Document Library
On the page below you can find links to documents, reports, publications and discussions provided by Van Dorn & Curtiss.
The documents below are available to the public so that they can gain a better understanding of the legal challenges facing them, and why an experienced attorney is so important for success.
Contact us for a consultation today.
Personal Injury
- Cote v. Ziebart - Judgment [PDF]
Maine Superior Court Order Certifying a $175,000 Jury Verdict Award - Personal Injury Interview With Ed Van Dorn [PDF]
Personal injury interview between Rob Curtiss and Ed Van Dorn. They discuss what makes Van Dorn & Curtiss standout as a personal injury law firm in New Hampshire and Vermont. - Personal Injury Victim's Handbook [PDF]
This Handbook was written by Ed Van Dorn and is a must read for any person who was recently a victim of personal injury in New Hampshire or Vermont. - Insurance Companies and Their New Dirty Tricks
Recently, insurance companies have been developing new tricks to increase their profits. Among their new tricks are voiding policies once an insured makes a claims and pressuring claimants to find other means of benefits, such as disability. - Personal Injury Victims and Traumatic Brain Injury
Every year nearly 50,000 people die from traumatic brain injuries in the United States. Nearly 70,000 others suffer from impairment due to their injuries.For personal injury victims, their accident can be the most traumatic and difficult part of the life. Part of the job of a personal injury lawyer is to realize the accident and immediate aftermath isn’t the end of the victim’s struggles. - Top Ten Worst Insurers In America - New report finds pattern of bad faith and unfair dealing by insurance companies
When you purchase an insurance policy and pay your premiums, your insurance company owes you a duty of good faith and fair dealing. Some insurance companies will find ways to deny claims. A new report conducted by the American Association of Justice lists the top ten worst insurance companies for consumers.
Automobile Accidents
- Airbag Failure and Personal Injury
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to examine reports of inadvertent airbag deployment and airbag failure in the Hyundai Elantra from 2001 to 2003. It is estimated that airbags were responsible for more than 250 deaths since 1990. Though airbags were available as early as the beginning of the 1980’s, it wasn’t until 1990 that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began tracking fatalities and injuries associated with airbags. - Cell Phone Use and Car Accidents
Distraction may cause a driver to underestimate the road conditions or not focus on how they are driving. We have seen cases where a distracted driver slammed directly into the rear of a parked car. There has been a lot of controversy lately regarding cell phone use and driver safety. Recent studies have shed some light on the whether cell phone usage does increase the risk of being involved in a car accident. - Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims
Being involved in a car accident can be a stressful and devastating event. There are nearly 3 million car accidents resulting in injury each year. Almost 2 million of these injuries can be lifelong injuries. Injuries can result in huge medical costs and missed time at work. Insurance is designed to protect car accident victims who suffer personal injury. Now what happens if you are injured in a car accident and the “at fault” driver doesn’t have insurance or they are underinsured?. If you are injured in a car accident and the negligent driver has no insurance, it may be in your best interest to file an uninsured motorist claim (UM) or an underinsured motorist claim (UIM). - New Hampshire Auto Accident Lawyers - Vermont Car Accident Attorneys | Reader's Digest Report on Teen Driver's
We see it every day in the news. A teen driver is seriously injured or killed in a car accident. Every time this happens it is a tragic event. Sometimes the teenage driver did nothing wrong; however, many times the tragedy could have been prevented. A new report by Reader’s Digest analyzes some reasons why so many teenagers are killed in car accidents and what can be done to prevent these tragedies. - Study Finds Correlation Between Deaths on Rural Roads and Lax Seatbelt Laws
This article discusses a recent study that found a connection between lax seatbelt laws and an increase in car accidents resulting in death. - Steps You Should Take if You Are in a Car Accident
Car crashes resulting in fatality or serious injury can put an enormous financial burden on the victim and their family members. Medical expenses and loss of income are two of the most frequent expenses related to car accidents. There are immediate steps car accident victims can take to make the post accident process a little easier - Helmet Use, Inexperience and Motorcycle Accidents Resulting in Injury
Wearing a helmet can save your life. Statistics show a reduced number of head injuries and fatalities among riders who do wear helmets. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, helmets saved more than 1,658 lives in 2006. In 2006, 4,810 people died in motorcycle accidents. The NHTSA estimates that there could have been as many as 800 fewer fatalities in 2006 if the victims wore helmets
Medical Malpractice
- Medical Providers Fail to Release Medical Records - A New Trend
Increasingly, medical providers have failed to release patient medical records when requested. Medical providers are required by the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act to release medical records upon request by a patient or their representative. - Important Issues in Vermont Medical Malpractice Law [PDF]
This brief article highlights some important issues in raising a medical malpractice claim in Vermont. - Medical Malpractice - Quick Facts and Stats
We depend most on doctors and other healthcare professionals. We pay them for their services, and in return we assume that we will receive expert treatment. While we all know that people sometimes make mistakes, a doctor’s error has far more serious repercussions than most. When we go to a hospital and receive medical treatment, the last thing we want to think about is what if the doctor makes a mistake. Still, medical errors are common and it is important to understand the issues involved in medical malpractice cases. The following are some basic facts and statistics regarding medical malpractice claims and trials.
Premises Liability
- Commercial Premises Security Liability
Commercial property owners may have a heightened duty to protect the public against the criminal acts of other people. If a commercial property owner knew, or should have known that their property was unsafe, they may be responsible for a third party's criminal acts.
Dog Bites/Pet Attacks
- Roland v. LeBlanc - Judgment [PDF]
U.S. District Court Order Certifying $2.1 Million Dog Bite Jury Verdict - Dog Bite Law: A Quick Overview
Dog bites and pet attacks are an all too common part of personal injury law. Each year there are an estimated 5 million victims of dog bites alone, 800,000 of which require some form of medical treatment. Though most dog bites are minor, some can be so severe that they result in the loss of human life. Dog owners have a responsibility to protect the public against potentially dangerous animals
Industrial Accidents and Worker’s Compensation
- Worker’s Compensation Process and Pitfalls
When a family member is injured on the job it is a potentially disastrous situation, especially if that family member is the sole provider. The loss of a family member’s entire income can leave the family in dire financial straights. The Worker’s Compensation system, also known as Worker’s Comp., is designed to prevent these types of tragedies. The main purpose of the Worker’s Comp. system is to provide medical coverage, disability if the victim is unable to return to work, and if necessary, retraining and rehab to help the victim return to work.
Attorney Motions and Court Orders
Van Dorn & Curtiss News
- Newsletter - December 2007 [PDF]
Included in this newsletter are articles that discuss current trends and issues in personal injury law in New Hampshire and Vermont.
CLE (Continuing Legal Education) Courses
Choosing a Lawyer for a Personal Injury Claim
General
- Doctors Struggle with Insurance Claims Process: Healthcare Costs Rise
Doctors are also struggling with insurance company tactics and their quest to increase profits. Just as the insurance companies blame lawyers for pushing up healthcare costs through lawsuits, the insurance companies claim doctors are pushing up costs by “over treating” patients and ordering expensive procedures. - Letter From Leahy & Denault [PDF]
A letter from one of many attorneys that Van Dorn & Curtiss works with on New Hampshire personal injury claims.