Personal injuries resulting from negligence or carelessness are often devastating and life-changing events.  If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto vehicle accident, a work related accident, or due to some type of medical error, Shaw Cowart LLP in Austin, Texas has a team of personal injury lawyers available to assist you during this difficult time.

Why You Need Shaw Cowart LLP Personal Injury Lawyers

The injury lawyers at Shaw Cowart LLP has a highly respected reputation of providing superior advice and legal counsel to their clients to ensure they receive the financial compensation that is due them.

Unlike insurance companies that commonly press victims to settle a case as quickly as possible, we are here to protect your legal rights, and work diligently on your behalf to assist you in navigating through medical paperwork, and filing insurance claims.  Do not agree to sign an insurance release before seeking wise legal counsel first.  The long-term effect of your injuries may not be immediately apparent, and it could be financially devastating to learn too late that you are going to require extensive, and on-going medical treatment, prescription medications, and/or therapy.

Shaw Cowart LLP Personal Injury Lawyers assist clients with a wide variety of injuries.  A few are listed below:

• Motor vehicle accidents including automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.
• DUI accidents
• Drug related accidents
• Defective medical equipment
• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Medical injuries resulting from medical malpractice
• Nursing home injuries

Contact Shaw Cowart LLP today to determine how we can assist you in your personal injury case in Austin, Texas.

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There is a new term, driving while intexticated, that is indicative of just how deadly texting a driving really is. Teen drivers, and adults as well, can be easily distracted if they text and drive. According to an AAA survey the top four concerns, in order of highest to lowest, for driving hazards include:

1. Texting and driving
2. Drinking and driving
3. Falling asleep while driving
4. Aggressive driving

Texting and driving is a deadly combination because of the amount of focus required to text. Changing the radio station or talking with a passenger does not require a driver to divert his or her attention for nearly as long as texting does. Research indicates that a person is 400% more likely to be involved in a car wreck when texting and driving. The reaction time for a driver who is texting is slower than a driver who is impaired by alcohol.

Teens and young adult drivers are the most likely to suffer deadly personal injuries from texting. There has not been anything in the history of driving that has caused such a sharp increase in catastrophic or deadly personal injuries. While some states have passed laws to ban texting and driving, it is surprising to note that, in every state that has made the use of handheld devices a traffic offense, car accidents have increased by 25%. This indicates that drivers are not stopping their dangerous behavior, they are only trying to hide their behavior; therefore, increasing the risk of an accident.

Austin Personal Injury Attorney

If you are a victim of an accident that occurred while another driver was texting and driving, seek the help of an Austin personal injury attorney at Shaw Cowart. We will advocate for you to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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If your family has experienced the wrongful death of a loved one due to serious personal injuries caused by the negligence or carelessness of someone else, contact Austin wrongful death attorneys at Shaw Cowart LLP in Austin, Texas.  Our team of skilled and experienced attorneys has assisted hundreds of clients and their families in recovering fair and just financial compensation for their loss.  It is always true that financial compensation can never replace or compensate adequately for your grief, or loss of companionship, but it does provide the assurance that you will be able to pay your mortgage, medical expenses, day-to-day living expenses, and even send your children to college.

If your loved one was the sole provider, financial compensation will also provide you with the opportunity to focus on moving forward with your life as opposed to the stress of finding a way to support your family.

Compensation in an Austin Wrongful Death Claim

According to Texas law, the spouse and dependent children of a person who has died as the result of wrongful death may file suit for financial compensation that includes:

• Loss of future wages and benefits
• Medical expenses
• Funeral expenses
• Loss of companionship
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages

Shaw Cowart LLP Austin Wrongful Death Attorneys Will Fight for You

Dealing with the emotional turmoil and loss caused by your loved one’s wrongful death often clouds your thoughts and the reality of facing the future.  In working with Shaw Cowart LLP Austin wrongful death attorneys, you will find a team of caring and compassionate people eager and determined to focus on fighting for your rights to receive the compensation that is rightfully yours. This will allow you to focus on yourself, and your family during this traumatic and life-changing event.

Contact Shaw Cowart LLP Austin Wrongful Death Attorney’s today for a free consultation.

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Car accident injuries happen every day leaving many people helpless to provide for themselves or their families while they recover from their injuries.  In some cases, the injuries are so devastating a person may never fully recover to the life they knew before the accident occurred.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident due to negligence or carelessness, you have the right to financial compensation for those injuries.  You should not be responsible for the wrongful acts of other people.  Austin personal injury attorneys at Shaw Cowart LLP are available to assist you in pursuing financial damages for your injuries.

