If you were recently involved in a serious car accident, you may feel completely overwhelmed by pursuing the justice you deserve. When someone else causes the crash, why should you be left with the pain, medical bills, lasting injury, and other devastating effects of this trauma? Our experienced attorneys help accident victims pursue maximum compensation.

The first step after you get the medical care you need is to call our attorneys for a case review. Our complimentary consultations are no obligation. We encourage you to write down any questions on your mind, which may include:

Do I have a car accident claim? We’ll thoroughly examine all the factors surrounding your car accident and resulting injuries. Then we can determine whether someone else’s negligence caused the crash, in which case you are probably eligible to pursue compensation in a claim handled by our lawyers.

How much is my case worth? Although there is no way to predict what a potential compensation award would be, we can talk about what damages you may be due, such as medical bills, loss of wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.

How can I help my case? Our attorneys handle the complexities of your claim, so that you are provided the space and time to focus on your recovery. Nonetheless, there will be times when we reach out to you for certain documentation, medical records, or other information to help your case. You can rely on us to communicate openly and honestly in all phases of the case.

How long will it take to resolve my case? There is no way to predict how long it will take to come to the end of a case. There are many ways the case could go. In general, claims take anywhere from a few months to a few years to resolve, but it’s highly variable. We will keep you looped in every step of the way.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by someone else’s carelessness, you deserve justice. For a complimentary case review with our experienced attorneys in Austin, TX, please call Shaw Cowart LLP at 512-499-8900.

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Each year in Texas, several thousand people lose their lives in motor vehicle accidents. In a fatal injury claim handled by our attorneys in Austin, we pursue maximum compensation and justice on your behalf. We are an experienced boutique injury firm that has been representing families affected by wrongful death for years. Please call us at 512-499-8900 to arrange a consultation.

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The forecast in Austin this week calls for summer thunderstorms. As locals, we know you are accustomed to driving in rain, but our law firm wants to remind Austin drivers of the basic safety tips for driving in severe weather. As experienced accident attorneys, we are committed to sharing safety information to prevent the tragedies that car accidents lead to every day. Here are the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s top severe weather driving tips:

• Steer away from flooded roadways. Driving through rushing water is very dangerous and can lift your vehicle up and off the roadway with the flow of water. Drowning is a real and possible result. Turn around if you see a flooded roadway.
• Reduce your speed to match the conditions. This will help with both reduced visibility and reduced traction. Increase your following distance so that you’ll be able to slow down without losing control if the vehicle in front of you has a problem. Driving slower will also reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
• Remain alert for the presence of pedestrians and bicyclists. Bicyclists and pedestrians get caught in the rain just as motorists do, so we shouldn’t assume they aren’t around when the weather turns sour. Part of staying alert and attentive to the task of driving is being on the lookout for these other road users.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to change your windshield wipers every 6-12 months, or as soon as they are performing poorly. Large streaks or lack of a clear windshield are good signs that it’s time for old wipers to go.

It may be a good idea to delay your travel plans if you are able. When a severe storm is predicted, consider adjusting your commute or plans so that you won’t be driving during the worst of it.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Austin or the surrounding areas, please call the experienced accident lawyers at Shaw Cowart for a complimentary case review at 512-499-8900. We will let you know what your options are for pursuing maximum injury compensation.

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If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, there are certain damages you may be able to claim. Overall, the damages available in a wrongful death case depend on two factors: your relationship with the deceased and the support they provided in your life. For example, if the deceased was your spouse, the damages you can claim are much different than if they were your parent or other type of relative. 

Wrongful death damages can include, but are not limited to:

• Loss of support. Many loved ones provide more than just financial support. This damage covers any loss of emotional support, advice, or care that your loved one provided on a regular basis.
• Loss of earning capacity. If the deceased contributed financially to your wellbeing, you may be able to claim those losses. This is most common when the deceased is a spouse or parent.
• Loss of companionship. When you lose a loved one, you also lose their benefits from being in their company, including love and comfort. This is considered a non-economic damage in wrongful death cases.
• Loss of inheritance. This includes any money that would have been left to you in the future by the deceased if not for their premature death.
• Funeral and counseling expenses. You can pursue any funeral costs related to your loved one’s passing as well as any expenses for psychological counseling you may need.

These damages and more are divided into three categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Economic damages are any financial losses you incur as a result of your loved one’s death. In contrast, non-economic damages are intangible losses you sustain as a result of their death which negatively impact your mental wellbeing. Punitive damages are designed to punish the party responsible for the death if their actions were grossly negligent. 

