Dangerous Property

Accidents Caused by Dangerous Property Conditions
If you have suffered a slip and fall accident or were otherwise injured on unsafe property, contact a knowledgeable attorney at our Law Firm for a free consultation. We’re committed to helping our clients recover the greatest amount of compensation possible for their injury claims. At the same time, we work closely with our clients to help resolve any medical or practical problems that might interfere with a complete recovery.

Call toll-free for advice about premises liability litigation.

Premises liability is the legal term that covers the responsibility of a property owner to protect others from unreasonable risk of injury. Premises liability law can be highly technical, and the outcome of a property accident claim will often depend on some complicated questions of fact: should the owner have been aware of a dangerous condition? Were the posted warnings sufficient to let people know of the actual risks? Should negligence on the part of the victim excuse the owner’s negligence? What if the victim was a small child?

Our familiarity with the demands of premises liability litigation under Texas law can help you identify the strengths, weaknesses, and probable value of your personal injury claim. We can advise and represent you on such property accident claims as:

Slip and fall injuries suffered on wet or oily floors or in unlit hallways or stairwells
Injuries caused by structurally defective or badly maintained building components
Accidents resulting from inadequate warnings or barriers in maintenance or construction areas
Negligent security in parking lots, bars, restaurants, or public entertainment venues
Dog bites or other accidents caused by failure to restrain a pet or other animal
Swimming pool accidents
Accidents involving tourists at resort properties
We advise people whose injuries range from broken bones or extensive soft tissue trauma to the permanent or disabling injuries that can result from falls or blows from falling objects — brain injury, spinal cord damage, or loss of organ function.

To learn more about the scope of our premises liability practice, contact a personal injury lawyer at our Law Firm for a free consultation.

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Out-of-State Accidents

Dependable Client Service for Drivers from Out of State
Drivers who get hurt while far from home face significant obstacles to the successful resolution of their claims for compensation. It’s hard to protect your interests from a distance. At our Law Firm, the attorneys know how to meet the needs of car crash victims from out of state.

For a free consultation about how we can help you while you’re focusing on your physical recovery somewhere else, contact our Law Firm.
Call toll-free for advice about accident claims.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage that out-of-state accident victims face concerns the practical ability to preserve the evidence you’ll need to present an effective claim. Neither you nor your home-state lawyer will have the same opportunities as local counsel to interview witnesses, inspect vehicles, photograph the accident scene, or work with local police and investigators. Our ability to move quickly to develop the strengths of your case can help protect the value of your claims.

Our law firm’s experience with the proof of serious injury claims can also benefit an out-of-state driver who suffered an accident. We can monitor the accuracy and completeness of your local emergency treatment records and supplement them after you return home for further treatment. We’ll be able to make sure that all of your injuries and other losses are correctly identified and included in your demand for damages — not just the most obvious ones.

Because we’re thoroughly familiar with Texas insurance law and car accident claim procedures, we can protect you from the mistakes that might prevent you from realizing the full value of the insurance available to meet your claims under both the other driver’s policy and your own.

For additional information about the scope of our personal injury practice on behalf of out-of-state drivers injured in Texas highway accidents, contact a lawyer at our Law Firm.

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Wrongful Death

Serving the Needs of Surviving Families After Fatal Accidents
While even a simple injury accident can result in a wide range of problems for the victim and the whole family, it’s hard for people who haven’t suffered a sudden death through negligence to understand what a grieving family faces. At our Law Firm, our attorneys can protect your legal interests, investigate and present your damages claims, and help you through the challenges that the loss of a loved one will mean for everyone in your family.

If your family needs to pursue its rights to compensation while working through an extremely difficult transition, the advice and support of experienced lawyers can ease your burden. For a free consultation about your legal options, contact our Law Firm. Call toll-free for advice about wrongful death litigation.

Whether your wrongful death claim arises from a fatal car accident or from dangerous property conditions, our attorneys can help you with the legal, practical, financial, and personal consequences of your loss. We adapt our services to your needs as they come up and change over time.

An especially important advantage of our approach to client service is our ability to serve as a resource and sounding board while working to minimize the burdens of a wrongful death lawsuit.

Our understanding of the legal dimensions of wrongful death litigation can help ensure that the full range of your damages claims will be presented for compensation. For example, your family will have two sets of claims: your own losses directly resulting from the death of a parent, spouse, or child; and certain losses suffered by the victim, such as pain and suffering, that you essentially inherit as the next of kin.

The counsel of a dependable and compassionate attorney can help you protect your rights and make sound decisions about your alternatives. For additional information about what to expect in wrongful death litigation, contact our Law Firm.

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Drunk Driving Victims

Practical Advice About Drunk Driving Accident Claims
Collecting the damages caused by a drunk driver can be more complicated than it seems like it should be, especially when a DUI arrest or conviction strengthens your negligence claims against the other driver. It can get even more complicated if the drunk driver left the scene of the accident or carried little or no liability coverage.

For dependable advice and practical solutions in drunk driving accidents, contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney at our Law Firm. We advise people about the best ways to resolve alcohol-related accident claims.
Call toll-free for a free consultation about your legal options.

