Cape Girardeau Missouri Legal Blog

While online shopping may be becoming more and more common in Missouri, people still need to go to stores and other places of business every day. This could be the grocery store, a convenience store, department stores or many other places. When people enter into these places the property owners have a duty to keep the floors free of dangerous conditions, which may cause people to fall or be injured in other ways.

There are many reasons that people may slip and fall, but some are more common than others. These reasons include, but are not limited to, the property owners failing to warn people of wet floors or not putting up barriers to prevent people from walking in wet areas. Sometimes the floors may have too much wax or be unevenly waxed creating different floor textures as people walk. The carpet could be worn or torn, rugs fray or are not put down all the way to the ground causing people to trip and many other factors.

If you find yourself in financial distress with concerns about your future, it may be time to learn more about Chapter 7 bankruptcy. It's not the best solution for everyone, but it's something to consider. After you learn more, you can then make a final decision as to whether it can benefit you now or down the road.

Here are the top benefits of Chapter 7 bankruptcy:

• A fresh start: Once the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process comes to a completion, you're in position to start fresh. While you can't discharge every type of debt (such as student loans), you can rid yourself of most of it. You then have more control of your financial future.
• No limitation on how much debt you can have: With Chapter 13 bankruptcy, there is a limit on how much debt you can have when filing. This isn't the case with Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which makes it easier for people who are swimming in more debt than they can handle.
• You keep all your future income: One of the biggest disadvantages of Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the requirement to repay some or all of your debts through a repayment plan. This means that you won't have much, if any, disposal income in the future. Chapter 7 bankruptcy doesn't work the same way, as there is no repayment plan.
• It's fast: Things can happen that slow down your case, but the discharge of debt in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy typically occurs within two to three months. A Chapter 13 repayment plan remains in effect for three to five years, thus leaving this hanging over your head.
• Stop foreclosure: Thanks to the automatic stay, you can stop the foreclosure process. This gives you time to regroup and implement a strategy for staying in your home.

Car accidents can have deadly consequences for victims and their families and can change their lives forever. Missouri's Governor recently declared an effort to focus on dangerous driving habits in the state. He encouraged drivers to fasten their seatbelts, put their phones down and not engage in distracted driving behaviors. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for individuals ages 15 to 20 and distracted driving is the primary cause of those motor vehicle accidents.

Recent research from AAA reveals that any form of distraction while driving can be dangerous. The Governor challenged other Missourians to pledge to buckle up and put their phones down, joining 5,000 individuals and 400 companies that have already made the pledge. He also signaled a willingness to look at strengthening the state's texting while driving laws. Distracted driving is especially dangerous and can lead to harm on the roadways.

For many people, Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the best option when faced with overwhelming debt. Medical debt is a common issue that can lead to bankruptcy. Conditions like cancer, that require ongoing, expensive treatment, often leaving people with five or six figures worth of medical debt.

However, you don't have to get sick to end up in a financially difficult situation. Many individuals find that just using credit cards for monthly and weekly expenses can quickly lead to financial hardship. Thankfully, like medical debt, credit card debt is typically unsecured. It is eligible for discharge in Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings.