Interested in working with us? Call us on 877-611-9622 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!




Testimonials

Practice Areas

Van Dorn Blog

Sample Cases

Vermont & New Hampshire Injury Blog

At Van Dorn & Curtiss, we are dedicated to providing you with legal information regarding automobile accidents, medical malpractice, dangerous products, unsafe property conditions, dog attacks and industrial accidents.  We represent accident cases in Western New Hampshire and Eastern Vermont.
Blog Category:

Automobile Accidents

9/2/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries Suffered In New Hampshire Car Accidents

This article describes some common symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), an irreversible and often damaging injury that can result from New Hampshire car accidents. Call Van Dorn & Curtiss today if you or a loved one has suffered TBI after a car accident with a negligent driver. (877) 611-9622.

8/20/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Back-To-School Time Is Dangerous For VT & NH Drivers

Back-to-school time is an especially dangerous time on Vermont and New Hampshire roads, with the sudden increase in bus traffic and pedestrian traffic. If the drivers of New Hampshire and Vermont make a commitment to drive safely this back-to-school season, we can still ensure the safe roads that our children deserve.

8/13/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

VT & NH Rear End Collisions Happen When...

Rear-end collisions are one of the most dangerous types of accidents facing Vermont and New Hampshire drivers, accounting for over a third of all wrecks on the road. This article describes some of the conditions and causes that make rear-end collisions happen. Call Van Dorn & Curtiss for a free consultation today if you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident.

7/24/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Three Steps for Talking to Seniors About Driving

Senior drivers may experience deteriorating motor skills as they age, making it difficult and dangerous for them to get behind the wheel. Seniors who are slower atto recognizinge and reacting to hazards on the road may pose a risk to themselves and other drivers. It is important that you follow these three steps to speak to and deal with a senior driver in your family.

6/26/2010
Rob Curtiss
Comments (0)

What's Distracting Vermont & New Hampshire Drivers?

The three main types of distracted driving are visual, manual, and cognitive. Common types of distracted driving activities include talking or texting on a cell phone, eating or drinking, reading, or changing radio stations. Call the law firm of Van Dorn and Curtiss if you or a loved one have been injured in a distracted driving accident.

5/28/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Avoiding a New Hampshire or Vermont Motorcycle Accident

The New Hampshire and Vermont roadways are expected to be more congested with motorcycles due to Motorcycle Awareness Month. You should understand that motorcycles have the same rights and privileges as other vehicles do.

5/27/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

New Hampshire Teens and Nighttime Driving

New Hampshire teens are at greater risk of being involved in a fatal car accident when driving at night. Many teens are becoming distracted while using handheld cell phone devices while behind the wheel.

4/30/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

New Hampshire Car Accident Involving a Toyota SUV is Under Review

A New Hampshire car accident involving a Toyota Highlander SUV that claimed the life of four people is under investigation by the government to see if a gas pedal problem played a role.

Labels:
3/24/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

When You Are The One Negotiating a New Hampshire Car Accident Claim

Negotiating a claim following a New Hampshire car accident can be complex. You should keep in mind that the insurance company is not on your side. You should seek legal advice in determining if you have a valid claim and for building your case.

3/1/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Contributing Factors in New Hampshire and Vermont Truck Accidents

The top causes of truck related accidents may not be as obvious as you think such as brake problems and an interruption in traffic. If you or someone you know has been injured in a Vermont or New Hampshire truck accident, you should contact an experienced truck accident attorney at the law offices of Van Dorn & Curtiss, PLLC at (877) 611-9622.

2/24/2010
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Vermont Truck Accidents May Be Prevented Due to Texting Ban

Imagine being hit by a semi or bus and later discover that it was caused because the operator was texting while driving. . If you or someone you know has been injured in a Vermont car accident, you should contact an experienced Vermont truck accident attorney at the law offices of Van Dorn & Curtiss, PLLC at (877) 611-9622.

2/16/2010
Mindy
Comments (0)

What Will Help Your Vermont Car Accident Case?

