Recent Blog Posts

Child Drowning Accidents and Your Rights

The Doan Law Firm, P.C. — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:25:00 GMT

In 2012, 74 children died through drowning in the State of Texas. These tragic accidents took place in hot tubs, at pools, lakes, ponds, beaches, both on public and private property. There is no more terrible and devastating tragedy than losing a child, and when the death is the result of a negligent act, justice must be served. Children must be carefully watched when in any environment in which water is present. A young child can drown in only a few inches of water. If you lost a child in a drowning accident, taking legal action against the negligent party can help you get closure and hold the negligent party accountable for the negligent act.

Whether the drowning took place at a hotel, motel, public pool, private pool, water park, beach or other location, the facts must be fully reviewed to determine where the system failed. Some public or private pools have failed to ensure that the pool gates were functioning, or the lifeguard on duty failed to take action early enough to save the child. In other cases, CPR was administered, but incorrectly, and a child that could have been saved has died. How do you file a claim and seek justice? The first step is to get advice and counsel from a law firm that deals with drowning accident claims. A review of the situation and the details will allow the lawyer to advise you about taking action to recover compensation for your tragic loss. A parent will never recover from the loss of a child. The legal system allows for legal action to be taken in civil court to seek justice in the form of compensation. If you lost a child in a drowning accident, the first step is to have your case evaluated by a lawyer. You have limited time in which to file a claim, and it is important that you take action as early as possible after the death.

The Doan Law Firm, P.C. represents families in cases of child death through drowning in the Houston area.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Conducts Bus Safety Inspection in 13 States and District of Columbia

The Doan Law Firm, P.C. — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 18:02:00 GMT

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), along with state and local law enforcement announced that they were conducting a series of safety inspections on motorcoaches, tour buses, school buses and other commercial passenger busses in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

The safety inspection sweeps were a part of the FMCSA's continuing effort to raise the standards for bus safety and to protect the safety of bus passengers by removing unsafe operators from the roads. Starting May 11th and running through May 20th, inspections were to be carried out in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "Safety is our highest priority. Especially during the peak spring and summer travel seasons, we are working hard to remove any bus or driver that places passengers and other motorists at risk on the road."

The detailed inspections included law enforcement officers thoroughly checking the buses for any mechanical problems such as the brakes, lights or engine defects. The bus drivers themselves were also inspected in order to ensure that they were operating in compliance with the hours-of-service regulations, medical fitness, commercial driver's license and other federal safety regulations.

"Rain or shine, at any given location, federal, state and local police are on the ground conducting bus safety inspections that ultimately help save lives," said FMCSA Administrator Anne. S. Ferro. "Our goal is to make bus travel as safe as possible – every trip, every time."

The FMCSA reports that over the last five years, the number of bus inspections and comprehensive safety reviews of the nation's estimated 4,000 commercial bus companies has doubled. The FMCSA says that roadside motorcoach inspections have increased by nearly 100% from 12,991 in 2005 to 25, 705 in 2010. By significantly increasing the bus safety inspections, the FMCSA is proud to have put 54 unsafe companies out of service in 2011 alone.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that in 2008 there were 11,000 injury bus crashes in the United States, leaving 24,000 people injured as a result. If you or someone you love has been injured in a bus accident, you are urged to contact a Houston bus accident attorney from The Doan Law Firm, P.C. to discuss your injury claim.

Hazing Injuries

The Doan Law Firm P.C. — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:01:00 GMT

"We found that every high school student who joins any group-from gangs to church groups, from the football team to the band-is at risk of being hazed," said a doctor who conducted an investigation on hazing. For the study, 1,390 students were interviewed, 48% of which admitted to having been hazed.

From being forced to consume ridiculous amounts of alcohol to being beaten in a bus by drumsticks, individuals across the country have been subjected to horrific hazing traditions. Some of the terrible hazing rituals that students across the country have admitted to include: being yelled or cursed at, being made to eat disgusting things, being forced to consume alcohol or take illegal drugs, vandalizing property, stealing or cheating, and engaging in sexual acts.