At Shaw Cowart, LLP, our wrongful death attorneys can help determine the different types of damages you can pursue in your case. We will do everything we can to hold the person responsible for your loved one’s death accountable. If you have lost a loved one due to a wrongful death, call us at 512-499-8900 to schedule a consultation. We are proud to serve clients from our practice in Austin, Texas.

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In the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established regulations which restrict the number of hours a truck driver can work. Despite these rules, truck driver fatigue continues to be one of the most common causes of semi-truck accidents. This is because trucking companies often put profit before the regulatory standards, pushing the boundaries of working hours to meet unreasonable deadlines.

Hours of Service Rules

According to the FMCSA, truck drivers are not allowed to drive for more than 11 hours on any given day. In addition, their shift cannot exceed 14 hours total. This means that on every workday, truck drivers must have at least 10 hours off between shifts.

The total number of hours that a truck driver may work in a week depends on the number of days that their employer operates the vehicle fleet. For example, if the trucking company’s fleet is active 7 days per week, their truck drivers cannot work more than 70 hours in an 8-day period. In contrast, if the fleet is active for less than 7 days per week, the drivers cannot exceed 60 hours on duty in a 7-day period.

Truck Driver Fatigue and How to Prove Hours of Service Violations

When a truck driver works for more hours than allowed by the FMCSA, it can cause them to experience drowsiness near the end of a shift, putting everyone on the road at risk. In some cases, trucking companies won’t tell their drivers about these regulations, implying that they need to work overtime to meet unrealistic deadlines. However, our experienced personal injury attorneys can help uncover hours of service violations by examining the trucker’s fuel receipts, toll payments, and mileage.

Injured in an Accident Involving a Semi-Truck?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-truck accident, call Shaw Cowart, LLP today at 512-499-8900 to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys. We will help fight for compensation on your behalf against the trucking company or driver responsible. We are happy to serve clients from our practice in Austin, Texas.

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When you are injured due to a defective product, it’s important to know what type of defect caused the injury. Generally, there are three types of product defects that are considered in personal injury lawsuits: manufacturing defects, design defects, and marketing defects. In all of these cases, the manufacturer, retailer, or user can be held liable for the injuries caused by the defective product.

Manufacturing Defects

This type of defect is the most common among product liability claims. In a lawsuit, a manufacturing defect is when a product is determined unsafe due to a manufacturing error but is otherwise designed safely. In other words, the product would be safe to use in a regular situation, but the manufacturing error makes it dangerous to use as intended.

Design Defects

A product is considered to have a design defect when its construction is flawed and there is no safe way to use it. Contrary to other defects, a design defect makes it impossible to use the product safely even for its intended use. A good example of this is a car seat that doesn’t have a strap or isn’t secured to a seat belt.

Marketing Defects

Also known as failure to warn, a marketing defect occurs when the packaging, instructions, or advertising of a product provide inadequate warnings for potential dangers or mislead the consumer. This is more common with pharmaceuticals, which must list any potential side effects or risks associated with the medication.

In general, manufacturers are most likely to be held accountable in any of these situations. However, there are other parties who can be held liable depending on the circumstances. Since product liability cases can be complicated, make sure to hire a personal injury attorney who knows how to identify these different defects and those who are liable for your injuries.

Injured by a Defective Product? Our Attorneys Can Help

If you have been injured by a product that you believe to be defective, call Shaw Cowart, LLP today at 512-499-8900 to schedule a consultation. We are happy to serve clients living in Austin, TX and the surrounding area.

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When you get involved in a car accident, the experience can be stressful and disorienting, especially if there are injuries involved. Before you gather evidence, always make sure to check yourself, your passengers, and other drivers involved for injuries. To ensure you have the information you need for your claim, you should call 911 to report the accident. The responding officer will file an accident report, which will detail the scene of the crash and serve as an important piece of evidence in your claim.

While the accident report is an important part of your claim, there are other pieces of evidence that can help strengthen it. If possible, try to gather the following information after an accident:

• Contact/Insurance Info for Other Drivers Involved. To make your claim and obtain a copy of your accident report, you will need identifying information from all of the drivers involved in the accident. This includes their name, address, insurance company, policy number, driver’s license number, and license plate number.
• Contact Info for Witnesses. If there are any witnesses to your accident who are willing to give a statement about the cause, ask for their name and phone number so you can follow up with them.
• Photographic or Video Evidence of Damages. Take pictures or video of any damage to your vehicle as well as any injuries you sustain in the accident. If you have any repairs done to your vehicle to fix the damage, keep track of the receipts for those services. You should also take photos of the road conditions at the time of the accident. Skid marks and debris can make it easier to determine the events leading up to and during the crash.

