Our team will be working remote but we are fully operational.
Our office will be closed but you can contact us here and schedule an appointment. The Valentine Law Firm continues to be as committed towards assisting our community as ever.
0 Comments
A serious bicycle accident can result in disabling injuries that affect every aspect of the victim’s life. Getting out of the hospital is often just the first step in the long road to recovery. The cost of lost wages, emergency care, surgeries, and other medical treatment can add up to a small fortune. But if your wreck was caused by another driver’s negligence, you should not have to pay for these losses out of your own pocket.
The Cedar Park, Austin, Georgetown, Texas, bicycle accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm will evaluate your case for free to determine if you have grounds for a claim. We know what’s at stake for you and your family. Our compassionate lawyers will guide you through every stage of the claims process and will make sure the insurance company doesn’t bully you into accepting an unfair settlement. Types of Texas Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle Our attorneys handle all types of personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from bicycle accidents including:
It can seem impossible to focus on legal concerns in the aftermath of a serious bicycle wreck. But putting off your consultation with an accident attorney could prove costly. Insurance adjusters often use devious strategies to get claimants to admit fault, and one misguided statement could be all it takes to derail your claim. A Texas bicycle accident attorney from The Valentine Law Firm will handle all correspondence with the insurance adjuster. Having a seasoned litigator by your side from the start will tell the insurance company that you would be willing to take your case to trial if necessary. This often translates into a better settlement offer. For your injury claim to be successful, it must be shown that the liable party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty of care, and this resulted in your injury or loss. Proving duty of care is fairly straightforward when the defendant is a negligent driver since all motorists in Texas have a duty to operate their vehicles in such a way that does not put other people at risk. However, proving a breach of duty, or “negligence,” and tying that negligence to your injury can be more complicated. If you wait too long to consult an attorney, valuable evidence may be erased, destroyed, altered, or otherwise become unavailable. Our bicycle accident lawyers will get to work right away to gather the evidence needed to prove negligence and liability, which may include:
There is other evidence we may use depending on the cause of your bicycle crash. For example, we may rely on toxicology reports to prove that the at-fault driver was impaired. You may even have a claim against the party who supplied the alcohol or drugs to the driver who caused your wreck. Our personal injury lawyers know what it takes to strengthen your claim and give your case the best chance of success. Proving Damages After a Bicycle Accident in Texas Even when liability seems obvious, recovering a fair payout might involve a complex legal battle. You should expect the insurance company or defendant to do everything in their power to reduce their liability and limit the amount of compensation they have to pay. Our bicycle accident lawyers will make sure your claim includes all potential damages to which you may be entitled, which may include:
Our attorneys will help you compile medical documents, income tax returns, paystubs, invoices and receipts related to your accident, and other evidence to prove the value of your damages. We can also arrange testimony from financial and medical experts. Discuss Your Case with a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Central Texas Today! If you or someone you love was seriously hurt in a bicycle crash, 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. Insurance companies can use information you share on social media to fight your claim for personal injury compensation. There are specific rules on admissible evidence in court or a settlement, social media is a gray area.
It’s safer to be careful with the information you share on your social networks. Follow these quick tips to help avoid issues:
It’s safer to assume anything you post online can be used against you. Because the rules on using social media evidence aren’t clearly defined, it's better to seek immediate legal advice. For more information talk to the Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, Burnet, Marble Falls, Austin, and Liberty Hill attorneys of The Valentine Law Firm today. Call us at (512) 300-5240. Rain has been the cause of thousands of car accidents year in and year out. Our Austin, Central Texas Attorneys know that some of the most heavily populated areas in Texas — Austin, Central Texas, & surrounding areas — have rain periodically during the year, and some people forget how to drive in it. Therefore, drivers need to understand exactly how rain can cause an automobile accident.
