The Backer Law Firm, LLCKansas City Personal Injury Lawyer | Independence MO Employment Law Attorney2026-10-28T05:45:00Zhttps://www.backerlaw.net/feed/atom/WordPressOn Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[Can broken security cameras lead to liability after an assault?]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471972026-10-23T05:46:03Z2026-10-28T05:45:00ZWhat duty do property owners have?
Missouri law does not make property owners responsible for every criminal act on their property. In some cases, though, they may have a duty to take reasonable security measures if a crime was foreseeable.
Prior assaults, security complaints or other warning signs may help show that the risk was known or should have been known. The facts of each case matter.
How do broken cameras affect a claim?
Non-working cameras may support a negligent security claim. They can suggest weak security and may also make it harder to identify the attacker or show what happened.
If a business advertised security features, that may also be relevant. But advertising cameras does not, by itself, prove liability.
What must a victim prove?
A victim usually needs to show four things: a duty, a breach, causation and damages. In simple terms, the victim must show that the owner had a duty to act, failed to act reasonably and that failure was connected to the injury. Useful evidence may include:
Prior police reports
Security complaints
Maintenance records
Witness statements
Nearby video footage
Broken cameras alone are not enough. The stronger the proof that the owner knew about the risk and did not respond reasonably, the stronger the claim may be.
If you were assaulted on someone else’s property, get medical care right away and save any photos, reports and witness information.]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[How sepsis can signal life-threatening nursing home neglect]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471922026-10-08T12:09:05Z2026-10-13T12:07:41ZHow an untreated minor infection can develop into sepsis in nursing homes
Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the urinary tract, lungs or gastrointestinal tract. When staff miss warning signs such as fever, a high heart rate or shortness of breath, the resident's condition can rapidly deteriorate and cause sepsis. Furthermore, a delayed treatment of sepsis can cause tissue damage, organ failure or even death.
A nursing home's duty of care to its residents
Federal and state laws require care facilities to uphold a specific standard of care to protect residents. Under federal regulations, nursing homes must provide necessary treatment to prevent pressure ulcers and infections. Meanwhile, Missouri guidelines mandate that facilities establish active infection prevention programs to maintain a safe and sanitary environment.
When a facility fails to meet this standard of care and that failure contributes to a resident's development of sepsis, Missouri law may provide residents and their families with legal recourse under the state's Omnibus Nursing Home Act.
What to do if you suspect nursing home negligence
Learning that your loved one developed sepsis while in nursing home care can raise urgent and serious questions about the care they received. Working with an attorney experienced in nursing home negligence cases can help you choose the right legal path forward to protect your family's rights.]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[How Missouri injury victims can seek scarring compensation]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471592026-09-25T10:20:08Z2026-09-30T10:17:26ZFactors that can affect scarring compensation
Missouri generally does not cap noneconomic damages in personal injury cases, such as motor vehicle accidents. However, state law limits noneconomic damages in some medical malpractice cases involving health care providers.
When evaluating a scar's effects, a few things matter most:
Treatment records: Medical bills, treatment records and photographs taken throughout the healing process can help show the extent of the injury and how it developed into a scar. Documentation of future care needs, scar revision or other additional treatment can also help show the expected long-term effects.
Impact of the scar: Evidence of how the scar affects appearance, emotional well-being and daily life can help demonstrate its impact. Journals, photographs and statements from family members, friends or others who know the injured person may provide additional support.
Evidence of fault: Witness statements, photographs, accident reports and other records can help connect the injury and resulting scar to the other party's actions.Together, this evidence shows the extent of the injury and its lasting effects. Strong documentation strengthens the claim and supports fair compensation.
Next steps for a Missouri scarring claim
Scarring cases often involve multiple moving parts, which can make handling a claim alone difficult. Anyone injured by another party's negligence should consider consulting an attorney, who can explain their legal options and potential compensation.
]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[What happens when dashcam footage falls short after a crash? ]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471582026-09-22T13:36:51Z2026-09-25T13:36:04ZThe drivers’ accounts may face closer review
If the camera misses the impact, each person may describe a different sequence. An adjuster will compare those statements for detail and consistency. Statements made at the scene or during an insurance call may influence how the adjuster views each account.
Other evidence often becomes central
A police report may identify witnesses, citations and vehicle locations. Photos can show debris, damaged panels and tire marks. Medical records can document when your symptoms began and what treatment you received after the wreck.
The insurer might dispute responsibility
A clip that begins after impact or hides a traffic signal may not resolve who caused the crash. The carrier could seek more information, argue that you share the blame or deny payment if it finds the evidence insufficient.
