Take a look at our August newsletter!
816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com AUG 2023
ANIMAL BITES
CAR ACCIDENTS
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
Don’t Give Up! Have Faith That You WILL Win
BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Every day, with every client I meet, they remind me just how strong the human spirit is and people’s remarkable desire to overcome adversity and do what’s right. For personal injury victims in particular, those obstacles can sometimes seem insurmountable as they deal with medical bills, recovery, and pain while pursuing justice and compensation. The truth is the journey of a personal injury case is hardly ever easy. On the other side of the case is an entire defense counsel dedicated to doing everything they can to prove you wrong and invalidate everything you’re going through. For them, it doesn’t matter whether their client or company was right or wrong — it’s a business decision. Even if the law is on your side and your claim is worthy, the road ahead will require a fight. But as we said, our clients are strong, and they want to push forward for the justice they — and others in their community — deserve. And luckily, they’re not alone because we’re here to fight alongside them every step of the way. I say all of this because Aug. 18 is Never Give Up Day, and to celebrate, I wanted to take a moment to remind anyone who currently is dealing with or has dealt with a personal injury case that no matter how long the battle rages on you have every right to keep fighting. We know we will. I do understand that for some people, though, it can be hard to hang on when a case goes on for years. But I’m here to say that justice is still possible by simply letting go of what you can’t control and trusting your attorney. That’s exactly what many of our clients in the past have done. We have seen our share of clients over the years who have suffered catastrophic injuries and unfortunately had terrible laws facing them in their cases. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including the nature or employment of the person who wrongs you, but it is never fair. The law in some cases seems to say they have no case to pursue at all.
BURN INJURIES
While sometimes that can be an unfortunate result, we pride ourselves on searching for ways our clients can receive justice and the proper compensation they deserve for their injuries that are not their fault. And, through tenacity and some really clever lawyering, we have been able to get our clients’ cases to a point where we have defeated motions to dismiss and then defeated motions for summary judgment to be in a position to finally obtain justice for them. Sometimes it takes as long as seven years or more, but our clients never gave up and stuck by us, and in the end, they won. A large part of our clients’ success in these difficult cases is due to the fact that despite other people telling them they didn’t have a case or wouldn’t recover anything, they remained optimistic. Many people aren’t ready for how long it can take to receive justice, and more often than not, it takes way longer than you think it will. That’s just the court system. Once you understand that, let go of the aspects you can’t control and put your trust in your attorney. Our clients have done just that because they knew we’d keep fighting no matter how long it took. So, if you’re dealing with a personal injury case, don’t give up. Keep your head up and know there is hope for justice. If you’ve suffered an injury from an incident that was not your fault and are looking for a team that will stick with you until the end, call us at 816-268-1960 . –Chelsea Dickerson
CONSTRUCTION INJURIES
NURSING HOME ABUSE
SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS
BOATING ACCIDENTS
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES
