Posts Tagged ‘Personal Injury’

Have you ever wondered “I wish I could have had that McDonald’s coffee spilled on me so I could get millions of dollars.”  Well, in this new documentary Hot Coffee, these cases are revealed to the public in a new light.  Displaying the truth as it was told in court, rather than the spin released to the public through the media.

Hot Coffee Official Trailer

Resourceful Attorney Gets Client 16 Times What Allstate Offers

COLUMBUS, OHIO–A good part of the law business involves dealing with insurance companies. Many times, the insurance company will low-ball a client and make an absurdly low offer which they hope the client will take. Clients without legal representation may fall for the insurance company’s offer to settle quickly, say that the case isn’t worth much, or claim that injuries were pre-existing conditions. Have no doubts, most insurance companies would rather pay you less than more, and would prefer to pay you nothing if they could get away with it. That includes your own insurance company.

A major victory over an unreasonably low offer involved Hausmann-McNally Attorney J. Scott Bowman, who represented a client injured in an automobile accident.  After the accident, she was unable to get the surgery she needed because she did not have health insurance. It didn’t help that Allstate dragged its feet by refusing to make a fair settlement.

The 36-year old woman was injured by an automobile driver who failed to yield at a stop sign. Injuries included tear to her ACL as well as cervical, thoracic and lumbar sprains/strains. Medical bills were projected to top $20,000. Bowman also showed she had lost wages in the amount of $12,000 to $13,000.

Aside from the bad publicity Allstate garners for not adequately paying claims, Bowman had to go before a jury and, during a three-day trial, proved that his client’s injuries and medical bills were worth a whole lot more than Allstate offered her. Allstate’s final offer was $4,181!

After hearing both sides, the jury awarded Bowman’s client $70,124, almost all of what he had asked for. The case was written up in the Winter 2011 issue of the Columbus (Ohio) Lawyers Quarterly.

Interesting news of the Allstate company’s strategy on claims can be seen on the Web site: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982072.htm

Their slogan might be “You’re in Good Hands with Allstate,” but this client believes she was in far better hands with Hausmann-McNally, a personal injury law firm that really looks after their clients’ interests.

Bowman is managing attorney for Hausmann-McNally’s Columbus, Ohio office.

We want everyone to enjoy this holiday season. To some it means more time with family and friends, to others it has religious significance and to many it means purchasing gifts for loved ones, especially beloved children.

Sadly, the holiday season always brings forth stories of unsafe toys that cause injury, even death, to little ones. Recently, we wrote in the Hausmann-McNally newsletter of a large recall of Fisher Price trikes and other items. The holidays notices also make us aware that some toys are painted with unsafe, lead paints. One thing we should watch out for, and perhaps toy recalls cannot predict, is things that get stuck in a child’s throat. This can range from a popcorn kernel to a small plastic toy that a toddler left under the sofa.

In 2009, more than 250,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms nationwide for toy-related injuries, according to the California Public Interest Research Group.

This group has produced a common-sense list which we are happy to share with our readers.

• When buying toys, look for clearly marked age ranges on the packaging.
• Check websites such as www.recalls.gov, www.toysafety.mobi or www.cpsc.gov, to learn of toy recalls.
• When giving bicycles, skateboards, skates or scooters, include a helmet.
• Look for toys labeled “phthalate-free.” Avoid soft-plastic toys or those made of PVC, which often contain phthalates.

When buying toys for kids under 3, avoid:

• Small toys or toys with breakable parts that can fit inside a toilet tissue tube.
• Round objects or small balls that can block a child’s airway. Balls should be at least 1.75 inches in diameter.
• Cylindrical pieces, like toy nails, that can lodge in a child’s throat.
• Never give balloons, which can block the airway.

The full CalPIRG “Trouble in Toyland” report is available at www.calpirg.org.
And if you are so unfortunate to have a child injured as a result of any unsafe toy or object, feel free to call our office. Our attorneys are aware of the hazards in the toy market and willing to help your family recover from injuries suffered by your child. The number to reach a Hausmann-McNally attorney is number is 800-227-6699

Charles Hausmann
President
Hausmann-McNally, S.C.