Lawsuit Finance Blog

Have you ever talked on your cell phone while driving? Eaten food? Read the newspaper? Read directions or a map? Blared your radio or iPod? Texted a friend or business associate? Carried on a conversation passengers? Shaved? Put on make-up? Combed your hair? Bent down to pick something up off the floor? Lit a cigarette? Ridden with a pet on your lap? O.K., perhaps we are over-killing this; you get the idea.

Driver distractions are nothing new, but auto accidents from driver distractions are on the rise. Every time we get into a motor vehicle and put it into motion, we begin to put ourselves at risk. Do we ever stop to think that the greatest danger to our safety may be ourselves? A split-second diversion of our attention can prove disastrous! Unfortunately, there is a high probability that driving distractions will continue to increase.

We recently posted an entry about the MyFord Touch; this technology equips vehicles with a high-tech dashboard for multimedia navigation and Internet capabilities. Add to that a TV, DVD player, navigation system, and other innovations, and our roadways are transformed into potential techno tragedy. Vehicles are becoming rolling offices and entertainment centers at the risk of our lives and those of others on our roads.

Driving requires full attention. Distractions are everywhere; it is the drivers’ responsibility to avoid them. Distractions, such as cell phones, have become so popular that many times we don’t realize when, where, and how often we are using these devices. They become a force of habit. Look around you the next time you are on the road (not for too long, this, too, is a distraction); it is easier to count those NOT talking on a cell phone than those who are.

Another dangerous distraction is eating while driving. Think of the steps you must take after leaving the drive-through window of your favorite fast food establishment. You take the food out of the bag, unwrap it, take several bites, put the wrapper in the empty bag; all of this activity and you haven’t touched the fries or drink yet!

And, what about the children or pets? Are you being driven to distraction with the kids fighting, crying, or talking loudly? Is the dog barking, roaming the car, or sitting on your lap? As our daily lives become busier and busier, many of us feel the need to accomplish something every moment of every day. Driving distractions reduce your awareness of the environment around you and has a negative effect on your driving performance. The next time you have the urge to "make the most" of your driving time, remember you control a vehicle that weighs more than one ton. It has the capacity to cause serious injury or death. Focus on the road, pay attention, and expect the unexpected. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, and just drive.

Lawsuit Financial is a strong advocate of safe driving; we will continue to comment on the risks of distracted driving. Our goal is to encourage readers to stop talking on cell phones, stop texting, and/or stop engaging in additional activities that cause you to take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel. We hope that our readers will educate others to do the same. If you must use these techno devices, pull off the road. The few minutes could save a life, including your own.

Lawsuit Financial is one of the leading auto accident lawsuit funding companies in the country. We provide legal funding to personal injury victims who may be struggling financially while waiting for a lawsuit settlement. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an auto accident that was not your fault, and you are experiencing financial problems as a result, Lawsuit Financial may be able to help you. We will evaluate your case and if you qualify, provide lawsuit funding within 24 – 48 hours. So don’t jump to a quick settlement just to pay your bills. Call us at 1-877-377-SUIT (7848). The call is free; the advice is priceless.

Christine woke up prepared for a productive morning of business meetings and networking. She was the second to arrive at the local restaurant hosting the event, obtaining the first parking space. Less than five feet and she is at the door. But in that short distance, Christine found herself subject to a slip and fall accident. You see, the restaurant owner did not salt the parking lot and that five feet patch between her car and the restaurant door was covered in black ice. The interesting part of this situation is that is was not snowing, nor was it raining; no precipitation of any kind had fallen in days. A gentleman, attending the same event, came out and assisted Christine to stand and enter the building. An employee watched them enter, she made no comment or apology. It was recommended that she have someone salt their parking lot before the rest of the group arrived. Christine found herself in more pain as time progressed, but assumed with a little rest, she would be fine. If you have ever been in a slip and fall accident, you may know that, many times, the pain worsens before it improves. Christine is realizing that now.

