Recent Blog Posts
Icy Conditions Can Create Accidents on Texas Roads
A large portion of Texas enjoys fairly warm weather for most of the year, but winter temperatures sometimes do happen, even as far south as Houston or San Antonio. In early February 2020, snow flurries have led to fun and memories – but have also led to icy roads and crashes. In Austin, parts of North Loop 360 and East U.S. 290 were closed, and in Round Rock, RM 1431 saw two crashes recently. While law enforcement and the Texas Department of Transportation were able to manage the majority of issues on the roads, this is by no means guaranteed. If you are in an auto accident where the weather could have played a role, it is a good idea to understand what options you might have for compensation.
What People Do In Weather
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s Road Weather Management Program (RWMP) estimates that as many as 21 percent of all auto accidents are weather-related, whether rain, sleet, fog, snow, wind, or another type. On average, almost 5,000 fatalities happen every year as a result of these crashes – because of weather, obviously, but more specifically because of certain factors in driving due to weather; namely, how individual drivers approach unusual or sudden weather patterns.
Stabbing on VIA Bus Ends in Jail Time
Most of the time, when one hears about people being injured on a bus, they assume there has been an accident. However, recently, one San Antonio man was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted of the stabbing of another man in October 2017, aboard a VIA bus. This is obviously a very unusual event, but it can sometimes confuse people who may not understand the difference between a criminal case like this one, and a civil case in personal injury, as is more likely to happen on board a bus.
Crime vs Civil Tort
In the stabbing case, the attacker appeared to attack the victim in an attempt to steal his cell phone, stabbing him repeatedly, though the victim ultimately survived. There was graphic video from the bus’s security cameras that captured the nature of the attack, and it seemed to begin out of nowhere. The attacker was later tried and convicted, reappearing in court on February 6 for his sentencing. He pleaded “nolo contendere,” which means ‘no contest’ and is technically not an admission of guilt. However, the judge sentenced him to 35 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, plus a fine.
Single-Vehicle Accident on Wurzbach Pkwy Leaves 1 Dead
Recently, a single-vehicle crash into a column on Wurzbach Parkway led to the death of one man. Law enforcement stated that the man was apparently speeding, and around the Starcrest eastbound exit, he lost control of his car, striking a concrete column just off the road. Firefighters tried to extricate him from the vehicle, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Single-vehicle accidents are sadly common in Texas, and if you manage to survive one, your injuries can be quite severe. However, because only one driver is alleged to be involved in a single-vehicle crash, it can be very hard to seek compensation from anyone, especially if you attempt to do so on your own.
Texas Roads Can Contribute to Single-Vehicle Crashes
Single-vehicle accidents are extremely dangerous and can cause a disproportionately high rate of fatalities. Unfortunately, Texas roads have many of the characteristics that can lead to higher rates of single-vehicle accidents than might occur in other areas. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) pinpoint these characteristics – for example, single-vehicle crashes are more likely to happen on rural roads, involving vehicles moving at a high rate of speed (Texas contains most of the roads with the highest speed limits in the nation).
SB I-35 Reopens After Truck Loses Cargo
Recently, southbound I-35 in Austin was closed after a large truck lost its cargo just south of Airport Boulevard. While no injuries were reported, this is far from common when trucks drop cargo on public roads. If you are involved in an accident with a large truck, or with cargo they have left behind, it is very possible that you might sustain serious injuries that breed large medical bills. If you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, you have every right to seek compensation to ensure your bills are covered.
Statistics and Trends
Large trucks are a huge part of traffic on U.S. roads, with approximately 12 million registered single and combination trucks in 2017. Texas shoulders a large part of that burden on its roads, with shipping between the states racking up miles driven every year. While the relative proportion of fatal crashes for all that shipping is relatively low, with only around 600 fatalities and 1,250 injuries registered in Texas crashes involving large trucks, truck accidents are generally more likely to lead to fatalities and serious injuries than crashes that only involve smaller vehicles.
Street Racing Leads to Wrongful Death in Southeast Austin
Recently, two people were racing their vehicles along Bluff Springs Road in southeast Austin when one struck the side of the other, sending it into a light pole and killing the driver. Initially, the second driver had fled the scene, but he returned to the scene while law enforcement was still present, and was taken into custody. He was charged with two second-degree felonies, and while there has been no indication that the deceased driver’s family seeks to file suit against him, the driver could face a wrongful death suit if they choose to do so. If you lose a loved one due to another person’s negligence, filing a wrongful death suit is usually an option for you and the other survivors.