There are actions you can take following a Vermont car accident that will improve your chances of recovering fair compensation. Read this blog to learn more.

1/8/2010
Edward M. Van Dorn, Jr.
Comments (0)

ROUTE 4 ACCIDENT UNDERSCORES NEED FOR DRIVER SAFETY

Serious injury to Northwood school teacher underscores need to require drivers who cause accidents to take responsibility for their conduct

1/7/2010
Edward M. Van Dorn, Jr.
Comments (0)

AGGRESSIVE REPRESENTATION FOR CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS

Van Dorn & Curtiss aggressively pursues all means of acquiring fair compensation for our car accident victims so that our clients can be assured that they are receiving the maximum settlements for their injuries.

1/6/2010
Edward M. Van Dorn, Jr.
Comments (0)

NEW HAMPSHIRE TRAFFIC DEATHS LOWEST IN 47 YEARS

Imposing responsibility on motorists who cause accidents is an effective way of reducing traffic accident injury and death

12/31/2009
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Text Messaging While Driving Banned in New Hampshire

The new text messaging while driving law takes effect January first. The law is in response to the growing number of injuries and accidents that are being attributed to texting and driving. Please be safe and put down the phone before you get behind the wheel. If you have been injured in an auto accident please contact your experienced New Hampshire personal injury attorneys at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation.

10/30/2009
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Injured in an Accident With a Drunk Driver? | Attorney NH

If you have been injured in an accident there are likely many thoughts going through your head.  How can I get my life back on track?  How long will it take for me to heal?  How much will my medical bills be?  Will I be able to return to work?  How can I recoup lost wages?

When the accident is caused by a drunk driver these thoughts are mixed with anger, confusion and a feeling of helplessness.  Why was the driver on the road?  How could the accident have been prevented?

The answers to these questions are often unanswerable.  However, there are steps we can all take to lower the incidence of drunk driving accidents.  To learn more please visit our DWI resource page by clicking here.

Our goal is not only to fight for the rights of injured across New Hampshire and Vermont, but to prevent accidents before they happen.  One less accident can mean one less death, one less spinal cord injury, one less grieving family.

Please think before you drive and do your best to keep yourself and others safe this holiday season.  If you have been hurt and need help please contact an attorney at Van Dorn & Curtiss today.  We're here for you when you need us.



9/21/2009
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Free Legal Consultation

At Van Dorn and Curtiss we have always offered a free consultation for accident victims. We do this a public service and to help select cases we are interested in accepting. We have even prepared a free Accident Victims Handbook  that can be downloaded from our site. Over the years we have offered thousands of free consultations. Our highly trained staff is always available to answer questions. A problem arises when distinguishing a free consultation from free legal advise. There is an old adage that free legal advise is worth what you pay for it. While we don't think that is exactly right we do believe that specific legal advise can only be given when a law firm knows all of the facts and circumstances surrounding an issue. Unfortunately we cannot afford to be this thorough with everyone who calls, but if you have a claim that has caused serious personal injury and has likely been caused by the negligence of someone else chances are we may be able to help you. Sometimes we will accept the claim in which case our new client can rest assured they are getting the absolute best legal representation available. See our Client Testimonials to see what we mean. Or, when we can't accept a case we can point the inquiring party in the right direction. So, if you have been seriously injured in an accident caused by another please contact us for a free consultation.

7/31/2009
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Auto Accidents All too Common in New Hampshire | Accident Attorney

Hillsborough County is the only county in New Hampshire that has seen a steady decline in the number of traffic fatalities over the past four years.  Every other county's numbers have remained nearly unchanged or risen.

Why is this?  

There really is no short answer.  Recent drunk driving accidents certainly add to the total.  In addition, our tough winter weather often creates driving conditions that are poor at best.  Distracted driving is another major issue on roadways across the country.  Cell phone use and text messaging while driving have caused injuries and deaths in New Hampshire and beyond.  