Slip and fall accidents are quite common and a leading cause of customer injuries. The risks of outdoor injuries increase in the winter months. Slip and fall accidents frequently cause significant injuries - broken bones, fractures, back injuries, disk herniations, head injuries; the more serious injuries require medical attention, and long-term treatment. Some falls result in catastrophic injury, even death. The physical affects of the injury are only half the battle. How will your injury affect your daily life? What if you could not work or otherwise take care of your family?

Business owners have a responsibility to keep their premises, parking lot included, safe, free from debris, ice or other hazard. They have a duty to reasonably inspect the property for unsafe conditions, inside and out, and are required to either fix/repair the problem or give adequate warning/notice of the condition that may pose a risk of harm. Property owner common sense would avoid a situation like Christine’s.

Slip and fall accidents should never be taken lightly. They can have a major impact on a person for months, even years. Christine is suffering severe back pain. She may be fine in a few days, but she may need ongoing physical therapy. At this time, she really doesn’t know the full extent of her injuries. Failure to purchase or sprinkle some salt could change her life forever.

It seems clear that the restaurant owner, in Christine’s case, was negligent. This accident (most accidents) could have been prevented. If you or a loved one has suffered a slip and fall accident, it is important to contact an attorney to review your case. You may be able to pursue compensation for injuries, pain and suffering, loss of wages, and medical expenses. But, these types of accidents are sometimes difficult to resolve. Business owners and their insurance companies provide much opposition and delay tactics. These obstacles can often be as much of a burden as the injuries you suffer; disability often causes you to fall behind on important bills and obligations. Lawsuit funding is a service that helps tackle the financial hardship that injury victims endure as the result of the negligent conduct of others. Lawsuit funding is, typically provided contingent on the outcome of your case and is based only on your case. Your credit score, job status, delinquencies, etc. do not matter to the litigation funding provider. Lawsuit funding companies are looking only at the potential quality of your case and they please to assist you with you financial problems while your lawyer helps guide you through the long, difficult legal process. Lawsuit Financial is an example of an exemplary lawsuit funding company that can provide needed financial assistance in the form of slip and fall lawsuit funding, permitting you to meet your day-to-day financial obligations, while awaiting case resolution. We provide funding based on the merits of your case and in consultation with your attorney. If you win your case, you repay our principal and profit; if you lose your case, you owe us nothing. This is called non-recourse legal funding. If you are hurting, both physically and financially, the combination of a solid, professional lawsuit funding company and an experienced attorney (we will help you find one, if you need us to) you are a combination that the insurance companies will find hard to beat. For further information, please call us, toll free, at 1-877-377-SUIT (7848) or visit our website.

This summer, Ford is rolling out its MyFord Touch, a high-tech dashboard for multimedia, navigation, and Internet capabilities. Two features of the MyFord Touch system is the ability to make your car into a WiFi hotspot and HD radio with iTunes tagging support. The design replicates a traditional dashboard; everything is interconnected. Information is displayed on a pair of 4.2” full-color LCD screens on either side of an analog speedometer with five-way navigation buttons on either side of the steering wheel. This makes it easier to navigate different options. An 8” touch screen LCD at the top of the center console is the centerpiece of phone, navigation, climate, and audio/entertainment features.

Much of MyFord Touch is voice activated; this, in theory, would prevent the need to look down or to the driver's right, while driving. However, touch screens require a certain amount of concentration on the part of the user. In a moving vehicle, any diversion can quickly become a safety hazard. The smart design would certainly eliminate the need for the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel. But, what about keeping the driver's eyes on the road? Isn't this of equal or greater importance?

