Dobbs & Porter, PLLCDobbs & Porter, PLLC2026-11-10T15:23:59Zhttps://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1505124/2023/03/cropped-DP_FAV-update-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[3 signs of brain injuries to watch for after a car accident]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=472362026-11-10T15:23:59Z2026-11-10T15:12:11ZCar accidents can cause serious injuries, even when there is little visible damage to a vehicle or no immediate signs of physical trauma. One common injury drivers and passengers should watch for after a car accident is a head injury. The force of a collision can cause the brain to move inside the skull, potentially resulting in concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or other complications.
Some symptoms of serious head injuries may not appear immediately. It can take hours or days for a head injury to develop. Car accident victims need to recognize the warning signs of head injuries and seek medical attention quickly. Here is what you should know:
1. Persistent headaches, dizziness and sensory issues
A headache is one of the most common signs of head injuries after a car accident. The impact of a collision can cause damage to the brain and surrounding tissues, resulting in persistent head pain. Some people can develop discomfort, dizziness, lightheadedness or sensory issues after an accident. These symptoms may be signs of a serious head injury, and victims may need to seek immediate medical care.
2. Memory loss and confusion
Confusion and memory problems are other potential warning signs of head injuries. A concussion or TBI can cause someone to have difficulty remembering the accident, recalling conversations, or concentrating on simple tasks. Some individuals may also appear disoriented, repeat questions or struggle to recognize familiar faces or places. Even temporary memory loss could be a sign of a serious injury.
3. Nausea and vomiting
Head injuries can be responsible for uncontrollable nausea and vomiting. Victims may experience stomach discomfort, dizziness or vomiting because certain brain systems were damaged in a car accident. Symptoms may not resolve on their own, and medical treatment may be necessary. Professional legal guidance can help if you or a loved one is experiencing serious head injuries after a car accident. Compensation may be recovered for medical bills, lost wages and other financial losses caused by a car accident. ]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[What are “dooring” accidents?]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=472322026-10-27T03:20:47Z2026-10-27T03:20:47ZA lot of cyclists live in fear of “dooring” accidents. Dooring accidents occur when someone inside a parked car opens their door straight into the path of an oncoming cyclist. They’re particularly common on narrow urban roads, where cyclists are often forced to ride in a narrow gap between traffic and parked cars, but they can even happen when cyclists are given dedicated spaces on roads. A dooring accident can lead to serious injuries and property damage. It can help to understand how dooring accidents happen and what cyclists can do about their injuries. Here is what you should know:
Common causes of dooring accidents
Most dooring accidents happen because a driver or passenger fails to check for oncoming cyclists before opening a vehicle door into traffic. Here are some common factors that can increase the risk of collisions:
Distractions: Drivers and passengers may be distracted by a phone or occupant when opening a car door and fail to check for cyclists.
Limited visibility: Vehicles may be parked in places with poor lighting and obstructed sightlines, which can make it harder to see cyclists.
Narrow bike lanes: Cyclists may have very narrow bike lanes that make it harder to navigate around parked vehicles.
Parking issues: Vehicles may be parked on bike lanes, making it harder for cyclists to navigate the road.
Dooring can lead to serious injuries because cyclists have little physical protection in an accident. When a cyclist strikes a car door, they may be thrown off of their bike and hit the pavement or vehicle. As a result, they can suffer broken bones, cuts, facial injuries, dental damage, head trauma and spine trauma. Professional legal guidance can help cyclists recover compensation for their injuries, medical bills and losses after a dooring accident. When a cyclist is injured, it’s important to explore all of the possibilities for financial and physical recovery. ]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[If a driver only has one headlight, are they liable for a crash?]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=472282026-10-13T12:42:15Z2026-10-13T12:42:15ZGoing into fall and winter, more people find themselves driving to and from work or running errands in the dark. When the daylight hours start getting short, it’s more essential than ever for cars to make use of their headlights.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to see vehicles on the road with only one working headlight. A burned-out headlight isn't just a minor maintenance issue and an inconvenience. It can make it harder for the vehicle’s driver to see the road around them and harder for other motorists to judge the vehicle's distance and speed. If an accident happens, that faulty headlight could also become a significant factor when it comes to assigning blame.
What does Texas law say about headlights?
