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Everything You Need to Know About the Crime Victims’ Compensation Program
Because Marc Lenahan has been representing victims of crime for over two decades — terrorism, mass murder, DWI, child abuse imagery, homicide, criminal conspiracy, and too many others — we’ve worked closely with the good people at the Crime Victims Compensation Program over and over.
You may have never heard of the Crime Victim’s Compensation Program (CVC), but it is an incredibly important piece of Texan history and law. Started in 1979 by the Texas Legislature, the CVC is managed by the Office of the Attorney General. It was created with two primary goals in mind.
Pokémon Go Leads to Increase in Accidents
Seemingly overnight, the smartphone app “Pokémon Go” has taken the world by storm and has shot itself to the top of the app store, smashing records left and right as one of the fastest growing and most downloaded applications in history. Now, people everywhere are living out their fantasies of catching and training Pokémon in the real world, with many communities having sprung up throughout the country related to the app. Through the app’s clever use of GPS and augmented reality, players can find the iconic little monsters during their daily travels – making them appear as if they were right in front of players. While much of this is good fun and an excellent method of getting young people off the couch, like most things in life, it is not without its fair share of dangers.
An Overview of Concussion Injuries and Their Symptoms
One of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries is a concussion. Concussions occur when a person suffers a strong blow to the head or some other impact that causes the head to violently snap in any direction. While lighter blows to the head are often absorbed by the brain’s surrounding cerebrospinal fluid, harder impacts cause the brain to bounce around or twist within a person’s skull, damaging brain cells and prompting chemical changes in the brain.
Often occurring in contact-sports such as football and hockey, this type of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) can also occur during vehicle collisions, construction accidents, and slip and falls. Despite their classification as a mild injury, concussions can have serious effects and must be treated immediately to prevent long-term damage.
Toys to Avoid this Holiday Season
As the holidays approach and parents begin shopping for toys for their little ones, it is important to keep safety in mind when making toy purchases. While seemingly harmless at first glance, there are several toys on the market that can potentially be hazardous to your children, causing choking, paralysis, and possible strangulation. To help you make informed purchases and keep your kids safe, our firm has created a short list of toys to avoid purchasing this holiday season.
1. “BUD” Wheely Cute Pull Along: This fluffy pull toy for infants has a hidden danger in that the blue hub caps on the toy’s wheels can break off and present a choking hazard.
Can Wearing a Seatbelt Increase Risk of Injury or Death in a Car Accident?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 54 in the United States. In 2012, there were more than 2.2 million adults treated in American emergency departments due to car accidents. And yet, despite the obvious danger of our roadways, many drivers refuse to wear their seatbelts, some even saying that it can increase your risk of injury or death in a collision by trapping you in the vehicle. Is this even true?
On the CDC’s fact sheet, the information says no. Collision reports and collected medical data, time and time again, show no indication that seatbelts will actually increase injuries during a car accident. In fact, the CDC estimates that seatbelts reduce serious crash-related injuries and fatalities by about 50%. So, why do people believe that a lifesaving device is actually a death trap?
Workers’ Compensation, Third-Party Claims, & Construction Accidents
Not only are construction sites notoriously hazardous, but the industry itself has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous of all occupations. By their nature, construction sites are filled with risks and hazards, and these dangers only compound when you have multiple contractors working, and even worse, poorly trained workers who do not work safely or responsibly.
Construction sites tend to involve heavy machinery, power tools, and workers are often performing their duties on top of roofs and at significant heights, which contributes to the high risk of falls. It’s not uncommon for some projects to involve the risks of electrocutions, explosions, or even trench collapse. Even when workers use the appropriate safety equipment, they can still be seriously injured.
Proving Emotional Distress & Recovering Damages
When people are injured, it’s human nature to experience emotional distress. In many cases, emotional distress damages can account for a portion of one’s personal injury recovery. If you are injured in an accident, you may receive compensation for economic damages such as medical bills, and lost income, but you may also receive compensation for pain, suffering and emotional distress.
The amount of non-economic damages such as emotional distress damages, varies from case to case depending on the nature of the injuries; even if you don’t file a lawsuit for your injuries, your attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company that will include damages for any emotional distress you may have suffered.
Dealing With the Insurance Adjuster in a Personal Injury Case
After an accident, you will likely be contacted by one or more insurance companies. These initial conversations occur shortly after the accident, and at a time that you may be in the hospital, in pain, or feeling distraught over what happened. By following a few common-sense principles, you can prevent yourself from saying or doing something that could adversely affect your settlement or verdict.
The Importance of an Immediate Investigation in a Personal Injury Case
If you were injured in an accident, it is important that you know that the immediate investigation of a personal injury case cannot be overemphasized. The investigation aspect of a case is the foundation for which the case results are built, and trying to settle a case without the proper investigation and preparation would be foolhardy.
One of the most common mistakes made by personal injury attorneys is to wait until the last minute to prepare a case for settlement, or worse, for trial. Whenever you are injured in an accident, not only do you want to hire an attorney right away, but your attorney must begin the investigation immediately after accepting your case.
Warning: Massive Beef Recall in Texas
A Fort Worth, Texas beef processor is recalling nearly 16,000 pounds of beef because the products may be contaminated by E. coli. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that there was a high health risk for products that were provided by PFP Enterprises, though there are no reports of consumers being sickened. The products were produced on December 5, 2013 and distributed to retail stores and restaurants in several states. The products that have been recalled have an establishment number of Est. 34715 inside the USDA Mark of Inspection.
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