The Importance of Jury Service

According to news reports, Dallas County, Texas may start getting tough on jurors who fail to show up when summoned for jury service.  According to clerk records, out of every 10 jurors called in Dallas County, only 2 choose to show up.  Dallas County is looking into what officials have done in the past in El Paso County.  Years back, when El Paso jurors failed to show as summoned, the county would issue warrants for arrest.  Now, El Paso County does not have a problem with summoned jurors showing up.  Thirteen years ago, El Paso County had a 17% show-up rate.  Presently, El Paso County has between 80% and 90% of summoned jurors showing up.

The importance of juror service cannot be overstated.  The right to a trial by jury is the foundation of American democracy.  The right to a jury trial is guaranteed by the state and federal constitutions.  The strength of our jury system strengthens our democracy…by safeguarding citizens against abuses of power by government, business and even the judicial system itself.  Jurors decide what is just…what is fair.  Jurors also often define what the accepted standards are in our communities. 

The Stewart Law Firm hopes that if you receive a jury summons, that you will consider all of the citizens that you could be helping by simply showing up.  The United States is one of only a few countries in the world that allows jury trials in both criminal and civil cases.   Jury service is a civic service that strengthens our nation, our justice system and our communities.  More often than not, jury members report that jury service is exciting, rewarding and educational.

The Stewart Law Firm is an Austin, Texas based trial firm dedicated to serving families in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and defective products.  The Stewart Law Firm can be reached, toll-free, at (877) 326-0411.  The Stewart Law Firm is located at 3000 South, IH-35, Suite 150, Austin, TX 78704.  Visit our website at: www.thestewartlawfirm.net. 

Austin Police Make 88 DWI Arrests Over Memorial Day Weekend

According to news reports, the Austin Police Department (APD) made 88 DWI arrests over the Memorial Day weekend.  The total number of arrests made in the previous year over the same holiday weekend resulted in 52 arrests.  Relevant to the APD "No Refusal" weekend, APD released the following statistics:

Number of Breath Samples: 47

Number of Blood Draws: 42

Highest blood-alcohol level: .34 (legal limit is 0.08)...this person was seriously drunk!

% of people who refused to give sample: 35

The Stewart Law Firm is committed to assisting families in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and defective products.  If you or a loved one have been hurt by a drunk driver, call The Stewart Law Firm for a free consultation today.  You can reach The Stewart Law Firm, toll-free, at (877) 326-0411.  Visit us on the web at www.thestewartlawfirm.net.

Limitations Period for Personal Injury Claims

Sadly, many accident victims and their families call us seeking help for themselves or a loved one, only to learn that the time limit to do anything from a legal standpoint has passed…leaving them with no help or assistance.    A Statute of Limitations is a law which places a strict time limit on being able to initiate civil legal action.  When a statute of limitations has expired, it is no longer possible to bring a legal action against someone for injury, harm, or damages that have been suffered.  Each state has its own statute of limitations for filing lawsuits.  These statutes limit the right of an injured party to file a lawsuit unless it is done within a specified time period.  Statute of limitation laws are put in place in order to prevent fraudulent and stale claims from arising after evidence has been lost or after facts have become obscure through the passage of time, defective memories, and death or disappearance of witnesses.

Personal injury, wrongful death, and defective product claims are generally governed by a two (2) year statute of limitation.  There are some very narrow exceptions that may apply to limitations periods.  In order to assure that evidence is properly preserved, witness statements are taken, and complete investigations of claims can be timely completed, most accident victims will benefit from seeking good legal counsel early in the process.  If you or a loved one has any question about protecting your legal rights, including any question about the statute of limitations period that might apply to your claim, call The Stewart Law Firm for a free consultation.  The attorneys at The Stewart Law Firm are familiar with the prosecution of claims on behalf of injury victims.  The Stewart Law Firm understands the life-changing effects that can occur as a result of a catastrophic personal injury, particularly those injuries which are caused by the negligent acts of another or by a defective product. 

The Stewart Law Firm can be reached, toll-free, at (877) 326-0411.  Our address is: 3000 South IH-35, Suite 150, Austin, TX 78704.  Visit our website at: www.thestewartlawfirm.net.  Cases handled by The Stewart Law Firm include catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, motorcycle crashes, motor vehicle crashes, commercial vehicle crashes, train crashes, bus crashes, and defective products.

Central Texas Law Enforcement Ready for Memorial Day "No Refusal" Holiday

Austin, Texas drivers should be aware that if you plan to go out for drinks this Memorial Day weekend, don’t plan on drinking and driving.  In an effort to make Austin streets and roadways safe, the Austin Police Department will revive its “no-refusal” policy.  If a suspected drunk driver is pulled over by APD on a suspicion of drunk driving and refuses to perform a breath-test, the suspected drunk driver will be placed under arrest and blood will be drawn pursuant to a court order.  In an effort to stop drunk driving crashes, APD officers will be patrolling all major and many minor roadways in the community over the holiday weekend.

