Lawyers operate under ethical rules that prevent us from representing a client when we have a “conflict of interest.” A lawyer has a conflict of interest when there is something about the case that might prevent the lawyer from representing his client’s interests as zealously as he might. This usually…
One of the more difficult cases to prove is the personal injury case involving a low-speed car crash. A fender bender might not break any bones, but it can produce a significant jolt that, under the right circumstances, results in significant and long-lasting pain that can affect the victim’s quality…
Idaho is a magnet for skiers. Here is a video of Pocatello native Sander Hadley doing tricks he learned at Pebble Creek, just up the road from his home as a boy. Most people would agree that if Sander gets hurt doing his back-country acrobatics, it is no one’s fault…
Someone who has suffered personal injuries in an accident is probably going through tough financial times. She may be out of work, and dealing with medical expenses. Paying a lawyer probably isn’t in the cards. Never let financial difficulties keep you from hiring a lawyer to deal with the personal…
The “slip-and-fall” case. It is the mainstay of jokes about the ambulance-chasing personal injury lawyer. The truth, though, is that the “slip-and-fall” case, and other premises liability cases, enforce a rule that is hundreds of years old: a landowner who invites the public onto his property, like a grocery store…
Traumatic brain injuries are common in car accidents, falls, and other activities. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 2.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. Yet TBI is often never diagnosed or treated. People who strike their head in a minor car wreck or…
If I lend my car to someone else and they cause a crash, am I liable as the owner of the car? Yes! Idaho Code 49-2417 provides that the owner of a motor vehicle is liable and responsible for the death or injury to a person or property resulting from…
“Whiplash” is a catch-all phrase for injuries caused by a sudden back-and-forth jerking motion of the head. It is common in car wrecks, but it can also happen in contact sports and heavy metal concerts. The actual injuries that may occur because of the whiplash motion include strain of muscles…
I was riding in my friend’s car and he crashed because he was texting while driving and now I’m hurt. I heard that Idaho has a guest statute that precludes me from suing my friend for my damages. Is that true? It’s not true! Idaho’s guest statute is found in…
I am over 18 years old and I borrowed by friend’s car. I then lent the car to a 15 year old friend to drive. My 15 year old friend crashed, am I liable? Yes! Idaho Code 49-2416 provides that every owner of a motor vehicle who knowingly permits a…