Attorney Blog

Yet another Metro bus - train collision in downtown Houston: 19 reported injuries

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)28277 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

For the second time in six weeks, a Metro bus and Metro train collided in downtown Houston. The accident happened on March 15, 2010. The crash happened at the same time as the last accident: at the intersection of Main and St. Joseph Parkway. The bus was westbound on St. Joseph, and the light rail train was northbound on Main.

Nineteen people were injured, nine of whom were sent to area hospitals.

The Houston Police Department, as well as Metro officials, are investigating the crash.

In the last Metro bus - train accident, a video camera on the bus caught the entire incident, which revealed the Metro bus driver was at fault.

There should be a video of this accident as well. The video will likely demonstrate conclusively who was at fault between the train and bus.

The investigators should also investigate the sequencing of the traffic lights at this intersection, as well as the design of the roadway in this area. It may be the case that responsibility lies with individuals or companies beyond only the operators of these vehicles.

It will be interesting to see if the HPD reaches the same conclusions as Metro as to the cause of this crash.

If you have any questions out Houston bus accident cases, please contact our Houston Bus Accident Lawyers.

Toyota Recall Lawyer: Runaway Prius leads to further investigation

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)28000 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

The latest runaway Toyota incident has government investigators and regulators looking for answers. What is unique about this incident is that the vehicle involved in the unintended acceleration event – a 2008 Prius – was not on the recall list for accelerator issues. It will be part of the floor mat recall, however the floor mats were not involved in the acceleration problem.

The driver of the runaway car, James Sikes, was fortunate to receive help from a California Highway Patrol officer. Mr. Sikes called 911 after checking to see if the floor mats were causing his Prius to speed out of control (he determined that they were not).

The officer, Brian Pennings, pulled up alongside Sikes and advised him to put the car into neutral and turn off the ignition. Mr. Sikes responded by shaking his head, which Officer Pennings interpreted to mean that neither action had worked. Pennings then instructed Sikes to use his emergency brake in conjunction with his brakes in an effort to slow the car, which reached top speeds of 94 miles per hour.

This tactic worked; once the car slowed to 50 mph Sikes was able to cut the ignition and the car eventually came to a stop. It was a harrowing journey lasting over 20 minutes, especially considering that Mr. Sikes had recently taken his Prius to a Toyota dealer for maintenance and was told that his car was not part of an existing recall.

What does this incident mean?

Just because your Toyota is NOT currently part of the recall does not mean that you won’t have problems
Toyota does not yes have the answer to what is really causing the unintended acceleration incidents

Sikes’ Prius was held overnight by the California Highway Patrol and federal investigators have been dispatched to dig into the incident. The real question is: can they find, once and for all, the root cause of this dangerous defect?

$51 million worth of justice for couple cheated by Houston builder

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27978 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

It is a nightmare that many people across the country have faced: being stuck with a defective home and fighting with the builder to fix it properly. One Houston couple has been fighting against an unscrupulous builder for over ten years – and they have finally found justice, in court.

Thanks to a lawsuit that led to a jury trial, Houston couple Bob and Jane Cull were awarded $51 million because of problems that Houston homebuilder Bob Perry and his company, Perry Homes, refused to fix for them. This was after numerous problems discovered on the Cull’s Perry-built home that they purchased over 13 years ago, and after they won $800,000 in arbitration – that Perry refused to pay.

Skeptics contend that the case bounced around in the Texas court system for years because Perry was a major contributor to members of the high court. According to news reports, Perry – known as the biggest campaign contributor in Texas – his family, and his political committees contributed over $260,000 to court members.

The award to the Culls is for $7 million in actual damages and $40 million in punitive damages. In addition, the company that issued a warranty on the Cull’s house was also ordered to pay $4 million in additional punitive damages for failing to honor the warranty.

This verdict is a triumph for homeowners, many of whom have had the same problem as the Culls: how to get big businesses to stand behind their product when those businesses are extremely well connected politically. Homeowners in these situations are so often left out in the cold, while big business owners like Bob Perry wear them down with endless appeals and legal shenanigans.

TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT -- March 8, 2010 -- San Diego County, California

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27974 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

DATE OF TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT: March 8, 2010

TOYOTA VEHICLE INVOLVED: 2008 Prius

LOCATION OF ACCIDENT: San Diego County, California

DESCRIPTION OF TOYOTA ACCIDENT:

Driver James Sikes, 61, was driving his 2008 Toyota Prius on a San Diego County freeway when it uncontrollably accelerated to over 90 miles per hour. Amazingly, a California Highway Patrol officer was able to assist Mr. Sikes in bringing the vehicle to a stop.

Toyota and U.S. safety officials are already investigating this incident.

If Toyota's prior investigations are any indication, Toyota will treat its "investigation" primarily as a public relations campaign and downplay any safety issues relating to its vehicle.

If you have questions about a Toyota Recall Accident, please contact our Toyota Recall Attorneys. Our law firm is continuing to investigate numerous Toyota Recall Accidents.

Why did Toyota hire Exponent? Probably for the same reason it and other corporations always hire this company.

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27802 — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Toyota hired Exponent to test its cars in the wake of the recent Toyota Recalls. Exponent wrote a report that says it could not find any problem with the electronics in the Toyota throttle systems. This finding greatly benefits Toyota because Toyota does not want to have to fix electrical problems deep inside the throttle systems of its cars -- this would be very difficult and very expensive. Toyota would rather do the easy fix -- replace floor mats and adjust gas pedals.

So is it surprising that Exponent would write a report that benefits an automobile manufacturer? Who is Exponent?

The Los Angeles Times contains a recent article examining Exponent. The LA Times cites various sources who say Exponent "tends to deliver to clients the reports they need to mount a public defense." A physician cited in the article states that he would have picked a company "with more a reputation of neutrality."

Further, the LA Times article quotes an Exponent representative as stating 65% of the company's work involves lawsuits.

All of this rings true. Our law firm has handled many cases on behalf of victims of serious accidents, and often we have seen large corporations and insurance companies hire Exponent. In every single case we have handled involving Exponent, the company has held the opinion that whoever the defendant company is, they did nothing wrong. We have never handled a case which involved Exponent in which the company acknowledged that a corporate defendant did something that contributed to an injury. We have never heard of an instance where Exponent was hired by a representative of an injured party against the corporation.

All of this raises this basic question -- is Exponent truly neutral and independent? Many have referred to Exponent as simply a "hired gun."

So, is it surprising that Toyota turned to Exponent to try to bail it out of its recall mess? Hardly.

Arizona Bus Accident Kills 6

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27759 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

CNN is reporting today that a bus crash in Arizona has claimed the lives of 6 people and injured all the rest of the remaining 22 passengers.

According to reports, the six victims were thrown from the bus about 5:30 a.m. on the Gila River Indian Reservation near the community of Sacaton. The roof of the bus crushed in and all the windows were blown out.

Police are reporting that the bus hit a pickup.

The bus originated in central Mexico near Durango and entered the U.S. in El Paso, Texas.

My law firm has represented passengers injured on buses that originated their trips in Mexico. We have seen some outrageously poor safety policies and procedures from some of these bus operators to the point you literally start to believe that they do not care about the lives or safety of their passengers.

In fact, I am currently representing a lady who was thrown into the aisle of a bus that started its trip in Mexico and had a spinal disc in her neck blown out.

The bus driver didn't even bother to stop the bus and check on her.

Post-"Fix" Toyota Recall complaints on the rise - now at 60

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27731 — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Today the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received 60 complaints from consumers whose Toyotas were allegedly "fixed" after the recent floor entrapment and pedal recalls. These consumers say their Toyotas experienced unintended acceleration even AFTER the Toyota was supposedly corrected of this problem.

Obviously, this is a huge problem. This supports the thinking of many safety experts that the Toyota acceleration problem has nothing to do with the floor mats or pedals -- rather, it is a much deeper problem involving the electronics.

Toyota's current position benefits Toyota in the following sense: if Toyota had to fix the electronics in all of the recalled Toyotas, rather than simply replacing the floor mats or adjusting the pedals, that would be a MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE "FIX." Toyota is trying for the much cheaper fix by fixating on the mats and pedals.

Toyota's current reluctance to admit that the problem involves electronics will hurt the company in Toyota Recall Lawsuits. This is simply more evidence that Toyota puts profits over safety. And if any of the post-"fix" accidents result in deaths or serious injuries, those cases will be even stronger than the pre-"fix" accidents because those consumers can argue that Toyota put profits over safety TWICE.

If you have questions about Toyota Recall Lawsuits, please contact our Toyota Recall Lawyers.

Bus Crash Lawyer: Bus Accident Lawsuit Settled in Hawaii

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27707 — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Travel Plaza Transportation LLC, a tour bus company, has settled a lawsuit filed by a bicycle rider who was struck by one of the company's buses. This bus accident happened in Hawaii. The bicyclist was hit from behind by the bus and thrown 90 feet, and sustained injuries including paraplegia.

There have been a lot of publicly reported problems with tour bus companies, including the Sherman bus crash incident. Tour bus companies need to understand that they must follow the same safety rules as other bus companies and commercial carriers. Many of these safety rules are contained in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations that apply to bus operators.

The amount of this settlement is confidential, however, it is obvious from information surrounding the settlement that a huge sum of money was paid. Hopefully large financial pay outs like this will serve as a motivation for some tour bus operators to become more safety conscious.

If you have any questions about bus accidents, visit our Bus Accidents page, or give us a call.

Toyota Recalled Cars: "Fix" or "Replace" them?

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27653 — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

A big part of Toyota's response to its defective cars has been various programs under which they can be "fixed." Toyota says its recalled vehicles can be "fixed," and will no longer have the defect.

So why are people still dealing with Runaway Toyotas even after they have been allegedly "fixed"?

That's what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to know. NHTSA has received some complaints from consumers that their Toyotas were fixed, but then they continued to have problems with unintended acceleration.

This supports the argument that some are making that the floor mats have nothing to do with Toyota's problem. Rather, the problem lies in the electronic components that make up parts of these Toyotas related to the gas and brake pedals.

Toyota denies that the problem is electronics-related -- of course this type of problem would be much, much more expensive to fix, and more difficult to fix. In fact, if the problem is truly electronics, then Toyota would likely have to REPLACE all of the recalled Toyotas, rather than try to fix them.

Stay tuned as the floormat vs. electronics argument plays out. This will certainly be a hard fought battle.

Contact us with any questions about the recent Toyota Recalls.

TOYOTA RECALL ACCIDENT -- February 4, 2010 -- Austin, Texas

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27590 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

DATE OF TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT: February 4, 2010

TOYOTA VEHICLE INVOLVED: 2009 Camry

LOCATION OF ACCIDENT: Austin, Texas

DESCRIPTION OF TOYOTA ACCIDENT:

Driver operating 2009 Camry when it suddenly lurched forward out of control and jumped a curb.

If you have questions about a Toyota Recall Accident, please contact our Toyota Recall Attorneys.

TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT -- October 2, 2009 -- Houston, Texas

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27520 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

DATE OF TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT: October 2, 2009

TOYOTA VEHICLE INVOLVED: 2009 Camry

LOCATION OF ACCIDENT: Houston, Texas

DESCRIPTION OF TOYOTA ACCIDENT:

Driver operating brand new 2009 Toyota Camry approaching stopped vehicle in front. Driver applied the brakes, but the Toyota kept going and crashed in to the back of the vehicle in front.

If you have questions about a Toyota Recall Accident, please contact our Toyota Recall Attorneys.

TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT -- October 2009 -- Houston, Texas

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27519 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

DATE OF TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT: October 2009

TOYOTA VEHICLE INVOLVED: 1997 Camry

LOCATION OF ACCIDENT: Houston, Texas

DESCRIPTION OF TOYOTA ACCIDENT:

Driver was operating her 1997 Toyota Camry approaching a yellow light. She applied the brake, but the Toyota did not stop, causing her to crash in to the back of a car in front of her.

If you have questions about a Toyota Recall Accident, please contact our Toyota Recall Attorneys.

TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT -- April 22, 2009 -- Houston, Texas

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27518 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

DATE OF TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT: April 22, 2009

TOYOTA VEHICLE INVOLVED: 1999 Camry

LOCATION OF ACCIDENT: Houston, Texas

DESCRIPTION OF TOYOTA ACCIDENT:

Driver was operating a 1999 Toyota Camry in Houston, Texas. She was approaching a vehicle in front of her, and applied her brakes. The brakes did not work, and she crashed in to the back of the car in front of her.

If you have questions about a Toyota Recall Accident, please contact our Toyota Recall Attorneys.

TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT -- February 10, 2010 -- Houston, Texas

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27516 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

DATE OF TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT: February 10, 2010

TOYOTA VEHICLE INVOLVED: 2007 Camry

LOCATION OF ACCIDENT: Houston, Texas

DESCRIPTION OF TOYOTA ACCIDENT:

Driver was operating his 2007 Toyota Camry eastbound on Holcombe Street when a commercial truck pulled in front of him. When he applied the brakes, the Camry did not stop, but instead kept going, causing a crash with the commercial truck.

If you have questions about a Toyota Recall Accident, please contact our Toyota Recall Attorneys.

TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT -- March 1, 2010 -- Boca Raton, Florida

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27515 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

DATE OF TOYOTA RECALL INCIDENT: March 1, 2010

TOYOTA VEHICLE INVOLVED: 2009 Camry

LOCATION OF ACCIDENT: Boca Raton, Florida

DESCRIPTION OF TOYOTA ACCIDENT:

Driver was driving when 2009 Toyota Camry accelerated. Driver put the Toyota in neutral and pressed the brake pedal, but the Camry kept going. Toyota jumped a curb and finally came to rest. Airbags deployed. Driver insured with Allstate Insurance.

If you have questions about a Toyota Recall Accident, please contact our Toyota Recall Attorneys.

VB Houston Car Accident Lawyers file car wreck lawsuit against UPS

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27462 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

VB lawyers have been hired by a driver who was hurt in an accident with a UPS truck. The accident happened in Harris County, Texas, on the South Loop, when the UPS driver rear ended VB's client. An officer with the Houston Police Department investigated this car crash, and cited the UPS driver for failling to control his speed and causing the accident.

VB attorneys have filed this Houston Car Accident Lawsuit in Harris County District Court, and the case remains pending.

If you have questions about a car accident, please contact our Houston Car Accident Lawyers.

Toyota paid off plaintiffs, hid internal documents to avoid lawsuits

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27431 — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The news just keeps getting worse for Toyota. Our Houston Toyota recall lawyers were disturbed to hear that the automaker is facing fresh allegations of wrongdoing in regards to the unintended acceleration problem with their vehicles.

News reports today claim that Toyota withheld documents that they legally should handed over in liability lawsuits and even paid off plaintiffs to avoid revealing internal company information. According to the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Toyota withheld information in their “Books of Knowledge” which could have provided critical information in lawsuits filed against the auto giant.

This news comes courtesy of one of Toyota’s former lawyers, who decided now to speak out against the company. House Representative Edolphus Towns stated that the information, obtained under subpoena from the aforementioned lawyer, indicates “a systematic disregard for the law and routine violation of court discovery orders in litigation.”

The whistle-blowing lawyer represented Toyota from 2003 to 2007 in liability cases involving Toyota drivers injured in accidents. According to this attorney, Toyota’s Books of Knowledge contain highly confidential information like trade secrets. Detailed design specifications for all Toyota’s vehicles are described in these books, which could be an astounding resource for investigators examining vehicles involved in the recent recalls.

As more and more internal documents surface, the depth and breadth of Toyota’s disregard for the safety of its customers and the general driving public is shocking. Now it is time for them to face justice in the American courts.

Jury awards $8.6 million to Texas woman badly injured in truck crash

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27430 — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

A Texas woman who was seriously hurt in a collision with an 18-wheeler will receive $8.6 million thanks to an Anderson County jury. The accident happened in 2006 when the woman, Martha Michelle Gaines, then 19, was hit by a defective truck-tractor while driving her 2000 Buick Park Avenue.

The truck was being driven by Kenneth Lee Woodworth, 46, who ran a red light at the intersection of North Loop 256 and Sterne Avenue. At the time of the crash, Woodworth did not have a driver’s license and the truck he was driving did not have brakes at the time of the crash. Woodworth was hauling oilfield equipment when he hit Gaines.

After the accident Gaines was in a coma for over two months. She suffered from serious head trauma and other injuries including broken ribs and a shattered pelvis. It took her 14 months to recover from the accident, after time spent in hospitals, at the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas and elsewhere.

The lawsuit was filed against the driver of the truck and against his business associates Bennie Joe Adkinson – the truck’s owner – and Joseph P. Pritchett. The lawyer for Gaines and her family argued that all three men were negligent for their actions related to the crash.

The jury was unanimous in their verdict. However, highlighting the challenges inherent in securing justice after a serious truck accident, the defendants will likely appeal the decision to the 12^th Court of Appeals and perhaps even on to the Texas Supreme Court.

Testimony of Toyota's President will help victims in Toyota Recall Lawsuits

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27307 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Whoever prepared Toyota's President, Akio Toyoda, for his testimony at the hearing which occurred yesterday did a terrible job.

Mr. Toyoda stated, in PREPARED REMARKS, that Toyota's efforts to expand resulted in lax safety standards. Mr. Toyoda specifically stated: "I regret that this [expanding] has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am deeply sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced."

Wow - this is powerful testimony. Toyota's President actually admitted that the safety issues at the heart of the recent Toyota recalls resulted from the company trying to grow too big and too fast. This testimony will likely be used in Toyota Recall Lawsuits across the country, because this is an ADMISSION by the company's president.

The worst part of Mr. Toyoda's testimony is not that he tied the safety issues to the current recalls, but that he used the excuse that Toyota was trying to grow too fast. Juries that hear Toyota Recall Lawsuits will likely not respond well to this argument. This reinforces the perception that many comsumers have about big business: THEY BELIEVE PROFITS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAFETY.

If you have questions about Toyota Recall Litigation, please contact us and our Board Certified Toyota Recall Attorneys will help you.

