Archive for August 2009
Deaths of 3 Children Spur Recall of Window Blinds | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog
Following the well publicized deaths of three children who were strangled by cords, six companies have issued recall notices for millions of window blinds and shades. The recall covers:
- 4.2 million roll-up blinds with plastic slats made by Lewis Hyman Inc.;
- 600,000 Woolrich Roman shades;
- blinds and shades made by Vertical Land Inc. of Panama City Beach, Fla.;
- Roman shades by Pottery Barn Kids/Williams-Sonoma Inc.;
- 245,000 Lutron Shading Solutions fabric roller shades; and
- 163,000 Roman shades by Victoria Classics.
If you have small children in your home or if small children visit your home, you should check your blinds to ensure that the cords do not present a safety hazard. You can contact the manufactures for details on the recalled products. In addition, if you have small children that you place in an in-home day care facility, you should check the blinds to make sure that they are safe.
If you or your loved ones have been seriously injured by a dangerous or defective product, contact Montes Herald Law Group, LLP for a free, no obligation, case review. Visit our website at https://www.monteslawgroup.com/ for more information on the types of cases our firm handles.
Bridgeport Teen Killed Another Injured When Awning Collapses | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog
Tragedy has struck two Bridgeport families as Leslie Denison (17) was killed and Rebekah Logan (17) were injured when a concrete and aluminum awning detached and collapsed on top of them as they jogged along a sidewalk in downtown Bridgeport. The two girls are members of the cheerleading squad and cross country team in Bridgeport. The incident occurred just outside of Club Barbell. Leslie Denison died at the scene while Rebekah Logan was treated for severe cuts to her face and other injuries. Ms. Logan was airlifted to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth and was released early Wednesday.
Authorities have not determined the cause the collapse as the investigation of the scene was not complete, and research regarding the business’ building permits and inspection records were not immediately available.
Obviously buildings and their adjoining structures should not collapse. An investigation of this case will clearly have to involve an extensive look into the actual construction site as well as the plans and designs for the awning, as well as the maintenance and inspection records for the building and awning. At Montes Herald Law Group, LLP, we represent the victims of premises liability claims and construction site accidents. While it seems obvious that someone should be held accountable for this tragedy, these cases are very complex and require immedaite investigation to properly preserve evidence of the true cause of the incident.
If you have been injured in a construction site accident or a crane accident or other type of on-the-job injury, contact Rachel Montes or Tom Herald at Montes Herald Law Group, LLP (214) 522-9401 and to protect your rights.
TEXAS BANS THE USE OF CELL PHONES USE IN SCHOOL ZONES | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog
Although many cities had already enacted laws to prohibit the use of cell phones in school zones, effective September 1, 2009, the use of cellphones and wireless devices in school zones will be prohibited state wide. This law will prohibit all
No handset talking or texting while driving are allowed when the school zone is active.
Hands-free devices while driving and handset use WHILE STOPPED are allowed.
Calls in certain emergency situations are also allowed.
In addition, effective September 1, 2009, the following restrictions on the use of wireless devices take place statewide:
teenage drivers are prohibited from using wireless devices while driving. This includes a ban on talking on a cell phone, from sending or receiving text messaging and from sending or reading emailing while driving.
Learners permit holders are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving.
School bus operators prohibited from using cell phones while driving if children are present.
About two-thirds of Texas teenagers surveyed said they have talked on a cell phone while driving in the past six months, according to the state Transportation Institute. More than half said they had read or sent text messages while driving. A 2007 study said cell phone use was among the primary causes of fatal car crashes among teens.
TEEN GOES ON RAMPAGE WITH TRUCK | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog
A Keller teenager is accused of going on a rampage with his truck, ramming three cars early Sunday and attacking another. According to the Star Telegram, witnesses say Emilio Fernandez (18), pulled up behind them and struck them with his truck before targeting his third victim, a woman in a Ford in a nearby parking lot. He smashed into the driver’s side door and was then detained by a security guard. Fernandez is expected to be charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of driving while intoxicated.
Police have not released information on how a teenage came to be intoxicated. Under Texas law, it is illegal to sell or to serve alcohol to a person under the age of 21 years of age. In fact, when it comes to alcohol, a person under the age of 21 is considered to be a “minor.” However, far too often bars and restaurants will neglect their responsibilities to card young customers or they will even sometimes knowingly serve someone they know is under the age of 21. There is a strong public policy in Texas and across the nation against selling and serving alcohol to minors because we all recognize that these people are not ready to deal with the alcohol in their system, and that if such a person becomes intoxicated, the risk of an event that causes serious injury or death is substantially increased.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed by a drunk driver, contact Rachel Montes or Tom Herald for a free case evaluation if you have been injured in a wreck by a drunk driver. Our firm handles cases in Plano, Fort Worth (Tarrant County), Dallas and throughout Texas. Our main office is located in Irving, Texas just a few miles from DFW Airport and Love Field.
Dallas Police Officer Arrested For Driving While Intoxicated | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog
A 12 year Dallas police officer was arrested in Plano on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a wreck in which a person in another vehicle was hurt. Senior Cpl. David Aguilar, 35, faces charges of driving while intoxicated and failing to stop and render aid, according to a Plano police report. As is typical with many drunk driving accidents, the wreck happened at 12:53 a.m., near the intersection of Custer Road and Plano Parkway. The extent of the injuries of the other driver involved in the wreck is not clear. About an hour later, Plano police stopped Aguilar approximately 5 miles from the scene of the wreck driving a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup.
Drunk driving is clearly a problem in Texas. Texas has led the nation in drunk driving wrecks for the past 2 years. Texans need to continue to push for harsher punishment of drunk drivers to deter this behavior. In addition, Texans need to hold the bars and servers who provide alcohol to customers accountable when a customer they served alcohol to the point that the customer becomes intoxicated because these bars know that these customers will eventually be driving drunk, and the risks this behavior creates for the public and for the customer.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed by a drunk driver, contact Rachel Montes or Tom Herald for a free case evaluation if you have been injured in a wreck by a drunk driver. Our firm handles cases in Plano, Fort Worth (Tarrant County), Dallas and throughout Texas. Our main office is located in Irving, Texas just a few miles from DFW Airport and Love Field.
Suspected Drunk Driver Rearends Police Car | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog
Michelle Pochet (26) was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after rear-ending a Bedford Police unit that was parked on the westbound lanes of Airport Freeway service road shortly before 3 a.m. The officer was working an accident when a 2008 Toyota Corolla driven by Michelle Pochet rear-ended the patrol SUV. According to police, Pochet refused a breath test..
While it appears that no one may have been injured in this drunk driving crash, it points out the risk that police officers face while working traffic accidents. If a police unit can be struck by a drunk driver with its emergency lights on, we are all at risk from drunk drivers. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed by a drunk driver, contact Rachel Montes or Tom Herald for a free case evaluation if you have been injured in a wreck by a drunk driver. Our firm handles cases in Fort Worth (Tarrant County), Dallas and throughout Texas. Our main office is located in Irving, Texas just a few miles from DFW Airport and Love Field.