There has been another vehicle recall notice.  This notice affects 2011-2012 Ford F150, Expedition, Mustang and Lincoln Navigators.  There is some question concerning the vehicles transmission systems.  Specifically, the auto may not go into reverse when you move the gear shift to that selection.  There have been reports  the interior sensor occasionally will fail to indicate when you are in reverse.

Here is the recall notice from the NTHSA.

Ford will begin notification of affected owners immediately and expects to begin repair by June 26.

There have been no reports of personal injuries associated with this condition.

If you have any questions about whether your auto is part of the recall, contacting your local Ford or Lincoln dealer may be your best course of action. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a hotline number you can call, 1-888-327-4236.

Products with defects that compromise your safety is unacceptable.  Montana has laws that differ in product liability situations.  Check my website for more information on these duties.

There’s also a free book you can get from the website focused on Montana law as it relates to personal injury cases.  Pick up a copy of “Your Rights” today by clicking on the title link.

This was a medical malpractice case where a defendant’s medical malpractice lawyer (think hospital, doctor, or insurance company) tried to bully the plaintiff’s expert (the guy on our side) by writing the expert’s hospital to warn them about his testimony.

That’s a bit of lawyer speak, so here’s a more plain language version.

Plain Language

The person who was injured found a medical expert who was willing to say there were avoidable medical errors in their treatment.  The opposing party attempted to bully the expert’s employer (writing a letter) by suggesting the experts’ testimony could cause the hospital to be sued.

No one likes being sued, so you can imagine the hospital would respond by pressuring their employee to not testify–even though the employee was in the right.

Expert Witnesses Hard to Find

It’s no secret that patients and their lawyers have a lot of difficulty finding physicians to serve as expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases.  Many doctors refuse to  testify in a patient’s favor, regardless of how negligent, reckless, or reprehensible the care provided. Among the doctors who do testify for patients, most only testify against doctors in other jurisdictions.  This adds difficulties in communication, scheduling, and travel costs. It also makes it harder for plaintiff’s lawyers to find experts, simply because we don’t know out of town doctors by reputation the same way we know local doctors.

The reverse is true for lawyers defending malpractice cases. They call the local hospital and get a willing local expert almost instantly.  Don’t think the code of silence in the medical profession is dead at all.

Insurance Company Tricks

This is just one of the tricks I’ve seen used by insurance companies and their lawyers.  Without having an experienced Billings lawyer willing to fight for you and dig out the truth, the outcome of the case could be bad.   There’s a long list of reasons why you might want to hire a Billings injury attorney when it comes to any case involving injury.

Get Represented by a Billings Attorney

Our initial consultation to discuss your case is always free.  If you want more information to prepare yourself or you just wonder about legal actions, get a free copy of my book, “Your Rights” anytime by clicking on the link.

Arlene Hull and her daughter sued Ability Insurance Co. in 2010 after the company ended her assisted-living benefits. Ability said Hull no longer qualified after a review found she didn’t need “continual supervision due to a severe cognitive impairment” and that her doctor said she was moderately, not severely, impaired.

Hull’s attorney, Mike Abourezk, said the company misinterpreted the policy and misapplied the rules.

The Billings Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/Hwwrwr ) the benefits were restored last year, but the company refused to pay for the nearly two years during which coverage was denied.

After a trial last week, the jury on Friday awarded Hull $250,000 for breach of contract; $2 million for violation of Montana’s Unfair Trade Practices law; and $32 million in punitive damages.

Hull, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, did not testify, but the jury saw video of her.

If your insurance company has improperly denied your or a loved one’s disability or assisted-living benefits, contact Bishop & Heenan to learn your rights.

This doesn’t happen often in Montana.   We are probably much more aware of the dangers of hypothermia, but this form of distracted driving does happen every year, usually starting in the spring. With our exceptionally warm weather of late, it is probably a good time to call attention to leaving children in cars. Each year, 38 children die in hot cars from hyperthermia. Most are left accidentally by parents or caregivers.

