 |
|
 October
2004
|
 |
Why Are You Getting This Newsletter?
This free e-mail newsletter is sent to current and
former clients of our law firm, to those who
have specifically asked to receive it, and to
those who have contacted our firm for legal
advice in the past.
If the newsletter is being sent to you
in error, please follow the instructions at
the bottom of this page and you will
immediately be removed from our list of
subscribers.
If you know someone who might enjoy receiving
this free e-mail newsletter, please send us that
person's e-mail address.
Kraft & Associates will never sell or give
your e-mail information to anyone outside our
law firm. |
|
Call the Police Banners
If you should find yourself stranded in your
car in a remote or a dangerous location, we
hope you have a working cell phone so you
can call for help. If not, the next best
thing might be a sign you can place in your
car, asking passersby to call the police for
you.
You can purchase these large signs for $5.00
from a non-profit organization. Just visit
the Web site at
www.wcil.org, and click on Safety
Banners.
No More Check Float?
A new federal law -- the Check Clearing for
the 21st Century Act, commonly called Check
21 -- goes into effect October 28, 2004, and
could have a major impact on the way many
consumers balance their checkbooks.
In a nutshell, the new law allows banks to
create an electronic version of all checks,
rather than handle the paper checks. So you
may not get your paper checks back from the
bank, and your account probably won't
benefit from the "float" time as paper
checks travel through the postal system.
To learn more about Check 21, and the
effects it may have on you, click
here.
Free Legal Advice?
Yes, at Kraft &
Associates we are glad to provide our clients
and friends with free information on a variety
of subjects. If you want details about how to
lower your automobile insurance rates,
Texas Workers' Compensation law or
Social Security Disability claims please call
or write us and we will send you any of these
brochures without charge or obligation. |
|
 |
| |
|
Suite 1300
2777 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 999-9999
(817) 999-9999
(800) 989-9999
|
|
|
|
FOR THE RECORD |
 |
|
|
VIOXX Safety Alert
If you have taken the arthritis drug
Vioxx in the past, or if you are
continuing to take Vioxx now, please
contact your physician immediately. You
could be in serious danger of suffering
a a heart attack or a stroke.
Our law firm can assist you in making
a legal claim under the following
circumstances:
● You took Vioxx 25mg or more on a
continuous basis for at least 18 months,
and
● You suffered a heart attack or a
stroke after you had been taking Vioxx
for at least 18 months.
If you have taken Vioxx for less than an
18 month period, or you have not had a
heart attack or a stroke, we will not be
able to assist you, but we strongly
encourage you to contact your physician
immediately.
|
Excerpts from the official
announcement from Merck: |
|
|
|
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.,
Sept. 30, 2004 - Merck &. Co., Inc.
today announced a voluntary
worldwide withdrawal of VIOXX® (rofecoxib),
its arthritis and acute pain
medication. The company's decision,
which is effective immediately, is
based on new, three-year data from a
prospective, randomized,
placebo-controlled clinical trial,
the APPROVe (Adenomatous Polyp
Prevention on VIOXX) trial.
The trial, which is being stopped,
was designed to evaluate the
efficacy of VIOXX 25 mg in
preventing recurrence of colorectal
polyps in patients with a history of
colorectal adenomas. In this study,
there was an increased relative risk
for confirmed cardiovascular events,
such as heart attack and stroke,
beginning after 18 months of
treatment in the patients taking
VIOXX compared to those taking
placebo. The results for the first
18 months of the APPROVe study did
not show any increased risk of
confirmed cardiovascular events on
VIOXX, and in this respect, are
similar to the results of two
placebo-controlled studies described
in the current U.S. labeling for
VIOXX.
"We are taking this action because
we believe it best serves the
interests of patients," said Raymond
V. Gilmartin, chairman, president
and chief executive officer of
Merck. "Although we believe it
would have been possible to continue
to market VIOXX with labeling that
would incorporate these new data,
given the availability of
alternative therapies, and the
questions raised by the data, we
concluded that a voluntary
withdrawal is the responsible course
to take."
VIOXX was launched in the United
States in 1999 and has been marketed
in more than 80 countries. In some
countries, the product is marketed
under the trademark CEOXX.
Worldwide sales of VIOXX in 2003
were $2.5 billion.
Merck has informed the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration and regulatory
authorities in other countries of
its decision. The company also is
in the process of notifying health
care practitioners in the United
States and other countries where
VIOXX is marketed. Patients who are
currently taking VIOXX should
contact their health care providers
to discuss discontinuing use of
VIOXX and possible alternative
treatments. In addition, patients
and health care professionals may
obtain information from
www.merck.com and
www.vioxx.com, or may call (888)
368-4699. |
|
|
|
|
| FOR
YOUR INFORMATION |
|
|
|
GAP Auto Insurance -- A Good
Idea For Car Buyers
We see many automobile collision clients in
the unfortunate position of owing money to
their car dealer even after receiving a
property damage payment from the other
driver's insurance carrier. This happens
because the client is "upside down" on his
or her car loan.
