You Have Just Been In a Car Accident … What Should You Do?

If you’ve ever been in a serious car accident you know it is a rattling experience. As personal injury attorneys at Lake of the Ozarks, we have worked with numerous victims of car accidents, and we know the moments right after the crash can be confusing, to say the least. We hope you never experience a car crash of any kind, but if you do, we know that you will be better prepared at the time if you are able to think about it proactively. So we wanted to spend today’s blog talking about what to do immediately after a car crash. If you would like to learn what to do if you’re ever in a car accident, just keep reading.

Assess the Situation for Safety

The first thing to think about is safety. First, see if everyone is OK and if they need help. Then, you want to avoid getting hurt or causing a secondary accident. If you are able to safely move vehicles off the roadway, you should do so as soon as possible. If you’re not able to drive your car, then call a tow truck immediately. If you have to wait at the side of the road for the tow truck to arrive, do not wait in your vehicle. Stand as far away from the roadway as you can, and pay attention to traffic.

Call Emergency Responders

It is important to let the police know there’s been an accident, and file a report. It is also important to get an ambulance on the scene if someone is injured or needs medical attention. Both will help document any injuries sustained and allow details to be recorded while they are fresh in your memory.

Take Pictures and Notes

The more you can document what happened at the scene, the better. Take pictures of the scene, and take notes on what happens, what you witnessed, any other conditions that may have contributed to the accident such as weather, traffic, road hazards, etc. It’s also a good idea for you to ask for a copy of the police report to keep for your own records and to share with your insurance company. Keep in mind it may take a few days before that report is finished.

Call Your Insurance Agent

Calling your insurance company will be step one to getting your claims process started. They will be able to direct you on the following steps to take. You will want to call your insurance agent as soon as possible.

Know Your Rights

Gibbons Law Firm we want you to know that you do not have to go it alone. There are probably a lot of things going through your mind right now and a lot of questions about how you’re going to recover from your injuries and get back to your normal life. We don’t want the added stress of medical bills and potential court battles to distract you from your healing. Our law office at the Lake of the Ozarks is ready and able to be on your side and guide you through the process to get the compensation you deserve and need.

If you’ve been in a car accident at Lake of the Ozarks, we are here for you. Your first consultation is free and well worth your time to get answers to your questions and learn what your rights are. Gibbons Law Firm is dedicated to looking out for victims of serious car accidents, and we are here for you too. If you would like to hear more tips and information from our Lake Ozark law firm, be sure to follow us on social media! We have links to our channels below.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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7 Easy Tips to Avoid Getting Distracted Behind the Wheel

We all know that distracted driving can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. The difference is, a lot more people justify driving while distracted and do it even though they know it’s dangerous. At Gibbons Law Firm we know that it only takes a fraction of a second to cause a devastating accident. Being injured in a serious car accident at Lake of the Ozarks can be life-changing, so if there’s anything we can do to avoid it, it is well worth the effort. Our personal injury attorneys in mid-Missouri are fully aware of this, so we wanted to take some time today to talk to you about distractions to avoid while driving. Keep reading to learn how to keep yourself and others on the road safe and focused with these common-sense tips.

1) Get Set BEFORE You Go

Even if you’re in a hurry, it really doesn’t save any time to try to do things while you’re driving. Get your GPS set, adjust things like your mirrors or heater/AC and radio, put on your seatbelt, and have everything in place and ready for your drive before you start the car.

2) Secure Items

Make sure that the items you are carrying in the passenger area of your car are secure and won’t roll around as you turn curves or if you have to stop suddenly. Reaching for an item that is falling while you’re driving can be extremely dangerous. But it is almost instinctive. It is best to make sure things are secure before you get on the road.

3) Eat In

Trying to eat, especially messy foods, while driving can become a huge distraction. For example, spilling food or a drink in your lap or floorboard may cause you to serve as you react. You may feel you track just fine driving with your knee, but if you had to make an evasive maneuver you will be at an obvious and dangerous disadvantage. For these reasons and more, if you are hungry, skip the drive-through and eat in. 

4) Technology

Technology can be great and actually make life safer, but it can also be a distraction. Avoid using your cell phone, even hands-free, while driving down the road. Now is definitely not the time to check your messages, check in on social media, or watch a video, etc.

5) Keep Your Eyes On the Road

That includes watching the sides of the roads, all traffic in intersections, and basically being aware of all your surroundings and potential dangers. You have heard of active listening, think active looking! The more you pay attention the earlier you are likely to see a hazard and the more time you will have to react and avoid it.

6) Avoid Multitasking

If you find yourself saying “I’ll do that on the way there”, you are probably setting yourself up for distraction. Taking notes, making phone calls, doing personal hygiene, are all in competition with your driving. Your mind and your motor skills should be dedicated to operating your vehicle, and nothing else.

7) Don’t Drive While Drowsy

Falling asleep at the wheel can be deadly, for you and others. It is so easy to underestimate, but by the time you notice you are nodding while driving down the road, you’ve probably been doing it much more than you realize. That means you’re extremely close to falling asleep while driving and need to rest and refresh before driving further.

Safety First!

We know this is common knowledge and common sense, but so many people forget or ignore the dangers. If anything is so important that you have to take care of it while you’re driving, just pull over. Give your full attention to that task, and then get back to driving. It is not worth causing an accident. As personal injury attorneys in central Missouri, we see how devastating serious injuries can be for our clients. If we could go back and keep them from being injured in the first place, we sure would. 

We hope you appreciate these tips and that they help keep these things top of mind as you make your daily drives. If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, we don’t want you to feel alone. It is so important that you know your rights, and that is why we offer free initial consultations. If you have questions, reach out to us. We are here for you. If you would like to stay informed with all the latest news and tips from Gibbons Law Firm, be sure to follow us on social media using the links below.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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Starting a Business? Gibbons Law Firm Can Help!

