Personal Injury
Accidents happen. But that doesn't mean that you should have to bear the financial burden of an accident that was caused by someone else's negligent or wrongful actions. The physical and emotional pain is devastating enough without the additional pressures of lost wages, medical bills, and other costs.
Whether you or a loved one has been injured by a handgun or in an auto accident, our attorneys believe that you and your family should not have to suffer any more than is necessary. This is why we have dedicated our practice to protecting the rights of the injured and holding those responsible for accidents accountable for their negligence. While no amount of money can compensate for your loss of health or the death of a loved one, we can at least help you to gain a measure of justice and to relieve some of the financial pressures you are facing as a result of the accident.
Dog Bite Attorneys
With responsible owners, dogs can be wonderful companions. When dog owners are irresponsible by ignoring, failing to train, or otherwise mistreating their animals, disaster can result. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable members of our society, especially children and the elderly, are the most susceptible to these attacks.
The most crucial aspect of any dog bite case is demonstrating that the owner knew, or should have known, that their dog was dangerous and failed to take adequate steps to protect others from their animal. The attorneys of Palmer, Leatherman, White & Dalton LLP are experienced in all phases of dog bite litigation. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, our attorneys may be be able to obtain compensation from the responsible party.
Product Liability Attorneys
If you or someone you love has sustained an injury due to a defective product, our attorneys may be able to assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve. In general terms, these laws state that manufacturers and suppliers can be held responsible for any injuries that result from defects in the design, manufacture, or marketing. Depending on the nature of the defect, claims can be filed against any or all parties involved in the creation of it or its transfer to your possession, from the parts manufacturer to the retailer who sold it to you
Often, it is not necessary to show negligence or the failure to exercise due caution on the part of the defendant in order to present a strong case. We must, however, be able to demonstrate that the product was in fact defective, and that this defect made it unreasonably - and unpredictably - dangerous to use for its intended purpose. It is also vital to your case that your injury was not the result of deliberate misuse or alteration of a product and that you did not ignore clearly labeled warnings of potential dangers. A design defect is a flaw that can make it inherently unsafe from the point of conception. In most of these cases, the designer must be shown to have been negligent, ignoring safer alternatives in the commission of a clearly unsafe product. A manufacturing defect occurs when the assembly or creation of a product or its parts fails to meet the specifications of the designer. Such cases generally do not require evidence of specific negligence, as the defect is considered ample evidence of negligence in and of itself. Indeed, in cases involving manufacturing defects, the burden of proof often rests with the defendant rather than the plaintiff, one of the rare instances in which this is true. Finally, a marketing defect usually involves the failure to disclose information about the potential dangers as well as incomplete or inadequate labeling.
Of course, not everyone who is injured by a product necessarily has a case. Some are unsafe by nature, and no reasonable alternative exists. However, if you have been injured and are unsure whether you have a valid liability claim, you would be well advised to contact an attorney immediately.
Premises Liability Attorneys
If you are invited to enter upon someone's property either by express or implied permission, the owner of that property has the legal responsibility to maintain safe conditions according to a standard of reasonable care. When the owner fails either to meet this standard or to provide warning for potentially unsafe conditions, he or she is liable for any injuries that occur as a result. This is true whether the property is commercial or private.
The most essential component of one of these cases is the ability to demonstrate that the owner of the property was indeed negligent in ensuring the safety of those invited onto the premises. For example, if you slip and fall on a wet floor in a grocery store, and there was no clearly visible sign present alerting you of this potential hazard, the owner of the store is liable for any injuries you sustain as a result.
Insurance Bad Faith
Insurance companies are businesses, and like other businesses, their primary goal is to maximize profits and preserve their own best interests. One of the ways they accomplish this by trying to minimize the amount of money they pay on claims filed against them when one of their clients is liable for damages to a "third party" (that is, someone not covered by the company in question). Although they are legally responsible for covering such claims up to the specified dollar amount agreed upon in their contract with the client, they often reach settlements worth substantially less. Many times, these unfair settlements arise out of the third party's eagerness to avoid going to court. In any event, it is always best to understand your legal options before agreeing to a settlement with the company. You may be entitled to far more than they might suggest.
Electrical Injuries
It is easy to take electricity for granted. Millions of people use electricity in some capacity during virtually every moment of every day, without incident or reason to question its safety. However, thousands of people each year are seriously injured or killed due to shocks, fires, and electrocution that can result from electrical accidents. When these accidents are caused by the negligent disregard to enforce and maintain reasonable standards of safety, the injured party is entitled to compensation from the responsible party.
Handgun Litigation
Sadly, gun violence has steadily increased over the years, with both victims and assailants becoming younger as guns become more easily accessible. In such an age, the issue of liability in gun crimes is being tried, tested, and hotly debated in the courts. In 1998, Jerry R. Palmer established himself as a pioneer in handgun litigation when the Kansas State Supreme Court ruled in favor of his client, thereby establishing that the owners of guns must exercise the highest degree of care in protecting their weapons from unauthorized use (Long v. Turk, 265 Kan. 855). This landmark ruling helped to redefine the extent to which parents are liable for safeguarding weapons from their children, setting precedents that are impacting gun litigation the United States to this day.