Houston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Slippery when wet is a caution we should expect to see regularly over the next few months as inclement weather becomes the norm across the nation. But what are the dangers of slippery roadways? Let's consider these in this article.

*Slippery roads are especially dangerous to drivers whose vehicles have worn tires. When the tread is worn down on a car then it is not able to grip the road as well. When a driver puts on his or her brakes the vehicle will begin to hydroplane across the highway instead of slowing or stopping the car or truck. A hydroplaning vehicle is much like a sled. It is impossible to maneuver - almost having gained a mind of its own. It will slip and slide on the road until coming to a stop - which usually happens in a collision.

*Even if a driver has new tires with thick new tread - on roadways in which the water has built up it can get into the treads of the tires. When this happens the driver is no longer driving on the pavement but on a layer of water instead. Again - as in the case of worn tires - the vehicle can hydroplane when the brakes are applied.

The most valuable driving behavior to adopt when roads are wet is to slow down and leave ample stopping distance between you and the car or truck in front of you. Drive defensively - because you never know when another vehicle will hydroplane on roads that are slippery when wet.

Continue reading "Hydroplaning Vehicles and Car Accidents" »

The case for requiring hands-free cell phone while driving is one easily made by anyone driving down the highway and watching people talk on the cell phone. On my way to work this morning I again noticed a car traveling at a very slow rate of speed and actually impeding traffic while the driver was talking on the telephone. This is a common occurrence and one that undoubtedly leads to numerous car accidents across the state of Texas every year.

While studies are inconclusive about the effectiveness of hands-free adapters for cell phones, in practice there is little doubt that cell phone use while driving is both popular and dangerous. Attempts to regulate cell phone use and texting while driving in Texas have been vetoed by our governor and other common sense proposals have failed to pass the legislature.

15 years ago cell phone use was not the problem it is today and cell phones were not "smartphones" which accessible text messages and e-mail. In fact, today a smartphone is an essential tool for any businessperson.

With the explosion of cell phone use comes more and more car accidents that occur because someone was on the phone or looking at their phone and not paying attention to the road ahead.

It is high time that Texas past a ban on texting and limitations on cell phone use while driving to only situations involving hands-free communications. Call your legislator today and demand action.

Continue reading "Should Hands Free Cell Phone Be Required in Texas" »

Should a parent own a breathalyzer on alcohol screening tester? A family I know with two teenage children swear by the alcohol testing approach if they have any suspicions at all that a child had been drinking and driving. If anything shows up-the child is grounded and a car is taken away.

Obviously drinking and driving my teens is extremely dangerous and illegal. My friend's reasons for owning a Breathalyzer is to make sure that their children come home safely and not injure others. As parents, we hope that we have given our children proper foundations to make good choices-yet young people have not developed fully life skills at the teenage years and some are prone to experiment.

There's no doubt that drinking and driving or drunken driving accidents are the single largest factor in teenage auto accidents involving a fatality. In the teenage years many young children do not appreciate the risks or the consequences and it can be devastating to a family. There is a local family who recently lost their daughter who have courageously started Krysta's Karing Angles and serve our community by going around and showing teenagers a crashed vehicle and the consequences of driving while drunk.

Another factor is that many children are killed not because they were driving drunk but because they were riding with a drinking driver. Much time should be spent talking to our children about the dangers of riding with someone drinking in addition to the dangers of drinking and driving.

At the end of the day-on the question should a parent own an alcohol press screener my response is it sure couldn't hurt. Excellent testers can be had for under $100.

Additionally do not forget to lead by example and practice what we preach.

Continue reading "Should Parents Breath Test Teens?" »

There are a wide variety of trailers that can be attached to cars or trucks for a number of purposes. The more common types are trailers for hauling items such as boats or bikes, horse trailers, trailers for the purpose of moving households from one location to another and trailers for other work such as construction or carnival employment. Many Houston car accidents are caused by trailers.

Trailers are attached to a 'hitch' and these come in various sizes and styles to meet the myriad towing needs of the American public. Some of the more common types include (but are not limited to) standard, ball and front mount. The standard hitch is usually attached to the frame of a vehicle and is used for towing. The ball type of hitch is spherical and most likely found in situations that require bumper pulling. The front mount is attached directly to a truck's framework.

Trailers that have not been attached properly cause hundreds of auto accidents and injuries each year including many wrongful death cases.. Often, these problems arise because the driver has failed to follow the proper safety precautions when attaching and securing the trailer.

For instance, problems may arise if the trailer has not been 'leveled' or the locking mechanism is not secure. Too, if a trailer's tires are in poor condition then the loss of one could cause the trailer to fishtail and disconnect or otherwise lead to an unexpected tragedy.

