Archive for August, 2008

Dallas Construction Accident Lawyer

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

Dallas Construction Accident Lawyer Steven C. Laird

Dallas construction accidents – along with construction accidents all over the world – are a modern terror.

A Dallas construction accident can happen any day of the week. If your job is to move tons of concrete and steel, one careless mistake can easily result in personal injury or wrongful death. And if someone incurs a construction accident injury, sorting it out involves multiple insurance companies, tight million-dollar production schedules, workers compensation, issues of fault and job security. If you’ve been involved in a construction accident, you should get in touch with the skilled and knowledgeable Dallas construction accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C. for a free construction accident case evaluation.

Dallas Construction Accident By The Numbers

There are more than 7 million construction workers in the U.S., and unfortunately some of them are involved in construction accidents. Construction workers are vulnerable to high-altitude falls, dangerous chemicals and falling building materials. Annual wrongful deaths on construction sites number over a thousand, and as a result, construction is one of the most deadly professions in the country.

Dallas Construction Accidents Dangers

Construction is a tough job. Unlike most jobs, construction workers have to adapt to totally new conditions every time the task or the project changes. Construction dangers include wind, extreme temperatures, ice, snow, extreme heights, crane accidents, and electrical, chemical, mechanical and hydraulic hazards. 26% of construction accident fatalities are caused by falls – the majority of construction accident deaths.

Why Are Construction Accident Cases So Complicated?

The efforts of Dallas construction accident lawyers to attain justice in construction accident cases are often slowed by safety regulations, corporate and insurance company involvement and workers compensation rules. New laws covering construction accident cases and workers compensation put a maximum on the amount of damages that construction companies are required to pay to injured construction accident victims. At the same time, construction accident law relieves construction accident victims of the need to prove negligence. Still, the new rules mean that construction accident victims who have been struck by personal injury or even wrongful death can end up footing some of the costs of their construction accident – despite the fact that the construction company was entirely to blame.

Injured Dallas construction accident victims aren’t entirely left out in the cold, though. Sometimes a third party may be financially responsible for part of the construction accident. Also, if the construction company did not follow the safety rules mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a savvy Dallas construction accident lawyer can win more compensation from them for personal injuries or wrongful deaths caused by their carelessness.

Contacting The Right Dallas Construction Accident Lawyer

Because of the complexities of workers compensation law (which vary from state to state) and federal construction accident regulations, it’s critical that you seek out a top Dallas construction accident lawyer to represent you in court.

At the Dallas Law Office of Steven C. Laird, P.C., you will encounter attorneys with a comprehensive understanding of worker compensation laws and federal construction regulations. For over two decades, Dallas construction accident lawyer Steven C. Laird has advanced the cases of construction accident and other personal injury victims. Contact him and his expert staff today for a free construction accident case evaluation.

Dallas Wrongful Death Lawyer

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

When you’re seeking compensation for the wrongful death of someone you care about, you need a Dallas wrongful death lawyer. There’s no pain like the pain caused by the wrongful death of someone dear to you. When you’ve lost a significant person to the carelessness of someone else, there’s not a lot you can do to heal the emotional wounds. Wrongful death strikes suddenly and leaves devastation and suffering in its wake.

If wrongful death has struck your family, you’re probably in no shape to take part in a lengthy and complicated legal struggle. And if wrongful death is something you’re dealing with, you need to find an experienced, aggressive Dallas wrongful death lawyer who can assist you through the process of filing your wrongful death lawsuit, forcing the guilty party to account for his or her negligence and obtaining proper and legal compensation for your pain and suffering, as well as that of the victim’s other family and beneficiaries.

The Definition of Wrongful Death

What is wrongful death? Wrongful death occurs when someone passes before their time because of carelessness or reckless behavior. This cause, also known as “negligence,” can vary in severity from “intentional misconduct” to “momentary negligence.” To set things right, the deceased’s dependents or beneficiaries can file a wrongful death lawsuit with a wrongful death lawyer they trust.

When Wrongful Deaths Happen

In our experience, the usual wrongful death case is caused by careless or wild driving which causes a car wreck or truck accident. In such cases, the dependents of the victim should file a wrongful death claim to recoup compensation for pain and suffering, medical costs, funeral expenses, lost wages, punitive damages and personal injuries the dependents might have incurred in the car wreck.

Other wrongful death cases we encounter:
· Deaths at the Workplace
· Surgical Errors
· Industrial Accidents
· Fatally Defective Products
· Fatal DUI Accidents
· Fatal Brain Injury

Statute of Limitations in Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Time is of the essence in a wrongful death case. A knowledgeable Dallas wrongful death lawyer can advise you on what the specific limits are in your situation, but every state has different rules for wrongful death lawsuits.

