel under the influence of medical marijuana or prescription drugs. Some safety steps people can take are:

* Appointing a designated driver

* Offering to be a designated driver

* Booking a ride to and from your destination, such as Uber, or asking a friend to do it for you

* Spreading awareness of the risks of drugged driving among friends and family

If you have been instructed by your doctor or it is labeled on the bottle of your prescription medication to not to operate a vehicle under any circumstance, it is imperative you observe the warning for the sake of your own and others’ safety.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C.

At the end of the day, it is in your hands whether to drive under the influence of any sort of drug. While you may be a responsible individual and will not drive under an impaired condition, other drivers sharing the road may not be as careful, and their negligence may result in an accident. If you find yourself as a victim in such a situation, you can file a personal injury claim against the responsible party. Contact the Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C. at (847) 395-2200 or online today to schedule your initial consultation.

Auto Accident on Grand Ave. and McAree Rd. in Waukegan, IL

There was an auto accident in Waukegan, IL, on Wednesday, February 15th, 2017. The accident occurred on Grand Ave., West of McAree Rd.
Auto Accident on Grand Ave

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens is a Lake County personal injury law firm with offices located in Antioch.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C.