#charles hausmann

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HAUSMANN-MCNALLY URGES DRIVERS TO: WATCH OUT FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

With summer comes the joy of getting the cycle out of storage, bringing out the leathers and hitting the road for another motorcycling season. Hausmann-McNally lawyers and staff have been riding for decades and want to urge all of our clients and their families to keep an extra eye out for motorcyclists and safely share the roads with them.

Hausmann-McNally, over its 40 + years in practice, has seen the tragedy of many a serious motorcycle accident and would like to offer some sobering statistics and suggestions for a safe motorcycling season.

THE FACTS: According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

•    Motorcyclists are 25 times more likely to experience a deadly accident on the road than those in passenger cars. •    In 2006, 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in highway accidents alone. •    In 2006, 4,810 motorcyclists were killed in road accidents. •    11 percent of all roadway accidents that occur in the United States involve motorcycles. •    Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. •    A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is 40 percent more likely to die of a head injury than one who wears a helmet. •    A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is 15 percent more likely to suffer a nonfatal injury than one who wears a helmet. •    It is estimated that helmets reduce the likelihood of a crash fatality by 37 percent. •    In 2007, a total of 7.1 million motorcycles were registered in the U.S.

A 2009 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute report found that:

•    More than half of motorcyclist deaths involved at least one other vehicle. •    42 percent of two-vehicle fatal motorcycle crashes involved a vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the vehicle.

These statistics make it crucial for all drivers to properly yield to cyclists who have the right-of-way before making left turns and to keep a watchful eye out for motorcyclists, which are often less conspicuous and visible than larger passenger vehicles.

The potential affects of a motorcycle accident are far reaching. Here at Hausmann-McNally, we have seen far too many clients severely debilitated due to motorcycle accidents. In an effort to reduce motorcycle accidents and the injuries resulting from them, Hausmann-McNally urges motorcyclists to follow these five steps to avoid and minimize motorcycle accidents.

5 Tips to Avoid and Minimize Motorcycle Accidents, suggested by Charles Hausmann, President of Hausmann-McNally and long time motorcycle rider.

1.    Take a motorcycle safety course. A safety course can benefit even the most skilled motorcyclist.  The Motorcyclist Safety Foundation offers 2 courses (one for new motorcyclists and one for experienced motorcyclists) in close to 1,500 locations throughout the United States. Motorcyclists should know how to safely ride and how to react in an accident situation.

2.    Constantly observe your surroundings. Motorcycles are simply harder to see than passenger cars. Therefore, you should consistently scan your surroundings for possible dangers-protect yourself-watchout for unsafe automobile drivers who may put you in danger. Tips: •    Rid yourself of distractions; e.g. cell phones, mp3 players, etc. •    Keep a good distance between you and other motorists. •    Do not stare straight ahead of you; constantly check your mirrors.

3.    Hand positions matter. Intersections are where the most accidents happen.  Be fully prepared for a stop, place your hands over both your front and rear brakes when you are approaching a stop; this will allow you to brake as quickly as possible if necessary.

4.     Your position on the road matters Position yourself closer to the side of the road you are on.  If you are in the right lane, position yourself closer to the right shoulder; if you are in the left lane, position yourself closer to the left shoulder.  This will allow you more room to avoid an accident or debris in the roadway without potentially hitting another motorist.

5.    Wear the proper gear. According to the NHTSA, wearing a helmet can reduce your risk of head related injuries by 69 percent and your risk of death due to head injury by 42 percent.  Your helmet should be a full-coverage helmet with a visor; this means it should cover your chin, eyes, and nose.  Put simply, your face and head should be completely covered by protective materials.  Additionally, you should wear protective boots with gripping soles, gloves, and either protective pants and a jacket or a protective full bodysuit.

As a personal injury law firm with offices in 6 states, Hausmann-McNally has worked with many victims of violent motorcycle crashes. We have had to fight for clients who can’t go to work anymore because of serious bodily and brain injuries. The staff at Hausmann-McNally understands that bikers do not want to give up their life’s passion so we urge all motorists to “Watch out for Motorcyclists” and for all motorcyclists to ride safely and follow the five steps outlined in this article for a safe riding season. Go out and ride safely and enjoy the freedom of the road!

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'Another Failed War, the War on Drugs' says Charles Hausmann

When it comes to illegal drugs in America, there simply aren’t any winners.

Drug users place themselves and their families into a deathly spiral of economic and psychological misery. They ruin their health in many cases, debase themselves by stealing, selling off their family and friend’s possessions for the next hit and even turn to murder to sustain the habit. Their families’ cry for help resounds on TV talk shows, in therapists’ offices and all through our communities.

Dope dealers live a double life of secrecy and paranoia that many times leads them to a life behind bars or death at the hands of a rival.

Luckily, we have a solution. Or do we?

The American government and its taxpayers have spent hundreds of billions of dollars fighting this 500-pound gorilla that it, in all likelihood, cannot ever fully defeat.

The “war on drugs” has been a staple of the American justice system since the Nixon administration. Since then, the United States has spent one trillion dollars fighting drugs.

That’s 1,000,000,000,000 with a “T”.

Statewide, the numbers are just as sobering. In 2002, the State of Wisconsin spent $180 million fighting Marijuana alone.

Nationwide, the federal government spends roughly $500 a second fighting drugs. The Obama administration has made cuts to defense, healthcare and education. Why not start trimming this ineffective use of our money?

Whether you believe drugs are an abhorrent evil, a personal choice or both, most people agree we are allotting too many resources to pursuing, prosecuting and locking up drug offenders. We are not getting the benefits that justify the costs. Leaders, even the “law and order” hard liners, need to recognize that the “solution” isn’t working.

