Posted on October 07, 2021 in Uncategorized

Needless to say, the last few years have been some of the hardest times in recent history. Texans are juggling COVID-19 fears, demanding work schedules, family concerns, financial difficulties, and other worries on a daily basis. For many, finding the time to get adequate sleep is simply not possible.

Unfortunately, sleep deprivation can lead to serious consequences, including severe auto accidents. One San Antonio woman learned this lesson the hard way after falling asleep at the wheel and colliding with an 18-wheeler on Interstate 35.

Sleep Deprivation and Drowsy Driving is a Major Contributor to Accidents

Doctors recommend that adults get at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night. However, many of us fall short of this goal. Sleep deprivation can reduce cognitive functioning and increase reaction time – two major concerns for drivers. When drivers are sleepy, they may make crucial errors behind the wheel or even fall asleep for seconds or minutes at a time. Sleepy driving or drowsy driving is estimated to contribute to almost 100,000 car accidents each year. These accidents cause an estimated 1,500 deaths and 70,000 injuries.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 30, 2021 in Uncategorized

Even young children know that “red means stop.” Unfortunately, this does not stop some motorists from ignoring traffic signals entirely. This is what seems to have happened the early morning of September 26, 2021 on the West Side of San Antonio. Three people tragically lost their lives and one more was injured after a collision caused by speeding and running a red light. The motorist who caused the crash was found to be under the influence and is currently facing charges for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.

Accidents Caused by Running a Red Light

Motorists are required by law to stop completely at red lights and stop signs. Motorists may break the law and fail to stop at a traffic signal for countless reasons, including:

• Intoxication by drugs or alcohol – Motorists who are under the influence may be unaware of their surroundings. They may not even realize that they have run a red light until they collide with another motorist traveling through the intersection.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 24, 2021 in Uncategorized

Riding a motorcycle can be a great way to enjoy the New Braunfels and San Antonio areas, however, motorcyclists are also at a significantly increased risk of injury and death during a motorcycle accident. Without a vehicle frame to protect them, motorcycle riders are much more vulnerable during a collision.

One motorcyclist was left with severe injuries after being struck on I-35 and drug 100 yards by a driver police say was intoxicated. The accident highlights the importance of motorcycle awareness as well as the dangers facing motorcyclists on a daily basis.

Police Say Driver Struck Motorcyclist and Attempted to Flee the Scene

Interstate 35 is known for being a dangerous road in Texas. Injury-causing and fatal accidents are not uncommon on this stretch of highway. Recently, a man driving a Buick rear-ended a motorcyclist and dragged the man hundreds of feet before trying to flee the scene. Fortunately, police caught the driver of the Buick and arrested him. The driver faces charges for Failure to Stop and Render Aid, Intoxication Assault, and several other charges. The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 20, 2021 in Uncategorized

Being a truck driver is consistently cited as one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Truckers spend long hours on the roads, often driving in poor weather and dangerous traffic conditions. Sadly, many truck drivers lose their lives in traffic collisions. One New Braunfels man is facing serious criminal charges after he struck and killed a truck driver on Interstate 35 and then fled the scene. Hit and run car accidents often result in severe injuries and fatalities. If you or a loved one were hurt in a car crash where the at-fault driver fled the scene, a personal injury attorney may be able to help.

Driver Fled the Scene of the Accident After Striking Pedestrian

A 54-year-old Texan tragically lost his life after being fatally struck during a pedestrian accident on September 11, 2021. The truck driver had exited his truck and was standing on the shoulder of the highway when a driver hit him in a Dodge Neon. The driver who caused the fatal collision left the scene of the accident but was caught by police within a few hours. He has since been arrested and charged with Accident Involving Death.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 17, 2021 in Uncategorized

Semi-trucks and other large commercial trucks are a vital component to our modern lives. Over 70 percent of the freight that is transported across the United States is moved via truck. Unfortunately, large commercial trucks can also cause severe truck accidents in which people are injured or killed. One recent truck accident turned fatal after a tire blowout caused the truck to roll off a bridge and burst into flames. The accident highlights the dangers of truck tire blowouts.

