The highway was touch and go, with limited visibility, swirling snow, drifting snow and icy patches. Those traveling on the road were moving slower than the posted speed limit, because it was the smart thing to do. And then, out of seemingly nowhere, emerging from a wall of blinding, driven snow, a 64-year-old man, driving the wrong way on the road, slammed head-on into another car.

The police asked him what he thought he was doing, to which he replied he had no idea how he even got on the highway in the first place, never mind driving the wrong way as well. The man was taken into custody and charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence, driving on the wrong way on the highway and recklessly endangering the safety of others. This collection of charges could net the drunk driver up to ten years in prison.
In this day and age, it is stunning to see people that ought to know better still drinking and driving. But to drink and then attempt to drive home in a blinding snow storm is the height of stupidity. If nothing else, this case is an object lesson for others who would think they could attempt the same thing. If you drink and drive in poor weather conditions, you end up paying the price.

The driver with the broken arm may well want to sue the drunk for compensation for his medical bills, time off work and other expenses related to the accident. While it is very fortunate he is alive, he will still face a setback in terms of being mobile for a period of time. Additionally, if there are any complications with the arm, he may face surgery and potentially rehabilitation. E.R. services for a broken arm run around $30,000 and no one has that kind of money on hand to pay bills.

To get the justice you deserve if you have been in an accident such as this one, contact a competent and skilled Austin injury lawyer. Don’t wait and think the insurance company will look after you. The only thing an insurance company looks after is themselves and trying to reduce your claim. An Austin injury lawyer knows how to deal with insurance companies looking to take advantage of accident victims.

Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.

Consider the case of one American family tooling down the highway on the way to see friends. They could see for miles and were enjoying the scenery. Suddenly, the rear-view mirror offered a glimpse of a nightmare on wheels; an enormous semi barreling down the road and seemingly inches from their bumper. Just before impact, the car driver saw the trucker slumped over the wheel. Then, the world went black. The car driver woke up in hospital later that day, his wife and three kids had died at the scene.

Too often truckers get involved in accidents because they are not watching what they are doing. It’s incredibly easy to get distracted while in the cab of a large commercial vehicle. If they take their eyes off the road for just a split second, that second could result in a monumental wreck, as a vehicle that size, going highway speeds, travels the distance of a large football field. Anything in front of a trucker is doomed to be in a path of great destruction.

The most common causes of big rig wrecks are driving while distracted using a cell phone, GPS system, lap top, smartphone, iPad, portable TV, surfing the web on their mobile devices or dropping something on the floor. There is also driving while fatigued, as in being over the legal number of hours they are supposed to be driving, being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, poor weather and visibility conditions, aggressive driving and mechanical failures.

In short, no one can really predict when an accident will happen, and many times, it may not happen, at least not that particular day or year. Chances are though, that the more the trucker is not paying attention to his job, driving safely, the risk of having an accident goes up exponentially. When accidents happen involving large commercial vehicles, do not take the chance that an insurance company will offer you a decent settlement. The only decent settlement would be to their advantage, not yours.

If you are seriously injured and need extensive medical care, contact an experienced Austin injury lawyer. If you want compensation for your injuries, medical bills and the like, the only way to get a fair settlement or jury verdict is by having an Austin injury lawyer represent you.

Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.

There are three kinds of distracted driving: taking your hands off the wheel; letting your mind wander off what you are doing; and taking your eyes off the road. No matter which distraction you indulge in, and some people do all three at once, the potential to wind up seriously injured or dead looms each time you text, or go webbing while driving.

The leading cause of death on the highways these days is texting while driving; a fact which is not much of a surprise given the huge media coverage of every death by texting news story. It’s not just the media that are warning the public about the dangers of distracted driving; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are also sounding alarm bells with a recent report that shows texting causing 25 percent of all accidents, injures 330,000 a year, increases your chances of a wreck by 23 times and is six times more dangerous than drunken driving.