A “statute of limitations” is the time limit you have to file a wrongful death case after the date of the accident. The usual statute of limitations for a Texas wrongful death case is two years, but there are exceptions. If you’re grieving a wrongful death in your family, you should get in touch with a qualified wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible.

Locating a Dallas Wrongful Death Lawyer

It’s not easy to deal with the legal complexities of a wrongful death lawsuit – not to mention the other personal, logistical and emotional effects of wrongful death. You will find that it’s tremendously helpful to have the assistance of a qualified wrongful death lawyer to help you through these trials and difficulties.

You should consider taking your wrongful death case to the experienced lawyers at Steven C. Laird, P.C. Our lawyers are veterans of many wrongful death and personal injury cases, and attorney Steven C. Laird holds a board certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in personal injury trial law. Contact us as soon as possible for a free wrongful death case evaluation.

Contact Our Lawyers for a Free Consultation

You can contact the Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, and submit a request for a free legal review of your case. Please fill out our short attorney contact form.

The Dallas Personal Injury Story

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Dallas personal injury lawyers Steven C. Laird and John M. Cummings often get asked about the story behind personal injury law.

Personal injury lawyers are the attorneys who help you seek and obtain compensation for losses and pain caused by the carelessness or neglect of another person. Dallas personal injury lawyers practice personal injury law, of course; it’s also known as “tort law,” and it’s a form of non-criminal (civil) law meant to keep you, your possessions, your savings and your reputation from harm. As you might guess, personal injury law comes into play when you’ve been hurt physically, emotionally or financially, or when your things or personal or professional reputation have been damaged.

Damages in Personal Injury Law

In personal injury cases, damages can take on several forms. The most common in a personal injury case is medical bills. You shouldn’t have to pay for the medical bills for personal injuries that resulted from someone else’s negligence.

If you had to miss work due to your personal injury, damages also include the pay you would’ve earned if you’d been able to work. Other damages include compensation for suffering and physical pain that resulted from your personal injury. If your personal injury was caused by malicious behavior, you may be able to claim “punitive damages” – monetary compensation meant to punish the offender for deliberately unlawful actions. Experienced personal injury lawyers can accurately compare your case to other historical cases to obtain full damages for your personal injury in an irrefutable way.

You should also know that the Texas legislature has unfortunately instituted caps on damages resulting from personal injury. This puts an artificial upper limit on the full and just compensation you could receive for a personal injury case. A good Dallas personal injury lawyer is fully aware of the complexities of the damage caps and can guide you ably through the process of filing your case.

What To Do If You’ve Suffered A Personal Injury

If you’ve been hurt by the carelessless or malicious actions of another person, you should take a few steps to defend your rights and record the facts about the incident.

Your first course of action should be to make sure your physical personal injury, if any, is fully tended to. Not only is this prudent, but it also creates a medical record of your personal injury while the evidence is still fresh. You should also journal everything you recall from the incident or accident – the sooner the better. Accuracy and prompt recording will strengthen your personal injury case when you go to court.

Lastly, make sure to keep anything that might help persuade a jury or judge about the severity of your personal injury case. Torn clothing, photos from the scene, notes from the offending party and pictures of your personal injury can help your Dallas personal injury lawyer fight for your rights.

Selecting the Right Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer

There are several categories of personal injury cases, the most common being wrongful death, negligence, medical malpractice, and accident or employment related personal injury cases. When seeking a Dallas personal injury lawyer, keep an eye out for a personal injury lawyer with a track record of personal injury litigation. Ask friends and lawyers you know for advice. Also, the local Bar Association may have advice on finding experienced Dallas personal injury lawyers.

At The Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C., we are accomplished personal injury lawyers with experience in cases like negligence, defective products, and wrongful death. And we have lawyers certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in personal injury trial law. Contact us today for your free personal injury case evaluation.

Contact Our Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Contact Dallas personal injury lawyer Steven C. Laird, and submit a request for a free case review.

Home | Practice Areas | Attorneys | Experience | News | Law Firm | Contact | Law Firm Location and Directions

Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorneys - Copyright © 2008, Laird & Cummings, P.C., All Rights Reserved.

Principal Office 1824 8th Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76110, (817) 531-3000 Phone, (817) 923-2228 Fax

Steven C. Laird Is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Law Office Is Located in Fort Worth, TX

Search Engine Optimization and Website Development by Get Page One