With the holidays around the corner and people picking up to travel and visit loved ones, there can be an added layer of risk when on the road. Make sure to be vigilant and drive aware of your surroundings.

​5 Tips for Safe Travel
While your focus is on having fun during a road trip, it"s important to remain safe in the process. Following the tips provided here can help you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy as you embark on your vacation.

Maintain Proper Maintenance of Your Vehicle
It’s vital to take your car in for a full maintenance check prior to starting your trip. Have your
vehicle inspected thoroughly as this will allow you to fix any existing problems promptly. It will help prevent serious and sometimes expensive damage to your vehicle by making sure it is in top condition before enduring the wear and tear that long trips create.

Make Frequent Stops to Rest and Stretch
Sitting for long periods of time can be difficult, and this is especially true for children. We
recommend taking frequent breaks to allow everyone to get out of the car, move about and stretch their legs. This can help prevent fatigue, muscle cramps and even blood clots in those who may be prone to developing them. Frequent breaks will also keep children in a good mood and make traveling with young ones much more pleasant.

Invest in a Roadside Assistance Plan
We highly advise the purchase of a roadside assistance plan along with your vehicle insurance. Roadside assistance can provide the much-needed peace of mind that if something goes wrong with your vehicle during your travels, it will be taken care of promptly. The threat of an unforeseen occurrence can take the joy out of your vacation plans, so having this peace of mind can be priceless.

Plan Your Route of Travel While Remaining Flexible
It is best to plan your route of travel well in advance. This will allow you to know where you want to stop for breaks and provides you with an estimated timeline for getting from point A to point B. Of course, it’s important to be flexible because traffic jams, automobile accidents and road work can always be a possibility, in which case alternate routes and detours may be necessary.

Keep a Safety Kit in your Car
We suggest keeping a first-aid kit in your car along with any personal items that might seem appropriate for the current season.

Traveling should be centered around fun with those you love most, not the stress that unforeseen events can create. By following these tips, you can enjoy safe travels.

Most importantly, if you are in an altercation, keep your wits about you.  Make sure to assess your surroundings and document the circumstances of the event.  And if it seems serious, please contact The Valentine Law Firm for legal perspective.

HOW OUR CENTRAL TEXAS LAW FIRM CAN HELP YOU AFTER A PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT
Austin, Texas Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
At The Valentine Law Firm, we have a long and proud history of standing up for Hill Country residents when they need it most. Over the years, our Cedar Park personal injury attorneys have helped numerous clients recover compensation after being involved in a personal injury case.

ACCURATELY ASSESS YOUR DAMAGES
When pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, and car accidents occur in Austin, Texas, it is not at all unusual for the victims to underestimate the amount of medical care they will require – and demand too little compensation from the at-fault party. As a result, they often have to pay for some of their expenses out of their own pocket.

To try to prevent this nightmare scenario from happening to you and your family, the lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm, will review the details of your injury and assess your damages. Our skilled legal team has been working in the industry for many years, so you can be confident that our assessment is accurate.

SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE TO HELP YOUR CASE
If you wish to emerge from your pedestrian accident lawsuit with the compensation you deserve, you will need to prove that:

• The other party owed you a duty of care
• The other party’s negligence breached that duty of care
• The other party’s breach of duty caused you to suffer an injury
• Your injury is as debilitating as you claim

To prove these four points, you will most likely need to present the court with a plethora of relevant evidence, like:

• Medical records
• Police accident reports
• Traffic camera footage
• Witness testimony

Having spent many years in the legal field, our attorneys know who to speak with to find these evidentiary materials. When you hire us, we will be more than happy to assist you with your search.

Boating accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that require emergency care. Although there are countless factors that lead to boat crashes, the majority are due to negligent and reckless behaviors such as drunk boating, speeding, and inattention. The Texas boat accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm help victims of boating injuries fight for the compensation they need to afford medical treatment, lost wages, and other damages.

Types of Cases Our Boat Accident Attorneys Handle:
Boating is a year-round activity in Texas, which is why our state has some of the highest boating accident rates in the country. Hundreds of people are injured and dozens die in boating accidents each year. Victims and their families are often left wondering how they will afford the medical expenses and loss of income.

