Posted on June 25, 2018 in Uncategorized

On the night of June 10, a single-vehicle crash on FM 476 near Somerset in Atascosa County cost a young man his life when his car rolled and wound up in a ditch near the side of the road. While there was no indication at the time that alcohol or other substances were involved, investigators did not rule it out, but either way, single-vehicle crashes, especially of the rollover variety, are commonly deadly even without substances in the equation.

Multiple Causes for Crashes

Rollover accidents of all types are far and away the most dangerous type of car crash. Only around 2 percent of all auto accidents in the most recent available data set are rollovers, but those accidents accounted for approximately 35 percent of all crash fatalities. If one examines the statistics on the fatalities themselves, one can also see that single-vehicle rollovers are far more deadly than multiple-vehicle accidents of the same type; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports fatality rates for occupants in single-vehicle rollovers at an average of 31 percent of all crash deaths, while the percentage for vehicle occupants in multiple-vehicle rollovers is only 2 percent.

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 Posted on June 20, 2018 in Uncategorized

On the night of June 7, a man was struck by a driver in an extended-cab pickup truck near US 183 and Lava Hill Road, sustaining severe to life-threatening injuries in the incident. While he was taken to the hospital, the driver of the pickup fled the scene and as of this writing, has not been located. If this happens to you or to someone you love, it can be important to bring suit against the driver (if they can be located), so as to ensure that your medical bills can be covered.

Sharp Rise in Pedestrian Deaths

Texas has a problem in effectively protecting its pedestrians. Statistics tabulated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) show a 21.5 percent rise in pedestrian deaths in auto accidents between 2015 and 2016 (the most recent available data), which is a higher rise than average in most states. Texas posted the second highest number of pedestrian fatalities in 2016, with only California experiencing more.

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 Posted on June 18, 2018 in Uncategorized

The ramp between I-35 South to I-10 West in San Antonio is known as the Finesilver Curve, and it is very common to witness accidents there at all hours. On June 4, traffic was slowed nearly the entire second half of the day due to an 18-wheeler crash just off the ramp itself. No injuries were reported, but this is frequently not the case when big rigs crash. Truck accidents are responsible for significant numbers of fatalities and injuries each year, and if you wind up in such a situation, you need to know just how to bring suit to receive compensation for any injuries.

Stagnation in Numbers

While the total number of fatalities in large truck accidents has actually decreased (for the most part) in the last decade, the most recent available data still shows 4,564 fatalities in 4,075 crashes in 2016 and approximately 180,000 injuries in 119,000 crashes in the same year. This is roughly similar to figures from the previous five years, which may have any number of causes, from increased efficacy of highway safety programs to higher standards required by trucking companies from their employees in terms of maintenance and documentation.

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 Posted on June 13, 2018 in Uncategorized

On May 14, an 18-wheeler jackknifed onto the access road of I-35, near Loop 410, after the driver lost control of the vehicle due to the slick roads. The truck remained upright, though at one point firefighters were called, as a minor fuel spill created the risk of fire after making contact with a battery. These types of accidents are not ubiquitous, but they are definitely not uncommon, especially in inclement weather, as 18-wheelers are notoriously difficult to handle even for experienced drivers.

Truck Statistics Are Sobering

While Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) statistics only show approximately 400 fatal crashes involving a truck or semi-truck in 2016, this does not count the number of fatalities, only the number of accidents. If one examines the statistics for the number of crashes which produced injury (both incapacitating and non-incapacitating), the number is closer to 3,000, and that also does not illustrate the total number of injuries, only crashes.

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 Posted on June 11, 2018 in Uncategorized

On April 27, a Round Rock police officer who had been struck by an intoxicated motorist in a crash two months prior passed away from complications of those injuries. This has led to new charges for the motorist already in custody on the ground of intoxication manslaughter. As of this writing, the officer’s family has not stated any plan to sue the driver for wrongful death, but if you are so unfortunate as to be in such a situation, you may be able to do so.

Wrongful Death

Texas law recognizes two types of wrongful death lawsuits. A standard wrongful death suit benefits the deceased person’s immediate family members – usually the parents, children, and spouse, if they exist. Wrongful death is a cause of action based in negligence law, and to establish a case against a specific defendant, you must be able to show that they caused your loved one’s death due to their (or their agent’s) negligence, recklessness or generally wrongful act. Establishing negligence means that you must be able to show the defendant breached the general duty of care owed to you by that person, and that no other cause intervened between their conduct and your harm.

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 Posted on June 06, 2018 in Uncategorized

Motorists on Round Rock’s Greenlawn Boulevard were surprised on May 22, when a car came speeding through the neighborhood, slamming into the side of a parked car and hitting several others before coming to a stop. Police stated that the driver was stopped, but not arrested – however, any more property damage or injury and an arrest might have been forthcoming. Side collisions can cause significant damage to people and things, despite the casual reputation they often have.

