Recent Blog Posts
Dealing With a Drunk Driver After a Crash
Grand Rapids is known for its local breweries. With all the excellent beer options offered, many visitors enjoy trying a few - or more than a few. If they take an Uber, walk, use public transportation, or appoint a designated driver, then all should be well and we are glad they came out to support our local businesses. However, when they choose to drive themselves after overindulging, there is likely to be a problem. They could cause a crash involving you. Most instructional guides explaining what to do after a car accident presume the other driver is sober and behaving rationally. This is not always the case. Dealing with a drunk driver after a car accident can be a bit different.
If you were involved in a car accident with someone who should have found a safer way home from one of our breweries, it may be in your best interest to contact an attorney promptly. You may have a very strong claim.
Top 5 Foods That Cause Food Poisoning in Grand Rapids
If you have experienced food poisoning after ordering food from a local eatery, you may be wondering exactly what made you sick. Was it undercooked chicken? Vegetables that were not washed? Often, food poisoning–a type of personal injury–is caused by some kind of carelessness on the part of a restaurant. Especially now, with staffing shortages rampant, restaurants may be increasingly inclined to cut corners that put the health and safety of their customers at risk. Food poisoning can be very serious, especially for those who are already in poor health or otherwise vulnerable. If you were recently sickened in a food poisoning incident after eating out, it may be in your best interest to contact an attorney who may be able to help you recover financial compensation.
Which Foods Are Most Commonly Linked to Food Poisoning in Restaurants?
If you believe that your food poisoning was caused by a local restaurant, it is important to speak to an attorney rather than contacting the restaurant directly. While almost any food can cause food poisoning if negligently handled, these foods are frequently the culprit:
Top 4 Reasons Motorcycles Are Hit By Cars in Kent County
Being hit by a negligent driver in a bigger vehicle is something every motorcyclist fears. It can be bad enough when a motorcycle crash does not involve another vehicle. Car versus motorcycle accidents can be devastating. As bikers know, there is very little to protect a rider from the impact of being struck by a car. Drivers have a duty to pay attention to and avoid colliding with all other vehicles on the road, including motorcycles and even bicycles in the roadway. Yet, some drivers become complacent and forget to keep an eye out for harder-to-spot modes of transportation, putting motorcyclists at risk.
If you were hit by a car while riding, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your injuries and other costs related to the accident, like lost wages. Or, if you tragically lost an immediate family member in one of these accidents, you may be able to file a wrongful death action.
Signs That Your Loved One Is Being Neglected in a Nursing Home
Some forms of nursing home abuse are quite easy to spot. If the abuse or neglect is severe, there may be obvious signs like bruising or serious bedsores. Other types of neglect can be more insidious and difficult to identify. If someone you love is being cared for in a nursing facility, it is important to monitor them so that you can take action quickly, at the first sign of a problem.
If your loved one has already suffered harm of any kind as a result of nursing home neglect, they may be legally entitled to recover financial compensation. Contacting an attorney for a case evaluation is a good move if you suspect that a nursing home is not adequately caring for your loved one.
Why is Nursing Home Neglect Hard to Spot?
Many nursing home residents suffer from age-related mental incapacities and are unable to communicate to their families what is happening. Those with dementia or Alzheimer’s may not be taken seriously if they do say something to a loved one, who may believe the nursing home resident is merely confused.
5 Dangerous Driving Distractions in Grand Rapids
The dangers of cell phone usage while driving are well known. Drivers who are looking down to type a message may fail to spot a hazard and cause an accident. However, distracted driving has been around a lot longer than cell phones. Even before people had phones in their cars at all, distracted driving crashes happened all the time.
If you were injured in a car accident and suspect that the at-fault driver was distracted, you will need to speak to an attorney who can help investigate and gather evidence. Proving driver distraction after a car accident can be tricky, especially if the driver was distracted by something other than a cell phone.
What Distractions Other Than Cell Phones Take Drivers’ Attention Off the Road?
While cell phones are probably the most common culprit for distracted driving accidents nowadays, there are other types of distractions that can cause a driver to take their eyes off the road long enough to cause a wreck. The driver who collided with you could have been paying attention to:
Is a Business Liable for an Assault in the Parking Lot?
