The District of Columbia recently announced that it would be suing Juul e-cigarette manufacturers for allegedly marketing its products to underage consumers, for failing to check the age of consumers when they purchased Juul e-cigarettes, and for misleading consumers about the strength, safety, and content of its e-cigarettes. According to the Hill, the lawsuit in the District of Columbia, joins similar lawsuits in states including New York, California, and North Carolina. Not only did Juul allegedly fail to warn consumers about the nicotine content in its e-cigarettes, but it also initiated an e-cigarette marketing campaign that had the consequence of hooking countless teens on nicotine.

In Houston, Texas, parents of teens who have become addicted to Juul, and individuals who became addicted to Juul when they were underage, are considering pursuing lawsuits against the company for their underage nicotine addictions. Are you one of these teens? Are you a parent of a teen who became addicted to Juul? Blizzard Law, PLLC is a Juul e-cigarette law firm in Houston, Texas helping parents and adults who became addicted to Juul as children. Our firm can review your case, help you understand your rights, and assist you with navigating the next steps.

How More Young People Have Become Addicted to Nicotine

Juul claims that its intentions were to help smokers find alternatives to smoking cigarettes. However, according to a New York Times report, the company fiercely marketed its e-cigarettes to people in their 20s and 30s, a demographic not known for its high smoking rates. Also, teenagers and high schoolers began to find ways to purchase the devices. According to the Times, Juul didn’t have a warning label on its package indicating that it contained nicotine until 2018. Because of the lack of labelling, many teens who began using Juul, may not have been aware that they were consuming nicotine, a highly addictive substance. According to the Truth Initiative, as many as two-thirds of Juul e-cigarette smokers between the ages of 15 to 21 may not have been aware that they were consuming nicotine when smoking these products.

The Truth Initiative notes that e-cigarette use is on the rise especially among teens and youth, with 27.5% of high school students admitting to having used e-cigarettes in the past month, a growth from 11% of high school students who admitted to having used e-cigarettes in 2017. E-cigarette use among youth and teens appears to be on the rise. The numbers are particularly alarming. In 2011, only 1.5% of teens admitted to having used e-cigarette products. The Truth Initiative notes that this represents an 1800% increase in youth and teen vaping in just the past few years alone. One in four high school students and one in ten middle school students are vape users, according to the New York Times. The increase in teen and youth e-cigarette use appears to correlate with the launch of Juul products on the market.

Nicotine can impact the developing and sensitive teen brain. Teens who vape are more likely to smoke cigarettes later in life and are also at risk of developing other addictions. Teens who become addicted to vaping and e-cigarettes struggle to quit.

Reports indicate that Juul’s marketing campaign targeted youthful users. Rather than marketing the device to people who were already smokers, or demographics where there were high numbers of smokers, the campaigns made e-cigarette use look “cool” and youthful. The New York Times reports that some youths who became addicted to Juul when they were under 18 are considering pursuing lawsuits against the company, because in the early days, no one really understood what Juul or e-cigarettes contained and the product didn’t clearly indicate that it contained nicotine.

There is substantial evidence that Juul  was marketed to minors. For one, the flavors especially appeal to youths. Secondly, the branding and advertisement displayed young people smoking. And finally, the New York Times investigative report indicates that there were warnings indicating that teens were smoking (for example, orders made using fake identification), but the company didn’t change its course.

Are you one of the youths who became addicted to Juul when you were under age? Are you struggling to quit Juul or e-cigarettes as a young adult? Blizzard Law, PLLC is a law firm in Houston, Texas, currently accepting cases from youth and teens who became addicted to Juul. Contact us today to learn more.

Teens and Parents Suing Juul

A growing number of states, counties, parents, school districts, and teens are suing Juul. Initially Juul billed itself as a smoking cessation device, or an alternative to cigarettes, but it appears that smoking rates have gone up, with teens being the most impacted demographic. Thinking you might want to join these lawsuits? Reach out to Blizzard Law, PLLC, a Houston, Texas e-cigarette law firm today. The recently reported lawsuits are likely only to be the first of many to come.

