15 September

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What Are Personal Injury Claims? Everything You Need to Know

Posted by David Hodges

A person with a bandage over a personal injury

Injuries are an unfortunate part of life. According to the National Safety Council, 62 million people in 2021 sought medical attention for sustained injuries. Injuries range in terms of severity. Some injuries are hard to notice - others cause severe pain and lingering effects. An injury can affect your physical, mental, and reputational well-being. Injuries can also cost a lot of time and money to recover from. Fortunately, filing a personal injury claim can help ensure an injured person receives the compensation they deserve. WHAT ARE PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS? A personal injury claim happens after someone sustains an injury and uses their rights...

08 September

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Learn 5 Essential Employee Rights and How to Protect Them

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

Beginning in 1913, the U.S. Government began to protect the rights of hard-working Americans. While a lot has changed since then, employees having rights hasn't. Knowing your rights as an employee ensures you receive fair treatment at work. Chances are, you have more rights than you might think. But what are they? Hodges & Foty is here to help you answer this critical question. Here’s a closer look at five common employee rights in the workplace and what they entail. You’ll also learn what to do if an employer violates your rights. 1. HAVING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS Sometimes, people with disabilities may require slight changes...

01 September

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The Relationship Between Medical Malpractice and Birth Injury Lawsuits

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

Millions of people are born in the United States every year. Welcoming a new baby is often a nerve-wracking yet exciting time for new parents. While most births go smoothly, unexpected situations can happen. Sometimes, these events are the result of medical malpractice. In this post, you’ll learn about birth injuries caused by medical malpractice, your legal rights after it happens, and the potential for well-deserved compensation. When Medical Malpractice Causes Birth Injuries Most people who imagine medical malpractice likely think of situations happening during the birthing process. But that’s not always the case. You could have grounds to file a birth injury...

25 August

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Examples of Medical Malpractice Leading to Severe, Permanent Injuries

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

A patient and physician discuss medical malpractice examples

It’s understandable to expect expert-level help and care from medical experts. Whether you seek treatment in a hospital, physician’s office, or urgent care facility, you place a certain amount of trust in medical professionals. Unfortunately, some people needing medical attention end up as medical malpractice victims. Any preventable serious or permanent injury caused by malpractice is one too many. In this post, you’ll learn about examples of medical malpractice that often lead to permanent or severe injuries. Not all lawyers handle medical malpractice cases. If you or someone you love experienced a severe or permanent injury resulting from medical malpractice, you’ll need...

18 August

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Overtime Laws: Helpful Tips Every Employee Should Know

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

a picture of a business building at night

The United States is full of hard-working adults. Whether they want to earn overtime pay, are helping with staffing issues, or both, some people spend their weeks working more than 40 hours. You understandably expect to be rewarded with a big paycheck or direct deposit payment after a long week's work. But what if that doesn’t happen? Unfortunately, employers violating overtime laws happens more often than you think. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recovered over $134 million in back overtime wages in 2022. But what if your employer isn’t following federal and local overtime laws? Here’s a closer look at overtime pay...

05 August

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Employee Misclassification: Why It Happens and How To Resolve It

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

You have the freedom to choose your job and whether you work as a part or full-time employee. Another popular working option for many adults is to work as an independent contractor. Employees typically enjoy benefits such as health and life insurance. Depending on their earnings, employees might also get a refund during tax time. Independent contractors aren’t entitled to benefits or employers paying their taxes. But some people prefer contracting for its freedoms and higher pay rates. The problem with worker classifications happens when a business is guilty of misclassification. WHAT IS EMPLOYEE MISCLASSIFICATION? Employee misclassification occurs when an employer mistakenly designates a...

28 July

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Underpaid and Unpaid Wages: Warning Signs and How to Protect Yourself

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

You understandably expect to get paid for your hard work. Fortunately, most companies do the right thing and pay their workers accurately and on time. But that doesn’t always happen. Some hard-working people find themselves underpaid or unpaid for the work they do. During 2022 alone, public attorneys recovered over $110 million for people owed back wages due to their employers underpaying them or not paying them at all. Private attorneys likely recovered much more. WARNING SIGNS AN EMPLOYER IS UNDERPAYING OR NOT PAYING YOU Employees often joke with each other that employers don't pay enough. In some cases, an employer is taking...

14 June

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Overtime Laws & Common Violations in Texas

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

A woman working on a laptop in the evening.

The vast majority of employers in Texas and nationwide abide by overtime laws. When their employees work more hours than they were scheduled, they should be paid a higher, agreed-upon amount. But there are some companies that fail to follow Texas labor laws regarding overtime. It could be caused by the employer simply not knowing the law, or it could be an effort to save money. In either case, employees who have been wronged may have an unpaid overtime wage case against their employer. Here are a few common ways in which companies in Texas, and throughout the nation, can violate overtime...

07 June

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What is a Class Action Lawsuit and Do I Qualify?

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

You’ve likely seen commercials for class action lawsuits on TV. You may have even received a letter in the mail or email asking whether you would like to take part in one. In fact, some of the most famous U.S. Supreme Court cases throughout history were class action lawsuits. Here are some requirements for a class action settlement, along with guidance if you believe you qualify for one. What is a Class Action Lawsuit? A class action is a case in which one or several plaintiffs file a lawsuit and then pursue it in court on behalf of a group consisting of many...

31 May

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What the Texas Workers’ Compensation Law Means for You

Posted by David Hodges

in Legal Advice

Wire lockers containing yellow construction hard hats

No one likes to think about the possibility of being injured on the job and not being able to work. But, unfortunately, tens of thousands of Texans are injured on the job every year. In 2021 alone, there were 178,900 cases of Texas workers suffering nonfatal injuries on the job. Given how stressful the days and weeks following a workplace injury can be, it’s wise to understand how workers’ comp programs work in Texas before an incident occurs. The first question to answer is a simple one: What benefits does workers' compensation offer and what is covered? Workers’ Compensation Covers Injuries and Sickness...

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