The New Year is almost upon us and if you are like many Americans, the last days of this year may be spent putting together a list of resolutions. Each year, Americans assemble lists of New Year’s resolutions that will help them become better people in the coming year. Popular resolutions often include fitness-related goals like losing weight, eating healthier or joining a gym and personal health goals like quit smoking, cut back on sugar, or eat less red meat. However, New Year’s resolutions are difficult to continue for the entire 365 days, since they often require big lifestyle changes and face it, for many of us—change is difficult! But not all resolutions have to be tough. For example, one resolution that is relatively painless but can have a potentially huge impact one’s life is quite simple to keep, and that is to buckle up each and every time you drive or are a passenger in a vehicle.

Resolving always to wear your seat belt may not sound like a big deal, but it is the one thing everyone can do—to help save a life. The life may be your own, or it could be that of one of your passengers. Make it a rule that no one rides in your car without wearing his or her seatbelt. If you have doubts that wearing a seat belt is worth the 5-second effort, please consider the following:

1. It is estimated that seat belt usage reduces the serious crash-related injuries and deaths by close to 50 percent.
2. In 2014 alone, seat belts saved more than 12,800 lives.
3. People, who have not been wearing a seatbelt, have been killed in accidents where the vehicle was traveling as slow as 12 mph.
4. A driver, who is not wearing a seat belt, has 42 times greater risk of being killed in an accident than a driver who is wearing a seat belt.
5. In a 30 mph car crash, a driver or passenger who is unbuckled will hit the windshield with the same impact as if he or she had fallen from a three-story building.
6. Airbags are great but are not a substitute for seat belts. The main purpose of a seat belt is to keep the person inside of the car in the event of an accident. Airbags do not help keep people inside of the vehicle. According to some experts, being thrown from a vehicle is the number one cause of death in crashes.

If these reasons are not enough, remember that wearing a seat belt is the law in all states except for New Hampshire, and failure to wear one could result in a fine. Motorists in Kansas, a state with primary seat belt laws, can be pulled over if the officer has reason to believe that the driver or front seat passengers are not buckled up, while in Missouri most areas only have secondary laws.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured after being involved in an automobile accident, it is important to contact an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney promptly. The seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. will evaluate your case and determine whether you hold another party liable for your injuries and suffering. Our skilled Attorneys are prepared to fight until we obtain justice for you. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to work for you, just as they have worked for countless injury victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To schedule a consultation with one of our compassionate Injury Attorney contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

Everything about winter is cold, which does not necessarily make for fun driving. Snow, black ice, sub-zero wind chills, freezing rain, and the like can all make winter driving a challenge. In fact, the only the thing that seems not to be cooler in the winter is the temperaments of motorists. There is something about winter driving that tends to make tempers flare! Sometimes it is the driver that is driving 20 plus miles below the posted speed limit—just because it started to snow. Alternatively, maybe it is the driver in the van who failed to clean off the roof of their vehicle, sending a sheet of ice your way. Whatever it may be, there is certainly enough annoyances related to winter driving that gets motorists hot under the collar. While we all get temporarily upset by the actions of other drivers, some people take it a bit too far. Losing one’s cool behind the wheel is not only a dumb thing to do, but it can also be dangerous.

In a survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, found that nearly 9 out of every ten drivers believed that aggressive drivers were to some degree a threat to their personal safety. By learning to control your emotions when behind the wheel, you help ensure a safer trip for both you and your passengers. The following are some of the best tips to help you stay cool behind the wheel this winter:

• Leave ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you. When you keep your distance from the car in front of you, it is easier to stay cool. Space acts as a buffer both physically and emotionally. This way when the driver in front of you keeps braking for no apparent reason, you are not forced to react as quickly as you would if you were driving much closer to him or her.

• Conduct yourself in a way to set an example. If you are a parent or regularly drive with children in your vehicle, remember that they are watching and listening to your every move. Try to conduct yourself in a way that you would want them to act if they were behind the wheel.

• Make plan to have a good trip. Maybe your drive home from work is your time to decompress from the day and transition to greeting your family at home. This quiet time is valuable and can be enjoyable if you set your mind to it. Instead of getting upset, listen to your favorite tunes and relax.