Although every situation is different, drunk driving accidents, in general, have a number of distinctive features:

* Serious or fatal injuries due to the drunk driver’s reduced ability to avoid impact
* Possible award of punitive damages to supplement your actual damages — but insurance won’t cover punitive damages
* Reduced likelihood that the drunk driver has enough insurance to meet the full range of your car accident losses
* Higher frequency of claims against unlicensed or uninsured drivers
* Greater possibility that you’ll need to look to your own insurer under your uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage

Proving liability against the intoxicated driver isn’t usually the main problem in a drunk driving accident. Instead, the real challenge often involves collecting the damages that you have coming, either against the drunk driver, his or her insurer, or your own insurance company.

Recent changes in insurance law make it possible to collect damages up to the limits of the other driver’s coverage, then proceed under your own underinsured motorist benefits for the losses that aren’t covered, up to your UM/UIM coverage limits. To take advantage of these so-called stacking benefits, however, they need to be included in your policy, or you need to take certain steps to protect your rights.

At our Law Firm, our lawyers work hard on behalf of accident victims to recover as much compensation as possible from all available sources. For a free consultation about the ways you can benefit from our experience with drunk driving accidents, contact our office.

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Burn Attorneys – Burn injury on the foot

This site is especially for people who have suffered serious burn injuries and for their loved ones.

Serious burns are one of the most painful and difficult medical conditions to treat. They require a prompt response, and even after the immediate emergency is addressed, the continued risk of infection and damage to tissue and organs means that hospital care and treatment may continue for months. Even with the best medical care, burn injuries can leave a person disabled and disfigured. Everyone who suffers severe burn injuries faces major and disruptive changes in their lives.

Here you can learn more about how burns heal, and the latest research in burn treatment and rehabilitation. You can also learn about the causes of burns, and the ongoing efforts in burn safety and prevention to reduce the frequency of burn injuries and fatalities.

A burn is tissue damage caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, nuclear radiation, or sunlight. Most common are burns caused by scalds, building fires, and flammable liquids and gases. No matter what the cause of the burn, the effects on the tissue are the same. Burns are described as first, second, or third-degree, depending on the depth to which the burn has penetrated, and the kind of tissue damage sustained. Very severe burns involving damage to organs and bone are classified as fourth, fifth, and sixth-degree burns.

First, second, and third-degree burns
First-degree burns affect only the epidermis or outer layer of the skin. A first-degree burn usually heals without scarring. Second-degree burns damage both the epidermis and the dermis, the under layer of skin. The risk of infection increases with a second-degree burn because the skin is the body’s protective layer. When skin is damaged or destroyed, the body is more vulnerable to infection.

Third-degree burns involve damage or complete destruction of all layers of skin and damage to underlying tissues and organs. People who have suffered third-degree burns frequently need skin grafting, the replacement of destroyed skin with new skin taken from another part of the body.

The swelling and blistering that occur with burns are caused by the loss of fluid from damaged blood vessels. When the burned area is extensive, fluid loss can be great enough to cause shock. When this happens the burn victim requires immediate transfusion of blood or of a physiological salt solution to restore adequate fluid levels to maintain blood pressure. After serious burn injuries, healing aims at preventing infection and minimizing scarring as damaged tissues heal.

Medical researchers have made significant progress in their ability to treat serious burn injuries. Twenty-five years ago, a person with third-degree burns covering half the body was not expected to live. Today many patients survive burns that covered 90 percent of the body, albeit with permanent disabilities. The increased survival rate is the result of advances in resuscitation, better wound cleaning and follow-up care, nutritional support, and infection control. Grafting with the patient’s own skin or artificial materials also speeds the healing process.

If you or a loved one has recently suffered serious burn injuries, or if you have lost a loved one due to burn injuries, you will want to learn more about your rights. After a serious burn jury: should you consider legal action? Contact our Law Firm for useful information that can help you think through the new financial realities you face, and your options for funding them.

Many serious burn injuries are the result of defective products or negligence. A manufacturer who builds and sells a defective product, or a landlord or other property owner who is negligent in the maintenance of a property and where that negligence results in a fire can be held financially responsible for injuries. Here are the products that most often lead to fires:

Portable electric heaters
Kerosene heaters
Wood and coal-burning stoves and fireplaces
Cooking equipment
Upholstered furniture, and bedding, and mattresses
Articles of clothing

If you believe that your burn injuries or your loved one’s burn injuries resulted from a defective product or a property owner’s negligence, you should contact a burn injury attorney immediately for review of a potential claim. There are deadlines set by laws that regulate the filing of lawsuits, called statutes of limitation, which vary state by state. If the statute of limitations expires, your right to pursue a claim against the entity may be forever barred.

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Causes of burn injuries and fatalities

The most frequent causes of severe burn injuries are scalds, flammable liquids and gases, and building fires. Most of these are preventable by careful attention to heat sources and proper maintenance of machinery and heating devices.

Burn injuries at work
About a quarter of all serious burn injuries requiring hospital admission occur at work, and workplace burn injuries account for 5% of workplace deaths. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, estimates that 200 American workers die each year, and more than 5000 more are injured in workplace explosions fires. Workplace-related burns can result not only from fires but from contact with hot objects and machinery. Electrical, radiation, and chemical burns are dangers in many workplaces, including construction sites and road-building, steel and specialty metals mills, scrap metal shops, roofing operations, laboratories, refineries, chemical plants, kitchens, and other workplaces. Burns most often affect respiratory functions (lungs, throat), eyes, and skin.

Chemical burns are sometimes more severe than open flame burns
Thermal workplace burns are usually scalding from hot liquids such as boiling water or hot grease. Open flames, hot objects, and explosions are frequent causes. The burns are usually skin burns.