Ford says the system will respond, almost entirely, to verbal commands. The driver will talk to his/her Ford vehicle dashboard, and it will make calls, play songs, etc. The driver can hear stocks, emails, tweets, and texts. While we are certain that these verbal commands are intended to make drivers safer, they still result in distracted driving. The natural instinct to push buttons is firmly entrenched in many drivers who use cell phones texting devices, internet tools and other distracting technological devices

Is it time to embrace these technological advances or express concern about distracted driving? Watch this video and notice the number of buttons and screens. The video offers this disclaimer:

Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control. Only use mobile phones and other device even with voice controls when it is safe to do so.

Doesn’t the quoted language imply that Ford realizes that MyFord Touch may create distracted driving? Should we be adding more controls and gadgets to our vehicles, or should we be doing more to control distractions?

Lawsuit Financial strongly encourages its readers to stop talking on cell phones, texting, and/or engaging in additional activities that cause you to take your eyes off the road or yor hands off the steering wheel. Mobile phone, iPod, IPhone, and/or Blackberry useage, texting or internet devices used while driving are simply not safe. If you must use one of these devices during a trip, pull of the road for a few minutes; this simple act, though somewhat time consuming, may add precious minutes to your lifespan.

Lawsuit Financial is one of the country’s most experienced auto accident lawsuit funding companies. Our pro-justice legal finance professional staff has seen a strong upsurge in pre-settlement funding requests resulting from accidents caused by driver distractions We provide legal funding so a personal injury victim does not become financially desperate while waiting for a lawsuit to settle; after all, a financially desperate plaintiff is not a positive influence on settlement negotiations. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an auto accident that was not your fault; if you are experiencing financial difficulties as a result, auto accident lawsuit funding is available to assist you. Lawsuit Financial will evaluate your case for free and, if the case qualifies, provide lawsuit funding within 24 – 48 hours. Don’t jump to a quick settlement just to pay your bills. Contact us – your legal funding experts. Call 1-877-377-SUIT (7848) today. The call is free; the advice is priceless.

Following today's blog about texting while driving and Britain's graphic PSA on the subject comes news that the City of Palo Alto has settled an motor vehicle accident lawsuit for $1.5 Million.

The lawsuit was the result of a 2006 automobile accident caused by a city worker who ran a red light while reaching for his cell phone instead of keeping his eyes on the road and his hands on the steering wheel.

The plaintiff, Silvio Obregon, suffered unspecified "debilitating spinal injuries" caused by the negligence of city worker, Rubin Salas. I must presume Obregon suffers from some symptoms of quadriplegia or paraplegia; he was seeking $5 Million in the suit.

An assistant city attorney called the settlement "the largest we've had in a long time on a personal injury claim" but admitted that the amount was fair due to the severity of the injuries suffered by the plaintiff.

I post this for two reasons:

1. Please, dear readers; stop texting and driving; stop using or looking for your cell phone while driving. Stop engaging in any activities while you are driving that are unrelated to driving. Distracted driving seriously injures and kills thousands of people.

2. There is no "jackpot justice"; as the assistant city attorney (this is the guy that represented the defendant city) said in this case, the amount was fair because the injuries were severe. The average seven figure pay-out results from serious liability causing serious, catastrophic injuries or death. Don't listen to those who suggest that "tort reform" seeks to stop "frivolous" litigation. Capping damages is an attempt to reduce the value of serious injury caused by serious infractions of law. Reducing damage awards will make all of us less safe; there will limited consequence for the actions of seriously negligent people who seriously maim and kill you or your family members.

Would you want to be told that your life or the life of a loved one is worth a capped amount in a death case? That's what the tort reformers want. Would you want to be told that the loss of use of your lower extremities was worth a capped amount? What are the continued healthy use your legs and arms worth to you? How about those of your children or grandchildren? The tort reformers care only about business; they place profits over life, profits over good health, profits over safety, profits over people. Don't be fooled by the cries that the legal system needs correction. Your most important safety tool is the threat of a lawsuit with unlimited court access and a potentially unlimited recovery.

