Roanoke Personal Injury Law Blog

Tips for driving safely during the wintry weather season

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, December 2, 2020.

Roanoke averages around 15 inches of snow per year and it's getting close to the time of year that we can expect it here. According to BestPlaces.net, snow is common in January, but February is the snowiest month of the year for this area. Because of this, now is the time for drivers to ensure they're ready to drive in the wintry weather.

There are a few tips that you can use to help you remain as safe as possible during the snowy weather. One of the most important is that you check the road conditions to ensure that it's safe for you to travel when you plan on it. Ideally, you'll remain home if the roads aren't clear, but remember these points if you must venture out:

Make sure your vehicle is ready for the slick conditions. Check the brakes, lights, and tires to ensure they're all functional and in good shape.
Pack an emergency kit that includes kitty litter or sand to give the tires traction if you get stuck. Add in other supplies, including a shovel, bottled water, non-perishable snacks, and a blanket. You may opt to add in other supplies, depending on your needs.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. You may have to drive slower than normal, so don't leave at the last minute.
Leave room between you and other vehicles, including snowplows. It will take vehicles longer to get moving and longer to stop when the road conditions are slick.

Some popular gifts for children can be dangerous

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Products Liability on Monday, November 23, 2020.

If you're doing your holiday shopping predominantly online this year, it's important to be particularly careful when buying toys and other gifts for children. When you can't see, feel and hear them for yourself, you may miss some potential dangers.

Even when you buy toys in a store, their risks may not be readily apparent. Let's look at some popular items that can be dangerous in young hands.

4 points that must be present in a wrongful death claim

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, November 20, 2020.

When a loved one passes away unexpectedly, there are several things that the family members who are left behind need to think about. One of these is whether they are going to file for a wrongful death claim or not. There are specific requirements for doing this, so you should familiarize yourself with them if you're considering the option.

The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is to seek compensation for the damages associated with the person's death. This can include their final expenses, as well as other expenses, such as the loss of their income.

Who pays for injuries in a semitruck crash? What do they pay for?

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Truck Accidents on Friday, November 13, 2020.

There are many injuries that victims can suffer in semitruck crash cases. They range from minor scrapes to catastrophic injuries that might result in a fatality. For these victims, the financial devastation of the crash is often another blow that they didn't think about at the start of their claim. Seeking compensation for the damages of the big rig crash can help them to recover those damages.

When we work with you in a semitruck crash injury claim, there are several things that we have to determine. All of these work together to ensure that you have a comprehensive case to show why you need the compensation you're seeking.

Tips for parents traveling with children in the vehicle

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Monday, November 2, 2020.

One of the distractions that drivers face sometimes is that they are paying attention to other occupants of the vehicle. It's easy to say that this shouldn't happen but any parent knows that the chance of not having to pay attention to what's going on in the back of their car is slim.

When you have your most precious family members in the vehicle with you, safety has to be a top concern. There are several things that you can do that will help to keep everyone as safe as possible during the journey:

First, set the standard for the drive. Let the children know that if you're going to have to pay attention to them that you'll have to stop the car. This obviously won't work with younger children, but it can be effective with older ones, especially if they want to go somewhere.
Second, you must ensure that everyone is buckled in. This means into an infant or child's car seat, a booster seat, or a seatbelt. Don't allow any occupant of the vehicle to get up and move around while the vehicle is in motion.
Third, secure items within the vehicle. Any item that isn't properly secured can become a projectile if there's a wreck. Placing things like groceries in the trunk of the vehicle is ideal, but placing them all the way in the back of the vehicle is best if there isn't a trunk. Cargo anchors and secured netting can also help if there isn't a trunk.

Product liability disclaimers don't really protect manufacturers

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Products Liability on Monday, October 26, 2020.

Consumers assume that the products offered by merchants are as safe as possible when they're looking to make a purchase. They don't expect that they will have to deal with an unsafe product as long as they're using it properly. When a consumer suffers an injury, they may choose to seek compensation against the manufacturer for an unsafe product. The manufacturers may battle against this claim.

Some manufacturers will attempt to claim that the liability disclaimers on their products are sufficient enough to prevent lawsuits; however, this often isn't the case. For the most part, the liability disclaimers are meant to help battle against warranty claims regarding the functionality of the product. These disclaimers don't offer protection against lawsuits when there's an injury.

Sudden death can lead to funeral cost sticker shock

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Wrongful Death on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

The sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one can be very challenging to deal with. One thing that individuals who are in this position will have to do is to make the final arrangements. Oftentimes, this comes with sticker shock because they don't expect the high prices that come with funerals or cremation.

The average cost of a funeral includes many facets of the service; however, these averages don't include the cemetery pot, marker and similar items.

Funeral with casket: $7,000 to $12,000
Funeral with cremation: $6,000 to $7,000

Understand why you may need compensation after a brain injury

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Brain Injuries on Friday, October 16, 2020.

Many types of accidents can lead to brain injuries, but not all brain injuries produce the same difficulties. Some victims will recover from their injuries with very little long term damage while others won't ever be able to get back to where they were prior to the accident.

While an accident of any sort that leads to a brain injury is unfortunate, it's even more devastating when you realize that the accident was the direct result of someone's negligence. This can make it seem even more traumatic for the victim. In this case, the victim might opt to pursue a claim for compensation.

Manufacturers have a duty to warn consumers of product dangers

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Products Liability on Thursday, October 8, 2020.

Consumers who purchase products should always read the instructions carefully, so they know how to use the product safely. But, what happens when the instructions don't adequately describe how to use the product or they don't convey the appropriate warnings for the product?

Manufacturers have a duty to provide consumers with specific information that helps them to avoid being injured by the products. There are two specific duties that they have:

Provide instructions on the safe use on the product, so the consumer can avoid injuries
Warn consumers of dangers of the product, including hidden hazards

A car crash can lead to civil and criminal court cases

On behalf of Daniel Crandall of Crandall & Katt, Attorneys at Law posted in Car Accidents on Friday, October 2, 2020.

Traveling on the nation's highways is usually a fairly safe event. There are some instances in which an unsafe driver might cause problems. If you come into contact with one of them and are injured, you might be ready to take action.

One way that you can hold the driver accountable for the injuries they caused is through a personal injury lawsuit. This takes place within the civil court system, so it's possible for them to face the civil case and a criminal case that all stem from the same crash.