Car accidents occur each day on roads in Texas, in every county, city and town. While many auto accidents are simple "fender benders," others result in substantial property damage and serious injury. Many injured victims of car accidents are overwhelmed by the avalanche of telephone calls, insurance forms, accident reports, medical bills and general correspondence that is received immediately after an auto accident. Further, those that have been injured in an accident may not be in the proper frame of mind to deal with inquiries from insurance companies, whether written, recorded or verbal. ...Car accidents or accident victims in general should appreciate that, while they are still receiving initial medical treatment, the parties at fault have already notified their insurance company of the accident.
Every insurance company has a team of adjusters, investigators and attorneys whose primary responsibility is to limit the liability of the insurance company and minimize the amount of money to be paid to injured parties.In Texas, auto accident victims who have suffered personal injury may be entitled to recover damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, permanent disfigurement, dismemberment, wrongful death, and other types of general damage. Texas also allows for recovery of "special" damages, such as past, present and future medical bills, wage loss, loss of earnings potential and other out-of-pocket expenses.Sometimes in Texas certain "no-fault" benefits can be paid following a traffic accident. This type of benefit may serve to pay a portion of lost wages and medical bills.
The Báez Law Firm, P.C. can help "level the playing field" by providing auto accident victims with information regarding the practical and legal aspects of personal injury law and auto accident claims. For a review of your claim, please click the "contact us" button and completely fill out the form provided.
Please contact us at (210) 979-9777 or visit our websites at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com for a free consultation. We care about your legal needs!
Find Personal Injury Trial Lawyers that will treat you with dignity and respect. The Baez Law Firm, P.C. is dedicated to help those less fortunate. We are professionals that care about your legal needs. Come visit us www.thebaezlawfirm.com or call us (210) 979-9777. Have a blessed day!
The Baez Law Firm | San Antonio Lawyers and Attorneys
San Antonio Lawyers and Attorneys
Friday, February 15, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Anatomy of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are serious and it may not be obvious that someone has a spinal cord injury. The treatment given to a person immediately after he of she has suffered one of these injuries is critical to limiting the amounting of harm done and preventing secondary injuries from occurring.
The spinal cord is surrounded by bone called the vertebrae that protects the fragile cord from injury. The spinal cord and vertebra make up the spinal column. The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system and delivers signals between the brain and the rest of the body. The cord is made up of many types of nerve fibers and cells. The spinal column is divided into five distinct segments from top to bottom:
Cervical vertebrae (neck) -- controls back of the head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, diaphragm
Thoracic vertebrae (upper back) -- controls chest muscles, some back muscles, parts of the abdomen
Lumbar vertebrae (middle back) -- controls lower abdomen, lower back, buttocks, some parts of the legs, some parts of the external genital organs
Sacral vertebrae (hips) -- controls thighs, lower parts of legs, feet, most of the external genital organs, area around the anus
Coccygeal vertebrae (tailbone) -- controls sensation from the skin on the lower back.
The level of injury refers to the segment damaged by the injury, below which function has been lost, either completely or partially — meaning that the ability of the brain to send and receive messages down the spinal cord has been impaired or severed altogether. The higher up the level of injury on the spinal column, the more function lost. For example, a person in a car accident who suffers a C5 injury will have lost more function than a person in a similar accident with a L4 injury.
While a spinal cord injury can occur from an illness or disease (like a tumor), the most common cause is a traumatic injury that dislocates or fractures the vertebra protecting the spinal cord. This contact can cause hemorrhage and swelling of the spinal cord, tearing of the cord or disruption of the spinal nerves. The spinal cord is rarely severed completely.
Immediately after a suspected spinal cord injury, it is vitally important to take action to stabilize the spine and prevent or minimize secondary injuries. Secondary injuries are those that occur after the initial trauma and can exacerbate the damage to the spinal cord.
Thus, immediate treatment of a spinal cord injury includes:
Determining if there are any structural problems with the spine that need to be surgically repaired
Determining if there is compression on the spine that needs to be surgically relieved
Minimizing the damage to the nerve cells with the use of steroids (methylprednisolone)
Stabilizing and reducing the vertebrae
Immobilizing the patient.
If the person suffered a high spinal cord injury in the cervical vertebrae, he or she may be unable to breathe without the help of a ventilator. If you come into contact with a person you suspect has suffered a spinal cord injury, call an ambulance and do not attempt to move him or her, or you could make the injury worse.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, please contact us (210) 979-9777 or visit our websites http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com or visit http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com because we care about your legal needs!
