San Antonio Injury Lawyer Blog

Many Texans, whether living in San Antonio, or anywhere in the State, require the professional services of mental health therapists. The vast majority of mental health service providers are dedicated professionals that seek to help alleviate the mental health conditions of their patients. Unfortunately, the therapist-patient relationship can become too close, and too personal, creating circumstances where boundaries are violated.

Patients seeking help from licensed counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, or even religious pastors and clergy, often find themselves in a vulnerable position having to open their lives to these professionals. Occasionally, counselors and therapists take advantage of patients in these vulnerable positions as engage in improper sexual relationships, or take advantage financially. Victims need to know that Texas has laws protecting patients that have been the victim of boundary violations.

Chapter 81 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides for legal causes of action against mental health service providers that have sexually exploited their patients. Although the title of the Chapter uses the word sexual exploitation, the law also provides for legal remedies if the mental health provider causes - directly or indirectly - physical, emotional, or mental injury caused by "therapeutic deception of the patient by the provider."

If you, or someone you love, has been victimized by an individual that was supposed to be helping with mental health issues, you have legal rights that can and should be enforced. In addition, the Texas Department of State Health Services actively accepts and prosecute complaints against individuals that have violated their trust with patients. If you need legal help, contact a law firm that has experience in this area of law, and has a track record of success in helping victims of mental health abuses.

A recall of more than 2 million baby cribs was initiated over fears of personal injury to infants. The majority of the cribs involved in the recall were "drop side" cribs - cribs that have a side rail that slides downward to allow a parent easier access to pick up or lay down a child. However, the sliding side rails can dislodge or detach, creating gaps large enough to allow a child to become entrapped and suffocate. There have been no deaths reported as of yet, however, at least one child was found unconscious and required hospitalization.

Defective products that have been linked to injuries and deaths need to be properly investigated and thoroughly examined in order to preserve a claim against a negligent manufacturer. For details on this current crib recall, vist the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to determine whether you may have one of these recalled items.

Auto accidents in San Antonio may increase until Chrysler vehicles with defective brakes are repaired. A recall of certain Jeep Wranglers manufactured from 2006 through 2010 was instituted because wear in the brake tubes could cause a brake fluid leak. Enter recall ID# 10V2346000 under the search function for more details.

The risk of a serious auto accident is increased because of the potential leak. A brake fluid leak in the affected Jeep Wranglers could cause a failure in the braking system with serious consequences.

Any auto accident involving Jeep Wranglers wherein the driver of the jeep complains about brake failure should be investigated for a possible product defect.

Most Texas drivers know that driving while intoxicated is a serious danger to all people on the roadway and can cause serious personal injury and death. Likewise, it is becoming increasingly more obvious that driving while texting is dangerous, and is occurring at an alarmingly increasing rate. What many may not realize, however, conduct that almost everyone engages in was addressed in a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and stresses that driving while talking on a cell phone is also dangerous. Yes, just talking on the phone distracts a driver’s attention.

Published data supports the theory that driving while distracted is the equivalent to driving while intoxicated. However, according to the article most people do not feel as though talking on a cell phone is any more dangerous than talking to other passengers. This belief is misguided. Studies have shown that talking on a cell phone affects the brain differently than talking to passengers. For additional information, see Strayer DL, William JA. Driven to Distraction: dual-task studies of simulated driving and conversing on a cellular telephone. Psychol Sci 2001: 12:462-466.

Talking on a cell phone while driving affects the brain differently than talking to passengers and is inherently more dangerous to everyone on the roadway.

The Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has come under increasing criticism for its handling of drug and medical device approvals as well as its inability to make sure that products already being sold are safe. We have also been critical of the agency’s ability to protect the public.

In a May 19th article in the New England Journal of Medicine ("NEJM") the authors recognize the many shortcomings of the agency. However, the article points out that many new initiatives are making the FDA more transparent. This transparency, in theory, should make the FDA more responsive to dangerous drugs and other defective products. In an initial step, this past January the FDA released a web-site providing answers to fundamental questions about the FDA.

Without an honest, transparent assessment and evaluation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and consumer products, the safety of the public is at risk. If the FDA does not effectively contribute to this process, more individuals will be injured, maimed, or killed as a result of products that otherwise should never have been approved for sale to the public.

San Antonio injury lawyers support Congress in its efforts to take dangerous cars off our roads more quickly. Congress is considering legislation that would help the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) quickly order recalls if it finds an imminent hazard of death or serious bodily injury. Currently, if an automaker contests the need for a safety recall, NHTSA must hold public hearings and develop a case, which can take months and cost lives.

Also being considered for the legislation are requirements that autos be equipped with brake overides, black boxes and added penalties if car companies fail to promptly report safety defects.

