The Wright Firm's Weblog

Denton Personal Injury Lawyer: Denton Apartment Railing Collapses: Three Hurt

WFAA was reporting Saturday, September 3, 2011 that Denton police said that three people were injured early Saturday morning when a third-floor railing came loose at an apartment complex that caters to college students.

WFAA reported that the three men were standing outside smoking when “the balcony fell off the building” at the Grove Apartments at 701 Ft. Worth Drive, around 3:15 a.m.  The condition of the individuals is unknown. The actual cause of the incident is still under investigation. 

 

Denton is home to The University of North Texas.   As a college town, there are numerous apartments that provide off-campus housing for students.  Students need to be reminded that they have rights which are no different than any other citizen.  Students should realize that they have rights such as:

 

Health, Safety and Security

Texas law provides that landlords guarantee a habitable unit for tenants to live in. Tenants have the right to live under safe conditions free of health hazards. Tenants have the right to security devices such as keyed exterior locks, door viewers and working smoke detectors. They also have the right to live in the property free of harassment and violence from other tenants. Landlord must install the following security devices: window latches, doorknob lock or keyed deadbolts, sliding door pin locks, sliding door handle latches, or sliding door security bars and keyless bolting device (that only can be locked and unlocked from the inside).

Right to Repairs

Tenants also have the right to request the repair or replacement of items which threaten their right to safe, inhabitable conditions. Tenants have the right to make repairs on their own, for which the landlord is still financially responsible, if the damage resulted from normal wear and tear or was not the fault of the tenant or their guest.

The full store can be read at the link below:

 http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Denton-apartment-balcony-collapses-three-hurt-129186483.html 

 

For information regarding personal injury law contact The Denton County law firm of The Wright Firm, L.L.P. at 972-353-4600 or visit our website at www.thewrightlawyers.com.  Our phones are answered 24 hours a day.  The Wright Firm, L.L.P. has offices in Dallas, Denton, and Lewisville, Texas.  Partners of the firm are both graduates of The University of North Texas. 

 

Making it Work: Legal Benefit Plans

Harris Interactive recently published a study called “The Impact of Legal Matters on Today’s Workforce” with some interesting results! For instance, did you know:

1. Of those surveyed who had retained an attorney 70% said that having legal counsel made them feel more confident and made their legal issue easier to resolve?
2. That employees with personal legal issues spent on average 3 hours a week for 5-6 weeks working on their personal matter WHILE AT WORK?
3. 37% of men surveyed and 47% of women surveyed said that dealing with a personal legal issue negatively impacted their physical and emotional health?

Employers are finding that offering employees “legal insurance” plans as part of employee benefit packages are having a positive effect on the workforce.  Providing employees with legal benefit plans opens the door to legal counsel for many who could not otherwise afford it. Enabling an employee to hire an attorney can be beneficial to the employee as well as the boss.  The employee has the peace of mind that comes with being able to hand off their personal legal matter to the attorney, and the boss gets a more confident and more productive employee.

Do employees really get much use these kinds of plans?  You bet!  In fact the Harris Interactive study showed that of employees who had used legal benefit plans, 90% said they would use it again. 

If you have a legal benefit plan that you want to use, give your plan provider a call and ask if The Wright Firm is part of their network.  The Wright Firm would be happy to help you with your legal matter.  Give us a call at (972) 353-4600 or check us out on the web at www.thewrightlawyers.com. 

 

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