Our Blog
Hasbrook & Hasbrook is committed to providing you the latest in personal injury law.
Scroll through our blogs below to learn more about everything from the latest legal news to important safety tips.
More Than 6% of Young Adult Drivers Say They Text ‘All The Time’ A recent national survey indicates an encouraging 20% decline in the number of drivers who have texted... Read More |
Almost 7% of Drivers Text “All The Time” Texting While Driving Most Common Among 25-34 Year Olds A recent national survey by Hasbrook & Hasbrook found that 28% of drivers have... Read More |
Are you involved in the life of senior adults? Are you in a helping profession that works with seniors? Do you have seniors in your family? Are you a senior... Read More |
According to government statistics, more than 150,000 people were involved in Oklahoma car accidents in 2014. That’s about one out of every 25 Oklahoma residents. Unfortunately, figures like these mean... Read More |
If you’ve visited our legal blog before, you may have seen our article about whether you need an insurance company to settle a car accident claim. This time, we’re shifting... Read More |
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as many as 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs annually. A troubling statistic is that with 60% of these victims are... Read More |
All types of dogs — including, as we’ll discuss, some unexpected culprits — are capable of inflicting nasty, sometimes life-threatening bite wounds. However, some breeds pose a greater threat than... Read More |
Being negligent means failing to exercise due care in order to avoid causing a preventable accident. When an Oklahoma driver causes a crash by being negligent — for example, sending... Read More |
After you are injured in a car accident, you are likely to have large medical expenses. However, if you were not responsible for the crash, you may not be responsible... Read More |
Summer is the perfect time of year to hop on your bicycle and enjoy the local scenery. But before you do, remember to put on a helmet. While Oklahoma doesn’t... Read More |
Boating on Lake Thunderbird is a fun way to spend time with your loved ones while enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature. However, serious injuries can occur when boat operators... Read More |
Many car accidents don’t result in injuries. This fact is evident in the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office’s most recent accident report, which lists 45,065 out of Oklahoma’s 68,327 total crashes... Read More |
The rotator cuff isn’t a single body part. It’s actually made up of four separate muscle groups that work together to allow a range of motion in your shoulder. When... Read More |
No two car accidents occur under identical circumstances or have identical outcomes. That means no two settlements are identical, either. Even within the same state, settlement amounts can vary hugely. ... Read More |
Most car accidents are caused by negligent driver errors like speeding, ignoring traffic lights, or driving while intoxicated. If you were injured in a crash or collision that was caused... Read More |
You already know that cars have huge differences when it comes to factors like speed, size, and safety. But did you know that there are also huge differences in the... Read More |
Some car accident injuries, such as lacerations and broken bones, are immediately obvious from a quick glance at the victim. However, internal injuries and internal bleeding can’t be recognized so... Read More |
Car accidents are capable of breaking bones, crushing appendages, and severing limbs. But while a catastrophic injury is immediately obvious to the victim, some very common types of car accident... Read More |
Our Oklahoma City car accident lawyers have helped numerous crash victims get compensated for their medical bills, income losses, and pain and suffering. Calculating compensation for financial losses is fairly... Read More |
Supplemental Security Income, commonly called SSI, provides critical financial support for thousands of Oklahomans and millions of Americans throughout the U.S. An Oklahoma City car accident settlement can impact your... Read More |
Elder abuse and neglect are reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting an estimated one out of 10 senior citizens. The list of potential nursing home violations and health... Read More |
Negligence means failing to take the precautions that are necessary to avoid a preventable accident. When a driver causes a car accident by being negligent – for instance, by playing... Read More |
A soft tissue injury is an injury that affects muscles, ligaments, and tendons — essentially, tissue other than bone. Whiplash, a soft tissue injury of the neck, is extremely common... Read More |
Whiplash is a controversial injury. Claims adjusters frequently argue that whiplash “isn’t real,” yet according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Americans file more car accident claims for whiplash... Read More |
An Oklahoma car crash victim can seek compensation by suing the driver who was at fault for the collision. However, the accident victim may be required to go through a... Read More |
Most people associate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with aging or cold weather. But did you know that RA can also be caused or aggravated by a traumatic injury, such as an... Read More |
It’s a situation that unfolds on roads across America every day. A driver is minding their own business, traveling down a quiet street, when suddenly it happens – a loose... Read More |
There are lots of myths about auto insurance. One of the more famous is that men pay more on average than women. But is that really true? And if so,... Read More |
A car accident can cause debilitating back and spinal injuries, including a curvature of the spinal column known as scoliosis. If you or one of your loved ones recently suffered... Read More |
The sooner you begin the process of making an insurance claim after a car accident, the sooner you will have the opportunity to recover the compensation you deserve. But acting... Read More |
In no-fault states, it does not matter which driver causes an accident: under most circumstances, injury victims are compensated by filing a first-party claim with their own insurer. However, Oklahoma... Read More |
It goes without saying that car accidents are capable of causing debilitating injuries. Human bodies simply aren’t designed to withstand the tremendous forces exerted by collisions, particularly at high speeds.... Read More |
Bars, restaurants, and liquor stores have a duty not to sell alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons. Vendors who ignore this responsibility and go ahead with a sale may be liable... Read More |
There are obvious health reasons for seeing a doctor after a car accident. But not only is prompt care important to your health – it’s also important to your insurance... Read More |
Oklahoma is a “fault” insurance state, which means that if you ever get hurt in a car accident, the driver who caused the crash or collision may be responsible for... Read More |
Regardless of whether they are drivers or passengers, vehicle occupants may pursue compensation for crash injuries caused by reckless, negligent, or illegal actions, such as driving through a red light.... Read More |
