Articles Posted in Automobile Accidents

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pexels-matheus-bertelli-799463-300x169According to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Texas motor vehicle collisions occur less than every minute. Those that suffer injuries in a Texas car accident may be able to recover for their injuries against a negligent driver. Over 10% of Texas accidents result from inclement weather conditions, such as fog, sleet, ice, rain, and wind. In some cases, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and electric storms also result in a higher number of severe Texas car crashes. Texas weather can change quite quickly, and weather conditions can vary drastically from one part of the state to the next. Although safety officials stress the importance of postponing driving until after a severe weather event, it is not possible in some cases.

Before getting on the road, drivers should ensure that their vehicles are in proper working order. Motorists should inspect their windshield wipers, headlights, tire pressure and tread, and brakes. Most importantly, drivers who must drive during inclement weather should plan their route and travel time in advance. Driving during severe weather conditions can be stressful and take longer than usual. Drivers who find themselves on a Texas road during bad weather conditions should slow down, leave room in front of them, use turn signals early, buckle up, turn off cruise control, avoid sudden braking, and pull over safely, if necessary.

Rain accounts for the majority of weather-related car accidents in Texas. Hydroplaning is one of the main reasons for accidents in rainy conditions. This occurs when a vehicle’s tires lose contact with the road and begin to skid and veer. These accidents often result in chain-reaction collisions and can cause severe injuries and even death to motorists, passengers, and bystanders.

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pexels-lukas-rychvalsky-1600909-300x200Although this past holiday season has looked a little different from previous ones because of the pandemic, Texas roads remain busy as families continue to take road trips, commute around town for necessities and daily errands, and travel. Even though COVID-19 may have kept many at home this holiday season, Texas drunk driving accidents still continue to claim too many lives.

According to a recent news report, a local mom lost her husband and two children after a tragic car accident. The two children and husband were driving along when the driver of a Ford F250 crashed into them. Although the driver of the Ford F250 survived, the local mom lost her entire family in the crash. So far, no charges have been filed against the truck driver. However, the mom retained attorneys who have filed a wrongful death lawsuit because the Ford F250 driver was allegedly intoxicated when the accident took place. The investigation remains active, and officials are still assessing potential charges. While charges are pending, the local mom and her attorneys are hopeful that criminal charges against the at-fault driver will be filed.

The legal system can often be challenging and confusing to navigate when it comes to certain claims. Unfortunately, when criminal charges are officially filed against an individual, it does not mean that they will automatically be responsible for paying damages to the party who suffered harm. Because criminal law and the criminal justice system were not designed to protect victims or survivors individually, but rather to protect society as a whole, damages are not typically awarded to specific people who have been harmed through the criminal system.

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pexels-carl-newton-2280165-199x300While driving, there are few scenarios scarier than seeing another car driving the wrong way and coming straight for your vehicle at full speed. Although these collisions are rooted in a number of potential causes, at-fault parties must be held accountable for their carelessness when they take place. When these Texas wrong-way accidents occur, they often have devastating and fatal consequences for all who are involved.

For example, according to a recent news report, a toddler died from his injuries following a major wrong-way car accident. The toddler and his aunt were driving along the road when an oncoming sedan approached while driving in the wrong direction of the street. The sedan collided with the car the toddler and his aunt were operating and resulted in the crash. The sedan driver died from blunt force injuries. The toddler was not in a car seat when the crash took place but was wearing a seat belt, and his aunt was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Like every other state, Texas requires vehicles to drive on the right side of the road. There are only very narrow exceptions in which vehicles can be on the wrong side of the road. Passing another vehicle, traveling on a one-way road, avoiding an obstacle on the street, or traveling on a road with more than just two lanes of traffic are the only exceptions available for being on the wrong side.

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pexels-antonio-batinić-5364345-300x200There are plenty of roads in Texas that do not have a physical median separating the lanes as vehicles move in opposite directions. This road design, coupled with distracted or reckless driving, often becomes the perfect storm for dangerous car accidents. Head-on accidents, for example, most frequently occur on this type of roadway when the at-fault party veers across the center dividing line and crashes into a car coming in the opposite direction.