Texas personal injury lawyers have known for a long time that corporations are driven to maximize profits; therefore, they can and often will make a calculated decision to not repair or to deny a defect if the penalties for nondisclosure are less than the cost of repair. Personal injury damages can be delayed or avoided by denying defects. It is often years before the defect is uncovered and many of the injured will be denied compensation because of individual state laws regarding the statute of limitations.

Hopefully Congress will pass a bill with sufficient penalties for nondisclosure of defects that corporations will be compelled to do the right thing for Texas injury claimants.

Are San Antonio teenage girls more likely to get in car accidents than teenage boys? In a recent survey of teenage drivers more girls said that they are likely to speed as compared to the boys in the survey. The data about teen driving comes from online interviews with over 1000 teens.

San Antonio injury lawyers have long known that teenagers cause a disproportionate share of auto accidents. Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers and traditionally, boys have accounted for about two-thirds of the deaths.

The survey, which indicated that girls are taking more risks while driving, coincides with the shifting accident and death rates for teenagers. Fatalities for boy drivers have declined faster than girls and the difference in insurance rates for boys and girls have narrowed. Boys are still charged higher premiums but the gap between girls and boys have narrowed.

Texas auto accident injury lawyers will normally see many more teenage boys causing accidents than teenage girls. However, if this study is correct we will see an increase in accidents caused by teenage girls.

San Antonio medical malpractice injury lawyers are taking more inquiries from individuals injured in surgical procedures performed with surgical robots. The surgical robots can make surgery less invasive. Surgeons can operate through small holes in the patient instead of through a large incision. The robot with up to four remote-controlled arms and a sophisticated camera allows the physician to perform a variety of surgical procedures without cutting open a patient’s abdomen.

However, the surgical robots have long learning curves and some surgeons have said that it takes at least 200 surgeries to become proficient and to reduce the risks of surgical complications. Others have suggested that it takes 250-700 cases to master the robot.

One area of concern for potential patients and an area to be investigated by Texas injury lawyers is whether the physician had sufficient training in the use of the surgical robot. Some physicians have been given as little as two days training which included operating on pig and human cadavers. Obviously, as a patient you should inquire as to your physician’s experience with the surgical robot. There are many advantages to using a surgical robot if it is controlled and operated by an experienced surgeon. However, because of the long learning curve, an invasive procedure with a surgical robot should only be done by a surgeon properly experienced in the procedure.

Many have expressed concern that the surgical robots are being installed at hospitals and surgery centers as part of a marketing strategy. One of the manufacturers of a surgical robot openly markets the device to surgical centers as a way for them to increase their revenues. The price of the machines can run from approximately 1 million dollars to over 2 million dollars. With the high upfront costs many surgeons will feel pressured to use the device to justify its cost – whether they are ready to do so or not.

In March, San Antonio medical malpractice victims were once again trumped by Texas laws that protect insurance companies and the medical industry. The Texas Supreme Court, in Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio, Ltd., LLP, et al v. Rankin, held that a law passed by the legislature imposing an absolute 10-year time limit to bring medical malpractice claims trumped the Texas Constitution and the "open courts" protections therein.

Briefly, in 1995, the victim of the malpractice underwent a surgical procedure. Apparently a surgical sponge (typically an 18" x 18" gauze pad) was left inside of the patient. She was discharged and never informed of this event. In 2006, after suffering abdominal pain, she was informed by a physician that there was a surgical sponge left inside of her - necessarily dating back to the only prior surgery in 1995. Once a sponge or other foreign object is discovered, a second surgery becomes mandatory, and there are often complications with infection, scarring and adhesions with these follow-up surgeries.

The patient sought legal counsel and attempted to seek compensation for the unnecessary surgery, medical bills and any future consequences directly related to the retained sponge. The hospital and doctors involved in the original surgery sought to have the case dismissed under the legislative mandate that, once 10 years passes the negligent conduct of a hospital, doctor or other healthcare provider cannot be complained about in court. Despite the fact that no physician ever told the victim that she was suffering because of this sponge that had been left inside of her until after 10 years had passed, the court ruled that the legislature intended to protect the healthcare industry and give protections to the insurance companies that cover these events, and that the 10-year time limit did not violate the Texas Constitution.

Clearly, time limits are put on cases for legitimate reasons. There must be some closure for events that are known to have caused damage or injury, and legal protections should be instituted within those time frames. However, the "open courts" provision of the Texas Constitution was put in place for the very instance where an individual that had no way of knowing that there rights were violated. This malpractice patient acted promptly and reasonably when the violation was discovered, but the legislative bar imposed by politicians that would rather protect the medical and insurance lobby over patients prevented her from obtaining any relief.