Finally, if a driver has not properly secured the load he is carrying or speeds and brakes mindlessly he or she is placing themselves in danger as well as the other drivers and passengers on the road.

News reports from KHOU Houston indicate that a HPD officer was recently towards with DWI after a crash with a school bus. Apparently the officer was injured in the crash which occurred earlier in April and he has been relieved of duty with pay.

Fortunately there were no other injuries and the school bus was not carried children at the time of the accident. Initial reports seem to indicate that HPD initially felt like the accident was the bus driver's fault, however that seems to have changed.

The reports go on to indicate that the bus driver felt like the officer had been drinking and apparently there is an allegation of open containers in the vehicle. It is unfortunate that this occurred and although we rely upon officers to protect us they are only human and can make mistakes. I'm not condoning any actions simply pointing out that good people sometimes can make poor choices. Hopefully regardless of the result in the DWI investigation and lesson will have been learned.

Texas has recently considered several actions aimed at combating the rising drunk driving accidents in Texas. Some are aimed at the punishment phase and others are directed at preventing repeat offenses. I urge everyone to support organizations such as mothers against drunk driving and also the Houston 100 club which provides benefits to officers who lose their lives in the pursuit of their duty. Numerous officers have been killed in the Houston area by drunk drivers.

Continue reading "Houston Police Department Officer Charged with DWI After Accident" »

In a terrible and tragic accident in Houston Monday an unlicensed driver apparently took his parents car and struck some children getting off the bus, according to reports.

At least one of the children it is reported with a broken bone and the other reportedly has nonlife threatening injuries. Most likely, there will be no insurance coverage for the injury sustained the children because the use of the vehicle was reportedly not permissive.

This is an example of why we all need to teach our children about driving and safe driving as soon as possible. I know from first-hand experience that as a teenager my parents could not tell me much. At the same time all children are like sponges and are picking up things each and every day. Often, it is not what we say that matters most to teenagers but what we do.

None of us can anticipate everything our children may do and we can only do the best we can to help protect them and help them make their way in the world. A good way to give them a good start is to preach safe driving from the time that proceeds when they get their license.

Buckle up my example, stop at stop signs completely, and talk to them about evasive actions and appropriate responses as they come up.

It will pay dividends in the end.

Continue reading "15-Year-Old Driver Runs into Two Children" »

An interesting story ran on the news recently about a young child who took the family minivan and went off to buy food because he was hungry. As one might expect - the child crashed the vehicle in an accident that involved another driver whom, herself, only sustained minor injuries while the child was basically unscratched.

This news item turned viral over the weekend and while some people may have found it 'cute' anyone with small children probably ran to hide the keys - and I shudder to think what parents with push-button start cars are thinking.

As a parent we are charged with keeping our children safe in the vehicle when we are driving - how many of us stop to think of any of the other scenarios that may occur between a child and a car.

And while certainly this story seems far-fetched - the child has demonstrated that it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to reason out the manner in which to attempt to drive all by themselves (they even get the opportunity to 'drive' on many video games which further emboldens and distorts their understanding of the process).

The real problem with this story is that it is not the first time that a child has taken the keys to the family car and attempted to drive. One thing is for sure - this action ends negatively for everyone involved.

Parents - take the time to talk to your children about who may and may not drive the car. Then keep the car locked and any device related to driving put safely out of little one's hands.

Continue reading "Children Driving Cars" »

Proactive auto care is one sure way to avoid problems with your vehicle in the middle of a traffic jam or while traveling on America's highways. A recent article on a major news site suggested readers need only use their senses to remain apprised of impending concerns with a car or truck.

In other words - if you see, hear or smell something out of the ordinary with your vehicle do not avoid addressing the issue because it is bound to get worse and could put you, your family and other unsuspecting drivers on the road in danger.

For instance, if you see a leak developing under the car and then detect a burning odor emanating from your engine when driving - this is a signal that you need to have your car examined for low fluids and/or cracked hoses.

It is certainly an indication that your car needs to be attended to by a professional mechanic - unless you are qualified to deal with auto problems yourself. Too, if you hear the sound of squeaking beneath you it could be an indication of the need to have your brakes replaced or even something more serious.

Finally, be sensitive to how the car feels when you're driving - or rely on your sense of touch. If your steering wheel begins to shake it could mean you've blown a tire.

Taking your car into an auto shop for regular maintenance can be a lifesaving move for all involved. After all, what is the cost of a tire or other auto repair in comparison to the fallout of an auto accident - that could have been avoided altogether with proper planning?