In a recent news report, six individuals were killed in a deadly head-on highway car accident. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, two vehicles were heading in opposite directions when one of the cars veered into the neighboring lane and crashed head-on with the other vehicle. The eastbound vehicle was carrying three passengers, who all died at the scene. The westbound car was carrying six passengers, and three were killed in the crash. The remaining passengers of the westbound vehicle were transported to local hospitals to treat their injuries. All of the passengers in the eastbound vehicle were wearing seat belts, whereas only the driver of the westbound car was wearing his seat belt. The crash remains under investigation by local authorities.

In Texas, like other jurisdictions, head-on car accidents can lead to a host of legal issues. Distracted driving or drowsiness are often common causes for these often-fatal crashes, as well as drunk driving or speeding.

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car-crash-cartoon-pictures-19-300x210Car accidents are a headache to deal with. Texas hit and run accidents, however, can cause a headache and then some. Because the other driver has run off after an accident, you may now be stuck paying for any damage incurred from your vehicle and any medical expenses that you may rack up if you have been injured. Since hit and run accidents can often have devastating consequences, it is crucial that those who are responsible are held accountable, whenever possible.

According to a recent news report, a local hit and run accident left a motorcyclist dead. Based on law enforcement reports, constables say there were two separate accidents. First, a car turned in front of a motorcycle going in the opposite direction, which struck and killed the motorcyclist. Following this initial accident, debris left behind from the crash caused a hit and run crash involving two more vehicles, and an SUV involved in the second crash fled the scene. According to local authorities, it is unclear whether any charges will be filed following this collision.

In Texas, hit and run accident laws are strictly enforced. Depending on the severity of physical damage or injuries incurred during the collision, it can result in either a felony or misdemeanor conviction and is considered a crime.

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pexels-pixabay-263402-300x199When a Texas chain-reaction car accident occurs, it can often have devastating consequences. On top of potentially being more likely to cause injuries or death, these collisions are often more complex because of all of the parties involved. Establishing an accurate timeline that maps out exactly how the crash happened and who should be assigned which portion of fault can be a significantly challenging issue on its own. However, if a fatality follows an already complex series of crashes, the situation becomes even more complicated to navigate.

According to a recent local news report, a series of car crashes involving four vehicles left a teenage boy dead. The incident started when a Mercedes broke down on the side of the road when it ran into mechanical issues. Both occupants exited the Mercedes, and moments later, a Dodge pickup saw the Mercedes and stopped behind it. A Nissan traveling on the same road with a 17-year-old passenger slammed into the back of the Dodge pickup and hit another car on the road. The series of crashes concluded when the Nissan crashed into the rear of the Mercedes, which pushed it across the median and into the feeder road. The 17-year-old teenager who was riding in the Nissan did not survive the crash. Firefighters worked for nearly 45 minutes to free the driver of the Nissan, who barely escaped fatal injuries and was transported to a local hospital. According to law enforcement, there was no reason to believe that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, and the accident was likely caused by speeding.

In Texas, if a fatality occurs following a crash, it could potentially give rise to a wrongful death claim. Potential plaintiffs must understand the mechanics of bringing these claims. First, the party bringing the claim must prove that the deceased was not responsible for causing their own death and that it resulted from the negligence of another party.

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CS-San-Antonio-27-300x150In a typical car accident involving just two vehicles, it can be challenging to determine who was actually at fault. However, in collisions with several vehicles, resulting in multiple accidents, it can be even messier to determine how the accident started, who hit who, and what actually happened. In these Texas chain-reaction car accidents, it is crucial that accident victims have an experienced attorney in their corner to help them pursue the compensation they deserve.

According to a recent news report, a young man was killed in an accident when he laid down his motorcycle to avoid hitting a stopped car on the road. Local authorities stated that the motorcyclist was coming up a hill when he noticed a long line of stalled cars in front of him. When two vehicles that were ahead of the young man swerved out of the way to avoid crashing into the line of stalled cars, it caused the motorcyclist to lay down his bike and crash into the back of a stopped car. Although he was wearing a helmet, authorities reported that the motorcyclist did not survive the crash. The incident is still being investigated by local law enforcement, but the crash was likely an accident without criminal conduct involved.