Tire Blowout Causes Fatal Crash

Two people were inside the truck when the tire burst, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The truck rolled off a bridge and down a slope where it caught on fire. The passenger did not survive the flames. The driver was taken to the hospital for injuries. Unfortunately, tire blowouts like these result in thousands of accidents every year in the U.S. – many of which are fatal.

What Causes Tire Blowouts?

Tire blowouts are not uncommon on large commercial trucks. Sometimes the blowout is caused by overinflation or underinflation. Tread separation caused by normal wear and tear, potholes and other road defects, and mismatched tires can also cause a blowout. Some tire blowouts are caused by tire design or manufacturing defects.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 10, 2021 in Uncategorized

Whether you were injured due to a car wreck, slip and fall accident, medical error, or another incident, your injuries have probably had a profound impact on your life. When someone suffers a broken bone, brain or spine injury, or another serious injury, we typically focus on the short-term pain the person suffers. Unfortunately, such injuries can also have long-term consequences that significantly hinder the person’s ability to resume his or her normal life. In some cases, financial compensation for the monetary and non-monetary consequences of an injury is available through a personal injury lawsuit.

Economic Damages After an Injury

The term “damages” refers to the losses caused by an accident or injury. Many of these losses are financial in nature. You may be able to recover compensation for your vehicle repair costs or vehicle replacement costs and other property damage. You may also be able to recover compensation for medical bills resulting from the injury, including costs related to:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on September 03, 2021 in Uncategorized

Stopping at a red light is such a basic rule that even elementary school children understand it. Unfortunately, some drivers intentionally ignore red lights or fail to notice that the light has turned red until they are in the intersection. Running a red light is estimated to have caused nearly 900 deaths and over 140,000 injuries in car accidents the year 2019 alone.

Just recently, one local man lost his life, and another was severely injured because of drivers failing to stop at a stop signal. These accidents are a somber reminder that failing to follow basic traffic laws can lead to devastating consequences.

Running a Red Light Can Lead to Horrific Car Accidents

Just after 1am August 28, officers responded to an accident on West Southcross Boulevard caused by running a red light. The reason the driver of a Dodge Charger failed to stop at a red light early Saturday morning is not known. However, this decision has affected the lives of countless others. The Charger struck a pickup truck and sent the vehicle careening into a utility pole. The driver of the pickup truck died at the accident scene.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 31, 2021 in Uncategorized

Regular vehicle maintenance is an important responsibility for any car owner. When you take your car in to be serviced, you probably assume that the mechanic is competent and that your car will be fixed properly. Unfortunately, mechanics, car dealerships, and repair shops can make mistakes that make a vehicle unsafe to drive. If poor vehicle maintenance causes a preventable car accident, the party responsible for servicing the vehicle may be liable for damages.

Accidents Caused by Substandard Vehicle Maintenance

Most personal injury cases, including car accident injury cases, are founded upon an allegation of the defendant’s negligence. The term “negligence” refers to the party’s breach of duty. A mechanic has a duty to either fix your vehicle or inform you that the vehicle is not fixed and not safe to drive. When a mechanic or auto repair facility’s oversight, shortcut, or mistake causes a vehicle to be unsafe and the owner is not informed of this, the owner may get into a serious accident.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 26, 2021 in Uncategorized

While we usually think of car accidents as accidents involving one or more vehicles, many car wrecks involve bicyclists and pedestrians. Cars are expected to share the road with pedestrians just as pedestrians are expected to share the road with vehicles. Unfortunately, inattention, impaired driving, speeding, and other forms of negligence lead to a shocking number of pedestrian accidents in Texas every year. Pedestrian deaths in Texas have been steadily increasing with one in five fatal auto accidents involving a pedestrian. In 2019, just under 6,000 pedestrians were involved in vehicle collisions and 669 of these pedestrians lost their lives.

Just recently, a man attempting to cross the Northeast Side Highway in San Antonio was fatally struck by an SUV. In pedestrian-vehicle accidents, is the driver of the vehicle always at fault? What can the surviving family of a deceased pedestrian do to pursue justice for a fatal accident?

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on August 19, 2021 in Uncategorized

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.

Continue Reading ››