Shocking news, isn’t it? Or perhaps not, as any right thinking American citizen realizes that taking their eyes off the road is asking for trouble. Or do they? If the CDC’s number indicate anything, they show people are not thinking about the consequences of their actions. And so, hundreds have been maimed and killed because they were texting or webbing. What is wrong with that picture? What is so important that it cannot wait and save a life?

Despite campaigns to make people aware of how dangerous texting/webbing is, year-after-year the accident statistics climb. Being perpetually connected is not necessarily a good thing, as the number of deaths and serious injuries so clearly point out. Consider this: if you take your eyes off the road for about 4.6 seconds, the time it takes to read a text message, and you’re driving at 55 mph, you have travelled the full length of a football field, of 100 yards, without seeing where you are going. Any wonder why accidents that kill happen when you drive blind?

The bottom line is that texting/webbing accidents are the second largest cause of preventable deaths today. They also cost the economy, meaning you, the taxpayers, over $100 billion yearly. If you have been in an accident where the other driver was texting or webbing, get in touch with a competent and knowledgeable Austin personal injury lawyer. You may wish to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, medications and so forth.

Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.

Trials for transvaginal mesh lawsuits started in December 2012. This whole process will likely take years to litigate, but justice is well worth waiting for in these cases, based on the number of women’s lives that have been drastically affected by this defective product.

The first of the big three consolidated lawsuits are: In re: American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2325), followed by In re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2327) and then In re: Boston Scientific Corp., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2326). While it is good news that these trials are currently underway, it’s a sad commentary on the greed and callous attitudes of big name Pharma, that they would knowingly make and sell a product that harmed consumers; some so badly, they will never be the same again. The beginning of these trials means justice is one step closer.

Evidence at these trials is proving to the court that since 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knew about reported issues with the transvaginal meshes and bladder slings. The device was designed to treat pelvic organ prolapse — the result of weakened pelvic muscles that allow the pelvic organs to drop into the vagina. Ideally, the synthetic mesh/sling, implanted through the vagina, support those organs, pushing them back into place.

The FDA received multiple adverse reports about the mesh device detailing organ perforations, mesh erosion, severe pain, infections, bleeding and even death. The less severe problems included urinary incontinence, which it was supposed to help and constipation. The FDA was heard to say that serious complications with the use of this medical device were not rare. At that point, a huge red flag should have gone up for everyone, including surgeons using this product.

What is most disturbing in the extreme is the fact that transvaginal mesh kits have been an issue since at least 1999, when Boston Scientific recalled their ProteGen Sling after thousands of complaints. Then in 2006, another similar product, the ObTape, was discontinued by Mentor Corporation. For the whole sordid story, you might want to read the information here: http://www.bladderslingrecall.us.

Despite the overwhelming historical evidence that transvaginal mesh/slings were harmful and even deadly, they are still on the market today. In fact, GyneCare TVT and the Avaulta System are still on the market and still implanted on a daily basis; a fact that should concern millions of women in the U.S. today.

If you have been implanted with a mesh kit, and are experiencing problems, reach out and call a veteran Austin personal injury lawyer. There is no need to suffer and wonder how you will pay for your medical expenses, which may include more than one surgery. Consulting with an Austin personal injury lawyer will give you the information you need to make an informed decision about moving forward with a lawsuit.

Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.

It’s easy to commute inexpensively from one point to another when using a motorcycle. Certainly they handle well and go places that regular vehicles cannot. However, that same versatility is often the reason for the serious injury, or death, of a biker when hit by a car.

Consider an accident that involved an SUV heading south on the freeway, and a biker, heading north. The SUV went to make a left turn, and the biker had no place else to go. He hit the side of the SUV, and due to the force of the impact, the bike kept moving, slamming into another car, before coming to a stop on a side avenue. The biker was ejected onto the sidewalk, and pronounced dead at the scene.

