Many people think recovering damages from a car accident is straightforward. One simply files an accident claim with the insurance company and adequate compensation will be received. But remember, insurance companies are in business to make a profit and the less they pay out, the more profit they make. Additionally, accidents leading to wrongful death, involving life threatening injuries such as spinal cord injuries or resulting in long-term disabilities such as paralysis have additional costs like hospital-related care, potential lost income and emotional distress.

In some cases, a thorough investigation reveals hidden problems that contributed to accidents. For example, a legal loophole allows rental companies to continue renting out vehicles involved in recalls without the company having repaired the product defect, even if the defect has led to car wrecks. In other instances, vehicles sold as “safe” have been found to been previously wrecked and then poorly repaired before being sold by dealerships to unsuspecting buyers, who are then seriously injured in what should have been a minor accident. In these cases, an injured party might be able to pursue additional product liability claims as well as claims for breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability and intentional misrepresentation.

An experienced Houston auto accident lawyer like Brian Jensen can help you determine the full and just compensation you deserve if injured in a vehicular accident, whether it involves the driver of another car, truck, sport utility vehicle or 18-wheeler or other commercial vehicle.

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A young, Galveston woman is in the hospital with severe brain trauma and other bodily injuries after being struck by a drunk driver on her way to work Monday morning. The injured driver of another vehicle involved in the multi-vehicle accident told police an SUV had fled the scene. Police tracked the driver and arrested him for intoxicated vehicular assault resulting in an accident with bodily injury or death.

While Texas no longer leads the nation in drunk driving fatalities, according to the latest report available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it lags California by only 10 deaths. The declining death rate due to drunk drivers is a step in the right direction. However, no one should lose loved ones in an auto accident that never should have occurred in the first place.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the reckless actions of a driver under the influence, contact Houston car wreck attorney, Brian Jensen.

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An explosion on a Transocean oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico has left 17 injured. The injuries included burns, broken bones and smoke inhalation. Four have been hospitalized with critical injuries.

According to company officials, the Deepwater Horizon more than likely experienced a blowout, which led to the explosion and resulting fire. The well was in the final stages of construction when the accident occurred. Around 100 workers made it off the rig and have been reunited with loved ones. The Coast Guard continues to search for 11 missing workers, but will more than likely call off the search later today.

The federal Minerals Management Service statistics indicate 69 deaths, 1349 injuries and 858 fires and explosions have occurred in the Gulf since 2001. In 1964, a blowout and the resulting explosion led to the death of 21 workers in the Gulf. However, the deadliest offshore explosion occurred off the coast of Scotland in 1988 when 167 workers were killed.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an industrial accident, contact Texas petroleum accident lawyer, Brian Jensen.

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The two main causes of vehicle accidents in Texas cities are failure to control speed and driver distraction. [1] According to a study released by Virginia Tech and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, using a wireless device such as a cell phone is the primary cause of driver inattention. And, according to a study by the University of Utah, cell phone use while driving is equivalent to driving under the influence.

Accidents involving large commercial vehicles often cause massive amounts of damage and in some cases contribute to needless deaths . No one wants to look in their rear view mirror and see an 18-wheel truck driver barreling down on them while talking on the cell phone. Nor do they want to glance over as a semi crosses into their lane only to see the driver attempting to text. A new proposal by the Transportation Secretary would turn a nationwide interim ban on texting while driving by commercial drivers into law. The ban would only apply to drivers of vehicles 5 tons and larger, but it is a step in the right direction.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to the negligence of a commercial vehicle driver, contact Houston 18-wheeler accident lawyer , Brian Jensen.

[1] Texas Department of Transportation: Crash Contributing Factors

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A San Antonio -based refiner, Tesoro, experienced a refinery fire at its Anacortes, WA plant. The fire, which is the deadliest refinery accident since the 2005 Texas City refinery explosion has resulted in the death of six employees with a seventh employee still in the hospital receiving skin grafts for serious burns .

Preliminary investigation results indicate a vapor cloud was to blame. However, the full investigation by the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) will not be complete for another 18 months. CSB is also investigating another of the company’s refineries, this one located in Salt Lake City, UT, after an accident last October.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a petrochemical accident , call Texas industrial accident lawyer , Brian Jensen.

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U.S. Senate hearings on the Toyota recall continue today. The recall involves approximately six million vehicles in the U.S. There are three major issues: gas pedals trapped by floor mats, sticky gas pedals and brake issues. Many different makes and models of Toyotas are affected. For specific information on the makes and models, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, or click here .

In a letter to Mr. Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, Chairman of the Oversight Committee, Edolphus Towns states, “there are reports that this problem may have been the direct cause of serious injury and even death .” [1]

Allegations concerning efforts to cover up the extent of the defective products surround the hearings and have led to the Oversight Committee issuing a subpoena for Toyota documents. [2]

Questions regarding when Toyota knew of the problems and what steps consumers need to take to ensure their safety are top concerns.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product call Houston product liability lawyer , Brian Jensen for assistance.

[1] Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Chairman Towns Invites Toyota President to Testify Before Committee

[2] Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Oversight Committee Issues Subpoena for Toyota Documents

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A 2009 Senate investigation released Monday, February 22nd provides another example of serious health consequences that could lead to wrongful deaths caused by a defective product , a questionable drug released by a pharmaceutical company.

According to HealthDay News citing the Saturday, February 20 edition of The New York Times , the Senate investigation concluded, "G.S.K. executives attempted to intimidate independent physicians, focused on strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk, and sought ways to downplay findings that a competing drug might reduce cardiovascular risk.” [1]

The article states, “The blockbuster type 2 diabetes drug Avandia raises users’ odds for heart attack and heart failure and should be removed from the market, according to confidential U.S. government reports.” Citing the Saturday, February 20 The New York Times edition, the article goes on to say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found an estimated 500 heart attacks and 300 heart failures a month could be eliminated by switching from Avandia to Actos, an alternative drug treatment. [1]

The article reports, in May 2007, a Cleveland Clinic study “found that Avandia increased a user’s odds of heart attack by 43 percent compared to those not taking the medicine.” [1] Furthermore, in 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued numerous alerts regarding rosiglitazone maleate, which is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Avandia, Avandamet and Avandaryl. The alerts called for better labeling to notify patients and doctors of the higher risk of myocardial ischema, or heart failure. [2]

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or questionable drug, call Houston product liability lawyer , Brian Jensen for assistance.

[1] E.J. Mundell, Healthfinder.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Remove Diabetes Drug Avandia From Market: FDA Documents

http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docid=636256

[2] U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Rosiglitazone maleate (marketed as Avandia, Avandamet, and Avandaryl) Information

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm143349.htm

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