Houston Spinal Cord Injury Blog

Intersections are dangerous places. Every Texas motorist is obligated to adhere to traffic regulations, especially those regarding right-of-way at crossroads. Driver negligence or reckless behavior often causes intersection collisions that result in catastrophic injuries. If a person is later determined to have acted under the influence of drugs or alcohol behind the wheel, he or she may face criminal charges in addition to a civil lawsuit, if a victim or family of a deceased victim files a post-accident claim.

Such an accident occurred at a Lubbock intersection at approximately 9 p.m. on a recent Sunday. There were two vehicles involved in the crash. One of the drivers reportedly escaped the incident with only minor injuries. However, that same driver is now in jail, facing intoxication manslaughter charges and other criminal offenses.

When Texas parents send their children to school on a bus each day, they understand there is always a risk of a motor vehicle accident occurring. However, most parents would not be thinking it a possibility that their child's bus will wind up wrapped around the front of a freight train. Serious collisions like the one that took place on a recent Friday afternoon often result in spinal cord injuries or other permanent disabilities.

Sadly, the sudden impact of the freight train colliding with a school bus resulted in the death of a 13-year-old boy who was riding the bus at the time. A younger female student was on the bus as well, and her injuries prompted an air flight to an intensive care unit that was equipped to deal with her serious condition. On a happy note, the young girl was reportedly stabilized and was later able to move out of the ICU.

Many Texas residents earn a living in coffee shops. While coffee shops may not necessarily rank high on lists for most dangerous jobs in the nation, those who work as baristas are, in fact, at great risk for workplace injuries. Current data shows that coffee shop workers take approximately 45 percent more time off work for injuries than other restaurant employees.

When accidents happen at work, they don't always occur suddenly. Repetitive strain injuries, common among coffee shop workers, usually develop over time when a worker uses a repeated motion to carry out job duties. Coffee shop employees often suffer from a condition that has been termed "barista wrist," which reportedly causes people to have to miss work for a year or more in recovery.

There are currently many U.S. military veterans living and working in Texas. Such residents include those who are full-time active members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps, as well as those serving as reservists or in the National Guard. Sadly, service sometimes leads to veterans disability situations.

When a U.S. military veteran is considering filing a disability claim, he or she may be hesitant as to whether it is the right thing to do. There are a lot of myths and confusion circulating about disability compensation. This post is meant to clarify a few issues, which may in turn help a veteran feel more better informed and able to determine a best course of action.