Texas Personal Injury Law Blog

According to a recent Star Telegram article, a 52-year-old maintenance worker at Fort Worth’s Dannon plant died six days after suffering blunt force head and chest injuries during a mechanical entrapment accident. While an independent investigation into the fatal work accident in Forth Worth is being conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Dannon is also evaluating what conditions may have caused the worker to become pinned by a scissor lift in the plant.

While Dannon claims that they are currently working to thwart similar accidents from happening again, the company also speculates that the accident may have been caused by either equipment failure, the worker inadvertently falling on the scissor lift controls, or another undetermined reason. Any worker injured on the job in Texas may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim with their employer. If it is determined that a third party, such as the manufacturer of defective equipment, was negligent and caused a work injury accident, the injured worker may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of past and future wages. Similarly, family members of deceased workers may also seek various forms of restitution for both their loss and the potential financial repercussions associated with losing the family’s primary breadwinner.

OSHA worker fatality statistics reveal that approximately 5,071 workers in the United States died on the job in 2008. Despite state and federal safety regulations and required employee training procedures, some employers or site managers may rush through safety training procedures, overlooking their important responsibilities and displaying an outright disregard for the well-being of their employees.

A March 4, 2010 myfoxdfw.com article reported that a male motorist was killed in a single-vehicle accident at the entrance of the Cedar Crest Park Golf Course. According to the article, investigators covering the accident believe that the man was operating his SUV above the speed limit when driving along Cedar Crest Blvd. At the time of the article’s release, the fatal collision appears to have stemmed from the motorist running a stop sign, traveling onto the curb, and then crashing through a fence and into a tree with tremendous force. As a result of the serious impact of the fatal crash, the engine of the SUV was entirely stripped from the vehicle.

Whether an auto accident in Dallas involves one vehicle or multiple cars, the consequences of high-speed crashes can be devastating for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Although it is unclear whether the motorist in the above incident was operating his SUV while under the influence of alcohol, drunk drivers cause far too many injury and fatal crashes on Texas roads each year. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 3,109 fatal crashes in 2008, in which 877 were caused by a motorist driving while under the influence of alcohol. During the same year, 611 people lost their lives in accidents along city streets.

At Steele Law, P.C., our skilled Dallas car accident law firm has helped those injured in collisions caused by another driver’s negligence or distracted driving practices. We understand the many emotional, physical, and financial challenges that auto accidents often pose for injury victims and their families.

Based on an Associated Press article, the family of a 49-year-old Dallas police officer who was killed after being thrown from his motorcycle in a 2008 incident has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against multiple parties. Reportedly, the officer fell from his bike after hitting a curb and colliding with a guard rail. The suit has been filed against Hillary Rodham Clinton, whom the officer was escorting in a motorcade, the city of Dallas, and the maker of the helmet he was wearing while riding the motorcycle. According to the article discussing the Dallas motorcycle suit, the officer’s widow and children claim that the city of Dallas did not provide him with adequate training for escorting a motorcade, that Clinton and her campaign did not give proper notice for motorcade assistance, and that the helmet he was wearing was flawed. The motorcycle victim’s family is seeking damages that include the loss of monetary support, because the officer was the primary wage earner in the family.

The above case demonstrates the risk that some helmets may be defective due to inaccurate design or an overlooked flaw from the manufacturing process. In addition, even when a motorcyclist correctly wears a helmet that is approved by the Department of Transportation, he or she may endure serious brain injury or even death, depending on vehicle speed and the surrounding elements. Nevertheless, wearing a helmet (and protective clothing and gear) greatly decreases the chance of injury and death for motorcyclists.

Riding a motorcycle can be an enjoyable experience; however, many risks are involved, especially when considering the lack of protection one has against surrounding vehicles and the surfaces of a roadway in the event of a motorcycle collision in Dallas, Texas. The importance of knowing how to operate a motorcycle efficiently and safely cannot be emphasized enough. However, other motorists must remember that they have the responsibility of sharing the road with motorcyclists.

Only days after the U.S Department of Transportation announced on March 2, 2010 that 52 fatality reports have been connected to sudden acceleration accidents involving Toyota vehicles, a Wall Street Journal article highlighted a lawsuit being filed against Toyota. According to the article, the suit is on behalf of a family who was killed when the 2009 Lexus they were traveling in accelerated out of control at 120 mph along a freeway in San Diego, California.

Amidst a vast series of congressional hearings and national recall notices now totaling 8.5 million vehicles, this particular Toyota wrongful death suit may be one of the most challenging for Toyota to defend themselves against. The reason being that legal experts have said that the Lexus vehicle involved in the fatal crash was on loan from a dealership, and therefore should have been safe to drive. In a previous incident, the driver of the same vehicle had informed the dealer that the accelerator had become stuck while being driven. Furthermore, the article also points out that this particular model of Lexus vehicle had been equipped with thick floor mats intended for another type of vehicle design.

In reflecting on the serious scope of Toyota’s recalled vehicles, it is uncertain how many other accidents involving recalled Toyota and Lexus models may have been caused by unintended acceleration prior to the gas pedal defects being announced. Reportedly, the class-action status lawsuits that were filed for each wrongful death claim may potentially result in millions of dollars as compensation for damages.

The Texas personal injury and wrongful death firm of Steele Law, P.C. has assisted injured individuals and family members of wrongful death victims afflicted by auto accidents and defective products. We pride ourselves in treating our clients like family, and are dedicated to helping those afflicted by another person’s negligence receive the compensation they deserve.