Houston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Recent advancements in computer software and GPS devices have made monitoring a driver a relatively inexpensive and simple proposition. Cell phone providers like AT&T and Verizon provide applications that and able parents to monitor the location of their children if the children have a cell phone with GPS capability.

New advances in technology have enabled companies and parents to track the operation of a specific vehicle very easily and without much expense. The latest devices, plug directly into the onboard computer and new passenger vehicles. If the child is driving above set parameters or goes outside and a set area the parents now can receive a text message or e-mail alerting them to the issue.

In effect, for a few hundred dollars parents can now monitor the driving of their teenage children. Companies can monitor company vehicles and their use or misuse. Of course, with the ability to monitor every move a vehicle makes comes a concern about privacy. Certainly, GPS tracking devices and vehicle monitoring devices can be misused by anyone.

With teenage drivers however, the likelihood of being in a fatal accident is 5 times greater than the average driver. Teenage drivers and certainly brand-new drivers do not have the driving experience necessary to make good choices at all times. A parent as hard as they try to prepare their children to drive, driving in a big city is not what it was like when we grew up. Cars and pickup trucks are much faster and have much more power and traffic is multiple times worse than it was when mom and dad first driving.

Whether or not a family should invest in a vehicle-monitoring device for their teenage driver is a matter of personal choice. Certainly the young person's privacy should be respected and at the same time our primary duty as a parent is to protect our children and driving is certainly a big part of that. There are many new devices used to monitor vehicles performance and the latest versions plug directly into the computer and most newer passenger cars.

Continue reading "Monitoring Your Teen Driver" »

The fastest growing driving segment of the population is senior drivers - aged sixty and over. If you or a loved one is a senior driver then the following information should be of interest to you.

*First and foremost, everyone needs to understand how the aging process affects one's ability to drive. Because people age differently - it is not possible to choose an arbitrary age at which one is no longer capable of driving. Instead both the driver and family members should be cognizant of changes in such things as vision and hearing - and even mental acuity. All of these play a factor in safe driving.

*Maximize safe driving by having regular physicals and speaking with your physician if you are experiencing any health challenges. Remember that often times medication may interfere with an individual's ability to drive safely so be sure to know all the side effects of your medication.

*Make sure the car you are driving is in good working order. Take the car in for regular 'check-ups' as well. If a senior is driving a newer vehicle with modern electronics it is important that they know how to use these features.

*Senior drivers should get enough sleep - and be more aware of defense driving maneuvers as they age.

Finally, if your senior loved one is demonstrating questionable driving skills - intervene. There are a number of programs that help to convince seniors that they are no longer safe drivers.

Continue reading "Senior Drivers" »

One of the advantages of living in a southern state is the weather that allows us to enjoy activities that those in winter 'states' may not access - such as bike riding. Unfortunately, though, year-round bike riding leads to greater numbers of injury and fatality accidents. All of the following have occurred in recent weeks across the state of Texas. According to reports:

*An elderly man was crossing a city street on his bike when he was struck by a pick-up truck driven by a man in his twenties who had lost control of the vehicle causing it to flip on its side and slide through an intersection. The cyclist was killed as were two passengers in the truck. In all, four vehicles were involved. Alcohol is believed to be a factor.

*A Texas resident was riding his bicycle as night on the side of the road when he was struck from behind by a vehicle. The roadway was unlit and the person was injured. The following day a teenager was also struck and killed in Texas under similar circumstances.

In a single recent year forty two Texans lost their lives in bicycle accidents. This was a decrease of ten people from the year before but is little compensation to those whose loved ones were killed as a result of driver error.

Continue reading "42 Fatal Bike Accidents in Texas in One Year" »

There have been a number of unusual intoxicated driving cases recently reported in the news. For instance, as reported just last week a man in Florida went to the unusual and unprecedented lengths of actually 'adopting' his current and (comparatively speaking) long-term girlfriend in order to include her as a beneficiary in his estate and - for all intents and purposes - at least at 'face value' - prevent 'attachment' of his assets in a civil suit that has been brought against him for a fatality that occurred when he was alleged to be driving while intoxicated.

