need help finding civil law cases on car accidents
You may have to search and research, but once you learn some good sources and methods, you should have success. In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library. Libraries these days subscribe to enormous research databases, and they are often more useful than Internet searches. Ask your librarian if you have access to EBSCOHost -- it has several databases within it, including at least three for health sciences, one for military and government, one huge one for academic research, and others.
For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.
My favorite way to search is to go to Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section will help you best.
Learning to use Google or other search engines can save you time and help you learn to find information efficiently. Here are some websites that can teach you how:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/searchtips.html
http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/index.html
http://websearch.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true&COB=home&PM=112_100_T
... and one to help you judge whether a particular website's information is worth your time:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/evaluate.html
Happy searching.
=)
Use keywords like "case law studies" "car accident litigation"
Here are some Houston cases
01-08-00850-CV Luci Martinez, Individually and the Personal Representative of the Estate of Luis Martinez;
and Jose Martinez and Maria Martinez v. Moises Melendez
Appeal from 190th District Court of Harris County
14-07-00850-CV Jed Gaskey, Individually and as Next Friend of Cassandara Gaskey and Cassandra
Gaskey v. One Source Security and Found a/k/a One Source Security and Sound and Steven Green
Smith
Appeal from 334th District Court of Harris County
To find civil law cases specifically related to car accidents, you can follow these steps:
1. Start with Legal Databases: Access reputable legal databases that offer comprehensive collections of case law. Some popular options include Westlaw, LexisNexis, Bloomberg Law, and Google Scholar.
2. Search by Jurisdiction: Determine the jurisdiction(s) you are interested in, as laws and court decisions vary by jurisdiction. If you are looking for cases within a particular state, restrict your search accordingly.
3. Use Relevant Keywords: When searching within these databases, use relevant keywords like "car accident," "motor vehicle collision," or "automobile crash" to narrow down the results to cases specifically related to car accidents.
4. Refine Search Parameters: Depending on the database you are using, you can use filters to refine your search parameters. You may want to consider filters like date range, court level (e.g., appellate or trial court), or specific legal issues relevant to your case.
5. Review and Analyze Results: After obtaining search results, review the cases that match your search criteria. Pay attention to the case summaries, key facts, court analysis, and conclusions to determine their relevance to your research.
6. Cross-Reference Multiple Sources: To ensure thoroughness and identify other relevant cases, cross-reference your findings across multiple legal databases or sources.
7. Seek Professional Assistance: If you need specific legal advice or representation related to a car accident, consult with a qualified attorney who specializes in personal injury or car accident cases. They can guide you in finding relevant cases and help apply them to your situation.
Remember, the process of finding case law can vary depending on your specific jurisdiction and the resources available to you. Therefore, it is always advised to consult legal professionals or specialized law librarians who can further assist you.