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The death of a family member is one of life’s most painful experiences. If you have experienced a death in your family our thoughts and prayers go out to you. At Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC, we understand how emotionally devastating a loved one’s death is for the survivors, and our Central Texas attorneys, can help you through this difficult time by taking care of the necessary legal actions following your family member’s death.

If your family member’s death was caused by a wrongful act of someone or entity in Texas, you may be entitled to receive damages from the responsible parties. Texas wrongful death law allows certain surviving family members to recover damages to help lessen the burden caused by a wrongful death. While no amount of money can compensate for the loss of your loved one, it may relieve the financial burden your family member’s death has caused. The wrongful death attorneys at Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC, will evaluate your death case and make every effort to get you the compensation which you may be entitled.

What to do when you get into a car accident?

1. Wherever you are, make sure to call the police.
You need to make sure to have a verbal report of what happened. If anybody is injured you need to make sure EMS is on the way The police can include all of the facts from the scene in the police report. The police can say that if there are not catastrophic injuries, they will not come out. Insist that they do, but if they don’t, the most important thing is to make sure you have placed the 911 call. All 911 calls are recorded and can often times be used as evidence in your case.

2. Don’t admit to anything.
A lot of kind Texans like to apologize but if you say you’re sorry, then any witnesses can testify to that and it can be used against you.
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3. Don’t make a recorded statement.
Whether thats to your insurance company or the other parties insurance company. Recorded statements can often be used against the person making them. If they ask you about your injuries and you’re in a state of shock, you may end up saying all you have is a headache but 3 weeks later you have lower back pain. The insurance company can now use the recorded statement to prove that you didn’t have that at time of injury. If you do make a recorded statement make sure that your attorney is present.

4. Seek medical attention within 48 hours after the accident.
Even if you have insurance or not, seek medical attention. If you are involved in an accident and the accident was not your fault, whether you have insurance or not, you will be compensated for the expenses that are associated with your medical treatment. If you have a gap of a week or two weeks, then it makes it difficult to correlate the injuries with the accident.

HOW OUR CENTRAL TEXAS LAW FIRM CAN HELP YOU AFTER A PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT
At Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC, we have a long and proud history of standing up for Hill Country residents when they need it most. Over the years, our Cedar Park personal injury attorneys have helped numerous clients recover compensation after being involved in a personal injury case.

ACCURATELY ASSESS YOUR DAMAGES
When pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, and car accidents occur in Austin, Texas, it is not at all unusual for the victims to underestimate the amount of medical care they will require – and demand too little compensation from the at-fault party. As a result, they often have to pay for some of their expenses out of their own pocket.

To try to prevent this nightmare scenario from happening to you and your family, the lawyers at Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC will review the details of your injury and assess your damages. Our skilled legal team has been working in the industry for many years, so you can be confident that our assessment is accurate.

SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE TO HELP YOUR CASE
If you wish to emerge from your pedestrian accident lawsuit with the compensation you deserve, you will need to prove that:

• The other party owed you a duty of care
• The other party’s negligence breached that duty of care
• The other party’s breach of duty caused you to suffer an injury
• Your injury is as debilitating as you claim

To prove these four points, you will most likely need to present the court with a plethora of relevant evidence, like:

• Medical records
• Police accident reports
• Traffic camera footage
• Witness testimony

Having spent many years in the legal field, our attorneys know who to speak with to find these evidentiary materials. When you hire us, we will be more than happy to assist you with your search.

Very few forces can match the devastating impact of an accident with a semi-truck. Victims who are lucky enough to survive often suffer brain trauma, broken bones, soft tissue damage, and other life-changing injuries. If you were hurt in a big rig crash that you did not cause, the Texas truck accident attorneys at Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC can help you pursue the maximum compensation for lost income, medical bills, and other damages you have incurred.

We will treat you as if you are our only client. Our truck accident lawyers will meticulously investigate your case, interview witnesses, and aggressively represent your interests during settlement negotiations. Call us today at (512) 562-7000 for a free consultation.

Types of Texas Truck Accident Claims Our Truck Accident Lawyers Handle:

Commercial truckers are some of the most experienced drivers on the road, but they’re certainly not immune to collisions. There are countless factors that contribute to 18-wheeler wrecks, but the vast majority stem from driver errors.