By the time someone is ready to start their own business, they have usually gone through a pretty long and intense thought process about the products or services they will offer, how to make it profitable, how to market and brand the business, etc. While organizing all of those important elements, it is also a very good idea to have a business law attorney in central Missouri to help you with the legal aspects. There are a number of important legal decisions to be made when you’re setting up your business, and legal liabilities that you want to avoid when you run your business. Having a trusted attorney with a background in business law at Lake of the Ozarks can make life much easier and keep you more protected when you start your business. At Gibbons Law Firm we are as skilled and passionate about the legal aspect of your business as you are about the business itself. So keep reading if you would like to learn 5 things to consider when starting your own business to keep yourself legally protected.

1) Business structure

Understanding the difference between a sole proprietorship, an LLC, and an S corporation is important when deciding how to structure your business. An attorney with a background in business law can look at your particular situation and help you decide how to structure your business based on the level of protection that comes with that business type.

2) Organizing money

It is advisable that you keep your personal finances and your business finances separate, even if you are a sole proprietorship. If ever your business is audited, you could open up having all of your personal accounts reviewed as well as your business, if your accounts are not kept completely separate.

3) Outside accountant

Even if you are comfortable and experienced in doing your own bookkeeping, it is advisable to have an outside accountant at least review your books. Just as you are an expert in your field, accountants stay up-to-date on any changes in laws and regulations and have a much deeper bank of knowledge when it comes to how to protect your business and keep proper records. 

4) Update contracts

You may have contracts between you and your clients, between you and vendors, and even between you and partners. Having those contracts drawn up or at least reviewed by a skilled attorney at Lake of the Ozarks can help ensure that the contracts are done properly and are legally binding. But it’s not enough just to have legal advice when they are drawn up initially. Contracts need to be reviewed periodically to make sure they stay up-to-date and don’t allow any loopholes or vulnerabilities that could hurt you and your business.

5) Documentation

When in doubt, write it down. The better you document and keep records the better it will be in the event that you have a dispute or lawsuit. Keeping excellent records when it comes to hiring and firing is a good example. It is also important to keep good records when it comes to contracts with your customers, outsourcing marketing, pretty much any agreement. With good documentation, it’s easier to prove your side in a conflict with the paperwork that you have.

Gibbons Law Firm is here to help with all of your business legal needs!

Our attorneys in Lake Ozark have the background and experience as well as the passion to look out for you and your business venture. At Gibbons Law Firm, we appreciate entrepreneurs and all they bring to our society, and we like to be able to look out for them so they can continue to look out for us. If you are thinking about starting your own business, we would love to talk with you and help you through the process. Your first consultation is free, so give us a call today! If you would like to hear more news and legal tips from Gibbons Law Firm, we invite you to follow us on social media using the links below.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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Family Law Services – Ways Gibbons Law Firm Can Help

As a family law attorney at Lake of the Ozarks, Roger Gibbons has helped families through a number of difficult legal situations. Some happy, some sad, but most of them emotional. He understands how important the situation is to his clients and the children involved. He works hard to communicate and diffuse emotions and help his clients arrive at the best possible outcome for the given situation at hand. Today’s blog is written to share with you some of the different ways Gibbons Law Firm can help when you are in need of family legal services.

Adoption.

When most people think about adoption, they tend to think about how heartwarming it is to see a child be part of a loving home. But the process for the adopting parents can be one of angst and suspense. When you have an experienced family law attorney to help you through every step of the process, fear of the unknown can be reduced. When you hire Gibbons Law Firm you are able to walk confidently knowing your adoption attorney at Lake of the Ozarks is not new to this process and is there to look out for you and the child you are adopting.

Prenuptials and Post Nuptials

Prenuptials and post-nuptials are becoming much more common in today’s marriages. This is especially true with blended families when the couple already has teenage or adult children from a previous marriage. Although it might feel like an awkward topic, Gibbons Law Firm makes it an easy process and is familiar with the things you might want to consider when it comes to prenuptials or post-nuptials at Lake of the Ozarks.

Parental Rights

Sometimes there may be a need to establish or terminate parental rights in a family, and that is also something that our family law attorneys in central Missouri can help with. If a father is not married to the mother of his child, she will have full custody until he establishes paternity. It is highly recommended that you have an effective family law attorney to help you through that process. On the other hand, termination of parental rights is something a family must sometimes pursue. This is a very sensitive situation and has a huge impact on the children in the family. If a parent has become abusive, or the home situation is so neglectful or dangerous, the other parent may hire a skilled attorney to help. Termination of parental rights requires very specific criteria, and our ability to investigate and negotiate cases at Gibbons Law Firm can be a significant asset to our clients dealing with this heartbreaking situation.

Divorce

A large part of the work we do in family law is triggered by divorce. If one or both spouses believes the marriage is beyond repair and decide that divorce is the best way to move forward, it is highly recommended to have a family law attorney help with the details. Decisions will have to be made regarding child custody, child support, division of assets and liabilities, and potentially spousal support. A knowledgeable attorney that is adept at listening, negotiating, and diffusing, can make the process much more productive.  Having an attorney that is willing to litigate when necessary, can also make the outcome more successful.

Communication - Caring - Dedication

That is what Gibbons Law Firm is all about. When it comes to family law in central Missouri, we respect the fact that the outcome is important, not just to our client, but to the children involved especially. We believe that a family deserves the legal advice and counseling they need in these difficult times in order to make such life-changing decisions. We are here for you to answer your questions, and see how we can help. Feel free to call us and schedule an appointment. Your initial consultation is free. To hear more legal tips and information from Gibbons Law Firm, you can follow us on social media using the links below.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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