When you hear of people leaving babies behind in the car, it seems unthinkable. What were those people thinking anyway? Unfortunately, its not as much a careless act as something else. The majority of these tragic deaths are the result of something very common: distraction.

Most of these very high body temperature deaths seem to occur from a busy parent multitasking. You may have even done these things before. Take kids to school, run an errand, drop off the baby, and get to work on time are just a few of parental missions. One of the most common errors, the child falls asleep in the rear facing car seat, the parent forgets to drop off the baby and leaves them in the car all day. These deaths are more the result of our multi-tasking lifestyle putting safety and health at risk.

As the parent of four children of my own in Billings, I can not imagine the grief the parents must have after a preventable accident like this.

Here are a few tips to reduce the risk of hyperthermia:

One great way is to put something you need, maybe your cell phone in the back seat floor. This serves a couple of great purposes. You won’t text while its there, and you’ll see your baby when you get out of the car.

Another great idea I’ve heard is to place a teddy bear in the car seat. Whenever the baby is in the seat, the bear goes up front with you. If you have the bear riding shotgun, you’ll remember to check the car seat at your destination.

Child death from accidental hyperthermia is more common in hot weather states like California and Texas, but we have a somewhat recent story of a Montana death. However, the actual number of incidents in which kids are left in cars is likely much larger.

Preventing accidents is another function of my job as a Billings injury lawyer.  I’ve written a book, “Your Rights,” on the steps you should take to protect yourself after you have been involved in an accident.  You can get the book for free.  Our job at Bishop and Heenan is helping people.

Everyone should be able to do their job without fear of personal injury or death.  Montana has traffic laws designed to protect these workers from being injured while doing their job.  Still, the burden is on the driver of a car or truck to obey those laws and drive safely in work zones.

The California accident is still under investigation, but it seems driving while under the influence was a major contributor to the accident.  DUI enforcement in Montana has been growing.  Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lead to a serious accident.  DUI arrests in Billings reportedly tripled over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. Earlier in March, alcohol is considered a major factor in a single vehicle crash in Missoula that killed two men.

The penalties for DUI are getting more significant as well.

First Offense Montana DUI;    1 day to 6 months jail time;    $300 to $1,000 in fines;    Drivers license suspension for 6 months

Second Offense Montana DUI;    7 days to 6 months in jail;    Up to $1,000 in fines;    Drivers license suspension for 1 year

Third Offense Montana DUI;    1 month to 1 year in jail;    Up to $1,000 in fines;    Drivers license suspension for 1 year

Fourth Offense Montana DUI;    13 months in program or facility;    Up to $10,000 in fines;    Drivers license suspension for 5 years

With the number of Billings and Montana car accidents related to alcohol abuse, you may have suffered a personal injury in connection with a car accident.  At Bishop and Heenan, I want you to know your rights in case of a personal injury accident.  Free consultation is only part of what I do as a Billings injury lawyer.  My free book, “Your Rights”, can give you a head start on understanding what you might expect in case of an injury. Get the book in an instant download today.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a release, a crash with one of these conveyors could cause a serious injury or death.  According to recall information, the manufacturer of the trailer Davis Equipment Corporation, will correct the problem with the bumper during its recall.

To date there have not been any incidents or personal injuries involving these conveyors. The western region for Merritt is their corporate headquarters in Henderson, Colorado so there is reason to be on the lookout for these trailers.

If you know someone involved in agriculture, you might let them know of this issue.  It could help them and maybe even save a life.

Helping people is what we do at Bishop and Heenan.  Our goal as Billings injury lawyers is to provide you with excellent representation and even the odds in a disagreement with an insurance company or other party.  The free book, “Your Rights,” gives you specific information on what you can expect if you have been injured.  Its yours for immediate download, or a call to 406-839-9091.

Almost 1000 people were killed in auto accidents that were related to distracted driving.  Before you jump to the conclusion it is primarily young people involved in these accidents, more than 80% involved people who were NOT teens.