In the words of an Alfred University president, "Hazing is not simply horseplay or rough good humor. It often takes a form that is dangerous as well as emotional and damaging." How can hazing be stopped? Many think that if more students knew about the safety risks of hazing and if awareness was spread at school and church and the problem was discussed to team members of various group affiliations these atrocious deeds would stop. Methods that encourage awareness include:

Discussing what hazing is: "Activities that humiliate, degrade, abuse or endanger participants"
Discussing hazing incidents
Discussing how to stop hazing
Directing students to online help such as Stophazing.org
Pointing out that 42 states have anti-hazing laws
Discussing legal consequences to hazing

Last year, the death of a drum major at Florida A&M received media attention, when the collegiate's death was attributed to blunt force trauma. The man was beaten to death by drumsticks, mallets and fists as he crossed a bus aisle in the dark. A few years ago, a hazing incident at Rutgers University resulted in six sorority members facing charges of aggravated hazing. Their bail was set at $1,500 each.

In Texas, hazing is a class B misdemeanor, but becomes a class A misdemeanor if bodily injury results. If a death occurs, participants in the hazing can be charged with a felony. Also, an organization can be forced to pay excessive fines if it condoned the hazing. If you sustained injuries as the result of hazing, you could be eligible to receive compensation for the pain and harm that was inflicted upon you. Contact our personal injury firm today to learn more!

Detecting Nursing Home Abuse

Houston Personal Injury Lawyer — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

If you and your elderly loved one decided that residence in a nursing home would be best to meet the needs of your elder, then you likely expected that the care demonstrated to them would be nothing short of top-notch. Unfortunately, for some residents of nursing care facilities, some members of the staff have taken to illegal – even abusive – behaviors that are far from the care and attention you may have had in mind when you enrolled them in this type of facility. Nursing home abuse can take shape in many forms, from physical abuse, to sexual abuse, to emotional abuse, to verbal abuse, to financial abuse. However, it is often more difficult to identify any of these types of abuse, as many elders are threatened or diminished to the point of not expressing the abusive behaviors that are being done to them by the staff they are supposed to trust. In these cases, it will be up to you (as an outsider looking in) to determine if abuse is occurring and then take action to prevent it from continuing.

In general, there are certain signs that you should always be on the lookout for if you suspect that abuse is going on in the nursing home in which your loved one currently resides. Physical symptoms are usually the most easy to identify, and these include new bruises, open cuts/ wounds, and broken bones. Unfortunately, other forms of abuse may be more difficult to identify. Emotional, sexual, and verbal abuses are often easier to hide or keep secret. Therefore, you should be extra vigilant in looking for signs of these types of malpractice. If you notice a change in the personality of your elder, perhaps withdrawal or fear, it is not unlikely that this could be a result of threats, diminishing remarks, and other verbal or emotional abuses that could diminish a person's typical demeanor.

The signs and symptoms described above are only very general depictions of a problem that is wide in scope. That being said, it is not unlikely that other indicators of abuse could exist. In these instances, you should rely on your instinct to identify signs that seem unnatural to you. The most important step to take if you suspect elder abuse of any sort is to obtain legal representation such as that which can be found in a Houston personal injury lawyer from The Doan Law Firm, P.C. Under the support and guidance of an attorney from the firm, you can rest more easily knowing that the right steps are being taken to address the wrongs that your elderly loved on is currently being made to endure within their nursing home facility. Contact a Houston nursing home abuse attorney from The Doan Law Firm, P.C. for more information about this serious problem.

Railroad Company Expresses Resistance to Expensive Safety Technology

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:46:00 GMT

Attempts are under way to enforce the installment of safety devices in railroad systems throughout the country. The innovative technology known as Positive Train Control (PTC) uses wireless communications, GPS devices, and central control centers to automatically deploy the use of a braking system on a train that is in imminent danger of crashing or derailing. This is a life-saving technological advance that could drastically change the course of railroad industry development from here on out. In fact, reports show that more than 20 railroad accidents since 2001 could have been prevented if this new safety technology had been implemented before now.