Our attorneys handle a variety of boating accident cases including:

• Alcohol-Related Boating Accidents: Drunk driving is a leading cause of boating wrecks in the United States—and Texas is certainly no exception. Our attorneys will evaluate toxicology and crash reports and talk to witnesses to determine if alcohol impairment may have played a role in your crash. If so, we can help you pursue punitive damages in addition to compensation for your economic and non-economic losses.
• Boating Accidents Due to Speeding: Driving a boat at an excessive speed not only makes the vessel more difficult to control, but it also increases the likelihood of an injury or death occurring in the event of a crash. Our attorneys will investigate your case and may bring in accident reconstruction experts to prove that speeding contributed to your wreck.
• Boating Accidents Due to Equipment Defects: A negligently designed or manufactured part could result in an equipment malfunction. If a defective part contributed to your crash, our boating accident lawyers can review schematics and blueprints, speak with boating parts specialists, and identify all potentially liable parties.
• Ejection Injuries: Being ejected from a boat at a high speed can result in debilitating injuries such as broken bones, a dislocated shoulder, soft tissue damage, and brain trauma.
• Injuries Caused by Propellers: Coming into contact with a propeller can cause deep lacerations and even amputations. Most of these injuries are caused by negligent boat operation.

Other Types of Boating Accidents: Even if the at-fault party was not breaking a law, you may still have grounds for a claim. Our boating accident attorneys handle personal injury and wrongful death cases involving inexperienced boaters, poor weather conditions, and other types of hazards. We handle cases involving all types of watercraft including cabin cruisers, yachts, tenders, personal watercraft (wave runners and jet skis), inflatable boats, sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and airboats.

How Soon After My Boating Accident Should I Call an Injury Attorney?
If you were injured in a boat crash, you should consult a boating accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Valuable evidence that can be used to prove liability and damages may become unavailable within days of your crash. Our lawyers will perform an immediate investigation into the cause of your accident. We will identify all potentially liable parties, handle correspondence with the defendant and insurance company, calculate your damages, and help you avoid critical mistakes.

There are also strict deadlines for filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. If the deadline passes, your case will almost certainly be dismissed. It is important to contact a boat accident lawyer as soon as possible.

What to do when you get into a car accident?
1. Wherever you are, make sure to call the police.
You need to make sure to have a verbal report of what happened. If anybody is injured you need to make sure EMS is on the way The police can include all of the facts from the scene in the police report. The police can say that if there are not catastrophic injuries, they will not come out. Insist that they do, but if they don't, the most important thing is to make sure you have placed the 911 call. All 911 calls are recorded and can often times be used as evidence in your case.

2. Don't admit to anything.
A lot of kind Texans like to apologize but if you say you're sorry, then any witnesses can testify to that and it can be used against you.
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3. Don't make a recorded statement.
Whether thats to your insurance company or the other parties insurance company. Recorded statements can often be used against the person making them. If they ask you about your injuries and you're in a state of shock, you may end up saying all you have is a headache but 3 weeks later you have lower back pain. The insurance company can now use the recorded statement to prove that you didn't have that at time of injury. If you do make a recorded statement make sure that your attorney is present.

4. Seek medical attention within 48 hours after the accident.
Even if you have insurance or not, seek medical attention. If you are involved in an accident and the accident was not your fault, whether you have insurance or not, you will be compensated for the expenses that are associated with your medical treatment. If you have a gap of a week or two weeks, then it makes it difficult to correlate the injuries with the accident.
​

Do you have a medical malpractice claim?

When you or your loved one visits a doctor, you expect that the care will be high quality. You expect and need the attending doctors to care for you and your loved ones based on your history and required care. Whats next if that doesn't happen? 

If you or a loved one receives improper care, serious injury may occur. This can be lethal or create long-term battles with health that the person would not have otherwise had.

In many situations, the injury or death may have been preventable, such as if health care workers had paid closer attention to what they were doing or had implemented better communication practices. Depending on the circumstances, issues such as these may be medical malpractice. 

What is medical malpractice? 

Medical malpractice may apply to any practitioners involved in providing health care to patients. This may include doctors, dentists, nurses and other health care professionals. In some cases, a malpractice claim may also name the facility, such as the hospital, clinic or nursing home, and its other staff who may have had a part in the action or inaction that caused you or your loved one harm. 

A number of actions may fall under medical malpractice. These can include prescribing or administering the wrong prescription or dose; misdiagnosis of conditions; neglect, abuse or injuries while staying in a facility; wrongful death; and more. 

