Archive for the ‘ Uncategorized ’ Category

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6
Mar

Austin Metro Police Shift Focus To Improving Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety

March 5, 2012

After successfully reducing the number of car accidents throughout the city, the Austin Metro Police Department is now shifting some of its resources toward keeping the city’s pedestrians safer. Reports from KXAN News indicate that some of the Metro Police Department’s saturation patrols are being reassigned to areas with the highest number of auto-pedestrian accidents.

Yesterday, officers patrolling the area of Riverside and Pleasant Valley Drive and were able to cite 26 pedestrians and motorists in less than three hours. Officers said tickets issued were for violations ranging from jaywalking to not yielding the right of way.

Officers say they will continue the effort by analyzing crash data on a weekly basis to determine how and where to shift their presence. A spokesman for the Austin Metro Police Department, Sgt. Mike Fitzgerald, added that the department would also use a motorcycle unit for these efforts.

The number of pedestrian and cycle accident fatalities this year have Austin on track to be named one of the most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrians. Data shows that of the 14 accident fatalities in the city in 2012 alone, eight were pedestrians or cyclists.

The Austin Auto Accident Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to keep one another safe by always looking twice at intersections and making yourself visible by using lights and turn signals.

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17
Jan

Pilot Says He Warned Woman Before She Walked Into Plane’s Propellor

January 17, 2012

The pilot responsible for the plane that injured a Plano, Texas, woman told investigators that he warned the woman to stay away from the front of the plane moments before she walked into the propeller. According to KVUE News, the 23-year-old fashion Magazine editor lost a hand and an eye in the December 3rd accident.

A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that upon landing that day, the pilot did not turn the engines off on the plane as he waited for his next sight-seeing customer. He saw the victim walking toward the front of the aircraft after exiting, and reached his arm out in front of her and told her to walk around the back of the plane. The pilot continued by saying he then looked away for a split second before hearing screaming and looking back to see the woman on the ground.

While this tragedy was definitely an accident, the pilot could be held accountable for the woman’s injuries based on premise liability law. That law states that a business or property owner has the responsibility to keep all customers and patrons safe while on their property. In this case, the pilot failing to kill the engines as a customer exited the plane could be considered negligence on his part, especially if the woman was not warned of the dangers prior to the flight.

The Texas premise liability attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers suggest contacting them immediately if you have been hurt due to someone else’s negligence.

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27
Dec

Workplace Illness And Injury On The Decline In Texas

December 27, 2011

Injuries and illness in the workplace are on the decline. According to KVUE News, employers in private industries reported a 5.8 percent decrease in the number of non-fatal cases resulting in absence from work in 2010, resulting in a total of 56,720 incidents for the year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in cooperation with the Texas Department of Insurance-Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC), conducted the survey in order to better inform and assist employers with identifying possible health and safety risks in the workplace.

The study found that 79.5 injuries or illnesses were reported per 10,000 full-time employees across the state of Texas. The average number of days on the job missed because of these injuries and illnesses  increased to nine days this year, a slow-but-steady rise from the eight days reported in the previous two years.

The TDI-DWC plans to continue fighting the problem by offering programs such as:

  • Free safety and health consultations on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations
  • Regional and on-site safety training
  • Free safety and health publications
  • Guidance on return-to-work and drug-free workplace programs
  • A Safety Violations Hotline

The Texas workers’ compensation attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers have years of experience working with individuals who have been injured or gotten sick while on the job at no fault of their own. Their team of compassionate attorneys is available anytime to discuss questions you may have regarding your rights.

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20
Dec

Texas Plane Crash Kills Family Of Five

December 20, 2011

A plane crash Monday night in northeastern Brazos County, Texas, killed all five people aboard the aircraft. According to The Atlanta Journal Constitution , The Piper Saratoga aircraft crashed just before 10:00 PM in a field north of Bryan-College Station, Texas.

Investigators say the flight originated in Atlanta, Georgia, and stopped in Jackson, Mississippi, on its way to Waco, Texas. Severe storms, including heavy rain and lightning, were rolling through the area at the time of the accident and investigators are still working to determine if weather may have played a role in the crash.

Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did confirm today though that all those aboard the plane were related to one another. The 33-year-old pilot, his 34-year-old wife and older brother, along with his young son and teenage daughter were all killed instantly in the crash.

FAA statistics show that it is much more dangerous to fly in small planes than it is large commercial airliners. The FAA reports that there were 20 aircraft crashes in the state of Texas in 2008. Of those crashes more than 95 percent involved single engine aircraft.

The Texas Personal Injury Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers understand the dangers these aircraft can pose. We know that often, mechanical failure is at the heart of the accident. If you have been injured or lost a loved one because of a plane crash that was caused by negligence, contact us today to discuss your case.

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13
Dec

Holiday Ladder Falls Claim Two Lives In Texas

December 13, 2011

With the holidays in full swing, the number of slip and fall accidents across the state of Texas is on the rise. According to KVUE News, a 54-year-old Little Elm, Texas, woman was killed after falling from a wooden pull-down ladder she was using to access Christmas decorations in her attic.

Police spokesman, Captain Rodney Harrison, stated that the woman was alone at her home on Fieldstone Drive when the accident occurred Saturday afternoon. Investigators said that the ladder appeared to have given way when the woman stepped up onto the ladder. She fell backwards and hit her head on the concrete floor beneath her, causing severe trauma. By the time her husband found her several hours later, there was nothing that could be done to revive her.

It was also reported that a month earlier, a 52-year-old town maintenance worker died from being electrocuted when a ladder he was on became entangled in live power lines.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission states that 160,000 people are injured in ladder-related accidents each year. They also say that the number of accidents dramatically increases around the holiday months.

The Texas slip and fall injury lawyers with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers advise that the best way to stay safe on a ladder this holiday season is to:

  1. Always have a spotter below you hold the ladder
  2. Make sure the ladder is firm and steady at a 45-degree angle before climbing
  3. Never go above the top wrung

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15
Nov

Science Breakthroughs for Brain Injuries

November 15, 2011

According to KVUE News, doctors may be on the verge of breakthroughs in the field of head injuries.

For instance, take the case of a 51-year-old Austin, Texas, man who was struck by a car from behind while riding his bicycle just over a year ago, and was left to die in the road. After being resuscitated at the hospital by paramedics and doctors, he remained there in a coma for more than three months before finally awakening.

At first, progress was slow, but over the last several months, he has blown doctor’s expectations out of the water by regaining much of his mobility and getting back into his career. Although he still suffers from bouts of short-term memory loss, along with balance and stamina issues, he is hopeful for the future.

Alex Valadka, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Brackenridge Hospital, says that because doctors now understand that not all brain injuries are the same, progress in the field is imminent. The doctor stated, “Imagine if you thought all cancer was the same or all chest pain was the same. You’d never be able to make any progress.”

The Texas Brain Injury Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers suggest wearing protective headgear at all times when participating in activities such as biking and contact sports. These products are the best way to protect yourself from traumatic brain injury.

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18
Oct

Cooler Weather = Time For Immunizations

October 18, 2011

With Cooler weather around the corner, many citizens are beginning to protect themselves from winter’s illnesses with flu shots. Another important immunization to receive often falls to the way side though, costing hundreds of children and the elderly their lives every year.

That shot is a pneumonia immunization. KVUE News reports that children are urged to receive the shot because it can help ward off deadly bacteria that can cause meningitis, a disease that can lead to blindness, deafness, and death. On the other hand the elderly are encouraged to be immunized because of weaker immune systems.

Until recently, only this demographic was asked to be immunized for their higher risk of health complications associated with pneumonia, but now, researchers are also encouraging those with asthma between the ages of 19 and 65 to also be immunized as they run a higher risk of pneumonia bacteria passing from the lungs to the blood stream.

Researchers have discovered that these immunizations in recent years have lead to fewer ear infections in children and lowered the number of overall infections in adults over the years.