Because of America’s focus on domestic drug enforcement, other countries have had to absorb the dealings of the drug cartels. In Afghanistan, “poppy” fields fuel the world’s heroin addiction, as well as fund the Taliban’s efforts to kill American soldiers.

Mexico has been thrust into a quasi civil war due to the cartels running marijuana and cocaine into the country. We ought to at least discuss bringing the drug trade into our legitimate economy and regulate and tax it accordingly. Mexico and the government of Afghanistan have enough trouble without having to combat America’s drug addiction.

The United States considers itself the leader of the free world. We have to make the tough decisions that other countries have the luxury of avoiding.

It’s time we take the lead in fixing the very thing we created: The War on Drugs.

In upcoming articles, I will explore the economic, social and racial components of drug enforcement. I think you will find that our drug policy needs rebooting.

Charles Hausmann President, Hausmann & McNally Law Offices

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Three steps for truckers after an accident

Take Action To Protect Your Interests. There’s nothing small about truck accidents. From the damage caused to the mammoth machines themselves, everything about semi-truck collisions is big, including the consequences of a lawsuit.

If in an accident, truckers need to act responsibly and wisely. Common wisdom tells you to see to your own safety and that of anyone else involved in the accident. Do what you can to make sure your truck is out of the way to prevent more accidents and immediately alert authorities.

Beyond the safety issues, there are some crucial steps that you need to take in order to protect your assets and your livelihood. These are offered by Hausmann-McNally, a law firm with nearly 40 years experience in helping truckers protect their rights.

These steps will pay off dividends in the long run. 1 – Take pictures of your truck, the vehicles involved, property damage, all visible injuries and any signs or other mitigating factors that could have had an effect on the accident. This is crucial to any successful litigation if you are looking to try to recover damages or defend yourself in court.

2 – You will need to write down a lot of information. Make sure to have a pen and paper on you. First and foremost, you will have to exchange insurance information with the other vehicle as well as obtain the names and contact info of the other driver(s) and any witnesses.

It is also advisable to make a note of the road signs and conditions. For instance, what was the weather like? Did the rain make the road slippery, or was the visibility too low because of the fog? It is very important you write down this information.

3 – When you get home or the next time you’re near a phone, get in touch with your attorney. Like it was stated earlier, there is oftentimes big money consequences for insurance companies when it comes to accidents involving trucks, so it is in the insurance company’s (of the other driver) interest to get you to make self-incriminating remarks via a recorded statement.

Keep in mind, driving safely can prevent accidents and the need to deal with lawyers and insurance companies. A 2006 study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revealed that only 65 percent of truck drivers wear a seat belt, despite the high risk of a fatal accident.

In that same year, 805 drivers and occupants of large trucks died in an accident. Of that number, nearly half were not wearing a seatbelt, according to the FMCSA. Sometimes, however, serious accidents are unavoidable for truck drivers due to erratic driving by others. In this case especially, the Hausmann-McNally must-dos after a crash are particularly important.

The attorneys at Hausmann-McNally know how to deal with insurance companies. We have handled hundreds of truck cases in the past, and you can be assured we will get you the best possible outcome for your case.

Hausmann-McNally’s staff will work with health care providers and insurance companies so you can focus on getting better and getting your life back in order after your accident. For truck drivers, accidents are typically more serious than for those with cars.

If you make your livelihood off of 18-wheelers, semis and tractor-trailers, we know that taking months off to deal with an accident is not a good option. Let Hausmann-McNally go to work for you. If you get in a truck accident, please don’t hesitate to call 800-227-6699 for free advice and counseling.

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Hausmann-McNally gets huge settlement for denied insurance coverage

It’s hard to believe insurance companies can be so short-sighted at times. The lawyers who work for the corporations have got to know some of the policies enacted by the companies are in a legal gray area.

That’s why it’s important to have lawyers fighting for your rights like the experienced personal injury attorneys at Hausmann-McNally S.C. In some cases, having a lawyer can be the difference between a client gaining tens of thousands of dollars and filing for bankruptcy because of medical bills.

One recent Hausmann-McNally client found this out firsthand. Our client sustained serious neck and back injuries when he was cut off by a left-turning car that pulled in front of him.

After the accident, the client and his wife applied for health insurance hoping the insurance company would help pay for his medical bills. Our client was completely upfront about his injuries to the insurance company and, despite the serious nature of his upcoming treatment, the company decided to take him on as a customer.

Our client was charged $1,000 a month for his insurance, not cheap by any means. Somewhere along the line, however, the health insurance company decided they did not like this arrangement with our client. The company inexplicably revoked all medical payments it made to our client’s doctors and hospital.

The health insurer claimed that our client did not inform the company about his pre-existing injuries when he signed up for coverage. This was not accurate. Hausmann-McNally took the health insurer to court, and after medical bills were paid, our client was awarded $50,000 in “bad faith” compensation because the insurer broke its contract.

The Hausmann-McNally attorney said that the insurance company’s actions were “unheard of,” and that he had never before seen an insurance company withdraw payment to a hospital.

“Our client paid good, hard-earned money for his insurance,” Hausmann-McNally declared. “For this insurance company to try and pull a stunt like that was outrageous.”

This $50,000 was on top of the $100,000 our client had already received from the offender’s auto insurance company. Had the victim not hired Hausmann-McNally S.C., he could have actually lost out on money he was entitled to.

That is why if you have been in an accident, you should call the Law offices of Hausmann-McNally at 800-227-6699 for a free consultation. Our staff is friendly, professional and ready to answer any and all questions.