Chemical burns usually result in a more severe type of burn. Strong alkaloids, acids, or other caustic and corrosive materials can eat away skin and underlying tissue; this is a chemical burn. These very severe burns can be caused by rust removers, highly basic drain cleaners, and other industrial cleaners used in laboratories, factories, and other industrial sites.

Molten metal at an -industrial plant
Electric current traveling through the body meets resistance in the body’s tissues, resulting in heat burn injuries. Workplace safety laws require high voltage areas and dangerous machinery to be clearly marked.

Many workplace burn injuries are preventable. OSHA sets the following general fire prevention standards for workplaces:

To prevent deaths and injuries by fire in the workplace, all fire exits must be provided and clearly marked, and employees must be trained in their location.
If employees are expected to fight small fires, appropriate fire extinguishers must be readily accessible and employees who will use fire extinguishers must be trained about the hazards of fighting fire, how to operate the fire extinguishers, and how to alert other employees to the fire emergency.
If employees are to evacuate, the employer must have an emergency plan printed and train employees in evacuation procedures.
The basic OSHA requirements for fire exits are:

A workplace must have a minimum of two 2 escape routes for fire emergencies; these should not be close to each other.
When employees are in the building, fire doors must not be locked or access to them blocked from the inside. Routes to the fire exits must be free of obstructions and properly marked with exit signs.
Fire extinguishers
If an employer wants employees to fight small fires, the proper types of fire extinguishers must be available. Extinguishers must be approved for the types of fire hazards in the plant, and maintained and inspected regularly. Employees who will use fire extinguishers must be trained about the hazards of fighting fire, how to operate the fire extinguishers, and how to alert other employees to the fire emergency. If employees are to evacuate instead of fighting small fires, an employer must have a written emergency plan.

A sound emergency action plan:

Designate evacuation routes and procedures to account for all evacuated employees after evacuation;
Assigns responsibilities for procedures to shut down critical operations at the time of evacuation and perform rescue and medical duties;
Establishes methods to alert employees to the fire emergency; this may be voice communication, bells, whistles, or horns; and
Identify persons who can provide more information.
Trains all employees to know the evacuation signal and what to do in an emergency.
A sound fire prevention plan will minimize the number of times an evacuation is needed. Provisions of a fire prevention plan include:

Housekeeping procedures for storage and clean-up of flammable materials and flammable waste;
Procedures for controlling likely sites of ignition such as smoking, welding, and burning;
Procedures for maintenance and cleaning of heat-producing equipment, such as burners, ovens, stoves, and fryers; and
Training of employees in the potential fire hazards and the control procedures in the fire prevention plan.
Automatic fire suppression systems such as automatic sprinkler systems which improve workplace fire safety.
Fire safety equipment
An automatic system will detect fire, sound an alarm, and deliver water or other appropriate fire suppression materials to the fire. Automatic systems must be properly maintained. If a system is taken out of service during work hours a fire watch must be substituted. An automatic system that uses hazardous chemicals will have special safety requirements. When an automatic system is used, it must be incorporated into the fire prevention and emergency action plans.

If you or a loved one has been burned in a workplace fire, and you believe the workplace was not compliant with OSHA standards, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries. You should contact an experienced burn injury attorney as soon as possible to learn about your rights.

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Burn safety: preventing burn injuries and fatalities from burns
Burn prevention tips

GENERAL MEASURES
Smoke detector
Install smoke detectors in each bedroom corridor, at the top of each stairway, and along your normal exit route. Replace the batteries at the same time twice yearly.
Set your water heater no higher than 120- 25º F. At 130º F. a severe scald burn can occur in just 30 seconds.
Do not overload power sockets, or use damaged power cords.

IN THE KITCHEN
Hot burner
Keep pot handles turned in and the appliance cords away from the edge of the counter.
Keep hot liquids and other hot items away from the edge of the table or counter.
Establish a safe area where a young child can be placed away from risk. Establish a “No Go Zone” in front of the stove, and teach your child to stay away from that area.
Be careful using microwave ovens. Steam escaping from the container can cause scald burns. Foods can be warm in one spot and scalding in another.
Never leave hot oil unattended. Oil can ignite if allowed to overheat.

IN THE BATHROOM
Scalding hot water
When filling a tub, run cold water into the tub first, and then add hot water. Keep your child away from the faucets.
Never leave young children alone in the bathroom for any reason.

OUTSIDE
Gasoline can
Do not use gasoline for any purpose other than to fuel an engine. Use the safest product available for the intended job.
Always fuel power mowers outside where there is adequate ventilation.

Indoor heater safety
Space heaters are a convenient and effective source of heat, but their potential for burns is high. They can burn by direct contact, but also by igniting clothing or anything else that’s flammable. Using the wrong fuel in a space heater can cause an explosion, and using a space heater for cooking, or heating water is an invitation to burns. For all kinds of indoor heating devices, be sure to keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Here are some basic safety practices for space heaters and wood and coal-burning stoves.

