Two good Samaritans who stopped to check on an accident were killed early Sunday morning on the Northeast Side. Briaramarie Francis, 20, and Scott Foss, 23, were pronounced dead at the scene around 3:30 a.m., when they got out to assist in a two-vehicle accident on Loop 410 near Perrin Beitel Road, according to a San Antonio Police Department incident report. Someone abandoned a white Volvo after crashing into a retaining wall, police said, and an SUV crashed into the back of the car. The report states Alicia Johnson, 21, was driving a green Ford Expedition with Francis and Foss, and the trio stopped to help. Johnson stayed in the car while Francis and Foss got out; then a man driving a 2007 silver Lincoln crashed into the back of Johnson’s vehicle and struck Francis and Foss, who were standing near the retaining wall. Only Francis and Foss sustained injuries in the crash, police said. So far, no charges have been filed in connection with the fatal accident.
18-Wheeler Crosses Median, Kills 3 by Texas 18-Wheeler and Trucking Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Every year, Texas experiences a large number of dangerous, and potentially deadly, accidents involving large combination tractor-trailers. Nationally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, truck-related highway fatalities totaled 4,229 in 2008. There are many reasons that tractor-trailers continue to be such a danger. A tractor-trailer accident, reported today in The Colorado County Citizen has claimed the life of three. According to The Colorado County Citizen:
Interstate 10 claimed three lives in a three-vehicle accident Wednesday evening. According to a report by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Jackie Haley, 64, of La Vernia was driving eastbound on I-10 in a 2006 Peterbilt tractor-trailer when he drove off the roadway into the center median at 7:15 p.m. The truck crossed the protective cable barrier into oncoming westbound lanes and struck a 2007 Toyota Landcruiser and a 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck. All three vehicles caught fire and burned. The driver of the pickup, Patrick Hrncir, 64 of Hallettsville; as well as the driver and passenger of the Toyota, Ross Wedelich, 16 and sister, Hayley Wedelich, 15, both of Rosharon were pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Francis Truchard. The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to Columbus Community Hospital with minor injuries where he was treated and released. The accident remains under investigation. DPS Trooper Stephen Pierce was assisted at the scene by DPS Sergeant Gary Chandler, Troopers Elizabeth Tolbert and David Sutton, DPS Corporal Orlando Moreno, Colorado County Sheriff?s Department, Colorado County EMS, Bernardo Volunteer Fire Department and the Columbus Volunteer Fire Department.
TheFacts.com reports:
Two Angleton High School students on their way to show a steer at the San Antonio Livestock Show were killed in a head-on crash with an 18-wheeler near Columbus on Wednesday. Junior Ross Wedelich, 16, and his sister, Hayley Wedelich, 15, a freshman, were traveling west on Interstate 10 near Columbus at about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday when the crash occurred, a Department of Public Safety spokesman said. Ross Wedelich was driving a 2007 Toyota with his sister a passenger when police said an eastbound 18-wheeler crossed the median and hit their car and a third vehicle, the spokesman said. All three vehicles caught fire and came to rest in the median between the westbound lane and feeder road. Ross Wedelich and Hayley Wedelich, both of Rosharon, were pronounced dead at the scene along with the driver of the third vehicle. The truck driver suffered minor injuries. Angleton ISD officials expressed deep sadness over the crash. The district called in counselors and administrators from other campuses as well as local church leaders to help students and staff members deal with the aftermath, according to a press release from spokeswoman Hanna Chalmers. “The death of any child is a sad and tragic event,” Angleton High School Principal Lisa Davis said in the release. “Counselors will be available all day and as long as needed for students and teachers who need to talk about the accident.” Davis said students who are extremely upset are being released to parents.
The Weekly Journal reports:
Angleton ISD is very sad to report that two Angleton High School students were tragically killed in an automobile accident last night. Junior Ross Wedelich and his sister freshman Hayley Wedelich were hit head on by an 18-wheeler at 7:15 p.m. on I-10. The brother and sister were traveling to San Antonio to show a steer at the San Antonio Livestock Show this morning. AISD and AHS students and staff have been severely impacted by the accident. The district has implemented its crisis response plan, which includes calling in other district counselors and administrators as well as local church leaders to help students and staff members deal with the aftermath. “The death of any child is a sad and tragic event,” AHS Principal Lisa Davis said. “Counselors will be available all day and as long as needed for students and teachers who need to talk about the accident.” Davis says that students who are extremely upset are being released to parents. “Children deal with death in different ways,” she said. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and we are doing our best to help everyone cope with the pain. It will take some time for us to heal from this. Right now, we send our deepest sympathy to the children’s family and friends.” The district has also sent letters home with high school and intermediate students. AISD urges parents to talk with their children about the situation and about ways to deal with death. “Children may have questions and concerns relating to the death, and they may need additional support at home as well as our continued support here at school,” Davis said. Parents can contact counselors at their children’s campuses if they need assistance or if they feel that their children are having difficulty and may benefit from additional support.
Update from TheFacts.com:
As students continued to mourn the death of two classmates Friday, Department of Public Safety investigators still were trying to determine how an 18-wheeler drove over median cables and hit two cars head-on. DPS Trooper Stephen Pierce said Friday the cause of the accident is not known, but the driver of the 18-wheeler voluntarily gave a blood sample. Alcohol is not suspected as a factor, Pierce said. “We’re just trying to rule everything out,” he said. Ross Wedelich, 16, was driving a 2007 Toyota west on Interstate 10, 8 miles east of Columbus, about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday when an eastbound 2006 Peterbilt 18-wheeler crossed the median and hit the Toyota head-on, police said. The 18-wheeler slammed into the Toyota and a 1999 Chevrolet driven west by Patrick Hrncir of Hallettsville. All three vehicles slid into the median between the interstate and westbound feeder lane and caught fire. Angleton High School students Ross Wedelich and his sister Hayley, 15, and Hrncir died at the scene. The siblings had been traveling to the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, where Ross was showing a steer. Funeral arrangements for the Wedelichs are pending, a family member said Friday. The driver of the 18-wheeler, Jackie Lee Haley, had minor injuries. The portion of I-10 where the wreck occurred is divided by a three-wire cable system strong enough to prevent most vehicles from crossing the median into oncoming traffic. “It will grab you — your vehicle — and it will stretch,” DPS Sgt. Gary Chandler said. “In this instance, (Haley) went over it.” Weather conditions were listed as clear and the road was dry at the time of the accident, according to a DPS report. Chandler was at the scene Wednesday night and said the semi-truck hit the Wedelichs’ vehicle squarely. The two teens likely died on impact, though autopsies by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office will make an official determination, Chandler said. Students at Angleton High School remained somber Friday, trying to cope with the loss of Ross and Hayley Wedelich, Principal Lisa Davis said. A handful of grieving students left school early Friday, she said. “We had several students still feeling the grief,” she said. “They had ties to every single student group on this campus.” When school officials arrived at the campus Friday morning, about 100 students had gathered in a gym to talk about Ross and Hayley Wedelich, she said. “They gathered together to share some stories” about them, Davis said. “There were some who had tears.” Counseling was available to all students Friday. The district brought counselors in from other districts, church leaders and administrators to speak with grieving students and staff, Angleton ISD spokeswoman Hanna Chalmers said. “It’s a shadow over the whole district,” she said. Student council members are continuing to take orders for T-shirts with Ross and Hayley’s names on the front and “Wedelich Way” on the back. The “Wedelich Way” means happy and full of life, friends said. The shirts will pay for a flower arrangement, a memorial to the two students, a scholarship in both students’ names plus whatever charities their family would like to give the money.
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an 18-wheeler accident, big rig accident or tractor-trailer accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all claimants are protected.
Tire Event, Rollover, and Fatality Accident in Andrews County, Texas
Tire Event, Rollover, and Fatality Accident in Andrews County, Texas by Texas Rollover Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
An article published today at CBS7KOSA.com is a perfect example of why it is necessary for trained eyes to review potential automotive defect cases. The article states, in part:
A Hobbs woman is dead following a one-vehicle rollover in Andrews County, early Sunday afternoon. It happened around 1:10 PM on Highway 176, 30 miles west of Andrews. DPS tells us that Eric Soto of Hobbs, was driving a 1989 Ford Bronco when it’s left tire blew out which caused the vehicle to rollover. 24-year-old Ashley Nicole Soto was pronounced dead on the scene. Eric Soto was transported to a hospital in Eunice and is listed in stable condition, with non-life threatening injuries.
- The type of injury–death–raises the possibility that some safety system in the vehicle failed to adequately protect the occupants. Typically, a biomechanics expert will help evaluate the crash to determine the mechanism of injury and whether it could have been avoided.
- The fact that there was a tire event is also important in the evaluation of this factual scenario. While the article calls the event a “blowout” it could have been any number of manufacturing defects or design defects which caused or contributed to the cause of this accident. There may have been a tire detread, tire delamination and/or some other tire failure, that contributed to or caused the loss of control.
- The vehicle rolled over. Vehicles should not roll over. Determining why this vehicle rolled would be important in evaluating a possible product defect case. Was the vehicle defectively designed in regard to stability and/or handling? Was the vehicle equipped with electronic stability control or any other technology designed to keep a vehicle from losing control and/or rolling over? These questions, among many others, are very important. Numerous vehicle design experts are employed to help evaluate such important questions.
Automotive Defect: Roof Crush by Texas Rollover Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Automobile manufacturers have known for decades that vehicles roll over in reasonably foreseeable accidents. With the rise in popularity of SUVs and pick-up trucks, the number of people who are susceptible to injury or death from vehicles rolling over has increased significantly over the last 20 years. However, in light of the fact that more people are affected by rollovers, many vehicle manufacturers have done little to increase the strength of the roofs in their SUVs and pick-ups. The strength of the roof determines how far it will intrude, or crush, in on the passenger during a rollover event.
Roof crush, or “loss of occupant survival space,” creates many problems for occupants in the vehicle. First, it rapidly reduces the space in the vehicle for the occupant. This will increase the risk that the occupant will receive a spinal cord compression injury. Second, roof deformation does not happen straight down but rather down and in toward the occupant. This significantly increases the likelihood that a properly belted occupant will be partially ejected out of the vehicle during the roll sequence. Typically, the force of the roll coupled with the glass shattering out of the window, the roof crushing down and inward and the seatbelt not properly securing the occupant to the seat can result in the occupant having his or her head and/or arm and shoulder out of the vehicle during the roll. As will be discussed below, there are other ways to keep an occupant in the vehicle during a roll but a roof that stays in place during a roll reduces the risk of a person being partially ejected or receiving a compression injury even without the other safety measures.
The most common injuries associated with roof crush are spinal cord compression injuries and death. Car manufacturers have taken the position, especially in spinal cord compression injury cases, that the injury was caused by the occupant “diving” into the roof. The term “diving” comes from the analogy of swimming pool diving injuries to compression injuries sustained in rollovers. With this defense, the automobile manufacturers maintain the injury occurs before the roof crushes in by the head moving toward the roof until it can go no further and the weight of the occupant’s body moving toward the head until there is such loading on the neck that a spinal injury occurs. Vehicle manufactures allege through testing and expert testimony that when a vehicle is inverted, the forces of gravity and the roll sequence will lead to an occupants head contacting the roof without any roof crush. They allege that there is no alternative roof design that can stop this from happening.
Partial ejections are also common in rollover accidents because the roof crushes down and in toward the occupant. When the roof crushes down and in, the force of the roll causes the occupant’s head to get outside the plane of the vehicle. In a partial ejection, it is common for an occupant to hit his or her head against the ground or pavement or get it caught between the car and ground during the roll. Vehicle manufacturers often argue that no matter the strength of the roof, a belted occupant can get their head out of the car during a roll. But if you keep the roof from deforming during a rollover, it is extremely unlikely that a restrained and contained occupant will get their heads out of the plane of the vehicle and sustain a catastrophic injury.
