Dallas Woman Injured in Accident Involving Large Truck

A Dallas woman suffered minor injuries in a 3-car accident in Shreveport, Louisiana, involving a large truck, causing a closure of the westbound lanes of I-20 on Tuesday. The accident occurred when an 18-wheeler loaded with dog food rear-ended the woman's Mercedes, pushing it into another 18-wheeler that was stopped on the side of the road. The woman was transported to the hospital with a minor head injury.

Large trucks may have to stop on the side of the road because of mechanical problems or shifted loads, or even to get some rest in order to comply with hours of service obligations for commercial drivers. However, truck drivers are required under federal law to immediately activate the truck's hazard lights and place warning devices on the traffic side of the truck at distances of 10 feet and 100 feet from the disabled commercial vehicle. Failure to follow these safety precautions may make it difficult for other motorists to see the disabled vehicle.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a large truck, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to explore your legal options. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a fee unless you recover money for your injuries.

Wife of Man Killed in Plant Explosion Plans to Sue

The wife of a man killed in a Valero plant explosion in Texas City plans to sue the company for wrongful death. Laura Parker-Manis, whose husband, Tommy Manis, was killed when a boiler exploded, filed suit against the manufacturer and company that provided maintenance for the boiler. According to news reports, she also plans on filing a wrongful death suit against Valero.

When a person dies while on the job, his or her family members may have a claim for wrongful death. A wrongful death suit is intended to compensate family members for the emotional and financial losses suffered after the death of a loved one. When a person dies in a work-related accident, his or her employer may have been responsible for causing the death. An experienced Houston personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether a wrongful death suit is appropriate in your case.

If you have lost a loved one in a work-related accident, call the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today. The Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident lawyers provide a free initial consultation regarding your case.

Texas Woman Attacked by Her Own Dog

A 65-year-old Liberty County woman was attacked by her bull mastiff in her home just outside Dayton Thursday morning, according to news reports. The woman was found unconscious by sheriffs, who arranged for the woman to be flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital. She had bite wounds on her hands, head, and feet. Bull mastiffs are generally considered a very docile breed of dog in spite of their large size.

In general, avoiding the most dangerous breeds of dogs can help prevent dog bites. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, the most dangerous breeds of dogs are pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Chow Chows, and wolf hybrids. However, even the most docile breeds can attack without warning or provocation, as is evident in this attack. Dog attacks can leave lasting physical and emotional scarring on attack victims. Therefore, it is important to speak with an experienced Houston injury lawyer to fully assess your damages after an animal attack.

If you have been injured in a dog attack, contact the Houston injury lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to explore your legal options. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a fee unless you recover money for your injuries.

Truck Tips Over, Spilling Fuel on Highway Exit Ramp

A truck tipped over and spilled fuel on the North Loop exit ramp to 59 North early Wednesday morning, causing the ramp to be closed for hours. The 18 wheeler tipped over trying to navigate the sharp curve on the ramp. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident.

The majority of truck accidents are caused by negligence, either on the part of the driver or of the trucking company. According to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver negligence is the critical reason for 87% of truck crashes. In a truck accident causation study involving 120,000 large truck crashes over a two-year period, 87% of the crashes were found to be caused by one of the following types of driver negligence:

• Non-Performance: The driver fell asleep, was disabled by a heart attack or seizure, or was physically impaired for another reason.
• Recognition: The driver was inattentive, was distracted by something inside or outside the vehicle, or failed to observe the situation adequately for some other reason.
• Decision: For example, the driver was driving too fast for conditions, misjudged the speed of other vehicles, or followed other vehicles too closely.
• Performance: For example, the driver panicked, overcompensated, or exercised poor directional control.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to explore your legal options. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a fee unless you recover money for your injuries.

NHTSA: Teen Driving Deadly

Auto accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teenagers in this country. Drivers between 15 and 20 years old are three times as likely to be involved in an auto accident than older drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NHTSA statistics show that there are several reasons for the high incidence of teen driving deaths, including inexperience, speeding, alcohol and drug use, failure to wear seat belts, and distracted driving caused by texting while driving, talking on a cell phone, or having other teen passengers in the car. The NHTSA recommends that all teen drivers be required to take a driving course before getting a license. In addition, parents should not allow teen drivers to use a handheld electronic device or have other teen passengers in the vehicle while driving. Taking these safety precautions, as well as encouraging them to buckle up every time they drive, can help ensure that your teen driver stays safe.

If you were involved in an auto accident, call the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today. The Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys provide a free initial consultation regarding your case.

Push to Ban Texting While Driving in All 50 States

Most people agree that texting while driving is dangerous. But just how dangerous? According to a study released in July by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers who text behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash event than drivers who are not distracted. That is why the Automobile Association of America, more commonly known as AAA, is meeting with state governments across the nation to push for statewide bans on texting while driving. Currently, only 18 states and the District of Columbia have laws restricting or banning the use of handheld electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. It is the mission of AAA and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, however, to persuade all 50 states to pass laws banning text messaging while driving by the year 2013. Although Texas has banned talking on cell phones in school zones, there is currently no law banning or restricting text messaging while driving.

There is no doubt that distracted driving can be deadly. Drivers who send text messages behind the wheel take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds - that’s long enough to travel the length of an entire football field! People injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers often suffer serious, debilitating injuries that may prevent them from returning to work for a while or permanently. They may have mounting medical bills and household debt they simply cannot pay. They may not know where to turn for help.

If you are injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to discuss your case. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a thing unless you recover money for your injuries.

Toyota to Recall 3.8 Million Defective Floor Mats

Toyota is set to recall 3.8 million vehicles in the U.S., the company announced in a press release on Tuesday. The floor mats on the affected models may interfere with the accelerator pedal, causing the accelerator to become stuck while the vehicle is in operation. A stuck accelerator can result in high vehicle speed, which may cause the operator to lose control of the vehicle and crash. A California crash that killed three people last month has been attributed to defective Toyota floor mats. Owners may begin receiving notifications of the recall as early as next week.

According to the press release, the following Toyota and Lexus models will be affected by the recall:

• 2007 - 2010 Camry
• 2005 - 2010 Avalon
• 2004 - 2009 Prius
• 2005 - 2010 Tacoma
• 2007 - 2010 Tundra
• 2007 - 2010 ES350
• 2006 - 2010 IS250 and IS350

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported over 100 incidents in which floor mats in the affected Toyota models caused the accelerator to stick. Owners of vehicles equipped with the defective floor mats are encouraged to remove the floor mats from the vehicle and refrain from installing replacement mats until the company remedies the problem.

If you have been injured in an auto accident caused by a defective product, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to explore your legal options. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a fee unless you recover money for your injuries.

3 Teens Injured in Hit-and-Run Accident

Three teenagers were injured Monday morning when a car sped past a school bus that was stopped with its lights flashing. One victim, a 17-year-old boy, suffered serious injuries in the accident. Two other students, another 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, were treated for minor injuries. Fortunately, no one was killed in the incident. The driver, 34-year-old Bob Nichols Norfleet, left the scene of the accident and failed to render assistance to his victims. He is now in police custody.

Pedestrian accidents, like this one, killed over 300 school-age pedestrians and injured another 14,000 more in 2007. Motorists must remember to be extremely cautious if driving in the early morning or late afternoon hours when children are going to and returning from school. Although this incident occurred in the morning, more school-age pedestrians are killed between 3 and 4 in the afternoon than any other time of day. If your child has been injured in any type of accident, the Houston accident lawyers at Palermo Law Firm can help recover money for your child’s medical bills, physical pain, and emotional trauma.

If you or your child was injured in a pedestrian accident, call the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today. The Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys provide a free initial consultation regarding your case.

Beaumont Crash Kills 2 Motorcyclists

Two motorcyclists were killed and another injured in a Beaumont crash involving 3 motorcycles and a van. The three motorcyclists were heading North on the Eastex Freeway on Thursday morning when one of the motorcycles rear ended a van, causing all three motorcycles to crash. Two motorcyclists were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, and a third was rushed to Beaumont hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the van was not injured in the crash.

Houston motorcycle accident victims tend to suffer more serious injuries than occupants of other motor vehicles when involved in auto accidents. Catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and severe internal trauma, can leave motorcycle accident victims unable to complete routine daily tasks for weeks, months, or even years after the accident. These serious injuries may cause permanent brain damage or result in paraplegia or quadraplegia, preventing accident victims from enjoying the quality of life they had before the accident. The most serious Houston motorcycle accidents often result in death. The experienced Houston motorcycle accident lawyers at Palermo Law Firm are committed to providing aggressive and thorough representation to all motorcycle accident victims.

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to discuss your case. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a thing unless you recover money for your injuries.

Worker Killed in Trench Accident

A construction worker was killed while working in a trench in Conroe on Tuesday. Three men were working when at around 5 p.m. rain water quickly filled the trench. Two of the men were able to escape safely, but the other was washed away in the flood of water. He was swept about 50 feet into a nearby sewer, where firefighters later found his body. The accident is currently under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Accidents like this highlight the many dangers involved in construction work. According to a study by the National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health, trench accidents are responsible for approximately 100 fatalities and 1,000 injuries per year. When accidents occur because of unsafe trenching practices that violate OSHA standards, a construction accident lawsuit may be appropriate. Construction workers should contact a Houston accident lawyer immediately if they are injured in a trench accident. Injured workers risk losing the right to sue their employers if they file a workers’ compensation claim, which may leave them with inadequate compensation for their pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages after the accident.

If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to explore your legal options. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a fee unless you recover money for your injuries.

1 Dead, 1 Injured in Houston Rollover Accident

A man died after the SUV he was driving hit another vehicle and rolled over on the southbound lanes of I-45 in Webster on Wednesday. Police say he was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. His passenger was airlifted to a local hospital, but her condition was not immediately released. Fortunately, the occupants of the other SUV were not injured in the crash.

Rollover accidents can cause severe injuries, especially if the vehicle occupants are not wearing seat belts. Catastrophic injuries, such as paralysis, brain trauma, and internal wounds are typically more common and more serious in rollover crashes. Rollover accidents occur often with SUVs because their high center of gravity makes them prone to rolling over when involved in accidents. If you have been injured in a rollover accident, you should contact an experienced Houston auto accident attorney to discuss your case today.

If a rollover accident caused your injuries, call our Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys offer a free consultation regarding your case.

Houston Leads Nation in Dog Attacks on Postal Workers

Houston has more dog attacks on postal workers than any other city in the nation. In fact, according to a recent KHOU news report, Houston has lead the nation in postal worker dog attacks for 8 of the previous 12 years. There were 106 dog bites in 2008 alone. When postal workers are bitten while delivering mail, they are considered “invitees.” An invitee is someone who is allowed onto another’s property for business purposes. Dog owners owe invitees the highest duty of care to prevent a dog attack from occurring.

According to recent statistics, one out of every six dog bite injuries requires medical care and one out of every fourteen requires emergency care. Unfortunately, dog bite injury victims often have to bear the cost of their own medical treatment. If you have been injured in a Houston dog attack, the dog’s owner should be held responsible for the injuries inflicted by his or her pet. The Houston dog attack lawyers at Palermo Law Firm can use our experience and resources to help ensure that you receive full compensation for your injuries.

If you are injured in an animal attack, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a thing unless you recover money for your injuries.

Houston Accident Lawyer

According to Texas Department of Public Safety statistics, almost 4,000 people are killed and another 350,000 are injured in Texas traffic accidents each year. Texas car accident injuries can have a devastating impact on an accident victim’s life. You may be unable to work, require expensive medical care, and be unable to enjoy once loved activities after the accident. If you have been involved in a Texas car wreck, you need an experienced Houston car accident lawyer on your side.

Palermo Law Firm represents Houston accident victims with a variety of different types of injuries. Our Houston auto accident lawyers help injury victims seek compensation to help pay their medical bills, repair their damaged vehicles, and make up for time missed from work. Some common Houston car accident injuries are:

• Neck & Back Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Scars, Burns, & Physical Disfigurement
• Broken Bones & Fractures
• Paraplegia & Quadriplegia
• Wrongful Death

If you have been injured in any type of accident, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a thing unless you recover money for your injuries.