Is Houston Multi Millionaire Getting Special Treatment in Florida Crash?

patti@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27242 — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that questions of special treatment are being raised over an accident involving Houston millionaire John Goodman. Goodman, who after spending the evening at a society fundraiser and later, a bar, crashed his Bentley into a Hyundai Sonata being driven by 23 year old Scott Wilson in a suburb of Palm Beach, Florida. Wilson was on his way to his mother's house. Authorities are investigating whether Goodman was impaired. Many in the Palm Beach Florida area are expressing their anger at yet another celebrity who appears to be getting away too easily in the criminal justice system. Goodman has hired high profile attorney Roy Black to represent him. Meanwhile, Scott Wilson's mother, Lili Wilson, has buried her son and begins the process of mourning a life cut too short. If you have questions regarding a car accident, please call the lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckom.

Houston, Texas Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer: Celebrity Cruise passengers and crewmembers get sick

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27135 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

News agencies are reporting that 326 people became ill on a Celebrity Cruise ship yesterday. The cruise ship departed from South Carolina. A Celebrity Cruise spokesperson said 326 of the 1,800 passengers became ill and experienced upset stomachs, nausea and diarrhea. Also, Celebrity Cruise reported that 27 of the 850 crew members experienced a similar illness.

The full extent of each person's illness and injury is not yet known.

Celebrity Cruise should conduct an investigation of how and why this happened, and outside agencies may also investigate. Strict maritime laws apply to the operation of cruise ships, and Celebrity Cruise could very well be liable for each ill person's damages.

The maritime laws that apply to the crew members are somewhat different, as they are based on the Jones Act. The Jones Act law is favorable to maritime workers, which should benefit the Celebrity Cruise crew members who got sick.

An experienced Maritime Lawyer should be able to determine if there is liability and, if so, how much compensation must be paid by Celebrity Cruise. It would be wise for any ill passengers and crew members to consult with an experienced Maritime Attorney before accepting any settlement offer from the cruise line.

Toyota Memo: $100,000,000 for putting the public at risk.

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27110 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

How much money does it take for a company to turn a blind eye to known dangers in its products and put the public at a serious safety risk? For Toyota, that number is $100,000,000. That's how much the company saved dodging a sooner recall for problems with the gas pedals, floor mats, and brakes of its vehicles. This comes straight from a memo authored by a Toyota executive.

No wonder Toyota wanted to hide the Toyota Recall related documents the U.S. government wanted to see. Incidentally, Toyota didn't agree to fork over this memo -- it came from some other source.

No wonder Toyota's President initially refused to attend tomorrow's safety hearing. He probably knew what that memo said and didn't feel like getting grilled about it by the legislators.

This memo shows how Toyota manipulated the system and cares more about money than safety. Instead of dodging safety investigations and trying to save money while putting the public at risk, Toyota should be going out of its way to make sure its vehicles are safe, and if there is any hint of a problem, to fully disclose it and work with authorities on fixing it.

I would not want to be Toyota's President, who goes on the stand tomorrow to testify at a congressional hearing related to the Toyota Recall problems. No doubt this memo will serve as a cross-examination tool for the legislators during their questioning of the company President -- based on this memo, it could get really ugly.

If you have questions about the recent Toyota Recalls or Toyota Recall Lawsuits, please contact us.

Toyota's President changes mind, will attend hearing on Toyota Recall issues

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)27031 — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

After initially refusing to attend a Congressional hearing on Toyota Recall safety issues, Toyota's President, Akio Toyoda, has indicated he will in fact attend the hearing.

The hearing will be held this week before the House Committe on Oversight and Government Reform. The purpose of the hearing is to address the public's confusion as to what Toyota vehicles are subject to the recalls, what the recall problems are, and what customers are supposed to do about them. Another important question is: should anyone be driving these Toyota vehicles at all before something is done to fix them?

Shortly before this hearing was scheduled, the U.S. government sent a subpoena to Toyota requesting recall-related documents. The governments wants to know what Toyota knew, and when the company knew it.

Apparently Toyota is refusing to turn over the documents, and actually filed a lawsuit seeking to not disclose them to anyone. It is interesting that Toyota wants to hide documents rather than follow a policy of full disclosure, considering the wide ramifications of the thousands and thousands of Toyota vehicles on our roadways that are defective and can cause serious crashes.

Hopefully the government can get its hands on some, if not all, of the recall-related documents which will serve as useful cross examination information of Toyota's President and other executives.

If you have questions about Toyota Recall Litigation, please contact our Houston, Texas-based Board Certified Toyota Recall Attorneys.

Yet another Toyota safety problem rears its head: Corolla steering

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26920 — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is instigating an investigation of about 500,000 Toyota Corollas with possible steering problems. This is for 2009 and 2010 Corollas. This is primarily based on over 80 complaints about steering problems in 2009 and 2010 Corollas.

This new Toyota safety hazard, coming on the heels of the Floor Mat Entrapment Recall and Pedal Recall, is a serious safety hazard that has already caused some serious accidents. Government authorities will certainly include in their investigation why Toyota waited so long before announcing this safety concern.

Toyota Recall Lawsuits are mounting across the nation. If you have any questions about Toyota Vehicle safety issues, please contact our Texas-Based Board Certified Injury Attorneys.

Toyota Recall death count continues to rise

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26869 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that three more deaths linked to runaway Toyota cars have been posted to the government's auto safety database. That brings the Toyota Recall death toll to 37 at this time.

NHTSA just recently asked Toyota to hand over recall related documents, in order to assess the timeliness of Toyota's recalls. Part of this effort is related to the fact that Toyota had at least 100 complaints from Toyota drivers BEFORE THE RECALL.

Several wrongful death lawsuits relating to the Toyota Floor Mat Entrapment Recall and Toyota Pedal Recall have been filed across the country, including some in Texas.

Please contact us with any questions concerning Toyota Recall Lawsuits.

Toyota's President has better things to do

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26858 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee has schedule a hearing for February 24, 2010, to discuss the Toyota recall. However, Toyota's President, Akio Toyoda, will not attend. Instead, the Toyota North America chief excecutive Yoshi Inaba will attend.

It seems like Toyota's President should make the time to attend this hearing in light of the massive safety hazards presented by his company's vehicles which has resulted in a Floor Entrapment Recall and Pedal Recall.

No reason has been reported for Toyota's President's refusal to attend this hearing.

If you have any questions about the recent Toyota recalls, please contact us and out Texas-Based Board Certified Toyota Recall Lawyers will help you.

Government wants to know: Did Toyota delay its recalls?

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26819 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Why does the U.S. Government want Toyota's recall documents?

Government regulators have demanded Toyota turn over documents related to the recent Floor Mat Entrapment Recall and Pedal Recall. Why? Because the government wants to know if Toyota dragged its feet in finally announcing these recalls.

It will be very interesting to see if Toyota complies with the government's request.

It will be even more interesting to see what these recall documents show. What did Toyota know, and when did it know it? This information will be very relevant in the ongoing Toyota Recall Lawsuits.

If you have any questions about the Toyota Recall or related lawsuits, please contact us and one of our Texas-based Board Certified Toyota Recall Car Accident Lawyers will help you.

Texas jurors order Caterpillar to pay $54.2 million to injured worker

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)26739 — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The world's largest manufacturer of bulldozers has been ordered to pay $54.2 to a worker paralyzed in a tractor accident in Texas. The manufacturer, Caterpillar Inc., and one of its distributors, Holt Texas Ltd., will have to pay the worker after failing to inform the worker about defects in the company's tractor and after failing to properly maintain the machinery.

Caterpillar is being held responsible for 90 percent of the jury awarded actual damages of $15,860,368; Holt Texas has been asked to pay the remaining 10 percent. In addition to actual damages the jury ordered Caterpillar to pay the injured man and his family $40 million in punitive damages; Holt Texas must pay $500,000.

Alfonso Lopez, 38, was injured while operating a 623 G Wheel Tractor Scraper at a construction site in Little Elm, Texas. Lopez was injured when the scraper began shaking violently, causing his vertebrae to fracture, leading to permanent paralysis below the waist. He also suffered from a punctured lung. Lopez was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident.

When a "black box" installed in the scraper was examined after the incident, it revealed that several mechanical malfunctions had led to the shaking and bucking incident. The incident could have been prevented, it was alleged, if proper maintenance had been performed in a timely manner.

Texas workers injured on-the-job deserve compensation for their injuries. If you were hurt in a workplace accident, don't let your employer or their insurance company cheat you out of fair compensation. Contact the aggressive and skilled Texas workers compensation lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom today.

Houston car crash lawyer warns drivers of faulty Toyota drive shafts

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26738 — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Toyota issued yet another vehicle recall this past week, this time affecting about 8,000 four-wheel-drive 2010 model Toyota Tacoma trucks in North America. According to Toyota, this voluntary safety recall involves potential production defects in the front drive shaft of some vehicles.

A component used to make the front drive shaft in the affected models may have cracked during the manufacturing process, which could over time lead to the separation of the drive shaft at the joint portion. If the drive shaft does separate, control of the truck could be compromised, leading to a serious auto accident.

Owners of affected Toyota Tacoma trucks are asked to take their vehicles to their Toyota dealer for a free safety inspection and part replacement.

Other recent Toyota recalls affect a total of eight million vehicles worldwide, and include problems with braking, unintended acceleration (aka sticky throttles), and floor mat accelerator pedal entrapment.

The drive shaft involved in the recall was made by Dana Holding Corporation, which also produced the recently recalled rusty frames of the Toyota Tundra. According to Dana, the defect involves about 34,000 tube yokes. These same parts were also sold to Ford Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co, however no recall of Ford or Nissan vehicles has yet been announced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was notified on Feb. 11 about this issue by Dana. The Toledo, Ohio based company says that so far they are not aware of any accidents involving the defective part, and added that the recall involves a limited number of vehicles.

Do you believe that you or someone you love was injured in an accident caused by a defective Toyota vehicle? Take charge and get the justice you deserve: contact the Houston based auto accident attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom immediately.

Kinder-Morgan Tugboat Sinks In Houston Ship Channel

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

A Kinder-Morgan tugboat sank last night in the Houston Ship Channel. The JR Nichols sank sometime last night with five crew members aboard it. The JR Nichols, a 56-foot tug boat, is thought to have sank near the Sims Bayou turning Basin.
The Coast Guard sent a helicopter and two boats last night to search for the five crew members. Four members of the crew have been rescued but the last crew member has not been found.
At this time, it is thought that the tugboat got caught in the wake of a bigger ship causing the JR Nichols to overturn. An investigation is currently being conducted.

Houston Tug Boat Accident Lawyer: tugboat "J.R. Nichols" sinks in Houston Ship Channel

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26550 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

News agencies are reporting that a 56-foot tug boat, the "J.R. Nichols," sunk last night, February 10, 2010, around 10:30 p.m. in the Houston Ship Channel near the Sims Bayou turning basin. Four crewmembers aboard were recovered, however, one remains missing.

Rescue efforts by the Coast Guard and Houston police divers are continuing.

The Coast Guard is investigating the incident and will report on any cause of this tragedy that it determines.

If you have any questions about maritime accident cases, please contact us and our Houston Maritime Accident Lawyers will help you.

Bus driver who caused bus accident with Metro train in Houston is suspended

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26482 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The driver of the Metro bus that crashed in to a Metro train on February 8, 2010 -- Reginald Rideout, 50 -- has been suspended indefinitely without pay by Metro. It is reported that Mr. Rideout has been working for Metro since 2000.

This was Mr. Rideout's fourth accident with Metro; two of the prior three accidents were deemed his fault.

An interesting thing about Metro is that they get to investigate their own accidents. In other words, a Metro police officer - not an HPD officer - will investigate the crash. Many folks wonder how this can be a truly "independent" investigation? Perhaps HPD should start looking over their shoulder when they investigate just to make sure they get it right?

Hopefully Metro investigates why Mr. Rideout continued to have a job transporting people after three accidents. Hopefully its investigation will reveal the details of Mr. Rideout's prior accidents - were they all his fault, were people injured, how many were injured, etc? It will be interesting to find out what Metro's policy is on how many accidents will disqualify one of its drivers.

Regardless of Metro's investigation, Texas law holds bus companies to an extra high standard of care because they transport people. This is known as the "common carrier" doctrine.

If you have any questions about bus accidents, please contact us and our Houston Bus Accident Attorneys will help you.

METRO Bus And METRO Light Rail Train Crash Into Each Other

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

A METRO light rail train has derailed after a collision with a METRO bus. The crash occurred in downtown Houston at the intersection of Main and St. Joseph Parkway. Hopefully an investigation will determine what caused this crash.

At this time, it is unknown if there are any injuries.

Recent Houston Car Accidents Cause Seven Deaths

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26293 — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

The Houston Chronicle is reporting seven fatalities associated with several Houston car accidents over the past 24 hours. It appears that some of the accidents were caused by "racing." There is a car racing statute in Texas that imposes very stiff penalties for those convicted of racing on our public roadways.

Most of these auto accidents appear to have been preventable. It is difficult to understand how some people can put their lives, and the lives of others, at risk by this type of conduct.

If you have questions about car accidents, please contact us and our Houston Car Accident Lawyers will help you.

Toyota Prius To Be Recalled Because Of Brake Problems

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26221 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Toyota is going to be recalling approximately 270,000 Toyota Prius hybrid cars because of brake problems. There have been around 103,000 Toyota Prius sold since May that are under the expected recall. Currently, there have been 180 reported problems with the braking system in the Toyota Prius.

Houston Injury Attorneys reveal insurance company games, tricks & secrets

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26186 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Do you ever wonder whether the insurance company is playing games behind your back? Whether there are other insurance company representatives pulling strings other than the insurance adjuster? Whether the insurance company really has your best interests in mind?

Wonder no more. Our Houston Accident Attorneys reveal several insurance company games and tactics designed to pay you nothing or as little as possible.

To read about some of these secret insurance company games, click here.

Transportation Secretary Warns Against Driving Toyota Vehicles Until Gas Pedal Fixed

dbmires@hotmail.com (Blog Author)26095 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary, is warning Toyota car owners to stop driving their Toyota cars until the owners can get their car fixed. This announcement from Mr. LaHood came Wednesday morning while testifying before the House Appropriations.

Toyota Stops Sales Of Cars With Accelerator Pedal Problems

dbmires@hotmail.com (Blog Author)26039 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Toyota has suspended sales of its cars that have accelerator pedal problems. These accelerator pedal problems can cause the Toyota cars to accelerate without warning. Included in this suspension of sales are the RAV4, Corolla, Sequoia, Tundra, Highlander, Avalon, Matrix, and Camry.
Toyota is currently working on a plan to fix these accelerator pedal problems.

Toyota Accelerator Pedal Problems Result In Recall

dbmires@hotmail.com (Blog Author)26037 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Toyota has recalled approximately 2.3 million vehicles related to problems with its cars accelerator pedals. Toyota's accelerator pedals can become stuck and causing continued acceleration. This current recall, is different than the prior Toyota recall involving Toyota floor mats.
According to Toyota, the problem with the accelerator pedals may have to do with condensation forming on the sliding surfaces of the accelerator pedal.
Toyota is currently trying determine how to address this serious problem to make its cars safe for the public.

Helicopter crash victim's family gets $7,200,000.00 jury verdict

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)26005 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

An Iowa jury recently awarded a $7,200,000.00 verdict to the widow of a man killed in a helicopter accident case.

Kathryn Schlotzhauer's husband was killed in a helicopter crash while filming a scene for a movie. The pilot flew into power lines near a baseball field, resulting in the death.

We would like to congratulate both Mrs. Schlotzhauer and Gary and Anita Robb, Ms. Schlotzhauer's helicopter crash attorneys, for the excellent verdict on behalf of Mrs. Schlotzhauer.

Tanker accident causes oil spill, endangers workers & wildlife

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)25941 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

The collision between an oil tanker and a towing vessel has resulted in a crude oil spill, necessitating the closure of parts of a major Texas port. The accident happened near Port Arthur, 90 miles east of Houston. The maritime workers on these vessels were not injured in the collision, which was fortunate because otherwise their employer would likely have to pay for damages under the Jones Act.

An 800 foot tanker, the Eagle Atome, was making its way towards a Beaumont refinery for Exxon Mobile Corporation when it crashed into a towing vessel. The vessel was pushing two barges when it was hit, and the force of the collision caused about 11,000 barrels (about 462,000 gallons) of crude oil to spill into the water.

About 45,800 feet of booms were deployed to and oil sucking skimmer boats sent out to protect an environmentally sensitive lake. The lake, according to Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, used to have a protective gate that was lost when Hurricane Ike came ashore 18 months ago. It had to be protected as it is considered a crucial breeding ground for wildlife.

An additional 69,000 barrels of oil that remained in the tanker were pumped out before they could also spill into the water. According to the Coast Guard so far no sensitive wildlife areas have been adversely affected by the spill.

This oil spill was the largest in Texas in six years, however it was small compared to the massive oil spill caused by the Norwegian tanker Mega Borg. In that spill 4.3 million gallons of oil were released 60 miles off of Galveston, causing a major environmental impact and requiring a massive clean up effort.

Motorcycle rider's excessive speed, lack of helmet lead to death

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)25940 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Motorcycle riding can be exhilarating, but it can also be deadly – especially if safety precautions are not taken. A recent motorcycle death in Houston underscores the importance of motorcycle safety, not just to keep motorcyclists safe but also to protect all road users from accident and injury.

A motorcycle rider who was speeding and not wearing a helmet was killed when he crashed into a car while driving westbound on the 610 South Loop. The accident happened at night in the middle of the week, around 10pm, near the Stella Link Road exit.

The motorcyclist, who has not yet been named, was trying to pass a Honda Civic when the crash occurred. According to police, the motorcycle rider had been driving in and out of traffic before he collided with the Civic.

The motorcycle rider died at the scene of the accident. Two women riding in the Civic were taken to a hospital where they were listed in stable condition.

Excessive speed and failure to wear a helmet are two ways that motorcycle riders can make riding dangerous, not just for themselves but as this accident shows for other drivers as well. Motorcycle riders and other motorists must work together and always share the road.

