Posted on September 2nd, 2010
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workplace fatalities in Texas are on the rise. In 2009, 480 workers died in a job-related incident, a 4% increase from 2008 totals. By contrast, nationwide workplace deaths decreased by 17% from 2008 to 2009.
Some believe that the discrepancy between the state and national trends is partially due to the economy, with Texas retaining more jobs than the rest of the country and therefore having more potential for workplace deaths. However, the increase in fatalities also raises questions about work conditions and workplace safety.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for establishing workplace standards and enforcing them nationwide. According to a report, the administration began sending additional safety inspectors to Texas last year. OSHA inspects workplaces for safety and will cite and fine companies for violations. Despite their increased presence in Texas, work-related fatalities have continued to increase.
While many companies have taken action to make the workplace more secure, some businesses continue to operate under unsafe conditions, putting their workers at risk. According to OSHA, the construction industry in particular has a high incidence of safety violations and workplace accidents.
The OSHA website lists citations that have been issued in Texas in the past year. Among the violations are a lack of safety equipment and improper training. Some workers may not be properly trained in using heavy machinery or wearing safety gear may not be enforced. In some cases, the structures or trenches in which they work may be structurally unsound, exposing workers to the risk of a potentially fatal accident.
If someone you love has been injured or killed in a workplace accident, contact the Houston workplace fatality lawyers of Williams Kherkher today at 800-696-5341.
Posted on September 2nd, 2010
This morning an oil rig exploded 80 miles off of the Louisiana coast near Vermilion Bay.
Officials from the Coast Guard reported the blast around 9:30 a.m. Thursday when it was spotted from a helicopter. Thirteen people were aboard the rig at the time of the explosion and one of them was injured and it heading to the hospital.
An official from the Coast Guard said that there was still smoke from the rig, but it is unknown whether it is still burning. Officials have said that the rig was not currently producing any product and authorities are trying to determine the cause of the blast. The rig is owned and operated by Mariner, according to the director of environmental safety for the company.
If you have been injured in an oil rig explosion, contact the Gulf of Mexico oil spill lawyers of Willaims Kherkher by calling 800-696-5341 today to discuss your legal options.
Posted on August 31st, 2010
A section of I-10 in Hamshire, Texas will be closed until Wednesday after a truck accident caused a hazardous chemical to be spilled on the roadway and injured the driver of the truck.
A spokesperson from the Texas Department of Transportation has announced that the section that will be closed is 65 miles south of Houston between Texas 73 and Farm Road 365.
Details on what caused the accident have not been released, but a flammable chemical, isobutane, was spilled as a result. Homes in the area have been evacuated as a precaution and it is known that the 30-year-old driver of the truck suffered non-life threatening injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact the Houston truck accident lawyers of Williams Kherkher by calling 800-696-5341 to discuss your legal rights.
Posted on August 26th, 2010
Two weeks ago, an east Houston medical center made a mistake after a woman had a miscarriage in her fifth month of pregnancy. The family wanted to bury the fetus in the cemetery and requested that it be sent to the funeral home.
Two hours after the burial, the doctor called the family and told them that there was some kind of mistake and that they were given a toe instead of the fetus.
The couple then had the remains dug up and found that it was indeed a toe that had been sent to the funeral home. The family is now suing the medical center for negligence, infliction of emotional distress and failure to properly identify the remains of the child.
If you or your loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, contact the Houston hospital malpractice lawyers of Williams Kherkher by calling 800-696-5341 today to discuss your legal options.
Posted on August 13th, 2010
Officials with the Texas AFL-CIO met in Houston this week to discuss a manufactured home that will be offered to a struggling union family. The family that is selected will be able to live in the home and pay only $1-per-year rent. Applicants are encouraged to submit a statement of no more than 100 words describing why they deserve the home by the deadline of Friday, September 10, 2010. The application committee hopes to find a union family who have fallen on hard times due to job loss or foreclosure who would benefit from the inexpensive living option.
