Posted on October 21, 2013 in Uncategorized

The Rapid City Journal recently reported about a lawsuit filed by a South Dakota woman against Johnson & Johnson. The woman claimed in her lawsuit that powder she used that was manufactured by the company caused her ovarian cancer.

Fifty-six year old Deane Berg was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006. At the time, she had been a user of Shower to Shower, a talc based powder produced by Johnson & Johnson. In her lawsuit, Berg said she had used the product for the past 30 years, regularly applying it to her genital area.

During the trial, attorneys for Berg produced a New York Times article from 1982 which revealed that women who used talcum powder in their genital area were three times more likely to develop ovarian cancer. The article also said the company was aware of at least one study that had concluded these statistics.

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 Posted on October 18, 2013 in Uncategorized

In late September, three individuals were hurt in a crash with an 18-wheeler. Representatives from the Texas Department of Public Safety noted that the car driver edged off the road onto the shoulder and slammed into the side of the truck directly between the trailer and truck. The truck was moving at 55 miles per hour while officials suspect the car was moving at 75 miles per hour. The early-morning crash, according to officials on the scene, is believed to have been caused by driver fatigue. Accidents like this one can lead to major injuries and personal injury litigation. Drowsy driving is linked to 100,000 car crashes every year, including 71,000 injured individuals and 1,500 fatalities.

Earlier this year, Texas adopted a House Resolution making up-11-6>th to up-11-12>th “Drowsy Driving Prevention Week”, with the goal of educating citizens across the state about the dangers of operating a vehicle while tired. Crashes related to fatigue tend to be more severe for victims since tired drivers fail to brake at all before the collision occurs. Driving while tired makes drivers less likely to react quickly, impairs their ability to make decisions quickly, and makes a driver less prepared and attentive overall.

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 Posted on October 15, 2013 in Uncategorized

With rising gas prices a constant concern and many families staying vigilant about their budget, it’s not surprising that some people would turn to walking as a great way to get to work, accomplish errands, or simply exercise. Walking is actually the most popular aerobic activity for adults. Unfortunately, this increased interest in walking has also been linked to a rising number of pedestrian deaths in the last two years. Pedestrians caught in serious collisions with motor vehicles might face critical injuries and expensive medical bills leading to a personal injury lawsuit.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has helped make a new set of tools available to raise awareness and share safety tips for pedestrians and drivers alike. The new website includes numerous resources for local leaders, parents, and city planners. Cities affected by high numbers of pedestrian deaths will also be eligible to request a portion of $2 million in safety grants.

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 Posted on October 11, 2013 in Uncategorized

Although considered a safe way to travel, plane crashes are a reality that is faced daily by pilots, passengers, and people on the ground. According to NBC News, four bodies were recovered after a plane crashed into two Connecticut homes. Among the deceased were two passengers and two boys who were inside one of the homes that was hit.

Authorities have several questions surrounding the cause of the crash; one being the angle that the plane hit the first home. It is reported that no distress call was made prior to the crash. In addition, the plane was completely fueled prior in New Jersey. The weather may have had an influence as it was raining when the airplane crash occurred. Neither weather nor mechanical failure has been confirmed as the cause of the crash.

The neighborhood residents are reportedly in shock and the mother to the two deceased boys was taken to the hospital for observation. According to the report, one resident observed the plane flying low over the area. The neighborhood is close to an airport and it is reported that planes fly at low altitudes. An airplane mechanic who lives nearby reported hearing the hum of the motor and felt the plane was in trouble. The deaths of these four people were unfortunate.

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 Posted on October 08, 2013 in Uncategorized

A roughneck’s job is by definition very dangerous. It consists of difficult, manual work which takes on a certain amount of risk. While a roughneck generally works on an oil rig, it can also apply to any other tough and demanding lines of work. A man from San Antonio was working as a roughneck in off the coast of Louisiana when he was injured. On July 23^rd, Joshua Flores was on the Hercules 202, which is a jack-up rig in the Gulf of Mexico. In the course of fulfilling his job, he suffered back injuries. He was asked by his supervisor to stand on a ladder while replacing a valve. Due to the height of the valve, Flores had to stand near the top of the ladder. As he was not able to get a good angle to hold the valve, his body draped over the top of the ladder. When the old valve was finally taken off, the weight pulled Flores down over the ladder which subsequently injured his back. While his line of work assumes some risk, Flores is seeking to be compensated for his suffering by filing a personal injury suit. The defendant, Hercules Offshore Services, had the suit filed on September 6th in the Federal Court in New Orleans. Flores claims entail that his employer was negligent for many business reasons including failing to employ a satisfactory crew, inadequately training the crew they did employ, and failing to provide enough manpower to assist Flores in his task to replace the valve. In regards to his employment, Flores asserts that Hercules Offshore Services failed to supply safe working conditions, failed to warn Flores of any danger or harm he may receive, and failed to supply Flores with the equipment to protect him from any work-related injuries. After recovering from his back surgery, Flores has been suffering through his back pain and also being unable to perform his previous duties. In an effort to recover from this event, Flores is requesting compensation from Hercules Offshore Services. He is seeking damages including punitive damages, attorney’s fees, court costs, emotional distress, lost wages and lost capability to work. If you have been injured in the course of your employment, you may have a case against the negligent party. Contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in San Antonio who can assist you in your efforts.