For instance, a person may buy or lease a
new or used car and make a very small down
payment. As soon as the buyer drives away in
the car, the actual value of the car greatly
decreases because of instant depreciation.
So for a while, at least, the buyer will owe
more money to the dealer than the true value
of the automobile. If the buyer is involved
in a serious collision during that "upside
down" period, the buyer has a big problem.
That's because auto liability insurance
companies have to pay only the "actual cash
value" of a totaled automobile. They do NOT
have to pay what the accident victim
actually owes on the car. So if the accident
victim owes more than the car's actual cash
value, he or she will come up short after
receiving the insurance company's payment.
GAP insurance, which stands for Guaranteed
Auto Protection, is designed to cover that
situation. This type of insurance covers the
"gap" between the actual cash value
settlement from the insurance company and
what the buyer still owes on the vehicle
loan. This insurance would also apply if the
automobile was stolen rather than wrecked.
We recommend that you purchase GAP insurance
if you are buying or leasing an expensive
car and you are not making a large down
payment. Your auto dealer can sell it to
you, and even include the amount of the
premiums in your loan.
To find out which insurance companies are
authorized to offer GAP insurance in Texas,
visit the Web site of the Texas Department
of Insurance by clicking
here. |
|
| FEATURED
EMPLOYEE |
|
|
|
Kelly
Nowak
Social
Security New Case Clerk
E-mail:
kellyn@kraftlaw.com
Ms. Nowak is a native Texan who joined our
firm in 2004. She completed her studies at Rowlett High School as a
three-year graduate, where debate was among her favorite subjects. She
started at our firm as a part-time clerical assistant, and has been
promoted to a full-time position as Social Security New Case Clerk. Ms.
Nowak is currently taking classes at Eastfield Junior College in
Mesquite, and then plans to attend either the University of Texas or
Southern Methodist University. Her ultimate goal is to graduate from law
school and pursue a career in criminal law. |
|
| FEATURED
CASE |
|
|
Our firm recently handled a case involving a lady
who slipped on a freshly-painted sidewalk at a
restaurant, fell and badly injured her leg. No
warning signs were posted.
In such a situation, the burden is on the claimant
to prove the sidewalk was dangerous, and that the
restaurant should have known of the dangerous
condition.
In this case, an employee came out of the restaurant
to help our client, and the employee fell also. Then
another woman came along and fell in the same spot.
Unfortunately, our client did not get any names at
the scene.
However, our client was willing to go back to the
restaurant to identify the employee who fell, and
was even able to find the other woman who also fell.
This helped our client's case enormously.
The moral to the story is that if you are involved
in any type of similar incident, be sure to get the
name, address and telephone number of anyone else
who is at the scene. Their testimony could be vital
to your case, and you may not be able to locate them
later. |
|
| HOW
CAN WE HELP YOU? |
|
|
Our law firm has helped thousands of clients
over the years. Sometimes clients who use
our firm for one type of case may not
realize that there are other legal problems
we could help them solve.
We handle
most types of injury claims — including
automobile collisions, "slip and fall"
cases, injuries suffered as a result of
defective products, injuries resulting from
inadequate security, medical malpractice
claims, nursing home negligence claims,
prescription drug injuries and many others.
We invite you to call us about any
serious injury to see how we can help you.
Kraft & Associates also represents people
who have been denied their Social Security
Disability benefits. We can help at the
Initial stage, the Reconsideration stage or
the Hearing stage.
Our firm represents people who have been injured on
the job and are making a claim for workers'
compensation. We help people who have problems
regarding family issues, such as divorce, child
support, adoption, modifications, enforcements,
attorney general disputes, paternity and other similar
matters. We also represent clients who have been
arrested or charged with committing a crime.
Please feel free to call us with any
legal questions you may have. If we cannot
represent you, we will attempt to refer you
to another attorney or to a government
agency that can help you. There is never any
charge or obligation for our initial
consultation. |
|
Share
this Site with a Friend:
You
have received this newsletter because of your previous
contact with our law firm.
To remove your name from future mailings, please notify
us.
Please
send mail to info@kraftlaw.com
with questions or comments.
Copyright
© 1997- 2004 Kraft & Associates : Attorneys at
Law, P.C. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Personal Injury,
Automobile Accident, Wrongful Death, Nursing Home Negligence,
Social Security Disability.
DISCLAIMER:
This newsletter is presented by Kraft & Associates for
informational purposes only, and not as legal advice.
Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization.
|
|
|
|