Posted on December 05, 2018 in Uncategorized

On the night of November 4, a two-vehicle accident killed one person when an automobile going the wrong way down I-10 struck the tractor-trailer of an 18-wheeler, causing both vehicles to burst into flames. The truck driver was relatively unharmed and able to walk away from the crash, but the driver of the car was killed on impact. This is sadly common in wrong-way accidents; while they are relatively uncommon, they cause serious injuries and death with regularity when they do occur. If you are lucky enough to survive one, it is a good idea to understand just what you may be up against.

Alcohol and Substances Often a Factor

Wrong-way crashes, more than most other types, are disproportionately affected by alcohol and drug use. Statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report that of 1,566 wrong-way drivers in the dataset surveyed (2004-2009), approximately 60 percent had “indications of alcohol involvement.” On some level this makes sense to a layman; unless the sign is obscured, there are very few reasons for a sober person to drive the wrong way down a street. The same statistical set also showed that approximately 10 percent of those wrong-way drivers surveyed had been convicted of driving under the influence (DWI) within the three years immediately prior to their wrong-way collision. In other words, even for those drivers who did not show signs of alcohol or drug use at the time of their wrong-way crash.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on December 03, 2018 in Uncategorized

Normally, when someone is in an auto accident, the matter is pursued in civil court, with the plaintiff seeking damages from the defendant. However, in some auto accidents, such as the alleged shooting on Thanksgiving night on I-10, near Loop 410, both a civil cause of action and a crime may have occurred. If you have been in an accident of this type, it is easy to be confused about what is civil, what is criminal, and what your role is in either or both actions.

Civil Actions

The majority of auto accident cases wind up as civil actions, if they go to court at all because usually no laws are broken. Civil cases are mounted by one private person against another, or against an entity deemed to have been negligent. Money damages are being sought, as opposed to jail time, usually as recompense for injuries sustained (medical bills, but also lost wages, lost quality of life, and lifestyle adjustments like needing a wheelchair or an addition to one’s home, and so on). This means you can sue for as much as you believe you can get – with the caveat that the amount will almost certainly be reduced by a jury.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 28, 2018 in Uncategorized

On the night of November 8, a multi-vehicle crash near Pope Bend Road shut down eastbound I-71 for a significant period of time. Injuries were sustained, but luckily no deaths – which is remarkably lucky for a multi-vehicle crash. Crashes with more than two automobiles or trucks can be extremely dangerous simply because of the amount of metal flying around, and it can also be difficult to determine just who was at fault for an accident given how many actors are involved.

Multiple Causes

There are countless reasons why a multi-vehicle accident might occur at any given time, many of which are similar to the causes of single and two-vehicle accidents but are perhaps magnified. For example, adverse weather can cause many a car crash, but in a multi-vehicle situation, it may be magnified because one car may crash, and then another may crash into it, and so on. Someone who drives distracted or under the influence of alcohol may crash their own car, but other drivers shocked by the impact, or unable to react quickly enough, may crash as a reaction of sorts.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 26, 2018 in Uncategorized

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issued a statement on November 7, 2018, stating that it has officially been 18 years – since November 7, 2000 – since the last death-free day on Texas roadways. This is a statistic that is unique to Texas – no other state has posted so many consecutive years without a death-free day, for several different reasons. It can be frightening to hear such a statistic, but there are ways that you can give yourself the best chance to avoid being in an accident while you travel in Texas.

Minimize Distracted Driving

One of the most often seen factors in fatal road accidents is distracted driving, whether texting or other types of behaviors. Statistics report that roughly one in five accidents on Texas roads involves distracted driving, with over 3,000 fatalities and serious injuries reported in 2017 related to this specific type of car crash. It is very easy to imagine that you will somehow avoid the potential negative consequences, but over time, the odds catch up with everyone. If you cause an accident while you are driving distracted, you could wind up being held liable for the injuries you cause, and that can add up, even with insurance.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 21, 2018 in Uncategorized

In the early hours of November 1, a significant rollover crash occurred on I-37 South, near Mathis Road. Two people were thrown from their car as it flipped over, sustaining serious injuries, while a second passenger sustained less severe damage to their person. The victims were taken to University Hospital and San Antonio Military Medical Center, respectively, in stable condition. All the victims in the crash can be said to be quite lucky to escape with only experiencing relatively mild harm – rollover crashes are by far the most deadly type of car accident, and if someone is held liable for injuries suffered by another person in a rollover, the bills can be very high.