Please read more about motorcycle safety and motorcycle accident issues in our law library articles like “Motorcyclists and Drivers Need to Share the Road”, “Our Board Certified Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyers can help”, “Houston law firm files case for brain injured motorcycle rider” and “Cutting Your Commuting Costs? Consider Motorcycle Safety”.

Plant Explosion in Angleton results in three reported injuries

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25855 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Reports indicate three workers were injured in an explosion at a plant owned by Thermal Polymer Systems in Angleton, Texas. Two of the burned workers were evacuated by life flight, and the third was transported to a hospital by ambulance.

The cause of the explosion and resulting fire is not known at this time. OSHA will conduct an investigation which will seek to determine the cause of the explosion. At the conclusion of its investigation, OSHA will write a report and may issue citations to any responsible parties.

If you have any questions about plant explosion cases, please contact the Houston Plant Explosion Lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom.

Houston Personal Injury Attorney comments on latest Toyota recall figures

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25852 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Toyota announced an additional 1.1 million vehicles to its recall list which already consisted of 4.2 million vehicles based on problems with the accelerator which causes unintended acceleration. Many of these vehicles are actually the subject of two different recalls, both related to the gas pedal issue.

The scope of this problem is huge, but it may become even bigger. It is unclear why Toyota issuing these recall notices in "waves." It seems clear at this point that there will be additional recall announcements from Toyota.

There have been various injuries and deaths associated with Toyota vehicle crashes associated with unintended acceleration, across the United States. Of course, Toyota sells vehicles in other countries and the scope of the problem in those countries is not yet clear.

If you have any questions about product recall issues, including the ongoing Toyota recall debacle, please contact the Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom.

New rule: truck & bus drivers may not "text" while driving

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25789 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

According to new federal transportation rules announced today, commercial truck and bus drivers may not "text" while driving. This new rule is effective immediately.

Recently compiled statistics are a big reason why this new rule was announced. In 2008, almost 6,000 people died in wrecks involving an inattentive or distrated driver. More than 500,000 people were injured in these crashes. Also, according to a recent Virginia Tech study, 80% of crashes are related to driver inattention, and drivers who use phones and devices with texting abilities are four times more likely to cause vehicle crashes.

This new rule will certainly play a role in litigation involving bus and truck accidents. Lawyers for defendants and plaintiffs will need to update themselves on the details of this rule because if a commercial driver is found to have been texting at the time of a crash, they may be considered automatically liable (the legal term is "negligent per se").

If you have any questions about the new ban on texting or truck or bus crashes in general, please contact the Houston Personal Injury Attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom.

Houston Personal Injury Lawyers Report Truck Accident Case Results in Settlement

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25788 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Today the Houston media is reporting that the City of Houston is paying $225,000 to settle a wrongful death case involving a crash between two fire trucks and a bicyclist. The bicyclist sustained fatal injuries. A Houston Personal Injury Law firm represented the family of the deceased bicyclist.

To many who read this story, it may appear that this amount of money is very low for the loss of a life. However, keep in mind that cases against government entities, such as the City of Houston, have "caps" that limit the damages that may be obtained. It is likely that this case was settled for the maximum amount under those caps.

If you have any questions about car and truck accident cases, please contact the Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom.

New Toyota Recall Affects 2.3 Million Vehicles

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)25706 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Toyota has issued a voluntary recall that affects 2.3 million vehicles. The recall is because of problems with throttles that can wear prematurely and stick open, causing a vehicle to continue to accelerate even when pressure is removed from the accelerator.

The vehicles affected by this recall include:

RAV4 2009-2010 models
Corolla 2009-2010 models
Matrix 2009-2010 models
Avalon 2005-2010 models
Camry 2007-2010 models
Highlander 2010 model
Tundra 2007-2010 models
Sequoia 2008-2010 models

Vehicles included in this recall will temporarily not be sold in dealerships until a fix has been made available.

According to Toyota, the first symptom of a throttle problem is an accelerator pedal that feels roudh instead of smooth. The second symptom is an accelerator pedal that does not return quickly to the default position when pressure is removed from the pedal. Lastly, the final symptom of the problem is an accelerator pedal that remains depressed even when the driver’s foot is removed from the pedal.

Drivers are advised to visit their dealer when the experienced the first symptom of the problem. If the throttle gets stuck open while a driver is on the road, Toyota advises that they shift into neutral, pull over to the side of the road, and call a dealer.

Looking for more information about Toyota’s acceleration problems? Check out our law library articles “Will the latest Toyota recall lead to more serious auto accidents and fatalities?” and “Toyota vehicle recall may be about more than just floor mats”.

V&B Houston Insurance Denial Lawyers Announce Settlement of Life Insurance Denial Case

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25699 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

The Texas Insurance Claim Denial Lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom announce the settlement of a life insurance denial case against Lincoln Financial Insurance Company. Please click here for the Case Report.

Another reason to fight maritime piracy: terrorism

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)25697 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

As if maritime worker safety isn’t enough of a reason, international governments and shipping companies have another compelling reason to fight piracy: terrorism.

To combat the twin challenge of piracy and terrorism, Interpol plans to create a task force to crack down on all facets of maritime piracy. What such a crackdown would look like remains a mystery, however.

It is unfortunate that it is taking fears over terrorism to “do the right thing” in this situation – protect maritime workers from pirate attacks.

The situation off the coast of eastern Africa is serious, indeed. According to Interpol, ransom demands from pirates in the area average about $2.2 million, a huge amount that some shipping companies are willing to pay. Their willingness to pay is of course what is driving up the rates of piracy. If ships and their crews were actually better protected and able to fend off these attacks, this situation never would have happened.

Read more about piracy and maritime worker safety in our law library article “Is enough being done to combat the rise in pirate attacks?” and “Maritime Attorney Brian Beckcom Speaks Out After Pirate Attack on Maersk Alabama”. For help finding the right maritime accident attorney, please check out articles like “Houston, Texas attorney: How to hire the best lawyer for your international offshore accident Jones Act case” and “Can't most personal injury lawyers handle a Jones Act or other offshore injury case?”

Port Arthur shipwreck: Board Certified Texas maritime lawyer reports on potential liability

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25689 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A tanker ship owned and operated by AET collided with two barges being towed by a tug boat a few days ago. The AET tanker involved was the "EAGLE OTOME." The collision caused approximately 450,000 gallons of crude to spill in to the Port of Port Arthur and adjoining waterways.

According to its website, AET is a "leading worldwide petroleum shipping company," which is managed from "regional centres" from London, Houston, Kuala Lumpur, and Gurgoan. The AET website further indicates the EAGLE OTOME is managed by "AET Shipmanagement," which is a Singapore corporation.

Because a component of what was spilled contained sulfide, a 50 block area of adjoining land was evacuated.

What kind of damage has this caused? The fact is, at this time we do not know the full extent of the damages. However, local authorities are reporting the economic impact as long as the channel is closed (for cleanup activities) is about $200,000,000 per day. Yes, that's per day. It happened three days ago, so as of today the economic impact is estimated at $600,000,000.

These damages are related to the environmental clean up activities, the losses caused to area businesses due to this high volume ship channel being closed, and potential injuries to the crew and seamen on the vessels involved as well as potential injuries to people on land who were exposed to sulfide and other noxious substances.

Who should pay for all this? Initial reports indicated the power on the EAGLE OTOME went out. However, current reports indicate this was not the case. Authorities are speaking with the companies and crew members and reviewing radio transmissions to determine what caused the collision.

The AET website indicates its fleet is "young, technically advanced, and professionally managed." Well, if that's the case, then its tanker should not have plowed in to other vessels that were in plain sight. In fact, under maritime law, there are rules that address liability in situations when one vessel collides with another vessel. The bottom line is that it is quite clear that AET is responsible for the bulk of the damages.

AET certainly has maritime lawyers working around the clock right now helping it set up how it will try to defend all the lawsuits that will likely be filed. The Jones Act law will apply to many of these claims. It will require experienced maritime law lawyers, from Texas, to go up against the army of lawyers this behemoth company will hire to try to defend its actions. These Texas Jones Act lawyers will need to put their knowledge of maritime law, including the Jones Act, to good use in holding this company liable.

If you have any questions about this collision or maritime laws in general, please contact the Board Certified Houston Jones Act lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom. Our Texas offshore accident lawyers will answer any questions you may have.

Spring ISD students injured in bus crash / Bus Accidents

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Three students from Spring ISD were injured when their school bus was involved in a collision with a car this morning on the way to school. Officials report that a driver going westbound on Hugh turned in front of the bus as it was traveling north on T.C. Jester. The students were complaining of pain and were taken to the hospital as a precaution. For more on this story, please click on the link below. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6834254.html. The Board Certified attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom help accident victims receive the justice they deserve.

Worker dies in fall at LyondellBasell refinery in Houston, same refinery where one of the largest cranes in the world collapsed in summer 2008

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25519 — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Media reports indicate a plant worker fell at the LyondellBasell oil refinery plant in Houston two days ago, sustaining fatal injuries. OSHA is investigating.

Information as to the cause of the fall will likely surface during the OSHA investigation. OSHA investigators will likely determine which company or companies contributed to cause the fall. Liability for the incident will depend in large part on how the companies set up their work contacts and workers compensation plan.

The LyondellBasell refinery is where one of the largest cranes in the world collapsed in the summer of 2008, causing several fatalities and numerous injuries. Lawsuits related to that crane collapse remain pending while lawyers continue to develop those cases.

If you have questions about plant accidents, please contact the Houston plant accident lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom.

Tanker Truck Accident in Houston | Houston Truck Accident Attorneys

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25436 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

KTRK is reporting that a tanker truck overturned on the Gulf Freeway, blocking part of the inbound South Loop.

It happened this morning just after 11 a.m. Apparently, the driver lost control. The driver was trapped in the truck and was taken to the hospital.

Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved, and it appears that no one else was injured.

Need a Houston Car Accident Attorney?

Please take a moment to visit our car accident resource page.

We have a lot of helpful consumer information for Houston Car Accident Victims.

Car Crash Kills Two When Woman Falls Asleep At The Wheel

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A couple was killed on Monday after a woman driving in the opposite direction fell asleep at the wheel and crossed over the median into the couple's car. The crash happened outside of Johnson City, Texas. An investigation is being conducted into this crash by the Blanco County Sheriff's Office.

Patrol Car Hit Head-On By Maserati

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A woman driving a Maserati crashed head-on into a patrol car. The woman is believed to have been intoxicated and is facing DWI charges. The officer, Tracy Sheets, suffered broken bones in the crash. The crash took place in College Station, Texas. The identity of the woman, age 21, has not been released at this time.

Maersk Alabama suspect charged in two other piracy incidents

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A Somalian who is suspected in the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama last April has been charged with two other acts of piracy. Federal Prosecutors filed a ten page indictment against Abduwaiil Abdukhadir Muse. Charges include piracy, seizing a ship by force, kidnapping, hostage taking and possession of a machine gun. Muse, who was 15 at the time of the incident, will be tried as an adult. Vujasinovic & Beckcom represent several crew members of the Maersk Alabama. For more on this article, click on the following link.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/12/maersk.alabama.charges/index.html?iref=allsearch

Jones Act Attorney writes article about hiring the best attorney for your case

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)25211 — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

I've posted a short article offering some tips on hiring an experienced attorney for your maritime injury cases.

Click here to read the article now

Brazoria County Mother and Baby Die in crash with Semi-Truck

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A Brazoria County mother and her infant son died Wednesday morning after the car they were in collided with a semi truck head on. The driver of the truck was taken to Angleton Danbury Medical Center complaining of back pain. The accident is being investigated. The law firm of Vujasinovic & Beckcom helps those who are injured in vehicle accidents. For more on this tragic incident, please click on the link below.
http://thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=819387504044dcfc

18 wheeler and 3 passenger vehicles collide on Highway 290

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

An 18 wheeler collided with at least 3 vehicles on U.S. 290 in NW Houston early this morning. Emergency crews are working to clear the site. The lawfirm of Vujasinovic & Beckcom works on behalf of those injured in 18 wheeler collisions. For more information about this incident, please click the following link.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6817123.html

Worker Dies in Fire on Apache Offshore Platform

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

An offshore worker died in a fire aboard an Apache Corporation offshore platform in the early morning hours of January 13, 2010. The platform is located two miles off the coast of Cameron Parish in South Louisiana. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. To read more about this story, please click on the link below.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/6813596.html

COMPANY TRICK: "Use your private health insurance for your work injury."

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)24971 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

One of our clients recently told me the following happened: he was hurt on the job. His employer has workers compensation insurance. His employer sent him to the company doctor. Our client kept having pain, and requested a second visit to the company doctor. At this point, the employer suggested he not run his claim through workers compensation, and instead run it through his private health insurance - and tell the doctors that it was not an on the job injury.

Why would a company not want an employee to pursue a claim under workers compensation insurance? Because the more claims they have under workers compensation, and the further those claims go, the more they will have to pay in insurance premiums the next year. So companies try desperately not to have employees claim on the job injuries at all, and if they do, they try to cut them down as soon as possible. And one way they try to cut them down is by tricking the employee in to finishing their claim with their private health insurance.

Why would a company tell the employee to report it as not being an on the job injury? Because to get treatment under private health insurance, the employee has to tell the doctors it is not an on the job injury. This is because if an injury is work related, then only workers compensation insurance can be used. If it is work related, private health insurance will not apply. So, in essence, the company is asking the employee to lie about the circumstances of the injury.

And guess what happens if the employee is tricked in to doing this? Well, if the employee has a valid third party claim, then he or she has just done that claim great harm. Because in that case, the defendant companies are going to point to the records where the employee said the injury was not work related. See how this works?

If you are hurt on the job, don't fall for this trick. Run your entire claim through workers compensation no matter how many times the company asks you to use your health insurance.

If you have any questions about this topic, our Houston work injury lawyers will gladly give you answers.

Woman killed in collision with Centerpoint Truck

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

An elderly woman was killed in Northwest Harris County when her car collided with a truck owned by Centerpoint Energy.

Major Accident Involving School Bus and Cargo Truck

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Life Flight was called out to a major accident involving an Aldine ISD school bus and a cargo truck. It is reported that the rear of the bus sustained major damage. A 30 year old man believed to be the driver of the truck was Life Flighted.

V&B lawyers hired on industrial accident case against Ingersoll Rand

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)24610 — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A maintenance mechanic was working on some industrial pipe which was connected to a compressor. The pipe and compressor were provided and installed by Ingersoll Rand. The worker was seriously injured when the pipe exploded in her face.

The injured worker has hired Vujasinovic & Beckcom.

The worker is receiving workers compensation benefits, because her employer had workers compensation insurance. Because this insurance is in place, she would not be permitted to bring a lawsuit against her employer (assuming her employer had any liability in the first place).

The investigation thus far is pointing to an improper installation and possible defective equipment provided by Ingersoll Rand. If Ingersoll Rand has liability for this industrial accident, then the company is liable to the worker for her injuries and damages. This type of case is called a "third party case." For a further explantion of "third party" cases, please review this V&B Library Article.

This industrial injury case remains pending.

Amtrack Train Derails

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

An Amtrak train derailed early this morning while on its way to Los Angeles. The train derailed near Higginson, Arkansas around 3:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported so far.

An investigation into why the Amtrak train derailed is currently ongoing.

V&B lawyers continue work in lawsuit involving Deep South Crane and Rigging Company crane collapse

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)24381 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

On July 18, 2008, the world's largest crane collapsed at a refinery plant in Houston, Texas. The refinery was owned and operated by LyondellBasell. The crane was owned and operated by Deep South Crane and Rigging Company. Four workers were killed, and many, many others were injured.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom lawyers represent many of the workers who were injured in this crane collapse, and have filed a lawsuit on their behalf.

The lawsuits were filed in Jefferson County, Texas, where some of the defendant companies have based their operations. The companies tried to move the case to a venue they felt would have been more favorable to them. However, after much briefing and arguments to the Court, the Court denied the companies' motion.

Much work has been conducted pertaining to how and why the crane collapsed. Recently, Deep South admitted in official court papers that its negligence was a cause of the crane to fall.

However, many of the injured workers have alleged that the company was grossly negligent, thus work on the liability issue continues.

V&B lawyers are continuing to work up this case against Deep South and the other corporate defendants.

Could maritime employer budget cuts put YOUR life at risk?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)24329 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

It is no secret that the economy has not been kind to businesses around the world, and nowhere is this more true than in the maritime industry. Shipping companies, oil companies, commercial fishing operations – most every kind of seafaring company you can think of is having a tough time right now.

While some belt tightening is expected in these lean times, there is always a danger that companies will go too far. If employers respond to budget cuts by slashing workers to the point that vessels are understaffed, or if they cut back on safety or security measures, seamen can be injured or killed as a result.

If you suspect that you were hurt on the job because your employer failed to properly protect your safety, whether because of budget cuts or some other reason, then you need to take action. Make sure that you know your rights so you can protect them – this is something that an experienced maritime attorney can help you with.

Here are some free articles in our law library that will help you understand what you need to do after an offshore injury:

Why you need an EXPERIENCED attorney after a serious Texas truck accident

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)24319 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you are a passenger vehicle driver or occupant, the last thing you want to do is get into an accident with an 18-wheeler. These massive vehicles, some weighing up to 80,000 pounds, can crush a car, van or SUV with ease.

It is no wonder, given the size difference between tractor trailers and passenger vehicles, that injuries sustained in truck collisions are far more serious and deadly than those in crashes involving only passenger vehicles. You are far more likely to suffer a serious head injury, traumatic brain injury, broken bones, internal injuries, and possibly even die if you collide with a tractor trailer.

The severity of injuries in these crashes is one reason to hire an attorney. Who knows how much money you’ll need in the future, as you learn to cope with limitations after your serious injuries? Maybe you’ll need long-term rehabilitation or physical therapy, or perhaps you’ll be limited in the type of work you can perform. These are things that can cost you, things you should be fairly compensated for after a crash.

