Other Dallas injury cases we handle: work, falls, bicycles, pedestrians, dog bites

Not every injury claim starts with a car wreck. These are the other kinds of cases our Dallas office handles, with what makes each one different.

LAWBOSS – Harris, Nelsen & Uvalle, PLLC handles these cases from its Dallas office at 5001 Spring Valley Road. Every case type below has the same starting point: a free consultation with an attorney who tells you plainly whether we can help.

Work injuries

A work injury can lead to two kinds of claims: a workers’ compensation claim, when the employer carries that coverage, and a claim against someone other than the employer whose carelessness caused the injury, such as a driver or a property owner. When an employer does not carry workers’ compensation, Texas calls it a non-subscriber, and that employer cannot defend by saying the worker was negligent, assumed the risk or that a co-worker was negligent (Labor Code section 406.033). Joseph Massey, one of our Dallas attorneys, was a workers’ compensation adjuster and manager before law school.

Slips, trips and premises liability

A fall in a store, an apartment complex, a parking lot or another property can lead to a claim against the owner or the business in control of it. These claims turn on the condition that caused the fall and what the owner knew or should have known about it. Photograph the spot, the floor, the lighting and any warning signs right away, keep the shoes you wore, report the fall to the business and ask for a copy of any incident report. Get the names of employees and other customers who saw it, and write down the time, the weather and what the floor looked like. Stores often have cameras over aisles and entrances, and that footage can show how long a spill sat on the floor before you reached it.

Bicycle accidents

Cyclists on Dallas streets have no protection in a crash, and injuries are often serious. Like car claims, bicycle claims turn on fault under the Texas 50 percent rule (Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 33.001), so the scene, the lane markings, the signals and witness accounts matter. Your own auto policy’s PIP or uninsured motorist coverage may apply even though you were on a bicycle, depending on its terms.

Pedestrian accidents

A driver who hits a pedestrian must stop and give aid (Transportation Code section 550.021). Pedestrian claims depend on crosswalks, signals, lighting, sight lines and the driver’s attention, including phone use, which Texas restricts while driving (section 545.4251). Video from nearby businesses can be decisive, and many systems record over old footage, so call early.

Dog bites

A dog bite can cause deep wounds, infections and lasting scars, and children are often the ones hurt. A claim may be made against the owner or the person responsible for the dog, often through a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. Get medical care, report the bite, photograph the wounds as they heal and write down what you know about the dog and its owner.

Rideshare accidents

If you were hurt as a rideshare passenger, or by a rideshare driver, more than one policy may apply, and which one can depend on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash. Keep the trip receipt and screenshots from the app. We find out which policies cover the crash and deal with each insurer.

Wrongful death

When a crash or another wrongful act takes a life, the surviving spouse, children and parents may bring a wrongful death claim (CPRC section 71.004), and the person’s own claim survives for the estate (section 71.021). The two-year deadline generally runs from the date of death (section 16.003). We handle these cases with care and at the family’s pace, and we explain each step to the people who have to decide it.

No Fees or Costs Unless We Win: the firm advances case costs, and you owe no attorney’s fee and no case costs unless money is recovered for you. For crashes on the road, see our accident lawyer in Dallas page; for the claim as a whole, our personal injury lawyer in Dallas page.