If you suffered a work injury that required you to seek immediate medical assistance at your local emergency room and are now receiving a bill for the services you had rendered, you are going to want to bring this to your employer’s attention. Anytime a worker sustains an injury at work and receives medical care to treat it, their employer’s insurance carrier is expected to satisfy the bill given the employee is covered under their employer’s worker’s compensation policy.

When a worker is covered by their employer’s insurance policy, Sec. 408.021 of Texas’ Labor Code states that the employee is specifically entitled to health care that:

• “Cures or relieves the effects naturally resulting from the compensable injury.”
• “Promotes recovery.”
• “Enhances the ability of the employee to return to or retain employment.”

In fact, the law not only requires that all medical benefits are payable from the date of the compensable injury, but it also states that a doctor is not permitted to bill you for treatment of a work-related injury or illness. The Texas Department of Insurance says that a physician can send you a copy of the bill marked “information only” given you request it. Some of the other things a physician cannot do include:

• Send you a bill even if you do not request an information copy.
• Have a collection agency send you a letter or attempt to contact you some other way.
• File a lawsuit against you.

Now, because employees who are eligible to receive worker’s compensation benefits are entitled to have their medical care covered, if you received a bill from the hospital, we do suggest you speak to your employer about this. He or she may recommend that you contact the insurance carrier and have them rectify the issue.

What if the insurer claims my employer is not required to pay this bill but that I am?

If you find that the insurer isn’t willing to pay your claim and instead continues to pursue you for the outstanding amount by sending you statement after statement in the mail, don’t wait to contact Blizzard Law, PLLC to speak with a Houston, Texas, personal injury attorney. Not only can our firm help you to get the situation sorted out so that your medical expenses are covered, but we can assess your injuries to determine if your employer is providing you with all of the benefits you are actually entitled to receive.

Aside from medical care, victims of work-related accidents are generally able to collect a portion of the income they would normally earn in the event their injury has interfered with their ability to work. If you would like to find out more about the benefits you might be eligible to receive, contact our firm now to speak with a Houston, Texas personal injury lawyer who will ensure you understand your rights as a victim of a work-related incident.

 

You can reach Blizzard Law, PLLC at:

5020 Montrose Blvd.

Houston, TX 77006

Phone: 713-844-3750

Website: www.blizzardlaw.com

If you were recently involved in a car accident in Houston, TX and think you may have suffered a concussion, you should definitely consider consulting with your physician as he or she is ultimately the one who can determine this for you. In the meantime, if you are trying to decide whether the symptoms you are having are similar to that of what someone who suffered a concussion would experience, we encourage you to read on below as we are highlighting for you some of the common symptoms that are most often associated with a concussion.

What is a concussion and what are the symptoms of one?

A concussion is defined as “a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head” [Source: Mayfield Clinic]. Although concussions are common in sports and falls, a victim of a car crash is also at risk of suffering one as well. When a car engages in any type of accident, the impact of it causes “the brain [to] bounce back and forth inside the skull” which can lead to “bruising, bleeding, and tearing.” The Mayfield Clinic says that concussions are graded by severity and that there are three grades.

• Grade I: The individual would not lose consciousness but might experience amnesia for 30 minutes or less.
• Grade II: A car crash victim might lose consciousness for five minutes or less or they might experience amnesia anywhere from 30 minutes and even up to 24 hours.
• Grade III: The individual would lose consciousness for more than five minutes or experience amnesia for more than 24 hours.

The Mayfield Clinic has identified the following as common symptoms for those who suffered a concussion:

• Headaches
• Trouble falling asleep
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Experiencing feelings of fatigue or exhaustion
• Difficulty remembering new information
• Trouble concentrating or thinking
• Feeling confused
• Irritable
• Feeling sad
• Feelings of nervousness or anxiety
• Blurry vision or dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or noise

Do I need to speak with a TN car accident lawyer if I suffered a concussion in a car crash?

It can never hurt to schedule a consultation with a car accident lawyer to find out whether you need their legal help or not. There are times when a car crash case can be settled without the presence of an attorney, but of course, that is never recommended. The fact is, when you choose to handle the accident on your own, you put yourself at risk of losing out on a significant amount of compensation that could pay for that costly medical care you may not be able to afford. Unfortunately, when an insurance company knows you have not retained a lawyer to assist with your claim, they will often attempt to undercompensate you.

