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.
I recently read an article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Why am I blogging about a story from a Milwaukee newspaper?The story was about a 17 year old boy who fractured his skull while running away from a Rottweiler.The Rottweiler was chained to a tree, but was able to break free.The dog did not bite the child.However, while the dog was in pursuit, the boy ran into a tree, fell to the ground and fractured his skull.The boy suffered bleeding of the brain, but fortunately is in stable condition.
Though Milwaukee is far away from New Hampshire and Vermont where I practice, this story is all too common.As a personal injury lawyer who has been practicing for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is the responsibility of pet owners to ensure the safety of their neighbors and their community by properly securing their pets.Though the dog was chained to a tree, the owner was cited for failing to secure the animal behind a fence.Rottweilers and other dogs can be tremendously powerful animals.Extra precautions must be taken for the safety of others.
This blog post will help guide you through the basic steps you’ll need to take after an on the job injury. We outline what to do after an accident at work and will help you decide what to do if your workers comp claim is denied. If you feel you are being bullied by the insurance company please be sure to seek counsel with the best workers compensation attorney available. Only an experienced, passionate lawyer can take on an insurance company and win you maximum compensation for your injuries and lost wages.
If you have been denied workers comp you are not alone. A new study has shown that workers, especially lower wage workers, are not being taken care of when they are injured. The study sheds light on a disturbing trend among those making around $8 an hour.
Every job has its challenges but when lower wage employees are hurt on the job they are often discouraged from filing for workers compensation. Even when they are severely injured their employers may force them to stay on the job, even threatening them with termination or deportation.
Each and every worker who is injured on the job has the right to file for and win their workers compensation claim. At Van Dorn & Curtiss we are passionate, some say fanatical, about our dedication to injured workers.
It is unacceptable that any worker, lower wage or higher wage, should be left alone after an on the job injury. If you have been injured while at work please let us fight for your rights as an injured worker. Contact your New Hampshire (NH) accident attorney at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation.
If you are a business owner you should be doing everything you can to prevent on the job accidents and injuries. OSHA is known for levying heavy fines to business owners who commit safety violations. However, they also focus on prevention.
OSHA's on-site consultation service offers a great opportunity to improve workplace safety. During the consultation no penalties or citations are given. The free service is offered as a way to pinpoint and fix any workplace hazards.
To learn more about the free service please click here.
If you have been injured while at work please contact your New Hampshire (NH) workers compensation attorney at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation.
If you are a business owner you should be doing everything you can to prevent on the job accidents and injuries. OSHA is known for levying heavy fines to business owners who commit safety violations. However, they also focus on prevention.
OSHA's on-site consultation service offers a great opportunity to improve workplace safety. During the consultation no penalties or citations are given. The free service is offered as a way to pinpoint and fix any workplace hazards.
To learn more about the free service please click here.
If you have been injured while at work please contact your New Hampshire (NH) workers compensation attorney at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation.
If you have been injured while at work there is every chance that your employer, their insurance adjustor and lawyer will be pressuring you to settle your workers compensation claim right away. The problem is that this settlement may not cover the full extent of your physical and emotional trauma.
An insurance adjustors main job is to protect the companies' money by keeping it from you. They may seem like they have your best interests at heart but at the end of the day they are looking out for their bottom line, not your well being.
The only person who can accurately estimate the cost of ongoing care, treatments and medical procedures is an experienced accident attorney.
At Van Dorn & Curtiss we know how much an injury will cost you and we will vigorously fight for this figure. Insurance companies are scared of us. Why? Because they know that we are passionate about our clients and that we work harder than anyone else to get accident victims maximum compensation for their injuries and losses.
A less experienced, less passionate lawyer will often settle a case just because they are nervous that the case might go to trial. We are not afraid to go to trial and prepare each case as if it were going to seen by a jury.
Dedication, experience and passion are what we are all about. If you have been injured while on the job please contact your New Hampshire injury attorneys at Van Dorn & Curtiss today for your free consultation. No one will work harder for you and your family.
If you have been injured or have contracted an illness while at work the answer may be no.
Recent fines levied against a New Hampshire Ruger manufacturing plant show how lightly some employers take employee safety. The facility received over $255,000 in fines for 60 alleged health and safety violations. The most serious accusation is that the facility allowed their employees to operate dangerous machinery without proper safety measures in place.