Continue reading "Proper Auto Maintenance Essential " »

As if our roadways aren't dangerous enough with cars and trucks making unexpected moves that endanger drivers - imagine driving down one of the busiest highways in the Houston area and a guy appears in front of you running full-tilt on the roadway with a cop in close pursuit. It is a recipe for disaster not unlike high speed police chases that also put innocent lives in jeopardy.

According to reports the pursuit began when police attempted to pull a vehicle over and the passengers began tossing what appeared to be narcotics out the window. That was it - the chase was on and it went through some of the most heavily traversed areas in the city.

Before the incident ended the suspect jumped from behind the wheel of his moving vehicle - let it continue on the roadway without a driver - and ran off into traffic on the Loop. He was apprehended by the police - but not before some harrowing close calls occurred.

Now, far be it from me to second guess the police but let us say - for instance - that the event had resulted in a catastrophic accident (not unlikely in the least) that caused grave injury or death to a loved one. Would the pursuit have been worth it? Certainly I am against crime and drugs - but I am FOR common sense decision making that does not further (needlessly?) endanger the public.

I always look at it from the point of view of - what if it were your child?

PROTECT and serve, fellas, PROTECT and serve.

Continue reading "Houston Police Chase" »

The Texas House has apparently tentatively approved a new bill which would allow for an 85 mph speed limit on some of our Texas highways. The bill would give the TXDOT the authority to raise the speed limit on some highways to be the highest in the country. Reports indicate that similar legislation is pending approval by the Senate. If enacted into law, Texas would have the highest speed limit potential in the country.

Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between speed and fatal car accidents. Simply the slower people drive the less chance that they will be seriously hurt or killed in a car accident. The higher the speed travelled, the higher the probability of an accident leading to serious injury or death.

Additionally, one of the factors that contribute to many car accidents is a disparity between speeds of vehicles going the same direction on the same highway. If one vehicle is traveling at a speed much greater or lesser than another on the roadway, the potential for accidents increases.

Perhaps there are some compelling reasons for this proposed legislation, however I have yet to think of any. One wonders what the costs of implementing the change will be to the state of Texas should this pass. Changing speed limit signs, the studies and engineering work required of the Texas Department of Transportation and other costs associated with the proposed law.

On the flip side, clearly should 85 mph speed limit be utilized on numerous highways across the state of Texas, our accident statistics are bound to increase. Given the high price of gasoline, our miles per gallon will decline at a significant cost with the increased speed.

Nevertheless, Texans will, should this law pass, be able to say that our state has the highest speed limit in the country. So I guess we may have that going for us.

Lets hope that the law does not pass and if it does that it is utilized only on very open stretches of highway without much traffic.

Continue reading "85 mph Speed Limit in Texas?" »

Pick-up trucks range in weight from a low of 3700 pounds (empty) to up to 13,000 pounds depending on such things as the manufacturer, year of production and added safety features.

Additionally, their beds provide room to pile on weight that may or may not be secured. Researchers have offered that for the most part today's pick-ups average around 5500 (or five and a half tons) pounds.

On the other hand automobiles are generally of a lighter weight (not including SUVs which will not be considered in this discussion). They weigh in somewhere around 3500 pounds and their weight continues to decline in response to EPA regulations that are requiring greater MPG among other things.

When vehicle manufacturers were challenged to increase the miles per gallon an automobile could get their best response was to decrease the weight of the car. Today's cars have replaced many heavy metal parts with cheaper and lighter plastics.

While this has proved beneficial to increased mileage it is obvious that in a collision between a pick-up truck and an automobile the vehicle with the heavier weight will most likely sustain less damage and offer its driver and passengers more protection.

Of course, all of today's vehicles - both cars and trucks - come equipped with increased and more sophisticated safety systems designed to offer further protection to anyone in an accident - but it is simply pure physics that the object of greater weight will inflict greater damage on an object of smaller weight and size.

Always drive defensively.

Continue reading "Pickup Truck Accidents" »

When the words 'vehicle collision' appear it is normal to conjure up visions of cars and trucks in various stages of disrepair. You may think of side collisions, rear-end accidents or even rollovers. But for this blog let us consider some of the more unusual collisions one may never be able to prepare for.

In an Atlantic coastal state a pick-up truck was parked well off the main highway on a gravel road. The whereabouts of the truck's owner were unavailable at the time of the accident - suffice it to say that he or she was fortunate to be elsewhere when an experimental single-engine plane fell from the sky - its wing crushing the front half of the pick-up in the process.

Fortunately the pilot suffered only minor injuries as well. Boy, are we in trouble if we have to incorporate defensive driving against airplanes into our daily lives.