Medical malpractice laws contain a myriad of hurdles and pitfalls. If you or a loved one has been the victim of malpractice, seek an experienced voice to guide you. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can advise and consult with you about your rights, and how to protect those rights even under the current state of the law.

If you, or a loved one, has suffered an injury because of another persons negligent conduct, or, if a business or manufacturer has caused permanent loss or caused the wrongful death of a family member, choosing the right San Antonio personal injury attorney can be a daunting task. There are many well-qualified and proven attorneys in San Antonio; unfortunately, there are also attorneys that are not. How can you help make the best decision for you or your family? Nothing is more important that research, and here are a few things that you should consider:

1) Is the attorney experienced in the field?

Years of experience are important, but more than longevity, ask about the number of years a lawyer has been handling your particular type of case. Also, ask about trial experience and accomplishments as an attorney in that particular field.

2) Is the attorney Board Certified?

Board certification requires that an attorney have a sufficient number of years of experience. But, in addition, to become board certified a lawyer must pass written examinations, provide references from other attorneys and judges, and be able to prove their track record and experience in the courtroom.

3) Does the attorney and firm have the resources to engage in long-term litigation?

Visit the attorney's office and ask questions about similar cases handled and the costs involved. Competent and qualified law firms will have the resources to spend money to investigate all avenues involved in a case; they will have the ability to hire the most qualified experts in the United States; they will have a track record of battling large companies and corporate law firms and not backing down or being overwhelmed. Will the law firm pay all of the expenses of litigation, and only receive reimbursement and attorney fees if they case is successfully concluded? This is known as contingency representation, and the law firm should have the financial and legal resources to handle a case without asking the personal injury victim to risk money.

4) Trust your instinct.

Above all else, you must feel confident and trust in the lawyer and law firm you choose. Most serious cases are not handled and done in a month or two - rather, most serious cases involve a long-term fight. Negligent doctors and product manufacturers usually deny and fight, rather than admit and accept responsibility. Most insurance companies, even if the at fault driver admits to causing a collision, doubt and delay claims rather than objectively evaluate and promptly pay due losses. You need to feel comfortable with your choice when you hire an attorney. Make sure your questions are answered, and make sure you feel trust in the responses. Good lawyers will not be offended by questions, nor should they make you feel like you must sign a retainer contract before thinking about your decision.

No doubt you will have many other areas of inquiry when seeking to hire a lawyer. In the end, you should be thorough in your search. Fast talk and sound bites are not the basis for a good choice. Using your instincts and treating the decision with the weight it deserves will allow you to feel good about your choice.

In response to recent automobile accidents involving city employees, the San Antonio City Manager issued a directive that any employee that is involved in a vehicle collision will undergo drug and alcohol testing to determine whether impairment may have been a factor in the wreck. Following an accident involving a city-owned vehicle causing injury to a man in a wheel-chair, and a fatal traffic accident involving a police officer driving his city vehicle, the city manager directed that any city employee shall be tested for drugs and alcohol to offer the public assurances and to prevent later accusations being raised against the city employee.

The San Antonio Police Chief sent a memo to his officers directing that officer-involved accidents will require field sobriety tests to be administered. Unfortunately, the field sobriety tests are very subjective, and allow the officer administering such tests great leeway and latitude in interpreting the results. Requiring breathalyzer tests might offer more to the public trust.

Auto accidents causing personal injury can have long lasting impact on individuals and families. In addition to investigating drug and alcohol use, San Antonio personal injury attorneys should investigate cell phone records and other items of potential cause when determining fault following a vehicle accident. As we have discussed in prior entries, texting while driving is becoming much more common, and presents a danger equal to intoxication.

Serious dog bites can occur to anyone, even the famous. A famous soccer coach from Argentina, Diego Maradona, has undergone plastic surgery on his face after being bitten by one of his dogs. Apparently, Mr. Maradona was seriously injured when one of his dogs bit his lips and then continued to hold until the tissue was torn.

Most people have heard of horror stories when an individual is attacked by a wild dog or dogs while outside. However, most dog bites occur either in the dog owner’s home or close to the property owners property lines.

It is believed there are two reasons for the majority of dog bites to occur while on someone’s property or in their home. The first reason is that dogs can become territorial and feel as though they are protecting their master or their own area; secondly, the person attacked often allowed an allegedly domesticated pet get too close or tried to pet the animal.

We have had a number of dog bite cases where the dog was a small lap-type dog that is placed upon the visitor’s lap. The dog becomes either frightened or agitated and bites the visitor in the face and often on the lips as was done to Diego Maradona. If you are attacked by another homeowner’s dog, the homeowner’s liability insurance can provide compensation for medical bills, scarring and other related losses that are a result of the dog attack.