Worker Wins Verdict based on West Nile Virus

This summer, Texas has experienced unprecedented levels of West Nile virus. Disconcertingly, instances of the potentially deadly disease have been found in North Texas counties where West Nile had never previously been recorded. In fact, the situation has grown so severe that Dallas County officials engaged in aerial spraying for mosquitos for the first time since the Johnson Administration.

Is an employer responsible if a worker is exposed to West Nile virus-carrying mosquitos and contracts the disease? To the surprise of some, a Texas jury concluded earlier this week that the answer was yes. In fact, the DeWitt County jury found that Union Pacific was 80 percent responsible for the damages suffered by a worker who was exposed to the virus during the course of his duties and was not offered protection such as repellant. Ultimately, the worker was awarded a verdict that reached nearly $1,000,000.

Are you concerned that you or a loved one contracted West Nile virus while working at your job? While the road to medical recovery may be difficult, the road to legal recovery may be easier than you might have first assumed. Worker safety is important. If you were injured as a result of your employer’s carelessness, you may have a viable claim. To find out what steps you should consider, talk to the dedicated professionals at Fears | Nachawati. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm.

North Texas Storms Impact North Texas Traffic

Heavy, violent showers last night didn’t just gorge North Texas streams and rivers, but also North Texas roadways today as downed tree branches, wet roads, and, in a few cases, high water impeded traditional traffic patterns.

Slower commutes isn’t the only effect commonly associated with thunderstorms. Unfortunately, storms often cause an increase in automobile accidents. By limiting visibility, adding new obstacles like pelting rain, standing water, and downed branches, and prompting sudden, unexpected stops, thunderstorms decreases safety and significantly increase the incidence of collision.

What should you do if your car was damaged or if you were hurt as a result of a thunderstorm-related automobile accident? Do you have questions about whether you’ll be able to recover from your insurance provider or from the insurance company of the person who struck you? Answer these important questions by talking to the legal professionals at Fears | Nachawati today. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm. We can help!

Single Car Accident, Multi-Party Responsibility?

Last weekend, a driver went to the hospital after his car rolled down 30 feet down an embankment near Interstate 30, coming to a rest upside down. Photographs from the accident site reveal that the car sustained considerable damage, breaking down doors and windows and jeopardizing the driver’s life.

Many single car accidents are the fault of the driver. However, that’s not necessarily always the case. In some automobile accident cases, the design or manufacture of the car – or its component parts – are responsible for some or all of the accident that occurs. In these situations, the manufacturer of the vehicle or part may bear legal responsibility.

Are you concerned that your accident may have been caused in whole or part by a malfunctioning part? If the answer is yes, you should consider contacting the lawyers at Fears | Nachawati to find out whether you have a claim. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm.

Trucker’s Death a Sad Reminder of Daily Highway Fatalities in Texas

On every single day in 2011 someone died on a Texas highway. And tragically, summer weekends, a time most Texans think of as being an opportunity to getaway from work and enjoy all that the Lone Star State has to offer, were the deadliest days of the year. The single most devastating day on Texas roads, for instance, was Saturday, June 23. On that day alone, 23 drivers and passengers perished.

In Wise County this week, an 18-wheeler driver died when he lost control of his commercial vehicle, sliding off the road and slamming into a utility pole. The accident is a gruesome reminder of what a dangerous and deadly place Texas highways can be, particularly during this time of year.

Have you or a loved one been involved in a serious accident? The attorneys at the Dallas law firm of Fears | Nachawati can help you sort out what happened, who is responsible, and what you can do about it. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm. We’re here to help victims like you.

Helicopter Crash Underscores Risks of Personal Injury

The risk for personal injury is all around us. In Ellis County this week, a helicopter crashed unexpectedly, putting the lives of the copter’s two pilots in jeopardy. Incredibly, both walked away from the horrifying accident without injury.

This week’s pilots were unexpectedly fortunate. However, the reality is that in homes, apartments, job sites, and public areas throughout North Texas, the potential for injury is as real as it is unpredictable. When it happens, it’s important to know what to do.

Whether you’re in an automobile accident, boating crash, house fire, motorcycle wreck, or any number of other situations that cause personal injury or property damage, you should contact the attorneys at the Dallas law firm of Fears | Nachawati. With years of experience and dedicated expertise, we know how to advise you. For your free consultation, call 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm.

Modified Comparative Negligence Complicates Accident Recovery

In Texas, victims of torts – including automobile accident victims who were injured by a careless driver – are not required to have completely clean hands. That is, just because the victim engaged in some careless behavior, such as speeding or changing lanes without signaling, he is not necessarily barred from recovering.

Texas law imposes a limit as to how careless a person can be and still receive compensation for damages. If a party to an automobile accident was primarily responsible – that is, a jury would find that they were at least 51 percent responsible for the accident – then under Texas’s modified comparative negligence scheme, the party will be barred from recovery.

These legal nuances may seem complicated, but they often have a profound effect upon a victim’s legal recovery. Have you been in an accident and want to know whether you can recover? Talk to the attorneys at the Dallas law firm of Fears | Nachawati. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm.

Fatal Car Accident in Fort Worth

Sliding into oncoming traffic, a thirty-something in Fort Worth died tragically this week when she collided head-on with an approaching truck. While the details of the accident remain uncertain, the legal reality is that although the victim has died, her legal rights have not necessarily died with her. Thanks to Texas’s wrongful death statute, the victim’s next-of-kin may be able to file a suit on the deceased’s behalf.

Did you lose a loved one to a traffic accident? Are you ready to find out if the wrongful death statute protects their rights – and your opportunity to recovery on their behalf? To learn the answer to all of your questions about this important area of the law, talk to the attorneys at Fears | Nachawati today. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm. We can help you!

Important Legal Doctrine at Issue in Accident near Apartments?

The phrase “respondeat superior” may sound Greek to you, but this Latin word can have important legal consequences. In short, the doctrine of respondeat superior means that an employer may be held responsible for the careless or reckless decisions of its employee.

Is this legal doctrine at work in the recent accident that occurred near Dallas’s Oasis Apartments? It could be. According to reports, last week a resident of the complex ran after a tow truck that was carrying away his car, presumably for committing a parking infraction. Whatever the reason, what happened next was horrifying: the tow truck driver ran over the man chasing after him – and drove away from the accident scene.

Two questions are particularly important in this case: first, did the tow truck driver act with reasonable care and second, was he acting with the scope of his employment? If the first answer is “No” and the second answer is “Yes,” the facts may be sufficient to trigger the doctrine of respondeat superior – and the employer’s liability.

Have you been in an accident with a commercial driver, such as a delivery person, tow truck driver, or 18-wheeler driver? The doctrine of respondeat superior may be at work in your case, too. Find out what that means for your potential recovery by contacting the attorneys and professionals at Fears | Nachawati. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.322.6898 or email us at http://www.fnlawfirm.com/contact.cfm. We can help!