Under Texas Transportation Code § 547.321, passenger vehicles generally must have at least two working headlights, with one on each side of the front of the vehicle. When a driver only has one working headlight, it can cause issues with:
Reduced visibility: Drivers may struggle to spot pedestrians, cyclists, animals, or obstacles along the road, especially on the side of the vehicle without a working headlight.
Misjudging distances: Other drivers may mistake a passenger vehicle with only one light for a motorcycle or struggle to judge its position, which can lead to mistakes when turning or merging.
Poor peripheral illumination: A burned-out headlight can generally make it harder for the driver to see hazards near intersections, curves and even along the shoulder of the road. It may also make it harder to switch lanes or merge on that side.
These problems become particularly dangerous during bad weather and on rural or other poorly lit roads where the visibility is already poor.
Does a burned-out headlight automatically equal negligence?
Not necessarily. Violating a traffic safety law can support a negligence claim, but only when there’s a connection between the violation and the car accident. For example, if a driver rear-ends another vehicle stopped at a traffic light, a burned-out headlight on either vehicle probably had nothing to do with the collision. However, if a driver with one working headlight fails to see a disabled vehicle at the side of the road in the dark and hits it, the broken headlight could be a big factor in determining each party’s share of the blame for the accident. Ultimately, the question is whether the burned-out light contributed to the accident and resulting injuries. When it does, a driver may be held financially responsible. Speaking with an experienced attorney as soon as possible after a car accident can help protect your interests.
]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[How can a TBI affect your ability to work and earn a living?]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=472272026-10-06T08:23:18Z2026-10-06T08:23:18ZTBI symptoms can make familiar work difficult
The effects of a TBI vary from person to person. Depending on the injury, you may experience problems that interfere with your job, including:
Memory problems that make routine tasks harder to complete
Fatigue that limits how long you can work
Concentration problems that make detailed instructions harder to process
Headaches or balance problems that affect job performance
These limitations can be especially significant if your work requires physical stamina, quick decisions, multitasking or close attention to detail.
A TBI can reduce your future earning capacity
Texas law distinguishes between lost wages and loss of earning capacity. Lost wages generally address income you have already missed. Loss of earning capacity focuses on whether the injury has reduced your ability to earn money in the future.
Your past earnings, work history and injury-related limitations can help show how the TBI has affected your ability to earn money. Medical professionals may explain your lasting limitations, while vocational experts may assess how those limitations affect the work you can perform.
Returning to work does not necessarily mean your earning capacity is unchanged, especially if you reduce your hours, accept different duties or move into lower-paying work.
Support may help you return to work
If your disability affects your employment, you may qualify for vocational rehabilitation services through the Texas Workforce Commission. Depending on your needs, services can include job training, vocational assessments, job placement or assistive technology.
Consider the long-term impact on your career
A serious traumatic brain injury can affect your income and career long after the initial recovery period. You do not have to sort through those financial and legal questions on your own. An attorney can help you understand how Texas law treats future earning losses and what information may matter when evaluating the full impact of your injury.]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[5 common causes of car accidents]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=470962026-09-29T02:44:14Z2026-09-29T02:41:30ZCar accidents can have devastating consequences. Every year, millions of people suffer injuries from car accidents. Of those millions of injuries, thousands of people suffer fatal injuries. Regardless of the outcome, the total cost of a car accident can include medical bills, vehicle damage, job loss and long-term medical care.Compensation can be recovered after a car accident with a successful car accident claim. Here are a few common car accidents that can lead to serious injuries and losses:
1. Speeding
One of the most common causes of car accidents happens when a driver exceeds the speed limit. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to slow down and prevent car accidents. Some people who speed will also drive through stop signs and red lights, increasing the odds of a car accident.
2. Drunk driving
Alcohol is another common cause of car accidents. Drunk drivers may have poor judgment, vision and reaction time, increasing the rate of car accidents. They can also be involved in multi-car accidents, wrong-way accidents and devastating pedestrian accidents.
3. Drowsy driving
Driving while drowsy may be just as bad as drunk driving. A driver who is tired may have poor vision and reaction speed. A sleepy driver may fall asleep behind the wheel and cause an accident without even realizing what happened.
4. Reckless driving
Drivers who violate traffic laws can endanger other people on the road. A reckless driver may ignore traffic signs, speed, swerve between lanes and act in a way that increases the risk of a car accident.
