Hot Coffee Anyone?

There is no doubt that one of the most widely talked about personal injury cases of the last 30 years is the "McDonald's Coffee" case. The stuff of legend is tossed around about how a woman had hot coffee spilled on her and won the "litigation lottery" for millions. This case (or rather the rumor mill and exaggeration which has spun out of it) has been the banner for tort reform for years.

What is reality however, is that the true facts of the case, the arguments made, and the actions of the attorneys involved are never actually talked about. Instead, accusations are flung and soundbites are echoed like a politician firing up the masses all to root out injustice.

Lost is the truth behind the American Civil System, the fairest legal structure in the world, backboned by our amazing courts and juries that truly allow an individual to be heard and their rights protected.

With that being said, a documentary will be airing soon that shows this side of the coin. The side that says stop listening to those who say that "frivolous" lawsuits are ruining our country. Our courts and government already have checks in place to prevent such from gaining traction. There is no need to poison the mind of every juror that anyone claiming injury is a liar, a fake, or just should've known better. People are hurt by the actions (or inactions) of others every day and our civil justice system is what ensures everyone remains accountable to one another.

Tune in to HBO on Monday June 27, at 9pm Eastern for the award winning "Hot Coffee" by Susan Saladoff to learn more about the case behind the myth. If you miss it, you can always check out the website: http://hotcoffeethemovie.com/ Or view the trailer below:




Hope you tune in.
-JBS

Dealing with the ARMY when You are in a Wreck

If you are an active duty soldier and injured in a wreck while stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia, you will have a lot of paper flying your way.

Initially, if the wreck occurs on a military post, you will have “Freedom of Information” forms to fill out just to get access to basic information about the accident. This can cause weeks of delay just to find out who else was in the car wreck. You might also have to go to a court proceeding in Federal Court to testify… even if the car wreck was not your fault. All of this will have to be done before you might even speak to anyone about fixing your car or paying it off if it is destroyed by the wreck.

We find that our office can be helpful in such situations in working with military families and their dependants due to our familiarity with Ft. Benning and its policies.

If you need medical attention, you will face other questions like:

1. where should you go?
2. how do you get a referral from the post?
3. will you have to treat with a military medic at Ft. Benning?
4. can you see a civilian doctor in Columbus, Georgia?
5. will the injury or treatment negatively impact your military career?
6. will you be on profile?

Again, there are options – both on post and off- that you should be aware exist in order to make informed decisions.

Of course, the medical team assigned to you will know best, but if you need a second opinion or other options, our office has found that we can provide good information which helps families in this area.

There are other issues that arise – from dealing with the reimbursement claims of the JAG office to getting recognition of the impact of a profile on your career goals. Sometimes it helps to have a lawyer familiar with these issues available for consultation.

Whatever your needs, whether you are active duty military, a military dependent, or a civilian working with the federal government here in the Ft. Benning area, we can help if you find yourself questioning what to do and how to get the medical attention and compensation you deserve.

Of course, our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis – no fee for us if we don’t recover for you – and can meet you at your convenience on post, at the hospital, or at your home. If you have moved away or TDY’d to some remote place, don’t let that stop you – we have represented military families across the world and are happy to help with more advice.

If you'd like to know more, just click on this posting's title to go to our firms webpage devoted to this topic or click here for our website.

-Law Offices of Gary Bruce

"Bike Rodeo" Event this Saturday

The Law Offices of Gary Bruce is proud to be a sponsor of this weekend's "Bike Rodeo" being hosted by Safe Kids of Columbus, Georgia.  As a personal injury firm, safety is a topic we care a great deal about.  Frequently, the injured people we represent would never have been harmed initially had someone taken a little more care or paid closer attention to what they were doing.  Part of that care involves possessing and using proper safety equipment.

To promote that awareness, the Law Offices of Gary Bruce encourage the area to turn out for the "Bike Rodeo" this weekend from 10:00am-1:00pm at the Columbus Library on Macon Road.  There, Safe Kids of Columbus will be hosting a free bike helmet give away for children under the age of 14 while supplies last.  Also as part of the rodeo, there will be bike inspections, helmet fitting, riding lessons, and information about bike security all to help spread information that will keep Columbus' children safe.  There will also be door prizes and a BMX stunt show to watch!

For more information click here or follow the link to the right to the website of Safe Kids of Columbus, Georgia.