Unfortunately, many people will find themselves involved in one of these three kinds of accidents during their lifetime. Any drive down the highway, a rural road, or even neighbor streets comes with the risk of accidents. Hospitals are seemingly safe places. However, many surgical procedures involve medical neglect. Workplace injuries are common in Houston given its industrial focus. Even though we may not think we need a personal injury attorney after one of these accidents, the benefit of hiring an attorney after these three accidents will generally outweigh any cost.
- Highway Accidents or Car Crashes: The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that in 2013, 32,719 people died in traffic crashes. “Almost 90 people on average lose their lives each day – and more than 250 are injured every hour – due to drunk driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and the many other factors associated with traffic crashes,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator David Friedman.
Even those who aren’t killed in these crashes may suffer debilitating injuries including broken bones, severed limbs, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. The cost of this life-altering event can include lost income, ongoing medical care, necessary medical equipment, and ongoing prescriptions. These accidents aren’t limited to car wrecks. Often these fatal crashes involve 18-wheelers, motorcycles, or pedestrians hit by cars. If you or a family member have been in one of these accidents, a personal injury attorney can help ensure that the costs necessary to manage everyday life are recovered.
- Medical Malpractice: The high cost of the medical care seems to be tolerated under the assumption that we receive better healthcare costs more, yet evidence from a few studies indicating that as many as 20% to 30% of patients receive contraindicated care.1 Also, with the release of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report "To Err Is Human,"2 millions of Americans learned, for the first time, that an estimated 44,000 to 98,000 among them die each year as a result of medical errors.A recent study found that 50% of surgeries have some error.
Medical malpractice commonly involves giving the wrong medication, ignoring fall risks, or failing to properly monitor patients. Despite these startling statistics, medical malpractice cases may not be reported despite the life-altering consequences which include significant injury and death.
- Workplace Injuries: Texas leads the nation in total energy production, primarily crude oil and natural gas. With 27 petroleum refineries that can process more than 5.1 million barrels of crude oil per day, more than one-fourth of nation's total refining capacity is located in Texas. With such an industrial focus, it is no surprise that on the job injuries happen in Texas. Working with heavy equipment presents a danger in and of itself, as do industrial work sites. Employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace. If you’ve lost a loved one due to a work site accident, a personal injury attorney can help investigate the matter and hold all of the responsible parties accountable.
Trying to resolve these types of matters on your own can be gambling with your future and that of your families. Since so much is at stake, it makes sense to hire a Houston personal injury lawyer for help.