Distracted driving hurts people.  The number of incidents is on the rise.  Billings and many cities across Montana have already restricted cell phone use to hands free devices only.  Just because it is legal to use hands free devices does not mean drivers are no longer distracted.

More Personal Injuries from Distracted Driving

Accidents caused by distracted driving in Billings and elsewhere run the gamut from significant personal injury to fatality.  If you are injured in a Billings auto accident you believe was caused by a distracted driver, protect yourself and your rights.  The quicker you contact counsel, you improve your opportunity to receive just compensation for any personal injuries.

Get free advice from a Billings personal injury lawyer before you do anything else. My free book, “Your Rights,” describes what steps you should take after a personal injury auto accident.  Insurance companies are not on your side.  They are out to take care of their bottom line first.  Prepare for what’s next by getting my book, or call the office at 406-839-9091.

Billings Personal Injury Lawyers Offer Free Help

Most people know that talking or texting on your phone while driving is dangerous.  They do it anyway. If you are involved in an auto accident you think might have been caused by distractions, the Bishop and Heenan Law Firm stands ready to help.

Bus Crash Prescription–Icy Roads + Buses

Icy winter roads and buses or any kind of large vehicle is a prescription for trouble.  The recent Montana bus crash near Missoula with a Rimrock Stages bus killed two people and injured many more.  Montana law requires operators to have their vehicles under control at all times.

As a Teamster and a truck driver before I became a lawyer, I know how dangerous driving in these conditions can be. I also know how important it is for a driver to slow down and pay maximum attention to prevent bus accident tragedies.  It’s very fortunate no one was hurt seriously in Friday night’s Montana school bus crash.

Riding buses should not require you to put your life in someone else’s hands.  Dangers, accidents, and even death occur in a split second with these big vehicles.

Liability in Bus Crashes Are Complicated

I practice law because we help people. That’s the specialty of Bishop & Heenan.  Bus accidents often cause serious injury. Fortunately it did not in the most recent case. There is a lot of complexity and complication in bus accident cases. Bus crashes are certainly not the fault of the people riding on the bus.  Bishop & Heenan Law Firm offers free consultation to any injured person.  Montana law provides for you to be put back in the condition you were before this deadly bus accident near Missoula or anyplace else in Montana.

Get a Free Book on Your Rights

I wrote a free book generally outlining Montana injury law and how a personal injury lawyer can help you in these cases. This free book will help you get an overview of what you need to know before you deal with any insurance adjuster. The Bishop & Heenan Law Firm is committed to helping people get back on their feet and our free book will help you get started.

Excessive Speed Leads to Bus Accident

by inquistr.com

Montana Highway Patrol Sergeant Scott Huffman told Reuters the bus was traveling too fast for the conditions. Although the bus may have been under the maximum limit for the roadway, it was apparently traveling too fast for the dangerous conditions.  Billings personal injury lawyer John Heenan is a former big rig driver.  Heenan said,”one thing we learn is the rig we drive must be under our control at all times no matter the road conditions.”  Montana law requires all motorists to drive at a safe speed for the conditions.

Accidents like this tragic bus accident in western Montana, point out the hidden hazards these big vehicles pose.  There are a number of different reasons for bus accidents.  Weather is certainly a big factor, but bus driver negligence or unsafe bus equipment are among the most devastating and preventable.

Liability in Bus Crashes Can be Complicated

Bishop & Heenan Law Firm specializes in helping people.  Bus accidents often cause serious injury.  Liability in these cases can be very complicated and complex.  Bus accidents are certainly not the fault of the people riding on the bus.  Bishop & Heenan Law Firm offers free consultation to any injured person.  Montana law provides for you to be put back in the condition you were before this deadly bus accident near Missoula or anyplace else in Montana.

Free Book on Your Rights After Any Injury Available

We have a free book that outlines what you can expect from Montana injury law and how a personal injury lawyer is on your side in these cases. The Bishop & Heenan Law Firm is committed to helping people get back on their feet and our free book will help you get started.