Recent Blog Posts
Motorcycle Crash Closes Down Ben White Blvd
Recently, all of the lanes of westbound Ben White Boulevard at Congress were closed down due to an accident involving a motorcycle and another vehicle. Law enforcement reports stated that one adult man was transported to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center with ‘unknown injuries,’ and while it was not specified, it is likely that this was the motorcyclist. If you are involved in a similar motorcycle accident, it is important that you be aware of your options in trying to seek compensation for your injuries.
Statistics Show High Fatality Rates
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that motorcyclists are approximately “28 times as likely as passenger car occupants” to die in motor vehicle accidents. This may seem inflated, but there are multiple different reasons why this is the case, not least of all because motorcyclists lack the protection that passengers in vehicles have in the event of a crash. Motorcyclists have nothing between themselves and the road, while passengers in an automobile have metal, glass, and other safety measures to fall back upon.
School District Bus Rear-Ended in North Side Crash
Recently, a school bus from the North East Independent School District (NEISD) was rear-ended by a car trying to go around it, injuring the bus driver and the auto driver. Approximately 30 children were on board, en route to Stone Oak Elementary, but none were reported injured; they were transferred to another bus and send on their way. However, school bus accidents can often end far worse for those involved, especially very young children. If your child or children is injured in a school bus crash, consulting a lawyer is a crucial step to determine how to proceed.
Rear-End Collisions Are Common
In general, rear-end collisions between vehicles (that is, collisions where one vehicle’s front end strikes another’s rear end) are some of the most common in the U.S., as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that they make up around 30 percent of all two-vehicle accidents. While these types of crashes are common, they are also allegedly the most avoidable – studies indicate that a majority of rear-end crashes occur simply because one or both drivers are not paying attention.
Pedestrian Killed In I-35 Service Road Crash
Recently, a man was struck by an automobile near the intersection of William Cannon Drive and the I-35 service road, later being pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement declined to release more information on the incident, but it is worth taking notice because pedestrian accidents are very common in Texas and if you are involved in one, it can be overwhelming to try and figure out what your options going forward.
Number Of Deaths Constant
Statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) estimate that in 2018, there were approximately 620 pedestrian fatalities. Total crashes numbered near 5,600, which is a slight decrease from the year before – from 5,774 to 5,684 – but fatalities rose slightly, from 615. While in theory, the fact that there was a very negligible rise in pedestrian fatalities is positive, it can also be seen as a negative, given that several Texas cities (Austin included) have attempted to mount pedestrian safety initiatives.
Driver Crashes Truck Into Apartment Building After Medical Episode
Recently, the residents of a small apartment building on West Drexel Avenue in San Antonio received a rude awakening when a pickup truck crashed into the building. The driver allegedly claimed no knowledge of how he got there, and law enforcement saw no evidence of alcohol or other substances. Currently, the incident is being explained by the driver suffering a medical episode. However, if you ever are in this type of situation, it can be extremely confusing and disconcerting, especially if medical episodes are a common thing for you. It can ease your mind to have a clear picture of your liability compared to others.
Negligence Requires Voluntary Action
Torts are basically the civil equivalent of crimes, and if someone has committed a tort under Texas law, it can generally be held that they have acted negligently. In most car accident cases, at least one of the drivers can be shown to have been negligent in their actions, and negligence is what most often triggers liability. In other words, if a plaintiff can show that the defendant did not exercise reasonable care in their actions, they may wind up being held liable for the plaintiff’s injuries and suffering.
Elderly Pedestrian Struck and Killed in Parking Lot
Recently, a 73-year old woman was struck and killed in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Cedar Park, in what law enforcement called a slow-speed accident. No one else was injured, and no charges appear to be pending against the driver at this time. However, the woman’s family may decide to file wrongful death charges against them, if there is reason to believe that the driver’s actions were negligent.
You Must Act Fast
Not every sudden death in Texas can be classified as wrongful, or even every fatality that happens in an automobile accident. Wrongful death is defined in Texas as a death that occurs due to the “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness or default” of another person. In other words, a person has to have acted wrongly or with not even the barest level of care toward other people in order to be found liable for wrongful death. This is not an easy standard to meet, but it is very possible to do so.