And please...stop using your IPhones, Blackberries, and other cell phone or texting devices while you drive. If you need to text or make a call, pull into the nearest parking lot, shopping center, or gas station; stop the car and make your call. Stay there until your call or text has been completed. You'll be on your way, soon. Drive carefully; keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Lawsuit Financial, the pro-justice lawsuit funding company will continue to support a nationwide ban on the use of these devices while operating a motor vehicle. If you or someone you love has been involved in a serious accident, with serious injuries and serious financial consequences, Lawsuit Financial can assist you and your family with strategic lawsuit funding. We provide the money you need now so that you can await the outcome you deserve later. You do not have to choose between your house and your case, your car and your case, food on the table and your case, or your kids' education and your case. Lawsuit Financial has provided millions in legal finance assistance to thousands of injury victims. Call us today, toll free, at 1-877-377-SUIT (7848) or visit our website. The call or the visit is free; the advice is priceless.

Three more states – New Hampshire, Oregon, and Illinois, have passed laws banning texting while driving. Nineteen states have now outlawed texting from behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. While the majority of Americans favor this law, some will continue to text and drive; this despite the fact that they aware of the fatalities. Somehow, knowing and appreciating the risks are separate and distinct.

The significant majority of these “risk-takers” are teens. If you are a teenager (or an adult, for that matter), please view (warning: it is quite graphic) Britain’s public service announcement on texting; this PSA drew worldwide attention. Anyone reading this post should view this important PSA, especially those of you who continue to text while driving. The spot features three teenage girls engaged in texting while driving and whose texting activities result in an horrific head-on collision with another vehicle. The camera lingers on three bloodied faces shattering the windshield, and, on the face of a crying child in the back seat of the "other car", whose parents (driver and front seat passenger) were killed instantly, crying and pleading for them to wake up. After viewing the PSA, will you continue to text and drive? Why is this activity so important to you that you are willing to risk your life? All of us have “it won’t happen to me” attitudes; I get that, but it does happen to people like you, every single day. If you persist in this dangerous activity, it could very well happen to you.

New technologies seem to arrive, daily; these technologies become central to our everyday lives. However, they can’t help you if you’re dead; they will only be useful if used safely, responsibly, and with minimal or no risks to you and to and others. Texting and cell phone use while driving are distractions that not only reduce concentration on driving, they often take your eyes off the road, and your hands off the wheel. Studies show that drivers who text while driving are six times more likely to be in an auto accident than those who don’t. Haven’t we heard this message over and over again? We hear of the fatalities and see the numbers, but we never actually see the graphic results. The British PSA is reality; do you want this to happen to you or your loved ones? When you don’t buckle your seatbelt, you put yourself at risk, but when you text and drive, you put everyone at risk. Texting while driving is similar to a blind person getting behind the wheel and driving 70 MPH down the freeway; in both cases there are no eyes on the road. Would you support a law permitting the blind to drive?

Whether your state has a law banning texting or not, please, we implore you, do not text and drive. If and when you are tempted to do it, “just this once”, remember the PSA. Retain this post or the video and watch as often as necessary. Please, take your fingers off the keyboards and put your hands on the wheels of your motor vehicles! Driving is not the time to “let your fingers do the walking.” It is time for all of us to focus on safe, distraction-free driving.

Lawsuit Financial, a leading provider of auto accident lawsuit funding all over the country and in your neighborhood, strongly supports a national ban on texting while driving. If you are one of the many people who have the misfortune of being involved in an auto accident that is not your fault, you are seriously injured or disabled and suffer serious financial setbacks as a result, auto accident lawsuit funding is available to assist you. If you are worried about paying bills and other financial obligations, contact us at 1-877-377-SUIT (7848) or visit us on the web. We offer free case evaluations and will often provide the lawsuit funding you need within 24- 48 hours. The call or the visit is free; the advice is priceless.

In the first days of a new year, make it your new year’s resolution to not text while driving. The life you save may be your own.