Fault can reduce your recovery
In Missouri, pure comparative negligence generally allows an injured person to recover even when partly responsible. However, that person’s percentage of fault reduces the damages. For example, a $100,000 award would fall to $75,000 if you were 25% at fault.
These outcomes make the remaining proof important. A front camera may miss a side impact, while glare can hide a plate. Nonetheless, lane position, sounds or vehicle movement could support your account.
How you can preserve the strongest available proof
Keep the original video file, even if it seems unhelpful. Editing or overwriting it may alter its data or raise questions about authenticity. Save a copy and avoid posting the clip online, where it could lose context.
You can also photograph the scene and vehicle damage, request the crash report and record witness contact details. Preserve medical bills, treatment notes, repair estimates and messages from insurers. These materials could build a fuller timeline than a single camera angle can provide.
Incomplete footage can make a claim harder to assess, but investigators may consider it alongside the remaining evidence. Legal guidance can identify missing records, evaluate competing accounts and explain how an allocation of fault could affect your recovery.]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[Can you hold a dog owner liable if their dog bites your child?]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471542026-08-28T15:41:47Z2026-09-02T15:40:56ZWhat does the Missouri law say?
In Missouri, the law generally holds a dog owner liable if their pet causes injury to another person, provided the other party was lawfully present at the place of the attack. Furthermore, Missouri law makes it clear that owners cannot use having no prior knowledge of the dog’s violent tendencies as an excuse.
Can they pass the blame onto your child?
Minors and adults alike can sometimes act negligently. However, Missouri courts do not impose adult responsibility on a child. Instead the court will ask: Did the child act as any other child of their age and experience would have? More importantly, Missouri is a comparative fault state. Even if the child acted with negligence, it does not mean the parents cannot recover any damages in a personal injury claim.
How to protect your child’s rights
Blame games are very common in personal injury claims. If you are planning to recover damages your child has suffered, you should consult with an attorney who is experienced in personal injury claims. They can help you build a strong case against the dog owner and fight to protect your child’s rights in court.]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[What if security cameras were not working during an attack?]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471532026-08-17T11:00:06Z2026-08-20T10:58:46ZThe business may face liability
In Missouri, a business generally has no duty to guard against a third party’s harmful act unless it knew or had reason to know that the conduct was occurring or reasonably likely in that area. It must also have had enough time to prevent the injury. Earlier incidents, reports or warnings may show that the business knew about a recurring danger and had a duty to respond.
Other proof may replace video
Without footage, police may have difficulty identifying or tracking the attacker. Yet witness accounts, incident reports, inspection records and internal messages could support your civil case. These materials might reveal when the system failed, who knew and why the business delayed repairs.
Fault may reduce compensation
Missouri follows a pure comparative-fault system in negligence cases. This means a court may reduce compensation based on the injured person’s share of responsibility instead of barring recovery entirely. For example, disregarding a posted safety warning could reduce compensation if that conduct contributed to the harm. Walking alone, however, should not establish fault by itself.
Why timely action matters
A negligent security claim often depends on the full circumstances, not the camera failure alone. Its strength may turn on how the business responded to an apparent danger before the attacker caused harm.
Delays can make that history harder to reconstruct. Legal guidance may help preserve evidence, assess recoverable losses and file the case within the applicable deadline.]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[3 signs of severe physical neglect in care facilities]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471432026-07-15T09:22:46Z2026-07-20T09:21:37ZSign 1: Advanced pressure ulcers on the body
Missouri regulations require facilities to provide individualized care plans that prevent bedsores. When a facility fails to follow a proper turning schedule, that failure triggers direct regulatory liability under state oversight rules.
Open wounds form on the hips, heels and tailbone. Severe tissue damage can lead to systemic infections that require emergency hospitalization and surgery. By the time a wound reaches that stage, neglect has been happening for weeks.
Sign 2: Rapid or unexplained weight loss
A sudden drop in body weight often means staff are not monitoring daily food and fluid intake. Many elderly residents need direct assistance during meals and cannot feed themselves without help.
When a worker leaves a food tray out of reach, a resident goes without nutrition. A drop of 5% or more in body weight within a single month is a major warning threshold under governing guidelines. That level of loss in that short a time points to ongoing deprivation, not a temporary illness.
Sign 3: Poor hygiene and unclean living conditions
Unchanged clothes, unwashed bedding and dirty living spaces signal that staff have stopped performing basic duties. These are not isolated oversights. They reflect a pattern of systemic abandonment.