Most people rely on insurance to help pay for the costs of a car accident. However, according to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), approximately 13% of all U.S. motorists —... Read More |
As we wrote about in a previous article, there can be serious drawbacks – and hefty financial penalties – to driving without insurance in Oklahoma. However, while it’s crucial to... Read More |
It may sound far-fetched to suggest that certain months, days, or hours could be more dangerous for driving, but crash statistics indicate otherwise. Our Oklahoma City car accident lawyers combed through... Read More |
After an automotive accident, there are a lot of questions that need answers. Drivers may find themselves asking, how expensive will it be to repair or replace my damaged vehicle?... Read More |
After an Oklahoma City car accident, there are two parties you may be required to notify: law enforcement, and your insurance company. But how do you know when it’s necessary... Read More |
The U.S. Department of Transportation contains an agency called the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), whose function is to research automotive safety issues in the interest of reducing accidents. ... Read More |
During the 1990s, conventional wisdom said the rear seat was the safest seating position for child car passengers. Then again, conventional wisdom during the 1940s said that cigarettes were good... Read More |
After you’ve been injured in a car accident in Oklahoma City, there are dozens of problems to deal with. You’ve got to call your insurance company, call your employer, budget... Read More |
Nothing could be more devastating than losing a spouse or family member to a fatal car accident in Oklahoma, especially if the crash was caused by the other driver’s careless... Read More |
Preparing to bring your baby son or daughter into the world is a joyous time for any new parent. But when a pregnant mother is injured in a car accident... Read More |
Needless to say, the recovery period for a broken bone resulting from an car accident will depend on factors like the location of the injury, the severity of the injury, and... Read More |
As we’ve often discussed on our legal blog, if a person is injured in an automotive accident, an Oklahoma City car accident lawyer may be able to help them obtain compensation for... Read More |
Even a low-speed car accident can cause debilitating back injuries, some of which may ultimately require one or more surgeries to repair or alleviate. In this article, an Oklahoma City car... Read More |
If the police pull you over on an OKC metro area street or highway, what are your legal rights? What should you do — and not do? Here is your... Read More |
When a person is injured in a car accident in Oklahoma City, he or she has two options for recovering compensation: file an insurance claim, or sue the driver who... Read More |
You paid for your groceries, left the store, and headed across the parking lot. That’s when you saw it: the giant dent in your new car. It’s a stressful, aggravating... Read More |
If you’re a regular reader of our legal blog, you might remember our article about new lane change laws adopted by Oklahoma City last fall. Under the new law, drivers... Read More |
No one enjoys going through the hassle of getting insured, but the consequences of driving without insurance – which happens to be illegal – might make you think twice. This... Read More |
Between medical bills, vehicle repairs, property damage, and taking time off of work due to injuries, the cost of a car accident in Oklahoma can be truly enormous. According to... Read More |
In this article, our Oklahoma car accident lawyers will explain when drivers are required to report accidents to law enforcement, and discuss how police reports are used in personal injury... Read More |
The idea of a “memory care center” is great in theory. A facility designed, equipped and staffed to meet the special needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms... Read More |
Most residents of assisted living centers experience a gradual decline in their physical and cognitive health. When an assisted living facility allows a resident to stay even when the facility... Read More |
In order to recover compensation for severe injuries suffered in a car crash, the plaintiff must be able to prove the defendant was at fault. But what happens if both... Read More |
There are many terms to describe the various kinds of long-term care available in Oklahoma for senior adults, Alzheimer’s patients and patients with other types of dementia. What is the... Read More |
Being told you have cancer is some of the worst news any patient can ever have to hear from their doctor. However, the earlier a patient learns about their cancer,... Read More |
Texting while driving is against the law throughout the state of Oklahoma, effective Nov. 1, 2015. The law prohibits drivers on any Oklahoma street or highway from typing a text,... Read More |
Hopefully, you will never be involved in a car crash. Unfortunately, the statistics don’t paint an optimistic picture. According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO), there were an astonishing... Read More |
This is the final installment of a four-part blog series on tipped employees, the minimum wage, and how some tipped employees are being ripped off by their employers. Read More |
About one year ago, in October 2014, we published an article about the frequency of drunk driving accidents in Oklahoma. At that point in time, the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office... Read More |
There are many ways an employer can take unfair advantage of a tipped employee. These practices are against the law. Workers who earn some of their regular income in tips... Read More |
In less than seven weeks, a new child car seat law goes into effect in Oklahoma. I encourage parents and other drivers to begin following the new requirements now, which... Read More |
The CDC reports that reckless driving is one of the top 10 causes of car accidents among teenagers. However, it isn’t only teenaged drivers who have to be concerned. Reckless... Read More |
Coffee is America’s favorite breakfast beverage for a reason: you can’t function properly when you’re tired. You start to forget important information. Your physical reaction time is slowed down dramatically. ... Read More |
One of the most complicated aspects of federal and state minimum wage laws for tipped employees in Oklahoma is the “tip credit.” A “tipped employee” under the wage and hour... Read More |
If you are a “tipped employee” in Oklahoma, is your employer treating you fairly under federal and state minimum wage laws, or are you being ripped off? If you earn... Read More |
Motorcycles are a beloved American icon, representing the rebellious spirit of the open road. Unfortunately, the same qualities which motorcycles are prized for – the speed and freedom they offer... Read More |
Cell phones and smartphones have opened up worlds of information. However, they’ve also had a negative effect: an increased number of automotive accidents caused by distracted driving. In an effort... Read More |
Is there a cap on how much can be awarded? I did a brief survey recently of what some other law firm websites in Oklahoma say about caps on medical... Read More |
