Recent Blog Posts
What Texas House Bill 19 Means for Victims of Truck Crashes
Texas House Bill 19 was signed into law in mid-June of this year and goes into effect on September 1, 2021. The legislation amends Chapter 72 of Texas’ Civil Practice and Remedies Code, specifically, the issue of liability for truck accidents. Car crashes involving large commercial trucks such as flatbeds and tanker trucks often cause catastrophic damage. Life-changing injuries, including disfiguring burns, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries are not uncommon in accidents involving commercial vehicles. Sadly, many truck collisions are fatal.
If you or a loved one were involved in a large truck crash or an accident caused by spilled truck cargo, you could be entitled to compensation for lost income and lost earning capacity, hospital bills, physical therapy, surgery, and more. You could also be eligible for non-economic damages that compensate you for your physical pain, mental and emotional distress, and lost quality of life.
Texas Leads the Nation in Fatal Wrong-Way Collisions
The last thing you expect to see when traveling down the road are headlights pointing at you from a car traveling in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, for some wrong-way crash victims, this terrifying image is the last thing they ever see. A recent study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that approximately 500 people die in wrong-way crashes each year. Texas is responsible for more wrong-way fatalities than any other state in the country.
San Antonio Nurse One of Two Killed by a Driver Travelling in the Wrong Direction
On August 7, 2021, a 25-year-old nurse and her 24-year-old friend were tragically killed in a head-on crash caused by a driver traveling the wrong way down Interstate 35. The young women had their whole lives ahead of them until the crash changed everything in an instant. Police have arrested a man they believe was driving drunk at the time of the collision. He may face two counts of intoxication manslaughter for the women’s deaths.
10 Killed and Up to 20 Injured in Tragic Texas Crash
While few think about it, getting into a motor vehicle is statistically one of the most dangerous things most people do on a daily basis. Just under 4,000 people lost their lives in fatal auto collisions in Texas last year, and nearly a quarter-million were injured. News stories about fatal accidents are, sadly, commonplace in Texas and throughout the United States.
However, few collisions lead to as many deaths as a van accident that occurred on the afternoon of August 4, 2021. Details of the accident are still being discovered, but at this point, ten individuals have been pronounced dead.
Van Carrying Up to 30 Passengers Collided with Utility Pole
The van involved in the crash was carrying an estimated 30 passengers when it veered off the road and struck a utility pole, leading to catastrophic consequences. The accident is unique not only because of the high number of fatalities but also because it was a single-vehicle collision. Some reports indicate that the van may have been carrying undocumented immigrants from Mexico; however, the complete story is still unknown.
When is a Trucking Company Liable for Damages?
Collisions involving commercial semi-trucks, tanker trucks, flatbed trucks, and 18-wheelers typically cause a much greater degree of damage than accidents involving smaller vehicles. If you or someone you care about was recently involved in a truck accident, you may be interested in seeking monetary damages through an injury claim. The liable party, or the party responsible for paying damages, may be the truck driver, the trucking company, the party who incorrectly loaded truck cargo, or even a third party such as a manufacturing company. In this blog, we will explore how a trucking company or carrier may be liable for a truck crash.
The Trucking Company May Be Liable for Accidents Caused by Driver Error
When a truck driver is an employee of a trucking company, the truck driver may be liable for damages if an accident is caused by truck driver error. Truckers may fall asleep at the wheel, use an electronic device while driving, speed, and make other unsafe choices at the wheel that endanger the lives of other motorists. Traditionally, the trucking company is ultimately responsible for negligent driving. However, Texas House Bill 19, which was recently passed by the Texas Legislature, will limit trucking company liability. The bill goes into effect on September 1, 2021.
The High Risk of Injuries in SUV Rollover Accidents
San Antonio police say two men escaped serious injury when the SUV they were in hit a utility pole and flipped over onto its roof. The rollover crash occurred around 2 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, at the intersection of Ingram and Callaghan roads. Police say that distracted driving may have played a role in the crash and are investigating.
SUV Rollovers
While any vehicle has the potential to roll over under certain circumstances, SUVs (sport utility vehicles) carry a much higher risk of flipping over. This is because these vehicles are narrower and taller than sedans and other types of passenger vehicles, and they have a higher center of gravity.