When analyzing a roof crush case, it is important to analyze the extent of the roof deformation. This will require measurements that can be done by a trained attorney or investigator. Further, as discussed above, the accident reconstruction will provide much information that will allow an analysis of a roof crush case. Trip speed, roll velocity, number of rolls, drop height and the type of roll (barrel, end over end or football) are all needed to analyze whether or not a safer alternative design existed that would have kept the occupant compartment space preserved during the roll. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a rollover accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected.
Injury and Fatality Accidents Down in Texas by San Antonio and Austin Automobile Accident Lawyer Justin A. Hill
The Insurance Council of Texas is reporting that the numbers of injuries and deaths as a result of automobile accidents has fallen since 2003. The ICT reports:
The Insurance Council of Texas reports that the number of people injured and killed in automobile accidents in Texas has continued to decline since 2003. Both fatalities and injuries are down more than 20 percent since the Texas Department of Transportation took over record keeping of state traffic reports seven years ago. Statistics recently released by the Texas Department of Transportation show the number of injury accidents and fatal accidents in the state have dropped in five of the last six years. A spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said Texas is following a national trend. “Nationally, crash rates have fallen to historic lows,” said Russ Rader, an IIHS spokesman. Safer vehicles and roads, higher safety belt use and, currently, the economy are contributing to the lower injury and fatality rates, according to the IIHS. Several new auto safety features not only minimize injuries in accidents, but help drivers in avoiding some collisions. More vehicles on the road today are equipped with electronic stability control systems that can help prevent loss of control and roll-overs. Other safety features on newer cars include side airbags, lane departure warnings, forward collision warnings and active head restraints. While crashes and injuries have gone down, auto insurance rates have remained stable in Texas due to increased medical costs and the expense of repairing new vehicles, the ICT says. The National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s (NAIC) most recent report lists Texas as 19th among states in auto insurance premiums. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) defines a reportable motor vehicle traffic accident as any crash involving a motor vehicle on a road way, resulting in the injury or death of any person, or damage to the property of any one person to the extent of $1,000.
This is a positive trend that hopefully continues. However, the numbers show that even though there is progress, the accidents leading to serious injuries and deaths continue. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a automobile accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent lawyer for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected
Small Pickups Test Poorly on Roof Strength by San Antonio and Austin Truck and SUV Rollover Attorney Justin A. Hill
Rollovers account for a full one-third (33%) of all traffic fatalities. Approximately 10,000 people die a year in rollover fatality accidents. For the first time, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has tested and rated light trucks for rollover protection. The class of vehicles did poorly as a group. The IIHS reports:
The Nissan Frontier has the strongest roof and the Chevrolet Colorado the weakest among 5 small pickup trucks, all 2010 models, that recently were tested for rollover protection by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Frontier, also sold as the Suzuki Equator, is the only pickup in the group to earn the highest rating of good. The Ford Ranger is rated acceptable while the Dodge Dakota, Toyota Tacoma, and Colorado (also sold as the GMC Canyon) earn the second lowest rating of marginal.
The rating system is based on Institute research showing that occupants in rollover crashes benefit from stronger roofs. Vehicles rated good must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as the minimum required under the current federal safety standard. The ratings, products of the Institute’s new roof strength testing program, add to consumer information tests that rate vehicles’ front, side, and rear crashworthiness. The rollover test is designed to help consumers pick vehicles that will protect them the best in one of the most serious kinds of crashes.
“As a group, small pickups aren’t performing as well as small cars or small SUVs in all of the Institute’s safety tests. None of the ones we tested is a top-notch performer across the board. In fact, no small pickup earns our Top Safety Pick award,” says Institute senior vice president David Zuby. The Frontier came close to winning the 2010 award, but it’s rated acceptable instead of good for protection against neck injury in rear crashes. To earn Top Safety Pick, a vehicle has to earn good ratings for protection in front, side, rear, and rollover crashes. It also has to have electronic stability control.
Nearly 10,000 people a year are killed in rollovers. When vehicles roll, their roofs hit the ground, deform, and crush. Stronger roofs crush less, reducing the risk of injury from contact with the roof itself. Stronger roofs also can prevent people, especially those who aren’t using safety belts, from being ejected through windows, windshields, or doors that have broken or opened because the roof deformed. Roofs that don’t collapse help keep people inside vehicles when they roll.
Rollovers are much more common for SUVs and pickup trucks than for cars. In 2008 almost half (47 percent) of all pickup occupants killed in crashes were in trucks that rolled over. This compares with 58 percent of deaths in SUVs and 25 percent in cars.
The best occupant protection is to keep vehicles from rolling in the first place. Electronic stability control is significantly reducing rollovers, especially fatal single-vehicle ones. When vehicles roll, side curtain airbags help protect people. Safety belt use is essential.
The complete report can be found on the IIHS Website. This Blog has discussed roof crush many times including here, here, and here. Rollovers prevention and creating stronger roofs continues to be a goal of automobile safety advocates and should be a high priority for vehicle manufacturers. Repeating the report above, “Nearly 10,000 people a year are killed in rollovers. When vehicles roll, their roofs hit the ground, deform, and crush. Stronger roofs crush less, reducing the risk of injury from contact with the roof itself. Roofs that don’t collapse help keep people inside vehicles when they roll.Rollovers are much more common for SUVs and pickup trucks than for cars. In 2008 almost half (47 percent) of all pickup occupants killed in crashes were in trucks that rolled over. This compares with 58 percent of deaths in SUVs and 25 percent in cars.”
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a rollover accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected
Tractor-Trailer Causes Fatal Accident in Marshall, Texas by Texas 18-Wheeler and Trucking Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Every year, Texas experiences a large number of dangerous, and potentially deadly, accidents involving large combination tractor-trailers. The reasons that combination vehicles continue to be such a danger are many. From long hours and fatigued drivers to bad training and poorly maintained vehicles, tractor trailers continue to be a serious danger to all drivers. A tractor-trailer accident, reported today in the Marshall News Messenger has claimed the life of a Texas woman. The Messenger reports:
A 42-year-old Elysian Fields woman was killed and a man was injured in a two-vehicle accident about 7 p.m. Monday on Farm-to-Market Road 31, according to a report from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Jana Freese, 42, 4324 FM 31 North, was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Hugh Taylor. Funeral arrangements for Ms. Freese are pending with Downs Funeral Home. The accident occurred about half a mile from Farm-to-Market Road 2625 in a section of FM 31 where the speed limit is 60 mph. The road conditions were wet and raining, according to the report. Ms. Freese was traveling south on FM 31 in a 2008 Kia when an International tractor trailer, traveling north, crossed into the southbound lane striking her on its front left, according to the report. Thomas Murphy, 54, Shreveport, La., driver of the tractor suffered minor injuries to his leg in the accident and was taken to a local hospital, according to the report. Both were wearing their seat belts. The accident was investigated by Texas Department of Safety Trooper James Hargett.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, truck-related highway fatalities totaled 4,229 in 2008. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an 18-wheeler accident, big rig accident or tractor-trailer accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all claimants are protected.