5. Inexperience
Every driver was new at one time. Inexperience can be a common cause of car accidents. A new driver may accidentally run lights, misunderstand traffic signs or speed.If you have been in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Professional legal guidance can help you.]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[Staying safe: Osha’s “Focus Four”]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=470502026-09-17T17:09:11Z2026-09-17T17:09:11ZIn many physical jobs, there are some inherent risks that workers face. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration tries to raise awareness around these hazards. One way they do this is by identifying the Focus Four.
Specifically, these are examples of potentially serious or even deadly accidents that can happen, typically pulled from the construction industry. They are the four main leading causes of fatal accidents. OSHA tries to inform workers so that they can take proactive steps to avoid these hazards.
The 4 most common kinds of injuries in construction
The Focus Four are falls, caught-in or caught-between accidents, struck-by accidents and electrocutions.Falls are relatively simple, but they are by far the most dangerous type of accident. A worker who falls from a height could immediately suffer fatal injuries, perhaps through a head injury or a spinal cord injury. Caught-in or caught-between accidents often involve equipment with moving parts, such as a worker who gets caught in a conveyor belt. Struck-by accidents, on the other hand, happen when items fall from above and strike workers on the ground.Electrocutions can happen in numerous different ways. On some construction projects, electrical lines are being installed, so workers could be exposed to a line that they did not realize was already live. But there are also issues with power tools, extension cords, generators and other sources of electricity.
Seeking workers’ compensation
The Focus Four are often tied to the construction industry, but very similar hazards can be found in many industries. Those who work in oil fields are also sometimes working at heights and around heavy equipment, for example, so they could suffer injuries in similar ways. It is critical that all workers understand what options they have to seek workers’ compensation when necessary.]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[5 signs you may have suffered whiplash after a crash]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=469982026-09-04T12:40:43Z2026-09-04T12:40:43ZWhiplash can occur when a crash forces your neck to move rapidly backward and forward. Rear end collisions are a common cause because the sudden impact can move the head and neck forcefully within seconds.
The injury may not be obvious right away. Whiplash symptoms often develop within days, so changes in how you feel after a motor vehicle accident in Texas can be important. Here are five symptoms that may indicate whiplash.
1. Neck pain and stiffness
Neck pain and stiffness are common whiplash symptoms. You may notice discomfort that becomes worse when you move your neck or turn your head. Whiplash can also limit your range of motion. You might find it difficult or painful to move your neck as freely as you could before the collision.
2. Headaches
Headaches can develop after a whiplash injury, often beginning near the base of the skull. They may appear soon after the collision or become noticeable during the following days. A new headache accompanied by neck pain or stiffness may be one of the whiplash symptoms that warrants medical evaluation.
3. Shoulder and upper back pain
Whiplash can cause discomfort beyond the neck. You may develop tenderness or pain in your shoulders, upper back or arms after the crash. This pain may occur alongside neck stiffness and can make everyday movement uncomfortable.
4. Tingling or numbness
Tingling or numbness in your arms can also occur with whiplash. These sensations may develop after the initial impact rather than appearing immediately at the crash scene. Because numbness or tingling can also be associated with other injuries, medical evaluation can help identify the cause.
5. Dizziness or unusual tiredness
Whiplash can cause dizziness and tiredness in addition to physical pain. Some people also experience blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, ringing in the ears or problems sleeping. These symptoms can be easy to overlook when you are focused on neck pain after a collision.Whiplash symptoms may develop gradually after a crash. Getting medical attention can help identify the injury and rule out fractures or other damage. If another person caused the collision, consider seeking legal guidance to understand your options following the accident.]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[A malfunctioning airbag can lead to serious injuries]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=469972026-08-18T15:44:31Z2026-08-18T15:44:31ZMalfunctioning airbag injuries can range from burns and fractures to traumatic brain injuries and internal organ damage. When an airbag defect causes or worsens an injury, its manufacturer may potentially face responsibility under product liability principles.
Facial and eye injuries
Your face may be directly in the path of a deploying driver or passenger airbag. A malfunction can cause facial bruising, cuts, abrasions or fractures when the airbag strikes with substantial force. Your eyes are also vulnerable. Direct impact or material released during deployment may cause eye injuries that affect vision and require medical treatment.