How long do you have for filing a claim? 

Contact us to discuss your case, how much time has passed, and whether or not you still have the ability to put in a claim.

During your case, would you risk not having an attorney with Trial Experience? Even though personal injury cases can be settled outside of court, you never know if your case will be the one to make it to court, which is why it's important to consider hiring a law firm with immense trial experience.

Settlements
Many people don’t realize that a lawyer with trial experience won’t just help you if you end up in the courtroom. In fact, trial experience is a major advantage for countless steps involved with navigating your case and potential settlement. For example, experts agree that you’re much more likely to get a high settlement when a trial-experienced lawyer is on your side as opposed to a lawyer without much trial experience.

Furthermore, during the settlement stage, having an attorney with trial experience sends a powerful message to the other side’s legal team. Essentially, you’re letting the other party know that you’re more than prepared to go to court if necessary, and you’ll do whatever it takes to have success with your case. Having this confidence and making it clear to the other party can work as an effective psychological strategy. Never assume that trial experience is only relevant if you end up in a courtroom.

Trials
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the most common personal injury cases include motor vehicle accidents (52%), medical malpractice (15%), and product liability (5%). Depending on the type and severity of your case, your attorney may end up being unable to agree on a settlement and take the initiative to bring the case to court. This allows any attorney with adequate trial experience to go above and beyond to prepare a thorough case for the courtroom. You’ll be able to rest assured knowing that whatever happens, no stone was left unturned in seeking just compensation for damages.

Ultimately, whether you need a car accident attorney or a personal injury attorney, understanding that you should not only want, but need an attorney with trial experience is crucial.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not only illegal, it is extraordinarily myopic, reckless and selfish. It places the lives of the driver, his/her passengers, and other individuals on the road in extreme danger. When an individual chooses to get behind the wheel and drive despite being intoxicated, he/she is acting in a grossly negligent manner.

When criminal actions accidentally, albeit not involuntarily, cause harm to others, the culpable individual should be forced to face the consequences and likewise should be held financially responsible for any damages suffered by the victims. Shanna Valentine, a Central Texas (Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, Burnet, Marble Falls, Austin, and Liberty Hill) car accident lawyer, and The Valentine Law firm, provides insightful legal counsel and aggressive legal representation to DUI accident victims.

Holding the Drunk Driver Accountable
Do not allow your life to be constrained by the limitations imposed by an auto accident. Although you may be experiencing physical disabilities, you do not have to sacrifice your savings and your access to top-quality medical services because another driver acted unlawfully.

It is imperative that you contact a drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident; evidence must be collected and medical records must be analyzed in order for your case to be successful. All evidentiary information must be evaluated in a timely manner after the accident. Otherwise, physical evidence can become lost or degraded and witnesses’ memories can become less reliable.

Choose The Valentine Law Firm for Your Case
Your health is your paramount concern at this point in time. A successful conclusion of your injury case is our paramount concern at this time, as it will allow you to obtain the medical care you need. While you are recovering, The Valentine Law Firm will go head to head with powerful insurance companies, ensuring that you will be provided for in the future.

Discuss Your Case with a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Central Texas Today
​If you or someone you love was seriously hurt in a Drunk Driving Accident, turn to The Valentine Law Firm for comprehensive and compassionate legal guidance. Call 512-300-5240 or use our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.

Our WebDev wants to share a few tips that he's learned while working remote. It helps him keep encouraged and sane while working long periods of time remote. It can be tough for some but these tips can help you stay grounded:

1. Get dressed for work.
   It might be tempting to stay in PJs all day but getting dressed for work, even at home, gets you in a different mindset. Dress and groom as you normally would for work.
2. Schedule social time.
   You will find that you may be able to knock out a ton of work being remote due to the amount of distractions around you but social time is important. So make sure you are still reaching out to your close friends and colleagues just to talk and get some social time in. Using apps like FaceTime, Google Handouts, Skype or Zoom can bridge that gap.
3. Take me time.
   Most of you will be saving about 1-2 hours of your day not having to commute. Use that time to do stuff for yourself. Exercise, take a long breakfast, read & sip some tea. Whatever you got to do, use that time for yourself
4. Don’t work in a common space.
   Dedicate a corner in your room or house that is the work spot. The rest is your place and not work. Helps you mind separate work mode from home mode. Preferably, choose somewhere with natural light!