Finally, after your accident, you should seek out an experienced personal injury attorney to fight on your behalf. At Shaw Cowart LLP, our car accident lawyers can help you gather the evidence you need to take on the insurance company. To schedule a consultation, call us today at 512-499-8900. We are proud to serve clients from our practice in Austin, TX.

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A catastrophic injury is any harm that is so severe that it causes a permanent change to the victim’s day-to-day routine. In addition, the consequences of the injury also affect the victim’s family, often requiring long-term care. Here are some of the most common catastrophic injuries that a victim may suffer in an accident.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

This type of injury can happen whenever there is an impact on the brain or oxygen deprivation. While they are most common in car crashes, they can also happen from falls, construction accidents, and more. Severe brain damage can happen in a variety of ways, including:

• Suffocation
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Surgical Complications
• Drowning
• Skull Fractures
• Concussions

The resulting traumatic brain injury could be mild, moderate, or severe depending on how the injury was sustained.

Spinal Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can cause a permanent physical disability, restricting the victim’s strength, movement, and bodily functions. Often, these injuries result in paraplegia and quadriplegia. The most common causes of spinal injuries usually include car accidents, falls, medical malpractice, and defective products.

Amputations

This category of injury can be one of the most devastating on the victim. Not only does it require rehabilitation, it can limit mobility and coordination. Often, victim’s need to use prosthetic devices or wheelchairs for the rest of their life. This is most often caused by auto accidents, but it can also be the result of a workplace injury involving heavy machinery.

Eye Injuries

While eye injuries may not seem serious at first, they can easily result in permanent blindness or severely reduced vision. As a consequence, many victims may not be able to travel without assistance or perform certain routine activities. Eye injuries can be caused by several things, including shrapnel, head trauma, and burns.

Need Help Financially Recovering from Life-Changing Injuries?

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury due to the negligence of another, call Shaw Cowart, LLP today at 512-499-8900 to set up a complimentary consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. We proudly represent clients living in Austin, TX and other surrounding communities.

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No matter what type of job you have, there is always a risk of sustaining an injury. Whether you work in an office cubicle or at a factory, your employer has a responsibility to keep you safe. Here are some of the most common causes of workplace injuries due to employer negligence.

Machinery

Many workplace injuries happen due to heavy machinery, especially in factories, farms, and construction sites. Any machinery that has exposed moving parts or ejects debris presents a serious hazard if not properly safeguarded or operated by a trained worker. The most common way a workplace injury occurs with machinery is when a body part gets stuck in moving parts, causing severe fractures, severed limbs, or death.

Slip and Falls

According to the National Safety Council, slip and falls account for more than 27% of all workplace injuries in the United States. This is especially true in warehouses and other workplaces that have poor lighting, occasional wet floors, or uncovered cables. Slip and falls often result in sprains and fractures, but they can also cause more serious injuries including head trauma, slipped spinal disks, and more.

Combustibles

While mostly common in oil refineries and construction sites, injuries due to explosions and fires can happen in almost any workplace. Most explosions are caused by faulty gas lines or improperly stored chemicals, but they can also be caused by damaged equipment. Even though combustibles only accounted for about 1,700 work injuries in 2019, nearly 6% of those injuries resulted in death. 

Overexertion or Repetitive Movements

Repetitive Stress Injuries and overexertion are the top causes of workplace injuries. They are most likely to occur in workplaces that involve heavy lifting or dexterous work, such as production lines, transportation, and warehouses. Injuries can range from chronic pain and carpal tunnel syndrome to tendonitis and bursitis.

Injured in the Workplace? Our Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

If you or a loved one sustains an injury in the workplace and you need help filing a workers’ compensation claim, call Shaw Cowart, LLP at 512-499-8900 to schedule a consultation. We are happy to serve clients living in Austin and surrounding Texas communities.

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For Brain Injury Awareness Month, we are taking a look at the common causes for traumatic brain injuries in personal injury cases. If you have sustained a serious brain injury due to the negligence of another, the attorneys of Shaw Cowart LLP can help fight for the compensation you deserve. To setup a complimentary consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney, call us at 512-499-8900. We welcome patients living in Austin, Texas and the surrounding area.

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