The spinal cord is surrounded by bone called the vertebrae that protects the fragile cord from injury. The spinal cord and vertebra make up the spinal column. The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system and delivers signals between the brain and the rest of the body. The cord is made up of many types of nerve fibers and cells. The spinal column is divided into five distinct segments from top to bottom:
Cervical vertebrae (neck) -- controls back of the head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, diaphragm
Thoracic vertebrae (upper back) -- controls chest muscles, some back muscles, parts of the abdomen
Lumbar vertebrae (middle back) -- controls lower abdomen, lower back, buttocks, some parts of the legs, some parts of the external genital organs
Sacral vertebrae (hips) -- controls thighs, lower parts of legs, feet, most of the external genital organs, area around the anus
Coccygeal vertebrae (tailbone) -- controls sensation from the skin on the lower back.
The level of injury refers to the segment damaged by the injury, below which function has been lost, either completely or partially — meaning that the ability of the brain to send and receive messages down the spinal cord has been impaired or severed altogether. The higher up the level of injury on the spinal column, the more function lost. For example, a person in a car accident who suffers a C5 injury will have lost more function than a person in a similar accident with a L4 injury.
While a spinal cord injury can occur from an illness or disease (like a tumor), the most common cause is a traumatic injury that dislocates or fractures the vertebra protecting the spinal cord. This contact can cause hemorrhage and swelling of the spinal cord, tearing of the cord or disruption of the spinal nerves. The spinal cord is rarely severed completely.
Immediately after a suspected spinal cord injury, it is vitally important to take action to stabilize the spine and prevent or minimize secondary injuries. Secondary injuries are those that occur after the initial trauma and can exacerbate the damage to the spinal cord.
Thus, immediate treatment of a spinal cord injury includes:
Determining if there are any structural problems with the spine that need to be surgically repaired
Determining if there is compression on the spine that needs to be surgically relieved
Minimizing the damage to the nerve cells with the use of steroids (methylprednisolone)
Stabilizing and reducing the vertebrae
Immobilizing the patient.
If the person suffered a high spinal cord injury in the cervical vertebrae, he or she may be unable to breathe without the help of a ventilator. If you come into contact with a person you suspect has suffered a spinal cord injury, call an ambulance and do not attempt to move him or her, or you could make the injury worse.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, please contact us (210) 979-9777 or visit our websites http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com or visit http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com because we care about your legal needs!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Airbag Injuries
Airbags have been in use for many years now. In fact, some of the major U.S. automobile manufacturers began installing airbags in some of their vehicles in the early 1970s. While they do save lives, airbags can also cause some unforeseen problems. Children riding in the front seat can be seriously injured or killed when an airbag deploys in a crash. An airbag is not a soft, billowy pillow. To do its job, an airbag comes out of the dashboard at up to 200 miles per hour - faster than the blink of an eye. The force of an airbag can hurt those who are too close to it.
Even when one is cautious, airbags can be unforgiving. When a manufacturer designs, produces, or installs an airbag incorrectly, serious injuries and deaths can result. Defective airbags include, but are not limited to, those that deploy with too much force, deploy in minor collisions when they are not otherwise needed, or fail to deploy under circumstances in which they should.
Airbags are designed to save lives in the event of an auto accident. Occasionally, though, an inflated airbag may injure a passenger. Most bags deploy with a tremendous amount of force, thus posing a serious threat to those who sit too closely to them.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an airbag, don't fight the battle alone. Please contact us (210) 979-9777 or visit our web sites http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com because: "We care about your legal needs."
Even when one is cautious, airbags can be unforgiving. When a manufacturer designs, produces, or installs an airbag incorrectly, serious injuries and deaths can result. Defective airbags include, but are not limited to, those that deploy with too much force, deploy in minor collisions when they are not otherwise needed, or fail to deploy under circumstances in which they should.
Airbags are designed to save lives in the event of an auto accident. Occasionally, though, an inflated airbag may injure a passenger. Most bags deploy with a tremendous amount of force, thus posing a serious threat to those who sit too closely to them.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an airbag, don't fight the battle alone. Please contact us (210) 979-9777 or visit our web sites http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or http://www.sanantoniopersonalinjurytriallawyers.com because: "We care about your legal needs."
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Dog Bite Law in Texas
(AP)-According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 4.7 million Americans will suffer a dog bite injury this year, most of them children. Each year, about 800,000 dog bite injury victims are treated at clinics and hospitals and about a dozen people die from dog attacks.