From the evidence, it looks like failing to yield the right of way may have been an issue in this crash. However, further investigation is needed to determine if anything else was going on at the time of the accident. For instance, was the SUV driver texting while attempting to make a left hand turn? Driving under the influence? Driving while distracted? While any of these factors may have caused the collision, knowing that will not bring the man back, but it may be enough knowledge for the family of the deceased to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

In accidents like this, even with a helmet, often the bodily injuries incurred are fatal, simply because the rider and/or passenger have no other protection, such as the frame of a car to protect them. Bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, a crushed pelvis, and amputations are common. If a biker survives, they may need medical care for the rest of their lives. They certainly are entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, rehabilitation and drugs, if not their permanent medical care for the future.

In cases like this, the family needs to speak to competent Austin injury counsel, to find out what their legal rights are, and what to expect, should they file a wrongful death lawsuit. Never take the word of an insurance company for anything is someone you loved has been killed in a motorcycle crash. They only want to reduce or deny your claim and despite what they say about wanting to help you and your family, their real agenda is to minimize their losses. Stick to your guns and call an Austin injury lawyer for help.

Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.

In a hurry to get to where you’re going? Slow down when you’re on the highway. This man didn’t and ended up dead underneath a semi-truck.

The two vehicles involved in this fatal collision were heading east on the highway. One vehicle was a fully loaded semi, weighing about 80,000 pounds. The other vehicle was a Toyota, weighing about 4,000 pounds or less. According to eye witness reports garnered by the police after the wreck, the semi driver was taking his time, and almost dawdling along in the commuter lane.

The Toyota driver was in a tear to get to where he was going, perhaps unimpressed by the speed of the truck. In order to try and get ahead and get around the semi, the Toyota merged behind it in the commuter lane. Seriously underestimating his speed and the amount of room in which to accelerate, the driver drove his car under the semi. When accidents like that happen, the occupants of the car are lucky if they survive without life-threatening injuries. In many cases, underriders are decapitated.

The Toyota driver did make it out of the crash alive and was taken to the hospital with an extremely serious head laceration and a broken clavicle. The front seat passenger sustained hip and chest injuries. The backseat passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.

There are a number of other questions that need to be answered in this case. For instance, was the Toyota driver also driving while distracted? Texting? Horsing around with his passengers? Speeding? Talking on a cell phone? It appears that he was not driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but was still driving negligently given the circumstances. You just don’t mess with a semi. You follow the rules of the road and drive with due care and attention.

The passengers in the Toyota would definitely be able to file injury lawsuits. In the case of the front seat passenger, it would be a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for medical expenses. In the case of the deceased backseat passenger, the family would most likely file a wrongful death lawsuit. In both lawsuits, negligence needs to be present. Without a doubt the Toyota driver was negligent in driving in such a manner as to end up under a semi.

Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.

It was a typical day on duty for the officer, riding a police cycle in the downtown area: The leather-clad officer on the motorcycle was riding along beside a 27-year-old driver in a car, heading east in the left lane of the road. Without looking, and without seeing the officer, the driver changed lanes. He slammed the officer with such force that he knocked him over and sent him into an almost 50-foot slide, into a curb and light pole. Not a good scene.

Luckily, several other witnesses to the crash rushed to help the cop, and give him first aid, while using his police radio to call in the accident. When EMS crews arrived, they immediately took the injured man to the nearest hospital. He was later transferred to another facility in order to treat his head and neck injuries. The man was lucky to be alive. He was alert and responsive, and had been wearing a helmet, which was credited with preventing more serious and possibly fatal injuries.

It’s not usual for a motorcycle cop on patrol to get hit by another vehicle; luckily, their years of experience have taught them how to handle their rides with a high degree of safety. Nonetheless, no one can always anticipate what another vehicle is going to do. In fact, this was the second time this officer had been hit by a car and sent to hospital. The first time, a vehicle blew into an intersection without looking, and broadsided his bike. The officer sustained right leg injuries, but was quickly able to return to work.

