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!

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.

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:

• Bicycle accidents involving distracted or drunk drivers;
• Accidents resulting from defective bicycle or auto parts;
• Bicycle accidents resulting from poorly maintained roads;
• Bicycle accidents at intersections;
• Rideshare accidents involving bicyclists;
• Failure to yield bicycle accidents; and
• Accidents involving multiple bicyclists.

Why You Should Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Right Away
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:

• Video footage of your accident from surveillance cameras or dashcams;
• Photos of the accident scene;
• The police report;
• Witness testimony;
• Relevant insurance policies;
• Testimony from accident reconstruction experts; and
• Illustrations and timelines.

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:

• Medical bills (past and future);
• Lost wages;
• Property damage;
• Loss of earning capacity;
• Emotional distress;
• Pain and suffering;
• Disfigurement and disability;
• Loss of consortium;
• Loss of enjoyment; and
• Exemplary damages also called “punitive damages.”

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:
​

1. Posting any photos, videos, or written accounts of your accident injuries, or lawsuit on social media
2. Making all your posts, photos, and videos viewable to the public
3. Letting family and friends post about your accident, injuries, claim, and lawsuit on social media
4. Not deleting your past posts about the accident prior to filing a personal injury claim
5. Posting your whereabouts after the accident. Your mobility may diminish your claim’s value.

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:

• Bus accidents involving public buses;
• Bus accidents involving school buses;
• Airport shuttle accidents;
• Tour bus accidents;
• Bus accidents involving drowsy and distracted drivers;
• Bus accidents caused by mechanical failures;
• Bus accidents involving pedestrians;
• Bus accidents due to poor road conditions; and
• Bus accidents involving wrongful death.

Who Can I Sue After a Bus Accident in Texas?
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:

• A Bus Company: If the bus company failed to ensure its vehicle was safe—for example, by replacing bald tires and maintaining the brakes—and this caused your accident, you can bring a claim against the bus company for your damages. Bus companies also have a duty to train and supervise their drivers. They may be held liable if an accident is caused by an employee’s negligence.
• Operators of a Tour Bus: Tour bus operators can be held liable for damages if a person is injured while riding a bus as part of a tour package.
• The Bus Maintenance Company: If your collision was caused by a mechanical failure, the company responsible for maintaining the bus might be liable for your damages if it was hired by the bus company as an independent contractor.
• A Government Entity: If your accident involved a government-owned bus or if a government employee was at fault, you can bring a claim against the government entity. A government entity also may be liable for your damages if the accident was caused by poor road conditions.
• Bus Drivers: If a bus driver broke a traffic law and this caused your accident, you may have grounds for a claim against the bus driver; however, in most cases, the companies that employ bus drivers are held liable for their employees’ negligence.
• Auto Part Manufacturers: If an auto part defect caused your crash, you may have grounds for a claim against the manufacturer, designer, or distributor of the part.
• Other Drivers: If another driver caused your accident, you can bring a claim against that driver for your damages.
• School Boards: If a school bus driver is employed by the school board and causes an accident, victims can bring a claim against the school board.

We Will Make Sure the Insurance Company Treats You Fairly
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:

• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Severe Gashes
• Broken bones & fractures
• Dislocations
• Loss of limb
• Amputations
• Loss of sight
• Hearing loss

At The Valentine Law Firm we focus in representing clients who have been seriously injured by the negligent, careless, or reckless conduct of others. Our Texas personal injury attorneys are skilled litigators and have successfully represented numerous clients with construction accidents and liability claims.

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.