Cannon LawCannon Law2023-03-16T15:33:04Zhttps://www.cannoninjurylaw.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1503529/2022/02/cropped-ID-image-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Cannon Lawhttps://www.cannoninjurylaw.com/?p=474592023-03-15T14:01:18Z2023-01-23T16:57:33Zcar accidents.
Distractions for drivers come in many different forms as well. People usually immediately think about phone use when they think about distracted driving. Phone use is certainly a major and dangerous distraction, but there are many other ways that drivers become distracted that can be equally dangerous.
Four main types of distractions
There are four main types of distractions and those are:
Visual distractions: These are any distraction that causes the driver to take their eyes off of the road. Phone use falls into this category, but people may also look at billboards, other crashes on the side of the road, other passengers in their vehicle and many other objects or people.
Physical distractions: These are distractions that cause people to take their hands off the steering wheel. It could be typing into a phone, eating or drinking, reaching for something in the car and other activities that cause people to take their hands off of the wheel
Hearing distractions: These are distractions caused by sound. People may not realize it, but loud sounds can cause people to lose focus on driving. It can be distracting when music is too loud, people are having conversations with people in the car or on the phone, loud kids or other sounds.
Mental distractions: These are distractions that force people to think about something other than driving. Many of the other distractions involve mental distractions, but even using the voice-activated features in a vehicle can be distracting. It is also distracting when people are experiencing significant emotions such as anger or sadness.
As people can see, there are many distractions for drivers in Missouri. Phone use certainly may be the most dangerous as it can involve all four types of distractions at the same time, but it is important to limit the other distractions as well. Many car accidents are due to distracted drivers and people can suffer serious injuries as a result. Experienced attorneys understand how distracted driving can affect people’s lives and may be a useful resource.]]>On Behalf of Cannon Lawhttps://www.cannoninjurylaw.com/?p=474572023-03-15T14:06:14Z2022-10-20T23:34:53ZWho is responsible?
Under Missouri law, consumers may have the right to recover compensation after they have been injured by a defective product. They can do this by filing a personal injury lawsuit based on the theory of product liability.
One unusual aspect of product liability law is that it allows liability to attach to almost any party that was involved in getting the product into the consumer's hands. This means the injured can file suit against the manufacturer, the designer, the company that marketed the product, the retailer that sold the product, and possibly others.
This is important because defects can occur at many stages. Design defects begin with a design that makes the product inherently unsafe. Manufacturing defects start with a safe design, but some problem in the manufacturing process renders them unsafe. Marketing defects can come about when a product is sold with dangerously improper instructions, or when it is marketed for an unsafe purpose.
Strict liability and damages
The parties responsible for the selling of a defective product can be held strictly liable, meaning that the injured party doesn't have to prove that the defendants knew the product was defective. They just have to prove that the product was defective and that it caused their damages.
Damages can include everything from the costs of replacing a product to medical expenses, lost wages and noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering.
Individual and class-action suits
An individual consumer who was injured by a product defect may file a product liability lawsuit on their own, but in some cases it makes sense to join forces with other injured consumers.
For instance, a defectively designed medical device could easily lead to hundreds or even thousands of serious injuries all over the country. In some circumstances, a large number of these injured patients could join together in one big lawsuit. The injured parties in these cases are grouped together as a class, and they file suit on behalf of all members of the class.
Whether taking action individually or as part of a class, these cases are complex. Experienced attorneys can help the injured and their families to understand how the process works.]]>On Behalf of Cannon Lawhttps://www.cannoninjurylaw.com/?p=474392022-10-18T08:28:59Z2022-07-22T02:34:00ZReasons why you shouldn’t trust an insurance company
Dealing with an insurance company is inevitable. But you don’t have to let them take advantage of you. Therefore, as you proceed with your claim, keep the following in mind:
The insurance company wants to maximize profits: Insurance companies are businesses, many of which are beholden to stakeholders. Therefore, their focus is on making as much money as possible. It naturally follows, then, that these insurance companies are going to look for ways to pay you as little as possible or avoid paying you altogether.
Your words will be used against you: As humans, we have a natural tendency to downplay events or even blame ourselves for things that were outside of our control. Don’t do this when you talk to a representative from the insurance company. Regardless of how friendly an adjuster seems, they won’t hesitate to use your words against you to either deny your claim or to pay you less than you actually deserve.
Insurance companies stick to timelines: Your insurance policy probably has a provision in it that requires you to report an accident and seek medical treatment within a specified period of time. Don’t expect your insurance company to feel sorry for you and give you an extension if you miss those deadlines. They’ll be quick to deny your claim if you hesitate in any aspect of seeking treatment and following the claims process as specified in your policy.
