| The team of
attorneys and staff at Kraft
& Associates has enabled
thousands of clients to recover millions of
dollars in settlements and verdicts. Equally
important, we have given comfort and peace of
mind to our clients with the knowledge they are
well represented. To learn more about the
members of our firm, click on the Team tab.
At the law firm of Kraft
& Associates, we primarily handle
the following types of claims:
Automobile
Collisions - Auto collisions can range
from merely annoying to completely disastrous
for families. Our law firm has represented
clients in thousands of automobile collisions
over the years. We understand what should and
should not be done in these cases. If you have
been injured in an automobile collision, call us
for a free consultation. We relieve our clients
of the difficult decisions regarding insurance
and investigative matters and let the clients
concentrate on just getting well.
Motorcycle
and Bicycle Injuries - While similar to
automobile collisions in many legal aspects,
injuries sustained when a car hits a bicycle or
motorcycle are usually much more serious than in
car-to-car collisions. Proving fault is
frequently more difficult in these cases because
of the experience shared by many jurors and
insurance adjusters of seeing a bicycle or
motorcycle being ridden recklessly. Special care
is often required to prove the collision was the
fault of the automobile driver rather than the
fault of the motorcyclist or bicyclist.
Wrongful Death
Claims - The loss of a family member or
loved one is a tragedy that can never be
adequately compensated by a financial recovery.
But our legal system allows only money damages
for such a loss. There is no other way to punish
the negligent party or to try to ensure they
correct the faults that caused such a loss.
Money damages can be paid for such items as loss
of earnings, support, love and affection,
medical expenses, and pain and suffering prior
to the time of death among others.
After the loss of a loved one, the last thing
the family wants to think about is taking legal
action. But in many cases, prompt action is
required to investigate the circumstances and to
preserve evidence. Waiting to retain legal
counsel can be damaging to any future claims.
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Medical
Malpractice - Our firm represents people
who suffer serious injuries due to negligence on
the part of hospitals, physicians, nurses, and
other staff members. Negligence can involve
Failure to diagnose a medical condition,
prescribing or dispensing improper medications,
surgical errors and other negligent acts or
omissions by a medical professional.
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Pedestrian
Injuries - We have handled many claims
for clients who were struck by a vehicle as they
were crossing or standing near a roadway. These
claims often involve very serious injuries, and
they can be difficult to prosecute successfully
because jurors are inclined to find in favor of
the motorist. We will be glad to discuss these
matters with you.
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Truck and
Train Collisions - Just as collisions
between a car and a motorcycle frequently
involve serious injuries, collisions between a
large truck and an automobile many times involve
significant property damage and serious injuries
or even death. Sometimes in truck collisions the
insurance company will deny a claim for no
reason other than to protect the driving record
of the truck driver. Truckers must follow
specific State and Federal regulations. It is
important to retain a law firm that understands
these regulations. A prompt and thorough
investigation into the truck driver’s driving
record, his "logs" and the condition
of his tractor trailer rig are essential. At
Kraft & Associates, we have handled many
cases involving truckers and 18-wheelers.
Train collisions usually involve very serious
injuries and such significant property damage
that investigation can be very difficult. The
services of an accident reconstructionist are
almost always required in such cases.
With Airline, Truck or Train disasters, it is
extremely important to contact an attorney as
soon as possible. The airline, trucking company
or train company will have their investigators
on the scene immediately, looking for evidence
that may assist their side of the case. You need
someone on your side before the evidence is
gone.
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Prescription
Drug Injuries - Occasionally drug
manufacturers release drugs to the market or
fail to recall drugs from the market, even after
they become aware of possible harmful or fatal
side effects. If you have suffered due to
harmful prescription drugs, please call us.
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Pharmacy Errors
- There is a shortage of properly trained
pharmacists at this time. Unfortunately, this
means that some pharmacists are pressured to
work longer hours and process more prescriptions
than in the past. This situation can lead to
disastrous results if a prescription is
incorrectly filled. Perhaps the medicine itself
is wrong, or perhaps the dosage is incorrect.
Either way, the effect can render the drugs
either ineffective or lethal.
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Nursing Errors
- Nurses are an essential part of our medical
system. No hospital could function without them.
But nurses can make mistakes like anyone else.
Nurses are professionals, and must meet minimum
standards of care in performing their duties.
When nurses fail to meet this standard and cause
injuries, they must be held responsible. If you
believe you or a family member has been injured
through nursing negligence, call us for an
appointment to discuss your situation.