Driver Kills Worker in Wichita Falls, Texas by Texas Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
A recent accident in Wichita Falls, Texas has led to the death of a man who was working on transmission lines. According to the Times Record News:
An overnight traffic crash that killed a Time Warner cable worker has resulted in the arrest of one man, according to a release from the Wichita Falls Police Department. William Deas III, 22, has been charged with Intoxication Manslaughter, according to the release. The victim, 38-year-old Kevin Becker, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in the 4800 block of Fairway Boulevard. At 2:11 a.m., officers were sent to the scene and discovered a Time-Warner Cable utility truck had stopped on Fairway. Becker was in the truck’s bucket/crane working on high lines. A 2001 Isuzu Rodeo was traveling south on Fairway when it struck the back of the utility truck. Becker was ejected from the elevated bucket and fell to the roadway. Deas was pinned inside the Isuzu for a time, but was freed by First Responders from the Wichita Falls Fire Department. He was taken to United Regional Hospital where he was treated and released. Deas has been booked into the Wichita County Jail on the Intoxication Manslaughter charge, the release said.
This is another terrible tragedy that could likely have been avoided by responsible drinking. Cities continue to find ways to reduce/eliminate drunk driving. Some cities have instituted no-refusal weekends where warrants are issued to take BAC by blood when drivers refuse to submit. An article posted in the Austin American Statesman regarding the city’s success in identifying and testing drivers that would not submit to a sobriety test on SuperBowl night illustrates the potential of this new trend. According to the article:
During the Super Bowl no refusal initiative on February 7, 2010, between the hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. there were 17 DWI arrests made. One additional case is still under investigation.
Seven individuals refused to give a sample of their breath or blood. After a judge signed a search warrant all 7 individuals had their blood drawn.
Total DWI arrests = 17
High BAC Breath = .24
Low BAC Breath = .11
High BAC Blood = .28
Low BAC Blood = .15
Average BAC for blood search warrant = .23Breath BAC < .08 = 0
Blood BAC < .08 = 0
Breath BAC .08 < .15 = 2
Blood BAC .08 < .15 = 1
Breath BAC .16 < .23 = 7
Blood BAC .16 < .23 = 2
Breath BAC .24 or higher = 1
Blood BAC .24 or higher = 4Approximately 82% of all persons arrested were at least twice the legal limit.
The Austin Police Department is continuously focused on preventing lives from being lost on the streets and highways of Austin. The department is dedicated to making the roadways of Austin safe for residents and visitors through education and enforcement.
Drunk driving accidents are one of the dangers on the roadways today. According to MADD, on average, someone is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes. In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving related crashes—a decline of 9.8 percent from the 13,041 drunk driving related fatalities of 2007. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a drunk driving accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all potential plaintiffs are protected.
Toyota Prius Brake Defect Recall by San Antonio and Austin, Texas Automobile Defect Attorney Justin A. Hill
At a time when Toyota could benefit from positive publicity, they are set to announce another recall. This time they are recalling the 2010 models of the popular eco-friendly Toyota Prius. The recall is to fix a glitch in the vehicle’s anti-lock braking system. The New York Times reports:
Toyota said Tuesday it would recall 437,000 of its 2010 flagship Prius hybrid and other gas-electric models worldwide to fix a glitch in the braking system, as the Japanese automaker moved to contain a crisis over defects in a range of its vehicles. About 223,000 of the cars recalled are in Japan. Some 155,000 are in the United States and another 53,000 in Europe. In addition to the standard 2010 Priuses, Toyota is recalling 270 plug-in Priuses, 28,000 Lexus HS250hs, and 11,000 Sai hybrids. Older Priuses are unaffected by the problem, Toyota has said. Separately, Toyota also recalled 7,300 of its latest-model Camrys in the United States to fix a power steering pressure hose in the engine compartment that may be the incorrect length. This could cause a hole in the brake tube and deplete the braking fluid, interfering with braking, Toyota said in a statement. Toyota’s president, Akio Toyoda, said Tuesday a software glitch was behind the failing brakes, and that the fix, which would be handled by dealers, would take about 40 minutes for each car. Toyota had found that on slippery or frozen roads, “the brakes falter for just split moment,” he said. “But if you make sure to push firmly down on the brakes, they will work without fail.” “I apologize for the concern and inconvenience we have caused our customers,” he said. “We will redouble our commitment to quality as a lifeline of our company. Together, we will do everything to regain the confidence of our customers.” In recent months, Toyota has recalled about eight million cars worldwide over gas pedals that could stick or become caught on floor mats. As more details have emerged about the problems, the automaker is facing questions over whether it routinely fixed potentially dangerous defects in new models without recalling those already on the road.
As the Prius recall evolves, it is likely much more information will be made public regarding the defect, reports of the defect, accidents relating to the defect and Toyota’s knowledge of the problem with the Prius’s braking system.
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a defective vehicle encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected.
Police Reports Full of Errors by Texas Automobile Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Oftentimes, when investigating automobile accidents, it is important to hire a team of experts to reconstruct the accident and determine the specifics of the accident. Sometimes it is also important to hire experts regarding other specifics of the crash such as seatbelt usage, alcohol/drug use, and whether or not a defective tire caused or contributed to the cause of the accident. Experts will, on occasion, make determinations and conclusions that are contrary to the police report. The difference between the expert’s conclusions and the police report can sometimes make or brake a potential case.