Are you safe at work? You may think so, but if your employer is not taking the proper steps to protect you from both physical and environmental dangers then they are not doing their jobs.
If you have been injured on the job please do not hesitate to call an attorney at Van Dorn & Curtiss today. The consultation is free and if you have a good case we will stop at nothing to get you the compensation you deserve for your on the job injury or industrial accident. Winning a worker's compensation claim can be extremely difficult. Please contact us today to ensure that you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
Recent successful appeals for workers compensation remind us that your fight for recognition of your on the job injury or illness is never over. Mesothelioma and asbestosis are two illnesses that are debilitating yet difficult to win proper compensation for.
If you work in or around older buildings, both residential and industrial, you may be at risk for complications from asbestos exposure. The troubling part of exposure to asbestos is that it does not cause any immediate illness. The signs and symptoms often do not surface for 20 or more years after initial exposure. By then it can be next to impossible to get your employer and their insurance company to recognize your illness.
An experienced, local lawyer is your best chance at receiving the compensation you deserve. The lawyers at Van Dorn & Curtiss have been fighting for the rights of workers in New Hampshire, Vermont and across Northern New England for many years. The key to winning worker's compensation cases is determination and experience. At Van Dorn & Curtiss we are determined to get you maximum compensation for your injuries.
First responders are emergency personnel trained to respond to accidents and provide medical care for any accident victims. First responders include police officers, firefighters, EMT's, search and rescue volunteers, volunteer fire fighters, lifeguards and lay rescuers.
Recent fires and accidents in Vermont highlight the importance of first responders. Volunteer and paid firefighters responded to and kept under control a brush fire off Central Shaft Road in Vermont. In the same weekend volunteer firefighters responded to a motorcycle accident that injured four.
Though first responders act quickly and work to save others, they are often put in risky situations that can and do injure and kill thousands each year. If you have been injured while on the job and are having trouble getting the workers compensation you need please contact a lawyer at Van Dorn & Curtiss today. We work tirelessly to protect the rights of the injured in New Hampshire and Vermont.
A law firm cannot stay in business if the phone never rings and new clients never walk through the door. So, when someone does walk through our door we are always interested in how they came to hear about us. What made them choose our firm? Our receptionist does an excellent job screening potential new clients. But with marketing costs approaching $1000 a case we would like to know which methods work and which do not.
We understand that if you are injured in an accident or have lost a loved one. This is the last thing on your mind. We get that. We also understand that your concerns are our concerns. But having a steady string of cases makes us a stronger law firm by giving us the revenue stream to go the extra mile like we do and by providing us with a chance to gain further expertise and experience that enhances our reputation as the personal injury law firm to go to in Vermont and New Hampshire.
OK call me naive but when I first heard that people were driving and texting at the same time I couldn't believe it. First of all, I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time so the thought of writing to someone while moving at 100 feet per second seemed impossible. Then I started noticing drivers doing it. Granted there are talents in today's youth that surpass my own. Just the other day I was in a conversation with a high school student who texted a friend the entire time. I was amazed by how fast she could move but she could not do it without taking her eyes off of me. What we have to convey to our kids is that in one moment of distraction your whole life and the lives of others can change. If you've been injured and need to speak to an attorney or would like some more information on the dangers of texting and driving please contact Van Dorn & Curtiss.
Motorists collide with deer, moose, and bear everyday in the North Country. It's just another hazard associated with operating a car on our roads. Stay alert and drive with caution but when all else fails;
Here's what you should do if you hit an animal while driving
• In New Hampshire, if there is damage to the vehicle when you strike something, including colliding with an animal, you are required to file a report.
• Call the police or animal control immediately so they can take proper measures if the animal is injured or dead.
• Examine the animal to make sure it is not injured or hurt. If it's a bear - stay in the car.
Do not pick up the animal, whatever size it is. It could kick or bite you.
Stay with the injured animal (in your car if necessary) until help arrives.
Alert oncoming cars of the accident with your high beams, hazards or flares.
Cristina Rousseau was born in Quito, Ecuador as Ines Cristina Saltos Hildalgo but moved to the United States in 1991 to go to school. She earned her law degree from Vermont Law School and has been with Van Dorn & Curtiss since 2004. According to Mrs. Rousseau the Accident Victims in the Spanish speaking community in New England has been underserved.
Cristina speaks Spanish as her native language and understands the qualities that make our Spanish speaking neighbors unique. Just one more example of what makes Van Dorn and Curtiss, PLLC unique here in the Upper Valley and how we go the extra mile to serve our clients.
"Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles." According to the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, cyclists should obey all traffic laws and ride in a manner that is predictable to motorists. By behaving in this way a cyclist becomes a good ambassador for bicycling.
On the other hand, motorists must acknowledge a cyclists' legal right to the entire lane not just the two feet near the shoulder. No bicyclist sets off with the intention of slowing anyone down or getting in anyone's way. And no cyclist wants to be hit by a automobile either.
Vermont law requires motor vehicle drivers to drive in a manner that is safe and that respects the right of way of other vehicles on the road. Bicycles are given all the rights and responsibilities of other vehicles under 23 VSA § 1136(c). Bicyclists are legally allowed to ride on the road.
New Hampshire law even provides for a three foot buffer at 30 mph and 1 foot for every 10 mph above 30 mph when passing a bicycle on the road. Don't let impatience cloud your good sense; treat a bicyclist like you would a farmer on a tractor. Slow down, pass when it's safe. Both the farmer and the bicyclist represent attractive portions of our rural and scenic economy.
Incredibly, many of the heavily advertising personal injury lawyers and law firms have never tried a case to a jury. They are completely without this courtroom experience. This is as if you ask a doctor to perform surgery who has never operated before. Insurance companies know that a lawyer without experience in court is not likely to be as successful as an experienced lawyer and the settlement offer made by the insurance company will reflect this reality.
Many of the heavily advertising personal injury lawyers who don't go to court will tell you that it is not necessary to go to court to settle your case, as their reason why they don't go to court. Don't believe them. What they are telling you is not true. If they do not have a successful track record in the courtroom where it counts, insurance companies have no incentive to pay for your settlements because they know that ultimately the attorney will take whatever it is the insurance company decides to pay them. In these situations the insurance companies and defense law firms are in the driver's seat, not the plaintiff's attorney who doesn't go to court.
If an attorney handling your case has no experience in court, and the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, there are only two options.
1. The lawyer for the first time tries the case before a jury, and has a real learning experience, the problem is it is your case he is learning with; or
2. He must refer the case to an experienced firm. The problem here is that then the lawyer has to give the experienced firm the lion's share of the fee. Some lawyers may put their economic interests ahead of the client's and convince the client not to go to court and take a smaller settlement so they do not have to give up the majority of the fee.
Presently, about 60% of the cases in our firm are referrals from other lawyers. Fortunately, we deal with referring attorneys with high ethical standards who put their clients' interests first even if they will earn a smaller fee by referring the case to an experienced firm after the insurance company fails to offer a fair settlement.
Any lawyer can settle a case. The truth of the matter is that any lawyer can negotiate the settlement of a personal injury claim. The question is whether they will settle the case for a fair and just amount or will they take whatever the insurance company offers. Lawyers without track records and experience in trying cases to juries have no leverage with insurance companies and insurance defense law firms. The insurance companies and insurance defense law firms know that many attorneys will not go to court, and therefore they are not compelled to offer anything close to a fair and just settlement. They know that if the personal injury victim is represented by a lawyer who doesn't go to court that lawyer will have to recommend a settlement for much less than the full fair and just value of the claim. If you have a law firm for a serious personal injury claim make sure that law firm can prove to you that they have leverage based on their experience and track record. Have them put you in touch with former clients who they have actually represented in a courtroom and gotten jury verdicts for.
As we noted before, the only thing the insurance companies respect is a law firm that has taken cases all the way through to jury verdicts successfully.
At Van Dorn & Curtiss, we have been practicing law handling personal injury cases for over 25 years. Because of our experience and reputation, other lawyers often contact us with questions about their cases. Generally, this is a good idea. If you don't know the answer to a question - ask someone who does. But what is alarming is that some lawyers ask questions that make it pretty clear that they don't know the first thing about the complexities of personal injury law. We do our best to answer the questions, but we often think about the poor client relying on a lawyer who simply does not have the necessary knowledge base to properly handle the claim.
The real scary thing is that we see big ads in the phone books advertising these same lawyers as personal injury attorneys. Personal Injury attorneys who do not go to trial and who lack the general knowledge base of know how to process a claim just to achieve a successful settlement. Don't just choose the lawyer who has the big advertisements. Rather, consider experience and reputation when choosing the right lawyer, especially if the case is at all complex.