Dog bite injuries can involve puncture wounds and lacerations that may result in scarring. Reconstructive surgery may be necessary. If the dog has not been vaccinated, the dog bite victim may need to undergo a painful treatment for rabies. Infection is always a concern.
Dog bite injury victims often suffer emotional as well as physical trauma. Psychological therapy may be required, especially for children.
Texas follows the ancient and outdated "one bite rule." This means that legal liability for a dog bite is based on one of the following circumstances: (a) the owner knew that the dog had bitten someone previously or had the dangerous propensity to bite a person, (b) the accident was cause by the negligence of the person handling the dog, (c) the accident was caused by a violation of a leash law, prohibition against dogs trespassing or running at large, or a similar animal control law, or (d) the injury was caused intentionally by the person handling the dog.
On the other hand, new law went into effect for criminal liability. Under the new law, the owner of a dangerous dog can still face misdemeanor charges if the animal injures someone. That same owner now can be on the hook for a felony and prison time if the victim dies or suffers wounds requiring hospitalization.
Our lawyers will pursue full compensation of all current and future expenses related to the dog bite injury. Please contact The Báez Law Firm, P.C. http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com for further information about the laws concerning dog bite injury victims. We offer a free consultation to review your case and discuss your rights. We care about your legal needs!
Dog bite injuries can involve puncture wounds and lacerations that may result in scarring. Reconstructive surgery may be necessary. If the dog has not been vaccinated, the dog bite victim may need to undergo a painful treatment for rabies. Infection is always a concern.
Dog bite injury victims often suffer emotional as well as physical trauma. Psychological therapy may be required, especially for children.
Texas follows the ancient and outdated "one bite rule." This means that legal liability for a dog bite is based on one of the following circumstances: (a) the owner knew that the dog had bitten someone previously or had the dangerous propensity to bite a person, (b) the accident was cause by the negligence of the person handling the dog, (c) the accident was caused by a violation of a leash law, prohibition against dogs trespassing or running at large, or a similar animal control law, or (d) the injury was caused intentionally by the person handling the dog.
On the other hand, new law went into effect for criminal liability. Under the new law, the owner of a dangerous dog can still face misdemeanor charges if the animal injures someone. That same owner now can be on the hook for a felony and prison time if the victim dies or suffers wounds requiring hospitalization.
Our lawyers will pursue full compensation of all current and future expenses related to the dog bite injury. Please contact The Báez Law Firm, P.C. http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com for further information about the laws concerning dog bite injury victims. We offer a free consultation to review your case and discuss your rights. We care about your legal needs!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Slip and Fall cases
In our opinion, the slip and fall era of multiple filed cases is getting extinct. Insurance companies and their attorneys have gotten good at arguing the main issue: " notice of a dangerous condition that existed."
When do I have a claim for my Injuries if it happened at some one else property? The old mith that if you get injured on someone's property then you are entitle to a recovery is not longer true. Unless the property owner, negligently failed to keep its invitees safe by not removing or correcting the dangerous condition, you must likely are barred from recovery in Texas. The fact that a dangerous condition existed may not be the only factor on your case. The owner of the property must have had "notice" of the dangerous condition and failed to correct it.
The era of sliping and falling on a spill of water (or any liquid for that matter) is almost gone. Many big companies in Texas has opted to take cases to trial rather than settling the case because they know that the standard is very hard to meet. When customers at the grocery store spill a liquid, unless the owner of the property had notice of the spill, and failed to correct the spill in a reasonable time and manner, the owner may not be at fault for the customer's spill.
On the other hand, if the owner of the property created the "dangerous" condition, then notice is not an issue. If you have been injured at a store by a dangerous condition on the store, give us a call (210) 979-9777 or visit our website http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com/ for a free consultation. We care about your legal needs!
When do I have a claim for my Injuries if it happened at some one else property? The old mith that if you get injured on someone's property then you are entitle to a recovery is not longer true. Unless the property owner, negligently failed to keep its invitees safe by not removing or correcting the dangerous condition, you must likely are barred from recovery in Texas. The fact that a dangerous condition existed may not be the only factor on your case. The owner of the property must have had "notice" of the dangerous condition and failed to correct it.
The era of sliping and falling on a spill of water (or any liquid for that matter) is almost gone. Many big companies in Texas has opted to take cases to trial rather than settling the case because they know that the standard is very hard to meet. When customers at the grocery store spill a liquid, unless the owner of the property had notice of the spill, and failed to correct the spill in a reasonable time and manner, the owner may not be at fault for the customer's spill.