One of the biggest problems in these accidents is that the at-fault party or parties do not have enough insurance coverage to fully compensate a victim for the injuries they suffered as a result of the accident. All Texas drivers must have auto insurance minimums of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability. Also, drivers are required to have at least $25,000 in coverage for property damage.

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pexels-burak-k-67088-300x200We’ve all been there—after a long day at work, or on the way to work, you find yourself fighting to keep your eyes open to focus on driving. In Texas, where most people own a car and driving is a regular part of getting around and commuting, Texas drivers are especially susceptible to these accidents because of how much time is spent on the road. Whether it was stress from the day or a restless night of sleep the night before, drowsy driving is dangerous and can often lead to fatal consequences. Unfortunately, Texas drowsy driving accidents are more common than you may expect.

According to a recent report, fatal drowsy driving accidents continue to be a widespread public safety issue in the United States. Between 2010 and 2018, drowsy driving accidents killed 7,392 people nationwide. In total, 22% of these accidents occurred on Texas highways and interstates, making the state home to America’s most drowsy drivers. Although the number of fatalities caused by these accidents has decreased since 2010, the number of accidents in Texas continues to be nearly four times greater than the state with the next greatest percentage of fatalities. On the state’s busiest, traffic-heavy roads, there were ten times more fatal crashes than the national average.

When it comes to drowsy driving accidents, people 25 to 34 are most susceptible to these crashes. Nearly 16% of victims from 2010 to 2018 were in this category, making this statistic especially troubling. Because a single accident stemming from drowsy driving is likely to kill more than one person, the lethal nature of these accidents must be emphasized.

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pexels-pixabay-263402-300x199Sometimes, unexpected things happen while driving, and pulling to the shoulder of the road is your only choice. Staying parked on the shoulder of the road, however, can be dangerous. Cars that drift out of their lanes can collide with your car, or worse, crash into you as you are attending to your vehicle. When these accidents occur, the thought of filing a San Antonio personal injury claim may feel overwhelming. Indeed, the recovery process can be a complex one, and it is crucial that you know what is required in a Texas personal injury claim.

According to a recent news report, two separate car accidents on a major roadway left two drivers dead. On the day of the first accident, a Chevrolet veered from its lane and crashed into an abandoned vehicle sitting on the shoulder of the road. As a result of the crash, two other cars collided and struck the Chevrolet, whose driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the other two vehicles were taken to a local hospital, according to authorities. In the second crash, a woman died while she was on the shoulder, trying to repair a tow strap when a car collided with two disabled vehicles where she was standing.

When you are involved in a car accident in Texas, the law requires that you must first file an accident report with the local police department or sheriff’s office within 10 days of the crash, if you are able. In addition, following an accident, the sooner you file a claim with your insurance company, the better. This way, your insurer can investigate and, hopefully, get you the compensation you deserve as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you may be giving up your chance to report the accident and receive coverage for your losses.

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pexels-pixabay-289737-300x200Whether you’re sending your children to college for the first time as a parent or you’ve had an empty nest for a while, the start of an undergraduate career is often every bit as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. On the one hand, you’re proud of your kids for making it this far, but also nervous about what it’ll mean for them being on their own for the first time. However, no one ever expects to get bad news and hear that their children were involved in a major accident while away from home. When these incidents occur, those responsible can be held accountable through a Texas wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit.

According to a recent news report, two Dallas Baptist University students were killed in a deadly car crash. Both students had only just arrived on campus for their freshman year and were passengers in a friend’s car when the at-fault party crashed into their vehicle. Authorities reported that three other students were also involved in the accident and are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries. Currently, the investigation is still ongoing, and it is unclear if the responsible driver will be facing charges or if drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.

In Texas, following an accident like this one, there are several legal actions you can take. Perhaps the most common is assessing whether you have a wrongful death claim. When a person passes away because of another person’s wrongful actions, you may have grounds for a claim. More specifically, in Texas, the death must have come about due to a “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.”

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