<![CDATA[LAW OFFICES OF RICHARD PENA P.C. - Personal Injuries Blog]]>

<![CDATA[LAW OFFICES OF RICHARD PENA P.C. - Personal Injuries Blog]]>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:58:35 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Labor Day Weekend-related Injuries]]>Mon, 06 Sep 2021 17:00:00 GMThttps://www.rpenalaw.com/personal-injuries-blog/labor-day-weekend-related-injuries

Labor Day is here and the last days of summer are traditionally marked by barbecues, grilling, fireworks, and celebrations.

Here are some tips for being safe this holiday weekend:

Avoid driving late at night: Even if you're sober, driving late at night after a long evening can lead to unsafe drowsy driving. Furthermore, other drivers on the road may be inebriated.
Barbecue safely: Keep an eye on your grill and keep a fire extinguisher nearby just in case. Set up the barbecue far enough away from the house and any overhanging trees.
Secure your pool: If you're throwing a party or going away for the weekend, make sure your pool is safe. Make sure the pool area is secure by checking the fence and gate. If you're throwing a party and allowing guests to swim, make sure the pool area is well-supervised and that no one swims or boats after drinking.
Consider the dangers of excessive drinking: car accidents aren't the only danger. You may be more vulnerable to slip and fall and trip and fall accidents, mugging, pedestrian accidents, and other forms of injuries if you drink too much.
If you're planning on having fireworks at your house, be sure your municipality allows them first. Even then, make sure they're launched in a clear location, away from people's homes, and in accordance with all instructions. Better yet, go witness a public fireworks show instead than attempting to manage explosives yourself.

Have you been injured in a Labor Day-related incident or accident or at a holiday event in Central Texas? Contact us for free today so one of our licensed and experienced attorneys and staff can help guide you through a Personal Injury or Workers' Compensation process in the state of Texas.

]]><![CDATA[Am I eligible for Workers’ Compensation if I contracted COVID-19 at work?]]>Tue, 10 Aug 2021 10:30:00 GMThttps://www.rpenalaw.com/personal-injuries-blog/am-i-eligible-for-workers-compensation-if-i-contracted-covid-19-at-work

Determining your eligibility for Workers’ Compensation if you contracted Covid-19 while on the job depends on a number of factors.

First and foremost, you must prove that your illness arose out of the course and scope of your employment; it is not enough for you to think it did. Insurance companies typically deny Covid-19 cases under the guise that Covid-19 is a sickness that the general public is exposed to outside of work. You must show that there is a link between Covid-19 and your employment with hard evidence, with expert medical evidence supporting the link. The law presumes that firefighters, peace officers, and emergency medical technicians may be exposed to Covid-19 while on the job.

If applicable, it's crucial to establish how other employees in your department have tested positive for Covid.

You'll also need to show that you were exposed to Covid-19 at work and that you contracted Covid-19 as a result of that exposure, as well as how this differs from any exposure you may have had in the general public.

Unfortunately, exposure to Covid-19 while at work is not enough, other considerations include; if someone in your household had Covid-19, whether you attended places where you were exposed to Covid-19, and how your employment exposure compared to that of the general public.

]]><![CDATA[Why Choose Us?]]>Tue, 10 Aug 2021 02:05:40 GMThttps://www.rpenalaw.com/personal-injuries-blog/why-choose-us

We are an Austin-based, Texas-serving personal injury law office. Unlike most multi-location mass market firms, we focus our efforts on establishing meaningful trust with our clients through competency, compassion and convenience.

Competency
Our competency stems from our 45+ years of litigation expertise, which allows us to provide timely, efficient, and successful legal counsel to our clients.

Compassion
Our compassion comes from our tact and communication, as we are dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards.

Convenience
And our convenience is rooted in our thoroughness, as we evaluate each issue and recommend the best course of action for achieving the best possible result for the injured individuals we fight for.

Contact us for free today so one of our licensed and experienced attorneys and staff can help guide you through a Personal Injury or Workers' Compensation process in the state of Texas.

]]><![CDATA[What do I do if a car accident is my fault?]]>Mon, 09 Aug 2021 02:48:59 GMThttps://www.rpenalaw.com/personal-injuries-blog/what-do-i-do-if-a-car-accident-is-my-fault

We all have our “off-days” and sometimes those days happen on the road, but regardless of whether a car accident is your fault or not, you should ensure that you are protecting your rights before blaming yourself. This is critical since it may prevent you from being taken advantage of or losing a significant amount of money in your claim. Texas, like most states, is an at-fault state. This means that if you cause an accident, your car insurance will cover the other driver's damages up to your policy’s limit and you may have to pay out-of-pocket for any charges beyond that.

So what should you do after being in a car accident that you think is your fault?

Check yourself for injuries then check on the other driver or passengers.
If anyone is seriously injured, call 911
Exchange information with the other driver, (i.e. contact details, insurance information, etc)
If possible, take pictures of the cars and scenes.
Inform your insurance company. Your call will be recorded, but it is important to tell the truth.
If you are hurt, go to a doctor. As it is your fault, you will be responsible for the charges so use your health insurance. If you have Personal Injury Protection on your policy, your insurance company may reimburse you for medical bills and lost wages, up to the limit set in your Declaration Sheet of your Insurance company.

At our Office, we represent those injured in accidents that result from someone else's negligence.

If you've been in a vehicle accident that was not your fault, don't deal with the insurance companies alone. Contact us so one of our licensed and experienced attorneys can help guide you.