On the other hand, if the owner of the property created the "dangerous" condition, then notice is not an issue. If you have been injured at a store by a dangerous condition on the store, give us a call (210) 979-9777 or visit our website http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com/ for a free consultation. We care about your legal needs!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Dog Bite statistics
Studies of dog bite injuries have reported that:
The median age of patients bitten was 15 years, with children, especially boys aged 5 to 9 years, having the highest incidence rate
The odds that a bite victim will be a child are 3.2 to 1. (CDC.)
Children seen in emergency departments were more likely than older persons to be bitten on the face, neck, and head. 77% of injuries to children under 10 years old are facial.
Severe injuries occur almost exclusively in children less than 10 years of age.
The majority of dog attacks (61%) happen at home or in a familiar place.
The vast majority of biting dogs (77%) belong to the victim's family or a friend.
When a child less than 4 years old is the victim, the family dog was the attacker half the time (47%), and the attack almost always happened in the family home (90%).
If you or a love one has been bitten by a dog, give us a call (210) 979-9777 or visit our website at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com because we care about your legal needs!
The median age of patients bitten was 15 years, with children, especially boys aged 5 to 9 years, having the highest incidence rate
The odds that a bite victim will be a child are 3.2 to 1. (CDC.)
Children seen in emergency departments were more likely than older persons to be bitten on the face, neck, and head. 77% of injuries to children under 10 years old are facial.
Severe injuries occur almost exclusively in children less than 10 years of age.
The majority of dog attacks (61%) happen at home or in a familiar place.
The vast majority of biting dogs (77%) belong to the victim's family or a friend.
When a child less than 4 years old is the victim, the family dog was the attacker half the time (47%), and the attack almost always happened in the family home (90%).
If you or a love one has been bitten by a dog, give us a call (210) 979-9777 or visit our website at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com because we care about your legal needs!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces New Effort
(AP) Washington, DC - To combat the alarming trend of rising motorcycle injuries and fatalities, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters recently announced a comprehensive new federal initiative to improve motorcycle safety with more rider education and training, tougher standards for helmet certification labeling, law enforcement training, and road designs that consider motorcycle dynamics.
Secretary Peters – an avid motorcyclist – also released a television public service announcement where she credits her riding gear for saving her life during a 2005 motorcycle crash. “Take it from a motorcycle enthusiast who also happens to be the U.S. Secretary of Transportation,” Secretary Peters says in the PSA. “Check your bike before each ride, wear all your safety equipment and ride with others so you’re more visible. If I hadn’t taken those safety precautions, I wouldn’t be standing here today.”
Peters said the motorcycle safety initiative will create new national safety and training standards for novice riders, curb counterfeit helmet labeling so that consumers can be certain they are buying DOT-certified helmets, place new focus on motorcycle-specific road improvements, and provide training to law enforcement officers on how to spot unsafe motorcyclists. In addition, Peters said, the plan includes a broad public awareness campaign – including the PSA - on safe riding techniques.
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident, please call us at (210) 979-9777 or visit our website at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com for more information. We care about your legal needs!
Secretary Peters – an avid motorcyclist – also released a television public service announcement where she credits her riding gear for saving her life during a 2005 motorcycle crash. “Take it from a motorcycle enthusiast who also happens to be the U.S. Secretary of Transportation,” Secretary Peters says in the PSA. “Check your bike before each ride, wear all your safety equipment and ride with others so you’re more visible. If I hadn’t taken those safety precautions, I wouldn’t be standing here today.”
Peters said the motorcycle safety initiative will create new national safety and training standards for novice riders, curb counterfeit helmet labeling so that consumers can be certain they are buying DOT-certified helmets, place new focus on motorcycle-specific road improvements, and provide training to law enforcement officers on how to spot unsafe motorcyclists. In addition, Peters said, the plan includes a broad public awareness campaign – including the PSA - on safe riding techniques.
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident, please call us at (210) 979-9777 or visit our website at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com for more information. We care about your legal needs!
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About Me
- The Báez Law Firm, P.C.
- San Antonio, Texas, United States
- Find Personal Injury Trial Lawyers that will treat you with dignity and respect. The Baez Law Firm, P.C. is dedicated to help those less fortunate. Our San Antonio Lawyers also handle family law, criminal defense, business law, immigration, social security disability, patent law, trade marks and much more. We are professionals that care about your legal needs. Our motto is simple: “Minimizing Legal Worries!”℠ Visit us at http://www.thebaezlawfirm.com or call us (210) 979-9777. Have a blessed day!