Keep heaters free of dust and lint
Do not use or store any flammable liquids near the unit
Provide protection against direct contact with a cage or fire screen
Provide proper ventilation
Have an annual maintenance check
Keep electric heaters away from bathtubs or wet areas

PORTABLE KEROSENE HEATERS
Space heater
Use a protective cage around the heater, especially if small children will be near it. Don’t touch the heater when it’s in use.
Never move heater while it’s in use
Never use the heater to heat water or food
Use only the fuel recommended for your kerosene. Other fuels such as paint thinner, gasoline, or fuel oil can overheat and explode
At the end of the heating season dispose of any remaining kerosene, and buy a fresh supply at the start of the next heating season.
K-1 clear kerosene is the only grade you should use. Other grades create more smoke and vapors which can be toxic to animals and humans.
Always be sure that you have adequate ventilation. Leave a door ajar or a window slightly open. Be especially careful if your house is well insulated. Heaters produce carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases which may be hazardous, especially to high-risk groups such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and individuals with cardiovascular diseases or asthma.
When refueling your heater, turn it off and allow it to cool to room temperature. Fuel splashing on a hot surface can ignite.
Refill the heater tank outside. Fuel spilled indoors stains furnishings and is flammable.
Don’t overfill. Stop filling when the gage reads “full” so that kerosene doesn’t overflow.
Never leave a heater unattended. If you’re leaving or going to sleep, turn it off.
Don’t use a heater when you’re going to sleep, or when a child or a sitter is in charge.
Follow safe storage practices for kerosene. Keep in a safety-approved container clearly marked “kerosene.”
Keep fuel away from children.

COAL AND WOOD STOVE SAFETY
Woodburning stove
Use a qualified installer, and be sure the installer provides recommended clearances for stove and ductwork
Place on a ceramic hearth or another non-flammable base.
Have your stove, ductwork, and chimney cleaned every year.
Provide adequate ventilation. Leave a window or door slightly open. Be especially careful if your house is well insulated. Heaters produce carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases which may be hazardous, especially to high-risk groups such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and individuals with cardiovascular diseases or asthma.
Use the correct fuel: only coal in coal-burning stoves, and only seasoned wood in wood-burning stoves.
Don’t overload the stove with fuel
Store fuel at a safe distance from the stove
Do not use lighter fluid or other flammable liquids to help start the fire
Place ashes in a suitable metal container and take outdoors immediately
Always use a fire screen or keep doors closed
Keep children away from the stove.

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Treatment and rehabilitation of burn injuries

Classifying burns

Psychological aspects of burn care

Severe forearm burn and treatment
More than 60% of the 40,000 hospitalizations each year for serious burn injuries now occur at the 125 hospitals with specialized burn centers. This percentage of specialized hospitalizations has increased steadily in the last 30 years as emergency care and transportation have improved.

Until the last decade, the goal in the treatment of severe burns was simply enabling the patient to survive. As the range of therapies has increased, and survival rates have improved, burn specialists have widened their goals. In a recent article, a burn specialist wrote that the goal of burn treatment is to reintegrate the burn patient into the community. This expanded goal means that the burn care treatment team faces a far broader set of tasks than simply wound closure.

This effort involves three major areas: rehabilitation, reconstruction, and reintegration. Even at the beginning of acute care, a focus on long-term rehabilitation must be part of the treatment plan.

Stabilizing the patient
Fingers burned and bandaged
The first tasks after a serious burn injury involve stabilizing the patient: providing fluids, usually intravenously, to reduce shock and prevent dangerous drops in blood pressure, and monitoring the patient’s breathing, assisting if necessary. The skin is the body’s principal barrier against infection, and after a serious burn injury, the victim is at significant risk for infection. Immediate treatment aims at preventing infection with IV antibiotics and antibiotics in cream or ointment form applied directly to the burned areas.

Even while a patient is still critically ill and in the ICU, rehabilitation goals are part of the treatment. The aim is to limit the loss of range of motion, ROM, to reduce edema, the presence of excess fluid in tissues that contributes to joint stiffening, and to use positioning and splinting to prevent contractures. This process generally involves twice-a-day therapy sessions timed when anesthetics are strongest so that aggressive joint ROM therapy can occur.

During this time survival may be uncertain. The burn injury survivor will experience anxiety, fear, pain, delirium, sleep deprivation, and confusion, which must be managed by the ICU team and psychiatric consultants.

As the patient stabilizes, the burn treatment team begins a careful assessment of the extent of the burn damage and plans the course of treatment.

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Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians who are walking along the streets are especially vulnerable to accidents that can lead to serious injuries or even death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, thousands of pedestrians either are killed or suffer injuries in motor vehicle-related pedestrian accidents throughout the United States every year.

Depending on the nature of the accident, pedestrian accidents can result in life-altering injuries that can lead to accident victims being out of work for months or even permanently. That being the case, some accident victims might experience not only emotional devastation but also financial devastation. However, there is help for pedestrian accident victims and their families.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident, contact one of our accident attorneys to discuss your legal remedies. Call us toll-free or email us immediately for a case evaluation.

Pedestrian Accidents That Involve Injuries
Whenever a pedestrian is hit in a motor vehicle accident, the probability of the pedestrian sustaining injuries is very high. The reason is obvious: when a passenger vehicle that weighs around 2,000 pounds crashes into an individual who might weigh 200 pounds, the result is likely to be either injury or death, depending on the severity of the accident.

There are a wide variety of injuries that can result from pedestrian accidents. Some of those injuries include:

Internal organ damage
Broken bones
Major head trauma
Spinal cord injuries
Pedestrians involved in car accidents might experience the above-mentioned injuries even at low speeds. That said, pedestrian accident victims should not hesitate to contact a knowledgeable accident lawyer as soon as possible to learn more about their rights and legal options.

Obtaining Compensation For Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Many pedestrian accident victims, or the family members of those killed in pedestrian accidents, often want to know more about the possible financial compensation to which they may be entitled. A capable attorney can assist victims with determining the amount of financial compensation that might be recovered from those who are responsible for the accident.

