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Federal regulators have initiated yet another investigation into Tesla’s self-driving technology, prompted by a series of disturbing incidents in which vehicles have run red lights, driven against traffic, and crashed into others, resulting in injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is examining 58 incidents involving Tesla cars that reportedly violated traffic safety laws…

Illinois roads are filled with motorists traveling toward innumerable destinations, requiring roadways to intersect at locations where drivers are compelled to move forward or make turns to the right or left. These intersections may be guided or unguided. Traffic signal lights control guided intersections, while unguided intersections require drivers to follow the directions of road…

A serious injury is more than just painful and traumatic; some injuries also cause temporary or permanent disability, resulting in a pile of medical bills and out-of-pocket costs. At the same time, the injury also prevents a return to work, either temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of the injury. Fortunately, a successful personal…

CHICAGO, IL – Andrew Mason, an associate attorney at Smith LaCien LLP, has been named a 2025 “40 under Forty Attorneys to Watch” in Illinois by Law Bulletin Media. Chosen from more than 1,500 nominees, he is featured in a special magazine and was honored at a reception for the honorees. Mason has secured major…

Nearly ten years after Chicago launched its Vision Zero plan to end traffic deaths by 2026, the city has made little progress. Despite upgrades to intersections and the addition of bike lanes, traffic fatalities and injuries remain high, according to a recent story in the Chicago Sun-Times. In 2024, 109 people lost their lives on…

CHICAGO – Brian LaCien, a founding partner of Smith LaCien LLP – Trial Lawyers was appointed to the leadership of the Professional Negligence Section of the American Association for Justice at the annual meeting. The Professional Negligence Section focuses on medical negligence cases but also covers litigation on other negligence cases, including those involving lawyers,…

CHICAGO, August 18, 2025 – Six attorneys from Smith LaCien LLP have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 Chicago metro edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a premier attorney rating guide. They are founding partners Todd A. Smith and Brian LaCien, and attorneys Jason Williams and Carla A. Colaianni. Named as The Best…

Misdiagnosis – including missed, delayed, and wrong diagnoses – leads to an estimated 371,000 deaths and 424,000 permanent disabilities in the U.S. each year, according to a 2021 study. To address the problem, the Centers for Disease Control and two agencies released last year a diagnostic error “toolkit” for hospital leaders and health care personnel….