Wrongful Death vs Homicide
The Texas Wrongful Death Act states that a person is liable for damages that stem from the death of another person if that death was caused by their (or their agent’s) “wrongful act, negligence, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.” If this turns out to be the case, your family may be able to recover compensation to help offset the loss of your loved one – it is not a replacement or a way to fix what you are going through, of course, but compensation may be able to help keep your bills paid or otherwise help the family stay afloat while you try to recover.
Motorcyclist Hospitalized After Crash on Loop 410
One recent night almost turned deadly for a woman riding a motorcycle near Loop 410 and Culebra Road, when she struck a van leaving a parking lot and sustained serious injuries. She was taken to University Hospital in critical condition, and while law enforcement told the press that no charges are expected to be filed in this specific incident, it is still worth noting that these types of crashes are sadly common. If you are injured in an accident while riding your motorcycle, you can be left with serious injuries, and while the van driver here was blameless, that may not be the case in your crash.
Motorcycling Can Be Dangerous
The most recent available data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) estimate that approximately 420 motorcycle drivers and passengers were killed in 2018, which is a drop of around 16 percent from 2017’s numbers. It is also relevant that a lower number of motorcycle riders were not wearing a helmet at the time of their crash – multiple studies show that helmet use can save lives, though Texas law currently makes their wearing optional for anyone over age 21 if they have completed a safety course.
Boy Injured in ATV-Pickup Crash
Recently, a young boy sustained “non-life threatening injuries” after an ATV and a pickup truck collided in West Bexar County, though his younger sister escaped injury. The children were riding an ATV in the 5500 block of Pioneer Estates (near Highway 90) when their vehicle was struck by a pickup near the intersection. While riding ATVs is an enjoyable hobby loved by countless Texans, it can still be hazardous, especially since many drivers do not pay attention to the road, and it is important that you understand your options if you are injured.
ATVs Should Not Be on Public Roads
Riding ATVs is a common hobby in Texas, though you may not ride them on public roads. An Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) license is required, and ATVs should only be ridden in approved areas. However, sometimes the law is broken, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Texas registered the third-highest number of fatalities in recently available data sets. It is also worth noting that recent research shows that public roads are infinitely more dangerous for ATV riders than off-road venues; more than 60 percent of all ATV fatalities occur on public roads.
18-Wheeler Crash Closes Southbound I-35
On a recent morning, a car and a big rig collided on southbound I-35 near Cesar Chavez Street, necessitating the closure of all lanes for part of the morning. There were no injuries reported, but this is unusual for 18-wheeler accidents, as the amount of weight involved can be deadly. If you have been in an auto accident with a semi-truck, you may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries.
Truck Accidents Are Deadly
The most recent available data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) estimate over 26,000 crashes involving large trucks in that year, with a disproportionate number of them resulting in injury or fatality. This is due to many different reasons – one is that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) has documented a pattern of truck drivers operating their vehicles for longer than association regulations recommend. Another is the simple weight involved when 18-wheelers have accidents; especially with a full cargo, much more is involved than there would be with two smaller vehicles.
Traffic Deaths Are Rising in Austin
Between 2016 and 2019, city officials in Austin saw a significant drop in traffic-related deaths, but the statistics for 2019 show that the totals are rising again, especially among pedestrians. This rise is understandably concerning for drivers, pedestrians, and everyone who shares Austin’s roads, and it is important to understand the nature of the situation so that you can take steps to protect yourself.
Vision Zero
In 2015, over 100 people were killed on Austin’s roads – drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and others – and the city acted appropriately, creating the “Vision Zero” plan and patterning it after previous successful initiatives like the one mounted in New York City. Vision Zero plans advocate a number of small changes that are generally seen as common-sense in the first place, such as lowering one’s speed by 5 mph or double-checking for pedestrians and cyclists even when not at crosswalks.
Pickup Truck Jumps Curb, Takes Out Gas Pump
Recently, a young woman lost control of her pickup truck, causing it to jump the curb at a Valero gas station near the corner of Blanco Road and Jackson Keller Road. No one was hurt, according to law enforcement personnel, but one of the station’s gas pumps was struck and may need repair. While there is no word as of yet as to whether the woman will face charges or a lawsuit, it is important to know that if you are ever in this type of situation, a car accident does not have to involve physical injury or death to be taken seriously. If you cause property damage, you will almost always be on the proverbial hook to pay for it.
A Lawyer Is Not Usually Needed
In many cases, accidents that only do property damage (as opposed to accidents that injure people) wind up being handled by the injured person themselves, because they are considered relatively transactional and easy. In theory, a property-damage-only claim requires nothing more than a simple phone call or two to your insurance company. Texas requires drivers to have what is called 30/60/25 coverage – $30,000 in injury coverage per person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damages.
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