Car accidents cause many kinds of trauma. You might expect to deal with physical injuries, like bruises or soreness, but you could sustain other kinds of injuries.

Emotional trauma affects your mind. When you’re suffering from emotional trauma, everyday activities might seem more difficult, your temperament could be different, and you might not connect these behaviors to the car accident.

One of the first things our firm looks at when investigating a case is whether you or a loved one is limited in bringing a lawsuit for personal injuries.  If you or a loved one are the victim of an assault or some other criminal activity and are seeking compensation for your injuries, then you should know that one of the most important things affecting your ability to bring a case is the statute of limitations. A statute of limitation is a law which limits the amount of time for you to bring a case against a person who injured you or a loved one through reckless, negligent, or intentional action.

In Missouri, a criminal act which caused you or a loved one harm would likely be considered an “intentional act”. Under Missouri law, there is a much shorter time period to bring a case involving harm caused by the intentional acts of another person.  As a victim of an intentional act, like an assault or some other crime, you are required bring a case against the person causing the injuries within two years.

When you go to a bar, restaurant, grocery store, or any other establishment you expect that you will be safe coming and going from your vehicle.  However, even with security cameras, violent crimes occur in areas where there is inadequate or no security and opportunity for criminals to attack.  Many injuries occur during muggings, assaults, robberies, and other violent acts on parking lots.  These injuries may include, but are not limited to, broken bones, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, eye injuries, injuries on the neck, face, and other exposed areas.  

Unfortunately, the lasting affects of these assaults may lead to PTSD or other mental trauma that requires counseling.  As a result of these injuries, medical bills and anxiety pile up while the victim goes on and tries to live his/her life. Oftentimes the assailant flees and is never caught.  Or, even if the criminal is caught, he/she doesn’t have the financial means to cover the victim’s medical bills. The question then becomes whether the parking lot owner should have done more to protect people on the premises.

Every U.S. state has different laws regarding the process young drivers must go through before they can obtain a full driver’s license. These laws are part of statewide Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs that aim to help teen and novice drivers become fully educated about safe driving procedures, practices, and laws before they are on their own behind the wheel.

In Missouri, young drivers may get a learner permit at 15 and they must have it for a minimum of 6 months. 40 supervised driving hours (10 nighttime) are required during this learner stage.

An intermediate stage follows which teens must be 16 years old or older to progress through. Drivers at this stage may drive solo but are restricted from driving from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. and may not have more than 1 passenger under 19 for the first 6 months.

A recent news story highlighted a rise in crime on the University of Missouri campus.  Although this story was limited to the University of Missouri’s campus, we all know crime can happen when we least expect it.  With this recent news, it’s worthwhile to consider what someone should do if they are a victim of a crime. 

If you are the victim of an assault, mugging, robbery, or other violent or non-violent crime on a parking lot, at a bar, on a campus, on the sidewalk, or in any other private or public area, there are immediate steps you should take to ensure your safety:

If you have a loved one in a nursing home or long-term care facility in Missouri, you should be aware that all nursing home residents have legal rights. If you or your loved one ever have a reason to believe that these rights are being violated in any way, you can take legal action against the institution or individual responsible for that violation.

When you visit your loved one, keep an eye out for how your loved one is being treated, if they are being properly cared for, and if their rights are being attended to. This is the best way to watch out for potential red flags of a possible situation where abuse or neglect might occur.

Attorney Mike Campbell was named to the Missouri Lawyers Weekly “Up & Coming 2016″ Class and was honored at a ceremony in October, 2016.   Each “Up and Coming” nominee must be nominated by his/her peers and then must be selected by the staff of Missouri Lawyers Weekly for inclusion into the “Up & Coming” Class.  In 2016, there were 58 Missouri attorneys selected.  According to Missouri Lawyers Weekly, they selected their honorees “based on their demonstration of excellence and their potential to make a difference in the legal profession and their communities.”

Below is an excerpt for attorney Mike Campbell’s inclusion in the publications’ Up & Coming section, which was published shortly before the ceremony:

Construction sites are dangerous work environments full of hazards and potential for disaster.  Simple errors in judgment, defective equipment, and falls from high areas are common construction site accidents that can have fatal consequences.  Explosion injuries, electrocutions, and injuries from falling debris are more examples of the hazards present at many Missouri construction sites.

Missouri construction site workers should be aware of safety precautions they need to take to stay safe.  However, it is the job of the construction site manager to maintain the site and meet all safety expectations.  Unfortunately, this does not always happen and workers are then exposed to dangers that can lead to debilitating and even fatal injury.

According to statistics from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 940 individuals died in car accidents in 2016 throughout the state of Missouri. That number in a significant increase from the fatality total in 2015. So far in 2017, we’re at 323 traffic fatalities as of May. This figure is roughly consistent with last year’s numbers.

It’s in the common interest of everyone who lives in Missouri to see these numbers fall every year instead of rise higher. We all want our roadways and highways to be as safe as possible and for our loved ones to not worry every time they get into a motorized vehicle.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, it’s completely natural to feel somewhat helpless over their care at times. How can you be 100% sure they’ll remain safe? How can you trust healthcare professionals to watch over your loved one as necessary? It isn’t easy to place trust in nursing care facilities, but by keeping a close eye on your loved one and the facility, you can potentially protect them from getting hurt, harmed, or abused.

Here are 3 ways you can protect a loved one in a nursing home:

Visit Often and Diversify Your Visits

One of the best ways to ensure your loved one is being taken care of properly is to visit them often. Diversify your visits so staff members are not expecting you. This lets you see how they really care for residents. During your visits, always keep your eyes, ears, and nose open for red flags (see below). Pay attention to how staff members split up shifts and how meals are served. Notice how often the rooms are cleaned and how quickly your loved one’s requests are fulfilled.