While police officers should be revered for the work that they do every day, they do, on occasion, make mistakes. A recent article on The Texas Tribune discusses the prevalence of mistakes in police reports. The need for accuracy in police reports cannot be overstated. The article explains:
As official legal documents, there’s a lot riding on the accuracy of accident reports, which are used to help establish who was at fault in a wreck and whose insurance will shell out for damages and medical bills. Data in the reports also guides transportation policymakers’ decisions about how and where to spend millions of traffic safety dollars. “Pretty much everything on that crash report could impact us in some way,” says Debra Vermillion, the director of safety construction programs and data analysis at the Texas Department of Transportation. Each year, for instance, TxDOT spends more than $130 million on safety construction projects and another $100 million on safety programs like the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, and how those funds are allocated depends largely on information from crash reports, Vermillion says.
This article emphasizes that every accident should be forensically examined by someone with training and expertise to investigate the accident independent of the police report. For example, even though a police report may indicate that an occupant was unbelted, that may not be the case. In a rollover, buckles can unlatch from vertical forces or flying objects can inadvertently unlatch the belt. An expert or investigator, with specialty training, can examine the belt for evidence of loading/friction on the seatbelt webbing and also determine whether the particular belt/buckle have a known defect for unlatching in a rollover. This is one reason that a trained automotive product liability attorney should be involved at the early stages of evaluating an automotive product liability claim.
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a potential automotive product liability claim encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected.
San Antonio, Texas Fatality Accidents Plague Superbowl Weekend by San Antonio, Texas Automobile Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Superbowl Weekend proved to be a tragic one for many in the San Antonio, Texas area. According to MySA.com, there were a number of accidents that led to fatalities.
Good Samaritans Killed in Northwest Side Crash:
Woman Charged in Wrong-Way Fatal Crash:
San Antonio police suspect a woman was intoxicated early Saturday morning when she drove the wrong way on a Northwest Side street. Bethany Leigh Denman, 23, of Conroe remains at University Hospital under police surveillance; she is charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with the death of Amy Meron, 53. Denman’s bond is set at $50,000. A police department incident report states Denman was driving a 2002 blue Toyota Camry north in the south-bound lane of Vance Jackson Road near Beckwith Boulevard around 12:15 a.m. when she collided with Meron’s 1992 blue Toyota Camry. Meron was pronounced dead at the scene. Three teenagers in her car — Matthew Meron, 14; Greyson Hanna, 14 and Luke Lecroy, 13 — were injured in the crash and taken to University Hospital. Denman also was hospitalized and will be booked in Bexar County Jail upon release. Several witnesses told police they saw Denman “swerving and hitting the curb multiple times” before the crash.
Moore Teen Killed in Motorcycle Crash:
A teenager from Moore was killed in a head-on collision in Frio County Saturday afternoon. Officials said Damian Salinas, 16, was not wearing a helmet while riding a Honda motorcycle on County Road 2627 around 1:15 p.m. Saturday. He turned south onto the access road of Interstate 35, lost control and drove into the north-bound lane, according to Texas Department of Public Safety authorities. While in the north lane, he collided head-on with a GMC Sierra pickup. The driver of the pickup was not injured, officials said, and Moore was pronounced dead at the scene.
One Killed, Three Injured in Bulverde Wreck:
A New Braunfels woman died and three other people were injured in a three-vehicle wreck in Bulverde Saturday morning, according to the Bulverde Police Department. The wreck occurred at 11:25 a.m. Saturday on Texas 46, one mile east of Blanco Road. Terry Louise Thompson, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace William Schroeder, said Lt. Gary Haecker of the Bulverde Police Department. A Ford truck pulling a 16-foot trailer loaded with bricks was eastbound on Texas 46 when the driver lost control of the vehicle and went into the westbound lane of traffic, Haecker said. A witness stated that the trailer began swaying and that’s when the driver appeared to lose control, Haecker said. The truck collided with a Lexus SUV. A Toyota van traveling behind the Lexus was also involved in the crash. Thompson was a passenger in the Lexus and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the wreck, Haecker said. The driver of the Lexus, Vincent Solito, 57, of New Braunfels was taken to University Hospital along with an 11-year-old passenger. The driver of the Ford, Wael Deeb, 46, of San Antonio was also taken to University Hospital, according to police.
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an automobile accident, drunk driving accident, motorcycle accident or another’s negligence encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected.
Toyota Sudden Acceleration Report by Austin, Texas Sudden Acceleration Lawyer Justin A. Hill
A new report published by Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., provides an extremely comprehensive analysis of the current state of Toyota Sudden Acceleration issues. For anyone interested in this topic, it is an informative read. The summary of this report starts:
This report examines the complexities and inconsistencies within the public record on Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) incidents involving Toyota vehicles. It concludes that neither Toyota nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified all of the causes of SUA in Toyota and Lexus model vehicles, nor has the automaker implemented remedies that address the types of complaints consumers are reporting. Since 1999, at least 2,262 Toyota and Lexus owners have reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the media, the courts and to Safety Research & Strategies that their vehicles have accelerated suddenly and unexpectedly in a variety of scenarios. These incidents have resulted in 815 crashes, 341 injuries and, 19 deaths potentially related to sudden unintended acceleration.
A class action was recently filed relating to the problem of sudden acceleration in Toyotas. Our firm is currently investigating Toyota sudden acceleration cases. Sudden acceleration is a dangerous and potentially fatal defect. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a sudden acceleration defect, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected.
Sherman, Texas Experiences String of Drunk Driving Accidents by Texas Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
SaferAutomobiles is dedicated to providing up to date information regarding automobile safety. Real accidents are discussed on this site as a way to illustrate what accidents are regularly happening on the roadways. Drunk driving accidents are one of the dangers on the roadways today. According to MADD, on average, someone is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes. In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving related crashes—a decline of 9.8 percent from the 13,041 drunk driving related fatalities of 2007. One small town in North Texas, Sherman, has recently been the location of multiple serious drunk driving accidents.
