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Recent Blog Posts
Possible Injuries After an Oil Field Accident in Texas
Oil field accidents can leave a wide range of injuries that can be devastating for workers and their families. Texas has been a major player in the oil and gas industry for years, and over that period, injuries in the oil fields have become relatively commonplace events. Such injuries may include rig collapses, explosions, fires, falls, and more. If you or a loved one has been injured in an oil field accident in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation through personal injury law. Contact a lawyer today to see what your legal options are.
Types of Oil Field Injuries in Texas
One of the most common types of all field injuries is burns. Workers involved in oil and gas drilling, extraction, and refining risk suffering burns due to high temperatures and the volatile nature of the materials being worked with. Burns can cause severe pain, scarring, and nerve damage, potentially requiring long-term medical care or surgery.
Addressing Rear-End Accidents: Causes and Common Injuries
Rear-end accidents are among the most common car accidents, occurring in many different situations and for many causes. While sometimes these accidents may cause only minor damage to vehicles, other times they can result in serious consequences, causing both physical and psychological injuries. Today, we will discuss the common causes of rear-end accidents and the types of injuries that may result. Remember that as you deal with the aftermath of the car accident, it is strongly recommended that you hire a personal injury attorney to help you pursue the compensation you may be entitled to as a result of the accident.
Reasons Why Rear-End Accidents Occur
While no two car crashes are identical, here are the most common reasons why rear-end accidents happen:
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Distracted driving – These days, so many drivers use their phones while they drive. However, phones are not the only culprit responsible for distracted driving. Changing a radio station, eating food, or even talking to another passenger can result in a distracted driving car accident. Distracted driving can result in low-speed or high-speed rear-end crashes.
What to Do and What Not to Do After Being Arrested
Being arrested is one of the most stressful and potentially dangerous situations a person can experience. In addition to legal consequences, a criminal conviction can also significantly impact your personal and professional life for many years to come. Knowing what to do and what not to do when being arrested can help minimize the risk of negative consequences. If you are ever charged with a crime, contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately to ensure your rights are safeguarded throughout your case.
What to Do When Being Arrested
Here are a few examples of what to do when being arrested:
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Stay calm – Try to remain as calm and composed as possible during the arrest.
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Remain silent –The fifth amendment, the right to remain silent, is there for a reason. Exercise this right.
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Request an attorney – As soon as you are able contact a lawyer you trust. Experienced criminal defense attorneys can provide valuable legal guidance and help ensure your constitutional rights are protected.
What Happens if Someone Under 21 Gets Caught Drunk Driving in Texas?
With the end of the school year fast approaching, many high school and college-age students are ready for the fun-filled days of summer. Unfortunately, spring and summer break is often the time that young people experiment with alcohol. In Texas, the consequences for underage drinking and driving vary depending on the driver's blood alcohol concentration. Underage drivers who are caught driving under the influence may face suspension of their driver's license, fines, community service, and jail time.
Zero Tolerance Laws in Texas
The Lonestar State has zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving. Having any detectable amount of alcohol in your system while operating a vehicle is illegal if you are under the legal drinking age. Under Texas' zero tolerance law, drivers under 21 years old with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above 0.02 can be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and charged with a Class C misdemeanor. The penalty for first-time offenders DUI offenders includes:
My Ex Accused Me of Stalking. What Should I Do?
The end of a relationship can lead to significant conflict. In some cases, one partner wishes to continue the relationship or discuss the problems and work toward a solution, while the other partner wants to move on. Situations like these can sometimes lead to allegations of stalking or harassment. If your ex has accused you of stalking, it is important to take such an accusation seriously. The consequences of a stalking conviction in Texas are life-changing. Reach out to a criminal defense lawyer for help right away.
What is Considered Stalking?
Under Texas law, stalking is defined as engaging in conduct that involves harassing or threatening another person with the intent to cause them emotional distress. In order for an act to be considered stalking, it must occur on two or more occasions and must be done with the intent of causing fear, intimidation or bodily injury. Examples of this kind of conduct include following someone, sending unwanted gifts, making unwanted phone calls, or sending harassing text messages.