Was the driver in this second accident under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Evidently not, as he had both tests and was cleared. It looks like he may be charged with making an unsafe turn, which raises the question of why he did not see the biker in the lane, right next to him. Did the driver look before he whipped into the right lane? If he had looked, it would be hard to miss something as large as a police motorcycle with a rider.

In cases like this, the key element is the presence of negligence: was the driver negligent in changing lanes? On the face of the evidence, he was negligent, and because he was, he harmed another person. Could the officer file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation to pay his medical bills? Yes, he could, and he would most likely be successful in his suit.

Have you been in a wreck caused by someone else while riding your bike? Don’t waste time trying to deal with the situation on your own. The insurance company will hound you into trying to settle for just about nothing. Take your case to an experienced Austin personal injury lawyer and get the straight goods. You need to know your rights. Don’t hand them over to someone else.

Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.

If you don’t think that texting and driving in America is a serious issue, then you seriously need to visit the National Safety Council website, and check out their information on distracted driving. It tells a horrendous story about 930,000 car wrecks as a result of drivers using cell phones or texting while driving, just this year alone. That figure bears repeating – 930,000 deaths just this year, and counting, as a result of using mobile technology while driving. What is wrong with that picture? How can we, as a responsible nation of people, countenance a death every 24 seconds, because someone thinks texting while driving or talking on a cellphone won’t hurt anyone?

Who hasn’t seen a distracted driver, weaving from lane to lane, drifting to one side or the other while trying to text, use a mobile map app, a smartphone or talking on a mobile device? Ever had to get out of the way of an erratic driver and cursed them for being inattentive and thought how dangerous it was? Were you holding a cellphone in your hand at the time? It’s one thing to frown on those who drive while distracted, and quite another to also do the same thing, while disapproving of doing it. The simple fact is no one should be doing it. Distracted driving kills – period.

Driving while texting is not safe. It is a real problem. Even awareness campaigns are not making enough headway to prevent texting deaths. The solution? Remove technology from vehicles. It really is just that simple. The problem isn’t so much the technology, as it is people using it inappropriately. It is a disturbing commentary on human behavior that so many seem to feel that texting and driving is a right, and nothing will happen to them. Think again.

There aren’t many teens or younger adults that have not lost a friend to a distracted driver, or have been in a wreck involving one. They may even have caused the car crash themselves, while texting about a prom date, a pizza or what a teacher said. It has to stop. Injury lawyers across the U.S. are in the position of picking up the pieces when these accidents happen. Stop. Think. Do not text and drive. It’s your life, stay alive to live it by being responsible. Stash the phone someplace and pay attention to the road.

Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.

“When you read about the facts of this case, you will be stunned by the behavior of the allegedly drunken driver, or perhaps you will not, if you understand that drinking and driving do ‘not’ mix,” remarked Austin personal injury attorney Bobby Lee, of Lee, Gober and Reyna in Austin, Texas. “A hit-and-run driver slammed into a car on the highway and fled the scene, only to collide head-on with another vehicle a short time later. The woman in that car died.”

The 32-year-old driver ended up in the hospital as a result of his injuries, and faces charges relating to the young woman’s death and the first accident. The police report indicated he was behind the wheel of a Jeep Cherokee that first careened into a car on the highway. Instead of stopping, he sped away. Three miles later, he rammed, head-on, into another car, a Saturn.

Eyewitness reports indicated the man crossed over the center line into the path of the Saturn, being driven by the young woman who died. The woman was alive when the first responders got to the scene, and taken to the hospital. She did not survive her injuries.

“As it turns out, the 32-year-old man is wanted in another state, and faces charges of homicide while driving drunk, speeding and failing to stay in marked lanes, and driving to endanger. This never should have happened, and but for the fact that the man seems to have been drunk, a young woman lost her life for no reason. It’s tough to tell a family that someone who values alcohol more than life caused the death of a loved one,” Lee said.

“If you have been involved in an accident with a drunken driver, call my office. You need to know what your rights are, how to file a lawsuit and what damages you may seek. I can help you,” stated Lee.

To learn more, visit http://www.rwleelaw.com.