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What To Do If You Get Into An Accident With A Drunk Driver

Approximately 30 people die in DUI accidents in the U.S. every day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Each year, 10,000 Americans are killed in DUI accidents, resulting in $44 billion in damages. If you are involved in a car accident with a drunk driver, the attorneys at Morefield Speicher Bachman encourage you to do the following: Call The Police And Remain At The Scene It is essential for a DUI accident case to have a police report. Even if no one is seriously injured, law enforcement officers can help document the scene and measure the BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) of the person who hit you. Obtain The Other Driver’s Information It is important to get information from the drunk driver as soon as possible in case they attempt to flee before police arrive. Gather information such as the driver’s license plate, name, address, and insurance information. Collect Evidence And Witness Statements  Take as many pictures as you can of the accident scene, your injuries, and the vehicles involved. Talk to witnesses about what they saw if you are physically able to do so. Witnesses may provide written or video accounts of what happened. It is important to gather information as soon as possible since memories deteriorate with time. This is an area where we can help. When we get involved in a case, we will take necessary witness statements and investigate the accident. We will evaluate whether to retain expert witnesses for accident reconstruction or evaluation of the motor vehicles. Seek Medical Attention Get medical attention as soon as you can leave the scene. Insurance claims require documentation of your injuries. You should still see a doctor for an examination even if you don’t have obvious injuries. Notify Your Insurance Carrier Once you report the accident to your insurance company, you will likely hear from an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company. The drunk driver’s insurance company may offer you a small settlement, but the drunk driver’s insurance company is unlikely to cover the full extent of your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and emotional distress unless you have an attorney. Contact Our Overland Park Car Accident Lawyers With decades of experience helping Kansas City and Missouri residents who suffered severe car accident injuries, our Overland Park car accident lawyers are here to help. We have helped numerous victims of drunk drivers and their families. The level of service we provide to each and every client is one of our greatest strengths. We focus on helping our clients recover what they have lost and will fight aggressively to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve. If you have been injured in an accident, fill out a contact form or call us at (913) 839 2808.

The Importance of Full Disclosure in Construction Real Estate Transactions

At Morefield Speicher Bachman, LLP, we have extensive construction practice. Our construction lawyers regularly work in the commercial real estate practice area to reduce the risk of fraudulent behavior and to help resolve the issues if they occur.  We regularly work with clients who find that the home or commercial property they purchased has significant problems that the seller did not disclose, or in some cases, even concealed. This happens more frequently than most buyers and sellers realize and it happens for a variety of reasons. We also work with clients who are selling real estate and who need advice to avoid issues with the buyer in the future. When selling real estate, it is extremely important that you disclose information that affects the value of the property. This must be done on the front end during negotiations for the property. Not only is this the best practice and the honorable way to sell real estate, but it can also protect you from facing a lengthy, and costly, lawsuit down the line. We frequently advise clients about disclosure issues. When buying real estate, it is extremely important that you ask questions and request information about any issues that are important to you or that may affect how you can use the property. We regularly advise buyers about their real estate purchases and can help buyers know the right questions to ask before signing on the dotted line. In Missouri and Kansas, failure to disclose material information about a property can be considered fraudulent concealment. A seller who conceals problems with a piece of property may be subject to legal liability for fraudulent concealment and can be held legally liable to the fraud victim for the damages or losses arising from the concealment. Fraudulent concealment differs from actual fraud.  Fraudulent concealment occurs when the seller conceals information he or she should reasonably know would affect the sales price of the property. Fraud occurs when the seller knowingly provides false information about the property. Most real estate contracts require the seller to reveal certain types of information about the condition of the property. If the real estate contract requires the seller to reveal information about the condition of the property, but the seller fails to do so, the seller can be liable for fraudulent concealment. If the seller makes false statements about the condition of the property, the seller can be liable for fraud.  Our construction lawyers at Morefield Speicher Bachman, LLP, regularly work with contractors and property owners involved with commercial and residential real estate transactions. Attorney Stan Bachman has extensive experience helping contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers resolve disputes. He understands and appreciates construction industry clients because he’s “been there, done that” as a Kansas City commercial general contractor and business owner for 25 years before becoming a lawyer. If disputes arise regarding your construction or business transaction, contact our legal team today. Our firm represents all participants in the industry, from contractors and subcontractors to engineers, architects, and owners. We represent clients at every stage of the construction process. Contact our legal team for help today.

What To Do When Wrongful Death Occurs

When a wrongful death occurs, it is an emotional and unsettling experience for everyone involved. When a person dies as a result of the misconduct or negligence of another person, it often leads to a wrongful death investigation and lawsuit. In a wrongful death lawsuit, the victim’s family or loved ones seek damages for the loss of life. Wrongful death damages may include compensation for lost income, loss of companionship, and loss of guidance or support. In cases where the wrongdoer’s behavior was particularly reckless or motivated by malice, there may be additional damages to punish the wrongdoer and to discourage others from behaving in that way.  Wrongful death can occur when there has been a car accident, motorcycle or truck wreck, medical malpractice, or construction accident. If you or your loved ones are experiencing a potential wrongful death investigation, our wrongful death lawyers can help. What To Do if You Have Experienced a Wrongful Death Situation After a wrongful death, it is important that you meet with a legal team as soon as possible. Do not sign any paperwork before consulting with a legal professional because you may be signing a form that is inaccurate, unfair, or may contain terms that result in legal consequences that you do not understand or expect. Regardless of how your loved one wrongfully died, a wrongful death lawyer will be able to walk you through the process. Gather any and all paperwork, information, or evidence that you are able to. You will be able to work together with your lawyer to detail the specifics of your wrongful death case to explore the best option for you and your family. Make sure your lawyer knows about the identity of any third parties who have information about what happened. As you are grieving and beginning the process of investigating a wrongful death case, it is important to refrain from communicating with the offender. Although you may be emotional, it is best to only communicate with the other party through your attorney. Your attorney will know the best way to obtain the information needed for your case without jeopardizing your interests. Who can file a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? While the statutes for wrongful death vary from one state to another, the applicable wrongful death statute will provide insight into who is legally eligible to sue for wrongful death. A wrongful death action is usually brought by the parents, spouse, or children of the victim. In some situations, brothers or sisters of the deceased can pursue a claim. Kansas recognizes common law marriage, while Missouri does not. This can lead to complicated legal questions when a non-marital partner dies. There can also be issues with children who were not formally adopted. We can help unravel those issues. Our Team is Here to Help If you have lost a loved one, we empathize with you. We have worked with many others who have faced a similar tragedy. We understand that this is an extremely difficult experience to go through, especially if you lost someone due to another person’s negligence. We are here to help you through this difficult time. Wrongful death cases are complex and emotionally draining. It would be our privilege to guide you through this difficult time. Contact us or call us for a free consultation at 913-839-2808.

Insurance Issues for Business Owners

Are you a small business owner wondering if you have an insurance claim for business interruption, for a cyber security incident, or other problems arising from the Covid-19 crisis? Or, has someone made a claim against your company and you wonder whether the insurance company is looking out for your company’s best interests? If you have read your insurance policies, you may be more confused than ever. Insurance policies are complicated, they are written in technical language, and are not easily understood without special training. When making a claim, success or failure can hinge on how the claim is presented to the insurance company. Let our team of lawyers at Morefield Speicher Bachman help you for a reasonable FIXED fee. There is no cost to find out if we can help. We have the training and experience to read and interpret your insurance policies. Let us help you navigate the insurance maze. Call us today, at (913) 839 2808 or go to msblaw.com/covid19-business support to learn more.