Five-Vehicle Crash in NW Austin Sends Two to Hospital
A serious accident occurred on a recent, involving five separate vehicles and sending at least two people to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center with injuries that were significant but not life-threatening. The multi-vehicle crash occurred near the intersection of River Place Boulevard and RM 2222, to the west of Loop 1. Multi-vehicle accidents can be difficult to address in terms of compensation because it can be hard to accurately assess liability, but if you enlist an experienced attorney, you may have an easier time seeking compensation for your injuries.
Causes Of Multi-Vehicle Crashes
Because multi-vehicle crashes happen so quickly and involve so many people, it is not nearly as easy to try and find fault or apportion liability than it would be with a simple two-car crash. There are several common causes for multi-vehicle crashes, any of which can, in theory, be combined together or occur alone. Some examples include driver inattention or recklessness, poor road etiquette like following too closely or speeding, and poor weather.
Driver Killed After His Vehicle Falls Off Highway
Recently, the driver of an 18-wheeler was killed when he lost control of his vehicle, causing it to fall off the upper level of I-10 West near Laredo Street. The vehicle cut across lanes of traffic, hit the retaining wall, and fell over onto the street below. Truck accidents like this are somewhat rare, but while the unfortunate driver was pronounced dead at the scene, there were apparently no other injuries sustained. If you are not as lucky, you may at least be able to seek compensation for the injuries you have suffered in such an accident.
Trucking Accidents Are Deadly
Because of the cargo weight and size of 18-wheelers, accidents where they are involved are much more likely to be dangerous or even deadly than those involving smaller automobiles. Data from 2017 estimates that there were approximately 4,200 fatal crashes involving large trucks (only 1 percent of the police-reported total), but there were approximately 56,000 trucks involved in injury crashes, which is a higher proportion of vehicles on the road compared to the number of cars involved in accidents.
Pursuit Leads to Crash on North New Braunfels Road
Recently, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) personnel attempted a traffic stop, only to have the vehicle try to flee the scene. The pursuit was ended at Rullman and Edgers Avenues, and not long after, the fleeing driver was involved in a wreck at I-35 and North New Braunfels Road. Two people were taken into custody after the accident, though no major injuries were recorded. If you are involved in an accident stemming from a police pursuit, you should be aware that seeking compensation after this kind of crash can be slightly more complex than doing so in a standard vehicle accident.
Who Is Negligent?
In a normal auto accident, the first thing that one should ascertain is whether any of the actors involved have acted negligently. In standard crashes between two or more private vehicles, it often becomes a debate over whose behavior caused the accident. If this happens to you, you should be aware that it is often possible to bring other defendants into your case; for example, a third driver might have played a role in the accident. The object of a personal injury lawsuit is to hold defendants accountable, so ensuring that every potentially negligent actor is involved is a good idea.
Woman Hospitalized After Garfield Motorcycle Crash
Recently, medics were called to Garfield, east of Austin-Bergstrom Airport, to treat a woman who had sustained injuries in a motorcycle crash. She was taken to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center with injuries that were characterized as serious, but not life-threatening. These types of accidents are quite common, and while the woman luckily escaped life-threatening injuries, she may still face long-term recuperation and even possibly permanent disability. If you have been involved in a motorcycle crash, your medical bills can add up, but you may be able to seek compensation from the negligent driver who caused your injuries.
Fatality Statistics Are High
Motorcyclists are over-represented in traffic death totals; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to die if they are involved in a crash than a vehicle driver or passenger. Motorcyclists do not have the same protection as those inside a car or truck; the sheer volume of metal and glass involved in striking a vehicle can prove punishing for a cyclist whose only protection is their clothing and helmet. Even those who survive accidents with vehicles can have severe injuries, as the woman in Garfield may be left with.
Frio Street Rollover Kills One
On a recent night, a woman exiting I-35 South onto Frio Street lost control of her car, causing it to flip over the side of the ramp and land in the grass below. Law enforcement stated that she was not wearing a seatbelt, and was thus ejected from the vehicle, sustaining severe injuries. Sadly this is all too common in rollover accidents, which are disproportionately responsible for car crash fatalities for a variety of reasons. If you survive one, and you believe that your crash was caused by another person’s negligence, it may be good to consult an attorney who is versed in this type of case.
The What and Why of Rollovers
Statistics done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) paint a grim picture. The NHTSA estimates that the fatalities from rollover crashes make up approximately 20 percent of all traffic deaths; in general, rollover accidents are more likely to cause fatalities than any other type of crash. Most rollover crash victims are male and under the age of 40, driving on two-lane roads without any dividing barriers.
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