Sideswipe Collisions Make Up High Percentage of Casualties

Approximately 20 percent of all deaths in single-vehicle auto accidents are due to side-swipe accidents, with the percentage climbing to 32 percent in multi-vehicle accidents. There are multiple potential causes of such collisions, but recklessness and negligence do figure prominently in the list. Other potential reasons include distracted driving and substance abuse, but the majority of such accidents are largely due to driver error.

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 Posted on June 04, 2018 in Uncategorized

On the night of May 22, one motorcyclist was killed and one injured as a pickup truck struck them both on the shoulder of Old Corpus Christi Road. The cyclists had pulled over to try and fix a problem with one of the bikes, but apparently, the driver of the pickup truck was not able to see them. One motorcyclist died at the scene, a 35-year old man, and a younger man was airlifted to San Antonio Military Medical Hospital with “life-threatening” injuries. While this accident is obviously a tragedy, it is somewhat unusual in that most motorcycle-related accidents occur when both vehicles are in motion. Texas roads can be more dangerous for motorcycle riders than any other vehicle operators.

Multiple Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents

While accidents simply happen sometimes, there are common causes which may precipitate accidents more often than might otherwise occur. A significant portion of motorcycle accidents, especially in Texas, with its high-speed limits, can be put down at least partially to visibility issues. The wreck on Old Corpus Christi Road can partially be ascribed to visibility problems, but more normally, visibility will be an issue in terms of seeing a motorcycle in a car or truck’s “blind spot,” or simply missing it because of its slim frame and light weight. Some motorcyclists will also lane split (share a lane with an automobile), despite its questionable legality in Texas, which can make them hard to see.

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 Posted on May 28, 2018 in Uncategorized

On May 8, an unidentified pedestrian was struck by a car and died at the scene on I-35’s service road, just off the US 183 flyover. While police have no information regarding the age or gender of the pedestrian, such accidents are sadly quite common on I-35, and bringing suit against anyone to recover for your injuries can be somewhat difficult. However, it is not impossible, depending on the situation.

Statistics Pinpoint Multiple Reasons

The Governors’ Highway Safety Association (GHSA)’s 2017 report on traffic safety in metropolitan areas puts Texas as the 13th most deadly state for pedestrian deaths, with 0.93 per 100,000 people. Texas, Florida, and California accounted for almost 45 percent of all pedestrian fatalities during the relevant time period, which is indicative – all three states have multiple major highways, and all experience similar traffic patterns, at least in major cities. It is not unreasonable to assume that the infrastructure of these states may contribute to pedestrians being harmed.

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 Posted on May 23, 2018 in Uncategorized

On the morning of May 8, commuters on I-10 W between Boerne Stage and Ralph Fair roads found themselves contending with a partial closure of the freeway, which is planned to last into the upcoming weekend. While this might cause problems in the short term, it saves innumerable problems in the long term, for both commuters and for the city itself. If someone were to have an accident, and the pavement being in poor condition was a factor, they could conceivably sue the city.

Road Management Creates Liability

Auto accidents can absolutely be caused by potholes and other road hazards such as damaged signage, broken or missing guardrails and the like. Texas roads are constantly under maintenance, especially given the levels of traffic they see, but even so, accidents still happen. When an accident does occur, the plaintiff may, at least in theory, sue the entity responsible for maintaining the road under a theory of negligence – that is, arguing that because they had an accident on the road, that it was not maintained sufficiently. For example, in San Antonio, that entity will usually be the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT).

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 Posted on May 21, 2018 in Uncategorized

The morning of April 30 was both lucky and unlucky for a San Antonio motorist, who was involved in a rollover accident near Interstate 10 and Boerne Stage Road as she failed to notice that the street came to a dead end. She was not seriously hurt, sustaining only a possible broken arm and assorted scratches, and while this is obviously positive news, it is remarkable. Rollover accidents are by far the most potentially likely of all crash types to cause fatalities, and if you or a loved one is involved in a rollover crash, you may not be as lucky as the woman on Interstate 10.

Many Reasons for Increased Fatalities

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s safercar.gov website reports that in 2010, only around 2 percent of reported auto accidents were rollovers, but those accidents made up almost 35 percent of all car crash fatalities. There are many disparate causes for statistics like these, but vehicle type can play a large role in turning a standard sideswipe or rear-end accident into a rollover. Vehicles with a high center of gravity, such as certain passenger vans or sport utility vehicles (SUVs), are much more likely to tip over when struck because they are not as low to the ground.

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