If you live in Houston Texas and you are wondering what to do if you get in a car accident, then check out this article by the Houston Car Accident Attorney, Stewart Guss…

What To Do If You Get In A Car Accident by Stewart Guss
Houston Car Accident Attorney

It’s an unfortunate fact – everyone in Houston is likely to get into a car wreck sooner or later. Do you know what to do after the crash? (And I’m not talking the stock market here!) A car crash, no matter how big or small, is a scary and serious event. You have important legal rights pursuant to the law, but its YOUR responsibility to protect those rights.

FIRST: Stay calm! After any accident you are going to have loads of adrenaline dumped into your bloodstream. This is what is responsible for the “fight or flight” feeling you may get. Just remember, we are not cave men. We cannot flee the scene and we’re certainly not going to fight!

SECOND: Check for injuries. Check yourself and then check on the other occupants of your vehicle. If there is ANY chance that anyone may be injured, you should immediately call 911 and request an ambulance. There may be a life or death situation, so please don’t take any chances. If it is safe to do so, you may check to see if the occupants in the other car are injured, but NEVER SPEAK WITH THEM ABOUT THE FACTS OF THE COLLISION. NEVER! EVER!

THIRD: Protect yourself, other drivers, and the accident scene. I always recommend people carry a safety triangle in the trunk of their car. Following a collision, if you have a safety device or signal, you should place it an appropriate distance from the collision in order to warn other drivers. You should do this ONLY if it is safe for you to do so. (Running out in the middle of the Northwest Freeway to put up a plastic safety triangle would fall under the heading of “REALLY bad idea!”)

FOURTH: Call the police. Depending on how busy they are, it may take them a while to respond, especially if no one is seriously injured. Be patient. Many officers who respond to traffic accidents are trained accident investigators. In protecting your rights it is extremely important to have an impartial police officer prepare a report. Always remember to be extremely polite and cooperative with the police. Their jobs are extremely difficult and often thankless. Remember: NEVER admit fault to the police. Simply tell them what happened, answer their questions, and cooperate with their requests. They will assist you in exchanging information with the other driver.

FIFTH: Get proper medical attention. I graduated from law school, but I didn’t attend medical school. I’ll bet most of you didn’t either. Remember that serious injuries don’t always result in immediate pain or bleeding. If you need an ambulance – use it. If not, you may later need to drive to an emergency room or to your doctor’s office. Don’t take chances with your health.

SIXTH: (You knew this was coming, right?) If you have any questions or concerns about your legal rights, consult with an attorney. Most people don’t know what their legal rights are after an accident, nor do they know how to enforce those rights. An honest and knowledgeable attorney is your best ally in protecting yourself in the unfortunate (and almost unavoidable) event of a car wreck. Remember, this article doesn’t act as specific legal advice. I’m just giving some general tips here.

You can protect yourself before an accident by driving safely, driving defensively and always wearing a seat belt. You can protect yourself after an accident by following these tips above.

About the Author

Written by the owner of http://attorneyguss.com/

This article can be reproduced in whole or in part, providing this byline is included along with a followable link to http://attorneyguss.com/

Car Accident, car wreck, Houston, Personal Injury, Texas, TX Hide

Nursing Homes – A Difficult (But Important) Choice
by Stewart Guss Houston TX Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Luckily, I am blessed with independent parents who are in excellent health. My father is turning 70 this July and my mother is only a few years behind (sorry to blow your secret, mom!) While they could both stand to lose a little weight and get a bit more active, they still get around well and certainly don’t need my help to make their way in the world. Sadly, of course, time is one race we all lose. Hopefully I won’t have to worry about care for my parents for many, many years. This topic comes to mind, however, as I have had several cases come into my firm lately related to abuse and neglect at elder care facilities.

If you come to a point where you are unable to provide care for a loved one at home, you will be faced with some difficult decisions. The fact is, most nursing homes are run and staffed by compassionate and caring individuals. With some effort and homework, you should be able to find a facility where the odds of abuse, neglect or dangerous conditions can be minimized.

A good first step in the process is to obtain several recommendations from the physician providing care to your loved one. You can also ask friends and family members if they have suggestions. You should plan on getting at least three or four names of conveniently located facilities, and plan on visiting each one. When you visit, make sure to make an appointment to visit with the Administrator or the Director of Nursing. Come prepared with a list of written questions. Take careful note of the demeanor of the person you are interviewing. Are they providing direct and clear answers, or do they appear to be hedging or avoiding questions? Are their answers inconsistent with what you have observed on your visit?

On your visit, use all your senses. How does the facility look? Does it appear clean? How does it smell? Do the residents appear well cared for? Are the kitchen facilities (if any) clean? Do the staff seem interested and energetic?

Be sure to ask to see the most recent state survey report. All nursing homes are inspected and surveyed by the state annually. The report will cite deficiencies in detail and will also list facility efforts to correct problems. Be careful if there are excessive deficiencies or if it appears that the facility is not taking adequate steps to address the cited issues. Also ask to see any complaints which have been filed against the facility in the last year, as well as documentation of the facility’s response. Also always ask for complete explanations of the facility’s policies in regard to chemical or physical restraint. See if these policies are available in writing. Always ask about the incidence of pressure sores (bedsores) at the facility.

Ask about staffing ratios. While the law only requires that a facility maintain “sufficient” staff, the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform has set some rough guidelines for staffing. According to the NCCNHR, during the day there should be at least one direct care giver for every five residents, one for every ten residents in the evening, and one for every fifteen at night. Remember, these ratios will vary depending on the needs and independence level of the residents. Also, keep in mind, the majority of direct day to day care in most facilities is provided by nursing assistants. On your visit, take the time to introduce yourself to a few of the direct care providers and see if you can get a feel for their level of care, skill and compassion. Be sure to ask management about the turnover rate for providers.

If you have more questions about nursing home facilities or possible problems or issues, you should call the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services at (800) 458-9858. Sometimes, despite all your research, you may be faced with the tragic situation where your loved one suffers abuse or neglect at their facility. If this occurs, or if your loved one suffers a serious injury at a nursing home, you and your loved one have important legal rights. In this event, it is important that you contact a qualified attorney to help investigate the matter and assess the situation.

About the Author

Written by Stewart Guss (attorney at law) the owner of http://attorneyguss.com/ This article can be reproduced in whole or in part, providing this byline is included along with a followable link to http://attorneyguss.com/

Houston, Nursing Home Abuse, Personal Injury, Texas, TX Hide