Archive for April 2012
Wrongful Death Lawsuits are Often Filed as a Result of a Crash involving a Negligent Driver
Big rigs do an enormous amount of damage when they hit another vehicle. This accident killed four. This case did not have to happen, but for a trucker who ran a red light because he was in a hurry. That decision cost four women their lives. They were on their way home from a birthday…
Read MoreState Farm: The Do's and Don'ts of A Minor Car Accident
Earlier today, I received a link to a State Farm website that contains State Farm’s “Do’s and Dont’s Of A Minor Car Accident.” There is the standard advice that you’d expect: Don’t drive away, stay at the scene, call the police, etc. But there was also something unexpected: Don’t assume there aren’t injuries. Do assess…
Read MoreDrowning Wrongful Death Occurred While Trained Medical Personnel Were Prevented from Assisting Boat Racer
This bizarre case ended in the needless death of a powerboat racer. The wrongful death suit alleges gross negligence. This case happened during a world championship for powerboats, and resulted in the drowning death of a well known, long time racer, who was experienced when it came to this kind of sport. The man was…
Read MoreBasics of Auto Accident Law Continuing Legal Education Course
Today, Brooks and another local lawyer are speaking at a four-hour seminar on auto accident claims. The course will be an introductory course for inexperienced lawyers and paralegals. Some of the things we’ll be discussing are investigation of the claim, pleadings, causes of action, and various ethics issues. I’m happy to do this seminar. There…
Read MoreAuto Accidents: Austin Makes Another Top 10 List & Not In A Good Way
Austinites are proud of the many “Top 10” lists honoring our city. Recently, Austin was named to another top 10 list, but this wasn’t a good one. Men’s Health Magazine used a complicated formula to try and determine the safest and most dangerous cities in the country for driving. According to them: We tabulated the rate of…
Read MoreTexas Supreme Court Under Fire
Yesterday, I wrote about the decline in Texas civil jury trials. One of the key reasons that our founding fathers considered the jury trial so important was that it was a check on runaway judges. Even Thomas Jefferson explained the importance of having juries as a check over judges when he wrote: [judges] are liable…
Read MoreTexas Civil Jury Trials Plummet
The right to trial by jury in civil cases is so important that our forefathers insisted in including it in the Bill of Rights. Indeed, one of the main grievances leading up the American Revolution was the unfair treatment of the colonies with respect to jury trials. In England, judges were viewed as subjects to…
Read MorePersonal Watercraft Safety
Yesterday, I wrote about boating safety, and I wanted to follow that up with a few tips on personal watercraft safety. Because in many areas, there are more injuries from personal watercraft accidents than from boating accidents. Personal watercraft are fast & highly maneuverable, and therefore, they’re a lot of fun. But they can also…
Read MoreBoating Season Begins & A Sober Reminder About Boating Safety
I’ve seen it in my neighborhood, and if you live near any of our lakes, you’ve probably seen it too. The last couple of weekends have brought out the boats, driving to boat launches and then driving on the lakes. Sadly, this weekend also brought our first boating accident death of the year, and it stands…
Read MoreAustin Personal Injury Lawyer Says Some Wrongful Death Cases Settle Outright
In instances where the plaintiff’s case is strong and the defendant knows it, often a settlement is reached before going to court. “This case involved the sudden death of a 19-year-old college student. In the wee hours of the morning, the man was riding on an all-terrain vehicle with another student when it flipped over.…
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