• Take care of yourself. Feelings of road rage are much more likely to creep into your mind if you are stressed, tired or just plain running late. So do yourself a favor and make sure that you are fit and ready to drive before getting behind the wheel.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured after being involved in an automobile accident this winter, it is important to contact an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney right away. The seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. will evaluate your case and determine whether you hold another party liable for your injuries and suffering. Our team of skilled Attorneys is prepared to fight until justice has been served. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to work for you, just as they have worked for countless injury victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To schedule a consultation with one of our compassionate Injury Attorney contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

Everyone knows that this time of year involves a lot of hustle and bustle. It seems like there is never a moment to spare from now until the New Year! There are so many things to do in preparation for the holidays that it feels like one’s to-do list is never done—and the “doing” is not all. During the holidays there is also a lot of “going”—work bashes, school plays, trips to the mall, church activities, family get-togethers, breakfasts with Santa, cookie parties, and of course, the cross-country trip to visit grandma and grandpa. With so much dashing this way and darting that way, there is no real surprise that the holidays are one of the busiest and most dangerous times to be on the roadways. The good news is that there are things every motorist can do to make holiday travel safer. The following are a few tips to help make sure that you arrive safely at your destination this holiday season:

1. Leave the phone alone. A driver who uses his or her cell phone in any manner is driving distracted. Distracted drivers are one of the largest causes of accidents. Do yourself and your fellow motorists a favor and keep your hands off your phone until your car is parked.
2. Slow down. While it may be important to make it to your destination on time—speeding is not the answer. Take your time and relax. It is more important to make it to your destination safely than not at all.
3. Know when to stay home. Winter weather can be fun if it means skiing or sledding. However, no one wants to go skating down the road! Before you head out this season, take a minute to check the forecast and determine whether it will be safe for you to travel. If you are ever in doubt, opt to be cautious and stay put!
4. Avoid drowsy driving. With so much to do over the holidays, many of us are running on limited shut-eye. If you know you have a long trip ahead of you, make sure you get your beauty sleep before starting off.
5. Winterize your ride. In winter, it is important to make sure your vehicle can handle everything Mother Nature can throw your way. Make an appointment with your local mechanic to make sure your vehicle is ready for winter driving. If you are do-it-yourselfer be sure to check your vehicle’s tires, brakes, battery, lights, and wipers.
6. Sobriety is the name of the game. If you have been drinking at a party, do yourself a favor and let someone else do the driving. There is no reason to get behind the wheel this holiday. There are plenty options from the more old-fashioned, like having a designated driver or taking public transportation, to modern day conveniences like ordering a ride from Uber or Lyft. Driving sober this season can be as simple as a few clicks on your smart phone.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured after being involved in an automobile accident this holiday season, it is important to contact an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney right away. The seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. will evaluate your case and determine whether you hold another party liable for your injuries and suffering. Our team of skilled Attorneys is prepared to fight until justice has been served. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to work for you, just as they have worked for countless injury victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To schedule a consultation with one of our compassionate Injury Attorney contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

Now that it is officially fall let the countdown to Halloween begin! If you are a fan of this spooktacular holiday, and who is not, you have probably been planning for this year’s festivities since November 1^st of last year! What makes Halloween such a great holiday is that it is not just for kids—grown-ups love to get in on the fun too! Come on, who does not like candy, costumes, and scary stories? While Halloween can be a great time for young and old alike, the key to having the most fun on Halloween is making sure everyone stays safe! The real scary stuff that can happen on October 31^st has nothing to do with werewolves or the bogeyman—but accidents can and do happen. To make sure your crew has a fang-tastic time while keeping out of harm’s way, follow these tips:

1. Do a test walk: Before your child heads out the door, make sure he or she can walk in his or her costume without tripping and falling.
2. Make sure everyone can see and knows how to be seen: The two most important keys to being safe when out and about in the dark is to make sure that your little one can see out of his or her mask, and can be seen by cars. This means:

a. Stay on the sidewalks or grass, avoid walking in the street

b. Cross the street only at the corner or in a designated crosswalk

c. Put reflective tape on your child’s back, shoes, and trick-or-treat bag

d. Carry a flashlight to illuminate the path ahead and to alert motorist’s to your presence

e. Travel only in well-lit neighborhoods

3. Travel in a group: One is not only the loneliest number it is also an unsafe number when it comes to going out and about on Halloween night. Remember, safety is in numbers so never let your children head out alone. Adults should also try to make sure that there is at least one grown-up for every child in case part of the group needs to head back early.
4. Keep all furry critters inside: While you may want your pet to be part of the festivities, Halloween is not always the best night for four-legged friends. Large groups of kids shouting and door bells ringing non-stop can make any pet anxious—even those that love children. To keep everyone safe, keep your pet away from the entryway when answering the door for trick-or-treaters.
5. Inspect before you ingest: Make it a rule that before your child eats any of his or her trick-or-treat candy that an adult must inspect it. Make sure to remove hard candy, gum and any other treats that may pose a choking hazard for little ones. Toss any candy that is not properly wrapped or looks suspicious.

If you or your child suffered a serious injury after being involved in a car crash, dog bite incident, pedestrian accident or products liability claim this Halloween; you can trust the experienced Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to come to your aid. No matter your injury, our team of skilled Kansas City Injury Attorneys will work diligently to make sure that you receive proper compensation. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to support you, just as they have supported countless injured victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To find out how the attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can help you with your injury case, contact our office today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we make it our promise to provide injury victims with outstanding legal services.

