Drunk driving is dangerous; no one can dispute that. Despite the well-known dangers of driving under the influence, motorists continue to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. In fact, there was a DUI accident in Austin not too long ago involving a family of four whose vehicle was hit by a man, who they claim, admitted to having just left a bar after drinking.
Wrongful Death
A wrongful act may by intentional, negligent or careless, or reckless. The laws relating to wrongful death are complicated and, while an attorney is familiar with the best ways to obtain the highest possible compensation for your loss, we have also provided materials to help you educate yourself about the process.
Traffic Violations
Defendants often admit that they have a duty not to injure others. As a result, the first hurdle most injured parties face is proving that the defendant was negligent — that is, the defendant failed to meet the standard of care. To do this, the injured person must prove that the defendant failed to take some action that a reasonable person would have taken or that the defendant took some action that a reasonable person would not have taken. For example, in a car wreck case, an injured person must prove that the defendant did something an ordinary driver would not do, such as running a red light, following too closely, or speeding. Similarly, in a case involving a defective product, an injured person must prove the manufacturer did something an ordinary manufacturer would not have done, such as not testing the product enough or failing to ensure that the products were made properly.
Sex Crimes
We represented five women who were sexually assaulted by a deputy in East Texas. In a very difficult case, we were able to obtain some justice for our clients through a significant, but confidential settlement. As part of the settlement, our clients offered $10,000.00 towards therapy for the officer to help protect other women. In addition, the case served as the inspiration for the movie Scared Silent, which was part of the Lifetime Television channel’s campaign to stop violence against women and to help put rapists behind bars. Mark Perlmutter was an executive producer for the movie.
Assault
Hit and Run
Uninsured/underinsured coverage may apply in a hit-and-run accident if there is contact between your vehicle and the other vehicle.
We represented a nurse who was injured when she slipped and fell in the common areas of her apartment complex. During the fall, she hit her head on the concrete, sustaining a serious brain injury. The client approached other attorneys before coming to us, and those attorneys felt her case was too hard. We had our own concerns about the difficulty of the case because the law is so difficult on slip and fall/premises liability cases, but we nevertheless wanted to try and help the client. We worked on this client’s case for over two years to try and prove that the apartment complex knew the dangers of the area and that the client’s injuries were real. After two years of work, we were able to settle the case for a significant, confidential sum. After payment of attorneys’ fees, expenses, and reimbursement of a large subrogation interest, the client netted $333,326.96. A large portion of this was used by the client to purchase a structured settlement.
Property Damage
Car wreck property damage claims seem to be an increasing problem and concern. Generally, the property damage claims — the claims relating to your car damage — are easy to resolve. But recently, I’ve had to file lawsuits in a couple of cases over property damage, and I’ve also received an increasing number of calls from potential clients worried about how they’re being treated in their property damage claims.
We think the best way for personal injury victims to protect themselves from becoming victims for a second time is to arm themselves with information. That is why we have built these information centers for you to explore various personal injury topics. Please visit an info center to learm more.
Medical Malpractice
Most Texas medical malpractice claims are governed by general negligence principles, but the claims also have their own set of rules and problems. In a medical negligence claim, the injured party must prove that the doctor or hospital failed to use the degree of care that an ordinary doctor or hospital would have used under similar circumstances. To prove this, the injured party must produce testimony from another physician establishing the standard of care and describing how the defendant doctor’s conduct fell below the standard.
Auto Accidents
Dog Bites
Studies show that dog attacks are a huge problem in Texas and around the country. A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study found that there are roughly 4.5 million dog bite victims per year in the United States. An article published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) found that over 750,000 people per year in the United States sustained dog bites that necessitate medical care.