The Stewart Law Firm sees, all too often, how victims of drunk drivers are impacted.  Many times, victims can be catastrophically or fatally injured by a drunk driver.  Medical bills can often exceed several hundreds of thousands of dollars for those seriously injured.  Victims often cannot work due to their injuries, impacting them and family members and their ability to make house payments, pay bills, or even provide food for their children.  The Stewart Law Firm understands the severity of Texas drunk driving crashes and what it means for victims to make things right.  We proudly sue drunk drivers, holding them accountable in an attempt to make victims whole.  The Stewart Law Firm also proudly supports the Austin Police Department, the Travis County Sheriff’s Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety/Texas Highway Patrol, and M.A.D.D. in their efforts to make Texas a safer place to drive. 

If you have a question regarding a Texas DWI crash claim, call The Stewart Law Firm for a free consultation.  The Stewart Law Firm can be reached, toll-free, at (877) 326-0411.  Our address is: 3000 South, IH-35, Suite 150, Austin, TX 78704.  Visit our website at: www.thestewartlawfirm.net.  Cases handled by The Stewart Law Firm include catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, motorcycle crashes, motor vehicle crashes, commercial vehicle crashes, DWI crashes, and defective products.

Jet Ski Safety

Texas has many lakes that will be booming with boaters and those on personal watercrafts as Memorial Day approaches this weekend.  Boat operators and those operating a personal  watercraft, or Jet Ski, need to be mindful of safety over the holiday weekend.  It is best to educate yourself on your vessel and the operational area that you plan to be in.  Always wear life jackets.  Most importantly, don’t drink and operate boats or a personal watercraft.  Nationally, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that 44 fatalities occurred in personal watercraft in 2011, which was up from 38 fatalities the year before.  The number of reported serious injuries was 764 in 2011. 

The Stewart Law Firm is dedicated to serving the needs of those injured and harmed by negligence or gross negligence of others.  If you have been involved in a boating or personal watercraft collision that caused by the negligent acts or omissions of another, call The Stewart Law Firm to learn about your legal rights.  The Stewart Law Firm handles cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and defective products.  You can reach The Stewart Law Firm, toll-free, at (877) 326-0411.  Visit us on the web at www.thestewartlawfirm.net.

Learn more about boating and personal watercraft safety by visiting www.boat-ed.com.

"Click It or Ticket" Program Begins in Central Texas

According to news reports, local law enforcement agencies will begin a two-week initiative  called “Click It or Ticket”.  This program aims to remind motorist to buckle-up.  Crash statistics show that

thousands of people die on Texas highways every year due to not being buckled up.  About half of the 3,000 people who died last year not wearing a seatbelt.  Law enforcement won't just be on the lookout for the driver being buckled up. All passengers inside a vehicle must wear a seatbelt.  Children under 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall must be in a safety seat or booster seat.  Testing and crash data show that wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent for those in a car and 60 percent for those in a truck.  According to officials, those most at risk for serious injury or death are pickup truck drivers and passengers.

The Stewart Law Firm reminds all drivers and passengers to buckle-up.  The life you save may be your own!  The Stewart Law Firm is an Austin, Texas based firm dedicated to serving the needs of families in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and defective products.  If you have a question about your legal rights, call The Stewart Law Firm today for a free consultation.  You can reach The Stewart Law Firm, toll-free, at (877) 326-0411.  Visit us on the web at www.thestewartlawfirmj.net.

Child Pedestrian Crash Shows Need for More Attention by Drivers on Austin Roads

This week, tragically, marked another sad event on Austin roadways when a 4-year old boy was fatally injured when he was hit by a truck in South Austin.  According to reports, the incident occurred about 7:30 p.m. on Lendell Lane, near William Cannon Drive.  The truck that struck the child attempted to flee, but was later stopped by neighbors and police.  The driver is reportedly charged with failure to stop and render aid.

The Stewart Law Firm sees, firsthand, what can happen when drivers fail to drive reasonably.  In neighborhood areas that are usually filled with children, Texas law requires that operators of motor vehicles use all due care to avoid children that might be in a roadway.  It is alarming the number of pedestrian crashes that have plagued Austin in the last few months.  As summer approaches, drivers should be aware that children will be playing outside.  The safest approach is for motorists to slow down, keeping all attention on the roadway.

The Stewart Law Firm is an Austin, Texas based firm dedicated to serving the needs of families in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and defective products.  The Stewart Law Firm is dedicated to roadway safety and crash avoidance.  If you happen to have a question about your legal rights, call The Stewart Law Firm for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.  You can reach The Stewart Law Firm, toll-free, at (877) 326-0411.  Visit The Stewart Law Firm on the web at www.thestewartlawfirm.net.