San Antonio Legal Blog

One of the more difficult aspects of dealing with car accidents in San Antonio is trying to determine who is at fault. In some cases, liability is quite obvious; in others, the issue may be much murkier. In those instances where there is difficulty assigning fault, authorities may choose to assign a certain percentage of blame to all parties involved. They may also choose to assign liability to the party whose error or infraction was the most egregious. 

Determining that may be difficult in an accident that recently occurred in Fort Worth. A driver is being questioned by law enforcement officials to understand what might have led to the collision that killed resulted in a couple's death. The accident happened on the East Loop 820 freeway, where the aforementioned couple has stopped and exited their vehicle on the side of the road (authorities believe that the pair was involved in some type of disturbance, though it was not made clear whether the two were arguing with each other). While this was happening, the other driver struck their stopped vehicle (investigators have yet to determine whether the couple was also struck directly or were killed by being hit by the own vehicle in the collision). The collision occurred just after midnight. 

A primary industry here in Texas that employs numerous residents is the oil and gas industry. If you work in the industry, you know that it has its rewards and its risks. Even if you and your employer take all of the necessary safety precautions for the obvious hazards you face each day, you may not be aware of other, less obvious dangers.

You may actively protect yourself from things such as equipment injuries, vehicles moving around the site and other potential hazards that cause physical injuries such as broken bones, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries to name a few. However, it's often the dangers you can't see that present the biggest risks to your health.

With all of the oil derricks that can be seen throughout the state of Texas, it is easy to forget that a large portion of the state's drilling work (and the country's, for that matter) happens offshore. Working out on the open water on a drilling platform can present a number of risks, which is why such work routinely ranks amongst the most dangerous professions. If and when an accident happens on a rig (or during the course of traveling to or from one), workers are protected under maritime laws rather than those regulating traditional workers' compensation benefits. These laws entitle injured workers to maintenance and cure. 

The Legal Information Institute offers two definitions for maintenance and cure: The first addresses maintenance, which refers to a worker's daily living expenses. These are all of the costs incurred during one's time away from work. The only living expenses not covered by maintenance are those from the time one was in the hospital recovering from an injury sustained on an oil platform. These are considered to be medical expenses, which (along with doctor, hospital and therapy bills) are covered under cure. 

Whether your job is working construction or answering phones at a doctor's office, you are subject to risks each day when you leave for your job in Texas. While certain jobs put you in a much more vulnerable position than others, every occupation has its own unique list of potential hazards to your health. Fortunately, there are proactive steps that you can be taking each day in an effort to keep yourself safe and productive while at work. 

According to heathfinder.gov, keeping yourself safe at work begins with the way you take care of yourself when you are not at work. You are able to function more effectively and efficiently when you are eating healthy food, getting plenty of rest and staying active by exercising. Additionally, finding healthy ways to manage and deal with stress is important so you can stay focused and alert while at work.