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HPD Patrol Car Fatal Accident | Houston Car Accident Lawyers...
Posted on 9/7/2010
Funeral for Crosby High School Cheerleader, Houston Car Crash Victim...
Posted on 6/7/2010
Downtown Houston Texas Auto Pedestrian Accident Kills Joyce Levine...
Posted on 4/27/2010
Klein ISD School Bus Involved in 4-vehicle Crash...
Posted on 4/20/2010
Houston Car Accident Attorneys
California Car Accident Attorneys Speak Out About Medical Liens
Serious California car accidents continue to occur, leaving car accident victims injured. A medical lien is a promise to pay back all of your medical expenses later from your personal injury settlement. Often, healthcare expenses are greater when you sign a medical lien so speak to a lawyer before signing away your rights.Read More about California Car Accident Attorneys Speak Out About Medical Liens
Florida Company Introduces First Vehicle Designed Exclusively for Wheelchair Users
SMSH Houston Car Accident Lawyers are excited to see a vehicle designed for wheelchair users. We represent many disabled clients and even handle Long Term Disability Benefit Denial cases.Read More about Florida Company Introduces First Vehicle Designed Exclusively for Wheelchair Users
Fourth Of July Is the Deadliest Driving Day of the Year | Texas Auto Accidents
Take safety precautions this Fourth of July weekend. Have a happy and safe holiday celebrating the USA.Read More about Fourth Of July Is the Deadliest Driving Day of the Year | Texas Auto Accidents
Texas Distracted Driving: 15 Percent of Motorists Admit to Sex While Driving
A recent survey showed 15% of respondents admitted to having had sex whiledriving and 29% of respondents also admitted to having kissed someone while driving. Distracted driving leads to injury and death daily in the US.Read More about Texas Distracted Driving: 15 Percent of Motorists Admit to Sex While Driving
Tips for Houston, Texas Drivers: Work Zone Safety and Highway Construction
Every year since 1992, motor vehicle accidents have been the leading cause of on-the-job deaths in the United States, according to the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). Every year, many hard-working construction workers are killed within work zones. They are run over by motorists, backed over by construction vehicles, and electrocuted by power lines. Their deaths are preventable and we need to insist that greater safety regulations are put in place to protect the working men and women of our country.Read More about Tips for Houston, Texas Drivers: Work Zone Safety and Highway Construction
3 Children Killed, 2 Children Seriously Injured in Bastrop County, Texas Crash
This past Sunday afternoon, Tiffany Bowman, 30, and Priscilla Gonzalez, 26, were involved in a major car wreck in Bastrop County, Texas. The two mothers were driving with their children, and now shockingly three Houston-area children are dead and two seriously injured. Bowman allegedly failed to yield, and her 2000 Dodge Caravan, carrying seven people, was broadsided on the passenger side by a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 truck driven by Michael Scholze, 19, of San Antonio, Texas. Only Gonzalez herself, and Bowman's 1-year-old daughter Apolinar Saldana, were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. Saldana was in a car seat.Read More about 3 Children Killed, 2 Children Seriously Injured in Bastrop County, Texas Crash
Houston, Texas Motorist Seriously Injured in Monday Morning Crash
At least one motorist was seriously injured in a wreck west of downtown Houston, Texas this morning. A Nissan sedan traveling inbound in the 1600 block of Allen Parkway struck a tree on the rain-slicked road this morning. Police say that the driver hopped a curb and hit an oak tree on the center median. Last October, noted Houston attorney John O'Quinn and his associate Johnny Lee Cutliff died in a similar wreck and O'Quinn's estate has been sued for wrongful death. If you have a Houston Car Accident Injury or Death case, please contact our legal team at info@smslegal.com or submit our online contact form.Read More about Houston, Texas Motorist Seriously Injured in Monday Morning Crash
Texas High School Student Killed By Her School Bus
A 15-year-old J.J. Pearce High School student named Anquanete Patterson died yesterday after falling from a moving school bus. School bus accident victims may be entitled to legal damages. The attorneys of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, LLP are ready to fight for you in your school bus accident case anywhere in Texas. The Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyers of SMSH offer free consultations. To set up your meeting today call us toll-free at 1-800-282-2122 or e-mail us at info@smslegal.com.Read More about Texas High School Student Killed By Her School Bus
Two Killed in Multiple Vehicle Crash in Pearland, Texas
Early this morning, a double fatal accident occurred on Highway 35 in Pearland, Texas. The crash took place on Highway 35 near Dixie Farm Road just south of Pearland High School. Two fatalities have been confirmed and several others are injured. If you have been injured in a Pearland, Texas automobile accident, auto pedestrian accident or Pearland, Texas motorcycle accident, please contact the lawyers of SMSH at info@smslegal.com or toll-free at (800) 282-2122.Read More about Two Killed in Multiple Vehicle Crash in Pearland, Texas
Poor Sleep Linked to More Car Accidents in Teenagers
Poor sleep habits are associated with a higher risk of car accidents among teenagers, according to a study in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. In this study, researchers from the University of Bologna in Italy surveyed Italian high school students with a driver's license regarding sleep quality, driving habits, and self-reported car crashes. If you need legal assistance with a Greater Houston Area Auto Accident or a Texas Trucking Accident, contact the lawyers of SMSH at info@smslegal.com today.Read More about Poor Sleep Linked to More Car Accidents in Teenagers
Dallas Drunk Driver Gets Maximum Sentence for Manslaughter
James Giraldo, now 27, is the drunk driver who killed Juliana Rincon-Cuartas while driving the wrong way on the Dallas North Tollway on October 4, 2008. Giraldo had been drinking at a bar and ended up heading north in the southbound lanes of the tollway, ultimately slamming into another car head-on. Rincon-Cuartas was a passenger in that car, and as a result of that impact, she died. Giraldo's blood alcohol level was .18 three hours after the crash.