Insurance companies drag out the process: One way that insurance companies force accident victims to accept low settlement offers is to apply financial pressure. This is usually done by delaying the claims process so that you feel the pinch of medical bills coming due and the struggle of trying to meet your daily needs.
You might be watched: In some cases, an insurance company may even hire a private investigator to watch you to see if your injuries are as bad as you claim them to be. So, make sure that you’re being honest with the insurance company and are acting in accordance with the extent of your injuries.
Legal teams are aggressive: Insurance companies are often represented by teams of aggressive legal professionals who know how to get results. These lawyers are adept at negotiations, and they’ll probably deploy tactics that will make you feel like you have to accept an initial offer or otherwise lose out on payment altogether. They’ll try to make your claim seem weak, too. But you shouldn’t give in to these tactics before discussing your case with your attorney.
Stand up to the insurance company you’re dealing with
There’s a lot of stress involved in resolving your personal injury case. But you can’t let your anxiety drive you to an unfair resolution. We know that’s easier said than done, especially when you’re dealing with the financial realities of your situation and you don’t know how these cases tend to play out. However, you can have the support and advocacy that you need on your side by discussing your circumstances with an experienced attorney. Hopefully then you can formulate the strategy that you need to obtain the best outcome possible given the facts at hand.]]>On Behalf of Cannon Lawhttps://www.cannoninjurylaw.com/?p=474382022-10-18T08:27:56Z2022-04-22T01:27:13Zthousands of dollars in medical bills and other expenses is not easy, but you can get the help you need. In fact, there are several people who can help you after a crash; and the three people you should call are:
The police
After a serious accident, the police can help you in many ways. They can help block off the accident area, collect witness testimony and document the scene of the crash, clean any debris from the accident, and provide you with a police report that you can use in your compensation claim. They can also help you get any medical attention you may need from a paramedic or help you get to the hospital.
Your insurance agent
Before your insurance agent can begin their work to help you get the compensation you need, they need to know about the accident. Call them at your soonest availability to report the accident and get the ball rolling. However, before you start providing details about your accident, you have one more call you need to make.
Your attorney
A personal injury attorney can represent you through your claim while you rest and recover. Their guidance can negotiate with insurance agents to maximize your compensation, avoid mistakes that can cost you the money you deserve, and shorten the time it takes for you to receive the payment you need to make ends meet during your recovery.
Do not go through your claim alone
The police, your insurance and your attorney can all help you pursue the best recovery possible after your accident, but before you accept a settlement offer, make sure you have people on your side to help you through your compensation claim.]]>On Behalf of James Cannonhttps://www.cannoninjurylaw.com/?p=471702022-10-18T08:27:13Z2022-03-25T22:31:11Zlunch” and “5:00 quitting time” are a distant memory. For most lawyers, “success” is if they escape having to go to the office on Saturday morning.
I’m certain the majority of lawyers work hard for their clients looking out for their best interests. So, why is returning a client’s phone call so difficult and such a burdensome task? It seems to be the number one complaint of clients and often times gets lawyers in trouble. Why is it so hard to pick-up the phone and spend 5 minutes or less with a client? There are several factors that contribute to this problem:
First, Lawyers are for the most part very confident and strong-willed people who adopt the attitude “you hired me-let me do what I have to do. I will let you know ‘when’ I have resolved your legal matter”;
Second, Lawyers tend to prioritize the day’s tasks partially due to never ending deadlines imposed by the legal rules and regulations a lawyer works under. This leads to the attitude that a client’s call can wait.
Third, in order for a lawyer to succeed and be a good lawyer it requires confidence and a little bit of a “swagger”. This sometimes leads to the unfortunate attitude of “the client is lucky they have me for a lawyer-they can wait”. Trust me, there are a lot of other good lawyers.
Finally, and most importantly, lawyers often forget that the very reason they were hired is most likely something that is very important that is going on in the client’s life. Personal injury, business concerns, divorce and even a simple speeding ticket can have a tremendous impact on a client’s life; even leading to anxiety, depression and relationship problems. Lawyers often forget this!
THE SOLUTION - A simple 3-5 minute return phone call giving the client a quick update. It is not that hard. Lawyers are good at getting to the point (well, sometimes ). This will not only reassure the client that an important thing going on in their life is in the process of getting resolved which will affect the client and perhaps others in a very positive way but will also reassure the client that they hired the right lawyer. Remember, if you were not the lawyer you would expect the same!
Lawyers owe to their clients this very simple task of returning a phone call…and don’t forget without clients lawyers would not be in business. Your clients deserve this--just like you deserve “lunch”! MAKE THAT RETURN PHONE CALL! TRUST ME, IT WILL NOT HURT YOUR BUSINESS---IT WILL HELP IT!]]>