Under Texas law, pedestrians can receive compensation for the same types of damages as those who have been involved in bicycle accidents or vehicle accidents. Those damages can include monetary compensation for medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and other accident-related expenses. In some cases, punitive damages might be awarded in addition to actual damages.

What Should Pedestrian Accident Victims Do After An Accident?
The first thing that a pedestrian accident victim should do is seek medical attention right away. Victims should also make sure that they comply with all of the health professional’s directions and take all medications as prescribed. Medical evidence will be key in a pedestrian accident case, so hiring an attorney to help gather such evidence and obtain expert testimony where needed might prove to be quite beneficial.

If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident, contact one of our skilled accident lawyers today. Call us toll-free or email us immediately to schedule a consultation.

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Bicycle Accidents

Bike ridership has increased in recent years. As the ridership increased, the occurrence of bike accidents became more evident to lawmakers throughout the state of Texas. Despite the state’s best efforts to protect bike riders, hundreds of bicycle accidents are reported to the Police Departments on a yearly basis; however, many bike crashes go unreported.

Bicycle accident cases can be more complex than motor vehicle accident cases, mainly because there’s often a question concerning who had the right of way. That is why it is crucial for a bicycle accident victim to consider hiring a competent accident lawyer to handle his or her case because a lawyer can ensure that the victim receives all of the compensation to which he or she is entitled.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact one of our accident attorneys right away. Call us toll-free or email us to review the facts of your case.

The Leading Causes Of Bicycle Accidents
Three of the leading causes of bicycle accidents are:

Speeding
Turning
Dooring
Other causes of bicycle accidents include roadways that had gravel or sand on them, railroad tracks, collapsed bike rims, and bicycle chains that broke after catching on something.

Bicycle Accidents That Involve Commercial Trucks
Truck drivers are subject to both federal and state laws. When drivers and the companies for whom they drive fail to abide by those laws, injured individuals can hold them responsible for accidents that occur because of their actions or inactions.

Some of the issues that might arise in truck accident cases that involve bicyclists include broken or inadequate truck equipment issues, turning radius issues related to the tractor-trailer, and truck blind spots. Cyclists who have been hurt in a bicycle accident that involved a commercial truck should seek advice from an area lawyer who has experience with handling such cases.

The Types Of Compensation That Might Be Recoverable In A Bicycle Accident Claim
Bike riders who are injured by motor vehicles may be entitled to recover for a number of damages based on the facts of the case. For instance, cyclists might be able to receive financial compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wages and future earning potential, emotional distress, and property damage. A skilled accident lawyer can further advise bicycle accident victims on possible recovery.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, allow one of our local attorneys to assist you with your legal needs. Call us toll-free or email us today to schedule an appointment.

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Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving, much like reckless driving and speeding, is a serious problem that affects the lives of thousands of individuals and their families every year. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,511 people died in alcohol-related accidents in 2018 in the US. It is clear that drunk driving causes car accidents and the statistics are very disheartening.

Many drunk drivers who cause accidents are punished by the criminal court system; however, the criminal system does nothing to compensate accident victims or their families for their losses. A skilled car accident attorney can help victims and their families receive the just compensation they deserve through the civil court system.

If you have been hurt or a loved one has died in a motor vehicle accident caused by a drunk driver, you have rights. Contact one of our capable lawyers today to discuss the details of your case. Call us toll-free or email us right away.

Drunk Driving Accidents And Liability
Individuals who are hurt in drunk driving accidents, as well as those who lose family members because of drunk drivers, might be entitled to financial compensation. However, there are a few things that will need to be proven in a civil lawsuit against a drunk driver. A drunk driving accident victim or the family member of a deceased victim must prove that:

The driver was intoxicated
The level of the driver’s intoxication was too high to safely operate a vehicle
The driver failed to use reasonable care
Establishing civil liability against a drunk driver might be difficult for accident victims and their families to handle on their own. That is why victims are encouraged to seek legal guidance from skilled attorneys who are familiar with the laws and the intricacies of the civil court system. An attorney can help a victim obtain fair compensation for his or her loss.

Obtaining Compensation In Drunk Driving Accident Cases
Accident victims whose lives are changed by drunk drivers can seek monetary compensation for their injuries. Additionally, in cases involving the death of a loved one due to a drunk driver, the family members may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver.

Drunk driving accident victims may be entitled to compensation that will cover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Moreover, a skilled attorney might also pursue what is known as punitive damages. Punitive damages in drunk driving cases are generally designed to financially punish the driver who caused the accident for his or her actions and hopefully deter others from doing the same thing in the future.

Drunk driving accidents can be both physically and financially devastating for the victims and their families, but help is available.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash that was caused by a drunk driver, or if you have lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, let one of our competent car accident attorneys help you obtain justice. Call us toll-free or email us today to schedule a consultation.

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Reckless Driving And Speeding

Reckless driving and speeding are two common causes of vehicle crashes. Depending on the circumstances, speeding can be deemed to be a type of reckless driving that can lead to devastating injuries or even death. However, reckless driving includes many other aspects of driving besides speeding.

A reckless driver is anyone who drives dangerously without regard for the safety of others. A driver can be reckless by changing lanes in an aggressive manner, cutting off other drivers on the roadway, and/or tailgating. Much like drivers who text while driving, when individuals drive in such a reckless manner, accidents can occur.

