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November 2025
How Accidents Happen and How to Get Compensation Negligence Explained
Common Injuries Accidents caused by another’s negligence can cause various injuries, the severity of which often depends on the type of accident and the force involved. Motor Vehicles: The most common injuries in motor vehicle accidents include whiplash, broken bones, head injuries, and soft tissue injuries. Medical treatment for these injuries can include physical therapy, surgery, pain management, and long-term rehabilitation. Bicycles: Cyclists are especially vulnerable because they have little protection in accidents. If a cyclist is thrown from the bike, fractures or road rash can occur. Treatment for bicycle accident injuries may include surgeries, skin grafts, and neurological care. Pedestrians: Pedestrians struck by vehicles often suffer serious injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, and head trauma. Medical treatment may involve surgeries, long-term physical therapy, and intensive care for internal bleeding or spinal cord damage. Slip-and-Falls: In slip and falls, fractures and sprains commonly occur in the wrist, hip, or ankle when someone tries to catch themselves. Head injuries, including concussions, can happen if the person hits their head on a hard surface. Treatment may involve casting or bracing, surgery, physical therapy, and monitoring for head trauma. How does the insurance company determine fault? To determine fault, insurance companies gather evidence from all parties involved. They look at police reports and photos of the scene for details about how the accident happened, including statements from drivers, passengers, or bystanders. They also review any available security camera footage or cellphone videos. Next, the insurance company will consider any applicable laws or rules, such as a driver running a red light, a pedestrian jaywalking, or a property owner failing to put up a warning sign when a floor is wet and slippery. Once fault is determined, the insurance adjuster will decide who will pay for damages or injuries, which can be challenged in court.
Many common accidents typically result from another person’s negligence. These incidents can lead to serious injuries, and understanding how fault is determined is crucial to getting the compensation you deserve. How do accidents typically result from others’ negligence? Negligence means failing to act with reasonable care, which can cause harm to others. Motor Vehicles: Negligence often occurs in motor vehicle accidents when drivers break traffic laws or drive carelessly. Common causes are speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Bicycles: In bicycle accidents, negligence often involves drivers not paying attention to cyclists, especially in areas without dedicated bike lanes. A driver may fail to check blind spots when turning or changing lanes, or pass a cyclist too closely, causing them to hit a bicyclist. Pedestrians: Pedestrian accidents often happen when drivers speed through crosswalks, fail to yield, or run red lights. Distracted drivers may not notice pedestrians, especially in busy intersections. Slip-and-Falls: Slip-and-fall accidents commonly occur when property owners or managers fail to maintain safe conditions. Uneven flooring, broken stairways, or poor lighting can lead to falls.
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Proving the Other Party’s Fault Proving the other party was at fault requires establishing duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Duty of Care: In motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents, duty of care means drivers must follow traffic laws and act responsibly to avoid harming others on the road. For slip-and-fall accidents, property owners have a duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition and warn of known hazards, like wet floor signs. Breach of Duty: A breach of duty of care happens when someone acts carelessly or violates the law, like speeding or a property owner failing to fix a dangerous condition. Causation: You need to show that the other party’s breach of duty directly caused the accident, which is called “causation” in legal terms. Damages: Finally, you must prove you suffered damages from the accident. Without damages, there is no legal case, even if the other party was negligent. Common Types of Recoverable Damages Damages fall into different categories and can compensate for both financial and personal losses. Medical Expenses: Victims often need medical treatment after their accident, which can include emergency room visits, surgeries,
hospital stays, physical therapy, medications, follow-up care, and ongoing treatment. Lost Earnings: If a victim’s injuries prevent them from working, they may be entitled to recover lost income, including earnings they lost while recovering and future lost earnings if their injuries prevent them from returning to work in the same capacity, such as being unable to work full time again. Pain and Suffering: Pain and suffering damages go beyond just the medical bills and cover the discomfort, pain, and suffering that result from injuries. Calculating these damages can be more subjective, often depending on the severity and the repercussions of the injuries. Property Damage: When victims sustain damage to their property, like their vehicle or bike, property damage compensation covers the cost of repairs or replacement. Emotional Distress: Emotional distress accounts for the psychological effects of an accident, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you have suffered injuries because of another person’s negligence, you should speak with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney right away. Contact us at Steffens Law to get on the road to recovery. –Bill Steffens
STOP, LOOK, AND WONDER
SIDEWALK TELESCOPES ARE BRINGING THE UNIVERSE TO YOU
Imagine walking down a city sidewalk and seeing a telescope pointed toward the sky. There aren’t any ticket lines or admission fees, only a friendly smile and a view of Saturn’s rings or the craters of the moon. That’s what’s happening thanks to a growing global movement bringing astronomy directly to the people, right on the streets! In cities worldwide, astronomy enthusiasts are setting up powerful telescopes in
parks, on sidewalks, and in busy downtown areas. Their mission is simple: to share the wonders of the universe with anyone who happens to walk by. The best part is there’s no experience required. All you need is a little curiosity. The movement is called #popscope (short for pop-up telescope). Founded in Ottawa, Ontario, in 2014, it has expanded to include hundreds of cities in Canada, the U.S., Ireland, and India Volunteers, often amateur astronomers or passionate stargazers, invite strangers to peer into the sky, and many people are left speechless. It’s a great reminder that we all live under the same stunning sky. These spontaneous sidewalk star parties are making science more accessible, especially for communities that don’t have easy access to observatories or science museums. Beyond amazing educational
opportunities, the pop-up telescope events spark something deeply human: connection. As people gather to look up, they share a sense of awe that transcends background, language, and age. It’s hard not to feel united when staring at the vastness of space. This isn’t about high-tech gear or flashy presentations; instead, it’s an opportunity to pause for a moment amidst the noise and hustle and realize the universe is right there, waiting to be admired. Thanks to these sidewalk astronomers, more and more people are getting that chance.