A good personal injury attorney with experience handling tractor trailer accident cases will also know how the game is played. Trucking companies are notorious for using their own army of investigators and lawyers to fight against injury claims. They can make mincemeat of inexperienced attorneys and their clients, and forget about representing yourself in a severe case – these folks don’t play fair and you need all the help you can get.

Not sure if you need a lawyer for your case? Call us – we’ll discuss your case confidentially, for no cost or obligation. Then you can decide to do what is right for YOU.

After a rollover crash - hiring the RIGHT personal injury attorney

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)24318 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Rollover accidents – when a vehicle rolls over onto its roof during a crash – account for a small percentage of all auto accidents, but for a full third of all crash deaths. This is because these types of accidents are usually very serious, and many vehicles are not designed to keep occupants from being injured in a bad rollover.

Vehicles may be getting safer, now that the IIHS has introduced new roof strength criteria for cars, vans and SUVs to make it onto their list of Top Safety Picks. This year only 27 vehicles made it onto the IIHS list because of the new rollover tests – this is a testament to how much there is still to do when it comes to vehicle safety.

Several other factors also affect an occupant’s safety in a rollover: whether or not the accident victim was wearing a seatbelt (most deaths are because the person was unbelted), side curtain airbags triggered by rollover sensors protect victim’s heads, making a serious brain injury less likely, and well-designed seat belts can prevent a driver from being thrown into the steering wheel and suffering upper body damage.

Because injuries from a rollover accident can be so serious, it is in your best interest to find a board-certified and experienced personal injury attorney to help you secure fair and just compensation. Without good legal representation, you might find yourself without adequate compensation for your medical bills, property damage, repair bills, rehabilitation costs and other expenses.

Don’t risk your future – contact the auto and truck accident lawyers at Vujasinovic and Beckcom today.

Is your Jones Act lawyer BOARD CERTIFIED?

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)24308 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

A lot of lawyers advertise for offshore injury cases. But you probably didn't know the following:

Most lawyers are not qualified to handle an offshore injury case. Probably less than 1% of all lawyers are offshore qualified.

Most lawyers are not Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. According to the State Bar of Texas, only 2% of all Texas lawyers have this board certification.

AND VERY, VERY FEW LAWYERS ARE BOTH OFFSHORE QUALIFIED AND BOARD CERTIFIED.

To find out whether your lawyer is offshore qualified, ask these Jones Act lawyer questions.

To find out whether your lawyer is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial law, go to the State Bar of Texas website and type in the lawyer's information.

All of the founding attorneys of Vujasinovic & Beckcom are both offshore qualified and Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law.

Texas Board Certified Lawyer: TOP FIVE STEPS you should take if you are in an 18 wheeler or car accident

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)24251 — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you are involved in an accident with an 18 wheeler or other vehicle, make sure you take the following steps. This article assumes you have sustained some type of serious injury in the crash.

1. Call 911, or make sure someone else does, and ask for an ambulance to be sent to the accident location. The paramedics will examine and treat you, and if necessary, bring you to a hospital emergency room.

2. Call the police, or make sure someone else does, and ask for a police officer to be sent to the scene. A police officer will come to the scene. Tell the officer how your accident happened. The officer will prepare a written accident report based on his or her investigation of the crash.

3. Get information from the other driver. Ask for their driver's license and insurance card. Write down their name, address, driver's license number, name of insurance company, and insurance policy number.

4. Take pictures of your car. Do this after you have been checked out by the ambulance paramedics or emergency room personnel.

5. Consider hiring a personal injury lawyer if your injury is truly serious. If you decide to interview attorneys, read the following articles and make sure you ask prospective lawyers these questions: SEVEN CRITICAL QUESTIONS, car accident questions, 18 wheeler accident questions.

V&B law firm hired to handle 18 wheeler accident case against Canal Cartage Company, Inc.

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)24060 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Gerardo was employed as an 18 wheeler driver by Gulf Winds International, Inc. Gerardo was driving on Barbours Cut Blvd. in La Porte, Texas when an 18 wheeler driven by Jose Aparicio, an employee of Canal Cartage Company, cut him off, causing a crash. The investigating police officer placed 100% of the fault on the Canal Cartage driver.

Canal Cartage had an automobile insurance policy. Despite the investigating officer's findings, the insurance company denied Gerardo's claim.

Gerardo's doctors said he needed a spine fusion surgery, which he had some time after the 18 wheeler wreck.

The insurance company continued to deny Gerardo's claim. Gerardo hired Vujasinovic & Beckcom to represent him in his 18 wheeler accident and injury case. V&B lawyers filed Gerardo's 18 wheeler accident case in Harris County, Texas.

Canal Cartage Company's insurance carrier hired lawyers to represent the company. The lawyers continue to deny responsibility on behalf of the company.

Thus far in discovery, V&B attorneys have uncovered evidence that this Canal Cartage driver was involved in at least five prior 18 wheeler accidents on the job with this same company. V&B lawyers further uncovered evidence that this driver, and Canal Cartage Company, violated many of the Federal trucking regulations, including the destruction of important trucking documents. V&B lawyers further discovered that Canal Cartage fired its driver, Mr. Aparicio, after this crash.

It is unclear why Canal Cartage Company, which does business throughout the United States, continued to allow Mr. Aparicio to drive its 18 wheelers, considering his prior accident record.

This case remains pending.

Was ship captain partially to blame for offshore pirate attack?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)24003 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Associated Press has published information claiming that the captain of the Maersk Alabama may have been partially to blame for the pirate attack last spring 600 miles off the African coast.

According to the AP, seven warnings were issued by maritime safety groups about the dangers of traveling in pirate infested waters along Somalia. Four of the twenty crew members who were aboard the Maersk when it was attack believe that the captain, Richard Phillips, was negligent when he refused to change course after being made aware of the pirate’s activity in the area.

Had Phillips made the decision to avoid the area, it would have added more than a day to the trip and would have required the use of additional fuel. Not only did Phillips fail to avoid the dangerous area, the crew members allege, but the ship was also sent into dangerous waters without adequate protection.

Phillips calls the accusations by his former crew members “spurious” and refused to comment further. A compliant has also been filed against him with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Phillips has years of experienced sailing in dangerous waters off the coast of Africa, and his decision to stick to the route that led him into the allegedly dangerous waters off the coast of Somalia was supported by his second in command, Captain Shane Murphy.

In view of the pending legal challenges, Maersk Line officials also refrained from commenting on the AP report.

Greek freighter "Aegean Wind" catches on fire on way to Houston, Texas, nine dead

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)23955 — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

News agencies are reporting that the Greek freighter, "Aegean Wind," caught on fire on its way from Brazil to Houston, Texas. Conflicting reports place the origin of the fire in the mess hall and in the engine room. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Nine seamen are reported to have perished in the fire, and several others sustained burn injuries. Of the deceased seamen, six were from the Philippines and three were from Greece.

All of these seamen should be considered Jones Act seamen.

The Houston, Texas law firm of Vujasinovic & Beckcom handles many cases for Jones Act seamen, including foreign seamen who are involved in international offshore accidents (examples: Filipino seaman case, Indian seaman case). All of the firm's founding partners are Houston, Texas lawyers who are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Many cases involving foreign seamen and international offshore and shipping accidents and injuries are litigated in Houston, Texas, because Houston is the home (or at least the home away from home) for much of the maritime industry.

If you would like to speak with us, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or by calling our Toll Free number: 877 724 7800.

V&B lawyers hired to handle longshore accident case against Grifco Transportation

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)23888 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Alberto was employed by Southwest Shipyard, which is based in Channelview, Texas. Grifco Transportation turned over one of its vessels to Southwest Shipyard for repairs. As Alberto was boarding the Grifco vessel, he stepped on some hoses that had been improperly left out.

Alberto mainly injured his right ankle, requiring four surgeries thus far.

Alberto hired Vujasinovic & Beckcom to handle his longshore injury case against Grifco Transportation. The case is on file in Harris County, Texas.

When a ship owner turns over a ship to a third party for repairs or maintenance, the ship owner owes the third party something called a "turn over duty." This means the ship owner must turn over the ship in a safe and seaworthy condition. If the ship owner turns over the ship in an unsafe condition which contributes to cause an injury to an employee of the third party, the ship owner is liable for the damages.

Grifco Transportation breached its turnover duty by failing to properly store the hoses, instead leaving them strewn about the ship. In fact, the company's former Chief Engineer, Joe Dacus, recently gave sworn testimony under questioning by V&B lawyers that the Grifco Transportation vessel was unsafe and unseaworthy.

The case remains pending.

Crane Accident Causes One Death

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

During the evening on December 14, 2009, Cesar Gomez died while working for a printing company when a crane he was using toppled over onto him. Although an investigation is ongoing, early reports indicate that Mr. Gomez was attempting to move the crane to a different area when the crane's base gave way causing the crane to fall over pinning Mr. Gomez underneath the crane.

Hopefully a full investigation into the events that caused the crane to fail will be conducted.

Yes, the insurance company WILL do everything to avoid paying your claim

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)23695 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you’ve recently been hurt in a car, bus, or tractor trailer accident, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise when you deal with the insurance company. You might expect them to take care of you after your accident, but sadly that isn’t what really happens.

While the insurance company adjuster may start out treating you like their best friend, things quickly go south as soon as you start getting into the details. All of a sudden, your friendly adjuster will seem like more of a cold, impersonal stranger bent on wearing you down.

Don’t take this personally. It is all part of the game that many insurance companies play. Remember, insurance companies are in business to make money. This means that they do everything they can to protect their bottom line – even if it means treating accident victims unfairly.

Read more about insurance company tricks in our law library article “Is the Insurance Company Playing Games with Your Accident Claim?”

Keep the insurance company on their toes – please read “A must-read list of five questions you should ask the insurance company before signing any papers or giving a statement”

Do you know what to look for in a car accident lawyer? Check out “How to hire the best lawyer for your car accident case”. What about finding an attorney for your tractor trailer accident case? Read “How to hire the best lawyer for your 18 wheeler accident case

Explosion at Valero Refinery in Texas City Kills A Person

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

An explosion at the Valero Refinery in Texas City, Texas has killed one person and injured another. The explosion happened Friday night. The explosion at the Valero Refinery is being investigated. There are no details on the cause of the explosion at this time.

Hopefully the investigation will determine what caused this explosion.

Car Crash That Killed Passenger May Be Alcohol Related

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

A deadly car crash last night may have been alcohol related. The crash happened at the intersection of Aldine Westfield and Greenbrier when one driver failed to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle, a PT Cruiser, with two occupants inside causing a head-on collision. Sadly, the passenger inside the PT Cruiser was killed instantly. The driver of the PT Cruiser sustained minor injuries. The condition of the driver of the other vehicle is not known at this time.

Police are currently investigating this deadly crash. The driver of the vehicle that failed to yield the right-of-way is facing intoxication manslaughter charges for this crash.

International offshore accident results in spine injury, Indian seaman hires V&B attorneys

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)22735 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Jones Act seaman was employed by Navigazione Montanari, an Italian company, as an oiler aboard the tanker M.T. Valcadore. The oiler is from India. The oiler fell while aboard the vessel due to faulty equipment and an unsafe work area. He was sent to company doctors, who diagnosed him with herniated discs and performed surgery.

The oiler requested maintenance and cure benefits from his company. However, the company was not very cooperative and the oiler found it very difficult to obtain these benefits, and ultimately the company cut him off completely. This left the gentleman without any means to support his wife and small children in India.

The oiler contacted Vujasinovic & Beckcom in the United States, and hired the law firm to represent him. V&B lawyers are assisting the Indian seaman with respect to his claim for maintenance and cure and in a Jones Act lawsuit.

The case remains pending.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom represents injured foreign seamen in cases involving the Jones Act and other offshore accidents and injuries across the world. If you would like to speak with us about a potential international offshore accident case, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Under pressure, Toyota expands recall that goes beyond floor mats

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)22621 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

In an update to the largest ever recall ever, Toyota Motor Corporation has announced that not only will it expand the recall of vehicles affected by the unexpected acceleration problem, but it will also go beyond just replacing the floor mats.

These are the Toyota models covered by the current recall:

Avalon: 2005 through 2010
Camry: 2007 through 2010
Lexus ES350: 2007 through 2010
Lexus IS250 and IS350: 2006 through 2010
Tacoma: 2005 through 2010
Tundra: 2007 through 2010
Prius: 2004 through 2009

If you have one of these vehicles, here is what to expect when you take it to a dealer to be fixed:

The dealer will reshape the accelerator pedal. This is intended to prevent the pedal from getting stuck in the floor mat. In April a replacement pedal will be available so your pedal can be completely replaced rather than just modified.
If your vehicle has Toyota or Lexus all-weather floor mats, they’ll be replaced with newly designed floor mats. These new mats supposedly won’t trap the accelerator pedal.
If you have a Camry, Avalon or Lexus ES350, the dealer will need to reshape the floor beneath the pedal. This is to increase space between the pedal and the floor.
If you have a Camry, Avalon, Lexus ES or IS model, the dealer will also have to install a brake override system to cut engine power if the accelerator and brake are engaged at the same time.

Were you or someone you love hurt in a serious car crash, either because of an accelerator pedal problem or something else? If so, please contact the experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C.

Tire blows on 15 passenger van causing rollover crash and multiple fatalities

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)22571 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

News agencies are reporting a crash involving a 15 passenger van, which occurred on I-10 near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The front left tire of the 15 passenger van blew out, causing the van to lose control, rollover and crash in to another vehicle.

The dangers associated with 15 passenger vans, and dangerous tires, have been known for quite some time. V&B lawyer Brian Beckcom wrote a published article on the dangers associated with 15 passenger vans. V&B lawyer Vuk Vujasinovic wrote a published article and the dangers associated with tires that are prone to de-tread.

Law enforcement agencies are still investigating this crash, and it will be seen whether any of these known problems contributed to cause this crash.

Toyota problem with "unintended acceleration": caused by floor mats or electronic throttles?

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)22570 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

There are recent reports that Toyota vehicles are experiencing "unintended acceleration." This has led to many serious and fatal crashes. Toyota has indicated the problem rests with floor mats in the vehicles, which jam up and cause the accelerator to stick. Toyota even issued a recall on its vehicles which are experiencing this problem, and the recall is designed to fix the floor mat problem.

However, in a recent crash in which the driver survived, the driver indicated he had removed the floor mats from the vehicle. Safety experts are now starting to look at the electronic throttle system as a potential cause of the "unintended acceleration" problem.

Sherman bus crash fallout: "Rubber stamp" bus inspections put all motorists at risk

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)22538 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Texas Department of Public Safety has announced that three men from 5-Minute Inspections were arrested this month in relation to the Sherman bus crash tragedy that killed 17 people and injured 38 others.

The men, Cesar Hernandez, 27, Ernesto Bastard, 19, and Miguel Castillo, 49, were arrested on charges of tampering with a government document. The charge, a second-degree felony, carries a punishment of up to 20 years in prison.

The company 5-Minute Inspections is being investigated under suspicion that it did not actually see all of the vehicles for which it issued inspection certificates. According to DPS investigators, the company certified hundreds of vehicles a month. The bus involved in the Sherman crash may have been one that was certified without being seen.

If the bus had been properly inspected, the unlawful tire retread and other problems that contributed to the crash may have been found before so many lives were lost. The horror of this terrible tragedy is made worse by the fact that it could have been prevented if people had only been doing their jobs properly.

DPS has been criticized in the federal government’s investigation of the crash for failing to provide adequate oversight of the inspection and registration process for buses. Changes to the way buses and other vehicles are inspected in Texas should change as a result of these findings – although it is too little too late for the victims and their families.

Are vessel owners doing enough to protect employees from pirate attacks?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)22536 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A pirate attack off the coast of West Africa has claimed the life of a Ukrainian officer. The officer, Commander Maxime Ahoyo, was the chief officer on the Monrovia-flagged “Canacle Star” when it was attacked by pirates 18 miles off the coast of Benin.

The attack was typical of pirate attacks seen in the area. According to the ship’s captain, six or seven pirates approached the vessel in a speed boat and boarded. They were armed, and at gunpoint asked a sailor to open the ship’s safe.

The safe was opened and the pirates stole an undisclosed amount of money. In addition to killing Ahoyo the pirates also injured four other crew members, one seriously. One pirate was captured by crew members when one of the tanker’s crew members sounded a siren. The captured pirate is from a border town in Nigeria.

Piracy is becoming an increasingly serious threat to maritime workers, and employers, ship owners and governments are under pressure to do more to protect ships and their crews. Naval vessels from around the world have been deployed over the last year in an effort to discourage pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden. Pirates, however, have just moved on and are now causing problems for mariners in the Indian Ocean and as far out as the Seychelles.

Maritime law attorney Brian Beckcom has criticized the owners of one American-flagged ship for failing to do enough to protect their crew, and relying on the U.S. military to come to their rescue after the fact. One thing is for sure: pirate will continue to take advantage of cargo-rich ships until owners take the threat seriously.

Five key steps to take if you are injured at sea

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)22526 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

All too often injured maritime workers hurt or completely ruin their injury case by doing or saying the wrong thing before they talk to a Jones Act attorney. If you have been injured at sea, here are five very important things to keep in mind:

Get medical care. No matter how you were hurt, it is very important that you get the appropriate medical care as soon as possible. If your vessel has a medic who can administer first aid or emergency care, you should see them.
Report the accident. If you are hurt while at sea, report the accident to your supervisor and fill out an accident report as thoroughly as possible. Keep in mind that anything you say and anything you write on the report could be used against you later.
Get pictures of the accident scene. You should take pictures of the accident scene if possible, or get somebody else to do it. Pictures can be very useful in your case.
Be careful what you sign. Don’t sign anything that you don’t completely understand and don’t sign an accident report unless it is complete and accurate. Never sign blank documents or anything that looks like a release or waiver. You do NOT have to sign anything before you get medical attention. It is best to ask a lawyer about any documents that you are asked to sign.
Keep a thorough record. Keep a record of everything that happens, everything you sign, and anything you are told.

Please contact our experienced Jones Act and maritime law attorneys at 713.224.7800 if you have any questions about your case.

