Earlier this week a new law went into effect in Missouri.  In essence, it bans those under 21 from texting while driving.  Although I have some questions about how the law will actually be enforced, the thought behind it is good.

     Simply put, texting while driving is dangerous.  It takes your attention off of the road for extended periods of time.   Texting drivers leave their lanes and don’t see oncoming obstacles.  They put the lives of others at risk.  Texting by youthful, inexperienced drivers only enhances the possibility of trouble.

     In the context of civil liability, the texting driver is certainly negligent.  If someone is texting while driving, and they cause  an injury to someone else, then they will be held responsible for the injuries and damage that they cause.  Quite often, because texting drivers don’t have time to slow before they hit something, the damages and injuries are severe.

     Here is a great video that I found on the topic.  It is a bit graphic, but it certainly gets the point across about the real consequences of such a trival act.  Watch the video and pass it on.

     If you have a question about a legal topic, let me know.  Maybe you have always wondered about jury duty?  Maybe you want to know more about your liability for animal bites?  Maybe you want to know what class action lawsuits are?  Whatever legal topic has your attention,  send it to me at chad@chadgaddielaw.com  I’ll try to address it in a future blog entry.

    When someone gets injured, the initial concern is simply to get better.  However, once the injury becomes stabilized, a new concern  becomes clear:  Medical Bills.

     When they start to hit the mailbox, most people find that medical bills are confusing.  What is this bill for?  Is this covered by insurance?  What if I can’t pay it?

     If you have problems understanding medical expenses, you are not alone.  Here is a site that does a good job of explaining how to decipher most medical bills:  Understanding Medical Bills

     Medical bills can devastate a family savings.  They are the single biggest factor in individual bankruptcies.  It is important to be alert and aware when dealing with this issue.

It seems as though a bizarre story like this gets reported every few months.  It hits the media for a few days and then goes away.  No one ever learns the outcome of this litigation.  I imagine that a case like this will be quickly dismissed.

The problem with these types of stories is that they distort the public perception of lawsuits in general.  You see, hundreds of very legitimate lawsuits get filed every day, and the vast majority of them are never publicized.  Because of this, it is just the wacky lawsuits that get the public’s attention.  The public in general can be left with the impression that these types of lawsuits are the norm, instead of the exception.  There is a real problem when those with legitimate claims get painted with the same brush as those filing frivolous claims.

When you read a story like this, take it with a grain of salt.  It is being reported because it is out of the ordinary.  Keep in mind that for every one of these frivolous lawsuits that are filed, hundreds of other legitimate claims are being pursued by real people who have real problems and real damages.

     Occasionally, I have clients contact me regarding health care decisions.  This usually happens when someone is about to enter the hospital, or when there has been a major medical news story dealing with the issue.

     The best resource that I have found for my clients is provided by the Missouri Bar Association.

     This no cost form is a step by step guide for individuals who want to name an agent to make health care decisions on their behalf (a durable power of attorney for health care).  The document also contains a health care directive which specifies what type of treatment you want to receive if you are terminally ill.  The document is designed for individuals to complete without the assistance of an attorney, but you can certainly contact me if you need assistance.

     I encourage you to take a look at these documents.  Although it is not a fun topic, a little work today can provide a lot of peace of mind in the future.

You can search Case.net by entering the name of any party.  The database will search to see if there are any matches to your search request.  Once a case is found, you can click on “docket entries” to learn more about the history of that particular case.

People are amazed at the information that can be found on Case.net.  It is a great resource, and it is free.