Wrong-Way Driver Strikes Cars in Stone Oak
Recently, a man allegedly caused some criminal mischief on a Stone Oak street when he drove the wrong way, intentionally rammed a San Antonio police officer’s vehicle, and crashed in the lot of a car dealership, damaging three new vehicles. The driver was arrested at the Alamo Toyota dealership on Highway 281 and charged with several criminal offenses. If someone drives the wrong way on a public street, however, they can also be held liable under civil law by any person they allegedly injured.
Limited Time To File
It may be seen as common sense that drivers must drive on the right side of the road in the United States, but just in case, the state of Texas has codified that requirement. When someone drives on the other side, they are violating traffic laws in addition to whatever other offenses might occur. Wrong-way accidents are relatively rare, but the injury and fatality rate is much higher than that in most other types of crashes because they almost always involve a high rate of speed. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that approximately 14 percent of all wrong-way driving fatalities occur in Texas.
Because wrong-way accidents so often involve a head-on collision, they can cause severe injuries including traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, and spinal cord problems, burns, and many others. It can feel overwhelming to try and contend with recovery as well as legal issues, but it is important to try and do both, especially since there is a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time an injured accident victim has to file suit. – usually within two years of the accident, which sounds like a lot, but in reality goes by very fast.
Seeking Damages
If you are injured in a wrong-way crash, one of the first things you should keep in mind is that you have the right to file suit for both tangible and intangible damages. Medical bills and lost wages are referred to as economic damages, while more intangible harms like loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and mental anguish are called non-economic damages. Both may be compensable, depending on the specific nature of the accident you have experienced.
If you are struck by a wrong-way driver who can be shown to have violated the law – for example, if he is driving while intoxicated, or he resists arrest – you may be able to take an easier route to prove that person’s negligence. This is referred to as negligence per se; it is a way to establish negligence in court without proving each specific part of a negligence claim individually. Texas law states that if a person violates a state statute designed to protect a certain class, and then injures someone of that class, they are negligent per se.
Contact a New Braunfels Wrong-Way Crash Lawyer
While no one appears to have been injured in the Stone Oak accident, next time the passersby might not be so lucky. If you have been hurt by a wrong-way driver, you have options. The skilled New Braunfels wrong-way crash lawyers at the Bettersworth Law Firm understand just how devastating this type of event can be, and we are ready to give you dedicated and zealous representation in your case. Contact our offices today at 888-392-0039 to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2019/12/26/man-accused-of-driving-wrong-way-hitting-sapd-patrol-car-3-new-vehicles-at-dealership/