A Lot of Drivers Don’t Know How to Drive in the Rain In bad weather conditions, there are two types of drivers who can significantly increase the risk to others: excessively timid drivers and reckless drivers. Excessively timid drivers tend to overestimate the danger of weather conditions and drive at unreasonably low speeds. When the weather limits the number of available traffic lanes, such as can happen following heavy rain, this type of driver can cause traffic to back up, increasing the risk of a rear-end accident. Reckless drivers often ignore the consequences of bad weather and may even think it is a good thing that the weather has forced a lot of other drivers off of the road. Reckless drivers may well drive at full highway speed or greater, even when visibility is low or the roads are drenched. Even with four wheel drive (4WD), cars can still skid. When they lose control on a slippery road, their high speed makes it much more likely for a car accident to occur. Rain Makes the Road Slippery Rain can make it more difficult to stay on a roadway, to stop, or to avoid colliding with other vehicles. This is especially true when it first starts raining because roads are their most slippery at the beginning of a rainstorm. When the road first gets wet, oil rises to the surface and creates a greasy surface. If you can’t stop your car in time, that’s when accidents happen. Rain Decreases Visibility During rain storms, it can be difficult for drivers to see to see other cars. When rain is combined with dirty water kicked up from the road by other drivers, windshields can quickly become dirty. That is why it is always important to make sure that your car has functional windshield wipers. Car Accident Prevention Tips For the Rain 1. Drive slower. This is an obvious but important tip, as it allows for better reaction times. Rainwater causes grease and oil built up on the road to surface and tires traction suffers as a result. If you drive slower, your tire traction will improve and you will also have more time to brake. 2. Keep your eyes on the car ahead of you. In the rain, it’s often hard to see very far ahead of you. On a clear sunny day, you can see the traffic situation a couple hundred feet down the road and react accordingly. On a rainy day, it helps to watch for the reaction of the driver ahead of you. When he brakes, you brake. Still keep a safe following distance from the car in front because you’ll need to brake more slowly on a slippery road to avoid skidding. So stay as far from the car in front of you as possible while also remaining close enough to keep it in clear sight. 3. Do not brake suddenly. Sudden braking may cause a skid. Since the roads are slippery, stopping the wheels too quickly may cause them to lose all traction with the road, and an imminent car accident becomes a distinct possibility. In the case that skidding occurs, however, remain calm and do not make sudden turns because doing so may make the skidding even more dangerous. Just try to remain calm and steer straight until you feel the car regain traction. 4. Correctly defog your windows. The windows on your car might fog, further limiting you visibility. You try to defog with the heater, but that will only further fog up your windows. To defog, keep your air conditioning blowing at both your windshield and your back window. If your car has a defog function, just press the button, and defogging should start automatically. 5. Avoid standing or flood water. Most roads are built with the middle of the road higher than the sides, so try to stay near the middle of the road where it would be less likely to have a buildup of rainwater. No automobiles can drive through the ocean floor and have firm tire grip in deep water like the sport utility vehicles presented in commercials, so stay away from pools of water. If you do expect to go through standing water, lightly tap the brake pedal beforehand to dry the tire off a little. Ideally, all rainy car accidents could be prevented if people stopped driving when it rains, but that is an unrealistic assumption. Everyone has things they must attend to, so just keep these tips in mind when driving in the rain. You can always pull over to the side and wait it out if you really think it’s raining too hard to drive. Nothing can make up for the loss of loved one in a fatal car accident, so always yield to safety. Call Us Now to Maximize Your Auto Accident Settlement If you’ve been injured in a car accident during the rain that you didn’t cause then call us now at (512)300-5340 for a FREE consultation with an experienced automobile accident attorney as to how we may help you. Our Cedar Park law firm looks forward to providing good advice so that you can make smart decisions about your case. Motorcycle accidents often result in life-changing injuries that cost a veritable fortune to treat. Some victims are sidelined from work for months while they recover, and the loss of income puts their financial security in jeopardy. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle wreck, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other damages arising from the accident.