If you want to hire the best firm for your personal injury case you have to look past the ads and find out about the credentials of the law firm. This means their experience, track record and the types of services they offer. Our firm outperforms other firms in our area both in the quality and range of services provided.
Make sure the firm you hire provides a full range of services.
We once had a women call us who was already represented by a law firm in an automobile accident case where she sustained a head injury. She needed help right away because she couldn't get her health insurance or automobile insurance to pay for the medical care she needed. She was very frustrated because the firm she picked to represent her from the yellow pages told her they "didn't take care of those kinds of problems and that she should get creative and handle it herself."
To us this was outrageous. Here is a woman who can't even work because of a severe head injury and her lawyers are telling her to use her head and figure it out herself. Well, she got creative all right. She fired that firm and hired our firm and two phone calls later the problem was solved and she was able to get the medical care she needed and the insurance company paid for it. On top of it all, the first law firm had the nerve to try and charge her a fee for the services they rendered.
The very good personal injury law firms do not only try to settle your case but they also provide a full range of related services.
The Drug Court Sentencing Program in Grafton County offers addicts an opportunity to participate in an intense, court supervised rehabilitation program for two years instead of going to jail. The program is open to non-violent adult offenders, including probation violators, who have a history of addiction and drug-or-alcohol related crime and now face new criminal charges that are most likely to result in a prison term. Ed Van Dorn, senior partner at the Law Offices of Van Dorn and Curtiss, Orford, NH, received recognition from the Grafton County Drug Court for his extraordinary commitment and contributions to this program.
As part of a plea agreement with the Grafton County Attorney's Office, participants in the program report to the judge each week to talk about their progress. Each participant also undergoes regular drug testing and meets with treatment counselors. Their case is reviewed each week by a drug court treatment team, including the judge, and there are quick sanctions, including jail time, if a participant violates the program rules.
Mr. Van Dorn was recognized during the graduation ceremony of Marcus S. with Timothy Vaughan presiding. In attendance were Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte and Grafton County Commissioners Raymond Burton, Michael Cryans, and Martha Brown Richards as well as chief prosecutor Rick St. Hilaire.
Life is so stressful for our clients when they come into our office. Putting them at ease by listening to their story is our gift to them. And let's face it; we all like to talk about ourselves. For instance, if you want to make certain that someone enjoys your company just let them talk about themselves when you are with them. You will learn more about this person and they will walk away thinking about how much better they feel when they get to spend time with you.
4. Be Respectful. Often, the person you are interviewing has just been through some terrible experience that you are asking them to recount. We need to honor that by being respectful and listening to their experience. Seek out ways in which you can empathize with them. Put yourself in their shoes and walk with them a bit. Ask questions. Make sure they understand that you know where their coming from even if you cannot identify with their plight directly.
5. Show Them Yours and They Will Show You Theirs. One way to get someone comfortable with opening up with you is to open up with them. They've just been in an accident. Tell them your accident story and how that accident affected your life. Be open, honest and forthright. Do not withhold details; give them the whole account even if you have some negative emotions associated with it. At worst, it will make you seem human and they will appreciate you taking the time to open up to them and at best they will see that you're a person with whom they can identify and trust and will feel secure in opening up with you. Once you have created an atmosphere of mutual respect, gratitude, honesty, and authenticity then you can sit back and listen to them tell their story. If it's a testimonial then it is helpful to lead them through their case and let them relive it in front of you. When it comes time to ask them to recommend you to another person then they will come across as enthusiastic and genuine.
Last night a friend joined me at the house for a mountain bike ride in the woods adjacent to our property. It was a beautiful night for a ride and we had a great time. I fell once and came home bleeding and bruised. My friend is having trouble at home and needed to talk about it. I don't think he would have felt comfortable opening up to me if I failed at any of these five steps.
2. Be Grateful. You have called this person in for your benefit. They have had to miss work and drive to your office to be interviewed about something that they would like to put behind them. They are doing you a favor by helping you with your case or by promoting your business. It's a simple gesture but thank them.
3. Film More Than You Need. Go Back and Edit. The other day, I watched a partner in our firm sing a country song into the microphone prior to recording a radio commercial. It was his way to get comfortable before the real take. He reasoned that it was harder to sing in front of someone than it is to read advertising copy. After watching him record two radio spots on the first take, I'm a believer. Let the tape roll. Get a few minutes under your belt before you go into the meat of the interview. This allows everyone to settle down and relax.
