Car Seat Safety.

When the Baby Boomer generation was growing up we did not know about car seats.  Then the Gen-X’rs started having kids and car seats for the little ones not only became smart, but mandatory.  It can be a safe new world as long as you play it safe with kids in cars.  Choosing the right car seat is as important as choosing the correct ride for your growing family.

The right car seat will significantly reduce the chance of serious injury in an accident.  The type of seat depends on such variables as age, size, weight, etc.  If a car seat is 6 or 7 years old it may have expired and one that has been involved in a crash may no longer meet the proper safety standards.  Did you know that?

Above all, not every car seat is created equal.  There may be a flaw in the manufacturing of this particular one.  If your child is ever injured while sitting in one that may be defective, please take immediate legal action.  Contact Albuquerque car accident attorney Ken Wagner.  Ken and his staff serve all of the Great Southwest.  Discover your options by calling (505) 242-6300.

Nursing Home Abuse in the Great Southwest.

It is a painful subject.  Nursing home abuse is an epidemic in this country.  Make no mistake about it, the vast majority of individuals and facilities are first rate and treat their patients like family.  However, the sad truth is about 10% of all residents of nursing homes are mistreated in one way or another.

The first issue is facing the truth.  You are not there to see the up-to-the-minute care that the person who helped raise you to adulthood is getting.  Even speaking with them may not give you a clear picture.  Sometimes you must rely on visual evidence.  The next time that you visit look for scrapes or cuts or any other malformities and start asking questions.

If the answers you receive from both the patient and the staff do not mesh, then it is imperative that you take steps to correct the problem.  Your first action may be to call the office of Ken Wagner.  Ken and his staff have protected nursing home patients in the Great Southwest for decades.  Please don’t wait another day.  Give the Albuquerque office a call at (505) 242-6300.

Accident Liability with Uber and Lyft.

Just a few years ago we did not even know what those terms meant.  Now they are billion dollar business in the United States.  With auto accidents involving Uber and Lyft increasing as quickly as these businesses are growing you need to become aware of their liability.  Many of you reading this will hire one of these rideshares in 2017.  We hope that every trip is a safe one.

Maybe the most important thing to know at this point is that drivers of Uber and Lyft are not employees like taxi drivers.  Of course, both companies do background checks and don’t just let anyone drive for them.  Both Uber and Lyft offer one million dollars of liability insurance, but there are limitations as to whom it covers.

This new gray area is definitely something that you need to be aware of.  If you or a loved one is involved in an Uber or Lyft car accident do not take anything for granted!  You must treat this with your full attention moving forward.  Contact Great Southwest car accident attorney Ken Wagner at his Albuquerque office to discover the next step at (505) 242-6300.

Inside the McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case.

Here is a clip from Adam Ruins Everything.  If you ever had a pre-conceived notion about the historic McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case this could change your perspective forever.

Back in the 1990’s the victim Stella Liebeck was widely criticized and parodied on late night television about her supposedly “frivolous” law suit.  We were bombarded with speculation and half-truths about the incident.  In the long run (a quarter century later) people still have strong opinions not only about the case, but its implications on the judicial system.

After you have viewed this three minute video clip you will probably have more knowledge about the case than you have ever had.  The bottom line is this…Ken Wagner of the Wagner Law Firm located in Albuquerque NM was one of the attorneys who won Mrs. Liebeck’s case.  Now that you know more of the facts it is very comforting to know that this courageous attorney still serves the Great Southwest.  If you have a possible personal injury claim call his office at (505) 242-6300.

Slow Down…It’s Holiday Time.

Come on, relax.  It’s time to slow down and enjoy the season.  Are you pointing your car north toward Colorado or Utah?  Be prepared for winter driving.  How about Texas?  The weather could be nicer, but changing rapidly.  Maybe you are headed west to Las Vegas…lucky you!  Wherever you are traveling in the Great Southwest slow down and enjoy the ride.

Holiday roads can be tricky with sudden snow storms and black ice.  Statistics from The National Safety Council show that Christmas and New Years are two of the ten most dangerous driving days in the United States every year.  They are both coming up, so be forever vigilant of the guy driving next to you or in front or behind you.

As we approach 2017 one thing is as true as it was 40 years ago and even longer.  The lead attorney who has protected residents of Albuquerque and the Great Southwest in personal injury claims is stronger than ever.  He is Ken Wagner.  Ken and his staff wish you a wonderful holiday season, and if you happen to need us in the New Year, call (505) 242-6300.

Some Holiday Toys That Could Hurt Your Kids.

No one wants to take the joy out of the holiday season, but it pays to be cautious when buying Christmas presents that may be hazardous to your children.  Did you know, for example, that McDonalds issued a toy in its Happy Meal a couple of years ago that had to be recalled?  It was called the “Hello Kitty Whistle”.  Two kids choked on parts of it that came loose before it was recalled!

The Ace Bayou Bean Bag Chair claimed the life of a 10 year old boy in Texas and a 3 year old girl in Kentucky when they suffocated within it.  Have you ever heard of the Cannondale Tandem Bicycle?  A problem with the fork of this particular bicycle has caused riders to lose control.  Consumer Reports tells us that 5000 Americans a year die in bicycle accidents.

 

Just be vigilant this holiday season.  Give gifts that are age appropriate.  When you do, monitor the use of those toys and games by your children.  If you ever discover a defective product, contact Attorney Kenneth Wagner.  The winner of the McDonalds Hot Coffee Case has been protecting people in the Great Southwest from defective products for decades from his Albuquerque office at (505) 242-6300. 

The McDonald’s Hot Coffee Case.

Even though it has been two decades the McDonald’s Hot Coffee case lives on in history.  If you mention it even today it conjures up all sorts of different opinions.  If you are not familiar with it, it was the product liability case of Stella Liebeck vs. McDonalds, the fast food giant.  This occurred after she spilled hot coffee in her lap.

Interestingly, Esquire Magazine has just picked up the mantle and written a fascinating article on the nearly 25-year old case.  Please check out the September addition of Esquire.  In it you will find a well-crafted retrospective entitled, “What you don’t know about the McDonald’s Hot Coffee burn case”.  If you have the opportunity, give it a careful reading.

Some quarter century later the man who successfully represented Mrs. Liebeck is still practicing in Albuquerque, New Mexico where the incident occurred.  His name is Kenneth Wagner.  Attorney Wagner and his staff are important people to have on your side if you have a personal injury case in the Great Southwest.  Call the office at (505) 242-6300.