On any given night, this scenario is playing out in homes across the country: You are curled up on your couch, watching your favorite prime-time television drama when your phone rings. The tell-tale ring alerts you that it is a loved one calling, so you answer. However, you do not turn off the tv. Instead, you let the caller chat away, unable to tear your full attention away from the screen. Now, in this situation, one of two things happens. Either the loved one becomes annoyed, asking if you are listening to them when you give one word or inappropriate responses or, you miss a critical segment of your show. So, in the end, someone, you or your caller, is not happy with your decision to multi-task. Now if we as Americans cannot watch a television program and listen to a third party simultaneously, what makes us think we can operate a car while chatting on our cell phone?

While multi-tasking may be a sought after quality with some employers, it is more of a fatal flaw than an attribute in a motorist. Attempting to do anything more just drive while behind the wheel, is the basic definition of distracted driving. Sadly, distracted driving is the number one cause of traffic fatalities in the United States.

Talking and texting while driving are both extremely distracting behaviors. However, the problem has grown bigger than just these two issues. Social media apps and games, like “Pokemon Go” are becoming a cause for major concern. All cell phone usage is dangerous because it takes a driver’s focus off the task at hand. Even something as seemingly innocent as entering an address into a map app for directions should not be done while driving. Lawmakers and safety campaigns continue to try to encourage drivers to put down their phones.

But shockingly, Americans are often undaunted about the dangers that can result when a person is “multi-tasking” while driving close to 4,000 pounds of machinery at speeds of well over 50 miles per hour. Motorists often forget that certain tasks, like driving, require a person’s complete attention. For example, you would not want your cardiac surgeon browsing Facebook while he or she was performing a triple bypass. Although driving is not nearly as complicated as open heart surgery, it does require the same complete focus.

Distracted driving is not just a cell phone problem. NPR reported, for example, that more than 25 percent of teenage drivers admitted to changing clothes or shoes while driving. Teens also reported to changing contact lenses, doing homework and applying makeup behind the wheel. But distracted driving cannot be blamed on teenage drivers either. According to a study, almost 50 percent of drivers over the age of 35 admitted to eating while driving. All motorists need to remember that all it takes is one little error or miscalculation and lives are changed forever.

If your loved one was serious injured or killed after being involved in an auto accident with a distracted driver, you need to contact an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney right away. The seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. will work with you to make sure you receive the compensation you are due. Our team of skilled Attorneys will work diligently to make sure that justice is served. You can trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to work for you, just as they have worked for countless injury victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To set up a consultation with one of our compassionate Injury Attorney contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.

If you are a parent, summer is a time of year you may look forward to and dread all at the same time. Of course, summer means nice warm weather, vacations to the beach, and a plethora of outdoor activities and events. On the other hand, summer means finding ways to keep children occupied for weeks on end. However, no matter whether you love or loathe summer, one thing is for certain it does not last long.

Before you know it the economy sizes boxes of sunscreen, bug spray, and charcoal at your local big box store are replaced with tubs of backpacks and notebook paper—leaving you to think “where did summer go?” Back to school has a tendency to sneak up on even the most seasoned of parents. However, before you grab a supply list and rush out the door, students are not the only ones who need to get ready for the start of the new school year. Parents too, need to refresh themselves about how to share the road when the school year congestion begins.

School days are hectic, and that means the streets around your child’s school can become a difficult place to drive. Parents, frazzled from trying to get their children out of the door, are all trying to drop off their children before the school bells ring. In the mix of things are also kids who ride their bike and kids who walk to school.  Oh, and do not forget those large yellow buses that are also trying to get to and from the school as well. While schools are considered to be safe places, the few minutes during a school’s pickup and drop-off can be quite dangerous times. According to the National Safety Council, more kids are hit by cars at schools than by any other location.

Parents can help make their children’s school pick up and drop off zone a safer place to be by keeping in mind the following:

• NEVER pass a school bus: Did you know that it is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that has stopped to pick up or drop off children. Once you see a bus’s yellow or red flashing lights flashing or the extended stop sign—you must stop. Keep in mind that the 10-foot radius around a bus is the most dangerous area for a child. So you once you have come to a stop, be alert.

• SLOW DOWN! Having a child be a few minutes late for school or being late yourself for work while not great is not the end of the world. Slow down, however, can save lives. It is important for parents to focus on the road and pay attention for children on bikes and walking through crosswalks.

• If possible, carpool. By trading off the responsibility of driving your children to school with other parents, you can reduce the amount of traffic around your child’s school. Easing congestion can make school zones safer for all children.

If you or your child suffered serious injuries after being involved in an accident, you can trust the experienced Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to help. Our team of skilled Kansas City Injury Attorneys will work diligently to make sure that you receive compensation for your injuries. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to help you, just as they have helped countless injured victims around the area, both in Kansas and Missouri. To find out how the attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can assist you with your injury case, contact our office today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. we strive to provide injury victims with outstanding legal services.