SUV rollovers are particularly dangerous for any passengers in the vehicle. While rollover accidents account for only three percent of serious accidents, they are responsible for approximately 30 percent of all vehicle passenger fatalities. Many occupants are violently thrown inside the vehicle when it flips over, often causing serious injuries to the head and neck. If the victim is not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, there is also an elevated risk of being flung from the SUV, an event that is often always catastrophic.
SUV Strikes Utility Pole in San Antonio, Distracted Driving Suspected
Two men are lucky to be alive after their SUV struck a utility pole and flipped over. According to the San Antonio Police Department, the accident occurred on the Northwest Side at about 2 a.m. July 21, 2021. In addition to the police, the EMS and fire department also responded to the accident, which took place at the intersection of Callaghan and Ingram roads. Both men suffered only minor injuries and were treated by EMS at the scene. While police do not believe that alcohol played a part in the car accident, they do believe that distracted driving may have been to blame.
Distracted driving has long been an issue not only in San Antonio but also across Texas and the rest of the U.S. As a result, Texas has made it illegal to text while behind the wheel. Additionally, some cities in Texas have prohibited any type of cell phone use while driving. But regardless of the law, texting, like any type of activity that distracts the driver, is unsafe.
SUV Crashes into Home Sending 9-Year-Old to Hospital
A San Antonio family almost suffered unthinkable tragedy Saturday night when an SUV came crashing into their home. The accident sent the driver of the SUV and a nine-year-old child who was in the home to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Residents of the East Southcross neighborhood where the crash occurred say this is the fifth time in five years a vehicle has gone off the street and into a house or tree and that something needs to be done to address the speeding drivers who drive through the area.
The Crash
According to accident details released by San Antonio police, at approximately 2 a.m., the female driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road and hit a curb. This caused the SUV to roll into the front of the home. The crash impact ejected the driver, resulting in serious injuries.
Multiple children were sleeping in the room in which the SUV crashed. The 9-year-old victim was sleeping in a bed that became buried under the rubble from the crash, injuring his arm. Just moments before the accident occurred, the mother had removed another child who had been sleeping in a crib next to the boy’s bed. The crib was completely destroyed, and had the child still been in the crib, would have likely suffered severe to fatal injuries.
Brake Failure Sends Dump Truck Crashing into Gas Station
Three people were transported to the hospital following a dump truck rollover in San Antonio two weeks ago. The truck accident occurred at a gas station located at the intersection of O’Connor Road and I-35 shortly before noon on June 28. Police say the truck’s driver was seriously injured, while the other two victims suffered what appeared to be minor injuries.
Accident Details
According to information released by the San Antonio Police Department, the truck driver, who was hauling asphalt, suddenly lost control of the vehicle as he was exiting I-35. The truck flipped over, pushing a work truck into the gas station.
The driver later told police that the brakes had stopped working, and he lost control trying to steer. He was transported to the hospital with serious arm injuries. The man in the work truck was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Both he and another victim were at the gas station on a service call.
Why Witnesses Statements Are Important for Your Car Wreck Claim
If you suffered injuries in a car accident caused by another driver, you may have the right to pursue compensation. However, in order to receive fair compensation, you have to show sufficient evidence that the other party’s actions caused your injuries. One way to demonstrate liability, causation, and damages in a car accident claim is to use witness testimony to validate your claim.
Witnesses Who Can Help Your Car Accident Claim
If you are trying to pursue damages for a car accident, your own testimony may not be sufficient enough to receive adequate compensation. Witness statements can add additional information about the accident, your injuries, and how the injuries affected your ability to work. Witnesses that may be useful in your case include:
Witnesses to the car accident – Passengers in your car, pedestrians, and bystanders can be helpful witnesses in your car accident case. They can back up your testimony and even provide information that you may have missed. For example, a bystander at a nearby location might have seen the driver who hit your vehicle texting before the accident occurred.
What Should You Do After a Hit and Run Accident?
Being in any kind of car accident is traumatizing. If the driver who hits you takes off before exchanging contact and insurance information, it can make the situation even more devastating. In Texas, leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense and can result in up to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. If you are the victim of a hit and run accident, you can also take legal action to pursue compensation for your damages.
Steps to Take After a Hit and Run Accident
Being involved in a hit and run accident is definitely shocking. However, it is important to remain calm and take the necessary steps to improve your chances of obtaining fair compensation.
Write down details about the vehicle. If possible, write down everything you remember about the vehicle that fled the scene, such as the make, model, color and license plate number. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be to track down the vehicle.