According to KXII.com:
A string of dangerous and even deadly accidents all across Texoma have one thing in common: Alcohol. And with these drunk driving accidents seeming to be on the rise, residents and prosecutors are saying enough is enough. “Texas leads the nation in drunk driving fatalities and it’s a reputation we don’t want to have, we don’t want it in Grayson County and we don’t want it in the State of Texas,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown. Though the number of alcohol-related accident fatalities is down nationwide from 13,000 in 2007 to 11,000 last year, there have been at least six alcohol related accidents in the past four days in Texoma. “It just makes me sick to my stomach that we still continue to do this after all the education we’ve received and all the awareness we’ve received over the last several years,” said Ron Barton, who works with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Just last night 30-year-old Micah Baker crashed his jeep into a house because authorities say he was driving while intoxicated. And two wrong way accidents on Highway 75 Monday night killed one woman and injured several others. All were unrelated crashes, all involved drivers getting behind the wheel after drinking. Ron Barton lost his 4-year-old daughter and his mother-in-law to a drunk driving crash in 2001. He says these tragedies not only ruin the lives of the victim’s family, but the driver’s as well. “A lot of people cannot imagine that they would accidentally kill somebody or hurt somebody, a lot of people can’t even imagine that they would end up being behind bars for decades,” said Burton. “But every time you start that motor and drive after you’ve been drinking you are rolling the dice to hurt somebody, kill somebody and spend many years behind bars.” The DA’s office said they work hard to be as tough as possible on Driving While Intoxicated cases. There can be extensive fine, probation, alcohol awareness classes, and even jail time for a DWI. “What we need jurors to do to help us is have a tough consequence so people will feel the sting when it happens,” said Brown. Barton said the ultimate decision to do the right thing and avoid these dangerous and deadly accidents is up to the driver. “You choose not to do it and you’re guaranteed 100% that you will not end up behind bars for decades, that you will not kill anybody by drinking and driving,” said Barton. And if you do find yourself needing a ride, calling a friend or family member to be a designated driver is always a good plan. Adam’s Automotive in Van Alstyne, who did the Holiday Haul service, is still continuing to provide safe rides. It’s just a flat rate of $35.00 and they’ll take you wherever you need to go.
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a drunk driving accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected.
Midland, Texas Man Killed in Truck Rollover by Texas Truck Rollover Attorney Justin A. Hill
Rollover accidents continue to occur even though vehicles are becoming, slowly, less prone to rolling over and safer even if rolled. An article by the Detroit Automotive Technology Examiner contained an in depth discussion regarding rollovers, roof crush, weight to strength ratios and the consequences of weak and/or strong roofs. It appears that part of this article is in response to the allegations that Toyota withheld or destroyed crucial documents in rollover lawsuits. For example the author states:
Auto crashes are a fact of modern life. Car-to-car crashes are especially affected by weight and size differentials between vehicles, and produce a complex set of interactive factors. In the case of a rollover, the situation is different; it’s simply a matter of the rolling vehicle and the ground; meaning the weight of the rolling vehicle and its structural integrity are involved. That’s why, in my opinion, it’s easier to prove roof defects by design and testing; that’s if the test results are ever made public. With that in mind, it’s crucial for all auto manufacturers to provide test results whenever ordered by a court of law. Any attempt to withhold, destroy or modify test documents is illegal and immoral. The temptation to cover up a flawed roof design may play well as a legal tactic to protect corporate assets, but never justifiable. A company’s reputation and integrity are equally valuable.
As the article states, auto accidents are a fact of modern life and therefore vehicles should be designed to protect occupants in these foreseeable accidents. A recent Rollover Accident around Midland, Texas has claimed the life of a young Midland man. According to NewsWest9.com:
A Midland man was killed in a rollover accident earlier this week. The Texas Department of Public Safety says the accident happened Monday morning on Highway 181 in Andrews County. 39-year-old Oscar Gutierrez was killed when he lost control of his truck, hit a bar ditch and rolled. No one else was the involved in the accident.
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a rollover accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected.
Toyota Sudden Acceleration Lawsuits by San Antonio, Texas Sudden Acceleration Attorney Justin A. Hill
The Toyota Sudden Acceleration saga continues to develop. Toyota is alleging that a fix is available for recalled Toyota owners. Many people are still alleging that the problem is electronic and not floor pedals, floor mats or mechanical. People continue to be involved in accidents, and now, lawsuits are piling-up. According to the Cleveland Leader:
The Toyota recalls have begun to trigger the filing of lawsuits across the country. A class-action suit in Brooklyn, New York was filed yesterday, a team of lawyers representing 15 plaintiffs filed a $1 billion suit in Florida, and suits were also filed in Ohio and Texas, amongst many others. While most of these lawsuits may represent a pesky headache for Toyota, as many of those involved were uninjured, there is likely to be at least one fatal case that exemplifies the seriousness of Toyota’s problems that could really put them in an even worse place than they are now.
On Friday, the New York Times highlighted one of these tragic cases. A 77-year-old grandmother was driving in her own neighborhood, and according to several witnesses they say her car accelerated out of control, ran several red lights, dodged other cars and eventually hit a tree at approximately 80 miles per hour. Guadalup Alberto, the driver, was killed.
A class action was recently filed relating to the problem of sudden acceleration in Toyotas. Our firm is currently investigating Toyota sudden acceleration cases. Sudden acceleration is a dangerous and potentially fatal defect. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a sudden acceleration defect, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all are protected.
Ban on Texting and Driving for Truckers and Bus Drivers by Texas 18-Wheeler and Trucking Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Trucking accidents, busing accidents and vehicle accidents caused by or related to drivers texting and driving have become commonplace. Some literature has concluded that texting and driving is more dangerous than drinking and driving and even more hazardous when truckers engage in such activities. A CNN article from the summer of 2009 states:
Truckers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to crash or get into a near-wreck than an undistracted driver, while car drivers face the greatest danger when dialing their cell phones, a transportation study found. The likelihood of a crash due to cell-phone use disproportionately affected truckers in comparison with car drivers, according to the study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. When dialing, the chance of an accident for a truck driver is 5.9 times more likely versus 2.8 times more likely for a car driver, the study found. If a trucker reaches for an electronic device, the crash risk is 6.7 times as high, while the risk for a car driver is 1.4 times as high, it showed. Truckers only fared better while talking or listening on a cell phone, with the increased risk one time more likely compared with 1.3 times for a car driver.