Head and brain injuries
An improperly functioning airbag may contribute to concussions or traumatic brain injuries. This can occur when an airbag deploys incorrectly and strikes your head or when it fails to deploy and your head hits the steering wheel, dashboard or another surface. Symptoms such as confusion, headaches, memory problems or loss of consciousness can indicate a significant head injury following a collision.
Burns and skin injuries
Airbag deployment can expose your face and upper body to considerable force. When something goes wrong with the system, you may experience burns, abrasions, bruising or skin irritation. These injuries can affect your face, chest, arms and hands depending on your position when the airbag activates.
Broken bones and internal injuries
A malfunctioning airbag can also cause fractures, particularly when it strikes your upper body unexpectedly. More severe incidents may involve internal bleeding or damage to internal organs. Failure to deploy presents another danger. Without the intended cushioning, your body may experience greater impact against the vehicle interior, potentially increasing the severity of your injuries.
Airbag injuries may have been caused by a defective product
Defective products in Texas may create grounds for a claim when an unsafe product causes or contributes to an injury. Evidence showing how an airbag deployed, vehicle data, accident records and the condition of the airbag system may help establish what happened.
If you believe that a defective airbag caused or worsened serious injuries, you have a right to preserve relevant evidence and seek legal guidance about your rights and possible options for compensation.]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[Crash injuries can result in post-traumatic arthritis]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=469962026-08-02T15:05:40Z2026-08-02T15:05:40Z
Fractures
Ligament, muscle or tendon damage
Meniscus tears and other injuries to cartilage
Symptoms include joint pain, swelling and/or stiffness, bone spurs and popping, crackling or other sounds when moving a joint.
Treatments vary based on the seriousness of the condition
Sometimes, as with any kind of osteoarthritis, the symptoms and flare-ups can be managed with corticosteroid injections, physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
In more serious cases, surgery, including joint replacement, may be required. That’s particularly true if the joint is so worn down that there is bone-on-bone contact.
Doctors diagnose post-traumatic arthritis through examination as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans. The path of this condition is different for everyone. Sometimes it resolves on its own within months. Other times, people can experience symptoms for many years. Most people know someone who is still feeling the effects of a high school football injury or car accident well into middle age – or they are themselves. That may well be post-traumatic arthritis.
Injuries that may not seem especially serious in the aftermath of a car crash can result in lifelong consequences. That’s one reason it’s wise not to accept a settlement from an at-fault driver’s insurer until you know the full extent of your injuries. Partnering with an experienced legal team as early as possible can help you protect your right to fair compensation.]]>On Behalf of Dobbs & Porter, PLLC<![CDATA[Is the retailer liable for selling a harmful defective product?]]>https://www.dobbsporterlaw.com/?p=469952026-07-31T14:27:29Z2026-07-31T14:27:29ZEstablishing the seller’s liability
A retailer that merely sold the product, without making it, generally cannot be held liable under Texas law unless one of several statutory exceptions returns responsibility to the seller. These can include:
The retailer participated in the product’s design
The retailer altered or modified the item, and that change caused your injury
The retailer installed the product or had it installed on another item, and that work harmed you
The retailer exercised substantial control over the content of an inadequate warning or instruction, and that deficiency caused your injury
An applicable exception allows you to pursue the retailer, but you still need to connect the defect to your injury and losses.
Proving the defect’s harm
The evidence required depends on what went wrong with the item. Texas law recognizes three categories:
A manufacturing defect occurs when a production mistake leaves one unit different from the manufacturer’s specifications and unsafe
A design defect occurs when the product remains dangerous even though the manufacturer builds it correctly
A marketing defect occurs when the warnings or instructions do not clearly explain the risks of using the item
For a design-defect claim, Texas generally requires you to show that a safer alternative design was available. It must have been practical in terms of cost and technology when the product left the manufacturer’s or seller’s control.
Preserving your compensation claim
Prompt medical care addresses your health needs after an incident. A written account of when it occurred, how you used the item and what happened afterward captures details that could fade over time.
Financial records such as bills, wage statements and receipts can show the losses tied to the injury. When safety permits, leaving the product, packaging and instructions unchanged keeps the available evidence intact.
Texas generally allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after the claim accrues, often beginning on the date of injury. A separate 15-year statute of repose usually runs from the defendant’s sale of the product. A written warranty promising a longer safe life or a disease that appears after earlier exposure can affect the outer cutoff, but neither automatically extends the ordinary filing period.]]>