Texas typically has around 3,900 roadway fatalities annually and the Houston region leads the nation's major metro areas in avoidable roadway deaths. In 2019, there were 1,857 roadway fatalities in the first six months of the year, which is about 50 less than last year. However, the Texas Transportation Commission recently ordered officials from the Texas Department of Transportation to identify strategies to cut the state's roadway fatalities in half by 2035.
On July 3, 2019, a Galveston County resident filed a complaint against HEB Grocery Company, LP ("HEB") in a Galveston County district court, alleging injuries sustained as a result of slip and fall on the supermarket's premises.
Construction workers face dangers on the job every day. While many work activities can prove dangerous, four have risen to the top in terms of workplace injuries and deaths.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the top four construction hazards are:
A jury awarded a family $6.34 million in a premises liability lawsuit against an apartment complex in Houston, Texas. Testimony revealed that two men, tortured, raped, murdered, and discarded the body of a 15-year-old girl in an abandoned Clear Lake apartment complex. The men were convicted of capital murder and a successful lawsuit was brought by the girl's family and her attorneys against the apartment complex.
On March 30, 2017, a Stallion Production Services 18-wheeler caused a rollover accident, severely injuring Lloyd Kulik and Atreyu Muniz. On the evening in question, Kulik and Muniz were attempting to legally pass the Stallion 18-wheeler on F.M. Road 108. While Kulik was in the passing lane, the 18-wheeler driver began to pull into the passing lane as well in an attempt to make a left turn. Kulik and the 18-wheeler collided in the passing lane, causing Kulik's vehicle to flip. Kulik suffered a burst fracture in his cervical spine, which rendered him a quadriplegic, and Muniz suffered a traumatic brain injury. Both of the victims will endure the effects of their injuries for the rest of their lives.
According to a recent report issued by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the University of Utah, older drivers are more likely to be distracted while driving when using in-vehicle technology than younger drivers. For purposes of the study, in-vehicle technology or infotainment systems were classified as the collection of features in a vehicle that allow a driver to complete tasks unrelated to driving while operating their vehicle. The study involved 128 participants categorized into one of two groups: younger drivers, between 21-36 years of age, and older drivers, between 55-75 years of age. Participants were asked to complete tasks such as changing the radio station, song selection, calling and dialing phone numbers, texting, and plotting navigation using in-vehicle information systems while driving six 2018 vehicles including Audi, Cadillac, Lincoln, Mazda, Nissan, and Volvo models. According to researchers, older drivers took their eyes off the road for an average of eight seconds more than younger drivers while completing the tasks. Researchers also noted that older drivers responded more slowly to system commands and experienced visual distractions.
In September 2018, a Jefferson County jury awarded $44 million to surviving family members of Miguel Barron.
Many hope safety advances associated with smart car technology will make for safer highways. These advances include, self-driving features like lane departure warnings.
Adults who drink alcohol are supposed to moderate how much they drink before they go out and drive. Unfortunately, that isn't always the case. People who drink too much and drive can be held accountable if they hurt or injure someone else. But what about the bars and restaurants that purposely over serve to get better sales and tips? There are laws in place for those establishments that abuse alcohol sales and endanger the lives of other people.
On March 30, 2017, a Stallion Production Services 18-wheeler driven by Rodney Simmons collided with a Dodge pickup, which caused a rollover accident and catastrophic injuries. Lloyd Kulik and Atreyu Muniz were in the pickup. At the time of the accident, Mr. Simmons had been working for Stallion for approximately two weeks. He was taking a tanker of wastewater to a disposal pond around 11:30 p.m.
The Equal Access to Justice Champions Program was started by the Houston Bar Association in 2006, to help ensure placement of Houston Volunteer Lawyers cases with pro bono volunteers. Originally, firms were tiered according to size, and firms within each tier committed to accept a certain number of pro bono cases from HVL each year for five years.
The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 is an invitation-only organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from each state or region who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase objective and uniformly applied process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research.
Established in 1993, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum (which includes the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum) is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. There are over 4000 members throughout the country. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
In order to earn the Lead Counsel Rating, an attorney must not only demonstrate significant legal experience, but must also receive multiple peer recommendations advocating his or her ability. This is a key component in the screening process.
Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Texas via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. The Texas lawyers who receive the highest point totals during this selection process are further recognized in Texas Super Lawyers Top Lists.
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The firm successfully represented nearly 100 victims who suffered personal injuries and damages to property from a large fire and explosion resulting in a settlement of more than $50 million. The firm served as lead lawyers on the steering committee in this litigation.
The firm successfully represented 270 plaintiffs', taking a lead role in the plaintiffs' steering committee, who suffered injuries in a large plant explosion resulting in a settlement of nearly $80 million.
The firm successfully represented 45 personal injury victims in a plant fire and explosion, serving on the plaintiffs' steering committee, concluding with a settlement of more than $50 million.
The firm prevailed in a personal injury trial for a worksite injury client with the jury returning a verdict and resulting in a judgment of over $22 million for the firm's client.
The firm successfully achieved a $12 million settlement for the family of a man who died in an 18 wheeler collision.
The firm prevailed on behalf of three burn victims with settlements totaling nearly $30 million.