Areas of Damage

We have worked with hundreds of clients in successfully recovering financial damages for the following:

• Medical expenses, including emergency transportation from the scene
• Physicians bills
• Prescription expenses
• Physical therapy
• Counseling
• Medical equipment
• Loss of income to include present and future
• Pain and suffering

Texas law does have a statute of limitations stating that the suit must be filed within a specific time frame.  Contact Shaw Cowart LLP immediately and allow us to begin the fight for your just and fair compensation.

Shaw Cowart LLP Austin Car Accident Personal Injury Attorneys

We have the legal knowledge and expertise along with the respect of insurance companies, defense attorneys, and judges who have worked with us on hundreds of car accident personal injury claims.  Insurance companies understand they are up against a formidable team determined to fight for our clients’ rights if they refuse to provide a fair and just compensation for our clients’ injuries and financial losses.  We never back down, and we are very comfortable in pursuing them through the court system. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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A semi-truck or trailer-truck is massive in size and weight in comparison to a normal size automobile. If you are driving a car, and you have an accident with a large truck, your chance of incurring catastrophic personal injury is very high.

Some truck accidents are unavoidable, unfortunately. However, there are a few tips you can follow when you are sharing the road with trucks in Austin. These include:

1. Maintain a safe distance from the front of the truck. Do not cut in front of a truck if you are still within three to four car links past the truck. Large trucks take much longer than cars to come to a stop.
2. Drive your vehicle where the truck driver can see you. Semi-trucks have large blind spots and may pull over into your lane if the driver cannot see you. A good rule to remember is if you cannot see the truck driver’s reflection in the truck’s side-view mirrors, chances are the truck driver cannot see you or your car.
3. In the event that a large truck is tailgating you, make every effort to change lanes or distance your car from the truck. Tailgating is an extremely unsafe way for a truck driver to drive.
4. Rainy weather and fog create hazards for all vehicles, but can be far more hazardous for a semi-truck. Use your most cautious driving skills when driving closely to a large truck in poor weather.

Austin Personal Injury Attorney

Trucks cause a multitude of wrecks in Austin and surrounding communities. If you have suffered a personal injury in a truck accident, one of your first steps should be calling Shaw Cowart LLP. Our truck accident specialists know the laws pertaining to the trucking industry in Texas. We want to help you receive the best settlement possible. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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When another person or entity acts in a negligent manner and causes severe or catastrophic injury to you or someone you love, your life can seem out of control. A personal injury lawyer in Austin at Shaw Cowart LLP can counsel and guide you through the process of filing a claim and recovering the monies you need to move past your nightmare. Our team of experts will build the best suit for you and reach the largest feasible settlement.

Contacting the right personal injury lawyer is vital to recovering the damages you are owed. Shaw Cowart LLP has the top resources to offer you the best service. Three of the greatest benefits we offer include:

1. Our personal injury lawyers will not allow an insurance company to bully you into taking less than you are owed. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that want to settle for the least amount possible. Avoid making any statements that could release liability of the insurance or cause them to offer less than you need.
2. Shaw Cowart LLP will carefully assess all damages that exist currently or could arise in the future. Damages for a personal injury can include:

• medical bills
• surgical bills
• possible future surgeries
• rehabilitation charges
• medical equipment expenses
• lost wages
• loss of ability to perform the same line of work
• loss of lifestyle
• pain and suffering

1. An Austin personal injury lawyer at Shaw Cowart will determine if more than one person or entity is responsible for your injuries. For example, if your injuries were caused by a semi-truck accident, the truck driver, the semi-truck company and the content loading company may each hold some liability for your injuries. We will investigate and determine every person or company that may owe you due to their neglect.

Contact Shaw Cowart LLP

A personal injury can have long-term effects on your life. Shaw Cowart LLP in Austin, Texas wants to help you recover the damages you are owed. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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One service that Shaw Cowart LLP wants to offer our readers and clients is to keep you informed of important recalls. Recalls on automobiles and consumer products are usually conducted to prevent personal injury to the buyers in the retail market.

In March of this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a recall on many 2013 Ford Focus, C-Max and Escape models due to a malfunction with the child-safety locks. Typically, a parent would assume that a child is unable to open the passenger door from the inside of the vehicle if the child-safety lock is engaged. With certain Ford cars that were manufactured in November of 2012, the child-safety lock is not effective in preventing a child from opening the rear left door. This recall affects vehicles that were sold in the United States and Canada.

On the 2013 Ford Focus, C-Max, and Escape models, the child-safety lock is supposed to engage automatically while the car is in drive. Parents may have a false sense of security if they are unaware that this very well may not be the case. If a child opened the door on a moving vehicle, serious or catastrophic personal injury may result if the child falls out or causes a wreck.

If you own this type of vehicle, the Ford dealership will repair the problem and a quick and efficient manner. It is imperative for your child’s safety to have this lock updated.