Motor vehicles are a primary mode of transportation for many people who travel. Those who operate motor vehicles are required to abide by city and state laws. When drivers disregard those laws, they put other people’s lives at risk and drastically increase the likelihood of an accident occurring.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s reckless driving or speeding, contact one of our knowledgeable car accident attorneys to discuss your options. Call us toll-free or email us today for a consultation.

Reckless Driving And Speeding Can Lead To Serious Injuries
Realistically, many people drive a few miles over the posted speed limit on a regular basis, but exceeding beyond just a few miles over the posted speed limit can create hazards. Likewise, some individuals frequently change lanes in traffic in an effort to get to their destinations a little quicker than the current traffic conditions will allow. However, such driving techniques can lead to horrific accidents that cause substantial injury or death.

Some of the possible injuries that accident victims might sustain include:

Spinal cord injuries
Abrasions and bruises
Head and brain injuries
Some victims might also face very serious disabling injuries that might be temporary or permanent. That said, it is important for those who have been hurt in accidents that were caused by someone else’s reckless driving and speeding to seek legal counsel from well-versed lawyers who can provide more insight with respect to the facts of their particular cases.

What Constitutes Reckless Conduct While On The Road?
Along with the techniques noted above, there are several other driving tactics that can be deemed as reckless driving. For instance, in addition to speeding, some people drive too fast for the conditions of the road. If the roads are wet or a driver faces foggy conditions, he or she may need to drive much slower than normal in order to avoid a possible accident.

Another issue that can lead to reckless driving and speeding is “road rage.” Road rage is a condition where a driver has an emotional reaction while driving that can result in erratic and unpredictable behavior which may endanger other motorists. Road rage can occur in even the most mild-mannered drivers, especially if they are stuck in traffic and running late for an appointment. Road rage leads to aggression, and that aggression can lead to a serious accident.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by someone driving in a reckless manner, you may be entitled to compensation. Discuss your case with one of our skilled lawyers today. Call us toll-free or email us to schedule an appointment.

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Defective Car Parts

In the U.S., automobile accidents take place every day, and those accidents can occur for any number of reasons, such as texting while driving. Many accidents happen because of driver errors; however, some motor vehicle accidents happen because of errors made during the manufacturing process. Defective car parts have played a role in many car accidents across the country.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the auto industry recalls just about as many vehicles as it sells. That is an astounding fact that demonstrates a large number of vehicles out on the roadways today that are defective or have defective car parts. Defective car parts can cause vehicle crashes that can change the lives of those involved.

If you have been involved in a car accident that was caused by a defective car part, contact one of our knowledgeable car accident attorneys right away. Call us toll-free or email us to discuss the facts of the case.

Defective Car Parts Can Lead To Devastating Injuries
Defective automobiles can lead to a variety of problems. For instance, some defective parts can actually cause an accident to happen or hinder the proper prevention of an accident. Examples of defective car parts that can lead to automobile accidents are:

Defective tires, which can experience tread separation that might lead to blowouts on a highway
Brakes
Accelerator pedals that might become stuck when depressed, which can lead to unintended acceleration and vehicle crashes
Serious injuries can happen when certain auto parts malfunction. Some examples may include defective seatbelts or airbags. Automobile manufacturers are required and expected to put their motor vehicles through meticulous testing prior to selling them. That said, it is important to hold responsible the manufacturers and other parties involved for any accidents that may occur because of their actions or inactions.

What Must You Do To Prove The Existence Of A Defective Car Part?
First of all, anyone who is considering taking on an automaker or car part manufacturer should not attempt to do so alone. Manufacturers have teams of lawyers working for them; therefore, it is important for any accident victim who believes that he or she has been hurt because of a defective car part to contact an area attorney as soon as possible.

A skilled car accident attorney can look over the facts of the case and make a proper assessment regarding the viability of the case. In a defective car parts case, it is very important that the vehicle at issue is preserved as-is and taken in for a full inspection after the accident. The vehicle is the most important part of the case, so make sure that the vehicle remains in the same condition that it was at the time of the crash is crucial.

If the vehicle has been properly preserved, an expert can perform an analysis that will show the existence of defects and malfunctions in the vehicle, and such a showing can prove to be very beneficial for the case.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident due to a defective car part, you may be entitled to damages. Contact one of our skilled lawyers today to learn more about your legal options. Call us toll-free or email us to schedule an appointment.

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Dangerous Roads

Much like reckless driving and speeding, dangerous roads are a factor in many of the car accidents that occur all across the nation. Thousands of people have died as a result of crossing over the center lane, dropping down a slope, or crashing into still objects, such as light poles or walls. While it is true that such accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, one often-overlooked car accident cause is the presence of dangerous roads.

Dangerous roads can be the result of several things, such as bad road design or poor construction and maintenance. When a dangerous road hazard exists, the possibility of an accident may increase. For instance, a dangerous curve in a roadway can cause the driver of a vehicle to either cross over into the opposite lane and crash into an oncoming automobile or run off the roadway and roll over.

Individuals who have suffered injuries in an accident caused in part or in total by a dangerous road condition should contact one of our skilled car accident attorneys as soon as possible. Call us toll-free or email us today to discuss the particulars of the case.

What Types Of Dangerous Road Conditions Can Cause An Accident?
Heavily population means the roadways are often congested with motor vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. A large number of people on congested roadways can make for a dangerous situation on its own; however, the situation worsens when the roadways at issue are poorly designed and inadequately maintained.