]]><![CDATA[Blog post 3: Dog Bites while on the Job]]>Sun, 27 Jun 2021 01:50:48 GMThttps://www.rpenalaw.com/personal-injuries-blog/blog-post-3-dog-bites-while-on-the-job

Were you bitten by a dog while on the job? We can help!

If you were bitten or attacked by a dog while you were on the job you may be entitled to financial compensation and medical treatment at no expense to you whether from a Workers’ Compensation or Personal Injury claim.

Nonetheless, it is important for you to follow these steps:

Seek immediate medical attention rights after being attacked, hurt and/or bitten by a dog
Once stable you should report your injury to your employer, even if you didn’t seek professional medical attention
Ensure that your employer begins the process of filing a Workers’ Compensation claim for your injury

If your employer does not have Workers’ Compensation or you are denied coverage for your injury you may still pursue a claim against the owner of the dog directly. This is most common if the injury occurred during a contract job. To learn more about Workers’ Compensation in Texas click here.

Dog bites are some of the most common forms of animal attacks a person can suffer from and become injured by. These types of bites can lead to infections, scarring and other health complications for some individuals. If you have been injured by a dog, do not take this injury lightly- seek medical attention immediately and contact us for a free case evaluation regarding your accident. We can help you get the help and compensation you may be entitled to!

If you've suffered a dog-related injury, don't deal with the insurance company alone. Contact us so one of our licensed and experienced attorneys can help guide you through this paw in Texas law.

]]><![CDATA[NATIONAL HUG YOUR CAT DAY 2021: CAT-RELATED PERSONAL INJURIES]]>Fri, 04 Jun 2021 19:26:49 GMThttps://www.rpenalaw.com/personal-injuries-blog/national-hug-your-cat-day-2021-cat-related-personal-injuries

I was just attacked by someone’s cat, can I sue?

Texans love their pets, but sharing our home and neighborhood with these furry creatures can lead to a more enriched environment, but a potentially dangerous one.

The CDC estimates that around 4.7 million people seek medical attention from animal attacks every year, over half of these people are children and most of these attacks are from man’s best friend or dog bites. While Texas follows the “one bite rule” regarding dog bites, the rules for cats are a little less direct.

Being injured by a cat is different than being injured by a dog, because while a dog bite can easily be seen as an injury, cat bites, scratches or other forms of injuries are subtle, but still dangerous. Although cat attacks are a lot less frequent than other types of animal attacks, with only about 8% of all pet-related injuries in the United States, their severity can be unexpected. The most common types of injuries from cat-related accidents include: deep scratches, puncture wounds and infections. In some instances injuries from cats can lead to such severe infections that they may require antibiotics, reconstructive surgery or even leave permanent nerve damage in rare cases.

With the guidelines for dealing with cat related injuries not being as direct in the state of Texas, victims of cat-related injuries face a big challenge of trying to obtain proper compensation for these injuries. Sometimes a pet owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy provides coverage for this type of injury, but more often than not the insurance company does everything in its power to pull up all proverbial stops to avoid paying for appropriate compensation on an injury victim’s legitimate claim.

If you have been injured in a cat-related or in any other type of domesticated pet incident, you may qualify for compensation for:

Broken bones
Permanent nerve damage
Puncture wounds
Emotional and psychological injury
Infection (severe and fatal)
Permanent facial disfigurement or bodily scars
Reimbursement of Medical Bills

If you've suffered a cat-related injury, don't deal with the insurance company alone. Contact us so one of our Personal Injury attorneys can help guide you through this claw in Texas law.

]]><![CDATA[World bike day 2021: Understanding Bicycle Laws in Texas]]>Thu, 03 Jun 2021 20:32:36 GMThttps://www.rpenalaw.com/personal-injuries-blog/world-bike-day-2021-understanding-bicycle-laws-in-texas

There are no specific statutes concerning motor vehicles and bicycles in the state of Texas. Meaning that there are no legal, safe passing distance laws, but rather cyclists and drivers share the road on an honor basis.

Here are some general rules of thumb to keep yourself safe while pedaling away on Texas roads:

Bicyclists are equal to motor vehicles under rules of the road, meaning that bicyclists should:

Ride in the designated bike lane or on the far right-hand side of the road
Use hand signals for turning and stopping
Use the required lights and reflectors for nighttime rides
Obey local ordinances that prohibit riding on sidewalks
Do not attach a wagon or trailer
Do not carry another person on your lap or back while cycling

If a cyclist becomes injured on the road from an accident with a driver, the cyclist may be entitled to compensation for damages. Though bicycle laws are a little fuzzy in Texas, it’s important to note that a bicyclist may still qualify for compensation even if they’re partly responsible. In more severe cases, such as being hit by a driver charged with a DWI, it is more clear who may be liable and the laws can proceed as such.

To understand who may be found liable in a bicycle-motor vehicle accident, it is important to take the following into consideration:

A driver has a duty of care to take reasonable measures to avoid a collision
The driver did not take reasonable care and caused the accident
You suffered bodily injuries and property damage from the accident
You now have expenses in the form of medical bills, bicycle repair, and other financial losses

If you qualify for compensation, you could receive compensation for accident-related damages, including:

Medical bills
Treatment and therapy
Reduced earning ability (temporary or permanent)
Lost pay
Bicycle repair or replacement
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish

If you've been in a bicycle accident, don't deal with the insurance company alone. Contact us so one of our Personal Injury attorneys can help guide you through this road in Texas law.

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