Austin Personal Injury Lawyer

Shaw Cowart is a recognized expert Austin Personal Injury Law Firm with the experience and tenacity to successfully overcome any hurdles you may be facing in receiving due compensation from  an injury inflicted because of another’s negligence. We are not intimidated by large corporations or big insurance companies. We want to counsel and represent you to allow you to receive a fair and just settlement.

Contact an Austin Personal Injury Lawyer at Shaw Cowart LLP for a free consultation today.

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With over $20.6 million reported in economic losses due to car accidents in Texas from 2003 to 2008, it is important that every victim of an automobile wreck knows their rights. Car accidents without personal injury can cause major stress. If a severe or catastrophic injury occurs due to the crash, lives can be changed forever.

Texas Financial Responsibility Law

The Texas Financial Responsibility Law requires drivers in Austin, and throughout the state, to pay for car accidents that were caused by their error. The current law mandates that each driver have a minimum of $30,000 liability insurance for each injured person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. 30/60/25 is what this basic coverage is referenced as.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

A driver may purchase additional coverage to recover damages from a car accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. In this case, your own insurance would pay restitution for the property damage and personal injury cost inflicted in the wreck. This type of insurance is not required by Texas law.

Burden of Proof in Austin, Texas

If you are uncertain of which party caused the car accident in Austin, Texas law allows each person to argue their case as to who is responsible. The driver of each car must present a statement to both party’s insurance and to try to prove who is the victim. Victims also carry the burden of proof to show the extent of their injuries or other losses in order to receive any payment or settlement. An Austin Car Accident Lawyer can assist in proving your case whether you are dealing only with the insurance companies or if your case must be taken before a judge.

Contact an Austin Personal Injury Lawyer

At Shaw Cowart, we know every detail of Texas law regarding car accidents and personal injuries. Our team of experts is ready to help you recover the damages you are owed. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.

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If you have suffered a personal injury due to a car accident or other mishap caused by negligence, you will most likely need to enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer. An attorney will assist in filing a personal injury lawsuit to enable you to have a fair chance of recovering the damages you are owed.

Hiring a personal injury attorney can raise a few questions for the injured, including how much it is going to cost. At Shaw Cowart LLP, our firm always offers a free consultation for our personal injury clients. If we mutually agree to work your claim and lawsuit, we will handle your case on a contingency basis. You only pay our firm if we succeed in winning an award, or judgment, for your claim. The payment will be an agreed-upon percentage of the award.

Advantages of a Contingency Agreement for a Personal Injury Lawsuit

A contingency fee agreement offers many advantages to the injured client, including:

• Affordability – many people would not be able to afford lawyers’ fees.
• Fair playing field – insurance companies and big corporations often employ in-house attorneys that are paid on an hourly basis. When you hire an attorney to represent your rights, you have equal opportunity to develop a legitimate case for your injury lawsuit.
• Motivation for the lawyer – when a lawyer is hired on a contingency basis, the lawyer remains motivated to work in a diligent manner to have a positive outcome for both you and the law firm.
• Truthfulness – if Shaw Cowart LLP feels that your claim will not succeed, we will advise you to seek a second opinion. It would not make sense for our firm to pursue a personal injury lawsuit we did not believe we could win since we would not get paid.

Shaw Cowart LLP Personal Injury Representation

Contact the office of Shaw Cowart LLP for a free consultation. We will discuss all aspects of your case and help you determine if you should file a personal injury lawsuit.

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There are times when even seemingly minor storms can produce wind and rain strong enough to cause heavy damage to homes and property.  One recent example involves storms with high winds in East Texas.  Fortunately, there were no personal injuries reported; however, it does appear that many people will need to file insurance claims for property damage.

While the storm did not affect Austin residents, during the storm in East Texas power lines were downed by falling trees subsequently causing power failures in some parts of the area.  People were grateful that no injuries occurred, but they were concerned about the damages incurred by the fallen trees, and power outages.  In some areas, authorities were able to establish that wind gusts clocked at almost 75 mph causing RV campers to roll over, including one with people inside.  In addition, some people lost the roofs on their homes which also caused extensive damages to their furniture, and the interior of their homes.

Bad Faith Insurance Attorney

Some people who file insurance claims for damage to their property may discover that their insurance company is uncooperative and even attempting to dispute their claim.  If this happens, it is very unsettling to learn that while you, the homeowner, thought you had paid for the necessary coverage if your home or property were damaged, you are now learning that your coverage was not what it appeared to be.

If you have filed insurance claims for damages to your home or property, and you are now learning that your insurance company is disputing your coverage, contact Austin Bad Faith Insurance Attorney Shaw Cowart for advice.  Shaw Cowart has a strong and successful history of assisting their clients in filing bad faith insurance claims in Austin.

Source: Longview News-Journal, “High winds, low damage from Tuesday’s East Texas storms,” Angela Ward, Jan. 31, 2013

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