You’ve been injured in an auto or truck accident, a slip and fall, or some other fashion. You have a personal injury claim. You will need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. That’s where our firm comes in. We work hard, especially when we are helping people just like you, who need representation because they have been harmed by another’s negligence or wrongful act.

Our civil justice system gives people have a fair chance to receive justice through the legal system when they are injured due to the negligence or wrongful acts of others. Many people have negative opinions of personal injury suits and personal injury attorneys, until they themselves are injured and need help. These individuals have bought into the myths promoted by big business, insurance companies and medical providers. You’ve heard them:

– Personal injury suits drive up insurance costs;
– Personal injury suits are brought by greedy people and their greedy lawyers;
– Personal injury suits drive up the costs of goods and products;
– Medical malpractice suits will keep our communities from having access to good medical care.

We disagree.

These myths fail to consider the people who have been seriously injured by drunk drivers; people who have been harmed by neglectful care in a nursing home; people who have lost an arm at work due to the company removing safety equipment; a child who will have life long medical needs because someone didn’t report their suspicions of child abuse.

Unfortunately, the small handful of “frivolous” or unjust cases are the ones in the news. The media doesn’t talk about the thousands of cases with merit. The media and pundits continually mock Stella Liebeck and the McDonald’s coffee case. You’ve heard the stories and seen the “Stella Awards” on line or in an email. Unfortunately, the actual facts of Stella’s case aren’t funny.

Stella suffered third degree burns to her groin, inner thighs, and buttocks. She was hospitalized for eight days and endured skin grafts and the debridement of dead skin tissue. McDonald’s declined to settle her claim for $20,000.00 when offered. The evidence at trial showed that McDonald’s was aware of more than 700 claims by people burned by its coffee between 1982 and 1993. The evidence showed that a burn hazard exists when any food or drink is served above 140 degrees. The evidence showed that McDonald’s coffee was served at 185 degrees. The jury awarded Stella $200,000.00, but reduced it to $160,000 because they found her 20 percent for putting the coffee cup in her lap. The jury also awarded her $2.7 million in punitive damages, which was equal to two days of McDonald’s coffee sales. Stella and McDonald’s reached a post trial settlement.

This is just one example. There are others. Without personal injury suits, big business would still be producing cars with gas tanks that explode, or SUV’s that roll over easily. Medical providers would not have policies and procedures in place to try and prevent operating on the wrong body part. Personal injury suits help hold people responsible for their actions.

But that’s not all we do. Our lawyers also provide counsel to those who need criminal defense or are facing family law difficulties. We help individuals form small businesses and obtain favorable tax treatment on income and estate planning. The firm assists community leaders in recognizing the need for quality infrastructure, and helps form and construct rural water, sewer, electric, drainage and fire protection districts.

We are here if you need us.