Another unexpected car crash was caused by one of America's favorite birds - the turkey - on the back country roads of a northern state. A teen and his sister were on their way to school when a turkey unexpectedly flew into their windshield - nearly shattering it.

The shock of the incident caused the young driver to lose control of his vehicle and he drove off the side of the road. There were no injuries but the reader would probably not be surprised to learn that this happened a few days before Thanksgiving. To date the score is: turkeys - 1/ Thanksgiving revelers - millions.

Drive defensively.

Continue reading "Unusual Accidents" »

Many times accidents are chalked up to drunk driving, but after autopsies have been performed, the reports will show about thirty percent of these bodies had large doses of drugs that impaired the driver's judgment. The problem is that there really is no roadside test for the average police department to check for drugs in the driver's system.

Typically, they will arrest them for being suspect of drunken driving, and get a judge to issue a court order for a full work up on a blood sample. This is nothing new, but the public has not become aware of drugged driving yet.

People consuming narcotics like heroin, LSD, and marijuana have no idea what they are doing at times behind the wheel of a four thousand pound car that now becomes an assault weapon with the capability of killing one or as many as a dozen people before crashing to a halt or being forced to stop by the police.

Someone that is hallucinating from drugs while driving is just as deadly as a person consuming a fifth of vodka before getting in their personal vehicle. Sadly, the driver is usually spared in these types of accidents, but the personal loss that is caused by the victim's families cannot be calculated.

Even more deadly are combinations of drugs, and alcohol for vehicle operators, some will die from overdosing while driving, and cause a crash, as there is not a living person behind the steering wheel any longer.

The federal government, and several car makers are working on technology the could possibly render vehicles immobile in the future by sensing the chemicals that are coming out of the pores of their hands, but that is years away from becoming a reality. Making this type of technology, a requirement for each vehicle will have to be fought out in congress, and at state level legislatures too.

People who kill others while under the influence of drugs are just a guilty, as drunk drivers, and are just as liable in civil court for wrongful death, and personal injury lawsuits.

When technology finally catches up the with drug users, the jails will start swelling by double, but for now most of these people are only caught after the damage has been done to them, and their victims.

Prevention through new inventions will hopefully curtail this whole area of criminal activity, and prevent thousands of deaths each year in the future.

Continue reading "Drugged Driving Is Just As Rampant As Drunk Driving" »

Vehicle upkeep is one of the responsibilities of owning a car or truck. When you fail to do so you put your own life and others at risk. Consider the following auto accidents.

A light truck that appeared to be traveling with no problems suddenly began to swerve sideways. Other drivers hustled to get out of the way of the hurtling vehicle. It quickly became apparent that the entire right front wheel had disengaged from the truck which resulted in the driver totally losing control.

Meanwhile the wayward tire went flying across the highway and struck a small car. The chain reaction of events that followed left one driver dead and others with an array of physical injuries. All told, eight vehicles were involved in the accident. What caused the wheel to fall off the truck entirely?

According to the driver's own account the wheel had been 'wobbly' for a few days but he just hadn't gotten around to checking it out.

In another example a minivan came to a complete stop all of a sudden in the middle of traffic. The driver had failed to put any motor oil in it - even though the warning light had been on for days.

The engine simply seized up and stopped. Although the woman was able to get her children out of the van and safely off the road her negligence endangered everyone around her before some good Samaritans stopped to help.

If you own a vehicle take the time to create a maintenance schedule and display it where it can serve as a reminder - and then follow it as a car accident can change lives in seconds.

Continue reading "Car Accidents Caused by Poor Maintenance" »

Walking along highways is not a safe choice. Vehicles are usually traveling at no less than 55 or 60 miles per hour and often much faster. In an accident the driver is protected by the car or truck while a pedestrian has no safety net whatsoever.

In many places it is illegal to walk alongside highways - this is true because of the fact that it is a gravely dangerous action. Of course, it's one thing if your vehicle breaks down or you run out of gas and you must pull over and then walk for help. Otherwise - I would definitely discourage it.

The reason this topic has been broached in this blog is that the nephew of international celebrity was walking alongside a highway in Florida to draw attention to a charitable cause. He was struck and killed and while few details are available the following information is known.

First, the man has made this 900 mile trek on several occasions and for the same cause over the past few years with no incident. However, reports suggest he was walking at night on an unlit highway. Although someone claims he was on the correct side of the white edge line - that is not a barrier.

A person driving down the road only needs to look away for a moment and their car or truck will drift over to the side - and into the path of the walker before they even have an opportunity to 'correct'. And with texting and cell phones you never know.

Don't walk along the highways - it is simply too dangerous.

Continue reading "Walking Along Highways can be Dangerous" »