Recent Blog Posts
Two-Car Crash Sends Family of Six to Hospital
Recently, a two-car crash in the 600 block of North Business in New Braunfels killed one man and sent a couple and their four children to the hospital with “non-life-threatening” injuries. Law enforcement found that a Ford Focus was struck by the family’s Ford Transit 350 van after the Focus went over the road’s median and into the van’s path. The Focus driver was killed on impact, but the parents and their four children were only injured. It can be difficult to determine how best to proceed if you have been injured in an auto accident, especially if the person who caused your injuries is deceased. It is possible, though, and having an experienced attorney on your side can help make the process seem less intimidating.
Stats and Causes Vary
Because of Texas’ high population and high-speed limits (among other factors), the state posts high collision numbers every year. In 2019, almost 13,000 serious injury crashes occurred, with approximately 15,800 people sustaining a serious injury; this is a slight drop from the previous year, where only about 12,100 accidents occurred, with 14,900 individuals injured seriously. There was also a decrease in traffic fatalities from the previous year by about one percent. Still, a staggering 256,000 people were injured, overall, in Texas traffic crashes. Any type of drop-in injury and fatality statistics is a good thing, but it must be said nonetheless that Texas roads can be quite dangerous.
Lake Travis Crash Kills One, Injures Five
Recently, a major car accident near Lake Travis killed one person, and left five with injuries ranging from “minor” to “life-threatening.” The accident occurred near the 5200 block of North RM 620, killing one adult at the scene. Very little information was released about the crash, with law enforcement officials citing privacy concerns for the injured, though it was reported that one of the transported was unconscious, with another being pinned in their vehicle for some time. If you are unfortunate enough to have been involved in this type of accident, your medical bills are likely mounting, and you need a dedicated attorney on your side to help ensure they will be covered.
Statistics Show Accidents on the Rise
Texas roads have been getting more and more dangerous over the last few years, with Department of Transportation (TxDOT) statistics showing a small increase (between one and five percent) in the number of traffic accidents each year, with the number of serious injuries increasing by around the same amount. There are too many possible causes of serious injury accidents to count, but some examples include distracted driving, substance use (drugs or alcohol), speeding, and failure to share the road – behavior like failing to check mirrors or stay within the lanes while driving.
Loop 1604 Sees Fiery 18-Wheeler Crash
A recent morning saw a dangerous crash on Loop 1604, near Shaenfield Road, as a truck driver rolled his 18-wheeler after an “unknown vehicle” allegedly cut him off and caused him to lose control. He managed to escape, though he sustained third-degree burns and was airlifted to University Hospital with “life-threatening” injuries. While only the driver of the truck was injured in this accident, sometimes there are many more victims when 18-wheelers crash. If you are ever involved in a trucking accident, the potential for life-changing injury is sadly all too real.
Causes and Effects
Statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) show that 592 people died in crashes involving commercial trucks or semi-trailers in 2019. This may not seem like many, but the numbers add up nationwide, and the number of serious injuries can be more than twice the number of fatalities in any given year. Large trucks like the one that rolled on Loop 1604 have the advantage over the average driver and vehicle in terms of weight and velocity, and the sheer tonnage involved can lead to potentially life-changing injuries for the accident victim. Truck drivers are actually less likely to be severely injured unless the accident involves an explosion or fire, as the Loop 1604 crash did.
North Lamar Blvd Rollover Kills One
Recently, a rollover accident in the 2600 block of North Lamar Boulevard in Austin killed one person. The person was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center with “critical, life-threatening” injuries, but was pronounced dead not long after arrival. Sadly, this is too common in rollover crashes; this type of crash is so disproportionately deadly that if you survive, you can unfortunately almost guarantee that your medical bills will be severe. While a majority of rollover accidents are single-vehicle crashes like the North Lamar Blvd crash, this does not necessarily mean that no one else may be liable for your injuries.
Causes and Origins
While much of the data regarding rollover accidents in the United States is slightly outdated, there are still patterns that one can learn from in these findings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that while only around 2 percent of all the vehicle crashes in 2010 were of the rollover type, those accidents yielded nearly 35 percent of all the traffic fatalities in that year. The data also noted that the majority of those killed in rollover crashes were not wearing seatbelts (roughly 70 percent).
Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck By Car
Austin-Travis County EMS reported the death of a pedestrian recently after he was struck by an automobile at the intersection of Bee Cave Parkway and Ranch to Market Road 620 out in Travis County. Bee Cave police stated that the pedestrian had been jogging when an automobile hit him from the side. While no one else was injured, and the family of the person killed does not appear to have stated any plans to file suit, a wrongful death suit might nonetheless be appropriate, if the family believes that negligence played a role in their loved one’s passing. Consulting an experienced attorney is a good way to understand your options if you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in a similar situation.
Pedestrians More Likely to Die
Pedestrian fatalities on Texas roads have been generally on the rise for the last few years, with 660 happening in 2019. Nationwide, the total has risen even more, with 2018 seeing the highest total of pedestrian fatalities since 1990. In Texas, rising speed limits on state roads and more pedestrians on the road, in general, have caused heightened danger for non-auto drivers every time they go out on the road. A lack of care on drivers’ part also plays a major role, with many simply not remembering to look for pedestrians or share the road with them.