There are more than 300 nursing homes in Oklahoma. Which ones are at the absolute worst? Which ones are way down at the bottom of the barrel when it comes... Read More |
What is the statute of limitations in Oklahoma for a person who was sexually abused as a child and wants to bring a lawsuit against the abuser? It may be... Read More |
Can a gay or lesbian Oklahoman bring an employment discrimination lawsuit if that worker believes he or she has experienced workplace discrimination because of one’s sexual orientation? The short answer... Read More |
If you want a crash course on scams and frauds auto dealers like to pull on unsuspecting customers, a popular consumer site’s webpage devoted to Oklahoma’s David Stanley Dodge tells... Read More |
Also see Part 1: “What to Know When Your Car is Recalled.” Recalls of defective cars and trucks seem to continually be in the news, from the Takata airbag recalls... Read More |
Also see Part 2: “What to Do When Your Car is Recalled.” Takata Corp., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of airbags, last week expanded its airbag recall to include... Read More |
A recent report by Oklahoma Watch sounded the alarm that mandatory arbitration clauses are increasingly being required for admission into Oklahoma nursing homes. Oklahoma Watch is a non-profit investigative journalism... Read More |
The details surrounding high schooler Kacey Strough’s football-related brain injury are tragic. So many things happened to the student that parents and the public never want to see happen to... Read More |
Used car dealers don’t have the best reputation for fair dealing, and you certainly don’t want to get ripped off when you buy a used car or truck. How do... Read More |
When you are shopping for a new car or truck in the Oklahoma City metro area, how do you know whether the dealer is asking a fair price or trying... Read More |
A recent million dollar jury award against an Oklahoma City nursing home for negligence and abuse was good news not only for the family of an abused senior but for... Read More |
Three Young Oklahoma Lives Forever Changed Nobody can accuse us Oklahomans of being early adopters. My first thought about a bill passed this week by the Oklahoma House which would... Read More |
As a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen human tragedy, from gruesome traffic fatalities to heart-breaking medical malpractice to simple slip-and-fall liability cases. But when I was starting out ten years... Read More |
Few things are more traumatic to a nursing home resident than being evicted (“involuntarily discharged”). One source says the death rate increases significantly for nursing home residents who are abruptly... Read More |
Major pharmaceuticals treat the public as guinea pigs to test their drugs, accuses investigative reporter Martha Rosenberg. Except, unlike lab animals, the public pays billions for the privilege. Rosenberg takes... Read More |
Will a multibillion dollar jury award convince “big pharma” and other big businesses to be more honest about the risks associated with their products? Will the recent $10.5 billion Actos... Read More |
As a personal injury attorney, I often work with Oklahoma City-area clients whose lives have been turned upside down, not only by an auto accident or other serious injury, but... Read More |
* Question: How did tragic defects in GM cars come to the public’s attention? * Answer: The persistence of a Georgia attorney. General Motors has recalled 29 million vehicles this... Read More |
More than 800 lawsuits that claim that Lipitor has caused Type 2 diabetes are pending in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). That... Read More |
Oklahoma City has truly become a world-class city. An exciting place to live and work. During my life time, OKC has transformed itself from a run-of-the-mill state capital to a... Read More |
Oklahoma churches should take notice and be cautioned by a wrongful death lawsuit filed recently against a St. Louis area church and its youth program. The mother of a Missouri... Read More |
Former Edmond police officer Benjamin Northcutt reportedly plans to file a $1 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the City of Edmond. A jury acquitted Northcutt last week of a felony... Read More |
Business Owner Gets Work Release for 7th DUI Offense When a Washington business owner who is a repeat drunk driver was assigned to nights-and-weekends jail time after his seventh DUI... Read More |
Oklahoma, like every other U.S. state, has an Implied Consent law governing drunk driving and drugged driving. The law requires a driver to submit to a test of one’s blood... Read More |
Almost 7% of Drivers Text “All The Time” Texting While Driving Most Common Among 25-34 Year Olds A recent national survey by Hasbrook & Hasbrook found that 28% of drivers have... Read More |
If you work in the Oklahoma City area and have experienced workplace discrimination because of your pregnancy, you should know your rights under the law. The federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act... Read More |
Discriminating against pregnant workers is not only archaic and uncaring, it is a clear violation of federal and Oklahoma laws. That message may finally be getting through to employers. The... Read More |
I’d Like to Know Why I want to know what really happened with a recent bill that would have given Oklahoma nursing home residents much greater protections against abuse and... Read More |
I saw a local news report about this yesterday, but it has apparently been going on since last summer. I’m talking about a federally funded survey of drunk driving and... Read More |
Shoulder dystocia, an emergency that can occur during delivery of a baby, sometimes leads to a heartbreaking outcome. “Dystocia” means “obstructed childbirth.” Shoulder dystocia occurs when the head is delivered... Read More |
Company Expects to Pay Up to $1 Billion to Resolve All Litigation Things are heating up in about one thousand lawsuits pending in federal and state courts against Stryker Corp.,... Read More |
Some representatives of medical manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies think every lawsuit filed against them is motivated by greed, at the expense of progress in developing new devices and drugs that... Read More |
Safety group points to eight laws delayed for years in red tape. Republicans and Democrats in Washington often disagree about the proposals before them. But when a bill becomes law... Read More |
Closing arguments are being heard today in Las Vegas by the jury in the third Actos lawsuit to go to trial in the U.S. Allen Alsabagh v. Takeda Pharmaceutical began... Read More |
Living in a nursing home is not inevitable. As a matter of fact, only 2% of U.S. citizens from 65 to 84 are currently live in nursing homes, and only... Read More |
Popular culture has widely accepted the caricature of juries as ignorant and unreliable. Such thinking is certainly not new. More than 140 years ago, Mark Twain quipped: “We have a... Read More |
There are so many things to consider when selecting a nursing home. Picking a skilled nursing facility for yourself or a loved one is a huge decision, so make sure... Read More |
A nursing home Family Council can be a great resource for residents, their families and the nursing home itself. A Family Council is a group of relatives of the residents... Read More |