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Child safety is imperative on any drive, no matter how short. Children are much more vulnerable to severe and fatal injuries in automobile accidents than adults, so even a quick drive to school can become deadly. This is why all 50 states have child safety seat laws to protect vulnerable children in car accidents. Understanding and obeying these laws as a parent or guardian could save your child’s life. WHAT ARE MISSOURI’S CHILD RESTRAINT LAWS? In Missouri, it is against the law to transport a child without using the proper safety restraint system. All children should be seated in the back seat and strapped into the correct restraint device. According to the Revisor Statutes of Missouri, Section 307.179, every driver transporting a child under the age of 16 is responsible for protecting the child through the following means: Rear-facing car seat. Any child under 4 years old or under 40 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing restraint system. Currently, an infant’s accepted type of seat is a rear-facing car seat with a five‑point harness. Forward-facing car seat. Once the child grows enough to meet the manufacturer of the car seat’s minimum height and weight, they can transition to a forward-facing car seat. August officially marks the last month of summer vacation, but just because school is back in session this month doesn’t mean the family fun in Kansas City has to end! In fact, many exciting events take place this month, so grab your kids after that school bell rings and check out one (or all) of these fantastic events our city offers. FAIRY TALE VILLAGE Do your kids love classic fairy tales? If yes, we highly recommend checking out the Fairy Tale Village at the Crown Center Showplace! In this manufactured village, fairy tales come to life, and kids can walk around a make-believe world while interacting with some of their favorite characters. They can even sit in Cinderella’s magic carriage or stroll with “Little Red Riding Hood” through the woods to Grandmother’s house! The exhibit even includes a reading area where kids and parents can read some of their favorite fairy tales together. MARK YOUR CALEND THE ROAD TO CHILD Missouri’s Booster Seat Gu
We all wish our pets would be there for us in an emergency. Dogs, cats, and other animals can accomplish amazing feats when provided with enough love and care, and a cat from Liverpool named Willow recently proved that many times over. A cat’s sense of smell is incredibly effective at detecting when something is abnormal, and Willow used her nose to save her owner in the nick of time. For many with diabetes, falling into a diabetic coma is a constant concern, and they regularly check their blood sugar levels and take insulin shots to avoid that scenario. Amanda Jameson, a 51-year-old woman from Liverpool, received a diabetes diagnosis years ago but had always stayed on top of it. In April 2023, she fell asleep while her blood sugar was dangerously low. Thankfully, her cat, Willow, noticed something was wrong and sprang into action. Willow went to the living room, where Amanda’s husband had fallen asleep watching television. Willow proceeded to bite his leg and jump on him until he woke up around 4 a.m. He could tell something was wrong, as this was abnormal behavior for Willow, so he followed her to the bedroom, where he spotted his wife. She was slumped over and unresponsive, and he immediately called her an ambulance. Doctors informed Amanda’s husband that she was moments away from slipping into a diabetic coma, but Willow had smelled something off and gotten help before it was too late. Most pets would get a few extra treats for their heroism, but Willow’s feats earned her a more prestigious award. The National Cat Awards named Willow as a finalist for their “Moggy Marvels” category. If Willow wins, she’ll receive a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher, and a year subscription to Cats Protection’s “The Cat” magazine. Although Willow likely A CAT’S NOSE KNOWS HOW WILLOW SAVED HER OWNER’S LIFE
doesn’t care about the trophy or the subscription, she’ll be happy enough with £200 worth of goodies and her owner safely by her side.
The Fairy Tale Village is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sundays from 12–5 p.m. Admission is FREE! SUMMER OF SHARKS Come “face-to-fin” this month with some of the ocean’s most extraordinary creatures
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D SAFETY
uidelines
Booster seat. Children between the ages of 4 and 8, who also weigh between
40 and 80 pounds and are less than 4 feet, 9 inches tall, must be secured in a booster seat.
