Dickerson Oxton - September 2021

Dickerson Oxton - September 2021

816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com

SEPT 2021

ANIMAL BITES

CAR ACCIDENTS

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

A Little Bit About Our Team

BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Appreciating Kahlie, Bailey, and Nicole

matter that I think few can claim. She’s a big dog and cat lover, and she has two teenage sons.

At our firm, we’re incredibly fortunate to have an incredible team to help us help our clients get the compensation they deserve following an injury. Without them, our office wouldn’t be the same. With Sept. 6 being Labor Day — a day created to celebrate workers and their hard work — I wanted to make sure they knew how much we appreciate them! We have three full-time employees who work for Tom and me: our associate attorney, Kahlie, and our two paralegals, Bailey King and Nicole King. It sounds like Bailey and Nicole are related, but they actually both just married men with the same last name.

BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Next up is Bailey. She grew up in a small town in Kansas in a big family and is also an incredibly hard worker. She joined our team at around the same time Nicole did, and before coming to our firm, she worked at another law firm that did collections work. She didn’t find the work there to be super fulfilling and has enjoyed switching gears at our firm to help us represent individuals, rather than creditors. We’re glad she decided to join us when she did! Like Nicole, Bailey also has a heart for dogs and cats.

BURN INJURIES

CONSTRUCTION INJURIES

Finally, we have our associate attorney, Kahlie. She is married and has

They joke that they are “work sisters.” Each of them are all super proactive with our clients, and while we do what we can to help them, their job isn’t always easy. That’s why day in and day out, we’re continually thankful for what they do. While we could just stop at praising them as a group, I thought it would be worth it to share with you a little bit about Kahlie, Bailey, and Nicole individually. That way, you can get to know them for the wonderful people that they are!

“Each of them are all super

two kids (one of whom she just had in February). She is originally from Kansas City and grew up in Lee’s Summit. She traveled nationally in law school, competing in various trial competitions. She has great

NURSING HOME ABUSE

proactive with our clients, and while we do what we can to help them, their job isn’t always easy. That’s why day in and day out, we’re continually thankful for what they do.”

SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS

litigation and trial experience from previous positions and from the last 4 1/2 years of working for us! Since we don’t always settle our clients’ cases, her trial experience has come in handy in the courtroom! When Kahlie is representing you, you always know you’re

BOATING ACCIDENTS

going to get the best outcome for your case.

First off, we have Nicole. She grew up in a small town in Missouri, and I think that her humble beginnings in that regard have also made her a really hard worker. She’s been working at our firm for about 2 1/2 years, and before she joined our team, she was a paramedic. Her medical background has made her the perfect fit for many of her responsibilities, including reviewing and requesting medical records. She has a familiarity with that subject

I hope that after reading this, you feel like you know our team a little bit better and are able to appreciate the tremendous work that they do. Next time you’re at our office, don’t hesitate to say hello!

TRUCK ACCIDENTS

–Chelsea Dickerson

PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES

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Did you know that a car wreck can happen without the vehicles involved even touching one another? If you find that hard to believe, consider the following scenarios that might cause you to swerve and crash without ever having come in contact with the vehicle at fault: What Is a No-Contact C AndWhat Do I Do if I’m Inv

Willie the Quaker parrot was a pretty remarkable bird. Like many parrots, he had a knack for mimicking certain sounds and words, including barking dog noises, human kissing noises, and a fair share of swear words. However, what made Willie a hero one day was not just what he said, but also when he said it. Meagan Howard, Willie’s owner, brought him over to her friend Samantha Kuusk’s house while she babysat Kuusk’s little daughter, Hannah. Hannah and Willie were both in the kitchen while Meagan prepared a Pop-Tart for Hannah’s breakfast. After placing the Pop-Tart on the table, Meagan stepped away to use the bathroom. While she was away, however, Hannah got her hands on the Pop- Tart and began to scarf it down, lodging a piece in her windpipe. She started choking and was unable to signal to Meagan that something was wrong. Luckily, Willie came to the rescue. Willie began squawking and shrieking, saying the words “Mama! Baby!” over and over again. In a matter of moments, Meagan knew something was wrong. She rushed to the kitchen to find a very frantic Willie and a very blue Hannah. Meagan jumped into action. She grabbed Hannah and performed the Heimlich maneuver until the Pop-Tart piece dislodged itself and shot out of her mouth. Willie the Parrot: The Ultimate Danger Alarm

• • • • •

A driver braking abruptly

A driver failing to yield right of way to you

A driver cutting you off

A driver running you off the road A driver swerving into your lane

All of these scenarios cause what is known as a “no-contact” car wreck, and they can make receiving compensation for damages and injuries difficult, because their aftermath can be very different from a regular car crash. The driver might stop, having seen that they just caused you to crash, or they might just keep driving. In many cases, drivers don’t even realize that they’ve caused a no-contact car wreck! With that in mind, you might be wondering: If the at-fault driver just drives away, leaving you and your wreckage behind, how can you ensure that your insurance company won’t just call your wreck a single-car crash and leave you to foot the bill? Well, luckily there is one thing you can do that will help your case immensely: find reliable witnesses who can corroborate your story.

