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What are the left-lane restrictions for trucks?

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Monday, November 12, 2018.

When a large truck has an accident with a passenger vehicle, it is almost always the passenger vehicle that sustains the most damage. Occupants of the passenger vehicle also usually suffer more sufficient injuries. This is because of the great difference in the sizes of the vehicles. However, we need large trucks to distribute goods. Because trucks and passenger vehicles have to co-exist, the state of Texas has enacted laws to help keep everyone safer on the roads. One of those laws, according to FleetOwner, is the left-lane restrictions.

Left-lane restrictions are laws that say trucks cannot travel in the left lane of a multiple lane roadway. If the law applies to a road, there are posted signs stating so. Only trucks with three or more axles have to follow this law. If found breaking the law, the driver may get a fine. There is an exception. You may use the left lane if you use it to pass other vehicles or to exit the roadway.

Understanding whiplash injuries

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, November 12, 2018.

If you injure your neck or back in a Texas car crash, you stand a good chance of receiving a whiplash injury. This is particularly true if the crash results from another vehicle rear-ending you. Spine-Health.com explains that a whiplash occurs when the impact of your crash makes your head and neck violently jerk forward and backward, thereby injuring their nerves and tissues.

Your whiplash injury, also called cervical acceleration-deceleration syndrome (CAD), may heal by itself, although this generally will take at least three months. On the other hand, its effects could last for years or even for the rest of your life. The most common whiplash symptoms include the following:

  • Neck pain, often quite severe
  • Neck stiffness, often quite substantial
  • Reduced range of motion in your head and neck
  • Pain in your shoulders and/or upper back
  • Persistent headaches, often quite severe
  • Persistent weakness, numbness or tingling in your shoulders or arms

Understanding benefits eligibility after a military divorce

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. posted in Military Family Law on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Marrying a Texas resident who is also a member of the U.S. Armed Forces brings with it certain benefits, such as the ability to gain access to TRICARE, which is military health care coverage. Marrying a service member also gives you the opportunity to shop at commissaries, which offer military families tax-free and discounted products, but you may be wondering whether you will still be able to utilize these benefits if your marriage to a service member crumbles. At the Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C., we recognize that military divorce involves special considerations, and we have helped many people involved in military divorces pursue solutions that meet their needs.

Per Military.com, most men and women who divorce military spouses become ineligible for military benefits such as TRICARE and commissary use once their divorces finalize. This is due to the fact that, in order to continue to retain military benefits access after your split, your marriage, and your former partner’s service terms, must meet certain guidelines.

4 pre-divorce tips for men

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. on Monday, October 29, 2018.

If you are thinking about serving your wife with divorce papers, you may be wondering how to prepare for this process. Your emotions are intense as you consider how a divorce will affect your finances, career, parenthood and mental health. The decision to end your marriage is a significant one that requires certain preparation.

Getting ready for your divorce will minimize the financial and emotional turmoil you experience. Here are some things you can do before you begin.

Can a car crash paralyze you?

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, October 22, 2018.

If you become the victim of a Texas car crash in which you injure your back, the unfortunate answer to the title question is “yes, a car crash can paralyze you.” Where the paralysis occurs depends on which part of your spine becomes injured.

As UPMC Enterprises explains, your spinal cord contains the following four sections:

  1. Your cervical region that goes from the base of your brain to the lower portion of your neck
  2. Your thoracic region that goes from the bottom of your neck to your waist
  3. Your lumbar region that goes from your waist to your lower back
  4. Your sacral region that goes from your lower back to your tailbone

How can I choose the right guardian for my child?

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. posted in Family Law on Monday, October 22, 2018.

Among the many important tasks a will can accomplish, selecting a guardian for your minor child is perhaps the most vital. While the topic can be unpleasant to consider, failure to put your wishes in writing will result in the court making a decision on your behalf. To help you through the tough selection process, Forbes recommends the following advice.

Does your child feel at home with the person?

Accidents involving stalled cars or trucks

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Sunday, October 14, 2018.

When most people think about car accidents, a scenario involving both vehicles moving at high speeds might come to mind. Less often considered, but no less dangerous, are car or truck collisions that involve one vehicle that is standing still. Texas residents might not be fully aware of the dangers when a vehicle has broken down and is stalled in the middle of the highway or at the side of the road.

An accident that recently occurred in Fort Worth tragically illustrates this point. The Star-Telegram reported that a man died after he struck a semi-truck that had stalled on Interstate 35. Authorities did not have many details, but said that the smaller vehicle had become wedged beneath the truck’s trailer.

What is paternity fraud?

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. on Monday, October 8, 2018.

As a Texas father, no one need tell you that while your child's biological mother was easily determined when she gave birth to him or her, establishing his or her biological father is not nearly so simple. Although it is true that the State of Texas presumes you to be your child's biological and therefore legal father if you and the mother were married to each other at the time of birth, such is not the case if the two of you were not married when your child was born.

Outright paternity fraud occurs if and when your child's mother deliberately misattributes his or her paternity to someone else rather than to you, knowing that you are the child's biological father. It also occurs if and when a woman deliberately misattributes her child's paternity to you, knowing that you are not the biological father. Unfortunately, however, no Texas law, or the law of any other state, considers either woman's fraud to be a punishable crime. Therefore, no woman faces any legal consequences for mistakenly or deliberately saying that a particular man fathered her child when he, in fact, did not.

How social media could damage your car injury case

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, October 3, 2018.

Many people today eagerly share many aspects of their personal lives over social media. However, posting too much information can be a problem if you are the victim of a car accident on a Texas road and are in the midst of a legal case. The reason is because disclosing the wrong information online could be perilous to winning the proper compensation for your injuries. 

When you are trying to prove the extent of your injuries to an insurance company or to a court, you would utilize medical records and credible expert witnesses to demonstrate how the auto collision has affected your life. However, it only takes a photo of you engaged in a fun activity without a hint of discomfort for an insurance adjuster to claim that you have been exaggerating the extent of your pain. If your pictures are posted publicly, the insurer responsible for paying your medical bills can find them as easily as anybody else.

Hidden dangers in walking away from a car crash

On behalf of Law Office of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. on Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

If you get into a motor vehicle accident and are able to walk away without having to go to the hospital, you certainly are luckier than many other accident victims. However, there are some hidden dangers even for people who seemingly walk away from a car crash unscathed. 

In some cases, serious injuries actually have a delayed onset, meaning that symptoms can show up hours, days, weeks, or even months after the crash takes place. It is important to know about some typical symptoms of these injuries so that you can stay vigilant after the accident and monitor your health for injuries that show up later.