The Jones Act protects you after a spine or back injury at sea

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)22511 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

There are so many ways that a maritime worker can be hurt at sea, and on-the-job accidents can result in serious damage to a worker’s back or spine. If you think that you hurt your spine in a maritime accident, you may be eligible for compensation under the Jones Act.

The Jones Act is a federal law designed to protect the rights of injured seamen similar to how other workers are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. If you are hurt while working for a maritime employer, your injuries maybe covered by the Jones Act.

Back injuries may not be immediately apparent, so it is very important that you be seen by a doctor after a serious accident. Even after you see the doctor, if you develop symptoms of a back or spine injury you need to go back just in case. Sometimes spinal injuries take time to become obvious, and you don’t want to risk chronic pain or paralysis because you did not receive the treatment you need to get better.

You can read more about attorneys and Jones Act in our maritime law library article “Tips on lawyers and maritime injury and Jones Act cases”, and you can read about back injuries in “Maritime workers: don’t wait to get help after your spine or back injury”.

Company settles industrial mill accident case involving fatal injuries

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)22506 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Workplace Safety - Federal
Company pays $266k to family of worker killed in accident at mill

The family of a man who died in a workplace accident received a $266,418 settlement from his employer. On Jan. 20, 2007, Jose Luis Flores Guadarrama was working at the Southern Hardwood Co. mill in Zavalla. He was operating a board edger when the machine "shot back" and a board struck him in the chest, causing fatal injuries. Following his death, investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration visited the site and found that it was in violation of numerous federal regulations. Guadarrama's wife blamed Southern Hardwood for her husband's death, citing the OSHA investigators' report which mentioned, among other things, the company's failure to maintain its equipment, inadequate safety warnings and lack of safety guards. Southern Hardwood denied the allegations, but ultimately agreed to the settlement in mediation.

Gonzalez v. Southern Hardwood Co. LLC

Jury awards $4.5M to driver rear ended by sheriff in car accident case

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)22505 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Motor Vehicle - California
Driver awarded $4.5M for crash with sheriff

A jury awarded $4.5 million to a man who sustained a severe back injury when he was rear-ended by the Sacramento County Sheriff. In 2005, Timothy Friese, then 46, was struck by Sheriff Andrew Wyant who was on duty. Friese's injuries included headaches, severe neck pain with reticular complaints, wrist pain for which he underwent surgery and removal of a traumatically induced cyst, and severe low back pain for which he underwent surgery at L3-4. He chose not to have a suggested fusion surgery on his back. Later, Friese had to quit his job as an estimator for a construction company due to severe, ongoing pain. The defense admitted liability, but contended that if Friese underwent the fusion surgery, he would be able to work a full-time desk job.

Friese v. County of Sacramento

Jury awards $6.7M for chemical burn injury in industrial accident case

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)22504 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Workplace Safety - Illinois
Jury awards $6.7M for chemical burns that proved fatal

The family of a man who died from chemical burns in an on-the-job accident was awarded $6.7 million. In 2007, Francisco Moreno Garcia, 26, was insulating pipe for a subcontractor at Archer Daniels Midland Corp., a grain-processing plant in Decatur. He was near a mechanical recompression evaporator when it malfunctioned and he was sprayed with scalding liquid waste and steam. About 32 hours after the accident, Garcia was removed from life support. Archer Daniels stipulated to liability and the case proceeded on damages. The parties argued over the amount of concious pain and suffering that Garcia suffered before his death. The treating trauma surgeon testified that Garcia was not completely sedated because his morphine was tempered to prevent a decrease in blood pressure. At various times, Garcia opened his eyes, moved his arms and legs and fought against his breathing tube, according to plaintiff's counsel.

Estate of Garcia v. Archer Daniels Midland Corp.

Child dead after Houston red-light runner causes serious car crash

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)21534 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A northwest Houston accident has left a 2-year old boy dead in a tragic crash that emphasizes the importance of child safety seats.

The accident happened when a white Mercury Grand Marquis traveling north on Antoine Drive ran a red light and crashed into a green Chevrolet C1500 pickup truck that was headed east on a Northwest Freeway feeder road.

A 2-year old boy in the Mercury was injured in the crash as he was not strapped into a child safety seat. He was taken to Texas Children’s Hospital and was later pronounced dead. Three other people were also taken to the hospital to be treated for crash-related injuries.

Police are investigating why the child was riding in the Mercury without being properly secured, as required by law. This summer the Texas child safety and booster seat laws changed, which confused some parents. However, even under the old law a 2 year old should have been secured in an age-appropriate child safety seat.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats cut down on the risk of death by 54 percent for toddlers aged one to four years. The risk reduction is even more pronounced for babies, who are 71 percent less likely to die in a crash if properly secured in a child safety seat.

Please see our law library articles “Is your child really ready for an adult seat belt?” and “What you need to know about the new Texas child safety seat laws” for more information.

Car wreck cases and the insurance companies

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20922 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Attorney Ben Glass has a new website with a great article called "What Will Happen to the Defendant?"

Ben makes the point that when car accident cases go to Court, 99% of the time the responsible person has insurance. And if the case is actually going to Court, you can be almost certain that it is entirely the fault of the insurance company.

See, even though the Defendant may be a grandmother or teenager or some other sympathetic person, the defendant has absolutely no input on whether his or her own insurance company pays a fair and reasonable settlement.

And neither does the defense lawyer, most of the time. The defense lawyer is paid by the insurance company, so he has a strong incentive to do what they say, when they say it.

Many insurance companies use computer models to determine how much to pay in settlement. These computer models are set up to guarantee a low ball, unfair, unreasonable settlement.

Other insurance companies will offer bonuses and other incentives to the agents to low ball settlements.

Despite all the commercials talking about how much they "care" about you, insurance companies don't care about you at all. They care about money, and that's it. And they don't make money paying claims--they make money denying claims, collecting your premiums, and investing in the stock market.

The teaching point here is this: If you ever get on a car accident jury, and you have to decide how much money to give an injured person, just remember that the insurance company probably made a ridiculously low offer and is betting that the jury won't give a lot of money.

The insurance company is putting 12 citizens and the Judge and its own insured though a trial just to save a little money.

Maybe, if the facts justify it, you should consider "teaching" the insurance company a little something about how to be fair?

Helicopter Crash In The Gulf Of Mexico Injures Two People

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

On Sunday, November 1, 2009, two men were injured when the Rotorcraft helicoptor they were traveling in crashed into the Gulf of Mexico approximately 75 miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas. An offshore supply vessel assisted the helicoptor crash men by taking them aboard after the helicoptor went down.
The two men were taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Both men suffered severe back injuries during the crash.
Hopefully an investigation will determine what caused this Rotorcraft helicopter to crash.

For more information on helicoptor crashes, please visit our website and order our free report about helicoptor crash cases.

FELA lawsuit underscores risk of spinal cord damage to rail workers

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)20796 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Union Pacific Railroad Company is facing a lawsuit from a worker alleging that he was injured after forced to repeatedly carry heavy objects. The victim, a conductor named David Brinkley, claims that he had to carry awkwardly shaped objects over uneven ballast surfaces in addition to having to climb in and out of railroad cars to operate poorly maintained switches.

All of this work, Brinkley alleges, caused him to develop a degenerative spinal condition that has led to great pain, disability, mental anguish and a loss of income. He is seeking more than $250,000 plus costs.

Spinal cord damage can be very serious, especially for rail workers, many of whom depend on being physically fit to do their job. Unfortunately, spine injures are not uncommon given the taxing nature of railway work.

Rail workers can injure their spines in falls, accidents, collisions, or they can be hurt by repetitive motion tasks. Spine injuries can be debilitating, requiring surgery, rehabilitation, or physical therapy. They can also lead to a worker being unable to perform their job duties, which can lead to a loss of income. If a spine injury is serious enough, a rail worker could be out of a job completely.

Please read more about rail workers and spine injuries in our law library article “Rail workers deserve compensation for serious spine injuries” and contact our office to discuss your situation for no cost or obligation.

Pirate attacks surge, putting maritime workers in danger

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)20795 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Between January and September of this year, there were 306 pirate attacks. This means that the number of pirate attacks for 2009 have already exceeded the number for all of 2008 (293 attacks), bad news for maritime workers and shipping companies.

Experts cite a sharp increase in the number of raids in the Gulf of Aden and off of the east coast of Somalia as the main reason for the rise. In addition to a higher number of attacks, many more pirates have been using guns than in years past, a troubling trend.

Guns were used in 176 of this year’s pirate attacks, compared to 76 during the same period last year. The increase in violence is bad news for ship crews and maritime workers who are increasingly at the mercy of armed and determined bandits.

Unrest in Somalia is a contributing factor to the increase in pirate attacks, with raids off the coast accounting for 147 cases so far this year. By comparison, there were 20 attacks from Nigeria, 14 from Malaysia, 12 from Bangladesh and 10 each for India and Peru.

Pirates are becoming more sophisticated with their attacks, using not only guns but also technology to improve their odds of success. Attacks are occurring further offshore, as pirates launch raids from “mother ships” that can carry attackers further from shore than usually possible in the small boats that are typically used.

The most recent attack was several days ago when Somali pirates attacked a Thai vessel, bringing the total number of vessels being held by Somali pirates along their coastline to 8. Vujasinovic & Beckcom is currently handling several pirate attack cases, including the case based on Somali pirates attacking the Maersk Alabama.

Could cash-strapped drivers be risking lives with delayed vehicle maintenance?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)20659 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Given the current economic conditions, it is no surprise that some families are choosing to forego costly maintenance or repairs on their vehicles to save money. However, this move could have the unintended consequence of making the roads less save for other motorists.

According to AAA, there are five elements that are critical to safe vehicle operation – these five things should not be put off:

Worn tires should be replaced, as loss of contact with the road surface, especially in inclement weather, can lead to a traffic crash.
Suspension and alignment should be well maintained, as these items are integral to a vehicle’s steering and control.
Brakes should always be well maintained, and the reason should be obvious. Without a set of brakes in good condition (not just the brake pads but also the brake fluid and other brake components), a driver’s ability to stop a vehicle and avoid a serious accident can be compromised.
Fluid levels (like oil, power steering, transmission and brake fluid) should be carefully monitored so they don’t get too low. Because these fluids are extremely flammable, drivers should also check for leaks to prevent an unexpected vehicle fire.
Wiper blades should be in good condition, and a new set of blades is inexpensive and easy to install. Good wiper blades (and enough windshield washer fluid) will ensure that a driver can see clearly and avoid causing an auto accident.

Don’t put off these basic maintenance issues – if you do, you could not only be putting your own life at risk, but you could be endangering other road users as well.

The federal government crackdown on distracted driving

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)20637 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

The federal government is taking a strong stand against what some consider a national epidemic: distracted driving. Distracted driving includes activities like using a cell phone (with or without a hands-free device), sending or receiving text messages, programming a GPS, looking for songs on a music player and much more.

At a national Distracted Driving Summit this month, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined others in speaking out against this growing phenomenon. Drivers who text, email, make calls or perform other distracting activities put their own lives and the lives of other motorists at risk.

Secretary LaHood quoted statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) showing that distracted driving contributed to about 6,000 deaths on American roads last year and more than 500,000 were injured.

LaHood would like to see a permanent restriction on the use of cell phones and other electronic devices by rail, truck, interstate and school bus drivers. The Department of Transportation is expected to issue a directive calling for these permanent restrictions.

President Obama has taken action to reduce distracted driving among federal employees. He signed an executive order directing federal employees not to text while driving government vehicles or while driving private vehicles on government business.

Corrected - Two ships collide in Gulf of Mexico

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20343 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that two ships collided in the Gulf of Mexico today.

The ships were the 820-foot tank ship Krymsk and the 166-foot offshore supply vessel AET Endeavor. The Krymsk began leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Coast Guard is investigating.

Our comment: Not really any excuse for running two ships together. Hopefully these companies will be responsible for paying for any environmental damage or injuries that occured as a result of this maritime accident.

Trucks and vans included in latest Ford recall of 4.5 million vehicles

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)20316 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

An additional 4.5 million vehicles have been added to the ever-expanding Ford Motor Company recall of faulty cruise control deactivation switches. This brings the total recall to over 14 million vehicles, the largest ever recall for a single issue according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The problematic switches were manufactured by Texas Instruments, triggering a series of recalls that started in 1999. Ford stopped using the TI switches in 2003, however they continue to issue recalls. This recent recall is the seventh related to these switches.

The cruise control deactivation switch receives power from the vehicle even when the ignition is off, and according to the NHTSA leaking fluid could overheat the switches and cause fires. Over the years fires have been reported by consumers, leading to minor injuries.

Not all of the vehicles in the most recent recall have deactivation switches that receive power when the vehicle is off, but they are now being recalled after Ford faced criticism for leaving them out of previous recalls.

Ford vehicles included in the latest recall effort:

1995-2003 Ford Windstars
2000-2003 Ford Excursion diesels
1993-1997 and 1999-2003 Ford F-Super Duty diesels
1992-2003 Ford Econolines
1995-2002 Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers
1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ford Rangers
1994 Ford F53 motorhomes

These vehicles should be taken to a dealer to be repaired.

Helicopter crash case settled for $14,000,000.00

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20258 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Corpus Christi Monitor newspaper reports that the operators of an emergency medical services hospital helicopter have agreed to pay the families of a flight nurse and paramedic $14,000,000.00 to settle claims against the helicopter company.

The helicopter crashed near South Padre Island in bad weather conditions. Apparently, the pilot was not properly trained to operate the helicopter in such conditions.

************************
Helicopter accident cases can be devastating, even those that result in injury instead of death.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a helicopter accident, our law firm has written a FREE special report on what to expect after a helicopter accident:

Click Here to Get the Free Helicopter Accident

Special Report.

More automobile recalls to watch for, in order to prevent a Texas car accident injury

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20123 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

The New York Times has released a list of recent automobile recalls that, if ignored, can cause a serious car accident injury, potentially resulting in serious injury or wrongful death. If your car has a recall, bring it to the nearest dealership to have the problem repaired.

Here are more cars on the recall list, as reported in The New York Times:

• Kia is recalling about 36,500 of its 2001-4 Optimas, but only from the District of Columbia and 20 states with a reputation for using a lot of road salt. That follows an identical recall in April of the Optima's siblings: Hyundai's 2001-4 Sonata and XG300 and XG350 (covering about 175,700 vehicles).

Recalling vehicles from certain areas is known as a regional or geographic recall. The federal agency allows it under the theory that if the problem is caused by a localized factor, like road salt, it is not necessary to force the automaker to recall other vehicles.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury from a Texas automobile accident, contact Houston, Texas car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Pay attention to automobile recalls to avoid a Texas car accident

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20120 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Paying attention to recalls to ensure that you are not driving a vehicle that may have a factory defect is important in preventing car accident injuries. Even the most well-cared-for cars can have overheating engines, steering problems, or tire issues caused by a problem at the factory where the car was manufactured.

Read the following recalls, as reported by New York Times:

• The Volvo recall affects about 17,600 2008-9 S80, V70 and XC70 models. Volvo said the radiator fan may stop working due to a "software programming error," which may cause the vehicle to overheat so quickly that "the driver may not have sufficient time to react" to warning lights, the automaker said.

• Ducati is recalling 732 of its 2009 1198 S, 1098 R and F1098 S Streetfighter models. The manufacturer said the right fork could develop a crack, which "may lead to a loss of steering control, possibly resulting in a crash."

• Harley-Davidson is recalling about 11,000 of its 2008 and 2009 FLSTSB, its 2008 FXSTSSE2 and 2009 FXSTSSE3 models because the acorn stud at the brake reaction link may fall out. If this occurs the front brake and fender assembly would no longer be adequately retained. This condition could lead to a crash and potential injury or death to the rider.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in an automobile accident, contact Texas car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Insurance Institute performs roof strength testing – Chevy Aveo rates lowest, still better than government standards

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20119 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Wall Street Journal reported that roof testing is the new focus in crash testing performed by the Insurance Institute. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated six mini-cars for their ability to withstand a test designed to simulate the roof-crushing impact of a rollover accident. All of the cars tested are smaller, more fuel-efficient cars that are predicted to be purchased after the "cash for clunkers" program. The cars tested included the Chevy Aveo, Smart Fortwo, Honda Fit, Mini Cooper, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris.

At the bottom of the list was the compact Chevy Aveo, which only supported 3.09 times its own weight in the crush test. While this number is caused the Aveo to do the worst amongst its four other competitors, it is still double the current federal standard for safe roofs. Once the federal standard for vehicle weight phases changes to the car needing to support three times its weight in 2012, the Aveo's score of 3.09 will barely meet the standard.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury from a Houston, Texas automobile accident, contact car Texas accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Roof strength new focus of crash testing – Smart Fortwo passes test

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20111 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Wall Street Journal reported that roof testing is the new focus in crash testing performed by the Insurance Institute.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated six mini-cars for their ability to withstand a test designed to simulate the roof-crushing impact of a rollover accident. All of the cars tested are smaller, more fuel-efficient cars that are predicted to be purchased after the "cash for clunkers" program.

The cars tested included the Chevy Aveo, Smart Fortwo, Honda Fit, Mini Cooper, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris.

The car that fared the best on the roof-crush test was the Smart Fortwo, even though the Insurance Institute gave it poor ratings for not doing well in a head-on collision with larger cars. If the car were to flip on its roof, the Insurance Institute is confident that it will protect the passengers since it can withstand 5.4 times the car's weight.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in an automobile accident, contact Houston, Texas car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Safety standards becoming tougher for new cars

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20110 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

A recent Wall Street Journal article reported that The Insurance Institute will not grant its "top safety pick" award to any vehicle that doesn't earn a "good" rating on its new test of roof strength, starting with the 2010 models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also preparing a more-rigorous crash-testing system for 2011 models starting early next year. The NHTSA's new safety rating system will include a tough new side-impact test, which involves smashing vehicles into a pole, and a new overall safety-rating score.