Dr. Bill Howland with the Allergy and Asthma Center of Austin says normally the shot is only needed one time, but a booster shot later in life may be needed.

The Texas Medical Malpractice Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers encourage those individual in these age groups to go get immunized. The decision may keep you healthy through the winter, but more importantly, may save your life.

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4
Oct

Doctors Warn That Colored Contacts Could Be Dangerous

October 4, 2011

Colored contacts are everywhere! They are popular way for teens and young adults to change their everyday eye color. With Halloween right around the corner, many are using them to add spooky detail to their costume. However, some people don’t realize the dangers these contacts can present for your eyes.

KVUE News interviewed Dr. Eric Poulsen, M.D., who has treated numerous patients suffering from a range of afflictions ranging from mild eye irritation to severe cornea ulcers as a result of using cheap non-prescription contacts.

Experts say the best way to combat this problem is to simply have an eye exam before purchasing and wearing any contacts. Dr. Poulsen stated, “There is nothing inherently wrong with these contacts, the question is, are the right shape and size for your eye?”

Also make sure to properly store, clean, and apply the contacts correctly. Often, directions are not included in the packaging of these cheaper versions of contact lenses. Poor handling of contacts can often lead to infection.

The Texas Defective Product Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers are available to answer any questions you might have regarding defective products. If you believe you have an injury from a product that is no fault of your own, contact their attorneys today.

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13
Sep

Bastrop Wildfires Ravage The Texas Hill Country

September 13, 2011

As residents slowly trickle back into the Bastrop, Texas, area following one of the largest wildfires the state has seen in years, hope is slim of finding homes and lives that have gone untouched by the flames.

According to the Associated Press, about 35,000 acres have been ravaged by the relentless fire and more than 1,400 homes were destroyed. The fire, which continues to burn in patches of areas weeks after starting, claimed the lives of two people. The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department announced that rescue crews had found the burned remains of two individuals in the wake of the fire. They announced that the deceased were not police or firefighters, but did not say if they were residents of the area.

The American Red Cross has set up several shelters throughout the area for residents who were evacuated from their homes and are issuing clean-up supplies and food to those who are beginning to return to the unknown that awaits them back at home. The list of shelters includes:

  • Celebration Community Church, 111 Longhorn St, Bastrop, TX
  • Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston Street, Smithville, TX
  • Prairie Valley Baptist Church, 741 Hcr 2101, Whitney, TX
  • Ridgeway Baptist Church, 153 Ridgeway Court, Paige, TX

American Red Cross meal service is provided daily at 12:00PM and 5:00PM, at Tiger Tote on Hwy 71 East, Bastrop, TX.

Texas homeowners in need of assistance making fire insurance claims may call the Texas Fire & Burn Injury Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers. We can be reached anytime by calling 866-241-4861 or by filling out a free online consultation form.

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12
Jul

Bake Sale Raises $13,000 for Children Orphaned in Car Crash

July 12, 2011

A community-wide bake sale raised $13,000 to benefit the three children whose parents were killed on July 2nd, in a Fort Stockton, Texas, car crash. According to the Houston Chronicle, family and friends set up stands all over the city of Houston to sell cookies, cakes, brownies and muffins. The money raised by the sales will go toward the children’s medical and schooling expenses.

The accident occurred when the family was returning home from a road trip. An SUV crossed the center line of the highway and struck the family’s minivan head-on. The parents were killed in the crash, leaving their three children orphaned and suffering multiple injuries. The two boys remain hospitalized with spinal injuries, while their younger sister is staying with family friends as she recuperates from a broken arm and leg.

“There will be lots of medical costs and we want to be able to provide the best rehab facilities for them,” said a family friend who helped organize the event. “We don’t want money to be an issue as far as getting them the help they need.”

Lost wages, medical bills, and numerous other expenses are serious concerns that victims face following a tragic accident. If you or someone you know was injured due to the negligence of another, the responsible party may be held accountable for expenses related to the accident. The Texas Auto Accident Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers regularly cases of this nature, and may be able to assist you with your claim.

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