The Texas motorcycle accident lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm will assess your case for free to determine if you have grounds for a claim. Our attorneys know how important this case is to you and your family. We will compassionately represent your interests and aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve. Importance of Hiring a Texas Motorcycle Accident Attorney Right Away As if the pain was not enough, there’s a lot to do after a motorcycle crash to give your claim the best chance of resulting in a fair settlement. Many of these tasks need to be completed as soon as possible—while valuable evidence is still available. You will need strong evidence to prove liability and damages, but much of this evidence might be erased or altered to cover up evidence of negligence. For example, if you were hit by a semi-truck, the truck driver or trucking company might destroy black box data or alter the hours of service log book. If a dashcam or surveillance camera recorded your crash, its footage might be erased before you have a chance to obtain a copy. The less evidence you have to support your claim, the more challenging it will be to recover fair compensation. The motorcycle accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm will guide you through every stage of the claims process from start to finish. We will help you avoid crucial mistakes early in the proceedings that would jeopardize your claim. We will explain the importance of avoiding social media websites, following your doctor’s treatment instructions, tracking your damages, and taking other steps to give your claim the best chance of success. Proving Negligence & Liability After a Motorcycle Accident in Texas With many decades of experience in legal practice, the Texas motorcycle accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm can determine what evidence will be needed to support your claim. We will get to work immediately and conduct a thorough investigation so we have the strongest case possible case before entering settlement negotiations. Damages in Texas Motorcycle Accident Cases Medical bills lost income, and vehicle repairs can add up quickly after a motorcycle wreck. These are called “economic damages,” which are objectively verifiable losses. Economic damages also include loss of earning capacity, home modifications, and other calculable losses you incurred due to your injuries. You may also be entitled to non-economic damages, which are intangible losses such as emotional distress, loss of society and companionship, loss of consortium, injury to reputation, humiliation, and pain and suffering. If the driver who caused your accident was fleeing from police, driving while intoxicated, or otherwise acting with fraud, malice, or oppression, exemplary damages (or “punitive damages”) might also be recoverable. Contact Our Texas Motorcycle Accident Law Firm Today! The attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm understand how challenging it can be to move on with life after a serious motorcycle crash. We are here to provide you and your family with compassionate and aggressive legal representation through every stage of the claims process. Call us today at 512-300-5240 or fill out our contact form to arrange a free consultation. If you were seriously injured in a bus accident, you probably have a lot of questions. Can I sue the bus company? Will my case go to trial? What damages can I claim? The Texas bus accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm are here to answer your questions and help you determine the most strategic way to proceed with your case. We are well-versed in the laws that govern bus accident claims in Texas. With many years of experience in legal practice, our attorneys have the skills and resources to help you and your family fight for the maximum compensation. Call us today at (512) 300-5240 for a free consultation. We Handle All Types of Bus Accident Cases in Texas. Each bus accident case is unique. There are countless factors that contribute to these collisions, and victims can suffer a variety of severe injuries including brain trauma, broken bones, soft tissue injuries, internal organ damage, and many others. The bus accident lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm handle all types of bus accident cases including:
Determining liability is often more complicated after bus accidents than after collisions involving regular vehicles. Besides the driver, there are many other parties who may be liable for your damages, and it is possible that multiple parties share a percentage of fault. The Texas bus accident lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm will review the evidence to determine which parties may be liable for your damages. Those parties might include:
The Texas bus accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm have seen firsthand just how devious insurance companies can be when it comes time to file a claim. They employ all sorts of tactics to reduce their liability and find reasons to undervalue and deny claims. Our lawyers will help you stay one step ahead of the insurance company and avoid critical mistakes that would derail your case. DO NOT SPEAK TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER until you have consulted an attorney from The Valentine Law Firm. You might be coerced into making a recorded statement that can be used against you. It is also advisable that you stay off social media until your case has been resolved. During your free initial consultation, our attorneys will explain the steps you should take (and the mistakes you must avoid) to give your claim the best chance of success. Discuss Your Case with a Texas Bus Accident Attorney Today The bus accident lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm are here to help you and your family pursue justice and the maximum compensation. To learn more about our law firm or to schedule a free consultation, call us today at (512) 300-5240 or fill out our contact form to reach us online. Due to the nature of the trade, the construction industry is one of the few work places where employees are exposed to dangerous and hazardous conditions on a daily basis. Despite having safety regulations, protective gear and equipment, thousands of workers are involved in construction accidents, and as a result, suffer severe injuries and death.