Is Assault a Misdemeanor or Felony in Texas?
Anything from a drunken argument at a bar to a heated family dispute can lead to charges for assault. In Texas, assault refers to intentional physical contact that is offensive or provocative. Many people are surprised to learn that they can be charged with assault even if the other person was not severely injured. Assault is usually a misdemeanor but it can be a felony in some circumstances. In some cases, assault can lead to significant jail time.
What a Prosecutor Must Prove to Secure an Assault Conviction
Assault charges often follow fights or physical altercations. In many cases, a person is charged with both assault and battery, but these are two separate offenses.
To secure a conviction for assault, a prosecutor must demonstrate that an individual:
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Willingly or recklessly caused another person harm
Negligent Hiring Practices Can Lead to Preventable Truck Accidents
Being a commercial truck driver is not an easy job. Drivers are required to operate massive vehicles in all different types of weather and road conditions. They are asked to work unpredictable schedules, and often drive for very long stretches of time. Commercial trucking companies have a duty to ensure that their drivers are capable of safely doing this demanding job.
Negligent hiring and training practices can lead to unqualified drivers behind the wheel of 18-wheelers and other large trucks. In some cases, the consequences of this negligence lead to catastrophic truck accidents.
Examples of Negligence When Hiring and Training Commercial Truck Drivers
When hiring and training drivers, trucking companies should exercise due diligence and make sure they are only hiring qualified individuals. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Some common examples of negligent hiring and training practices include:
How Can Blood Test Chain of Custody Issues Affect Your DWI Case?
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the measure of alcohol in a person's bloodstream. The two most common ways of measuring BAC in a Texas drunk driving case are breath tests and blood tests. However, for a chemical BAC test to be reliable, there must be an accurate chain of custody.
Chain of custody is the careful tracking and recording of evidence from its collection to its presentation in court. It must be proven that a blood sample was not contaminated or tampered with in any way between the time it was taken and when it arrived at the laboratory for testing. If there are any gaps in this chain of custody, then the evidence may be considered inadmissible.
If you or someone close to you has been accused of driving while intoxicated (DWI), make sure you understand how chain of custody issues can influence your case. It may be possible to get the charges dropped or secure an acquittal if a blood alcohol test was not handled correctly.
5 Steps to Immediately Take if You Were Accused of Sexual Assault in Texas
If you or a loved one have been accused of sexual assault or another sex crime, you may understandably be anxious and unsure how to handle the situation. Sex-related criminal offenses often carry especially harsh criminal penalties, not to mention the substantial damage such an accusation can do to one's personal and professional reputation.
Sexual assault is a felony criminal offense in Texas, and those convicted of sexual assault can face up to twenty years in prison. To increase your chances of avoiding conviction and the life-changing consequences that come with a conviction, take the following steps immediately.
Remain Silent and Do Not Talk to the Police
When you are questioned by police or other law enforcement officers, you have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer any questions without a lawyer present. You should politely decline to answer any questions until you have had an opportunity to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Who Pays for Damages in a Multi-Vehicle Crash or Pileup?
Multi-vehicle collisions or pileups are often especially complex from a legal perspective. For example, if a vehicle is rear-ended by another vehicle and the force of the impact causes that vehicle to strike a third vehicle, who is at fault? Does the driver of the second vehicle have to pay for the third vehicle's repairs? Is the driver of the first vehicle responsible for all of the damages? Is there some way of sorting out the responsibility among multiple parties?
If you or a loved one were injured in a crash involving multiple vehicles, consider reaching out to a car crash injury lawyer for help. You may have a legal claim against one or more of the involved parties. Your lawyer can explain the law and help you determine who is responsible for your medical bills, vehicle repairs, and other costs related to your accident. In some cases, you may be able to file a lawsuit if negotiations with other parties fail.