The positive effects of PTC technology seem to be good reason to make implementation of the system the next logical step that should be taken in upgrading the safety systems of railroads and train cars throughout the world. However, the technology is being met with firm resistance on the end of railroad companies that are expressing their belief that the technology is too expensive. Mandated implementation of Positive Train Control was made four years ago by the federal government. The federal legislation came as a reaction to the Chatsworth, California crash in 2008 that killed 25 and left 135 more passengers and personnel injured. In the past 11 years, a total of 28 individuals have lost their lives in train accidents, making claims for PTC implementation not only understandable, but justifiable.

As it stands, railroad companies have expressed their concern about the expenses that will be incurred by implementing the PTC system. Supported by Republicans throughout the country, many railroad companies are pushing to have the required implementation pushed back by three years. While finances are tight for many, it is still difficult to understand the strong resistance that railroad companies are showing towards a safety system which could vastly improve the train system and save the lives of many. Right now, the industry is somewhat split as to what to do. While the National Transportation Safety Board has outspokenly advocated on behalf of PTC, the Federal Railroad Administration has sided with the rail companies in favor of delaying the safety system.

No matter what happens, the safety system will not be instated any earlier than then end of year 2015 for this is the date that was established for final implementation of PTC when the original Rail Safety Improvement Act was signed by President George W. Bush in 2008. Therefore, it is not unlikely that more rail accidents and train collisions could continue to occur until the system is implemented; or if it is implemented. Until a final decision is made in regards to this debate, it will be important for the victims of railway accidents and train collisions to seek legal support in the wake of a disaster of this nature.

The Doan Law Firm, P.C. is available to assist those who have been the unfortunate victims of any type of railroad accident in Texas. As a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, I, Houston personal injury lawyer Jimmy Doan, am skilled in all matters of personal injury law. Since 2005 I have been practicing in the field and I have been recognized by some of the nation's largest broadcasting companies for my knowledge in the field. Whether you have suffered a catastrophic injury or you have lost a loved one in a wrongful death train collision, I am here to help. Railroad accidents are serious matters that should not be taken lightly or addressed with nonchalance. I will devote my undivided attention to your case to ensure that everything in my power has been done in order to provide you with the best possible outcome for your case. To learn more, do not hesitate to contact a Houston railroad accident attorney from my firm today.

Man Drowns While Trying to Save Friend

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:37:00 GMT

When 21-year-old Gregory Minetti began having trouble coming ashore during a storm near Newport, RI, his 23-year-old friend jumped in to try to save him. He drowned instead.

Nicholas Napolitano, 23, died Sunday in Newport in an attempt to save a friend from drowning. The incident began when the 21-year-old jumped from a rocky ledge into the roiling water, but immediately began struggling in the 6-8-foot waves. Instead of waiting for the firefighters, who had recently been summoned, Napolitano jumped in to help.

Firefighters arrived and were able to reach the 21-year-old and pull him out of the water, but by then were unable to find the friend, and the rescue operation officially became a recovery operation on Sunday afternoon, which ended Monday afternoon with the discovery of Napolitano's body.

In a tragedy like this one, survivors' questions may only be answered by experts. The Doan Law Firm P.C. has extensive experience in drowning and water accidents and can assist any family suffering loss or injury. Contact the Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.

US Agencies Investigate Sprout-Related Salmonella

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:13:00 GMT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control have been investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to alfalfa sprouts, reports the CDC website. Although there is no connection between this Salmonella outbreak and European E. coli outbreak, the basic symptoms are the same and the dangers are still present.

As of June 27, 2011, a total of 21 people infected with the strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 5 states, including Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington. The illnesses evidently began between April 12 and June 7, 2011. Ill persons range in age from 12 years to 77 years old, with a median age of 35 years old. No deaths have been reported so far.

