Wrongful death occurs when an individual has suffered a serious injury due to the negligence of another, then dies from those injuries. Those who are left behind can file a wrongful death claim; in the state of Texas, the law allows for a wrongful death lawsuit to come from the spouse, children, or parents of the decedent. Other members of the estate or people named in the will may not file a wrongful death claim. The most common damages claimed in a wrongful death action include: -Funeral and burial expenses -Medical expenses incurred by the decedent prior to his or her death -Lost earning capacity -Loss of household services and support -Lost inheritance -Loss of love and companionship -For children, the loss of care, support, and guidance.

Wrongful Death Cases

Brain injuries can occur following many different accidents but are more common in truck and motorcycle accidents. Brain injuries can change lives forever, both those of the victim as well as the lives of the victim’s family members. A brain injury can range from a mild concussion to a severe traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries may be “closed,” meaning the injury was non-penetrating, with no break in the skull, or they can be “penetrating,” which is an open head injury with a break in the skull. An open head injury could be the result of a bullet wound, while a closed head injury could occur during an automobile accident when the brain is “whipped” back and forth, or when the brain strikes a hard object. Brain injuries can cause coma, confusion, memory problems, deficits with problem-solving and judgment, an inability to understand abstract concepts, loss of time and space, a decreased awareness of self, paralysis, spasticity, balance issues, changes in hearing, vision, taste, smell, and touch, difficulty with speech, reading, forming sentences, identifying objects and their function, impaired ability with activities of daily living, and much, much more.

Traumatic Brain Injury Cases

Spinal cord injuries are also often the result of auto accidents, particularly motorcycle and truck accidents. Damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal can cause a spinal cord injury. This can occur as a result of a sudden blow or cut to the spinal column, often causing permanent loss of strength, sensation, and function below the site of the injury. Those with spinal cord injuries may require months or years of rehabilitation, along with assistive devices in order to live a relatively independent life. Even so, most of those with spinal cord injuries may require assistance with the daily tasks of life. Treatments may include drugs to reduce symptoms, surgery to stabilize the spine, and a wide range of rehabilitative therapies.

Spinal Cord Injury Cases

There are few things in life that can disrupt your day-to-day routine as thoroughly as a car accident. One moment you are driving to or from work, taking your children to school, or running errands, and the next moment you are injured, perhaps severely, because of another driver’s negligence or carelessness. Your injuries may prevent you from going to work and making a living and can result in a mountain of medical expenses you are having difficulty paying. You may be unsure of how to get the treatment you need and how to meet your financial obligations without a job. At Noteboom—The Law Firm we can help you get through this difficult time. We will help you prove the other driver was at fault, then negotiate with that driver’s insurance for a full and fair settlement. In other words, we will handle the legal details, giving you the time you need to heal from your injuries.

Fort Worth Car Accident Cases

Bicyclists have virtually no protection—other than a bike helmet—when hit by a vehicle. In fact, head injuries are the greatest risk to bicyclists when hit by a vehicle. While not all bike injuries are traumatic, many are, causing fractures, internal organ injuries, head and brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries.

Bicycle Accident Cases

Unfortunately, in our ever-increasingly busy world, distracted driving is all too common. Distracted driving could be a result of talking or texting on a cell phone, eating while driving, watching something on the side of the road, fiddling with the radio or other car controls, or many other things. Distracted driving may well be the number one cause of auto accidents, although it is not always easily identifiable as a cause.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Texas follows the “one bite rule” meaning that the dog’s first bite is essentially “free” in terms of the owner’s liability to the person bitten. After this, however, the dog owner is on notice of the dog’s tendency to bite. In other words, if a dog has bitten or attacked in the past it is more likely to do so again.

Motorcycle accidents often leave the motorcyclist severely injured because they have virtually no protection, other than a helmet and leathers, if worn. Those in a passenger vehicle are surrounded by a metal and glass “cage,” along with safety belts and airbags to protect them. The motorcyclist is extremely vulnerable—after being hit by a car, the motorcyclist may be catapulted into the air, landing in an area where he or she is at risk of being hit by additional vehicles. Motorcyclists often have catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. These injuries can leave the motorcyclist unable to work for months, years, or forever. Coupled with the extensive medical expenses, these injuries can alter the motorcyclist’s life so severely that it will never return to anything resembling “normal.” Motorcyclists may also face stereotypes if their case goes to trial. Jurors may be under the erroneous belief that motorcyclists are hard-living risk- takers, even when nothing could be further from the truth. Your motorcycle accident attorney will ensure your claim is given the dedication it requires

Motorcycle Accident Cases

The oil industry tends to be an area where accidents with injuries happen more often than we would like. Oil rigs are inherently dangerous, and at times they may have questionable safety standards as well.

Oilfield Injuries

Pedestrian accidents are especially common among children and the elderly. Drivers have a responsibility to watch out for pedestrians, particularly in congested city areas. Like bicyclists and motorcyclists, pedestrians have absolutely no protection when hit by a vehicle—not even a helmet.

Pedestrian Accidents

Truck accidents are typically more severe than an accident between two passenger vehicles. A fully loaded truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, while the typical passenger vehicle weighs approximately 3,000 to 3,500 pounds. This is a massive difference, and, in some cases, the truck’s trailer may be loaded with hazardous materials, significantly compounding the injuries and difficulties. Truck accidents can also be more complex because there may be more than one liable party. The truck driver may be liable if he or she was driving carelessly or negligently or was distracted, overly fatigued, or impaired. If the trucking company failed to perform a thorough background check on the driver, or if the company was aware the driver was exceeding his or her allowable hours, then they could share in liability. If the accident was the result of faulty tires or brakes, the maintenance company may not have been properly doing its job, so could be partially liable. If the accident was the result of improperly loaded cargo, the loading company could bear partial responsibility for the accident. It is imperative that you have a truck accident attorney who fully understands all the complexities of truck accidents and who will fight for your rights.

Trucking Accidents

Since Uber & Lyft are relatively recent, the laws have not always kept up as far as personal injury while in a rideshare vehicle. This can make it challenging to determine who is responsible for your medical bills and other damages without a strong legal advocate.

Rideshare Accidents

Non-subscriber work injuries occur when you are injured at work and your Texas employer has opted out of the workers’ compensation system, or a “non-subscriber.” Non-subscriber employers can be sued for negligence by an injured employer. Working for a non-subscriber employer entitles you to nearly the same level of compensation as an employer who offers workers’ compensation. Non-subscriber employers must cover payment of medical expenses, reimbursement or coverage of medical care, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering (both physical pain and emotional distress).

Premise liability accidents occur when you suffer an injury on someone else’s property. If the owner of the property is at fault for the accident, you could be eligible to file a premises liability claim for compensation. Most premises liability claims involve slip and fall claims, inadequate security crimes with resulting injuries, and dog bites. The four elements of a premise liability claim include: -The defendant was the property owner -Care and maintenance of the property were negligent -You suffered a tangible injury as a result of the negligence -That injury caused economic harm to you as well Proving liability for a premise liability claim may hinge on your status on the property. If you were an invitee—you were on the premises in response to an invitation, or at a store that is open to the public. A licensee is also covered under premises liability as someone who entered the owner’s property with permission, but for your own purposes, i.e., you dropped by to see a friend unannounced, or you are a city worker digging a line. Trespassers are those who are on private property with no invitation, although land owners are not allowed to use intentional harm like a lethal “booby trap,” to repel a trespasser. You may use justifiable force such as a barbed wire fence.

Slip & Fall Cases