Archives 2018

Strong representation for burglary, robbery, shoplifting and more

Being arrested on theft charges can put your entire future on the line. For the representation you need during this difficult time, turn to our law firm. Since 1990 we have served clients facing many types of criminal charges, providing excellent service and personal attention. Our criminal defense lawyers have years of experience and have dealt with all facets of the justice system, and we leverage our knowledge to offer you the best legal options available.

What is a theft crime?

Theft is generally any crime in which one individual illegally takes the property of another person with the intention of depriving that person of the items in question. This is a very broad definition, and therefore there are many different acts prosecutors and the criminal justice system may consider theft. The following are some of the most common types of theft:

Shoplifting. Law defines shoplifting as taking merchandise without paying for it, thereby depriving the business of that property.

Burglary. This offense involves an individual illegally entering a building with the intent to commit a criminal act. To convict, prosecutors often simply need to prove breaking and entering, even if no actual theft of property occurred.

Robbery. If you’re accused of using force or the threat of force to deprive someone of property, you may face robbery charges. Offenses involving the actual or implied use of weapons may be classified as armed robbery.

White collar crimes. Many white collar crimes, including fraud, embezzlement and money laundering, may involve forms of theft.

Services theft. State law recognizes the theft of services, such as lodging, consulting services and entertainment. In these cases, the accused must have attained these services with the intention to avoid paying for them.

Your options after shoplifting charges

You can be charged with either a misdemeanor or felony offense depending on the value of the stolen property, and the penalty may include both jail time and fines.

If the value of the property is less than $50, you can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $500.

If the value of the property is $50-$500, you can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and fines up to $2,000.

If the value of the property is $500-$1,500, you can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000.

If the value of the property is $1,500-$20,000, you can be charged with a state jail felony punishable by 180 days to 2 years in a state penitentiary and fines up to $10,000.

If the value of the property is $20,000-$100,000, you can be charged with a third degree felony punishable by 2-10 years in jail and fines up to $10,000.

If the value of the property is $100,000-$200,000, you can be charged with a second degree felony punishable by 2-20 years in jail and fines up to $10,000.

If the value of the property is more than $200,000, you can be charged with a first degree felony punishable by 5-99 years in jail and fines up to $10,000.

f this was the first time you’ve been arrested for shoplifting, you may be able to take advantage of alternatives to incarceration, including pretrial diversion programs. In many situations, a skilled criminal defense attorney can seek these alternatives on your behalf, helping to avoid jail time or huge fines.

Compassionate advocates help families obtain rightful compensation.

For nearly 30 years, we have represented families who’ve lost loved ones in fatal car accidents. Any automobile accident can pose a threat to the lives of the drivers and passengers involved. While some crashes are unavoidable, others result from driver negligence and could have been avoided with responsible driving. When a fatal car crash takes your family member’s life, and the accident was preventable or resulted from negligence or recklessness, it makes the loss even more tragic. In these cases, our law firm can help you and your family file a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain compensation for the financial losses and emotional damages you suffer due to the fatality.

When driver negligence leads to a fatality

Car accidents and other motor vehicle collisions kill tens of thousands of Americans every year. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, in 2018, an estimated 40,000 people lost their lives to car crashes – a 1% decline from 2017 (40,231 deaths) and 2016 (40,327 deaths). About 4.5 million people were seriously injured in crashes last year – also a 1% decrease over 2017. In the same year, in Texas alone, 3,567 individuals were killed in fatal crashes.

There are countless examples of driver negligence that could lead to the death of your loved one in a fatal car accident. The most common include the following:

Distracted driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Texting while driving

Using other electronics, such as tablets, cellphones or GPS devices

Fatigued driving

Excessive speeding

Disregard for traffic lights and signs

Other reckless behavior

Why pursue compensation?

Of course, no amount of money can truly replace what you lose in a fatal auto accident. So why seek compensation at all? With help from a trusted attorney, you can hold negligent parties accountable for their actions and obtain compensation for the very real financial effects of losing a loved one in a deadly crash. Your settlement or award in a wrongful death case takes into account the following:

Funeral and burial costs

Medical bills

Loss of future family income

Loss of companionship, care, services, protection and assistance

Repair or replacement of damaged property

Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or criminal recklessness

Accidents with large commercial vehicles, such as semis, 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers, involve complexities that do not exist for collisions between passenger vehicles. Our truck accident lawyers have nearly 30 years of experience dealing with the issues pertaining to state and federal truck regulations and the details of the commercial trucking business. We know that all these factors affect the ability of victims to achieve successful outcomes for their cases, and we know how to help clients obtain rightful compensation for trucking accident injuries.

Special issues involved in trucking accidents

We have extensive experience leveling the playing field between large trucking firms and our injured clients. We handle cases involving all types of trucking accidents, and represent family members who’ve lost a loved one in a fatal trucking accident.

We have specific knowledge of the issues surrounding 18-wheeler and other large truck accident cases, including the following:

Severe injuries — A passenger vehicle is no match against a semi-truck, tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler that can weigh as much as 40 tons. Even when a trucking accident does not result in fatalities, the driver and passengers in the smaller vehicle often sustain disabling injuries that have profound effects on the rest of their lives.

State and federal laws — Truck drivers must follow all laws governing many aspects of their trips, including weight limits and the rest periods required for long hauls.Truck accident attorneys must remain current on these laws and know how to determine when drivers or their companies flout the laws at the peril of everyone sharing roads with them.

Trucking operations — The manner in which trucking companies run their businesses can pose dangers to others on the road. To save time, they may insufficiently prepare trucks for trips by taking shortcuts in safety inspections or cargo loading. This can cause brake failure, jackknife accidents and other serious issues. Experienced truck accident lawyers often enlist investigative specialists who know how to obtain evidence of shortcuts that caused severe trucking accidents.

Focused legal defense teams — We have a history of successfully going against teams of insurance company lawyers that focus solely on defending these nuanced truck accident cases.