RULES OF

The Kansas City Beacon recently reported that local bike ridership has been on the rise for years, climbing as much as threefold between 2015 and 2020. That’s great news for the environment and cardiovascular health, but unfortunately, more bike riders on the road could mean more bike crashes. DETERMINING FAULT IN

Meagan may have been the one to stop Hannah from choking, but she insists that Willie was the real hero of the story. If he hadn’t

used his unique mimicking skills to get Meagan’s attention, she doesn’t know what would have happened. It’s worth noting that before that incident, Willie had never used the phrase “Mama! Baby!” before. He knew something was wrong, and he knew how to get help.

In a collision between a car and a bicycle, the cyclist bears a greater risk of injury. But contrary to popular myth, that doesn’t mean a

Shortly after the incident, Willie received the local Red Cross chapter’s Animal Lifesaver Award for his heroic actions.

cyclist can’t be held responsible for the

wreck. Most cyclists also drive, so it’s important to know your responsibilities and options on either side of a crash.

Bicyclists must obey all traffic rules and regulations, just like motor vehicles. These responsibilities include riding in

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Car crash? volved in One?

Witness testimonies are going to be your most valuable tool in proving your story. If you can find someone who saw the crash, whether it be a pedestrian or another driver, who was not involved in the crash, get all the information they might have about the driver who

caused you to crash. They may remember unique details about the vehicle, or even the license plate number, which will help police locate the at-fault driver.

TAKE A BREAK

If you can’t find any witnesses to identify the driver, however, you still won’t have to pay out of pocket. You’ll just have to turn to your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to cover the expenses. If you have any other questions about what to do in a no-contact car wreck in Kansas City, call us or contact Dickerson Oxton at DickersonOxton.com/contact.

One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken

THE ROAD

Inspired by WellPlated.com

the same direction as vehicle traffic, following all traffic lights and signs, and not riding under the influence. N BIKE/CAR COLLISIONS In metropolitan Kansas City, bicycles are not allowed on the sidewalk and must use either a bike lane or the road. Bikers in Kansas City are also required to have working brakes, helmets, and front lamps for nighttime riding. If any of these duties of care are broken, they could all be factors in determining whether the cyclist could be held liable in the event of a crash — even if they suffer more severe injuries than the vehicle driver. If a wreck happens, an insurance claim should be filed. For either the driver of the vehicle or the cyclist to be found at fault, it has to be proven that they were negligent in some way. Both drivers and cyclists can be held liable for damages. One person can be found entirely at fault, or the driver and cyclist can each be assigned a certain percentage of fault for contributing to cause the collision. If you’ve been involved in a bicycle-vehicle collision, we know it’s a stressful time for you and your family. Dickerson Oxton Law Firm has experience fighting the insurance companies and getting our clients the compensation they deserve. Contact us today so we can review your claim.

Bring the taste of fall into your kitchen with this sizzling skillet meal.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tsp olive oil, divided • 3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2-inch slices • 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for garnish

• 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs • 1 tsp salt, divided • 1/2 tsp black pepper, divided

• 1/2 cup apple cider • 2 tsp Dijon mustard

DIRECTIONS

1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combine apple cider and mustard. Set aside. 3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tsp olive oil. When shimmering, add chicken thighs top-side down. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for 4 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Wipe the skillet clean. 4. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, then add sliced apples, remaining salt and pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes. 5. Return the chicken to the skillet and add apple cider- mustard mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, then serve sprinkled with rosemary!

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Advertising Material

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1200 Main St. Ste. 2120 Kansas City, MO 64105

816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com

INSIDE

THIS ISSUE

PG1

A Little Bit About Kahlie, Bailey, and Nicole

PG2

Willie the Parrot: The Ultimate Danger Alarm

PG2

What to Do After a No-Contact Car Crash

PG3

Can Cyclists Be Liable for Car Wrecks?

PG3

Take a Break

PG3

One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken

PG4

Nothing to See Here: Mystery Spot Tourism

Nothing to See Here The most famous mystery spot is in Santa Cruz, California, but it has cousins in Oregon,

— “roadside attractions” of all kinds have been the rage since people began to tour America by car, and it’s pretty clear that, real or not, these mystery spots fall into that category. That’s why many of them have updated over the years to suit changing tastes — such as the Michigan St. Ignace Mystery Spot’s addition of zip lines and other attractions. And unlike many other roadside attractions, mystery spots continue to draw attention. Something in the American psyche loves the idea of the paranormal; Google “Europe mystery spots” and you’re likely to discover lists of unique vacation destinations. Perhaps they recapture the “paradise is just over the hill” mystery that in part drove colonization of the American West. Or perhaps it’s all a bunch of hooey. The best way to decide, of course, is to visit one of these mystery spots for yourself! A HISTORY OF THE MYSTERY SPOT

West Virginia, and Michigan. Each one is inexplicable — drawing thousands of people every year to come and spend their tourist dollars. And for many, the whole thing is just one big hoax, designed to take in suckers and generate cash. Although Santa Cruz has the most visitors, it was “inspired” by the Oregon Vortex, which was a spot that had odd occurrences “documented” back to the early frontier days. From a mining office sliding off its foundation to the high presence of optical illusions, the Vortex was the home to some odd events. Naturally, the thing to do was build a structure there and start taking people’s money! It’s not a coincidence that these locations began to pop up at the same time as the average American got access to automobiles

ADVERTISING MATERIAL: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. This newsletter is provided to former clients, individuals who have contacted the firm regarding representation, and individuals who have requested to be on the newsletter mailing list. This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or direct solicitation for employment of the firm on any particular legal matter.

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