While it doesn't mean that vehicles that do not receive this "top" safety pick are not safe, the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute are hoping that pressure will be put on manufacturers to take vehicles to a higher level of safety.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury from a Houston, Texas automobile accident, contact Texas car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Jury find UDOT and subcontractor 80% responsible in fatal car accident case

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20109 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

$4.4 million was awarded to the widow and children of Utah man who suffered fatal injuries in 2006 after he tried to swerve around stopped traffic near a bridge reconstruction project on the interstate, striking other cars.

Due to a Utah state law that caps damages against the state, as well as the fact that the jury found the victim 20% responsible for his own accident, the amount of damages will be reduced by almost $2 million.

The lawsuit claimed that the Department of Transportation and a subcontractor working on the bridge construction failed to post necessary warning signs to drivers, and that they had not given drivers sufficient warning about the construction.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury from a Houston, Texas automobile accident, contact Texas car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Never exaggerate how your injury has impacted your life

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20108 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you exaggerate how an injury has impacted your life, you are putting yourself at risk to be "set-up" by the defense side. For example, if you claim that you cannot lift anything due to a car accident, but the defense attorneys for the at-fault party or their insurance company believes otherwise, they could send out private investigators to find out the truth. If you are caught lifting weights at the gym, your claim could plummet to nothing.

Insurance companies are not beyond hiring private investigators, having someone engage you in conversation to find out the true extent of your injuries, or having someone follow you with a video camera without your knowledge.

Be honest about the impact your Houston, Texas car accident injuries have had on your life. Being honest and getting fair compensation is far less risky than lying and potentially getting nothing.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in an automobile accident, contact Texas car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Don't hide information from your Texas car accident lawyer

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20107 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Your lawyer needs to know the good, the bad, and the ugly, even if you think the issue has nothing to do with your Texas car accident case. Even if you think that the information is embarrassing or that it may hurt your claim, you still need to come forward and let your attorney know about it.

If the information comes out before or during a trial, and your attorney had no knowledge of the situation, there is nothing he or she can do to protect you from the consequences. If your lawyer knows about the awkward information ahead of time, the two of you can be prepared on how to handle it if it is discovered.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in a Houston, Texas automobile accident, contact Houston car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Report your railroad accident injury to a supervisor immediately

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20099 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

One of the worst things you can do after being injured in a railroad accident on the job is failing to report your injury to management.

Sometimes, your supervisor or management may try to convince you not to file an accident report immediately.

Not filing your report immediately only hurts your case. If you are hurt on the job, you need to report your accident immediately. No exceptions, unless you are just physically unable to report the accident for some reason.

Reporting the accident early allows you to capture information accurately, including information from any witnesses, the time and exact location of the injury while working on the railroad, and the weather conditions.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury on the job, contact railroad worker accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Trolley accident injures 49, conductor was text messaging before crash

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20098 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Boston trolley accident happened after the conductor was text messaging his girlfriend, according to Boston.com. The conductor rear-ended another Green Line trolley, injuring 49 people and causing the Government Center station to close.

Under company policy, a driver can be fired for texting while operating a train, trolley, or bus.

All 49 injuries were not considered life-threatening, although majority of the victims went to the hospital immediately following the crash. The operator of the striking trolley suffered a broken wrist.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury on the job, contact railroad worker accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Four major subway or commuter railroad accidents in the past 10 months in the U.S.

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20097 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

A recent railroad accident in San Francisco, CA marked the fourth major railroad injury accident in the past ten months, according to The New York Times.

Forty-eight people were injured; four seriously, in the San Francisco train wreck, after the operator allegedly failed to engage the emergency brake, causing the train to slam into another parked train.

Twenty-five people died in a railroad accident in Los Angeles, when a commuter train crashed into a freight train. The conductor was sending text messages on his cellphone while he was operating the train, seconds before the crash.

One trolley rear-ended another in Boston, causing 50 people to be injured in Boston. The trolley conductor admitted to sending text messages when the crash occurred.

The most recent train accident was one that happened in Washington, DC, when nine people lost their lives after one subway train rear-ended another.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury on the job, contact railroad worker accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Train accident in San Francisco leaves 48 injured, four seriously

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20095 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

According to the New York Times, The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a railroad accident that injured dozens of passengers and the conductor in San Francisco, California.

According to an investigator with the NTSB, the train operator switched the controls from automatic to manual in a tunnel, but did not engage the emergency brake. If the operator had left the autopilot on, the train would have slowed down before it arrived in the station. In the railroad accident, the train slammed into a parked train while going 23 miles per hour.

None of the injuries were life threatening, although 48 people were injured in the crash, four of them seriously. The investigators are also trying to find out if cell phone usage was a factor in the railroad injury accident.

If you or someone you know has suffered a railroad injury on the job, contact railroad worker accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Texas man injured hip after jumping from moving train as part of job

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)20093 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

According to the Southeast Texas Record, Glen Savoie of Bexar County recently filed suit against Union Pacific Railroad Co., after claiming that he was forced to jump on and off moving objects, causing an injury to his hip. His job duties required him to mount and dismount moving equipment in Jefferson County.

The injury caused him to lose out on wages, caused physical pain, physical impairment, mental anguish, as well acquire current and future medical bills.
The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact railroad worker accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Illinois man sues railroad employer for ergonomically incorrect equipment

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)19674 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Tyrone Jourdan of Illinois is bringing a $50,000 lawsuit against his employer, Union Pacific Railroad Company, alleging that was required to work with tools that were not ergonomically designed to reduce risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.

He is claiming that his railroad worker injury was caused by working with these types of tools since 1969 has caused injuries to his hands, arms, wrists, neck and spine.

According to the Madison St. Clair Record:

Jourdan man blames Union Pacific for a number of negligent acts, including its failure to provide Jourdan with safe conditions and its requirement that Jourdan perform job duties that involve forceful, repetitive use of his hands, arms, wrists, neck and spine in awkward positions.

Because of his injuries caused by his work, Jourdan may have to undergo surgery, the suit states. In addition, he has experienced severe pain and suffering, suffered psychological and emotional injury, mental anguish and anxiety, incurred medical costs, lost substantial wages and fringe benefits and will forever be seriously impaired, the complaint says.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact construction accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Knowing who your union representatives are can aid you in the event of a railroad work accident.

annekekurt@hotmail.com (Blog Author)19673 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Knowing what local, lodge, or division you belong to can make reporting a railroad work injury a lot smoother. Every railroad worker should know who their union officers are, as well as be up-to-date on any and all changes that the union goes through that can effect your safety and well-being. Get involved in your union, get to know your officers and keep yourself informed.

After a railroad work injury, you must be report the accident. Knowing exactly who to go to can save you time and paperwork, while the accident is still fresh in your mind. Protect your rights and your job with the help of your union in the event of an accident.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact construction accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

If you're not in pain, don't get unnecessary medical treatment

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)19671 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Driving up medical bills, even if you are not in pain, in hopes that your claim will pay out more if one sure way to kill your Texas car accident claim. Of course you should follow your doctor's orders, but you should never under any circumstances exaggerate the extent of your injuries.

The truth will come out eventually and could cause your claim to become worthless. As in the previous blog on credibility, a jury will not provide you with fair compensation if they believe you are lying.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in an automobile accident, contact car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Honesty is the best policy after a Texas car accident injury

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)19670 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Nothing can kill your claim faster than being caught in a lie after your Texas car accident injury. Make sure that you are honest with the insurance adjuster, honest with your lawyer, and honest with your doctor.

You need to make sure that you are credible, especially if your claim ends up going to trial. If you are caught telling a lie about the extent of your injuries, the circumstances of the accident, or any other mistruth, those lies will be used against you in court. They will also make it hard for the jury to believe you on the issues that you are really telling the truth about.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in an automobile accident, contact car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Toyota floor mat recall could expand to even more Toyota vehicles

vuk@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)19501 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Toyota recently announced it is recalling 3.8 million vehicles due to a dangerous floor mat defect. The floor mats are prone to jam the accelerators on the vehicles, which can cause bad accidents.

Toyota initially identified the following vehicles have this floor mat defect:

- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2004-2009 Prius
- 2005-2010 Tacoma
- 2007-2010 Tundra
- 2007-2010 Lexus ES350
- 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350

Toyota and NHTSA are urging car owners to immediately remove the driver's side floor mat, and not to replace it. Toyota promises more information will be forthcoming on this floor mat defect.

Yesterday, Toyota announced that even more of its vehicles may be the subject of this defect. Users are advised to remove the driver's side floor mats from any Toyota vehicle until Toyota further clarifies which vehicles are impacted.

Injured railroad workers vulnerable, hire an attorney to handle your railroad worker accident case

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)19252 — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Don't be taken advantage of by those trying to get you to admit fault. Read the following excerpt from Railroad Workers United on protecting your rights:

When you have been injured while working on the railroad, your employers know that you are in pain and concerned about your medical care.

You are thinking about your future on the railroad and most certainly your concentration is diminished or non-existent. In other words, you are vulnerable and the railroad is positioned to take full advantage. Later, when we, your attorneys, become involved and start to negotiate with the claim or law department, your statement to the claim agent and testimony at the formal investigation are used to show that you admitted responsibility according to the railroad. Your claim's value can be greatly reduced or eliminated altogether.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact construction accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Employers may use intimidation, cross-examination after railroad worker injury

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)19250 — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

According to the Railroad Workers United website, if a railroad worker is injured while on the job, it is important for him or her to watch our for certain tactics by the employers. The employer might try to get the employee to admit that the injury was his fault, and that he is injured due to his own mistake.

Surrounding the injured worker with different supervisors who will then cross-examine the worker is also something to watch out for. The supervisors will look for changes if the story, or admittance of fault, hoping to get the employee to say something self-incriminating or inconsistent with what he told the others.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact construction accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

$24 million verdict for man injured in serious truck crash

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)19171 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

A man seriously injured in 2004 when his SUV collided with an Illinois Department of Transportation (DOT) truck has been awarded a record $24 million by a Cook County jury.

The victim, Andrzej Chraca, was so severely injured that he is now a paraplegic. According to police, the accident happened at an intersection and both drivers claim that the other driver ran a red light. Each driver sued the other because there was no clear fault in the case, and the jury favored Chraca over the also seriously injured IDOT truck driver.

Chraca fractured a vertebra in his spine and is unable to walk without leg braces, canes or a walker. He has not been able to return to work since the accident and relies on a wheelchair for mobility, according to someone close to him.

Spine injuries can be very serious, leading to unexpected long-term consequences, a compromised quality of life, and difficulty pursuing work or leisure activities. This case is an example of what a skilled truck accident attorney can do for a badly injured client. The award is especially impressive considering that the victim was also being sued by the IDOT driver.

No matter how bleak your situation may seem after an accident, never give up hope. If you’re suffering after a major truck accident or any other kind of traffic collision, don’t despair – attorneys like those on our skilled legal team can make a real difference in your life, too.

Are hazmat trucks really dangerous?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)19169 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Hazmat trucks – those that transport hazardous materials around the United States – account for a relatively small percent of annual traffic accidents, but crashes they are involved in can be quite dangerous depending on the type of cargo being transported.

One major risk factor is cargo release. If hazardous materials are released in a collision, they can expose the truck driver, other motorists and the environment to explosions, fire, or toxic fumes. Even though there aren’t many hazmat crashes that happen (an average of 64 a year) there is a 50 percent greater probability of a spill than for non-hazmat trucks.

The reason that hazmat cargoes have a higher spill rate than non-hazmat cargoes is partially due to the different distributions of truck body type. Hazardous materials – especially flammable liquids like gasoline, diesel fuel and heating oil – are typically transported in tank bodies. On the other hand, only about 10 percent of non-hazmat cargoes are transported in tank bodies.

Tank bodies are the type of truck body most prone to spillage. About 35.7 percent of hazmat tank body trucks involved in fatal crashes spilled during the crash. For comparison, 28.9 percent of flatbed cargo bodies containing hazardous materials spilled in a fatal crash and 19.2 percent of van type hazmat cargo bodies spilled in a fatal crash.

The most common cause of cargo spill-related death for individuals killed in a crash with a tractor trailer carrying hazardous cargo was exposure to gasoline. However, the majority of hazmat truck accident victims are killed the usual way – the force of a high speed collision with a much larger vehicle. On rare occasions, hazardous cargo can spill and complicate the accident but truck accidents are serious for motorists no matter what the cargo.

Could you go a whole week – or a lifetime – without being distracted while driving?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)19051 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Researchers have found that one in five U.S. drivers have texted while driving in the last 30 days – and that’s just the ones who have admitted to doing it. It is likely that the actual numbers are much higher.

Statistics like these, combined with research studies that show how texting while driving dramatically increases a driver’s chance of causing a serious car crash, has AAA calling for change.

The Automobile Association of America (AAA) wants to see texting while driving banned in all 50 states by 2013. As it stands, 18 states and the District of Columbia have laws dealing with texting while driving, but Texas does not have a law banning texting for all drivers.

In Texas, teen drivers are restricted from using cell phones (which can be used to send or receive text messages) under the Texas Graduated Driver License Laws. However, some lawmakers and safety advocates contend that the skyrocketing popularity of texting has made many drivers lax about safety. If people become too comfortable texting behind the wheel, we could see a dramatic rise in text-related auto accidents.

To make their point, AAA has asked motorists to drive without any distractions the week of October 5 to 11. Their message is “try it for a week, do it for life.” If you are interested, you can visit the AAA website to sign a pledge saying that you will drive without any distractions for the “Heads Up Driving Week” – and longer.

Did you know... tips on child car seat safety in Texas

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)19016 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Attention parents and caregivers in Texas – the car seat / booster seat laws in Texas have changed. You can unravel these confusing new laws in our law library article “What you need to know about the new Texas child safety seat laws”. You can also find more tips on moving your child up to an adult seat belt in our article “Is your child really ready for an adult seat belt?”

In addition to those articles, here are some tips that may help keep your kids safe if they are involved in a car accident:

The safest place for a child is the BACK SEAT of a vehicle.
Even safer than the back seat is to make sure your child is buckled into an age and size appropriate CHILD SAFETY SEAT (car seat or booster seat).
Children seated in the front seat can be injured by the air bags. Any child under the age of 13 should always ride in the BACK SEAT if the vehicle has front passenger air bags.
It is NEVER safe to place a rear-facing child safety seat on the front passenger seat.
If you need to transport a child in an emergency in the front passenger seat, MOVE THE SEAT back as far as possible. This will keep as much space as possible between the vulnerable child and the air bag.
Lastly, when you use a child safety seat or booster seat, make sure you READ and FOLLOW the manufacturer’s instructions for use. All seats are different and will install differently. Different seats also have different height and weight limits, so it is important that you familiarize yourself with the instruction manual.

Please read more about Texas auto accidents in our law library, and contact us if you need to discuss your car, truck, bus or motorcycle accident with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Construction-related deaths high in the state of Texas

annekekurt@hotmail.com (Blog Author)18593 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, one construction worker dies every 2 ½ days, and no other state has a higher rate of construction-related deaths. In 2007, 142 deaths were reported.

These statistics, highlighted in Melissa del Bosque's article, Dying to Build- Why Texas is the deadliest state for construction workers, go along with the problems she blames on sub-standard enforcement of labor laws, too many overtime hours worked without breaks, and lack of safety training and equipment.

Read this startling fact on the lack of OSHA inspectors in the state of Texas:

According to a 2008 report by the AFL-CIO, Death on the Job, it would take the 177 OSHA inspectors 144 years to visit every workplace in the state at least once."

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury on the job, contact construction accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Driver crashes Greyhound bus on North Freeway, injures six passengers

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)18575 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Passengers aboard a Greyhound bus were shaken and unnerved after their driver lost control of the bus and crashed it into a concrete barrier.

The crash, which happened in the North Freeway HOV lane below a bridge near Shepherd, occurred not long after the Greyhound bus left the station. According to police, the bus was headed north when the driver became confused about where he was supposed to go and headed back south in the HOV lane.

When he took the exit for Shepherd the driver was, according to police, traveling too fast and subsequently lost control of the bus. As a result the bus collided with a concrete barrier, scaring passengers who thought the bus was going to tip over.

Six passengers were taken to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries which turned out to be mild. The remaining passengers waited for another Greyhound bus to take them to their destination.

The passengers had every reason to fear for their lives. If not operated and maintained properly, buses can be very dangerous vehicles. Almost exactly a year ago a bus plunged off an I-75 overpass in Sherman when its driver lost control after a tire blew, killing seventeen people.

Investigations into the fatal Sherman bus crash revealed a number of troubling trends in the bus industry, which we summarized in a blog last month.

Car accident cases take time – don't accept the first offer from the insurance company without consulting an attorney first

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)18256 — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Chances are that if you have been injured in a car accident, the insurance adjustor has already offered you a few thousand dollars to settle your claim. This may seem like a lot of money now, but it could turn out to be nothing compared to the amount of money you might eventually need to cover additional medical treatment.

Once you accept a settlement and sign the release, you are stating that you will be responsible for the cost of any additional medical treatment. Consult an attorney before accepting any amount of money from the insurance company, and make sure that you are completely done with treatment, and won't require any additional treatment in the future.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in an automobile accident, contact car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Rail worker sues employer for $1 million over unsafe work environment

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)17773 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

A rail worker injured while working for Union Pacific Railroad Company is asking for $1 million in damages from the company, claiming he was injured because of an unsafe work environment.

The man, Phillip Roberts, 50, was injured at a site in Wood River when he tripped over an abandoned telephone wire running along the tracks. Roberts claims that Union Pacific was negligent because they did not provide him with a safe work environment as they failed to clear vegetation and failed to provide him with a reasonable pathway.

A witness, Willy Calloway, claims that he repeatedly warned Roberts to be careful of “tripping hazards” as the two moved along the Wood River tracks. Calloway also claims that when he asked if Roberts was okay after he tripped, Roberts responded “I guess.”

Union Pacific contends that Roberts’ injuries are the result of a pre-existing ailment and that he contributed to his own fall. The trial is taking place in Madison County, Illinois.

Union Pacific is probably going to fight hard in this case. You can read why employers hate FELA in our law library article “Why your railroad employer doesn’t like FELA” and other articles in our FELA railway worker injury law library.