One of life’s most difficult rites of passage is the decision to move into a nursing home. Whether for oneself or for a loved one, it can be a heart-wrenching... Read More |
If you listen to the anecdotal evidence on the blogosphere about the hazards of Mirena IUDs, you may be dissuaded from using that particular form of birth control. Anecdotal evidence... Read More |
In the last two years, more than 3,000 lawsuits have been filed against Takeda Pharmaceutical over bladder cancer and other adverse effects which plaintiffs believe resulted from their use of... Read More |
I’ve heard of house parties to watch football games, promote political candidates, celebrate new babies and sell everything from Tupperware to cosmetics to home decor. But until recently, I had... Read More |
You may be a loving parent or a generous friend, but I recommend thinking twice before loaning your vehicle to someone whom you know is drunk, or has been drinking,... Read More |
Have large corporations stacked the deck in their favor when it comes to defending themselves against civil lawsuits? Pro-big business advocates work zealously to promote so-called “tort reform,” which seeks... Read More |
Looking for a Nursing Home? Two Online Directories Are Helpful Although we occasionally hear news reports about problems or lawsuits at poor nursing home facilities, many of Oklahoma’s nursing homes... Read More |
Actos, also called pioglitazone, is often prescribed to help control blood sugar levels in patients with Type II diabetes. In addition, Actos is used as a preventative diabetic medication for... Read More |
An Oklahoma City University law professor has raised the question: “Why do people dislike lawyers?” Andrew Spiropoulos, who teaches at OCU and is a fellow of the Oklahoma Council of... Read More |
You thought all journalists were bleeding hearts? New York Times reporter-columnist Joe Nocera proves otherwise. Nocera has actually come to the rescue of BP regarding the Louisiana oil spill and... Read More |
Premises Liability is legal liability for injuries which occur on your property. “Property” includes property you own or occupy (e.g., lease or rent), including the land and improvements on the... Read More |
If you have suffered an injury or damage and are considering a lawsuit, one crucial factor to be aware of is the statute of limitations. It is essential to file... Read More |
Spanish Cove, a retirement community in the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon, offers a good definition on its website of a “Continuum of Care” facility, also called a “Continuing Care... Read More |
Are Internet “link farms,” which attempt to game Google search results, a violation of the federal RICO Act? That’s what a Michigan law firm claims in its federal lawsuit against... Read More |
What is HIPAA? HIPAA stands for the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law enacted in 1996. The law has provisions governing health insurance and medical records. The... Read More |
When it comes to tort reform, some Oklahoma lawmakers are firm believers: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Gov. Mary Fallin and Senate President Pro Tem Brian... Read More |
What is a MIST case? A car accident that involves Minimum Impact and results in Soft Tissue injury. A soft tissue injury is an injury to one’s muscles, ligaments and/or... Read More |
A new law that allows nursing home residents and their loved ones to install video and audio recording equipment in a resident’s room to detect and deter abuse has been... Read More |
I recently talked with an accountant who works for a large hair products company. He said they recently were victims of counterfeit manufacturers making shampoo and conditioner that looked just... Read More |
A recent change in Oklahoma law means that people who smoke marijuana and then drive a motor vehicle even weeks later can be arrested and convicted for driving under... Read More |
Jim Calloway has provided a good recent review of the legal research tool, Fastcase. Calloway is director of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Management Assistance Program, and has been keeping us... Read More |
A federal database of hospital charges for common procedures was recently made public. The database reveals staggering differences in charges for the same treatments at various facilities, including huge disparities... Read More |
According to a recent article in the U.S. News and World Report, there are four main factors that families should consider when selecting a nursing home for their loved ones.... Read More |
We’ve been using TrialPad for the last couple of years and we’ve been really happy with how well it works. There are a couple other similar apps out there, but... Read More |
Recently, Silicon Valley pioneer Brett Bullington was involved in a serious bicycle accident in Oklahoma. According to a fellow cyclist, Bullington lost control of his bike while accelerating down a... Read More |
For those who have minimal contact with attorneys, hiring one can be a daunting task. Forbes offers several tips for hiring the best and most trustworthy attorney for your situation... Read More |
Experiencing a car accident is often one of the most stressful events a person will experience. After the physical and mental trauma of the accident itself has subsided, the often-confusing... Read More |
Today’s article is a guest blog post from the attorneys at Bisnar|Chase: Pain in the muscles, tendons, joints, or ligaments of the neck can be the result of a neck... Read More |
It’s a sad fact of life, but often, human beings treat each other pretty poorly. This can range from slights and snubs to racial or sex discrimination. It can also... Read More |
The Associated Press reported yesterday that “Only 1 in 5 malpractice claims against doctors leads to a settlement or other payout, according to the most comprehensive study of these claims... Read More |
I listen/watch a variety of podcasts and videos every week. I’m a fan of Wall Street Journal This Morning. I’ve listened to it off and on for about 6 months.... Read More |
Law.com has a good summary of a car accident case and whether or not Facebook postings are discoverable in accident cases. This hasn’t come up in any Oklahoma cases (yet).... Read More |
There are a TON of misconceptions when it comes to lawsuits. Car accident lawsuits are no exception. Here’s a few I’ve gotten lately: “The at fault driver’s insurance company paid... Read More |
Jonathan D. Glater at The New York Times wrote an interesting article on a study comparing settling cases vs. going to trial. The study was based on 2,054 cases that went... Read More |
Wow! The law firm I see on TV all the time has a really good spokesperson. Should I hire them? The decision to hire an attorney is an important one.... Read More |
Just about every car accident attorney offers a “free consultation.” What can you expect at this meeting? First off, it’s a a chance for you to evaluate if you get... Read More |
I found this recent article, Mediation Could Help Remedy Medical Malpractice Mess, and the comments following the article to be largely misguided. The article states/argues that mediation should be mandatory... Read More |
Los Angeles car accident lawyers have seen a plague of car accidents in California. These accidents range from cuts and bruises to more serious injuries that can be life threatening.... Read More |
