Category: Car Accidents

Local Car Accidents, Wrong-Way Collisions On the Rise

October 5, 2015
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

In August, Austin’s exasperated police chief called for change, following another deadly wrong-way crash. The driver – who had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit – survived, but her passenger died the next day from her injuries, and another motorist died at the scene. It was the 65th fatal crash in Austin in 2015. Chief Art Acevedo told TV station KVUE that juries need to be tougher on drunk drivers, and bartenders who over-serve customers should be held accountable. He urged parents to talk to their children about the dangers of drunk driving and the dangers of riding with a driver who has been drinking. He asked people to call the police if they witness a bartender serving an obviously intoxicated patron or if [...]

Aggressive Driving

August 31, 2015
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

During a recent morning rush hour in Allen, Texas, a man fired a gun at a driver in front of him, because she had allegedly cut him off in traffic. He fired four shots – through his own windshield – that pierced her back window, and one of the bullets grazed the woman’s dashboard. Neither driver was injured, and police later arrested the man. This incident is an extreme example of “road rage” – a problem that’s becoming increasingly common, especially in and around Dallas. It begins with aggressive drivers, and when they lose their temper, they may become involved in deadly altercations with other drivers. Often, people who are prone to aggressive driving become more agitated when stuck in traffic. They may follow cars [...]

Car Seat Safety and Legal Guidelines in Texas: Protecting Your Child on the Road

August 19, 2015
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

Car seats are designed to keep children safe in motor vehicles, but in order to be effective, they must be installed properly and be the right size. Seats that aren’t secured or are the wrong size can put children at risk of injury. In Texas, the law requires children to be secured in car seats or booster seats if they are 8 years old or younger. However, age is less important than a child’s size, when it comes to determining what type of car seat they need. For example, a child who’s 3 years old and therefore legally able to be placed in a forward-facing car seat might need to ride in a rear-facing seat, if he’s small for his age. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends the following general guidelin[...]

Liability for Serving Alcohol

July 14, 2015
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

All too often, we see stories about tragic crashes caused by drunk drivers. It’s hard to say why people decide it’s OK to drink and drive. Maybe they don’t realize they’re intoxicated, or they overestimate their own ability to drive while under the influence. But when bartenders recognize that a patron is intoxicated, they may be able to prevent that person from driving drunk. What the Law Says Texas law forbids the sale of alcohol to people who are obviously intoxicated to the point that they pose a danger to themselves or others. A bartender or bar-owner that violates that law could be found liable, if a patron causes a crash after leaving a bar. In 2012, a jury found a Texas bar 75 percent liable for a drunk driving cras[...]

Sleep Deprivation and Accidents

May 13, 2015
EVANS / DESHAZO / REILLEY

There’s a reason Starbucks is so successful: Many people rely on coffee to get through the day, because they aren’t getting enough sleep. But while caffeine may increase alertness for a short time, it’s no substitute for a good night’s sleep. Without adequate sleep, people may become clumsy, forgetful, irritable, and they may have impaired reaction time and concentration. People who go to work tired often make careless mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes can have serious consequences. In 2004, about 60 miles north of Dallas, a tired truck driver fell asleep at the wheel, and his rig crossed a median and struck two vehicles, killing 10 people. Sleep deprivation was also cited as a factor in the 1979 nuclear accident at Thre[...]