To combat these factors State Police have been putting extra effort into discouraging drunk driving and other dangerous behaviors.  DWI checkpoints and safety projects have been utilized throughout the state.  

However, at the end of the day only one person can prevent an accident by not drinking, putting down the cell phone and driving respectfully.  That person is you.  

Please help keep yourself and those around you safe everyday by making the right choices every time you get on the road.  

If you or someone you love have been hit by a drunk driver you need an attorney who knows DWI cases.  Please contact your New Hampshire accident attorney at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation.



6/29/2009
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Share the Road Safely During Bike Week and Beyond

Bike Week in New Hampshire is a boon to the local economy and gives hundreds of bikers the opportunity to get together and celebrate their lifestyle.

The week also gives both bikers and drivers a chance to review basic safe driving tips.  Sharing the road with biker's means giving the road your full attention at all times.  The American Motorcycle Association offers the following tips for drives and riders:

Rules for riders:

  • Get trained and licensed
  • Wear protective gear
  • Ride unimpaired
  • Ride within your limits
  • Be a lifelong learner

Rules for drivers:

  • Look out for motorcyclists
  • Don't be distracted
  • Give two-wheelers some room
  • Use your turn signals
  • Keep it in the car

It doesn't matter if you crave the wind in your face or love the comfort of your car; there are ways to keep you and others safe.  Sharing the road is important not only during Bike Week but every time you start your vehicle.

If you have been injured in an accident please contact your New Hampshire personal injury attorney at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation.



5/30/2009
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Working to Combat Motorcycle Accidents | New Hampshire Accident Lawyer

New Hampshire is one of many states that have chosen to embrace the idea of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.  The American Motorcycle Association is helping run the campaign that focuses on bringing the number of motorcycle accidents and deaths down. 

The question is: Are you doing everything as a motorist or biker to keep yourself and those around you safe?  If you are a driver the most important rule to remember is not to become distracted while driving.  From cell phone use to personal grooming routines distractions in the car are a growing problem.  As motorcyclists are more vulnerable as the travel down the road distracted drivers are a real threat to their safety.

If you are a driver or a cyclist please follow this link to ensure that you are following the five rules for cyclists and drivers.  Please help keep yourself and others safe and accident free this summer.

If despite your diligence toward driving and riding safely you are injured in an accident please contact your New Hampshire personal injury lawyer at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation.



5/20/2009
Robin C. Curtiss
Comments (0)

Robin Curtiss Settles Automobile Accident Case for $50,000

Colety Case Settles for $50,000

 

Denise Colety drove to work Wednesday, March 15, 2006 when another vehicle slid out of control on the snowy roads and into Denise’s lane colliding with her and totaling her car. She bit through her lip and later vomited blood. Her left knee hurt. Her left shoulder was swollen and ached as a result of her collision with the dash board. Mrs. Colety had never been in an automobile accident before. She was in tears, afraid to drive again.

 As a grandmother, Denise enjoyed spending time with her grand children and gardening. As a result of her injuries, she no longer was able to so this at the level she had before the crash. Mrs. Colety had racked up some medical bills as well, over $15,000 to be more specific.  She contacted Van Dorn & Curtiss attorneys who, for over thirty years have specialized in helping accident victims get back to normal.  

The two parties agreed to have a mediator help settle the case in Portsmouth on May 19, 2009 before going to a trial. At first, the insurance adjuster didn’t show up, usually a sign that the case will not settle that day. Rob went ballistic arguing that his presentation would be more effective if seen in person. He took the adjuster’s absence as sign that Geico, the defendant’s insurance carrier did not intend to settle the case that day.

 Withour mediator, William H. Mulvey, Jr., Rob began to argue for the strength of Denise’s case in terms of liability. By the time Rob had finished the defense attorney had apologized to Rob for not telling him that there would be no adjuster present and never really matched Rob’s skill level. Bids were exchanged back and forth between the two parties as Rob continued to show no aversion of taking this case in front of a jury. Just two and a half hours later the Coletys accepted Geico’s offer of $50,000 and by five o’clock in the afternoon were seen strolling through the streets of Portsmouth on their way to a celebratory dinner. Mr. Mulvey stated “another attorney would have settled this case for $25,000.” But with the hard working team at Van Dorn and Curtiss, the Colety’s got what they deserved.