There are many types of dangerous road conditions that can lead to automobile accidents, such as:

Dangerously short exit ramps that don’t allow for drivers to safely merge onto the roadway
Pavement that has poor skid resistance
Improper drainage that can lead to ponding on street surfaces and hydroplaning
Poor street/highway construction
Potholes, a lack of guardrails, and missing and/or deteriorated signage
Certain roads become dangerous due to poor visibility caused by low-hanging or overgrown vegetation, a lack of reflective markings that can be seen by drivers after dark, and an inadequate amount of shoulder space.

What Should An Accident Victim Do If An Accident Occurred On Known Dangerous Roads?
One of the first things that an accident victim should do, regardless of the type of accident, is seeking medical attention. Once proper medical attention has been obtained, the accident victim should consider contacting a knowledgeable car accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident because timing is crucial and the preservation of evidence is vital.

Having a lawyer handle a dangerous road case is very important because quite often, such cases involve governmental entities that receive certain levels of immunity when it comes to lawsuits. That said, an attorney can be beneficial to the case because he or she can hire relevant experts and conduct a thorough investigation that might reveal certain facts that can defeat the government’s immunity defense.

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident and you believe that the accident may have been caused by a dangerous road hazard, help is available to you. Contact one of our capable lawyers today. Call us toll-free or email us to schedule a consultation.

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Back Injuries

Depending on the severity of the accident, some car accident victims will be forced to deal with a number of car accident injuries. Some of the injuries suffered might be minor; however, some of the injuries might be very serious. Common car accident injuries that some accident victims might experience include cuts, bruises, strains, sprains, and back injuries.

The cuts and bruises that an individual might suffer during a motor vehicle accident will likely heal within a short period of time. However, accident victims who incur back injuries may experience long-lasting pain for years to come. Occasionally, back issues don’t manifest themselves until long after an accident, and unfortunately, not all back injuries can be fixed with surgery or therapy.

If you or a loved one has sustained back injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident, contact one of our skilled car accident attorneys right away to learn more about your legal options. Call us toll-free or email us to discuss the facts of your case.

Types Of Back Injuries
Injuries to the back, much like injuries to the neck, can be very painful. Some back ailments are also disabling. A person might experience different types of back injuries after a car accident, such as:

Spinal cord injuries that can lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia
Bulging or strained back disks
Herniated disks
Lumbar strains
Depending on the nature of the injury, some motor vehicle accident victims who suffer injuries to the back recover within a year or so of the accident; however, some back and spine injuries do not heal as quickly, if at all. Long-term injuries lead to increased medical bills that can become overwhelming. Therefore, accident victims who are dealing with accident-related back issues should consider seeking the advice of legal counsel in order to find out if any legal remedies are available to them.

Seeking Compensation For Your Back Injuries
Given the amount of devastation that a back injury can cause, it is common for accident victims to wonder about their rights with regard to obtaining compensation from the party or parties responsible for the accident. A skilled lawyer can help car accident victims determine whether or not they have viable cases.

A car accident attorney can look at the facts of the case and make an assessment with respect to who might be held responsible for the accident. An attorney can also determine the best course of action to take in order to receive the maximum amount of compensation for the injuries suffered. A competent attorney might also utilize the services of expert witnesses, such as physicians, who can provide valuable information regarding the extent of the back injuries and the possible course of treatment that will be required.

If you or a family member has sustained injuries to the back from an automobile accident, help is available to you. Contact one of our car accident attorneys today to learn more about possible compensation. Call us toll-free or email us to schedule an appointment.

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Brain Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle accidents cause approximately 30 percent of the traumatic brain injuries that occur every year throughout the U.S. A brain injury can be very serious. In fact, it is one of the most devastating injuries that an accident victim can experience.

Much like other types of vehicle accident injuries, brain injuries can have a major impact on the lives of the victims and their families. Such an injury can require ongoing medical treatment and care, which can be a substantial burden on the victim and his or her loved ones. However, accident victims do not have to face their medical and financial challenges alone. Help is available.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury that resulted from a car accident, contact one of our well-versed car accident attorneys as soon as possible to find out about your rights. Call us toll-free or email us.

A traumatic brain injury is typically the result of a serious blow or hard impact to the head. However, such injuries can also occur without direct impact, as in cases of fast acceleration or deceleration. If an accident victim experiences any sort of head trauma in an accident, he or she should seek medical attention right away.

Some car accident victims might face what is known as mild traumatic brain injuries after a vehicle accident occurs. These injuries typically don’t require surgery, but they can have a serious impact on a person’s cognitive and social abilities.

The Signs And Symptoms Of Brain Injuries
All injuries to the head and to the brain are not created equal. The signs and symptoms of brain damage can vary depending on the sex and age of the accident victim, the side of the brain on which the injury occurred, and whether or not the individual sustained additional injuries during the motor vehicle accident. Symptoms can also vary based on the nature of the impact.

Some of the common symptoms of traumatic brain injury include:

Physiological issues, such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of motor functions
Psychiatric issues, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression
Physical issues, such as nose and ear drainage and dilated pupils
Cognitive issues, such as slurred speech, visual impairments, and attention deficit issues
Additional symptoms include loss of or impaired hearing, confusion, and an inability to sleep. Accident victims who are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms should seek medical help right away if they haven’t already done so.