Any attorney that has handled a case with someone under the age of 18 knows that a friendly suit needs to be filed – even to approve a settlement (if... Read More |
A while back I read Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. The book takes a look at snap judgments, the decisions we make in the “blink”... Read More |
I had a new client ask: “Are we going to have to file a lawsuit for my car accident? I don’t want the stress of having to go to trial.”... Read More |
Our firm switched to SaaS because it makes the tech side of things easier. It does everything the onsite software does, except it's easier to update, to implement, and it’s... Read More |
We used to run an on-site Microsoft Exchange Server for our email and calendars. It worked okay. Anytime we had problems with it though, we’d have to call our tech... Read More |
Personal injury attorneys are asked this all the time. I recently had a client, let’s call him Will, ask: “My back was killing me for several months, why isn’t my... Read More |
The standard attorney answer is that “it depends.” Here’s several reasons why it takes a while before a medical malpractice lawsuit is even filed: We first need to obtain your... Read More |
I was just reviewing my “Closed Files” list. Nearly all the cases ended with some type of settlement. A few of the cases were taken on and after “working the... Read More |
I just received an email with the question, “can you receive double medical coverage if you’re in an auto accident?” Here’s my email reply: I’m not sure what you mean... Read More |
“My back was killing me for over 3 months. Why isn’t my case worth more?” I had a client recently ask this. For simplicity’s sake, I’ll call him Bob. Bob... Read More |
I’m currently reading Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. The book takes a look at snap judgments and what we do in an instant. Gladwell also... Read More |
Fletcher Handley, an Oklahoma lawyer that practices mainly plaintiff’s personal injury and family law, recently penned a nice editorial for the El Reno Tribune. In his “Oklahoma shows no signs... Read More |
I just got off the phone with a current client. It looks like he may be moved into the “former-client” category. The client is obviously frustrated because he’s injured and... Read More |
Insurance companies and their lawyers use a variety of tactics to deny and limit recovery to personal injury victims. The two basic examples are: 1) Comparative Negligence – This is where... Read More |
Anthony Thompson over at the Law Office of Harold D. Thompson has a recent post on “Why Serious Accident Cases Don’t Settle.” Mr. Thompson lists: 1. Lack of Understanding–Parties will... Read More |
Despite having a relatively low population of about 3.9 million residents, there were close to 70,000 crashes in Oklahoma alone in 2014. These crashes caused hundreds of deaths and more... Read More |
Summer time means people are spending more time outdoors and that means people will be out taking advantage of the weather and riding all-terrain vehicles or ATV’s. These vehicles are... Read More |
The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) is a comprehensive resource for car accident statistics. Every year, OHSO publishes a series of reports on car crashes, motorcycle crashes, DUI accidents, car... Read More |
Lawn slides are a classic icon of summertime fun. These devices send children whipping at high speeds down slick sheets of plastic, almost like an instant waterslide for your yard. ... Read More |
The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) releases annual reports on when and where crashes occur throughout the state, revealing information about Oklahoma’s top 20 cities for fatal car accidents. In... Read More |
On May 3, 2016, images of a girl using the popular social media application SnapChat ran wild on the Internet. This picture showed a picture of the girl who was... Read More |
A few years ago, we wrote an article investigating the role of speeding in Oklahoma car accidents. At the time, we found that speeding was responsible for roughly a third... Read More |
Frankly, it’s easy to see how trampolines might lead to injuries. What’s more surprising is just how many injuries occur. If you’d dismiss trampoline accidents as rare occurrences not worth... Read More |
If you’ve been reading our legal blog recently, you may have seen some of our Oklahoma fireworks accident lawyers’ safety articles leading up to the Independence Day weekend. Unfortunately, thousands... Read More |
The City of Edmond’s Engineering Department has released a list of the 25 most hazardous intersections in Edmond, Oklahoma. You’ll probably guess a few of them in advance, while others... Read More |
Nothing says summer like grilling in the backyard. Summertime is a great time to fire up the grill and invite some friends over for a barbecue. With the holiday weekend... Read More |
Our Norman car accident lawyers review recent crash statistics to uncover the deadliest and most dangerous cities for Oklahoma drivers. Is your city on the list? You may be surprised. Read More |
Every year, the Oklahoma State Department of Health releases a detailed analysis of the “State of the State’s Health” (SOSH). The health analysis includes “report cards” that grade each county... Read More |
The May Avenue bridge over the Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City collapsed around 2:40 P.M. on Thursday, May 19, after being clipped by a semi-trailer truck that lacked enough clearance... Read More |
A recent NewsOK report questioned whether a plastic natural gas pipeline manufactured by Chevron Phillips Petroleum is to blame for a January explosion in northwest Oklahoma City that sent one... Read More |
I don’t like doing the “accident reporter” type blogs some injury attorneys do, but huffing on keyboard cleaner is just bizarre! According to a report filed by the Oklahoma City... Read More |
Every Oklahoma driver knows you are supposed to signal when changing lanes. But have you ever heard of anybody actually getting a ticket for failing to do so, or even... Read More |
Texting while driving is against the law throughout the state of Oklahoma, effective Nov. 1, 2015. The law prohibits drivers on any Oklahoma street or highway from typing a text,... Read More |
The Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature is calling upon state lawmakers to require more staff on duty during evening and night shifts at Oklahoma nursing homes. Read More |
In less than seven weeks, a new child car seat law goes into effect in Oklahoma. I encourage parents and other drivers to begin following the new requirements now, which... Read More |
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says accidents and fatalities involving semi-trucks are increasing in Oklahoma at an alarming rate. OHP has reported 574 accidents in Oklahoma involving semi-trucks in June, July... Read More |
Parents of Monroe Bird III, the Tulsa man who in February was shot in the neck by a security guard in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he... Read More |
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has reached a landmark settlement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that requires it to buy back about 200,000 Ram trucks and pay fines totaling more... Read More |
There is a lot of love out there in Oklahoma and across the nation for Ram trucks. The popular pickup trucks are branded as “real trucks” for “real truck drivers.”... Read More |