Our personal injury attorneys handle all types of truck accident claims in Texas including:

• Truck Accidents Due to Spilled Cargo
• Overloaded Truck Accidents
• Truck Rollover Accidents
• Truck Accidents Involving Wide Turns
• Truck Accidents Due to Tire Blowouts
• Truck Accidents Due to Fatigue
• Truck Accidents Due to Brake Failure
• Blind Spot Truck Accidents
• Truck Accidents Due to Inadequate Driver Training
• Truck Accidents Resulting in Wrongful Death

What Sets the Lawyers at Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC Apart from Other Truck Accident Attorneys in Texas?

Truck accident claims can be incredibly complex for a variety of reasons. After most collisions involving regular vehicles, a negligent driver is usually liable for the damages. But in truck accident claims, it is often the case that a party other than the truck driver can be held liable.

Depending on the facts surrounding your collision, you may have grounds for a claim against:

• The truck driver;
• The company that employs the truck driver;
• The owner of the truck;
• A mechanic who worked on the truck;
• The company that manufactured the truck or its parts;
• The company that loaded the truck; or
• Officials at a weigh station.

To give your claim the best chance of success, the Texas truck accident attorneys at Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC will perform a thorough investigation into your collision to identify all potentially liable parties.

We will gather all available evidence to prove negligence and liability, which may include:

• Weigh station receipts;
• Receipts for gas and food;
• Toll booth receipts;
• The truck driver’s cell phone records;
• Bills of lading;
• Black box data;
• Dashcam footage;
• Surveillance footage;
• Expert witness testimony;
• Eyewitness testimony;
• The accident report; and
• Photos and videos of the crash scene.

Expert witness testimony often plays a critical role in truck accident cases. The attorneys at Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC can arrange testimony from accident reconstruction experts, engineers, medical experts, and financial experts.

Insurance companies throughout Texas know that our attorneys provide comprehensive and aggressive legal representation. We are not afraid to take your case to trial, and our willingness to go the extra mile for each of our clients often results in fair settlements offer early in the proceedings.

Do I Have Grounds for a Truck Accident Claim?
If you intend to bring a claim against the truck driver or another party that contributed to your accident, you will need evidence to prove that the defendant breached a duty of care owed to you, and this breach of duty resulted in your injury or loss. Breaching a duty of care is also called “negligence.”

See How Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help You Today

At Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC, we know how challenging it can be to cope with the physical and psychological impact of a serious injury. Although no amount of compensation can undo the trauma you and your family have experienced, you may be able to avoid debt and regain your financial footing by filing a personal injury claim.

During your free initial consultation, our lawyers will assess your case and help you determine the most strategic way to proceed. We are passionate about helping victims of personal injury and wrongful death pursue justice and compensation from those who have harmed them. Call us today or use our contact form to set up a free consultation.

Texas, including Austin, Dallas, and Houston, has become a dog-friendly area where off-leash dogs are common. Dogs are able to roam freely off-leash while they are in designated dog parks. Unfortunately, dogs are everywhere and may become vicious and attack whether they are on or off a leash.

Unfortunately, with the rise of dog and pet friendly areas, there has been an increase in the number of people that have experienced the painful injury of a dog bite. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 4.7 million dog bite attacks that occur across the United States every year. The second highest reason for emergency room visits is for an animal attack or a dog bite. Thousands of victims in Central Texas will have to experience some type of injury that will require medical attention. Statistics show that about 800,000 people in the United States will end up needing emergency medical treatment from a dog bite. Dozens of people in the United States end up being killed by a dog bite every year.

Dog and other animal bites can cause deep emotional and physical scars. Children are the most vulnerable due to their strength and size and become the most common dog bite victims. When you or a loved one gets injured by a dog or another animal, you need to know your rights. Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC will make sure that you get compensated for your injuries and are protected from any costs that you had to incur as a result of the animal attack.

What Should You Do After a Dog or Animal Attack?

• Get immediate medical attention
• Get the dog/pet owners information
• Find witnesses in the area that saw the event
• Take immediate photographs of your injuries
• Contact Ely, Valentine & Reed, PLLC to protect yourself

Are the Pet Owners Responsible for the Attack?
Dog owners and pet owners are responsible for maintaining and controlling their pets. However, it is not uncommon for pet owners to refuse to deal with a victim that has been bit by the owner’s dog. Most people do not like admitting that their dog/pet is violent or that their animal may have injured another person. It is important to know your rights in a dog bite situation. The owner and the homeowner’s insurance company could be responsible for the attack and the resulting injuries.