Last Thursday, we invited a few clients into the office to shoot video testimonials for our website. We knew these clients would say something nice about our firm. Honestly, how could they not? We helped them win a large settlement and gave them some hope for the future. But even with great results, clients are not actors. Discomfort in front of the camera can lead to forced or canned testimonials, leaving customers with a less than favorable impression of your firm. Getting them comfortable in front of the camera is the key to a good testimonial, video deposition, or any other situation requiring a open and relaxed atmosphere.
To help us do this we invited our friend Jeff Larrimore up from his home in the New Hampshire woods. He is licensed in California but resides in the Leominster. Jeff teaches at Gerry Spence's trial academy and has the gift of putting people at ease. I sat and watched the man work and picked up a few things from him. Here's five ways to help people relax and make them comfortable in front of the camera or anywhere else for that matter.
Be genuine. Just as a jury can spot a phony as soon as he or she walks in the door so can any person that you might have to interview for the camera. Keep a professional attitude. Remember your objective: to generate more cases for your firm. If you expect an authentic and honest response from your client then you have to offer yourself honestly as well, even if that means that you have to admit that you would rather be doing something else. Chances are the person you are interviewing would rather be doing something else also. So, now by admitting that to a person you have found common ground.
If you have been injured in a way that may be someone else's fault then you need to ask these seven questions.
Am I entitled to compensation for the injury? Lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, reduction in quality of life, these should be compensated. It won't reduce the suffering or pain but it won't hurt either.
How is this compensation decided? Our firm handles medical liens at no extra charge to our clients. We take a standard 1/3 of the settlement as our fee but with us you get your money's worth.
Am I entitled to payment of medical bills? If you are injured, don't "tough it out" go see a doctor and keep good records of your bills, your time away from work, and your treatment. Remember the goal is to get better.
Am I entitled to payment of lost wages? You are if you have missed work due to your injury.
Am I entitled to compensation for pain and suffering? In some cases this makes up the biggest part of the settlement.
How do I prove who was at fault? Our attorneys know how to get to the bottom of an accident. We use expert witnesses and a relentless pursuit of justice to fuel our discovery.
Do I require the services of a lawyer? If you are not sure how you would go about handling a settlement or are not prepared to hold the insurance company responsible then the answer is yes.
Choosing the right lawyer makes all the difference. Let Van Dorn and Curtiss put our experience to work for you.
On my way to work this morning, driving up I-91in the pouring rain, just South of Hanover, New Hampshire, I witnessed a taxi cab driver lose control of his vehicle and slam into a rock ledge. Water pooled on the road and visibility was low. At first, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. When mud started flying up from his car, I knew that I needed to slow down and give him plenty of room. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Both of us were travelling at speeds lower than the posted limit. I was doing 60 mph and made up no ground on him. Likewise, the taxi kept the distance between our two vehicles constant. But, when the roads are wet extra caution is required. The taxi driver bled from the nose and hand. I couldn't determine if there were other injuries.
In other news, a motorcyclist was killed in a head on collision on Route 2 in Vermont. The driver is being investigated for driving under the influence of drugs. I'm not sure if that means he was smoking marijuana or taking pain medication but either way it seems like negligent behavior to me. My heart goes out to the families of both drivers.
Finally, stimulus money has entered Vermont and New Hampshire and with it lots of new road construction. Slow down, give those folks a brake as they say and we'll all be safer.
It is by grace that I have only a few scars. This is not to say that I haven't been wounded. I have. Often, my injuries have been the result of my own actions, lack of foresight, or a combination of the two. At times, my injuries have resulted from being in over my head like when I broke my back snowboarding. We were riding at Wolf Creek in Colorado. I tried to keep up with a friend of mine who was a much better snowboarder than me instead of picking my own way down the mountain and I paid the price. Then there was the time I fractured my left foot when I jumped off a cornice on my snowboard. It was like leaping off of a two story house. The leap was too big; too soon. No one else could be blamed for these injuries and looking back on them I can see that they were avoidable. I have learned from these mistakes and I now avoid the arrogant mindset that got me into trouble in the first place. Experience is a great teacher but the tuition is high. In personal injury law, we encounter people who've been injured as a result of someone else's negligence. Meaning that they did everything right and someone else didn't live up to their responsibility. Live long enough and you see that bad things happen to good people, good people make bad decisions and sometimes those decisions cause harm