Winter weather can be delightful, but it can also bring a host of dangers. There is ice and snow to slip in or hydroplane on, and frostbite to worry about. Now that it is fully dark outside by the time most people are leaving work, there may be additional safety concerns related to crime. Parking lots outside bars, malls, and other businesses can become dangerous in the evenings when there is little light and not enough security.
For some businesses, failing to provide adequate security when there is a known risk of criminal activity can lead to premises liability. If you suffered a criminal attack while entering or leaving a business, you will want to speak to an attorney to determine whether you may be eligible for compensation.
When is a Business Liable for Crimes on its Premises?
A business cannot - and is not expected to - prevent all crimes on its premises. The problem with criminals is that they are unpredictable and not likely to follow an establishment’s rules. However, in certain situations, a business does have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect its patrons from a foreseeable risk of harm, even if that risk is caused by criminal actors.
Legal Options After Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Rental Housing
Carbon Monoxide is often called a “silent killer.” It has no odor and can be impossible to identify without a detector. People who live in apartments and other small rental units are at greater risk of carbon monoxide poisoning than those who live in larger accommodations. Because apartments are smaller and typically not as well-ventilated as a house, even a small amount of carbon monoxide can become extremely dangerous. In most cases, carbon monoxide leaks are preventable when appropriate safety procedures are followed. If you were poisoned by carbon monoxide in a rental unit, you will want to speak with an attorney to find out whether your landlord may be liable.
Recognizing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be hard to identify. While even short exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide may quickly become fatal, exposure to lower levels over time can cause serious damage. The following symptoms may point to carbon monoxide:
Defects to Look Out for in Children's Toys
Toys are supposed to be safe and fun objects for children to play with. People generally expect the products they pick up in the toy aisle to be safe for young ones. Unfortunately, there are careless toymakers who put children at risk by putting dangerous toys on the market. Dangerous design flaws may result in small parts that present a choking hazard, or an overseas manufacturer may cut corners and use paint that contains lead. Regardless of what makes the toy dangerous, sellers of unsafe commercial products are generally liable for injuries that result. If your child was injured by a dangerous toy, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you get the chance.
What are the Most Common Defects in Children’s Toys?
Toymakers have a duty to make sure that their products are safe for their intended users -- children. Because children are less sophisticated than adults, and toddlers are less sophisticated than older children, toymakers must consider the safety needs of each age group. While an adult or adolescent may be able to handle a toy safely, a young child may not. These common toy defects all pose a risk to children:
What Are Common Types of Hazing Injuries?
College campuses are supposed to be a safe place for young adults to study and learn. Yet, campuses can be dangerous places. One of the biggest dangers to young people on college campuses may be other young people. Hazing is a practice as old as time, but the risks associated with it have led to hazing being not only banned on most campuses, but outright illegal in many places, including Michigan. If you were injured as a result of hazing, you should seek medical attention, and then get in touch with a qualified attorney. Quick investigation can be the key to recovering damages in hazing cases, and evidence may not last long on campus.
What Types of Injuries Does Hazing Cause?
Hazing can be done in many different ways. While hazing is often associated with sororities and fraternities, other student groups, official or unofficial, will haze just about any student. Some forms of hazing may be harmless, but others can be deadly. Some of the most common forms of hazing injuries include:
Legal Options After a Vaping Injury
The use of electronic cigarettes, or “vapes” has grown exponentially in the past year. Many Michigan residents made the switch from cigarettes to vapes during the pandemic, believing vaping to be healthier and safer than smoking. While the long-term effects of using a vape are still unknown, some injuries and illnesses caused by vapes have already appeared. Vaping injuries can be severe, leading to hospitalization or even life-long illness or disfigurement. If you or your minor child have been hurt by a defective product such as a vape, you may have options for pursuing compensation. You can start by contacting an attorney.
What Types of Vape Defects Cause Harm?
The first step towards recovering compensation in a products liability case is showing that the product was indeed defective. In Michigan, there are three types of product defects: manufacturing defects, design defects, and marketing defects. All three types of defects can be dangerous for consumers.
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