Rollovers Can Be Deadly

Rollover accidents comprise only a small percentage of all car crashes in any given year – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that roughly 2 percent of auto accidents in a year are rollovers. However, those accidents involved approximately 35 percent of all fatalities sustained in car crashes. Also, as many as 85 percent are single-vehicle accidents, meaning that very often, any liability lays on the driver’s head. Rollover crashes can be profoundly dangerous, as can be seen.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 19, 2018 in Uncategorized

San Antonio has joined the list of cities offering electric scooter and wheelchair rentals to tourists, but this can and does sometimes lead to more accidents. On October 30, there was one on North St. Mary’s Street, near College Street, where a man on an electric scooter was hit by a car as he attempted to cross the street against traffic. The tourist’s injuries were relatively minor, but if they had been worse, the driver might be in considerable trouble.

Not Much Info on Scooter Accidents

Because of the relative novelty of the phenomenon, there is not much data on the prevalence of scooter accidents. However, anecdotally, everyone seems to have a story of a scooter injury – falling off, being struck, or something else. There are numerous ways that these scooters can be involved in accidents – the vehicle itself can lock up or fail to respond to the rider, pedestrians can be struck or scooter riders can be struck by passing vehicles. Dockless scooters may also pose accessibility restrictions and/or be unforeseen obstacles, especially at nighttime, given their relatively low profile.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 14, 2018 in Uncategorized

On the night of October 21, there was a wrong-way crash on I-10, on the northwest side of San Antonio, where a car struck another near Vance Jackson Road. After the collision, the wrong-way driver fled on foot, being apprehended later on further down Vance Jackson Road. While no serious injuries were reported, alcohol is said to have been a factor, and as such, the driver will almost certainly be prosecuted. Both drivers were quite lucky to sustain no major injuries, as very often wrong-way collisions can cause severe injuries and even death.

Many Wrong-Way Collisions Involve Alcohol

Unlike many other types of collision, alcohol often plays a major role in wrong-way crashes. Statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) show that in fatal collisions on divided highways, the number of wrong-way drivers who had ‘shown signs of alcohol use’ was approximately 60 percent. Also, approximately 60 percent of wrong-way drivers in the sample had a blood alcohol content level of 0.15 or more at the time of their accident – which is, in most states (Texas included), significantly over the legal limit to be considered drunk.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 12, 2018 in Uncategorized

A school bus was struck by an 18-wheeler on October 25, causing injuries but no deaths. The crash occurred on Highway 71 at Tucker Hill Lane, just outside of Austin, where the truck driver ran through a red light – surveillance video from a nearby gas station shows the accident and showed the truck clearly failing to stop. The bus driver and 9 students were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, though the exact extent of the damage remains unknown as of this writing. While school bus accidents are rare, parents should know that if their child is injured, it is possible to try to hold someone liable for the accident.

Bus Drivers Have Rules

There are multiple potential causes of school bus accidents, though the cause of the Hwy 71 crash appears apparent enough. Many of them usually have to do with bus driver error (yes, even school bus drivers) – speeding, driving recklessly, such as going too fast in inclement weather, and alcohol or drug abuse can all contribute. Other causes may include poorly maintained roads (especially with a large vehicle like a school bus, a pothole can cause problems).

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 07, 2018 in Uncategorized

The recent flooding along the Colorado River has impacted 18 different counties in Texas, including Williamson, Bastrop, and Travis counties. Many people in and around Austin have had to evacuate, losing personal belongings or sometimes their homes. Another problem seen in flooded areas is a host of automobiles either damaged or totaled, by rising flood waters or by accidents caused by weather. If you are injured in an auto accident in this type of weather, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm you suffered, if you can show that someone else’s negligence played a role.

Crashes Are Common

Because so few are truly prepared to handle floods on busy roads in Austin, several accidents always occur in heavy rainstorms. Standing water is always a potential issue, and if an area has not had a lot of rain before the onset of the storms, oil can build up on the pavement and make it more slippery. Speed is also a constant factor as well, especially since many drivers do not slow down in suboptimal weather. The end result can be severe – statistics from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration show that as many as 70 percent of all weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement, with an average of approximately 20 percent of all auto accident injuries occurring in rain.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on November 05, 2018 in Uncategorized

On the night of October 14, a driver turning onto Larkdale Drive from O’Connor Road was struck by a motorcyclist traveling at a “high rate of speed,” killing the motorcyclist and damaging the automobile. The driver had no injuries, but the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Sadly, this is all too common in San Antonio motorcycle accidents, with motorcyclists being killed much more often than automobile drivers, and those that survive are much more likely to be severely injured than auto drivers. There are multiple reasons for this.

Statistics Show Heightened Danger

Motorcyclists simply have to do more with less, given the comparative lack of protection surrounding them compared to the protection an automobile gives its driver and passengers. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that motorcyclists are up to 29 times more likely to die in a wreck than those in an automobile. This is compounded by Texas’ helmet law, which only requires such protection for those 20 and younger, meaning that many older cyclists are not wearing helmets when they are involved in a wreck if they choose not to. While this is their choice, it does contribute to a high fatality rate, as helmets have been shown to prevent approximately 37 percent of fatal injuries.

Continue Reading ››