So, to answer the question above, yes, you should at least contact Blizzard Law, PLLC to schedule a time to come in and discuss your collision with an experienced Houston, TX car accident attorney. Our office can provide you with an estimate as to what your damages are worth and explain the various ways we can assist with your claim. You can then make an informed decision as to whether you feel bringing an attorney on board to help you is the right option for you.

To set up a time to come in and talk with a car crash lawyer in the Houston, TX area, call us now at 713-844-3750.

You can reach Blizzard Law, PLLC at:

5020 Montrose Blvd.

Houston, TX 77006

713-844-3750

Website: www.blizzardlaw.com

You send your child to school each and every day never with the expectation that something bad is going to happen to them. But what is a parent to do when that day comes where their child crosses paths with a vehicle and a negligent driver behind the wheel of it after getting off the bus? Although many might think it is uncommon, there are many children who suffer injuries and even die when crossing the road after getting on or off their school bus.

Despite the roadway rules, the design of the school bus itself, and the precautions bus drivers take, there are some drivers who ignore the laws they are required to abide by which results in them hitting children who are either crossing the street or taking their first steps away from their school bus. In fact, one mom watched her child nearly get hit by a car in Houston after the child’s school bus stopped across the street from her apartment complex on August 28, 2019. The mother of three waited outside of her apartment with two of her children and recorded a video of her daughter exiting her school bus.

It was the child’s second day of kindergarten which as we all know, is a very important time for any parent. After the school bus had stopped, the driver extended the stop sign arms and allowed the children to exit the bus. Although motorists are aware they are required by law to stop once a bus extends its stop sign arms, one driver failed to do so. The mother, who watched as her daughter prepared to take a step into the street, began screaming and telling her daughter to stop walking to prevent from being hit [Source: ABC 13].

Thankfully, the child listened to her mother’s directions and stopped. But, if she hadn’t or if her mother was not outside to monitor her, things could have ended much differently. The mother, who shared the video she captured with the public, now can only hope that her experience will be used as a reminder to others to stop for school buses that are loading or unloading students who may need to cross the street.

If your child was hit by a driver in Houston, Texas while crossing the road, you may have many legal questions that need to be answered such as:

• Can I sue the driver or the school board?
• Who will pay for the medical care my child needs rendered?
• Can I press charges against the driver?
• Is my child entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering he or she has had to endure?

If these are some of the questions you currently have, contact Blizzard Law, PLLC to speak with one of our compassionate Houston, Texas, personal injury attorneys.

Why do drivers ignore school bus laws?

There are a few reasons why Houston drivers fail to follow school bus laws that are meant to keep our students safe. Some include:

• Drivers allow themselves to become distracted. Drivers who engage in behavior that is distracting to them are less likely to notice when a school bus has extended its stop sign arms to allow children to enter and exit the school bus. Cellphones have become a top distraction that prevents a person to drive safely and they contribute to thousands of vehicular accidents each year.
• Motorists are either careless or choose not to abide by them. While there are some drivers who simply aren’t paying attention to their surroundings and fail to see when a school bus has stopped, there are other drivers who are impatient or don’t care to wait for a school bus to load or unload children.

School Bus Safety Tips                      

As much effort as lawmakers put into informing drivers of school bus safety laws, there are still going to be motorists who fail to stop for a school bus. Therefore, if your child is one who rides the bus, it is important that you discuss with him ways to stay safe and prevent from being hit by a careless or distracted driver. Some things you might consider doing and sharing with your child include:

1. Walk with your child to the bus stop and wait with them until it arrives. If you are unable to stay with them, remind them to stand at least three giant steps back from the curb [Source: org].
2. If your child is required to cross the street, whether they are getting on or off their school bus, remind them to “take five giant steps in front of the bus, make eye contact with the bus driver, and cross when the driver indicates it is safe” to do so.
3. Be sure your child looks left, right, and then left again before attempting to cross the street.
4. Consider practicing crossing the street with smaller children so they get in the habit of scanning their surroundings to be sure it is safe to cross.

As we mentioned before, if your child was injured or killed by a negligent driver while crossing the street to enter or exit their school bus, we do encourage you to contact our office to speak with a qualified and compassionate personal injury lawyer in Houston, Texas. Our attorneys are here to help you understand what your rights are as a parent and the legal steps you can take to hold the motorist accountable for their actions.