State regulations require facilities to maintain a clean and safe environment for every resident in their care. Visible hygiene failures give you documented grounds to escalate a concern immediately.
What to do when you suspect neglect
Start by documenting everything you observe. Photograph any visible injuries, soiled conditions or signs of physical deterioration. Write down dates, times and the names of any staff members you speak with.
If your family member faces an immediate medical threat, take them to an emergency room first. You can then file a report with Missouri state regulatory authorities to open a formal investigation. Those records become critical evidence if the situation escalates further.
Speaking with a qualified attorney who handles elder mistreatment cases can help you understand what options are available to your family and what steps best protect your loved one going forward.
]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[What makes a head-on car accident so dangerous?]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471472026-07-21T07:35:56Z2026-07-13T02:39:24Zthey are dangerous. They account for a concerning percentage of traffic fatalities.
The chances of suffering severe, life-altering injuries in a head-on collision are high. Let’s look at why.
Combined forces
During a crash, the energy a car possesses due to its motion (kinetic energy) is instantly transferred and converted into other forms of energy, such as sound, heat and the mechanical work of bending, folding and crushing the car’s body. Many cars also have crumple zones that intentionally crush or deform during a collision. This prevents a massive force from being transferred directly to a car’s occupants.
Unfortunately, a car's kinetic energy can exceed the structural limits of the body, crumple zones and other safety features. Multiple factors can contribute to this, including speed.
A car’s kinetic energy increases drastically with speed. Doubling a car’s speed increases kinetic energy by four times. This is the aspect that makes head-on collisions dangerous.
When two vehicles travelling in opposite directions crash, the force of the impact is equivalent to a single car crashing into a stationary object at their combined speeds. For example, if two vehicles traveling at 45 mph collide head-on, the resulting force will be equal to one car crashing into a wall at 90 mph.
Generally, during a head-on crash, the total kinetic energy is rapidly converted into other forms of energy. However, the lighter or slower-moving vehicle is usually affected the most. It absorbs more energy. Thus, its crumple zones and other safety features can be overwhelmed, putting occupants at a higher risk.
A head-on collision can result in serious injuries. If you were injured in such an accident, it’s crucial to understand your options to seek justice and compensation.]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[Car crashes can cause degloving injuries]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471422026-07-02T13:07:18Z2026-07-07T13:05:49ZWhat is a degloving injury?
A degloving injury is a traumatic injury to the skin and the connective tissue beneath the skin. It involves the separation of the skin from the tissue that it covers.
Degloving injuries can be open -- meaning that the skin breaks and bleeding results. They can also be closed, which means that the skin remains intact despite the trauma. Both types of injuries put people at risk of nerve damage, tissue death and a host of other significant medical complications.
Open degloving injuries can also cause both blood loss and infection. Closed injuries may not draw people’s attention immediately, creating the risk of delayed care.
People who suffer degloving injuries often have major medical expenses, as their injuries can cause debilitating complications and may even endanger their lives. These injuries can also require them to take time away from work or to change professions.
People may find that insurance does not fully cover their losses after a degloving injury, especially if their injuries cause permanent symptoms that affect their future earning potential. Seeking compensation for a degloving injury may sometimes require litigation, as insurance alone may not be sufficient to cover extensive medical expenses, lost wages and lost future earning potential. People with catastrophic car crash injuries often need experienced legal guidance to pursue the financial compensation their losses necessitate.]]>On Behalf of The Backer Law Firm, LLC<![CDATA[Who is liable for long-term care resident-on-resident assaults?]]>https://www.backerlaw.net/?p=471402026-06-18T11:42:40Z2026-06-23T11:42:24ZFacilities are often liable for on-site violence
There are many reasons for resident-on-resident violence in nursing homes. In some cases, interpersonal conflict spirals out of control and leads to one resident venting their aggression on another.
Other times, a resident starting a new medication or undergoing a dosage adjustment could have a negative reaction to medication that makes them more volatile. Dementia can also lead to violent outbursts, as people feel frightened when they cannot understand their circumstances. They may perceive other residents as a threat.
Nursing homes might also fail to adequately screen residents. They may have people living at the facility with a history of violent and abusive conduct. They may also fail to respond to warning signs of future violence. Workers should act to protect vulnerable patients and to limit interactions between residents who have a history of conflict.
In cases where better resident management could have prevented a resident-on-resident attack, a facility could be liable for the injuries sustained by a victim. Reporting the incident to authorities and discussing the attack with a nursing home abuse attorney can help worried family protect their loved ones and hold facilities accountable for allowing assaults to occur on site.]]>