Injury and wrongful death is often the result of construction site accidents in Texas In the U.S., statistics show that 1 out of 10 construction workers is injured each year, and over 1,200 suffer a wrongful death. Falls from scaffolds is the leading cause of traumatic injuries and deaths in construction sites. Accidents in Texas May Result in this type of Injury Common injuries from a construction accident may include, but not limited to:
Our attorneys will help you compile medical documents, income tax returns, paystubs, invoices and receipts related to your accident, and other evidence to prove the value of your damages. We can also arrange testimony from financial and medical experts. Discuss Your Case with a Construction Accident Lawyer in Central Texas Today! If you or someone you love was seriously hurt in a construction crash, 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. Different from other areas of family law, adoption can be a rewarding situation for all parties involved. Parents are expanding their family and providing opportunities for children in need. Children of an unplanned pregnancy are given new opportunities. Stepparents and stepchildren are capable of strengthening their legal ties — providing them both with the same legal rights and obligations as the biological parent-child relationship.
However, the very complex process of adopting a child can become tainted due to technical and procedural requirements that can affect the success of the adoption — or jeopardize the adoption in the future. Hiring a knowledgeable Central Texas child adoption lawyer can provide you with peace of mind. Representing Austin & Central Texas clients in a range of family law matters, The Valentine Law Firm is equipped to provide you with the knowledgeable legal guidance you need through the child adoption process. The Valentine Law Firm is available to handle the legal issues in all types of private and open adoptions for clients in Texas, including:
Finalizing the Adoption The Valentine Law Firm is here to make sure every aspect of the child adoption process is as smooth as possible. Call (512) 300-5240 to arrange a FREE initial consultation to discuss your needs with a Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, Burnet, Marble Falls, Austin, and Liberty Hill adoption and family law attorney. It’s never easy to cope with the physical and emotional impact of a serious car wreck. Making matters worse, car accident victims often face overwhelming debt due to steep medical bills and lost income. The Texas car accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm can alleviate the stress by answering your claims-related questions and helping you and your family fight for the compensation you deserve. Our car accident lawyers have a reputation for aggressive settlement negotiations and tough litigation. We are passionate about helping our clients recover the maximum compensation from those who have harmed them. Call us today at 512-300-5240 to schedule a free consultation. Types of Texas Car Accident Cases We Handle The best car accident attorneys in Central Texas tend to be those who have successfully handled a variety of claims. Each case is unique, and it takes experience and finely tuned legal strategies to overcome the hurdles standing between accident victims and a fair settlement. The personal injury lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm are seasoned litigators who assist clients in the following types of auto accident cases:
Do I Have Grounds for a Car Accident Claim? If you intend to file a claim, it must be proven that the other driver owed you a duty of care and breached that duty of care. All motorists on Texas roads have a duty to drive safely and avoid reckless behaviors that would put other people in danger. They breach this duty of care when they:
If your accident was caused by a negligent driver, you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages you have incurred as a result. Unfortunately, even if it seems obvious that another person is liable for your damages, you still might run into a dispute at some point during the claims process. This is where the Texas car accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm can help. We know the strategies used by insurance companies and defendants in car accident cases to reduce their liability. Insurance adjusters might try to manipulate you into making a recorded statement that can be used against you. They might offer a low settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries. They might even review your social media profiles for images that can be used to dispute the severity of your injuries. No matter what the insurance adjuster tells you, the insurance company is likely not on your side when you file a claim against them. You should never speak to the insurance adjuster—and you certainly should not accept a settlement offer—without consulting an experienced car accident attorney. The team at The Valentine Law Firm is here to answer your questions and guide you through the claims process. We will handle correspondence with the insurance company so they cannot take advantage of you. We will perform a thorough investigation into your case, gather evidence before it becomes unavailable, speak with eyewitnesses, and aggressively represent your interests during settlement negotiations. How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth? No attorney in Texas can guarantee a specific outcome for your case. It is important to know that there are numerous factors that will influence whether your claim is successful and the amount of compensation you ultimately recover. Those factors include:
Award-Winning Car Accident Lawyers At The Valentine Law Firm we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe us nothing unless we win your case. Many Texas auto accident cases are settled without going to court. But when choosing a personal injury attorney for your accident, it is important to know what kind of trial experience your lawyer can offer if your case does require litigation. Our experienced trial attorneys will work diligently to get you the compensation you deserve. Time is of the essence in any car accident claim. If you were hurt or lost a family member in a car accident in Texas, turn to The Valentine Law Firm for reliable legal guidance. Call 512-300-5240 or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, Burnet, Marble Falls, Austin, and Liberty Hill
Very few forces can match the devastating impact of an accident with a semi-truck. Victims who are lucky enough to survive often suffer brain trauma, broken bones, soft tissue damage, and other life-changing injuries. If you were hurt in a big rig crash that you did not cause, the Texas truck accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm can help you pursue the maximum compensation for lost income, medical bills, and other damages you have incurred.
