Personal Injury

 - Automobile Accidents

 - 18-wheeler Accidents

 - Medical Malpractice

 - Nursing Homes

 - Products Liability

 - Wrongful Death

Automobile Accidents

18-wheeler Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that large truck accidents are account for about one out of every nine highway deaths.  A loaded commercial truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds or more, while the average passenger automobile weighs around 3000 pounds.  Due to the size, weight, and speed of these large trucks, many times the accidents in which they are involved will have a more severely, or even fatally, injured victim.  At the Law Offices of Joseph E. Ashmore, Jr., P.C., we are committed to helping people and families who have suffered due to personal injuries caused by 18-wheeler accidents.

Trucking accidents are a unique form of motor vehicle accident, because federal law imposes special duties on commercial and public carriers, known as the Federal Motor Carriers Regulations (FMCSA).  Despite these regulations, many accidents involve trucks operating with defective brakes, bald tires, or improperly secured loads. 

The unfortunate consequence of these problems is that innocent people are injured in semi truck accidents. We routinely handled these cases and understand the difficulty and importance of handling them properly. We enlist the help of the top 18-wheeler accident experts in the state of Texas, who reconstruct the accident, check the log book of the semi truck driver, and evaluate the condition of the vehicle. We are dedicated to assuring that people injured in semi truck accidents are appropriately compensated for their injuries.

If you have been injured in a semi truck accident, please contact the Law Offices of Joseph E. Ashmore, Jr., P.C.  We handle semi truck accident cases throughout the state of Texas.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is one of the most challenging areas of the law.  Each case must have expert medical testimony that establishes how the patient was injured and what the health care provider should have done to avoid the injury.  This type of evidence is presented by qualified health care providers that care about patient rights.

The Institute of Medicine reported that as many as 98,000 people die each year from medical errors.  This devastating report clearly shows how common medical malpractice occurs in this country.  The lawyers at The Law Offices of Joseph E. Ashmore, P.C. are capable of pursuing these cases with a dedicated attitude.  By bringing these medical negligence cases, we are able to raise the level of medical care that is to be expected in this community.

We routinely handle medical malpractice case involving:

  - emergency medicine;

  - medication errors;

  - surgical errors; and

  - failure to diagnose.

Nursing Homes

Unfortunately, nursing homes are often understaffed.  Moreover, the staff they do have is often poorly trained.  Sometimes, staff with abusive or even criminal backgrounds are hired.  Many times these conditions can lead to neglect and abuse of patients.

Despite your best efforts to locate a nursing home that would care for and protect your loved one, an injury may have occurred for no apparent reason.  Your loved one may have developed bedsores, or show signs of malnutrition or dehydration, that continues to worsen.  The most common problems encountered by victims of nursing homes neglect and abuse are:

1.   Decubitus ulcers

Also known as bedsores and pressure sores can usually be prevented by frequently turning the patient and using a higher quality mattresses with overlays. If these simple steps are not taking, Decubitus ulcers will typically develop at the heels, the backs of knees, the buttocks, and other bony parts of the body.

Decubitus ulcers begin as a red sore on the skin. If left untreated, the sore breaks the skin. Over time, if proper steps are not taken, the wound increases in size and in depth. Eventually, the wound becomes so deep that it may reach down to the bone and become infected. When this happens and antibiotics do not work, amputation may be the only means of saving the patient's life at this point. If sepsis (blood poisoning) develops and reaches an advanced stage, however, even amputation may not help and the patient dies.

2.   Falls

Falls are another common problem encountered by the elderly in nursing homes. In some cases, patients may not properly secured into wheel chairs and fall or slip out. Patients are also left in their beds without rails to protect them, or the staff may negligently attempt to move a resident without sufficient help.  When left unattended by the staff, these patients fall, often receiving lacerations, abrasions, bone fractures, disfigurement, and even head injuries.

3.   Malnutrition and dehydration

Malnutrition and dehydration slows down healing and can worsen existing health problems. Over time, malnutrition and dehydration lead to severe complications and may result in the death of the patient. In some cases, patients with special dietary requirements are deprived of the nutrition they need to survive. In other cases, patients who have lost the ability to feed themselves are left with food in front of them but no one to help them reach it.

4.   Abuse

Physical abuse is a reality for some patients in nursing homes. Patients are sometimes slapped, punched, or kicked. Some patients are even forced to endure sexual assault by staff or other patients.

Whether your loved one has suffered from one of these common types of injuries or has suffered from any of the many other injuries that can result from neglect and abuse, you may feel betrayed and angry.  If your loved one is still at the nursing home, you may also have grave concerns about future treatment at the nursing home.  These are real feelings and legitimate concerns. If you believe a loved one has been injured at a nursing home, please contact the Law Offices of Joseph E. Ashmore, Jr., P. C.

Products Liability

Each year hundreds of thousands of people are injured or killed by dangerous products ranging from toys, household equipment, cars and industrial products. For example, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2003 CPSC issued 279 recalls involving about 40 million consumer product units that either violated mandatory safety standards or presented a significant risk of injury to the public.  Products liability refers to the liability of any or all parties along the chain of manufacture of any product for damage caused by that product.  Product liability claims can involve a manufacturing defect, design defect or product that has an "inadequate warning" for its intended user.

If you think you or someone you know has been injured as a result of a defective product, you should call the Law Offices of Joseph E. Ashmore, Jr., P.C. for a free initial consultation so that you may fully understand your rights as a consumer.

Wrongful Death

Lawsuits involving wrongful death are difficult for the families who have lost their ones to pursue.  The tremendous loss that a family confronts is challenged by the need to investigate the incident and preserve evidence. The Attorneys at the Law Offices of Joseph E. Ashmore, P.C. are capable of investigating such matters to determine all persons who are responsible.  Once the investigation is completed, our lawyers will diligently pursue the case until it is resolved. 

We handle the following cases:

  - explosions;

  - automobile and trucking collisions;

  - medical malpractice; and

  - nursing home errors.

Should you need immediate assistance with your legal matter, please call us at (214) 559-7202, (866) 559-7202, or e-mail us.