Recent Blog Posts
San Antonio Group Argues for Speed Limit Changes After Fatal Accident
In early January, a car accident on Bandera Road in Helotes, just northwest of San Antonio, claimed the lives of the parents of four children. All four children were in the car at the time and also suffered minor injuries. Since the crash, San Antonio’s COPS Metro Alliance, a coalition aimed at bettering the lives of families, is advocating for the lowering of the speed limit in the area, which they believe can help prevent similar tragic accidents in the future.
Speeding Often Leads to Deadly Accidents
Excessive speeds are a safety concern throughout the San Antonio area and the state of Texas. According to 2019 statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation, out of the 3,610 traffic fatalities that year, 715 involved speeding, a figure that amounts to nearly one in five. Twenty-eight of those fatalities happened in Bexar County. In addition to the consequences of fatal accidents, thousands more Texans are injured in accidents involving speeding each year. High-speed collisions can result in severe and catastrophic injuries, including to the brain, spinal cord, extremities, and internal organs.
Pandemic Leads to Fewer Crashes, Increased Speeds in San Antonio
Sitting at the intersection of I-35, I-10, and I-37, San Antonio and the surrounding areas typically experience a high amount of traffic on a regular basis, and with it, a high number of car accidents. However, 2020 has been anything but typical, with the COVID-19 pandemic influencing virtually every aspect of life. A recent study by INRIX, a traffic analytics firm, looked at the effects of the pandemic on traffic patterns throughout the United States, and the findings have important implications for drivers in the San Antonio area.
A Decline in Traffic and Accidents
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in less road travel overall, both due to stay-at-home orders discouraging unnecessary trips and the increased prevalence of working from home reducing the amount of commuter traffic. The INRIX study found that vehicle miles traveled in San Antonio decreased by around 33 percent from March to June 2020, and 22 percent from July to October 2020.
Rainy Conditions a Possible Factor in Austin, TX Car Crash
Late last month, four people were injured in a car accident on Highway 71 in Austin, with first responders mentioning dangerous road conditions after a rainstorm as a possible contributing factor. While South Texas drivers are rarely exposed to the dangers of winter snowstorms that plague states further to the north, rainy conditions can create serious hazards of their own, making it important to take steps to promote safety on the roads.
The Driving Hazards of Texas Rainstorms
Throughout the year, drivers in South Texas are exposed to severe weather conditions, both from weather fronts traveling east across the U.S. and tropical storms that develop in the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rainfall can affect road safety in a number of ways, primarily related to reduced visibility and slippery or flooded road surfaces. In order to lower your risk of getting in an accident, you should take the following safety precautions:
Man Dies in Austin, TX Crash After Car Catches Fire
A collision between a semi-truck and a car in Austin earlier this month left the driver of the car dead after his vehicle was engulfed in flames. Many serious car and truck accidents result in vehicle fires and explosions, and even those who survive are often left with severe, permanent injuries and scarring. If you or a family member has suffered burn injuries in a car accident, an attorney can help you understand your options for compensation.
The Effects of Burn Injuries
The extent to which a burn injury affects your life and health often depends on the severity of the burn. While first-degree burns often heal completely over time, second-degree burns can result in permanent scarring, and third-degree burns, which penetrate to the fat under the skin, can damage nerves. Burn wounds can also result in significant blood loss, infection, and decreased mobility in joints near the burn, and the smoke that accompanies a fire can also cause respiratory problems. Some accident victims are killed due to being trapped in a burning car, while others may die after the accident due to complications from their injuries.
I-35 Crash in Austin Involves Two 18-Wheelers
Last week, two 18-wheeler trucks and one passenger vehicle collided on I-35 in Austin, impeding traffic and, as happens in many large truck crashes, injuring the driver of the passenger vehicle. Whenever you travel on I-35 in Texas, you should be aware of the accident risks and be sure to know how to contact an attorney if you are injured.
Accident Risks on I-35
Interstate 35, especially the stretch between San Antonio and Austin, has been a source of trouble for Texas drivers for decades. Despite attempts at improvements over the years, collisions on I-35 are still common due to the high amount of traffic and congestion that the road sees every day. In 2019 alone, there were 562 fatal crashes on Texas interstate highways, 80 of which occurred in Bexar, Comal, Hays, and Travis Counties.
As a major north-south U.S. highway that extends from the Mexico border and through six states, I-35 is also a common shipping route for commercial trucks. When operated negligently, trucks can cause accidents resulting in severe injuries due to their size and weight, and while truck drivers themselves are often injured, the occupants of other passenger vehicles tend to bear the brunt of the injuries in many cases.