We will treat you as if you are our only client. Our truck accident lawyers will meticulously investigate your case, interview witnesses, and aggressively represent your interests during settlement negotiations. Call us today at (512) 300-5240 for a free consultation. Types of Texas Truck Accident Claims Our Truck Accident Lawyers Handle: Commercial truckers are some of the most experienced drivers on the road, but they’re certainly not immune to collisions. There are countless factors that contribute to 18-wheeler wrecks, but the vast majority stem from driver errors. Our personal injury attorneys handle all types of truck accident claims in Texas including: Truck Accidents Due to Spilled Cargo Overloaded Truck Accidents Truck Rollover Accidents Truck Accidents Involving Wide Turns Truck Accidents Due to Tire Blowouts Truck Accidents Due to Fatigue Truck Accidents Due to Brake Failure Blind Spot Truck Accidents Truck Accidents Due to Inadequate Driver Training Truck Accidents Resulting in Wrongful Death What Sets the Lawyers at The Valentine Law Firm Apart from Other Truck Accident Attorneys in Texas? Truck accident claims can be incredibly complex for a variety of reasons. After most collisions involving regular vehicles, a negligent driver is usually liable for the damages. But in truck accident claims, it is often the case that a party other than the truck driver can be held liable. Depending on the facts surrounding your collision, you may have grounds for a claim against: The truck driver; The company that employs the truck driver; The owner of the truck; A mechanic who worked on the truck; The company that manufactured the truck or its parts; The company that loaded the truck; or Officials at a weigh station. To give your claim the best chance of success, the Texas truck accident attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm will perform a thorough investigation into your collision to identify all potentially liable parties. We will gather all available evidence to prove negligence and liability, which may include: Weigh station receipts; Receipts for gas and food; Toll booth receipts; The truck driver’s cell phone records; Bills of lading; Black box data; Dashcam footage; Surveillance footage; Expert witness testimony; Eyewitness testimony; The accident report; and Photos and videos of the crash scene. Expert witness testimony often plays a critical role in truck accident cases. The attorneys at The Valentine Law Firm can arrange testimony from accident reconstruction experts, engineers, medical experts, and financial experts. Insurance companies throughout Texas know that our attorneys provide comprehensive and aggressive legal representation. We are not afraid to take your case to trial, and our willingness to go the extra mile for each of our clients often results in fair settlements offer early in the proceedings. Do I Have Grounds for a Truck Accident Claim? If you intend to bring a claim against the truck driver or another party that contributed to your accident, you will need evidence to prove that the defendant breached a duty of care owed to you, and this breach of duty resulted in your injury or loss. Breaching a duty of care is also called “negligence.” See How Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help You Today by Calling (512) 300-5240 At The Valentine Law Firm, we know how challenging it can be to cope with the physical and psychological impact of a serious injury. Although no amount of compensation can undo the trauma you and your family have experienced, you may be able to avoid debt and regain your financial footing by filing a personal injury claim. During your free initial consultation, our lawyers will assess your case and help you determine the most strategic way to proceed. We are passionate about helping victims of personal injury and wrongful death pursue justice and compensation from those who have harmed them. Call us today at (512) 300-5240 or use our contact form to set up a free consultation. |
The Valentine Law FirmBlog, Information, News, & Case Results Archives
December 2020
Categories |