In Texas, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date that the injury occurred.  

Any injury that occurred at work during an employee’s duties will likely be covered by the employer’s compensation insurance regardless of who was at fault for the event. 

However, if a third party that was not directly associated with the employer contributed to the injury, a claim can potentially be made against them.  

Traffic Accidents 

Texas uses a “fault” system when it comes to liability for a car accident, meaning Texas requires drivers to pay for the accidents they cause. 

After an accident occurs, an injured driver, passenger, or pedestrian may decide to file a claim with their own auto insurance carrier first, in what is known as a “first-party” claim. The injured person may also decide to seek compensation from the other driver’s insurer by filing a “third-party” claim (the “second party” is always the insurance company). 

Finally, an injured person may also choose to go to court and file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver, seeking compensation for medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses related to the accident. 

Animal Attacks 

Certain animal attack personal injuries, notably dog bites, are covered by state statutes. Some states, including Texas, have what is called a “one-bite rule,” which protects dog owners to some degree the first time their pet bites and injures a person if the animal had never shown a propensity for aggression or bitten anyone before.  

Oilfield Accidents 

Toxic substances, heavy machinery, and the constant risk of fires and explosions make working in an oilfield extremely dangerous.  

Our oilfield injury attorneys can help workers who are injured in all types of oilfield accidents, including blowouts, drilling rig accidents, gas truck crashes, land rig explosions, pipeline explosions, and more. 

Offshore Injuries 

Deck hands, oil and gas employees, and other workers are exposed to dangerous working conditions every day. While companies know about these dangers and are obligated to protect their employees, they often fall short.  

Our offshore injury lawyers can help workers who are injured in all types of offshore accidents, including crane failures, diving accidents, dredging accidents, oil rig explosions and fires, vessel collisions, and more. 

Plant & Refinery Accidents 

Plant and refinery workers who survive catastrophic accidents are often left with severe burns, limited mobility, or lifelong impairment. 

Our plant and refinery explosion lawyers can help workers who are injured in all types of plant accidents involving chemical plants, defective machinery, oil and gas refineries, plant explosions, turnaround accidents, unsafe policies, and more. 

After successfully settling their case or receiving an award in the form of a judgment, the injured party can be compensated for their suffering, including through ongoing payments for lifetime medical care if it is needed and payments to offset a reduction in their earning capacity caused by the injury.  

Some states, including Texas, consider whether the injured party shares some responsibility for the event. In cases where there is shared fault, Texas uses a “modified comparative negligence rule,” meaning that the amount of compensation the injured party is entitled to receive will be reduced by an amount that is equal to their percentage of fault. But, if the injured party is found to bear more than 50% of the legal blame, they can’t collect anything at all from the other at-fault party. 

An experienced personal injury lawyer in Texas can protect your rights to a settlement and ensure you receive the maximum possible compensation for any medical expenses, lost wages, loss of life enjoyment, loss of earning capacity, and potentially replacement or repair of damaged property. 

The legal experts at Pond Lehocky Giordano will evaluate your case, consider all potential claims, identify possible defendants, and investigate the material facts surrounding the injurious event, including physical evidence, public records, witnesses, and expert testimony. 

Most importantly, we will support you against insurance companies, opposing legal counsel, and in courtrooms – negotiating and advocating on your behalf to protect your rights and maximize your compensation.