PMCW Law

The holidays are supposed to merry and bright - a time filled with laughter, joy, friends, and family. Unfortunately for many families this year, it will also be a time with unforeseen medical expenses and unplanned trips to the emergency room. The United States Consumer Protection Safety Commission has estimated that there are more than 15,000 injuries every year that involved decorating for the holidays. When you take into account the thousands of additional injuries that involve car accidents, defective products, house fires, and slick driveways, sidewalks, and roads, it's easy to see why some people consider the holidays to be the most dangerous time of year. Staying Safe During The Holidays Our personal injury attorneys in Camden County  are here to help you keep you and your family safe this holiday season. Avoid common injuries and hazards by following these common-sense safety precautions. Decorating Though many of you have probably already decorated for the ho

It is up to each married couple how they wish to divide responsibilities such as raising children, earning income, and maintaining the household. No matter how they choose to divide these responsibilities, however, the underlying expectation is that m arried couples will work together to support and balance each other. When a marriage ends, each of the spouses is expected to support him/herself individually. For some people, this is easier said than done. Keep reading to learn more about the resources that are available to people in this situation, courtesy of the team at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C . Understanding Spousal Support Spousal support, alimony, and spousal maintenance are all terms used to refer to payments someone extends to his/her ex-spouse after their marriage has ended. Maintenance laws exist to protect lower-earning spouses who may otherwise be unable to support themselves after getting divorced. It is not always the case that a higher-earn

Brain and spinal cord injuries are among the most serious injuries that a person can suffer. Your brain and spinal cord control nearly every function in your body, and damage to these crucial control centers can cause serious injury and potentially lifelong disability. If you have suffered a brain injury as the result of someone else's negligence, you may be able to seek financial compensation with the help of an experienced Missouri personal injury attorney . Brain Injury Basics Severe brain injuries can be immediately noticeable , but milder versions may take longer to make their presence known. Head injuries  can be caused under a variety of different circumstances. Concussions are a particularly common example, but brain injuries can also be caused by whiplash, lack of oxygen, exposure to dangerous and toxic substances, assault and physical violence, car accidents, defective products, penetration of the skull, slip and fall accidents, and sports. Brain Injuries Can

Thanksgiving is a time to step away from the hectic hustle and bustle of normal life and instead focus all of your attention on your friends and family. The Thanksgiving feast is typically the central focus of this holiday's events, but it is certainly not the only way you can celebrate with your family. The team at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. is here to help you expand your family's Thanksgiving traditions with these fun, creative celebration ideas. 1. Make An "I'm Thankful For..." Board The main purpose of Thanksgiving is to express gratitude for the blessings in your life. One fun family tradition is to designate a space for the people at your Thanksgiving gathering to write down the things they are thankful for. Write "I'm Thankful For..." at the top of a dry erase board or large sheet of poster board, and supply your guests with markers to fill in the rest. 2. Volunteer Your Time Many churches and non-profit organ

Divorce is tough. Regardless of the surrounding circumstances, divorce represents the end of one chapter and the start of a new one. The drastic change is often challenging, but it is especially difficult during the holidays. With Thanksgiving next week and Christmas only one month after that, the team at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. thought it would be appropriate to dedicate this week's blog to those of you who may be in the midst of a divorce this holiday season. Keep reading to find some suggestions for making the process easier. Divorce & The Holiday Season The holiday season is supposed to be a time filled with family and friends, laughter and warmth. It is a time to gather around the table with those you love as you celebrate gratitude and family. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out like that. Divorce happens for countless reasons. No matter the reasons or extenuating circumstances, divorce is always tough on spouses, children, a

We live in a business-oriented society. From buying groceries to traveling internationally, we rely heavily on local, national, and international businesses for many a spect s of our lives. We have become so accustomed to using these businesses in our day-to-day lives that we now take many of them for granted. No matter how big a corporation is, it's important to realize that every business started out small at some point in time. Every business - even those with thousands of employees - originally began simply as an idea in the mind of one forward-thinking individual. Global Entrepreneurship Week USA We owe entrepreneurs a great debt of gratitude for the roles they have played in shaping our society, our culture, and our nation. Next week (November 14-20, 2016) is designated as Global Entrepreneurship Week USA in recognition of the importance of these forward-thinking individuals. In honor of this important week-long observance, our business attorneys in Camdenton MO

Lake Stock Fall Crawl is a pub crawl held at the Lake of the Ozarks every year in the fall. With 10+ locations and hundreds of participants, it is always a big night filled with plenty of food, drinks, and entertainment. This year's event is going to be on Saturday, November 5th. The night is usually lots of fun, but it also opens the door to potential injuries and accidents. This year, the team at Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. is here to help keep you and your friends/family safe with these safety reminders. Lake Stock Fall Crawl 2016 ~ Safety Reminders 1. Don't Drink And Drive Driving while intoxicated is both dangerous and illegal. Lake Stock Fall Crawl provides bus transportation to and from each participating bar as well as several participating hotels. For your safety and everyone else's, please use the buses, a taxi service, or another designated driver if you plan to drink. 2. Watch Your Drinks At All Times The Crawl is designed to pr

Can you believe another Halloween is already here? If you have young children, your home is probably buzzing with excitement as your little ones choose their costumes and await the big night when they can finally go trick-or-treating. Your friends at the Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C. are here to help you get into the Halloween spirit with these fun trivia facts about this spooky holiday. 18 Fun Facts about Halloween  1.  The very first jack o'lanterns weren't carved from pumpkins - they were carved from turnips! 2.   Halloween is believed to have originated around 4,000 B.C. 3.   The largest pumpkin on record weighed 836 pounds. 4.   In Hollywood, California, a fine of $1,000 may be imposed for using silly string on Halloween. 5.   Halloween is sometimes called by several other names: Samhaim, Snap-Apple Night, Witches Night, All Hallow's Eve, Summer's End, and Lamswool. 6.   Halloween is the second highest grossing co

As parents, nothing matters more than ensuring the safety of our children. Unfortunately, many parents find that this becomes more challenging as their kids grow up and become more independent. Getting a driver's license is an important step on the road to adulthood, for example, but ask any parents and they'll likely tell you that watching their child drive away for the first time was one of the most nerve-wracking moments of their lives. Tragically, their deep concerns are often warranted.  Car accidents account for over 30% of all deaths in teens ages 15-19. Driving safely requires careful and unwavering attention to multiple details, and it often takes drivers several years before attending to all of the details becomes second-nature. In recognition of the dangers teens face on the road and the, this week (October 16-22) has been designated National Teen Driver Safety Week . In honor of this week-long observance, our Lake of the Ozarks traffic attorneys are here to