More can be found by reading NHTSA’s study regarding the safety of using wireless communication devices while driving.
Not only has the federal government and other safety organizations taken notice, but the driving public is also increasingly aware of the dangers of texting and driving, and states, cities, and municipalities across the nation are taking action to ban texting while driving. Now, the federal government has finally taken a large first step in addressing this problem. According to the WashingtonPost:
On [January 26, 2010], the federal government formally barred truckers and bus drivers from sending text messages while behind the wheel, putting its imprimatur on a prohibition embraced by many large trucking and transportation companies. “We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving” LaHood has made the effort to curtail driver distractions a centerpiece of his tenure as the nation’s top transportation official. Some saw his announcement as a step that might ultimately fuel a push to ban cellphone use by all drivers. LaHood’s announcement followed a study released in July by Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute that found that when truckers text, they are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or close call. Also [on January 26, 2010] , a group of senators unveiled legislation that seeks to bar all texting while driving
This is a large positive step forward in automotive safety. SaferAutomobiles has covered this topic before here and here. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an 18-wheeler accident, big rig accident or tractor-trailer accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all claimants are protected.
Conroe, Texas Man, Matthew Whatley, Killed by 18-Wheeler By San Antonio and Austin 18-Wheeler and Traffic Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a preliminary release of data regarding 18-wheeler/tractor-trailer accidents and information for 2008 on their website. This information is shocking. The early report emphasizes the dangers of these vehicles and how 2008 was no different in terms of their impact on the roadways. Some of the more important points are below:
- 4,229 Fatality Accidents Involving 18-Wheelers;
- 90,000 Injury Accidents Involving 18-Wheelers;
- 318 Pedestrian Fatality Accidents Involving 18-Wheelers; and
- 69 Bicyclist Fatality Accidents Involving 18-Wheelers
The reasons that combination vehicles continue to be a danger are many. From long hours and fatigued drivers to bad training and poorly maintained vehicles, tractor trailers and 18-wheelers continue to be a serious danger to all drivers. A recent 18-wheeler accident in San Antonio, Texas led to the untimely death of a young man from Conroe, Texas. MySA.com reports:
A Conroe man was killed in a traffic accident on the Southeast Side early Monday morning, authorities said. Matthew Whatley, 21, had stopped on Interstate 37 near Southton Road around 3:40 a.m., when he flagged down a passing motorist for help. A San Antonio Police Department incident report states Urbano Ventura, 39, was driving a blue Ford pickup south on Interstate 37 when he saw Whatley and stopped. Then, as Whatley stood near Ventura’s window, a tractor-trailer crashed into the back of Ventura’s truck and struck Whatley. Ventura was not injured, the report states, and Whatley was pronounced dead at the scene. The report cites driver inattention and speed as reasons why the driver of the tractor-trailer, 41-year-old Jose Portugal, crashed into Ventura’s pickup. He was not charged in connection with the incident, the report states. Southbound traffic was diverted off the interstate for several hours while crews cleared the crash.
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an 18-wheeler accident, big rig accident or tractor-trailer accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all claimants are protected.
Floresville, Texas Rollover Fatality Accident By San Antonio and Austin Automotive Defect Attorney Justin A. Hill
It is generally accepted that in a rollover accident if an occupant stays entirely inside the vehicle and the roof does not crush down, the occupant has a much higher chance of escaping the rollover alive and without serious debilitating injuries. Therefore, keeping occupants inside a vehicle during a roll sequence should be a goal of any vehicle’s safety system. Traditional seatbelt systems are ill-equipped to account for the vehicle dynamics of a rollover. In a rollover, however, seatbelts are critical in limiting occupant excursion. Occupant excursion is the extent to which an occupant’s body moves out of its original seating position during a collision event. Typically, the greater the excursion, the greater the chance of injury.
Many seatbelt retractors, by design, let out excess slack during a rollover because the mechanism for locking the retractor is ineffective while the vehicle is rolling. Instead of staying locked through the entirety of a rollover event, some seatbelt retractors will lock and unlock as the vertical and horizontal forces on the vehicle change. Retractors should stay locked during the entirety of a collision. A retractor staying locked throughout a rollover is essential to limiting occupant excursion. Therefore, many Seatbelts can fail to keep occupants restrained and contained in a vehicle during a rollover. When seatbelts, and other safety systems, fail to keep an occupant inside the vehicle during a rollover, the possibility of a defect with the seatbelt should be carefully analyzed.
A recent accident in the San Antonio, Texas area raises a lot of questions regarding how and why a belted occupant was fully ejected and killed during a rollover event. According to MySA.com:
A Floresville teen was killed Monday afternoon when she crashed her pickup and was ejected from the vehicle, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Marisol Silva, 18, was southbound on U.S. 181, just a few miles north of Floresville, when she ran off the left side of the roadway and overcorrected, causing the truck to overturn, according to authorities. She was wearing her seatbelt but was ejected from the truck, authorities said. She was declared dead at the scene of the accident around 3:42 p.m., according to DPS officials. Silva was the only person in the vehicle. It was unknown why she drove off the road, which caused her to overcorrect the vehicle
When investigating and pleading a design defect seatbelt case, it is critical to be current on what safer alternative designs were available when the vehicle was manufactured. There are multiple safer alternative designs on the market that can alleviate spooling–the release of slack into a seatbelt. Some automobile manufacturers incorporate more than one retractor into their seatbelt systems in case one fails. Rollover fired seatbelt pretensioners were developed in the past ten years to address many of the retractor issues related to rollovers. They are activated when a rollover is sensed and automatically pull in and lock the seatbelt. Seat integrated, or All-Belts to Seats, systems are systems where the seatbelt housing is located in the seat and not the B-Pillar. Also, Web-Grabbers help alleviate the chances of spooling. All of these are safer alternative designs that help to significantly reduce occupant excursion in a collision event.
If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a rollover accident, seatbelt failure, or automotive defect, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all potential plaintiffs are protected.
