Houston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

One of the new tactics of defense lawyers in car accident lawsuits is to obtain or try to obtain information about the victim from the victims Facebook or social media postings. Such things as "have a great day" or showing activities that the victim may be involved in are sought to be used against the victim in a lawsuit.

The goal being making the plaintiff look either like a liar or that they are exaggerating their injury. In other words if the plaintiff complained on Facebook page it would never see the light of day in a lawsuit but if the plaintiff didn't complain or took a vacation the defense would try to blow that out of proportion and make it look bad for the victim.

In almost every deposition these days one of the questions the defense lawyers tend to ask is to use Facebook. While social media is a great way to stay in contact with friends and family it is also a way to hurt a personal injury lawsuit even by the most innocent of postings.

The moral of the story is if you don't want the world to hear about it don't post it on Facebook. This is probably also pretty good advice for children who do not know that Facebook may be creating a permanent record of what they are saying and doing.

I'm sure that if defense lawyers are using Facebook to try to discredit a victim, a prospective employer may also look at Facebook as a way to evaluate a potential employee. The explosion of social media and the Internet has certainly changed the way people communicate and also made such communications "public record".

If you've been seriously injured in a Houston car accident be very careful about what you choose to post online, because you may well here it taken out of context to make you look bad in a auto accident lawsuit.

Continue reading "Facebook And Car Accidents" »

Oh, that trusty technology. For those who are unaware - there are a number of 'safe-driving' apps that are designed to keep drivers and passengers protected while on the road.

*One app is a 'text' intervention application that disrupts a driver's ability to receive or send text messages and/or receive or send emails. While many states are taking up the cause of making texting a legal no-no - there are still far too many cases of this being the source of distracted driving - and the source of injury and death. Moreover, police are disinclined to ticket drivers for this because it's a hassle to prove, etc.

*There are a number of apps similar to the previously mentioned one that performs similar functions - such as preventing phone calls from ringing in on the driver's cell phone - or preventing a person from speaking on the phone as well - cell phone disabling in other words. This is a particularly popular purchase for parents.

*Another particularly helpful app alerts parents when their new teen driver is exceeding the speed limit as well as informing them of other driving infractions. With two boys headed towards the legal driving age - this app has great appeal!

*Finally, there is an app that offers drivers sample 'distracted driving scenarios' that serve to inform and educate drivers about the possible harmful results of driving and not paying attention.

Continue reading "Technology to Prevent Car Accidents" »

Two of the most at-risk populations on the road are the very young or new driver and the very old or senior driver. They share some common behaviors that have been found to be quite deadly. Let us consider these in this blog.

*New drivers have not had the driving experience necessary to make safe decisions. For instance, they are not experienced in determining how much time is necessary to make a left-hand turn across oncoming traffic and avoid a collision.

In fact, this is one of the most common causes of teen driving accidents. Too, they do not have the background to realize the amount of stopping distance that is necessary to avoid hitting a vehicle or person in front of them. This is also true for senior drivers whose sense of timing tends to fade as they age. Turning into traffic and stopping safely are both challenges that seniors and teen drivers seem to fail with great regularity.

*Teen drivers are easily distracted. They often believe that driving a car requires only a small portion of their attention. The rest can be spent chatting up friends, playing music, texting and talking on the phone.

Now, although seniors may not be distracted in the same way - they are distracted nevertheless. Research shows that they can become confused by the commotion of busy traffic experiences. The noise and lights can lead to a negative reaction in senior drivers that has as much potential for accidents as distractions do for teens.

Keep a close track of your teen and senior family members' driving abilities.

Continue reading "Most at Risk For a Car Accident" »