Owner Says Facility May Be Forced To Close Callaway Nursing Home in Sulphur may be forced to shut down because the federal government has terminated its certification to receive Medicare... Read More |
If you want a crash course on scams and frauds auto dealers like to pull on unsuspecting customers, a popular consumer site’s webpage devoted to Oklahoma’s David Stanley Dodge tells... Read More |
More Than 6% of Young Adult Drivers Say They Text ‘All The Time’ A recent national survey indicates an encouraging 20% decline in the number of drivers who have texted... Read More |
A recent million dollar jury award against an Oklahoma City nursing home for negligence and abuse was good news not only for the family of an abused senior but for... Read More |
In November, in an op-ed piece published in The Oklahoman at NewsOK.com, I chided the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for doing too little too late about the Takata airbag... Read More |
The government-sponsored system for rating and ranking nursing homes has been revamped. As a result of the change, about a third of the nation’s nursing homes have seen a big... Read More |
Three Young Oklahoma Lives Forever Changed Nobody can accuse us Oklahomans of being early adopters. My first thought about a bill passed this week by the Oklahoma House which would... Read More |
After another multimillion dollar jury award last week against the manufacturer of the diabetes drug, Actos, if you are an Oklahoma resident who has taken the drug and contracted bladder... Read More |
As a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen human tragedy, from gruesome traffic fatalities to heart-breaking medical malpractice to simple slip-and-fall liability cases. But when I was starting out ten years... Read More |
It is not too late for Oklahoma patients who have taken Lipitor to join the rapidly growing number of lawsuits across the country that allege that the popular cholesterol drug... Read More |
A federal panel will meet tomorrow to hear a plaintiffs’ motion that lawsuits about the blood-thinning drug, Xarelto, should be consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL). The U.S. Judicial Panel... Read More |
A recent study provides extensive new data about the prevalence of resident-to-resident abuse in our nation’s nursing homes. The study concluded that “inappropriate, disruptive, or hostile behavior between nursing home... Read More |
Oklahoma Car Crash Trends: Part 5 Speeding continues to be a major cause of traffic fatalities and injuries in Oklahoma. In 2013, 155 people were killed in our state in... Read More |
Dangerous automobiles, massive recalls, lawsuits alleging deaths and injuries, and complaints against government regulators. Just another month in the automotive industry. More than 16 million vehicles containing dangerous air bags... Read More |
Oklahoma Car Crash Trends: Part 4 Alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Oklahoma were down by a whopping 28% in 2013, according to data released recently by the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.... Read More |
Oklahoma Car Crash Trends: Part 3 Each of Oklahoma’s 678 traffic fatalities in 2013 was a tragedy that impacted the lives of family and friends. However, there is good news:... Read More |
Oklahoma Car Crash Trends: Part 2 If all Oklahoma drivers and passengers used seat belts and safety restraints and all motorcyclists used helmets, it is likely that several hundred deaths... Read More |
Oklahoma Car Crash Trends: Part 1 There are three groups of people who have a very personal motivation to advocate for reductions in traffic crashes and fatalities in Oklahoma: The... Read More |
Primary Problems: Low Wages, Absentee Owners An Oklahoma lawmaker issued a press release earlier this week deploring the poor conditions of Oklahoma’s nursing homes. State Rep. James Lockhart, member of... Read More |
The state of Illinois is considering legalizing the use of cameras and other recording devices in the rooms of nursing home residents. Purpose of the recording devices is to catch... Read More |
Six recent traffic deaths in the Oklahoma City metro area confirm some of the common factors that we know contribute to deaths on our local roads. Driving under the influence... Read More |
It is not known how many lawsuits have been filed so far in the U.S. by patients who have used the blood thinner, Xarelto, and have experienced life-threatening internal bleeding.... Read More |
At least six federal and state lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. this year claiming that four deaths as well as other serious injuries have been caused by the... Read More |
Will a multibillion dollar jury award convince “big pharma” and other big businesses to be more honest about the risks associated with their products? Will the recent $10.5 billion Actos... Read More |
Despite the May announcement of a $650 million settlement in thousands of lawsuits against the manufacturer of Pradaxa, few of the lawsuits have so far been resolved. More than 2,400... Read More |
Hundreds of new lawsuits against the manufacturer and the distributor of Actos continue to be filed each month. The number of federal lawsuits has grown to more than 3,700 cases,... Read More |
Oklahoma residents who have experienced tragedy due to an auto accident involving a General Motors vehicle should know that lawsuits being filed across the country allege that the accidents are... Read More |
For several months, General Motors has insisted that no more than 13 deaths have been proven to be connected to faulty ignition switches in GM cars. However, in a recent... Read More |
More than 800 lawsuits that claim that Lipitor has caused Type 2 diabetes are pending in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). That... Read More |
Many people in Bristow, a small Oklahoma town 30 miles southwest of Tulsa, will tell you their town is experiencing an alarming rate of cancers and death. The statistics do... Read More |
Oklahoma men and their loved ones who have filed lawsuits because they experienced heart attacks, strokes or other adverse effects after receiving testosterone treatments will likely find their cases transferred... Read More |
Is it something about Oklahoma City? Is it something about the month of May? Or is this pretty normal on OKC streets, and I’m just noticing for the first time... Read More |
Oklahoma women who have used a Mirena IUD and have experienced severe side effects should take note of the more than 1,200 federal and state Mirena IUD lawsuits now under... Read More |
A jury has awarded $9 billion in punitive damages against the pharmaceutical companies responsible for Actos, the diabetes drug which has been linked to bladder cancer. It is the largest... Read More |
Walmart, the nation’s largest employer of women, has changed its policy on accommodating pregnant workers. Its new policy is to provide “reasonable accommodations” for temporary disabilities caused by pregnancy. The... Read More |
As the number of lawsuits against manufacturers of testosterone replacement treatments continues to grow, two petitions to consolidate all testosterone cases before a single federal court have been filed with... Read More |