Trucker receives $1.47 million after trucking accident injury

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)17609 — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

A truck driver who lost the use of both his arms and his legs after 2007 auto accident was awarded $14.6 million dollars last month, according to the Miami Herald.

Derry Brown Jr. was struck after he tried to swerve to avoid hitting a driver who ran a stop sign. He sustained major life-altering injuries that will require extensive and on-going physical therapy and rehabilitation.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury due to a Texas car accident, contact Texas car accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Make sure to follow doctor's orders after a car accident

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)17608 — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

In order to make a full recovery after a Texas car accident, you must follow the full recommended treatment plan that your doctor or physical therapist has set up for you.

Following the treatment plan until its end will not only ensure that you will reach the best possible physical recovery; you will also help prove your case to the insurance adjustor. The adjustor is going to base any settlement offer to you on the medical care you've received because it provides a way to measure your injuries and resulting pain. It will prove that you are being honest about your injuries and not just seeking treatment just to increase your amount of settlement.

If you stop treatment in the middle, or stop and start back up later, not only will you run the risk of not fully recovering, you will also send a red flag to the insurance company that you might have faked your injuries.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in a Texas automobile accident, contact car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

First step to take after a car accident – Seek treatment immediately.

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)17606 — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

The most important thing you can do after a Texas auto accident is to take care of your health. This is not the time to tough it out and hope that you'll feel better the next day.

Returning to health should be a top priority over all else. Go to the emergency room or family physician as soon as you possibly can. Not only will this help you recover from your car accident injuries better, it will also provide documentation to back up the medical bills that the at-fault party will be responsible for.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury in an automobile accident, contact car accident injury attorney Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Victims of Sherman bus crash unhappy with recent findings

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)17409 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Exactly one year ago seventeen people were killed when a bus crashed off of a bridge on Highway 75 in Sherman. The accident investigation revealed a number of troubling facts.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the accident happened when one of the tires on the bus blew, causing the driver to lose control and plunge off the bridge.

It turns out that the blown tire had been retreaded. Federal regulations prohibit retreaded tires from being used on steering axles of buses. Sherman Police, however, believe that as a result of the NTSB investigation the tire was not the cause of the accident.

According to police, the force that blew the tire was external, not internal – it was not the tire that failed but the fact that the tire hit some debris in the road and failed. The tire is only one part of the problem in this case, though. Consider these other issues:

The driver of the bus was driving with an expired medical certificate
The owner of the charter bus company (Iguala BusMex) created the company a mere four days after his other bus company was shut down for unsafe driving practices
The bus was operating with a temporary license plate

Subsequent studies have shown that it isn’t unusual for bus companies to avoid fines and compliance by closing down and reopening under a new name when shut down by the government.

Not surprisingly, the families of the victims want justice – but they’re still waiting for it.

Truck accidents can kill: two dead after fiery tractor trailer crash

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)17371 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

A tractor trailer crashed into a stopped vehicle near Rosenberg, killing the two vehicle occupants when their vehicle was engulfed in flames.

According to a police report a tractor trailer was heading north on U.S. 59 when he rounded a curve near Loop 540 and came upon a green Saturn vehicle stopped in the left hand lane.

The driver claims that he tried to change lanes but was unable to do so because of traffic in the lanes next to him. As a result, he crashed into the Saturn, causing the smaller vehicle to burst into flames.

Police believe that the two people who lost their lives in the accident were on their way from Victoria to Houston. The driver of the 18 wheeler survived the accident.

Accidents like this highlight the dangers posed to passenger vehicle drivers from large trucks. Any time a car is hit by a truck weighing several thousand pounds, the car is going to lose.

What happens after a serious truck crash – or in this case a deadly truck crash? All too often the trucking company will immediately take steps to avoid paying a fair settlement to the accident victims. Even a terrible fiery death isn’t enough to get fair compensation from some of these companies.

Please check out our truck accident library to learn more about truck accidents. Read about “Top five tricks trucking companies utilize when they are sued”, “How truck drivers can cause serious traffic accidents” and much more.

Former Employee of the Quarter killed on job while inspecting railroad tracks

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)17285 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

A man recently named Employee of the Quarter was killed last month after inspecting the train tracks at Metromover in Miami, Florida, according to the Miami Herald.

The Metromover employee, who was 64-years-old, was surveying the train tracks when a computerized train lurched forward for unknown reasons. A conductor did not man the vehicle.

This was the first time a Metromover employee died on the tracks.

The Miami Herald also reported that the National Transportation Board was investigating the injury on the railroad, since the company receives federal money.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury on the railroad, contact railroad accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

What laws apply to railroad injury cases?

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)17284 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you were injured working for the railroad, then a special set of laws called the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA) will apply to your case. Most lawyers will never handled a FELA case. You need a lawyer who knows FELA law.

In the early 1900's, railroad workers were suffering personal injury and death at an astonishing rate. The public was angry, and they demanded that railroad workers, and their widows and kids, be protected under the law.

The United States Congress responded, and in 1908, the Congress passed The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) in an effort to protect injured railroad workers.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury on the railroad, contact railroad accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Train derailment takes one life, causes serious injury for three others

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)17283 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

A deadly train derailment in Illinois recently took the life of an innocent woman who was waiting in a car for the train to pass through crossings, according to the NY Times.

The train was carrying thousands of gallons of ethanol, when the train went off the tracks for an unknown reason, causing the 14 of the 114 cars to catch fire. Three other people were able to escape from the car while it was being hit with airborne railroad ties, and were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Hundreds of homes surrounding the train track had to be evacuated.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact railroad accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Recent diving deaths highlight danger to commercial divers from equipment failure

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)17126 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Is your dive equipment in tip-top condition? Would you bet your life on it?

Two recent deaths in the United States from diving equipment failures highlight the dangers posed to commercial divers from poorly maintained or aging dive equipment. Commercial divers in the US maritime industry face a host of risks when they do their work, but of all the risks one of the most tragic is death or serious injury because of a problem with dive gear.

According to Illinois police, an equipment failure likely led to the death of a Lake Michigan diver. The diver’s body was retrieved from about 300 feet under water after he failed to surface for several hours.

Another was found dead while still attached by his air hose to his commercial fishing vessel off of Quonset Point in Rhode Island. The State Medical Examiner found that a dive equipment malfunction cut off his air supply while he was diving for shellfish.

Commercial divers depend on their employers to provide them with safe, well-maintained, and up-to-date equipment. Death or injury from equipment failures can be avoided with proper maintenance and vigilance. No commercial diver deserves to suffer a water death while just doing their job.

You can read more about dive equipment failures in our law library article “Commercial Diving Injuries due to Equipment Failure” on our sister website “Jones Act and Maritime Law Attorney”.

Do I need an attorney for my railroad injury case if I have been seriously injured?

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)16990 — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you have suffered a serious injury while working for the railroad, chances are that a serious, qualified, experienced railroad lawyer will be necessary for you to obtain the best possible settlement in your case.

In serious cases, the railroads will have an "army" of lawyers, claims agents, doctors, and other professionals whose goal is to minimize your settlement. In these cases, you'll probably need a lawyer.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact FELA lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at

www.vbattorneys.com

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Do I even need an attorney for my small railroad injury case?

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)16756 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

The truth is that not all railroad injury cases or victims need a lawyer. You definitely do not need an attorney for every small injury case. In fact, our office does not even accept cases involving minor injuries.

Why not? Simple. In a small case, the attorney fees and expenses might leave you with little or nothing for you after your medical bills are paid. We don't believe that would be fair to you.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact railroad accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

OSHA investigating fatal Disney monorail crash that killed one person

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)16731 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is looking into the Disney monorail railroad accident that killed 21 year old Austin Wuennenberg. In the railroad accident, one monorail train crashed into the other at a Disney theme park. The monorails are responsible for transporting thousands of Disney visitors every day.

OSHA is trying to determine whether any workplace safety violations were broken, according to the Associated Press. The National Transportation Safety Board is also looking into the railroad crash, which is unprecedented since the group is known for investigating airline crashes and not railroad crashes.

If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while working on the railroad, contact railroad accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom immediately at 877.724.7800.

Union Pacific Named in FELA lawsuit

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)15890 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

A Union Pacific Railroad employee has filed a FELA lawsuit claiming that he developed a musculoskeletal disease after working on unsafe company equipment. The plaintiff, Albert Wickam, worked as a carman for Union Pacific since 1971.

Because of his work Wickam claimed that he was subjected to risk factors and cumulative trauma that led him to develop musculoskeletal disorders in his back and spine. According to the complaint, Union Pacific knew that the equipment and tools being used by employees were not ergonomically designed to reduce or eliminate disease risk factors.

Union Pacific allegedly failed to provide Wickam with a safe working environment and required him to perform forceful, repetitive movements with no time for adequate rest and without assistance. The heavy machinery that Wickam was required to use allegedly vibrated and jarred his back to his detriment.

Wickam’s work environment led him to suffer from permanent and disabling injuries to his back and spine. He has needed or may need surgery to correct the problems and has also suffered from physical and psychological pain as a result of his injuries. In addition, Wickam claims to have suffered anxiety, mental anguish, and suffers from limited function and severe pain.

The lawsuit contends that Wickam should be compensated for lost wages, medical costs, fringe benefits, and his impaired work ability. Wickam is seeking over $50,000 plus costs.

Jurors side with CSX in FELA lawsuit filed by injured rail conductor

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)15888 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

A conductor injured when he was startled by the presence of a goose under a train has lost a FELA lawsuit he brought against CSX Transportation in West Virginia. The jury in the case made their decision after only 25 minutes of deliberation.

The plaintiff, Aaron E. Richards, filed the FELA suit last year. According to the suit Richards was injured while performing a brake test on a train. During the test a goose startled Richards, knocking him backwards. Richards twisted his ankle on railroad ties and debris.

The FELA lawsuit against CSX claimed that the rail company was negligent in not removing the goose fro the rail yard. CSX however maintained that they had no prior knowledge of the goose and that wildlife was common in and around rail yards.

In the suit Richards was seeking nearly $24,000 in lost wages and other compensatory damages. He was also seeking past and future pain and medical treatment and impairment of future earning capacity.

Part of the undoing of Richards’ case was a standard incident report form that he completed while in the hospital. In response to the question “Was anyone at fault?” Richards answered “no”. Richards’ attorney maintained that CSX had a duty to provide a safe working environment for their workers, and the presence of geese in the rail yard was a safety issue.

In other FELA cases, injured rail workers have lost to juries but with a new attorney have succeeded the second time.

U.S. Supreme Court upholds injured maritime worker's rights to punitive damages

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)15885 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

An injured sailor whose employer refused to pay for medical care and other expenses when he was injured on-the-job has the right to recover punitive damages, according to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The injured sailor, Edgar L. Townsend, was working on a motor tug when he fell onto the vessel’s steel deck, injuring his arm and shoulder. The owner of the tugboat, Atlantic Sounding, refused to pay maintenance and cure to Townsend, fired him, and filed an action for declaratory relief.

Townsend in turn sued Atlantic Sounding for negligence, willful failure to pay maintenance and cure, wrongful termination, and a counterclaim to the declaratory judgment action.

Townsend’s case moved from Senior U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger – who ruled that Townsend could seek punitive damages at trial – on to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta when Schlesinger’s decision was appealed by Atlantic Sounding.

The 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Schlesinger’s ruling in 2007, so Atlantic Sounding appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The company claimed that the previous ruling conflicted with other federal circuits and state courts.

In a split 5-4 decision the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Townsend, and writing for the majority Justice Clarence Thomas stated “because punitive damages have long been an accepted remedy under general maritime law, and because nothing in the Jones Act altered this understanding, such damages for the willful and wanton disregard of the maintenance and cure obligation should remain available in the appropriate case as a matter of general maritime law,”

What you need to know about Texas cell phone driving laws

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)15876 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Driving while talking on a cell phone or using a handheld device to send or receive emails or text messages is known as “distracted driving”. Law enforcement officials and legislators, concerned about the number of accidents attributed to distracted driving, are cracking down across the country with laws aimed at curtailing cell phone use behind the wheel.

A number of studies have been published in recent years claiming that not only does cell phone use increase a driver’s chance of causing a car or truck accident, but talking on the phone is akin to driving while intoxicated. Given the seriousness of this statement it is no wonder that cell phone use has been the target of lawmakers.

Texas does not have a blanket ban or restriction on the use of cell phones by drivers. However, they do have restrictions on certain types of drivers. In addition, these restrictions are primary enforcement laws which means that a motorist can be pulled over and cited if they are seen using a cell phone while driving (some states classify these offenses as secondary enforcement, so drivers can only be cited if pulled over for another reason).

In Texas, bus drivers may not use a cell phone or send / receive text messages while driving one or more passengers under the age of 17. Novice drivers are similarly restricted, and may not use a cell phone or send / receive text messages during the intermediate stage of the licensing process for the first six months.

Drivers: Be extra cautious around trains and railroad tracks to avoid train injury accidents

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)15705 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Even if a railroad track looks rusty or overgrown, there is still a possibility that trains travel on them. Never walk on train tracks or allow children to play on or near them. Remember that train tracks are private property, no matter which railroad owns them. Trains have the right of way 100% of the time - over ambulances, fire engines, cars, the police and pedestrians, according to Operation Lifesaver.

A typical locomotive weighs approximately 400,000 pounds or 200 tons. When 100 railcars are added to the locomotive, the train can weigh approximately 6,000 tons. The weight ratio of an automobile to a train is proportional to a soda can and an automobile, according to Operation Lifesaver.

Always obey crossing signals, lights, and signs at railroad crossings. Being cautious around trains and railroads tracks is one of the simplest ways to avoid an injury while working on the railroad.

If you have suffered an i njury while working on the railroad, you need information. Contact a trusted train injury lawyer by calling Brian Beckcom at 877.724.7800 today for your free, no-obligation consultation.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Witness information key to proving your railroad accident injury case

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)15702 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Even if seems absolutely clear who was at fault in an injured worker train accident, you still need to make a note of who witnessed your injury while working on the railroad and how to get in contact with them.

Make sure to obtain the witness's name, address, phone number, email address, and a detailed description of what they saw. Have them sign the statement after asking permission to use their statement if needed.

You would be amazed at how memories change over time and if the railroad puts pressure on potential witnesses.

If you have suffered an injury while working on the railroad, you need information. Contact a trusted train injury lawyer by calling Brian Beckcom at 877.724.7800 today for your free, no-obligation consultation.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Train accident injured workers may seek treatment with a doctor of their choice

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)15690 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Injured workers who have suffered from a train accident often believe that they must seek treatment from a doctor chosen by the employer.

This is a myth.

Injured workers are free to see their own doctors, doctors of their choosing, who are independent of the railroad and railroad union. Most good railroad accident attorneys can help coordinate an appointment for you with an independent doctor.

If you have suffered an injury while working on the railroad, you need information. Contact a trusted train injury lawyer by calling Brian Beckcom at 877.724.7800 today for your free, no-obligation consultation.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Injured in a train accident / railroad accident? Seek treatment immediately.

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)15685 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you or someone you know has suffered injuries after a injury on the railroad, it is imperative to seek treatment immediately, even if you think you feel fine.

Some injuries from working on the railroad may not appear until days later, which is why it is important to get checked out at a hospital or by a family physician as soon as possible. Documenting the fact that you sought treatment also helps to build a case against the person or company who caused the injury on the railroad.

If you have suffered an injury while working on the railroad, you need information. Contact a trusted train injury lawyer by calling Brian Beckcom at 877.724.7800 today for your free, no-obligation consultation.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at

www.vbattorneys.com

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Train derailments can cause serious injuries on the railroad

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)15684 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

In 2008 alone, there were over 190 train derailments in the state of Texas, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Train derailments can cause serious injuries to those working for the railroad, conductors, and drivers surrounding the trains and tracks.

It is important to remember to take extra safety precautions when travelling over or near railroad tracks, in order to prevent a injuries from working on the railroad. Pay special attention to railroad crossing signals, lights, and signs. Never travel over tracks when a train is coming, even if that train seems to be far away.

If you have suffered an injury while working on the railroad, you need information. Contact a trusted train injury lawyer by calling Brian Beckcom at 877.724.7800 today for your free, no-obligation consultation.

About our law firm

Our law firm is based in Houston, Texas. We handle Railroad Injury Cases and cases under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Both partners are Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To read more about the firm, or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Want to read more about Texas accident and injury law?

Please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. How to select a Texas lawyer for your injury or accident case

2. The insurance company wants me to give a statement - what should I do?

3. How to beat the insurance companies at their own game - ask these 5 questions

4. Do I need a lawyer for my railroad injury case?

Worker Injured In Refinery Fire

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

A fire Sunday morning at a Citgo refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas has left one worker injured. According to Citgo spokesman Larry Elizondo, the fire started in the alkylation unit.

The injured worker was taken to a local Corpus Christi hospital and then transported to a burn unit at a San Antonio hospital. The injured worker's name has not yet been released.

At this time, the cause of the fire has not been determined.

Offshore crane accident results in $4.5 million dollar jury decision

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)15208 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

An offshore mooring master who suffered career-ending back and knee injuries recently obtained a $4.5 milliion dollar jury verdict after the jury decided that two companies involved in a crane transfer were negligent and caused his career ending injuries.

Benzene exposure case leads to $3.2 million dollar verdict for cancer-stricken barge worker

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)15207 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

A barge worker stricken with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) from exposure to benzene on Kellog, Brown, & Root (KBR) barges obtained a $3.2 million dollar verdict.

Steps in winning a maritime injury case

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)15055 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Mr. Beckcom has written a new article on steps in winning a maritime injury or Jones Act case.

Read Mr. Beckcom's article by clicking on this link.

Man Killed After Ethanol Flash While Inspecting Tanker Truck

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

An unidentified man has died today after being burned when residual ethanol flashed while he was inspecting a tanker truck. The accident happened at CES Environmental Services located at 4904 Griggs near Carol. According to Arturo Michel with the Houston City Attorney's Office, the accident happened around 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Officials have indicated that the ethanol flashed when the man used an inspection lantern to examine the tanker truck.