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Nursing Home
Negligence - The term "Nursing Home
Negligence" can include a wide variety of
cases, including both negligence and abuse. All
nursing homes say they offer excellent care and
individualized attention. Many do, but sadly,
some do not. Whether the cause is inadequate
training, insufficient staffing or more sinister
reasons, the effect of seeing an elderly member
of your family suffer is traumatic for the
entire family. If you suspect your loved one’s
suffering is due to negligence or abuse, please
call us.
The most common nursing home claims are based
on decubitus ulcers (bedsores), falls, abuse
(sexual or physical), and residents who are
allowed to wander away from the nursing home due
to inadequate security.
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Premises
Liability - This category of claims
includes such matters as inadequate security,
but by far the most common claim is the
"Slip and Fall" type of injury. The
law in this field is very much on the side of
the property owner. The burden is on the injured
person to prove that the property owner either
caused the dangerous condition or knew about it
before the fall and took no action to warn the
injured person. This can be a difficult burden
to meet. An immediate investigation is usually
important, and it is extremely helpful to get
the names of any witnesses. Photographs of the
site of the fall are often key to a successful
claim. Our firm has handled hundreds of premises
liability cases over the years, of just about
every type you could imagine.
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Defective
and Harmful Products - This is the area
of law known as Products Liability and concerns
the legal liability of manufacturers and sellers
to compensate consumers for damages and injuries
suffered because of design defects,
manufacturing defects or marketing errors.
Among many others, some defective products we
see include automobile seat belts and automobile
air bags. Other examples would include
improperly designed swimming pool walls and
improperly installed diving boards. We invite
you to call us if you believe you or a family
member have been injured due to any defective
product.
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Inadequate
Security Claims - Inadequate security
cases usually involve situations where innocent
people are victims of a crime while at a
property owned by someone else. These claims can
arise at hotels, apartments, shopping centers or
other business establishments. Under Texas law,
an owner of these premises may be responsible if
the likelihood of criminal activity is
"reasonably foreseeable." These are
often difficult cases and a thorough
investigation is necessary for a successful
result.
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Construction
Accidents - Construction work is
inherently dangerous. Many workers are injured
or killed every year in Texas, often through no
fault of their own. Construction sites can be
dangerous to passersby also. If you or someone
you know has suffered serious injury because of
the negligence of a construction company or
because of defective construction equipment, we
would like to help you.
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Aviation
Accidents - Aircraft accidents are
unfortunately often fatal, and they require
detailed expertise in the investigation of the
cause of the crash. Our firm can bring in the
best people to make such investigations.
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Jet
Ski, Boat, or Watercraft Injuries
- Boating accidents must be investigated
differently than automobile collisions. The
first obvious problem is that photographs of
the scene of the collision are of little use,
unlike photographs of a street intersection.
Different "traffic" laws apply to
our lakes and waterways, and the injuries
sustained in boating or personal watercraft
accidents are sometimes completely unlike
injuries sustained in an automobile collision.
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Airbag
Injuries - Most
consumers probably know that injury claims can
be made against automobile manufacturers in
the event of an airbag malfunction. If an
airbag fails to deploy, or deploys too slowly
or too quickly, a claim can be made for the
resulting injuries.
But most consumers may not realize that a
claim can be made for injuries caused from the
failure to provide airbags in vehicles.
Many newspaper and television stories recently
have focused on side impacts involving light
trucks and passenger cars. In these accidents,
the occupant is exposed to injury from the
high bumper of the striking vehicle. Auto
manufacturers have known for at least a decade
that these injuries could be minimized or
prevented by the use of side airbags.
A motorist injured in such a collision may be
able to make a claim against the automobile
manufacturer for failing to provide a side
airbag. Please contact us if you have any
questions about this matter.
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On-the-Job
Injuries - If you get hurt on the job
and your employer carries workers’
compensation insurance, your legal rights are
generally restricted to the benefits offered by
workers’ compensation. Please see our
information under the Free Brochures tab at the
top of this page.
If your employer does not have workers’
compensation insurance coverage you could be
either much worse off or much better off,
depending on many different factors. We
encourage you to call us with your questions. If
we can't help you, we will refer you to a lawyer
or a government agency where you can get
assistance.
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Toxic Substances
- The most common toxic substance causing
serious medical problems is asbestos. But
exposure to many other substances is just as
dangerous, including lead and latex. If you
believe you have suffered due to such exposure,
please contact us.
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Dog Bite Injuries
- Every year millions of Americans, mostly small
children, are bitten by dogs. Fortunately, most
of these bites are minor. However, some attacks
by large dogs produce disfiguring or
life-threatening injuries. If you or a family
member has been injured by an unprovoked dog
attack, please call us to discuss your legal
rights. Generally speaking, if the dog’s owner
had reason to believe the dog was dangerous, and
then did not take the necessary steps to protect
innocent victims, the owner is liable for
injuries caused by the dog.