Seat belt. Once a child is at least 80 pounds and over 4 feet, 9 inches in height, they can graduate to a normal vehicle safety belt, as long as it fits the child correctly. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BOOSTER SEATS? Booster seats dramatically decrease the risk of a child suffering serious or deadly injuries in an automobile accident. A booster seat lifts a small child to the proper height to use the vehicle’s seat belt system to its full potential. Without a booster seat, a small child would be too short to use an adult seat belt, and the lap or shoulder belt may fall on the incorrect place on the child, causing more harm than good in a car accident. WHICH BOOSTER SEAT SHOULD YOU CHOOSE? When choosing the right booster seat for your child, do your research. Choose one with a high safety rating and positive consumer reviews. Do not purchase a used or older-model car seat, and always check for product recalls. at Sea Life Kansas City. The Sea Life Aquarium is hosting a special event for all ages, where participants will get to test their shark- identifying skills to see if they can name all four shark species in the aquarium. Not only that, but Summer of Sharks also includes shark-themed activities and brand-new shark talks from some of their leading experts. The best part is that Summer of Sharks is included with general admission to the Sea Life Aquarium, so all you have to do is attend before Aug. 31 to experience this FIN-tastic exhibit! You can buy tickets at VisitSeaLife.com/Kansas-City. FORTOPIA We all love a good fort, whether we build it in the living room or our backyards. However, the Powell Gardens takes forts to the extreme with Fortopia, a “playful outdoor exhibition comprised of awe- inspiring forts” that “encourage outdoor discovery and tap into the nostalgia of childhood fort building.” And they weren’t kidding about the childhood part either — this year’s fort designers even include a team of preschool children! Fortopia is included in general admission to the Powell Gardens and ends Sept. 4, 2023, so don’t wait! You can purchase tickets at PowellGardens.org! DARS! ENDLESS ADVENTURES AWAIT IN KANSAS CITY
TAKE A BREAK
GRILLED HALIBUT WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 1 16-oz jar roasted red bell peppers, drained • 5 garlic cloves • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar • 2 tsp honey • 1 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/2 cup olive oil • 4 6-oz skin-on halibut fillets
1. In a food processor or blender, mix bell peppers, garlic, vinegar, honey, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Transfer sauce to a bowl; whisk in oil. 2. Into a large plastic zipper bag, pour 1 cup of sauce; add halibut fillets and seal bag; turn to coat fillets. Let marinate in refrigerator for 20 minutes. Reserve remaining sauce for serving. 3. Preheat a grill to medium-high (400–450 F). Remove halibut from marinade; scrape off excess. 4. On oiled grill grates, arrange fillets and grill, covered, until fish flakes easily, 4–5 minutes per side. 5. Transfer fillets to serving plates or a large platter. Drizzle with reserved sauce. Serve alongside preferred veggies and crusty bread.
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Giving Back
Advertising Material
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816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
Whatever You Do, Don’t Stop Fighting!
PG1
A Guardian Angel Covered in Fur
PG2
Are Booster Seats Required in Missouri?
PG2
Fairy Tales, Sharks, and Forts
PG2
Grilled Halibut With Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
PG3
Unleash Your Child’s Full Potential
PG4
How Extracurricular Activities Benefit Your Kids UNLOCK A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
As children return to school in August, they’ll likely be interested in one or more extracurricular activities. Opportunities both in school and in the community are numerous, such as participating in a local play, joining a school club or sports team, and many others. Extracurricular activities are perfect for getting kids out of the house, but these ventures will also help them gain valuable experiences along with these three benefits. IMPROVES SOCIAL SKILLS One of the biggest concerns parents have had since we experienced lockdowns during the pandemic is that their children struggle to communicate with others. Most of these kids were away from their peers for a year or more, which weakened their social skills. Participating in an extracurricular activity gives your kids a chance to communicate with others outside of a school setting. They’ll learn how other people think and how to best respond to certain situations. BOLSTERS COLLEGE APPLICATIONS If your child wants to attend college after high school, joining a club, team, or organization will give them a leg up on other candidates. College admissions officers love to see students who participate in extracurricular activities because it shows they are involved in their community and
possess leadership and teamwork skills. While extracurriculars are not as important as other factors for college admissions, they still play a decisive role in the college’s choice to accept your child. HELPS THEM DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS There are countless examples of kids discovering their true passion through participating in extracurricular activities. Your child might not become a professional athlete, but they might discover an alternate career path, like becoming a physical therapist or personal trainer by playing a sport. If your kid likes animals, they might find a prospective career path by volunteering at the zoo. If one activity doesn’t appeal to them, try another. Before long, you’ll find the perfect interest for your child.
ADVERTISING MATERIAL: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. This newsletter is provided to former clients, individuals who have contacted the firm regarding representation, and individuals who have requested to be on the newsletter mailing list. This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or direct solicitation for employment of the firm on any particular legal matter.
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