Labels:
4/21/2009
Ed VanDorn
Comments (0)

Distracted Drivers a Real Threat | New Hampshire Accident Attorney

A recent accident involving a cyclist in Vermont has been blamed on a distracted driver.  At the time of the accident the driver was using her GPS to look for a place to eat.  Though GPS, hands-free cell phones and other new gadgets promise to help lower driver distraction they can sometimes cause it. 

Studies show that even using a hands-free cell phone can lead to driver distraction.  As your mind focuses on the call your ability to pay full attention to the road is diminished.   During the accident discussed above, the driver was looking down at her electronic map instead of focusing on the road ahead of her.

Distracted drivers are everywhere and I am sure that at some point you have looked away from the road to attend to other matters.  In that moment we do not realize the seriousness of the indiscretion.  In the blink of an eye a distracted driver can lose control of their vehicle, injuring and even killing a fellow motorist, pedestrian or cyclist.

If you have been injured in a car accident you deserve a New Hampshire attorney who's winning record speaks for itself.  Please contact a lawyer at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation



3/27/2009
Edward M. Van Dorn, Jr.
Comments (0)

UVM Pays $325,000 in Fatal Vermont Car Crash

Back in November, 2001 three IBM employees were on their way to work in Essex Junction, Vermont when Theodore Pecor, age 25, veered into their lane of travel on Route 15. Lyman Dezotell Jr., 44, of Derby Line, Dean Fountain, 69, of Newport, and Kevin Baker, 44, of Coventry, all died in the crash.   Although, at first, this may seem like a typical car accident based on the negligence of Theodore. Pecor, it wasn’t. Theodore Pecor was a college student who had been participating in a study at the University of Vermont.  The purpose of the study was to determine ways to help drug addicts overcome opiate additions through medication other than methadone.  Therefore, as part of the study, Pecor was given buprenorphine, two hours prior to the crash.  It was determined that Pecor fell asleep at the wheel due to the sedative effects of the drug.  The families of the victims claim that the researchers didn’t war Pecor about the sedative effects of buprenorphine.  Although UVM had denied any liability thus far, Baker's widow, Ann Baker, won an $800,000 settlement last December and UVM agreed to pay $325,000 this past week.  UVM was quoted as saying the settlements were "essentially a business decision based on the high costs of litigating cases of this nature and the prospect of even more significant costs associated with such cases going to trial."  If you are wondering what happened to Pecor, he pleaded no contest to grossly negligent operation with death resulting and was sentenced to three to 15 years in prison.

Van Dorn & Curtiss frequently represents families of car accident victims. If you would like to find out more about these types of accidents, injuries, insurance claims, etc. visit our wrongful death and automobile accidents pages of our website.  If you have been in an accident and are not sure what steps you should take to protect your rights, visit our Auto Accident Checklist For Negligence Claims for more information.

To see the full article published by the Associated Press, click here



Bookmark and Share





Free Consumer Guides

Free Consultation

To speak about your case with the lawyers of Van Dorn and Curtiss, complete the form below or call us on our toll free number: 1-877-611-9622

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Tell us more:


Van Dorn & Curtiss, PLLC
633 Main Street
Route 10
P.O. Box 263
Orford, NH 03777-0263
Toll Free: (877) 611-9622

Get Directions

Van Dorn & Curtiss, PLLC
10 Green St.
Concord, NH 03301
Toll Free: (877) 611-9622

Get Directions

Video Library

FAQs

Automobile Accidents

Personal Injury

Wrongful Death

Medical Malpractice

Premises Liability

Dog Bites/Pet Attacks

General

View All

Legal News


Served By: A