The former BNSF engineer explained that the lack of ergonomically correct seats in BNSF’s locomotives took a toll on his health. The jury agreed that the improper seating caused severe spinal cord injuries, and that the injuries forced the former engineer to undergo multiple back surgeries and give up as many as ten years of his career, most of which would have been spent at BNSF’s peak pay rate for engineers. The jury award is based on its finding that BNSF’s negligence caused the engineer’s back and spinal cord injuries, which in turn forced him to give up his pay and retire early.

BNSF announced in a statement that it was considering an appeal of the jury verdict. The railroad company maintains that its locomotive seats did not cause its former employee’s spinal cord injuries. The company also claims that “numerous errors’ occurred during the trial, which it wishes to have an appeals court review.

When it comes to seeking compensation from an employer whose negligence caused your injuries, having an experienced Texas personal injury lawyer on your side is crucial. Choosing an attorney who can build a strong case and has courtroom experience representing the injured can go a long way toward winning the compensation you need after an injury.

In order to protect yourself or your loved ones from dormitory fires, the National Fire Protection Association recommends several steps you can take before moving in for the semester. For instance, a dorm or house should have a sprinkler system in each room, as well as a smoke alarm. For the best protection, the smoke alarms should be connected so that every alarm will sound if one of them detects a fire. An exit and escape plan is also invaluable.

Since so many dorm fires are the result of cooking, extra care when preparing food is highly important in preventing fires. Cook only in permitted areas, and never leave a cooking meal unattended. Follow the building’s rules about which appliances are permitted and which are prohibited, and never try to cook when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Unfortunately, even the best fire safety precautions may fail. An appliance with a hidden defect may malfunction and start a fire, or another person’s carelessness or negligence may cause flames to get out of hand. If the college, landlord, or housing supervisor has not adequately prepared for fires and allowed for proper escape routes, tragedy can result. After a fire, it is wise to discuss your legal rights and options with an experienced Texas injury lawyer.

To avoid the tragedy of a fire ruining your holiday season, follow these safety tips:

• Water your Christmas tree. If you choose a real tree, keeping it well-watered helps prevent fire, because the moisture-saturated branches are resistant to catching fire. A dry tree will catch fire easily.
• Inspect holiday lights. The lights you use should not have any frayed wires, bare spots, broken or cracked sockets, or gaps in the insulation, and they should not be tangled or kinked. If your lights have any of these faults, it’s time to buy new ones.
• Check holiday decorations to ensure they are nonflammable or fire-retardant, meaning they will not catch fire easily. Double-check an artificial Christmas tree to ensure it is made of flame-retardant material.
• Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace. It can create large flames, as well as sparks or embers that may burn people or objects sitting close to the fire. Wrapping paper may also start a chimney fire.
• Use candles sparingly and never leave a candle unattended. Never put candles on a Christmas tree or wreath.
• Make sure you have working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers handy in case a fire starts.

Fires started by a defective product or someone’s negligence or carelessness can quickly ruin your holiday season and cause serious burn injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligence of another or by a defective product, an experienced Texas personal injury lawyer can fight for the compensation you deserve while you heal and enjoy your holidays.

Consumers below the age of 20 are the most prone to fireworks injuries; however, the risk of serious injury or even death still exists for anyone within close proximity of fireworks or other pyrotechnics. Some common fireworks injuries and hazards include:

• Loss of limbs
• Burn injury to the hands, face and head
• Lacerations
• Residential fires
• Wrongful death

Parental supervision is essential when legal fireworks are being used. Never allow young children to set-off or play with fireworks or other gadgets. It is also important to never throw or point fireworks at another individual. To learn more about how you can help prevent serious injuries related to fireworks this Fourth of July holiday, please refer to the CPSC’s website for consumer fireworks safety tips.

While this weekend is a time for celebration in Texas, the importance of consumer safety cannot be stressed enough during the Independence Day holiday. Take every necessary safety measure to protect yourself and others.

This spring, surgeons at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas performed surgery to replace the boy’s missing thumb with a toe. The surgery was an eight-hour procedure and required the use of microscopes to connect tiny blood vessels in the new digit to those in the boy’s hand.

The boy will begin physical therapy in July. So far, he has not found that the lost of his toe – the second one on his right foot – has hampered his ability to run or jump. The boy’s doctors expect his new thumb to grow normally along with the rest of his body.

Injuries that result from the carelessness or negligence of a caretaker sometimes require costly and complicated surgery to correct. While these types of Dallas personal injury cases are often complex, this does not mean that your loved one should not receive the medical attention that he or she needs to recover.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Auto Insurance Companies are in business to make money and, as a result, their objective is to pay injury victims as little as possible for their injuries.  Unfortunately, most Insurance Companies will not reimburse an injured person for medical expenses until the injured person has fully completed all of his or her medical treatment and has agreed upon a settlement amount to cover ALL of the injured person’s losses due to the injury (such as lost wages, medical expenses, and any future lost wages).  This approach creates a tremendous problem for people who do not have Health Insurance.  Often the individual cannot afford the necessary health care.  The Insurance Companies see this as a great windfall for them, because if the injury victim cannot afford to get the necessary health care, then the Insurance Company does not have to repay the injury victim for those medical expenses!  It is a terrible scam that Insurance Companies use to take advantage of innocent victims, but unfortunately in Texas it is legal.

After an auto accident, treatment of your injuries should be your number one priority.  If you have Health Insurance, by all means use it!  If you do not have Health Insurance, there are other options that you can explore.  First, you should check to determine whether you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) under your own Automobile Insurance.  This type of coverage is intended to be more accessable and can be used to cover the costs of your medical care.  Some health care providers will bill directly against your Personal Injury Protection policy, although it is advisable to speak with an attorney before giving your medical providers your PIP policy information.  PIP policies typically provide between $2,500 and $10,000 in coverage (with $2,500 being the most common), which frequently is not enough in the event of a serious injury.  If you do not have Health Insurance or Personal Injury Protection, it is advisable to contact an attorney to discuss other possible options.  Some health care providers will accept a Letter of Protection from your attorney, which essentially is a promise to the health care provider that you will pay the health care provider for your medical expenses when your injury case is resolved.

If you are injured in an accident and you use your Health Insurance to cover your medical expenses, you can expect your Health Insurance Company to later contact you by mail, asking if your medical treatments are the result of an injury.  This is the first step that Health Insurance Companies take toward asserting their right to subrogation. (Subrogation is an issue that is discussed further in other posts.)  If you receive a letter from your Health Insurance Company asking if you have been injured in a car accident or other type of accident, contact your attorney for advice before making any response.  Do not perceive this as a reason to avoid using your Health Insurance to cover the expense of your medical treatments . . . as I said before, your medical care is priority one after a car wreck or any other type of accident and using your Health Insurance is the best way to make certain that your medical treatment is not delayed.