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Other
accidents involving serious injury or loss of
life - It would be almost impossible to
list the many unfortunate ways injuries can
occur due to the negligence or carelessness of
others. We invite you to call us about any
serious injury, and we will be glad to give you
our opinion as to whether you have a legitimate
claim.
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Insurance
Disputes - Insurance disputes include
legal actions against your own insurance company
for breach of contract, unfair claim practices
and refusal to pay valid claims. Insurance
companies are notorious for finding ways to keep
from paying you all the benefits you are due. At
Kraft & Associates, we have dealt with
hundreds of insurance companies over the years
and we are experienced in interpreting insurance
policy provisions. If you are having a problem
collecting benefits you feel you are entitled to
receive, call us for an appointment.
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Wrongful
Termination - These can be very
difficult claims to prove, but we will be glad
to visit with you about the circumstances of
your termination. In Texas, an employer
generally has the right to fire an employee for
any reason, or for no reason at all. Certain
Federal laws prohibit an employer from
discriminating against an employee on the basis
of age, race, color, religion, sex or national
origin.
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Criminal Matters
- We believe you are innocent until proven
guilty. We will zealously represent you in both
misdemeanor and felony cases. If for any reason
we cannot represent you in a criminal matter, we
will be glad to refer you to a lawyer who can
help you.
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Bankruptcy -
Our firm can help you evaluate your options and
decide whether a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13
bankruptcy case would be your best option. Most
clients can protect all of their property,
income, and assets in a bankruptcy case, and
obtain the "fresh start" promised by the United
States Bankruptcy Code. If bankruptcy is not the
best option for you, we can assist you through a
debt workout plan with your creditors, or
otherwise advise you on non-bankruptcy options
that may help you protect your assets and
provide for the financial stability of your
family.
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Employment
Discrimination - These can be very
difficult claims to prove, but we will be glad
to visit with you about your situation. In
Texas, an employer generally has the right to
fire an employee for any reason, or for no
reason at all. Certain Federal laws prohibit an
employer from discriminating against an employee
on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex
or national origin.
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Workers'
Compensation Claims - If you get hurt on
the job and your employer carries workers’
compensation insurance, your legal rights are
generally restricted to the benefits offered by
workers’ compensation. Please see our firm's
Texas workers' compensation information under
the Free Brochures tab at the left of this page.
We can represent you in your claim for Texas
workers' compensation
There is an important exception to this general
rule. If you were injured on the job as a result
of a defective product or as a result of the
negligence of someone who was not working for
your employer, you may have a valid negligence
claim. We encourage you to contact our office so
we can discuss these possibilities with you.
If your employer does not have workers’
compensation insurance coverage you could be
either much worse off or much better off,
depending on many different factors. We
encourage you to call us with your questions. If
we can't help you, we will refer you to a lawyer
or a government agency where you can get
assistance.
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Consumer Law -
Consumer law covers a wide range of situations,
such as creditor harassment, credit reporting
errors, mortgage company disputes, and deceptive
trade practices. Our firm can help you
understand your rights under Federal and Texas
consumer protection laws and assist you with
stopping creditor wrongdoing, obtaining
compensation for wrongful acts by creditors, or
with correcting your credit report. Each
client’s situation is unique, and we will
carefully assess your personal situation and
offer you our best advice and assistance.
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Wills and Probate
- Our firm handles some, but not all, of these
matters. If we cannot represent you we will be
glad to refer you to a lawyer who can help you.
You can get additional information from our Free
Brochures page and from our Articles
page. We offer simple wills, directive to
physicians and powers of attorney. Call us today
and ask how we can help protect your wishes and
your loved ones.
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Family Law - Our
attorneys recognize the crucial changes that
family law matters can make in your life and we
are dedicated to providing you with the highest
level of professionalism in assisting you in
divorce, child support, adoption, modifications,
attorney general disputes, paternity and other
similar matters.
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Immigration -
Our firm can answer your questions and assist
you with Work Authorizations, Family Petitions,
Deportations, Immigrant Visas, Business Visas,
and Board of Immigration appeals.
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Sexual Harassment
- These can be very difficult claims to prove,
but we will be glad to visit with you about your
situation.
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Immigration Law
- Our firm can help you with all types of
immigration situations, whether family-based or
employment-based. We have experienced
immigration personnel ready to answer any
questions you may have. Back to Top
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