Agencies have linked this outbreak to Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts that were distributed by Evergreen Produce. The alfalfa sprouts were packaged in 4-ounce and 16-ounce plastic bags with pre-printed labels. They were also packaged in 1-pound and 5-pound plastic bags with stick-on labels. The spicy sprouts are packaged in 4-ounce plastic bags with pre-printed labels and 1-pound plastic bags with stick-on labels.

The symptoms of Salmonella are usually diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection, with the illness typically lasting a week or less. Most of those infected recover without treatment. But in some, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Customers who purchased this product should return it to the place of purchase for a refund or dispose the sprouts in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can to prevent people or animals from eating them.

If you think you or someone you love has been exposed to a form of this bacteria, the Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, has extensive experience in personal injury litigation. Contact the Doan Law Firm, P.C. at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.

Mid-July Salmonella Outbreak Reported

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:54:00 GMT

personal injury attorneyThe CDC reported that 99 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Agona have been reported from 23 states since the middle of July, with the outbreak linked to fresh whole papayas imported from Mexico by Agromod Produce, Inc. of McAllen, Texas.

Agromod voluntarily recalled the papayas, which were imported from Mexico and distributed nationwide and to Canada through retail stores and wholesalers. But the CDC warned that contaminated papayas could still be in grocery stores and in consumers' homes.

If you feel you have been made ill by tainted papayas, the Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, has extensive experience in personal injury compensation and litigation. Contact the Doan Law Firm, P.C. at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.

Fatal Traffic Accident on Houston's Katy Freeway

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:03:00 GMT

Houston police were investigating a fatal traffic accident that occurred at 5200 Katy Freeway, also known as West Interstate Highway 10, on the service road early in the morning last month.

Two victims were in a gold Chevrolet pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed in the eastbound lanes of the Katy Freeway, when their truck veered across two lanes, across the right shoulder and then up into a grassy area surrounding an entrance ramp from the feeder road near Reinerman Street. The pickup continued to the other side of the entrance ramp, rolled into the grass again and came to rest on the eastbound feeder road near Roy Street.

Both victims were ejected from the truck. One died at the scene and the other was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital. The identities of the two deceased male victims were pending verification.

The Doan Law Firm, P.C., led byHouston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, can answer questions related to traffic injury accidents. With extensive experience, The Doan Law Firm P.C. can assist any family suffering loss or injury. Contact the Doan Law Firm at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.

Toddler's Hot Tub Drowning Called Accidental

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:17:00 GMT

St. Joseph, , police have ruled a hotel hot tub drowning of a three-year-old boy and accident, as indicated from a recent autopsy performed on the boy.

The death of Parker James Wilson, who died earlier this month that occurred while Parker was visiting St. Joseph's Ramada Inn Monkey Cove Water Park with his grandparents and siblings,

The accident occurred while the grandfather was watching two other children at a water slide . When he noticed that Parker had slid under the water in the hot tub, he called 911 and emergency responders performed CPR on the little boy, but he died a short time later at a St. Joseph hospital.

The boy lived in the northwest Missouri town of Rosendale. Police announced the preliminary autopsy results early this month.

In the event of a water –related injury or death, contact the Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.

Zoloft Lawsuits

Houston Personal Injury Lawyer — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:35:00 GMT

The popular anti-depressant drug medication known as Zoloft has been recently linked to birth defects, if taken while a mother is pregnant. For many years, Zoloft was widely prescribed to patient's suffering from depression throughout the United States and abroad.

Birth defects linked to the dangerous drug Zoloft are as follows: pulmonary hypertension, anal atresia, club foot, congenital heart defects, and craniosynostosis.

If you took Zoloft during your pregnancy and your child has a birth defect, you need to immediately call The Doan Law Firm. Our Houston personal injury attorneys have many years of experience fighting such drug companies. We are located at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas. Don't hesitate to contact us today at (800) 284-5983.