Driver Seriously Injured on I-37 Trying to Pass Slower Cars
Recently, one man was hospitalized after his BMW crashed “at a high rate of speed” on Interstate 37, near Fair Avenue. The man was swerving and passing slower cars, when he overcorrected his course and struck a concrete wall. The driver was thrown from his vehicle, suffering “severe” head injuries and a broken leg. As of this writing, he is at Brooke Army Medical Center in critical condition. No word exists on anyone injured by the driver’s actions, but this is the kind of accident that is ripe with the possibility for motorists to be injured by one driver’s negligent conduct. If you are injured in this type of accident, you may be able to receive compensation for the injuries you have suffered.
Negligence vs Recklessness
In accident cases like this, there is often debate about whether the at-fault driver’s conduct was negligence or recklessness. Texas law defines negligence as failing to uphold the duty of care that one owes to another person – essentially, not being careful enough in one’s actions. By comparison, recklessness is when someone is aware that they are potentially endangering others, but does not care at all. Negligent conduct is behavior that could have potential consequences for another person; reckless conduct is behavior that almost certainly will have potential consequences for another person. Both can lead to injury or death for someone who did nothing to bring it upon themselves.
Two Car Crashes in 24 Hours Near South Side Home
Recently, the homeowner whose home lay near the corner of Rigsby and Elgin Avenue experienced not one, but two separate car crashes – one vehicle striking the porch, and the other striking a tree in the front yard. While thankfully, no one was hurt, the homeowner went on the record, hoping that the City of San Antonio will do something to fix the roadway “before any more crashes occur.” If you are ever so unlucky as to experience this type of crash where you can argue that poor road maintenance played a role, it is important to keep in mind that you may have a cause of action against the city instead of simply thinking it all your own fault.
Bad Roads Cause Accidents
The area near Rigsby and Elgin Avenue has anecdotally been known to be hazardous for some time, with the homeowner describing “two slopes” where cars “pop up” and lose control. In general, Texas roads are in substandard condition, with the percentage of roads in good condition steadily decreasing over the years – a recent study by the nonprofit group Tripnet estimates that approximately 26 percent of Texas’ major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. The state and local governments where broken-down roads are located have an obligation to maintain them in good condition, and failure to do so may open them up to liability.
Bicycle Lanes Installed on Congress Ave
Recently, the City of Austin installed temporary bicycle lanes on Congress Avenue in Austin, from 11th Street, across Ann Richards Bridge, to Riverside Drive. The move is intended to allot more space for people to exercise and make more essential trips safely, as well as to hopefully promote greater social distancing. However, because more inexperienced bicyclists may choose to use the lanes, it also may lead to an uptick in accidents. If you are involved in an accident in a bike lane, you may have some choices to make if you wish to seek compensation for your injuries.
Positives and Negatives of Bicycle Lanes
Texas is a state with a high amount of bicyclists and other pedestrians, but correspondingly, more accidents occur, particularly between bicyclists and vehicles. Bicycle accidents have been on the rise in Texas, as well as cyclist fatalities – 2018 data saw 72, which does not seem like very many, but the previous year saw only 57, which is approximately a 26 percent increase. It is worth asking why and trying to be aware of potential hazards.
Head-On Collision Kills One on Far West Side
Recently, an accident at Loop 1604 and Pue Road left one person dead after a car veered into oncoming traffic. The impact caused one car to roll over, and the other to wind up far off the road, leaving the driver who veered into traffic trapped in their vehicle, and the second driver dead at the scene. While as of this writing, no information exists on whether or not the driver’s family intends to seek redress for their loved one’s wrongful death, if they decide to do so, they may be able to recover from the first driver. If you lose someone in a similar accident, know that while money will not bring back your loved one or family member, it can help keep your family afloat while you adjust.
Two Types of Suits
Technically, there are two types of wrongful death lawsuits under Texas law, though a bereaved family generally only pursues one. A standard wrongful death suit seeks damages for the loss of a loved one due to another person’s “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.” It is brought by the estate’s personal representative on behalf of the surviving family (parents, spouses, and children), and seeks to recover damages like lost earning capacity, loss of support and services, mental pain and suffering, and potentially lost inheritance.
Father and Son Killed In Motorcycle Crash
Recently, a father and son were killed in San Antonio after a motorcycle crash. Both were thrown from their vehicle after they missed a curve and struck a concrete wall. Law enforcement had very little information about the cause of the accident, though speeding appears to have played a role. If you are unfortunate enough to lose a loved one in a motorcycle accident, it is important to know that you have options in terms of seeking compensation.
Single-Vehicle Accidents Can Be Caused By Someone Else
One of the most important things to keep in mind if you have been in a single-vehicle accident is that another person may have played a role in the crash occurring. A single-vehicle crash is one where the damage is confined to a single-vehicle – not a crash in which only one vehicle played a role. Depending on the specific situation you find yourself in, it is very possible that another driver or an outside actor might be held liable for your injuries.
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