Fatality Accidents January 2010 By San Antonio and Austin 18-Wheeler and Traffic Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Below is a list of recent accident that have happened in the Central Texas area in early January 2010.
Seguin, Texas Fatality Accident:
A young boy was killed in a two-vehicle accident early Thursday morning. Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Edmundo “Cass” Castellanos pronounced 2-year-old Sergio Varela, of Seguin, dead at the scene of the accident, at the 9500 block of FM 1117, at 9:55 a.m. Department of Public Safety Trooper Jason Nolen said Varely Guillen, 22, of Seguin was travelling northbound with her son Sergio secured in a car seat in the back seat on the driver’s side when her Dodge Neon was hit on the driver’s side by a Ford Explorer that veered into her lane from the southbound lane. AirLife was called to the scene, but could not get to the accident site because of the rainy weather. Guillen was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio by EMS. Nolen said he believed her condition was severe. The Seguin Gazette Enterprise could not reach the public information office of the hospital to get an update on her condition. The driver of the Ford Explorer, Don Casas, 19, of Nixon was transported to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries. Nolen said the accident is under investigation.
Amarillo, Texas Rollover Accident:
A college student who was injured in a rollover accident that closed down northbound lanes of Interstate 27 north of Canyon on Wednesday remains in critical condition, a Northwest Texas Hospital spokeswoman said Thursday. McKenzi L. Meyer, 21, of College Station was seriously injured in a single-vehicle rollover accident at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. Witnesses said Meyer veered into the grass median, then overcorrected and lost control of her sport utility vehicle, which rolled several times, according to the Department of Public Safety. Numerous motorists stopped to help Meyer while waiting for emergency crews. Troopers closed the northbound lanes of the highway for about an hour.
Lubbock, Texas Fatality Accident:
Two people were killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon south of Post. The crash happened between 4:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on U.S. 84 in Garza County, according to the Garza County Sheriff’s Office. The two people who died, whose names were not available Thursday night, were the only occupants of the two vehicles, according to the sheriff’s office.The Texas Department of Public Safety continued to investigate the accident Thursday night and did not have additional details about how the crash happened.
Hill County, Texas Belted Rollover Fatality:
Lorentz Monroe Fulton, 22, died early Saturday morning after losing control of his truck on a rural Hill County road. Fulton was driving on County Road 2128 a mile southeast of Whitney at around 3 a.m. Saturday when he lost control of the 2007 Chevrolet truck, which skidded across the road, crashed through a fence, hit two trees and then overturned, authorities said. Fulton, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Houston, Texas 18-Wheeler Fatality Accident:
The family and friends of Juawanna Henry-Campbell gathered Sunday to remember the life of the 25-year-old beauty school student and young wife. “She was just an easy-going, loving, beautiful child,” said her mother Joyce Henry-Haley. Henry-Campbell’s life was cut short Saturday morning in a mysterious crash. Juawanna and her friend, Magui Dunn, were driving home when disaster struck on the Eastex Freeway at Laura Koppe Road. Henry-Campbell died at the scene. Dunn is in the hospital in critical condition. Police say an 18-wheeler hit Henry-Campbell’s gray Mazda after the Mazda lost control. Investigators on the scene discovered an abandoned white Silverado truck that had crashed into a concrete barrier, leaving them to wonder if the accident was a hit-and-run. But with the driver of the Silverado nowhere to be found, detectives can only speculate. That’s why police hope witnesses to the crash will come forward. “A bad dream that you are going to wake up out of,” said Henry-Haley. The Henrys say they know a witness is out there, because a stranger called the family shortly after the crash saying Juawanna’s cell phone and camera were lying in a nearby grassy area.
It is important to understand the types of accidents that occur on the roads. Vehicle design, commercial truck regulations and laws should be fashioned with consideration of the typical and common accidents on the road. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a 18-wheeler accident, traffic accident, or drunk driving accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all potential plaintiffs are protected.
Dashboard Internet by Texas Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Currently, cell phones, texting, GPS, eating, and a whole array of gadgets and technology contribute to drivers being increasingly distracted while driving on the nation’s roadways. Now, car manufactures are toying with the idea of opening up the World Wide Web to drivers. The implications of adding this technology to vehicles could be disastrous. The New York Times reports:
Technology giants like Intel and Google are turning their attention from the desktop to the dashboard, hoping to bring the power of the PC to the car. They see vast opportunity for profit in working with automakers to create the next generation of irresistible devices. This week at the Consumer Electronics Show, the neon-drenched annual trade show here, these companies are demonstrating the breadth of their ambitions, like 10-inch screens above the gearshift showing high-definition videos, 3-D maps and Web pages. The first wave of these “infotainment systems,” as the tech and car industries call them, will hit the market this year. While built-in navigation features were once costly options, the new systems are likely to be standard equipment in a wide range of cars before long. They prevent drivers from watching video and using some other functions while the car is moving, but they can still pull up content as varied as restaurant reviews and the covers of music albums with the tap of a finger. Safety advocates say the companies behind these technologies are tone-deaf to mounting research showing the risks of distracted driving — and to a growing national debate about the use of mobile devices in cars and how to avoid the thousands of wrecks and injuries this distraction causes each year.
The dangers of texting and driving are only now becoming studied and better understood. The addition of the above technology could drastically increase the likelihood of accidents as the result of driver distraction. Driver distraction is a serious problem that can lead to serious injuries and death. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a distracted driver, texting while driving accident, or accident involving someone using their phone encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all claimants are protected.
These situations are often misunderstood and likely misidentified in many accidents. Situations such as one that recently happened in San Antonio, Texas should be reviewed closely. According to MySA.com
A woman killed in a crash Saturday was identified as Karla Monsivais, 23, according to the Bexar County medical examiner’s office. The one-vehicle crash occurred around 9 a.m.in the westbound lanes of Texas 151, near Pinn Road, when a rear tire on Monsivais’ vehicle blew out. She tried to regain control of the vehicle, but swerved across two lanes and crashed into a guardrail, according to a police report. She was taken to Wilford Hall Medical Center where she later died.
If you suspect someone you know was injured or killed as the result of a tire related accident, tire delamination, or tire detread, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly.