 

You can reach Blizzard Law, PLLC at:

5020 Montrose Blvd., Ste 410

Houston, TX 77006

713-844-3750

Website: www.blizzardlaw.com

After you file an accident claim with your auto insurer, or that of the other party you were involved in the accident with, you might find that if your claim has been accepted, the insurer may offer you a settlement. This settlement is generally a one-time payment that is expected to pay for vehicle repairs as well as cover costs associated with other losses, depending on what type of insurance the other driver or you were carrying at the time of the crash.

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, all drivers living in the State of Texas are required to carry liability coverage with the following limits:

• $30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident.
• $25,000 of coverage for property damage.

This is referred to as 30/60/25 coverage.

If you or the other driver still owe money on your vehicle, then your lender likely required you to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage as well. Collision coverage “pays to repair or replace your car after an accident” while comprehensive coverage “pays if your car is stolen or damaged by fire, flood, vandalism or something other than a collision.” Therefore, if you are filing your claim with the other driver’s insurer, then their policy should pay you up to the limits stipulated above, or even more depending on what coverages they purchased. In the event you were responsible for the wreck, then your policy should pay for the damages you incurred given you have adequate coverage.

My insurer offered a settlement, but I think it’s too low. Can I decline it?

Many insurance companies choose to provide claimants with offers early on in the claims process as they know they are in need of money, especially if they suffered injuries that resulted in them being unable to work. What many car accident victims don’t know, however, is that the amount offered is usually much less than what a victim is entitled to receive. Therefore, if you think your insurer is offering you a settlement that is too low, you do have the right to decline the offer.

Should you choose to decline it, you should contact Blizzard Law, PLLC to speak with a Houston, Texas, car accident lawyer who can help you take one of the following steps mentioned below:

1. Ask for an appraisal.

If you select this option, you and the insurer would both need to hire an appraiser. The two appraisers you hire would then need to hire a third appraiser to serve as an “umpire.” Your appraiser, as well as the appraiser your insurer hired, would need to value your losses and in the event the two numbers don’t match, the umpire would make the final decision regarding how much you would receive. Now, when you request an appraisal, remember

• You will be required to pay for the services provided by your appraiser as well as half of the umpire’s expenses.
• Once the umpire makes a decision, “it is binding on both you and the insurance company.”
• You can only use the appraisal method for disputes that involve your insurance company, not another person’s insurer.

2. You can file a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance using the Online Complaint Portal.

If you believe your insurer is not handling your claim fairly, you might consider hiring an attorney and filing a complaint against the carrier.

3. Resolve your issue in court.

If you think the insurance company provided you with a low-ball offer and you would like to challenge it in court, you can file a lawsuit against the insurer. If your claim is worth $10,000 or less, you would file your lawsuit with the Justice Court.

4. Negotiate with the insurer.

If you don’t want to file a complaint or sue the insurer but instead would like to resolve the issue on your own, you should hire a Houston, Texas, car accident lawyer who can help you negotiate with the company. The attorney would formally request that the insurer increase their initial settlement amount and provide supporting evidence to go along with the request. The company will either accept the higher amount you requested, offer you a different amount that may be just a little higher than their initial offer, or decline your request altogether. During the negotiation process, your lawyer may have to go back and forth with the insurer a few times before the issue gets resolved.

Important: Something you should remember when going into the negotiation process is that if your insurer offered you a certain amount for repairs and you suspect this estimate is too low, they may have valued your repairs using the prices for parts that are of like kind and quality. Did you know that “insurance companies are only required to pay for parts of like kind and quality to those that were damaged” and “it doesn’t have to pay for original parts from the manufacturer?”

If you are considering declining the initial offer you received from the insurer or have already done so, Blizzard Law, PLLC would like to help you recover the maximum amount of compensation you are due. To find out more about what makes our car accident lawyers the best to handle the job, contact us today at 713-844-3750 for an initial consultation.

 

You can reach Blizzard Law, PLLC at:

5020 Montrose Blvd.

Houston, TX 77006

Phone: 713-844-3750

Website: www.blizzardlaw.com