FDA Launches New Investigation of Testosterone Treatments Oklahoma City-area men receiving testosterone replacement therapy should take note of a recent study that links testosterone treatment to an increased risk of... Read More |
A recent study of more than 8,000 veterans with low testosterone found that the low-T vets who received testosterone replacement therapies had a higher incidence of heart attacks, stroke and... Read More |
SERIES: WHY IS OKLA’S TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE SO HIGH? (PART 4) Motorcycle deaths have a large impact on the total number of traffic fatalities occurring in Oklahoma each year. According... Read More |
SERIES: WHY IS OKLA’S TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE SO HIGH? (PART 1) Did you know that the rate of traffic fatalities in Oklahoma is almost twice the national rate? Why are Oklahoma... Read More |
A California jury has made an $11 million wrongful death award to the family of a man who died from mesothelioma, also known as “asbestos cancer.” The award comes after... Read More |
On the first day of the first federal Actos trial, which is under way this week in Louisiana, the judge made a crucial ruling on behalf of the plaintiffs: the... Read More |
MDL-875 is the consolidation of federal lawsuits from across the country of plaintiffs who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. It is the largest multidistrict litigation in... Read More |
Oklahoma ranks in the bottom third when it comes to traffic safety laws, according to a national traffic advocacy group. The group says Oklahoma needs stricter laws on seat belt... Read More |
Want to own an historic Oklahoma bridge? The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is giving away three such bridges. The giveaway is conditioned on a person or entity’s ability to relocate... Read More |
I came across an interesting online tool the other day that provides up-to-the-minute reports of OKC auto accident and fire department calls. The tool is called “Response Tracking,” and... Read More |
The FDA released results last month of a small survey it conducted of surgeons who have used the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. The survey brought to light the importance... Read More |
A federal judge has ordered Boehringer Ingelheim, manufacturer of the blood-thinning drug, Pradaxa, to pay a $931,500 fine for its failure to preserve or produce important documents sought by patients... Read More |
The number of lawsuits continues to grow against Fresenius Medical Care over deaths allegedly linked to the use of GranuFlu, a chemical compound used in dialysis for kidney patients. Many... Read More |
Closing arguments are being heard today in Las Vegas by the jury in the third Actos lawsuit to go to trial in the U.S. Allen Alsabagh v. Takeda Pharmaceutical began... Read More |
The manufacturer of the blood-thinning drug Pradaxa announced recently that it has developed an experimental antidote that causes an “immediate, complete” reversal of Pradaxa’s anticoagulating effect. Pradaxa is prescribed to... Read More |
A “toxic tort” is a lawsuit in which a plaintiff claims that exposure to a chemical caused serious injury or disease. The strength of the lawsuit often depends upon the behind-the-scenes “story.” For example, did... Read More |
Will It Stick? Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay almost $2.5 billion to settle about 8,000 lawsuits in which plaintiffs complained of serious problems caused by the company’s hip... Read More |
More than 430 Mirena IUD lawsuits are now in the works in federal and state courts across the country. Chief defendant in the suits is Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures... Read More |
Oklahoma nursing homes received an F grade from the “Nursing Home Report Cards” presented by a Florida-based nonprofit. The Nursing Home Report Cards averaged eight data points from the nursing... Read More |
UPDATE ON DEPUY HIP REPLACEMENT LAWSUITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY Thousands of lawsuits against DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, for failures of its DePuy ASR hip replacement devices... Read More |
More than 2,500 federal lawsuits are now pending against Takeda Pharmaceutical in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The total has grown by more than one... Read More |
“It’s mindboggling that two more children like Cameron are killed every week, yet the [Obama] administration is content to postpone doing anything about it. This isn’t some technical abstraction, it’s... Read More |
A Baltimore jury yesterday awarded $1.7 million to the family of a man who used the prescription drug Actos and subsequently died of bladder cancer. However, the judge in the... Read More |
More than three millennia after Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai on the other side of the world, God’s Top Ten is back in the news here in... Read More |
U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange on Thursday ruled that an amendment to the Oklahoma constitution that barred the use of Sharia law in Oklahoma courts violates the U.S. Constitution’s First... Read More |
Ever thought about taking part in The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain? Don’t want to travel that far? Then how about the upcoming bull runs in Houston, Dallas... Read More |
If you are an attorney in Florida, there is a good chance you are involved in litigation against “Big Tobacco.” Literally thousands of lawsuits related to smoking deaths are pending... Read More |
Hard candy has been popular going back at least to the 1600s. Lollipops go back to the Civil War era or before. Life Savers were introduced more than a century... Read More |
A 40-passenger church bus transporting a busload of teens and children home from church camp crashed in Indianapolis on Saturday. Three adults were killed and more than two dozen youth... Read More |
The 2011 plane crash that took the lives of two OSU women’s basketball coaches as well as the pilot and his wife has resulted in lawsuits against the pilot’s estate.... Read More |
The tragic roller coaster death that happened at Six Flags Over Texas on Friday raises many legal questions which may eventually be addressed in the courtroom. If it doesn’t get... Read More |
Oklahoma is one of only nine states that has no law specifically outlawing text messaging while driving. That should change. We take pride here in the Sooner State for walking... Read More |
Foreclosures are down in Oklahoma, according to RealtyTrac, which recently released statewide foreclosure statistics for the month of May. However, a RealtyTrac spokesperson said the results are skewed due to... Read More |
A 66-year-old woman admitted to a Tulsa care facility for rehabilitation after cancer treatment was kept in a straitjacket for more than 10 hours, giving medications typically used to treat... Read More |
A new law that allows nursing home residents and their loved ones to install video and audio recording equipment in a resident’s room to detect and deter abuse has been... Read More |
A federal agency has recommended lowering the legal limit for a driver’s blood alcohol concentration from the current 0.08 to a maximum 0.05. The proposed change is the first on... Read More |
The Transportation Department has extended to January 2015 the deadline for regulations that would require rearview cameras and screens in all cars and trucks. The new deadline means the law... Read More |