An electronic message board will be on the side of the highway and a news conference was held on Thursday, August 12 at 10 a.m. in the office parking lot of the Houston personal injury lawyers, Williams Kherkher in Houston to inform people of the opportunity. Williams Kherkher is proud to lend it's support to the Texas AFL/CIO as they seek to help union workers and their families in their time of need.
Posted on August 10th, 2010
A Houston man was arrested after a hit-and-run motorcycle accident on Highway 90A.
According to officials, the man was driving a pickup truck on Highway 90A when he struck a man that was riding a motorcycle. The man in the pickup truck did not stop after the accident. The motorcyclist suffered serious head injuries and was flown to a local hospital.
Witnesses than told police officials what the truck looked like and they later found it at a home in Richmond. The 21-year-old driver of the truck was found at the address and was arrested and charged with failure to stop.
Motorcycle accidents can cause serious injury, our thoughts are with the victim and his family during his recovery time.
Posted on August 3rd, 2010
City officials are investigating whether or not there was a construction permit for a balcony that collapsed in Southeast Austin while over two dozen partygoers were standing on it.
Emergency crews responded to the scene where over 30 people had fallen to the ground from the second floor. Twenty-three people were transported to the University Medical Center Brackenridge with injuries from scratches to bone breaks. No life threatening injuries were reported, but five people remained in the hospital on Sunday night.
The exact reason why the balcony collapsed is unknown at this time, but it is known that the amount of people on the 400-square foot patio exceeded the weight limit. Intitial attempts to find if the correct construction permits that were used in the construction of the balcony were unsuccesful.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to faulty construction, contact the Houston construction accident lawyers of Williams Kherkher by calling 800-696-5341 today to discuss your legal options.
Posted on July 28th, 2010
BP has denied a request by Northern Florida's Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (ECWR) for reimbursement for treating animals injured as a result of the company's oil spill. According to the ECWR, donations are not enough to cover the expenses associated with transporting and treating oil-covered sea turtles, dolphins, and other aquatic animals – a task the refuge is charged with by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
Additionally, the ECWR reports that its requests for financial aid were met with less than respect by the oil giant. According to a BP spokesman, as a volunteer organization that has never asked for reimbursement in the past, the ECWR has no right to expect it now. Unfortunately, this means the refuge is left struggling to provide the environmental aid it has promised with an ever-dwindling budget.
If you or your property has been damaged as the result of the BP oil spill, the Gulf of Mexico oil-spill attorneys of Williams Kherkher may be able to help you get the financial compensation you deserve. Contact us today by calling 800-696-5341.
Posted on July 27th, 2010
In a low economy people may try to save a few dollars where they can, but finding discounted deals on cosmestic surgery should be researched thouroughly or it could lead to serious injury.
In the news recently, two sisters in California were arrested after performing plastic surgery without a medical license. The sisters caused serious infection to multiple women when using fillers in their treatment which hardened in the patients.
When looking for a plastic surgeon, most suggests that you find a surgeon that has been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, contact the Houston medical malpractice lawyers of Williams Kherkher by calling 800-696-5341 today to discuss your legal options.
Posted on July 26th, 2010
Following the explosion of the offshore drilling rig the Deepwater Horizon, the Houston-based owner of the rig Transocean filed to limit the company's liability for oil spill claims to $26.7 million dollars. The company is seeking to limit the amount of money it may have to pay for claims by citing the Limited Liability Act, a maritime law established in the 1800's that allowed the owners of sea vessels to limit liability to the value of the ship and it's freight. Many disagree with the company's filing and believe that it will be difficult for the company to prove that onshore management did not know about the cause of the explosion.
Individuals who wish to file a claim against Transocean should be aware of the November 15th deadline that was set for filing claims against the company. The filing will be in Texas, so persons interested in filing a claim are encouraged to contact a Texas attorney to help them with their claim.
For more information on liability claims against Transocean, contact the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 800-821-1544 today.