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 Posted on September 29, 2013 in Uncategorized

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the leading cause of death in children age 1 to 12 is a car accident. Choosing the right seat can be a challenge with so many types and models to choose from. NHTSA offers these tips on choosing the seat that could save your child’s life.

The Right Fit

The best car or booster seat is one that fits your child and your car. Car seats vary based on the child’s size. He or she should always fit properly in the car seat. Booster seats should fit flush against the back of the seat, allowing your child to be properly constrained by the use of the shoulder and lap belts. Try the seat out before purchasing it. Sit your toddler in the seat to ensure a proper fit. Ensure that the harness strap fits securely in place over your child’s shoulders and chest. According to NHTSA, 3 out of 4 car seats are not installed properly and many parents become frustrated and confused when trying to install one. Take your time and ask for help.

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 Posted on September 26, 2013 in Uncategorized

Car accidents are scary and stressful situations, which can be made even more complicated when you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. One in seven drivers on the road is uninsured, which means that it’s not impossible for you to hit or be hit by one. The best way to ensure that you do not have to face thousands of dollars in damages after an accident is to review the guidelines for being hit by an uninsured driver, as suggested by Esurance.

As you would after any auto accident, immediately call 911. Calling the police is even an even more urgent matter when being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver because the police record and accident report will be vital when you are trying to getting your expenses covered. When waiting for the authorities to arrive, it wouldn’t hurt for you to take out your cell phone and take pictures of the entire scene of the accident as well as any damage to each vehicle.

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 Posted on September 22, 2013 in Uncategorized

Distracted driving has become a serious issue in our country, and the Lonestar State is not exempt. Here in Texas, in 2011, cell phone usage was the contributing factor in 3,147 auto accidents- including 40 fatal ones. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers are 23 times more likely to crash when text messaging behind the wheel (2009). Recently, Texas drivers have had to begin to adhere to a few new laws, one of which is related to distracted driving. Previously, Texas law mandated that cell phone use behind the wheel was prohibited in active school zones, unless the vehicle is stopped or if a hands-free device is being used. After the recent modification, cell phone use behind the wheel is now banned on all school property, which includes parking lots and drop off lanes. Violations of these new guidelines could cost you a fine of up to $200. As in in the past, stopped vehicles and those drivers using hands-free devices are exempt. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that this new measure will cut back on distracted student driving. Craig Miller, Dallas school district police chief, has stated, “Anything that focuses people’s attention is a good thing.” Lawmakers are attempting to eliminate distracted driving on a national scale as well. Congress recently made grants available to those states that were enacting laws that allow police to stop drivers for texting while driving. This was an unprecedented act, and 38 states jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately, the way that Congress chose to define terms such as “driving” and “texting”, only seven states were awarded the grants. The states that did not qualify for the grants have laws that ban texting on cellphones and not all texting-capable devices, do not ban texting while a driver is stopped, or because their definition of texting does not apply to surfing the Web behind the wheel. Only Arkansas, Georgia, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Guam were awarded the grants. Efforts are constantly being made to ban distracted driving throughout the country. If you have been involved in a car accident due to a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Do not hesitate to contact an experienced Texas personal injury attorney to assist you.

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 Posted on September 18, 2013 in Uncategorized

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained following a minor to severe car accident. If you’ve been injured in accident and think the driver may have faulted you, the most important first step is to contact a dedicated Texas personal injury attorney immediately. The sooner you have the assistance of a qualified professional on your side, the easier your case will be. Regardless, whiplash, or even a suspected case of it, is worthy of a second look. According to a Hillsboro, Texas chiropractic clinic, the term whiplash was “coined by Dr. Harold Crowe back in 1928.” This may be surprising, considering the speed at which vehicles could travel in 1928, but it goes to show that it’s not an injury reserved for only the most severe of car accidents. Whiplash, as defined by Dr. Crowe, is used to refer to “the hyperextension/hyper flexion injury of the neck, and the resulting symptoms of his injury—sustained from a motor vehicle accident.” Symptoms of whiplash, according to Hillsboro Chiropractors, include (but are not limited to):

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 Posted on September 15, 2013 in Uncategorized

Two students sustained minor injuries after a crash involving a CISD school bus along FM 306 in mid-September, according to KGNB.am Radio News online. “The bus had just finished dropping off students at the entrance to the Wingate Mobile Home Park, in the 300 block of FM 306, around 5pm when the bus was struck by another vehicle,” reports KBNB. Only minor damage to the bus was reported, but two students complained of injuries. “Both were examined on-site and neither was transported to the hospital,” according to KGNB. However, following the incident, several students immediately called their parents to have them pick them up, which could have added to the congestion already in the area from the stopped school bus. The Mustang that collided with the bus also sustained little to no damage, and after an inspection by CISD Superintendent Andrew Kim, the school bus returned to its normal afternoon route.

The passengers and driver of the Mustang responsible for hitting the bus were lucky. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “an average of 24 school-age children die in school transportation-related traffic crashes each year.” Only 11 of these are children who were in school buses at the time of crash, and the number includes children who were in a school bus for extracurricular activities—those that sometimes go into the night and incur a greater risk of the driver being unfit. The remaining 13 students killed in school transportation-related accidents each year are pedestrians.

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