A hearing in a lawsuit against OSU Cowboys head football coach Mike Gundy has been reset for late July. The lawsuit was filed by a Choctaw man who claims Gundy... Read More |
A recent change in Oklahoma law means that people who smoke marijuana and then drive a motor vehicle even weeks later can be arrested and convicted for driving under... Read More |
Did you know Oklahoma City is “home to one of the largest undercover street racing rings in the nation?” I had never heard it, but that’s what the Discovery Channel... Read More |
Oklahoma’s controversial 2009 tort reform law has been declared unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court in a 7-2 ruling. However, measures in 2011 that capped non-economic damages and implemented other... Read More |
English: The image of Abercrombie & Fitch today. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) When Abercrombie & Fitch declined to hire a woman who wore a headscarf to her interview, the United States... Read More |
In a new lawsuit, consumers are alleging that Ford motor vehicles manufactured between 2002 and 2010 have a design defect that makes them susceptible to sudden acceleration. The lawsuit claims... Read More |
At just 22-years-old, Alesa Smith’s life was cut short after she was hit by a pickup truck while riding her bike. According to Mormon church officials, the accident occurred in... Read More |
Recently, the Oklahoma Senate Judiciary Committee approved Oklahoma Senate Bill 931, which would limit premises liability for agritourism professionals within Oklahoma. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ron Justice and... Read More |
The Ford Motor Company was recently dealt a major victory in a recent products liability lawsuit. In the case, the Virginia Supreme Court granted an important motion in limine that... Read More |
Beautiful Pit Bull (Photo credit: Tobyotter) Oklahoma Senator Patrick Anderson is currently proposing a law in an attempt to reduce the number of people who are bitten by dogs in... Read More |
According to recent reports, a man was fatally injured in Tulsa after crashing his motorcycle into a utilities truck. The crash occurred while the man was headed northbound on Peoria.... Read More |
On December 31, 2012, former American Humane Society (“AHS”) employee Barbara Casey filed suit for wrongful termination against the AHS, and additionally filed suit against HBO based on its... Read More |
Alli 120 capsule refill (Photo credit: Newbirth35) Alli is currently one of the most popular over-the-counter weight loss drugs available. According to a study discussed in Forbes, however, Alli may... Read More |
On December 24, 2012, New Jersey couple Brian and Jennifer Fox filed a lawsuit against drug manufacturing company Pfizer. The lawsuit alleges that popular antidepressant Zoloft causes birth defects when... Read More |
At least 115 of Oklahoma’s 308 nursing homes have serious deficiencies, according to a new online database. The database is based on government inspection reports, and tracks major outbreaks as... Read More |
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steven C. Anagnost will finally face the Oklahoma Medical Board. As The Oklahoman reports, the case against Dr. Anagnost has been pending for the past three years.... Read More |
Merely one day before his junior prom, seventeen-year-old Colton Kern died behind the wheel. Kern was at the Fairland High School helping to set up for prom when school officials... Read More |
According to The Tulsa World, the sheer number of medical malpractice judgments handed down in Oklahoma has hit a 10-year low. The number fell by 28 percent, from 159 payouts... Read More |
Nearly everyone has heard the terrible news story about Chad Perry and the bar fight at the Dan O’Briens Restaurant and Pub in Oklahoma City. Mr. Peery (his attorneys) filed... Read More |
I received a funny email last week from an old client. The email tells of the story of a “runaway verdict” in Oklahoma: This year’s runaway First Place Stella Award winner... Read More |
DFW’s Star-Telegram reported yesterday that the personal injury law firm, Trey Allen, P.C., was placed on probation and ordered to pay close to a million dollars in restitution for its... Read More |
Every summer, millions of Oklahomans fire up their grills for backyard barbeque parties. Many use propane grills, which, while cleaner than messy charcoal, can cause deadly explosions or burns if... Read More |
No Fourth of July weekend in Oklahoma would be complete without a dazzling display of fireworks. However, while fireworks are an iconic staple of Independence Day celebrations, they also cause... Read More |
The Fourth of July is a time when our nation comes together to celebrate its birth. The Fourth of July weekend is a time when many people meet with family... Read More |
Motorcycles are a beloved American icon, representing the rebellious spirit of the open road. Unfortunately, the same qualities which motorcycles are prized for – the speed and freedom they offer... Read More |
SERIES: WHY IS OKLA’S TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE SO HIGH? (PART 5) In a series of blog posts, I have been exploring the question: Why is the Oklahoma traffic fatality rate... Read More |
SERIES: WHY IS OKLA’S TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE SO HIGH? (PART 3) Speeding is the cause of almost a third of deaths on Oklahoma roads and highways, and the same is... Read More |
SERIES: WHY IS OKLA’S TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE SO HIGH? (PART 2) In a blog post yesterday, first of a series, I asked the question: Why is the Oklahoma traffic fatality... Read More |
Anyone who has had frequent involvement in teen car accidents takes every opportunity to warn teens and their parents about the dangers. That goes for first responders to the scene;... Read More |
You may be a loving parent or a generous friend, but I recommend thinking twice before loaning your vehicle to someone whom you know is drunk, or has been drinking,... Read More |
The July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs reports that about 40% of college students who are designated as “designated drivers” drink along with the students... Read More |
A federal agency has recommended lowering the legal limit for a driver’s blood alcohol concentration from the current 0.08 to a maximum 0.05. The proposed change is the first on... Read More |
Do you know what a drowning actually looks like? Do you know that depictions of drownings on TV and in the movies are nothing like the real thing? Oklahomans love... Read More |
An Oklahoman woman was recently killed when her car lost control in standing water. According to reports, the woman drove into the standing water too fast and hydroplaned. The vehicle... Read More |
In the wake of proposed legislation that would allow OklOklahoma municipalities to ban ownership of certain kinds of dogs, Oklahoman dog owners may be more interested than ever in... Read More |
Although only one-quarter of driving in the United States occurs after dark, death rates on the road are three times higher during the night. Typically, three factors combine to give... Read More |
Pressure sores can be painful and decrease the quality of life of the patients that live with them. Prevention of the sores is always the best solution but once they... Read More |