The Effects Of Brain Injuries
Identifying and diagnosing a traumatic brain injury can be difficult, even for physicians who specialize in brain injuries. Brain injuries carry major consequences for accident victims and their families. Undoubtedly, accident victims who have suffered brain injuries will face high medical costs for things such as medication, rehab, and other treatments that may be necessary. Additionally, brain injury victims may no longer be able to work or function normally in society as they did in the past.

If you or a family member has suffered a brain injury due to an accident, contact one of our knowledgeable car accident lawyers today. Preserve your rights and ensure that you receive the just compensation for the injuries that you deserve. Call us toll-free or email us to schedule a consultation.

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Head Injuries

Automobile accidents can cause head injuries that are not immediately realized at the time of the accident. Unfortunately, because head injuries may not become apparent until hours or even days after the occurrence of an accident, they can go undiagnosed and untreated. Therefore, it is crucial for a car accident victim to be seen by a physician as soon as possible after an auto accident because. Although everything may “seem” fine on the outside, the inner workings of the head may tell a different story.

Although certain federal agencies compile statistics with respect to the number of motor vehicle accidents that occur and the number of people who are injured or killed in those accidents, information regarding the exact number of injuries to the brain and head that result from motor vehicle accidents is not readily available. Nonetheless, some statistics indicate that automobile accidents are the leading cause of all head injuries.

If you or a loved one has sustained a head injury that was caused by an automobile accident, contact one of our knowledgeable car accident attorneys as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation. Call us toll-free or email us to discuss your case.

Head Injury Classifications
The human head and brain are complex organs. The brain not only controls an individual’s thoughts but also controls a person’s actions. Consequently, many things can go wrong when the head and brain sustain injuries.

Head injuries are generally placed into two classifications:

Open head injuries
Closed head injuries
Open head injuries occur when an object penetrates the skull. For instance, in a motor vehicle accident, an accident victim might sustain an open head injury if he or she goes through the windshield and some of the glass cuts through the skull.

Closed head injuries occur when an individual sustains a hard blow to the head, but that blow does not penetrate the individual’s skull. For example, an accident victim might experience a closed head injury if the victim hits his or her head on the steering wheel, dashboard, or any other hard surface in the vehicle during the accident.

Anyone who suffers either class of head injuries might face long-term brain damage; therefore, it is crucial for accident victims who experience such injuries to receive immediate medical diagnosis and treatment.

Possible Causes Of Head Injuries
Head injuries can occur in a number of ways; however, in automobile accidents, determining what caused an accident victim’s head injury might be a difficult task. For instance, some car accident injuries that involve the head and brain might occur during the deployment of an airbag. Likewise, a head injury might occur if a vehicle’s seat belts were defective at the time of the accident and malfunctioned, thus allowing the individual to be thrown from the vehicle.

If you or a family member has been in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in head injuries, contact one of our capable lawyers to find out whether you are eligible to receive compensation from the individual or individuals who caused the accident. Call us at toll-free or email us today to schedule a consultation.

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Neck Injuries

Automobile accidents can lead to all types of auto accident injuries. The severity of those injuries will vary based on the level of impact experienced during the accident. One injury that is common in vehicle accidents is a neck injury. Neck injuries, much like injuries to the back, have varying degrees of severity, and the pain felt after sustaining such injuries can be long-lasting.

Car accident victims can experience neck injuries in a number of ways. For instance, rear-end collisions, side impacts, and head-on collisions can jostle the head, neck, and back in a way that can lead to serious injuries. When such accidents happen, the driver and his or her passengers will likely need medical treatment, and some of the treatments can be very expensive. Some accident victims, however, may be entitled to financial compensation from the party or parties responsible for the accident.

If you or a loved one has sustained neck injuries from a motor vehicle accident, contact one of our car accident attorneys today. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Call us toll-free or email us to discuss your case.

Whiplash
Whiplash is a slang term often used to describe a neck injury that is common to a rear-end accident. The neck and spine can be damaged in a crash due to the amount of force that results in rear and side-impact crashes. An individual’s neck can be “whipped” to the front, back, or side while his or her head remains in place after impact, and the injuries that can result from that extreme jerking motion are what’s commonly referred to as whiplash.

Some people mistakenly believe that whiplash-type injuries can only be sustained after major high-speed crashes, but that is not true. In fact, whiplash commonly occurs in low-impact, rear-end accidents.

Types Of Neck Injuries
Sometimes when motor vehicle accidents occur, individuals try to “brace themselves” for the impending impact. But even when people brace themselves, they can’t really stop their necks from jostling. Such jostling can lead to certain soft tissue injuries in the neck that can vary in severity. There are two types of whiplash-like injuries that a person might experience:

Sprains, which generally refer to injuries to the ligaments in the neck
Strains, which refer to injuries to the muscles and tendons in the neck
Additionally, there are three levels of strains and sprains: mild, moderate, and severe. Whenever an individual injures his or her neck tissues, the individual might experience pain and some loss of movement, but not in the arms. However, when a person experiences injuries to the nerves in the neck, he or she can have arm pain, numbness, and weakness.

Symptoms And Treatment For Neck Injuries
After the occurrence of a motor vehicle accident, individuals might notice some common signs of neck injuries. For example, some people might experience neck pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision.

Some neck injuries can be treated with certain chiropractic methods. Regardless of the method chosen to treat neck injuries, individuals should start receiving treatment as soon as possible.

If you or a family member has suffered neck injuries from a vehicle accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact one of our skilled car accident lawyers by calling us toll-free or you can email us today to schedule a consultation.

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