Multi-Vehicle Crash in Schertz Starts with Car Stopped on I-35
Last weekend, a car crash on I-35 in Schertz affected the occupants of four vehicles and took the life of a 21-year-old woman. The devastating series of events began when a car collided with a disabled vehicle that was stopped on the road. The driver of the disabled vehicle, who was standing outside of the car at the time of impact, was thrown into traffic and hit by another passing car, while her vehicle was pushed into the path of a fourth car traveling on the highway.
Cases such as this not only involve complicated questions of liability, but also draw attention to the dangers a driver faces when his or her car breaks down on a busy highway like I-35. The affected drivers, as well as other drivers passing on the road, can all do their part to prevent the risk of accidents and severe or fatal injuries.
Preventing Accidents After a Vehicle Stops on the Highway
It is not uncommon for drivers to have problems with their vehicles while traveling on the highway. Flat tires, engine troubles, and fender benders can all lead to the unfortunate situation of having to stop your car on a busy road, exposing yourself to the risk of injury from a passing vehicle. If your car does break down on the interstate, here are some things you can do to reduce the risk:
San Antonio Car Crash Claims the Life of a Young Child
In late November, a 3-year-old child was killed when the car he was riding in collided with another vehicle traveling in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, child injuries and fatalities are all too common in car accidents, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting that over 97,000 children age 12 or younger are injured and over 600 are killed in the U.S. each year. Ensuring the safety of your children while on the road is of the utmost importance, as is knowing what to do if they are injured.
Promoting the Safety of Child Passengers
Although you cannot control the behavior of another driver, you can control the safety measures you take to protect your children from car accident injuries. Some of the most important steps you can take include:
- Make sure your children are properly secured. According to the CDC, one-third of child fatalities in car accidents occur when the child is improperly restrained. Ensuring that your child always wears a seat belt can significantly reduce injury risk, but depending on your child’s age, a seat belt alone may be insufficient. For example, the CDC recommends that children under the age of 4 be secured in a rear-facing car seat and that a front-facing car seat or booster seat should be used until a seat belt fits your child properly.
Man Injured When Wheelchair Struck By Car in San Antonio
While attempting to cross a street in his wheelchair, a San Antonio man was recently struck by a car and seriously injured. Liability, in this case, is unclear as of yet, but in many car accidents throughout Texas and the United States, wheelchair occupants are injured due to the negligence of drivers. Like bicyclists and pedestrians on foot, wheelchair occupants may be entitled to compensation for damages in these cases.
Prevalence of Wheelchair User Injuries in Car Accidents
Data regarding wheelchair occupants in car accidents is relatively sparse compared to other categories of car crash victims, but a 2015 study sheds some light on the issue. By reviewing police reports and news stories, researchers estimated that over 500 wheelchair occupants were killed in car crashes from 2006 to 2012, indicating a significantly higher fatality rate than the general population.
The study also found that men between the ages of 50 and 64 were the most susceptible to fatal car accident injuries. Intersections and places without traffic control were common locations, and low visibility of the wheelchair user was also a frequent contributing factor.
Travis County Car Crash Injures Construction Workers
In late November, a construction zone accident on Travis County’s MoPac Expressway left a driver dead and four construction workers seriously injured. Unfortunately, accidents in work zones are not uncommon, as the driving conditions in these areas increase risks for both drivers and workers. Anyone who is injured in a construction zone due to the negligence of another party may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses and other damages.
The Dangers of Driving in Construction Zones
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) estimates, over 120,000 vehicle accidents happened in work zones in 2018, resulting in around 45,000 injuries and 750 fatalities nationwide. Texas was responsible for more of these fatalities than any other state, with 157. While the majority of those affected are vehicle occupants, pedestrians are also at risk, many of whom are the people working in these construction zones. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in the same year, 124 workers were killed in roadway work zone accidents.
Alcohol Intoxication Alleged in Fatal San Antonio Crash
A car accident earlier this month in Bexar County has resulted in the death of one 18-year-old and the arrest of another on charges of intoxication assault. The collision occurred when one vehicle cut into another vehicle’s lane and impacted a front wheel, after which the second vehicle lost control, ran into a telephone pole, and rolled over on top of the victim. This tragic incident highlights the dangers that teens often face when drunk driving is involved.
Teenagers Are Affected By Drunk Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly one in five teen drivers in fatal accidents had been drinking before the crash and that teenagers are also disproportionately likely to lose their lives in an accident involving alcohol compared to other age groups. Teen fatalities in drunk driving accidents include drivers, passengers, and occupants of other vehicles, and the NHTSA urges parents to talk to their teenagers about the importance of avoiding driving after drinking, riding in a car with someone who has been drinking, or drinking at all before they reach the legal age of 21.
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