This legal maneuver made national headlines and while many legal experts are decrying this as a questionable if not underhanded use of the law - I suspect it will open the door to looking at other unusual approaches to manipulating the legal system to avoid justice (and punitive damages).

In another equally unusual and highly publicized case in recent weeks a man who was pardoned by the governor of a southern state as a final act on the eve of the end of his term - has been found to have been sitting in jail for having killed a young lady and injured her sister in an accident he caused when driving while intoxicated.
Reportedly, this was actually the man's fourth DUI - but first fatality. An entire state - and much of the nation - is up in arms in light of this decision.

Individuals who are maimed or killed by the thoughtless and illegal behavior of drunk drivers often sue for punitive damages in the DWI accident lawsuit.

Continue reading "DWI Accident Cases In the News" »

The topic of prescription drug use and its impact on driving is timely. According to the Center for Disease Control - last year alone more people died from improperly ingesting prescription medication than the total number of fatalities on American roadways.

Both - or either - can be considered 'epidemic' at best. While statistics placed the rate of addiction for patients who have been prescribed medication for chronic illnesses at 1% in the 1990s, today experts estimate that this number could be as high as 35%.

There is little room for argument that when an individual takes a prescription drug erroneously and then gets behind the wheel of a car - well that combination has repeatedly proved deadly for both the driver and other innocent people.

Some researchers believe that as many wrongful death car accidents can be traced to prescription drug abuse as to incidences of drunk driving. In addition, organizations such as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have made other 'sobering' proclamations with regard to 'drugged driving'.

For instance, in a study published in 2009 the NHTSA stated that s large majority of drivers who fall in the age bracket of 55 and older are 'unaware of the potentially dangerous combination of medications and driving'.

According to the results of a survey - 95% of respondents 55 and older had one or more medical conditions and 78% used one or more medications - yet only 28% indicated some awareness of the potential impact on driving performance associated with those very prescriptions.

If you must take a prescribed medicine for either a short or long term condition - consult your physician and the pharmacist to understand the side effects. If in any way it will inhibit safe driving - then find an alternative means of transportation. This is good advice for yourself and the other people with whom you share the road.

Continue reading "Prescription Drug Use While Driving" »

Conroe is a small suburb outside of Texas. According to the most recent census data, it has a population of about 40,000 people with a median age just shy of thirty years old - evenly split among males and females. It is a predominantly white population that falls between the ages of 18 and 61. In other words, most of the people in the community are of driving age.

All of this is relevant because - despite its small populace - Conroe is known for the fact that its vehicle fatality statistics soar above state averages. The basic following data was taken from a site that devoted solely to the number of vehicle accidents and fatalities in Conroe Fatal car crashes and road traffic accident statistics for 2009

Fatal accident count: 9
Vehicles involved in fatal accidents: 16
Fatal accidents caused by drunken drivers: 3
Fatalities: 11
Persons involved in fatal accidents: 36

These seemingly small numbers are misleading to the causal reading and the data becomes important when considered both in light of the total number of state drivers and fatalities and : over a ten year period juxtaposed against statewide figures. In that case - Conroe becomes an anomaly that requires serious consideration with regard to what is the root cause of the vehicle mortality rate and how it can be decreased. As a Conroe car accident attorney I see the aftermath of a drunk driving accident both on the victim and the drunk driver.

Conroe has taken some important steps in improving safety in our community recently and should be applauded for such efforts. The recent road construction through Conroe surely has contributed the serious car accidents in Conroe.

When it comes to Conroe - looks can be deceiving. On the surface it appears to be a safe little community - It certainly is one in which the citizens are very friendly and always ready to help-but drive with caution when passing through this town.

Continue reading "Conroe Car Accident Statistics Show Cause For Concern" »