To volunteer for the group, visit their website at PopScope.org.
So, the next time you’re strolling through the city and see a telescope a stranger has set up, don’t walk past it. Stop. Look. Wonder. You just might see Jupiter’s moons or Saturn’s rings, and you’ll definitely walk away with a smile!
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TAKE A BREAK
APPLES BASKETBALL BLACK FRIDAY
ELECTION KINDNESS LEAVES NAP PARADE PIE SCORPIO TOPAZ VETERAN
THE GREAT ONION MARKET MELTDOWN How 2 Men Peeled the System
Many Americans like to invest in the stock market, hoping to earn supplemental income or get rich. But there’s always the fear that a hedge fund or an extremely wealthy influencer could manipulate the market, allowing them to get rich off their stocks while everyone else suffers and loses money. In theory, nobody should have the power to manipulate stocks, but it still happens. One of the most extraordinary market manipulations occurred in the 1950s. In 1955, onion futures became one of the most traded commodities on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. For those unfamiliar with futures trading, someone could sell their product months down the line for the price it’s worth today, as long as someone buys the contract. For example, let’s say wheat is trading at $5.50 per bushel right now. You purchase a futures contract to lock in that price three months later. If the price rises, you still get wheat for the initial cost, or you can sell your contract for a profit. New York-based investors Sam Siegel and Vincent Kosuga realized they could get rich quickly by manipulating the surging onion market of the 1950s. They purchased 30 million pounds of onions, almost all of Chicago’s inventory, to short- sell the stock. This meant they would sell the stocks at a higher price before rebuying them when the price dipped. They knew they could profit since they owned 98% of the inventory. After flooding the market with their onions and onion futures contracts, the price per bag dropped from $2.74 to 10 cents. Farmers were furious. Many lost their livelihood, but Siegel and Kosuga made millions. While market manipulation was unethical, it wasn’t illegal back then, so the two couldn’t be punished for their actions. To ensure this never happened again, Congress passed the Onion Futures Act in 1958, which completely banned trading in onion futures. President Eisenhower signed the bill into law. To this day, onions are the only commodity in America that is explicitly banned from futures trading.
Pumpkin Dump Cake
Ingredients
• 1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin • 1 (10 oz) can evaporated milk • 1 cup light brown sugar • 3 eggs • 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 box yellow cake mix • 1 cup coarsely crushed
graham crackers or pecans • 1/2 cup toffee bits (optional) • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, add pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. 3. Stir to combine and pour into the prepared pan. 4. Sprinkle the entire box of cake mix on top, followed by nuts or graham crackers and toffee bits. 5. Pour melted butter evenly on top. 6. Bake for 45–50 minutes, until the center is set and edges are lightly browned. 7. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Inspired by CookiesAndCups.com
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
(308) 872-8327 SteffensLaw.com PO Box 363 Carnegie Prof. Bldg.
Broken Bow, NE 68822 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Know Your Rights After Someone Else’s Mistake
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The Global Movement Making Astronomy for Everyone
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Pumpkin Dump Cake
The Day Onions Crashed the Chicago Exchange
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Inside the Explosive Probate Battle Over Gary Coleman’s Estate
2 WILLS, HANDWRITTEN CODICIL SPARK LEGAL WAR Gary Coleman’s Probate Drama
Gary Coleman’s death at age 42 in 2010 led to one of the most convoluted probate battles in celebrity estate history. Although he left only modest assets, the fight over his will and remains spiraled into a legal saga filled with dramatic courtroom testimony and personal revelations. Coleman had signed multiple wills: a 1999 document naming a former manager as his executor and a 2005 will naming his longtime assistant and friend, Anna Gray, as executor and sole beneficiary. Even though he divorced Shannon Price in 2008, Coleman had allegedly added a handwritten codicil in 2007, leaving everything to her. Price asserted they continued living together as husband and wife, despite the divorce, claiming a common‑law marriage under Utah law. This twist turned a probate hearing into a character trial. Price’s legal team presented
witnesses (bank officers, Coleman’s agent, and relatives) who testified that the couple filed joint taxes, shared bank accounts, and called each other husband and wife. But Anna Gray’s side countered with a strong testimony. The judge questioned whether Price had established a public reputation as a wife, a key requirement for common‑law recognition in Utah.
Anna Gray as executor and beneficiary stood as the controlling document.
So, what did Coleman actually leave behind? His estate amounted to little more than his home ($315,000), royalty payments, and possessions. The real value lay in deciding who controlled Coleman’s name, ashes, and remaining intellectual property. Adding to court records, Shannon Price was the person who authorized turning off Coleman’s life support when he fell and suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2010. Whether that gave her moral or legal standing remained hotly debated, but in probate court, she lost.
In May 2012, after three days of explosive
testimony, Judge James Taylor ruled that Price failed to show a recognized common‑law marriage with Coleman at the time of his death. This meant that the 2005 will naming
And in the end, the probate judge settled the matter: Anna Gray inherited what remained of Coleman’s estate, his ashes, and control over the disposition of his name and legacy.
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