Hopefully an investigation will be conducted to determine what caused the inspection lantern to ignite the residual ethanol and cause this tragedy.

Houston truck accident case results in $140,000 verdict in client's favor

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)14751 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Today, a Houston jury came back and awarded our client a $140,000 verdict. The client had a broken collarbone and back and neck injuries.

The case was tried for three days and the jury deliberated for 3 hours before coming back with the verdict.

Call us if you have been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident in Texas.

Our firm handles car, truck, and motorcycle accident cases around the state of Texas. We have a proven track record of success in these cases.

FREE case review

Our law firm offers a FREE initial case review with one of our car and truck accident attorneys. There is no obligation to hire our firm.

10 Deaths In 18 Wheeler Crash In Oklahoma

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

A chain-reaction accident involving an 18 wheeler is now responsible for 10 deaths. The accident occured in northeast Oklahoma. The 18 wheeler, driven by Donald Creed of Willard, Mo., slammed into cars that were stopped for an unrelated accident. Many of the victims were trapped in their cars for many hours as rescue workers attempted to free them from their cars.
Shelby Hayes of Frisco, Texas passed away early Sunday morning from head, internal and external injuries raising the death toll to 10. At this time, the families of those died in the accident are struggling with how the accident happened.
A preliminary report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has said that Mr. Creed was traveling at an unsafe speed considering the traffic conditions. It is not yet know if Mr. Creed will be cited for this tragic acccident. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol had also stated that a routine criminal investigation is being conducted. Local prosecutors will decide if any charges against Mr. Creed are warranted after the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has completed their investigation.
Hopefully the Oklahoma Highway Patrol will determine how this horrible accident occured and provide justice for those families who lost their loved ones.

Car and Truck Accident Facts: the most deadly holidays in Texas

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)14355 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

With the fourth of July just around the corner, this is a good time to remind Texans about the dangers facing them on roads and highways during major holidays. The Texas Department of Transportation collects and analyzes data from motor vehicle accidents across the state, and every year they publish their findings.

The most recent data available for holiday week and weekend fatalities are from the year 2007. Here, in order from most fatalities to the least, are the number of crashes and the number of people killed on big holidays:

Labor Day weekend (78 hours total): 30 fatal crashes, 37 fatalities
Memorial Day (78 hours total): 32 fatal crashes, 36 fatalities
Thanksgiving (102 hours total): 31 fatal crashes, 35 fatalities
Christmas (54 hours total): 20 fatal crashes, 24 fatalities
Fourth of July (30 hours total): 15 fatal crashes, 16 fatalities
New Year (30 hours total): 11 fatal crashes, 11 fatalities

As you can see, holiday weekends always result in some number of crashes and fatalities that forever change the lives of Texans. To stay safe on the road this summer, please check out the road safety articles in our Car and Truck Accident law library like “Five tips for surviving deadly rollover accidents in Texas”, “How Aggressive Driving Contributes to Texas Car and Truck Accidents”, and “Drowsy Drivers Significantly Increase the Risk of Auto Accidents”.

Offshore cook's estate gets $5,000,000.00 settlement

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)13368 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

The parents and the state of an offshore cook on a sailing vessel who drowned after her ship was struck by a coal barge have obtained a $5,000,000.00 settlement.

You have legal rights if you are fired for reporting a safety violation at work

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)12306 — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

Maritime work can be dangerous. That's one of the reasons the U.S. Congress decided to protect offshore workers who report safety violations.

You can read more about your legal issues in maritime cases by visiting www.TheMaritimeLawyer.com.

Injured offshore? Insurance companies will try to cheat you out of a fair settlement

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)12143 — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you are hurt offshore, please read the following important article before signing any forms!

Companies try to settle cheap before you get your own legal advice

Crewmember assault leads to Jones Act lawsuit

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)11925 — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

An injured crewmember has hired our firm to help him pursue his legal claims after he was injured when he was assaulted by a fellow crewmember while working offshore.

Click here to read the press release on this case.

Want to know more about your legal rights if you are hurt offshore?

If you are interested in talking to a Board Certified lawyer about your legal rights after you are injured offshore, or if a loved one has been killed while working offshore, please contact us through this website or call our toll free number, 877.724.7800 , and schedule an appointment with maritime lawyer Brian Beckcom .

Deckhand obtains settlement of back injury case

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)11923 — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

One of our firm's clients recently received a settlement of his Jones Act case.

Our client hurt his back while working for Capital Inland Marine on a pushboat doing work for Kirby Inland Marine . He needed back surgery.

Collapsed Dallas Cowboys Training Facility Is The Fourth Summit Structures Building To Collapse Since 2002

Thu, 07 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

This past Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility collapsed causing one man to be paralyzed and others to receive serious injuries. The builder of the practice facility, Summit Structures, has had three other buildings collapse since 2002 in heavy weather.

The first collapsed building was owned by a rancher and collapsed in 2002. A lawsuit was filed and alleged that the building collapsed under the weight of snow that was allegedly substantially less than the capacity to which the building was built. This case was settled for an undisclosed amount.

The second collapsed building was owned by the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority and collapsed in 2003. A lawsuit was filed over the collapse and a jury awarded more than $3,400,000.00 to the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. The judge found that the building collapsed due to the failure of the design to account for snow buildup on the roof.

The third collapse occurred in 2007. A lawsuit has been filed by the building owner's insurance carrier, Hanover Insurance Co. This lawsuit is still ongoing.

The collapse of the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility brings the total to four known building collapses of Summit Structures.

Dallas Cowboys Practice Facility Collapses - Paralyzes One And Injures Others

Tue, 05 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

The Dallas Cowboys practice facility collapsed this past Saturday while players, coaches, and the media were inside it. Twelve people were injured when the roof collapsed during a heavy thunderstorm that passed through the Dallas area. Scouting assistant Rich Behm was permanently paralyzed from the waist down due to a spine fracture. At least two other people suffered broken bones including fractured vertebra in the neck and a broken right leg.

The practice facility was constructed by Summit Structures of Allentown, PA. The Dallas Cowboys applied for a building permit to replace the roof on the practice facility last year, but allegedly never had Irving city officials inspect any of the completed work, which is required by Irving's building code.

OSHA is currently conducting an investigation into the cause of the roof collapse.

Jones Act Lawsuit Against Megafleet Towing Company

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)11523 — Sat, 02 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

An injured worker has filed a lawsuit in a Harris County District Court against Megafleet Towing Company. The injured worker was working aboard one of the company's tugboats when he was injured earlier this year. After the serious injury, the injured worker was told a short time later that Megafleet does not have a position for him anymore and let him go.

The lawsuit is brought under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law . The injured worker claims in the lawsuit that he qualifies as a Jones Act seaman and is entitled to maintenance and cure and negligence damages.

The injured worker has hired Brian Beckcom and Curtis Bickers and our firm to represent him in his case.

Have a Jones Act case? Contact our firm to discuss your legal options.

For more information about the Jones Act or General Maritime Law, please contact Brian Beckcom or Curtis Bickers at 713.224.7800, or toll free at 877.724.7800, or visit one of the firm's websites:

www.vbattorneys.com
www.themaritimelawyer.com
www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

Fatal rollover accident underscores crash risks

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)11478 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

A 33 year old woman died at the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth on Sunday from injuries sustained in a rollover accident. Melissa Traffanstedt’s SUV left the roadway and, according to the Tarrant County sheriff’s department, came to rest upside down in Village Creek.

Accidents like this are not uncommon in Texas, where big SUVs and pickup trucks often combine with high speed road travel to result in deadly rollover accidents. Many times rollovers happen when the driver loses control of their vehicle, which can cause the vehicle to slide sideways. In this situation it is easy for it to encounter an object like a curb, guardrail, tree stump, or other obstacle and flip sideways or onto its roof. These are often known as “tripped” accidents.

Rollovers can also be caused by a driver trying to turn a vehicle too quickly, especially if they are speeding. The frictional forces between the tire and the road result in the vehicle tipping and then rolling; these types of crashes are known as “untripped” or “frictional” rollovers.

Rollover accidents are not as common as other types of accidents like rear-ending, side-swipes, or front end collisions, but they are often quite deadly. This is often because they happen at a high rate of speed and the occupants are not wearing seat-belts, which causes them to be partially or fully ejected from the vehicle.

To read more about rollover accidents and what you can do to stay safe, see our law library articles “Five tips for surviving deadly rollover accidents in Texas” and “Rollover Accidents”.

Is Texas doing enough to protect young drivers?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)11395 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

If you have a son or daughter new to the road or if you are a teenager yourself then you’ve probably debated about when teens should receive their drivers’ license and how they should get it. If you ask a teen, they’d like to be able to drive as soon as possible with no restrictions. However, if you ask parents, lawmakers, or law enforcement officials, the answer will be very different.

The fact is that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers; one in three teens will die in a vehicle accident. This makes teenage driving accidents a major policy issue for lawmakers and a concern of healthcare providers. The American College of Emergency Physicians lists the reasons that teens are a danger to themselves and others behind the wheel:

lack of driving experience
inadequate driving skills
excessive nighttime driving
risk-taking behavior
poor driving judgment and decision making
drinking and driving
distractions from teen passengers

In an attempt to reduce the number of teen deaths from car accidents, Texas instituted a graduated driver’s license program in 2002. Could more be done? According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), yes. IIHS gave Texas’ young driver licensing program a rating of “Fair”. It seems there is room for improvement in Texas young driver laws.

Attorney Brian Beckcom interviewed on Houston's Channel 39 KIAH-TV about the Jones Act

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)11384 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

Yesterday maritime law attorney Brian Beckcom appeared on Houston's Channel 39 KIAH-TV during a story about a crew member from the Maersk Alabama who is suing Maersk Line Limited and Waterman Steamship Corp. The suit alleges that Maersk and Waterman ignored requests to improve safety measures for vessels sailing the Somali coast. Mr. Beckcom appears 2 minutes and 7 seconds into the video discussing the Jones Act , which protects the rights of U.S. seamen like those on the Maersk Alabama.

Widow of Houston Police Officer Denied Insurance Benefits

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)11305 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

Press Release

Houston, Texas

Mrs. Jana Keen, the widow of deceased Houston police officer Thomas L. Keen, has hired our law firm to represent her in her claims insurance benefits for the death of her husband, veteran Harris County Sherriff's Department Detective Thomas L. Keen.

Detective Keen was killed in the line of duty while engaged in recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Mrs. Keen hired us after her claims for benefits under the Employment Retirement Systems of Texas and Texas workers compensation insurance claims were denied.

For press inquires about this case, please contact Vuk Vujasinovic toll free at 877.724.7800.

Gas Well Blowout Kills Worker

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

A worker was killed yesterday afternoon when a Central Texas gas well blowout occurred near Camp Creek Lake near Franklin. The worker was struck by a length of pipe when the blowout happened. The well crew was able to quickly shut off the gas leak. No other injuries have been reported.

At this time, there have been no details released regarding an investigation.

Tragic Accident Between Van And Train

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

This past Saturday, a family of eight was killed when their van collided with a freight train in Mexico. The collision occurred near the town of Sabinas Hidalgo. The eight passengers and driver are all from the Houston area.

The train accident is being investigated by prosecuters in Sabinas Hidalgo. Preliminary reports are indicated that the accident may have been due to error on the driver of the van. Hopefully a full investigation will be conducted for this tragic accident.

Free Information for Houston car accident victims

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)11084 — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

Our firm is offering a special free consultation to any victims of a Houston car or truck accident. There is no obligation to hire our firm, sign any papers, or otherwise do anything.

Our goal is to provide you with good, solid information so you and your family can make your own decision about whether to file a claim, how much your claim may be worth, how to deal with the insurance company, whether you need a lawyer, and any other questions you may have.

To take advantage of this opportunity, please call our firm toll free at 877.724.7800 or use the contact form on our main website.

To qualify, you or a loved one must have been a victim of a car or truck accident in Houston or the surrounding area. Also, you must not currently be represented by an attorney (if you are currently represented by an attorney, obviously, you should consult with your current attorney about any questions you have, and that attorney should call you back and answers your questions directly).

Small Plane Crashes Into House Outside Of Fort Lauderdale

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

A small plane has crashed into a house outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida leaving a large hole in the house. Firefighters are currently working to put out the fire. The home is located near the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. At this time, it is unknown how many people were aboard the airplane or in the house when the airplane crashed into it.

It is too early at this time for investigators to determine what caused this airplane crash.

The attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom can be reached at 877.724.7800 or on the web at www.vbattorneys.com.

Building Collapse Kills Construction Worker Despite Alleged Notice Of Safety Concerns

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

More details are emerging from the construction accident that happened on April 14, 2009 in Houston, Texas that killed a construction worker. Construction workers were working on a rehabilitation project for low-income housing. There are a total of seven buildings located at the construction site. Before Tuesday's building collapse, six of the buildings had been inspected. The seventh building which collapsed, was set for inspection on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the inspection was a day too late for the deceased construction worker who was crushed when the seventh building collapsed. Camden Builders Inc., the general contractor for the rehabilitation project, has said that the collapsed building wasn't inspected with the others because it wasn't ready. Camden Builders Inc. was apparently right - the building wasn't ready for inspection since it collapsed upon itself killing one and injuring two construction workers.

The rehabilitation project on the seven buildings had started back in December. At least one of the construction workers has come forward and stated he had concerns with the building's safety. According to this worker, the building that collapsed would move side to side, or sway, but he wasn't sure why. Investigation officials believe there was not enough lateral bracing which caused the frame of the building to fall like a domino.

Hopefully OSHA and the City of Houston will be able to determine what caused this accident and why building seven wasn't ready for inspection.

Who Is Responsible For Fatal Boating Accident?

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

A day out on the lake in a boat is suppose to be an enjoyable and relaxing experience. I enjoy getting out on the water and try to as much as possible. However, most people aren't aware of the potential for disaster.

Back in April of 2007, four men headed out on Smith Mountain Lake aboard a 33-foot Hacker Craft boat . The boat's owner, Walter Curt, was captaining the vessel. During their voyage, the Hacker Craft boat flipped over killing two of the men aboard the boat.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries conducted an investigation into the accident and found that a combination of high winds and a malfunctioning cooling system caused the boat to fill with water and eventually causing the boat to capsize and sink. Two men, Richard Smith and David Reynolds, drowned in the cold waters while Mr. Curt and Dennis Zimmerman were rescued by a passing boat.

Lawsuits have been filed by the estates of the two deceased men. They both have sued the owner of the boat and allege that Mr. Curt steered the boat in an unsafe manner and captained the boat in unsafe conditions. The boat manufacturer, Hacker Craft , has been sued as well, presumably for a product defect claim. Buck Algonquin Co. Inc. , the manufacturer of the cooling system part that allegedly malfunctioned on the Hacker Craft boat , has also been sued. Finally, both estates have sued Shoreline Marina in Bedford County. Shoreline Marina allegedly "winterized" the boat, which involves putting antifreeze in a boat's cooling system. Further, Shoreline Marina "de-winterized" the boat approximately one month before this accident happened.

Most people don't think that this type of boating accident could happen to them, but unfortunately, bad things sometimes happen to good people. And when a company hasn't done what they were suppose to do properly, and it causes someone to get hurt or die, they should be held responsible for their actions.

These type of boating accidents are preventable and should not happen. But if you or someone you know has been involved in a similar accident, the attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom can help make things right.

To learn more about the firm , or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys , please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com or call us toll free at 877.724.7800.

One Worker Crushed, Two Others Injured During Building Collapse In Houston

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

While construction workers were conducting renovations to an old apartment complex, the building suddenly collapsed upon itself with five workers in harm's way on the first floor. Two men were able to escape the building unassisted, two were injured and had to be pulled from the rubble, and one construction worker was crushed to death. One of the injured workers was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and his condition is unknown at this time. The other injured worker was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital where he has been listed in stable condition.

The Houston Fire Department responded to the building collapse and helped to rescue the injured workers and recover the body of the crushed worker. Dogs and remote cameras assisted rescue crews in their efforts to locate all of the construction workers.

At this time, it has not been determined who is responsible for the building's collapse and what measures should have been taken to prevent this accident. Hopefully an investigation will answer the question of who is responsible for the death and injuries of the construction workers.

To learn more about the firm and its attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Houston Fire Department Ladder Truck Ran A Red Light And Driver Will Be Cited

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

The investigation into the car accident between several fire trucks is progressing. The Houston Police Department has determined that the driver of the Houston Fire Department ladder truck ran a red light and will be cited. After running the red light, the ladder truck rolled over onto a woman's car. She was taken to a hospital after the accident and released later that same day. Because of the accident, she is suffering from lower body pains and is taking pain medications to help alleve them. The woman is considering filing a lawsuit against the city.

An accident like this, similiar to an accident between a car and an 18-wheeler, can cause serious injuries. If you have been involved in a similar accident, the attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom can help you. Call our toll-free number 877.724.7800 for a free consultation.

To read more about the firm and its attorneys, please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com.

Tragic Accident Between Two Houston Fire Department Fire Trucks

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

As many Houstonians are aware, an unusual car accident occurred on March 30, 2009. Responding to a reported fire, two Houston Fire Department vehicles collided at an intersection in the Montrose area. The collision between the HFD ladder truck and pumper truck was violent enough to cause the ladder truck to flip on its side landing on top of one civilian car and one cyclist. As a result of the accident, ABC 13 has reported that 11 people were injured including two civilians and nine firefighters.

At this time, the Houston Police Department is still investigating the collision and attempting to determine who was at fault. There is also discussion of whether the Opticom system was properly working at the time of the accident. The Opticom system speeds up traffic light cycles for emergency vehicles such as the HFD vehicles.

Hopefully the Houston Police Department will be able to determine the cause of this tragic accident.

Read Mr. Beckcom's latest article on giving recorded statements after an on-the-job accident

brian@vbattorneys.com (Blog Author)9942 — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Mr. Beckcom has published a new article discussing whether you should give a recorded statement after suffering an offshore injury.

Click here to read Mr. Beckcom's article.