Basketball Player Drowns

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:15:00 GMT

A member of Mission High School's 2010 Academic Athletic Association championship boys' basketball team, Stafone Jackson, 20, died on a camping trip of an apparent drowning earlier this month.

Reports say that a swim with his friends was more difficult than it appeared and about halfway back, Jackson began yelling for help and quickly sank before his friends could get to him.

Jackson, who was entering his second year at UC Riverside, was at the Union Valley Reservoir in North El Dorado when Jackson's friends called local authorities to report the possible drowning. After initial search crews were unable to locate Jackson, his body was found roughly 150 feet offshore later in the afternoon.

Questions should be answered by experts in dealing with situations similar to this, and the Doan Law Firm P.C. has extensive experience in drowning and water accidents and can assist any family suffering loss or injury. Contact the Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.

Man Killed Changing Tire

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:01:00 GMT

Austin Police Officers responded to an auto-pedestrian collision in the 100 block of East Slaughter Lane in the middle of last month.

Reports say that a white 1996 white Toyota sedan was stalled in the center east bound lane in the 100 block E. Slaughter Lane. Kyle was standing at the rear of the vehicle preparing to change a flat tire when he was struck by a 1999 dark blue Chevy Tahoe. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Neither alcohol nor speed is believed to be a factor in this crash. This case remains
under investigation by APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-5520.

The Doan Law Firm P.C. has extensive experience in traffic-related injury and death litigation and can assist any family suffering loss or injury. Contact the Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.

Doctors and EMS Save Child From Drowning

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:14:00 GMT

Emergency crews have been credited with saving the life of a two-year-old boy after he nearly drowned in a backyard pool in Providence, RI earlier this month.

Firefighters had been called to the Providence home within a few minutes of the toddler being found, reports say. But nobody knew how long the boy had been in the water.

When emergency services showed up, they found a young man standing in the street with the little boy in his arms. The child had no pulse so the team began CPR and transported the child to
Hasbro Children's Hospital where a team of doctors and nurses continued the process. And by the time firefighters left, the child had a pulse and was breathing on his own.

Survivors' questions must be answered by experts in dealing with situations similar to this. The Doan Law Firm P.C. has extensive experience in drowning and water accidents and can assist any family suffering loss or injury. Contact the Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.

European e. Coli Outbreak Appears to be Winding Down

Houston Personal Injury Attorney — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 21:35:00 GMT

German Robert Koch Institute reported in July that 852 patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome were identified who had come down with the illness though the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria – including six confirmed cases in the U.S. resulting in one death.

The study concluded that contaminated raw sprouts from one farm in Germany are the likely source of the outbreak, and that the farm had been closed. The sprouts produced there are no longer in restaurants or store shelves in Germany, meaning the number of cases has markedly decreased since the discovery.

The CDC has been monitoring the E. coli outbreak, one of the worst international outbreaks in some time, since state health departments began reporting the ongoing outbreak during or after travel to Germany and since April 1, 2011. The CDC has also been working with state health departments to learn more about confirmed cases.

Travelers to Germany have been made aware that the recommendation not to eat cucumbers, tomatoes and leafy salads in northern Germany was lifted. On June 10, 2011, and the number of cases associated with this outbreak has markedly decreased.

On July 5, 2011, the investigation led to the identification of a single lot of fenugreek seeds, from an exporter in Egypt, as the most likely source of the sprouts linked with the two outbreaks. Still, any person who has recently traveled to Germany or has been in contact with an ill person who has recently traveled to Germany should tell their medical provider. Symptoms usually begin with fever, and most people get better within 5-7 days. But some patients go on to develop HUS—usually about a week after the diarrhea starts. Symptoms of HUS include decreased frequency of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color of skin and membranes.

If you or someone you love has been infected by this or any other contagious bacteria, the Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, has extensive experience in personal injury litigation. Contact the Doan Law Firm, P.C. at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.