On Friday he was finally sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum penalty possible.
He pled guilty to manslaughter and asked the Dallas County jury for leniency. However, the jury was not very sympathetic considering he was also arrested for DWI last August, while out on bond.
Drunk drivers in Texas threaten the safety of everyone on or near our roads. There is no excuse for drunk driving in Texas or any state. Nationally, more than half a million people are injured in alcohol-related crashes each year. Every 31 minutes, someone dies in an alcohol-related crash.
Drunk driving accidents can cause terrible injuries and wrongful death. The responsible party, the driver who drank and drove, must be held financially accountable for the damages he or she has caused. In many cases, the owner of the car that allowed the drunk to drive the car can also be held responsible as well under a theory of negligent entrustment. Some of the worst automobile accidents are caused by drunk drivers.
If you or your family member are injured by a drunk driver, contact the experienced Houston Drunk Driving Injury Lawyers of SMSH immediately so we can aggressively represent you. Our experienced, aggressive drunk driving injury attorney Jonathan Harris is Texas board certified in personal injury trial law.
Family of Deceased San Antonio Bicyclist Couple File Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The fathers of a San Antonio couple killed in a bicycle accident filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the motorist Gilbert John Sullaway Jr., 40, on behalf of the couple's 7-year-old daughter, Kylie. For more information about bicycle accidents or wrongful death lawsuits, click here to contact our Texas bicycle accident and injury lawyers!Read More about Family of Deceased San Antonio Bicyclist Couple File Wrongful Death Lawsuit
What to Bring to Your First Meeting with a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a car crash, truck wreck, or motorcycle accident in Houston, Texas or a surrounding area, you might be considering making a personal injury claim against the person responsible for your injuries. If so, please know our firm offers free initial consultations either at your home, in our office or at the hospital. The Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyers of SMSH offer free consultations. To set up your meeting today call us toll-free at 1-800-282-2122 or e-mail us at info@smslegal.com.Read More about What to Bring to Your First Meeting with a Houston Car Accident Lawyer
Child Killed in Texas Auto Pedestrian Accident
5-year-old Christopher Kayden Roedel was killed in a car-pedestrian accident late last month. The child was hit by a Ford F-250 as he was running across the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. If you have been injured in a Houston, Texas automobile accident, auto pedestrian accident or Houston, Texas motorcycle accident, please contact the lawyers of SMSH at info@smslegal.com or toll-free at (800) 282-2122.Read More about Child Killed in Texas Auto Pedestrian Accident
Aldine Bus Driver Indicted in Fatal Accident
A former Aldine ISD bus driver accused of running over a student and killing her walked into the Harris county jail Tuesday night to turn herself in. Nellie Cormier has been charged with criminally negligent homicide. She worked for Aldine ISD for several decades before the accident. If you or someone you know have been involved in an auto pedestrian accident, a bus accident or other motor vehicle accident in the Greater Houston Area, please contact the Houston Auto Accident Attorneys of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, LLP at info@smslegal.com or 1-800-282-2122.Read More about Aldine Bus Driver Indicted in Fatal Accident
Efforts Lag to Improve Safety in Texas Work Zones
Accidents involving dangerous drop-offs kill about 160 people and injure 11,000 each year. The steeper the drop-off, the greater the potential danger. Our experienced legal team of Texas Trucking Accident Lawyers, Houston Motorcycle Accident Specialists, and Greater Houston Area Auto Accident Attorneys is available to provide a free evluation of your case. Please contact the lawyers of SMSH at info@smslegal.com or toll-free at (800) 282-2122.Read More about Efforts Lag to Improve Safety in Texas Work Zones
Multiple Houston Auto Accidents - 3 Deaths and Wheelchair-Bound Man Injured
Last night in Houston, Texas on Eastland, a truck traveling north swerved into the opposite lane of traffic, and struck a man who was sitting on the side of the road in a wheelchair. If you have been injured in a Houston, Texas automobile accident, auto pedestrian accident or Houston, Texas motorcycle accident, please contact the lawyers of SMSH at info@smslegal.com or toll-free at (800) 282-2122.Read More about Multiple Houston Auto Accidents - 3 Deaths and Wheelchair-Bound Man Injured
Katy, Texas Cheerleader among 3 Killed in Burning Crash
Our experienced Katy, Texas car accident attorneys have handled cases involving single-car accidents, fiery crashes, burn injuries and even auto accident-related deaths. If you or someone you know is in need of a free legal consultation for their automobile accident claims, please have them contact us at (800) 282-2122.Read More about Katy, Texas Cheerleader among 3 Killed in Burning Crash
Red light cameras in Texas catch more than 1 million drivers every year
As Houston car accident lawyers we hopt that the more than 300 red-light cameras in Texas on intersections in at least three dozen Texas cities can help stop traffic accidents and their resulting injuries and deaths.Read More about Red light cameras in Texas catch more than 1 million drivers every year
Teen Dies and 3 Others Sent to Hospital Following Houston Single Car Wreck
A teenager died and three other people were taken to the hospital after their car slammed into a tree in south Houston this week.Read More about Teen Dies and 3 Others Sent to Hospital Following Houston Single Car Wreck
Lufkin Emergency Personnel Busy with Accidents
Monday afternoon in Lufkin, Texas, emergency personnel were kept on their toes by multiple car accidents in a short period of time, one wreck causing serious injuries.Read More about Lufkin Emergency Personnel Busy with Accidents
Girl’s parents file wrongful death suit in fatal crash
A wrongful death and negligence lawsuit has been filed against a teenager and his parents over a November vehicle accident that killed a high school sophomore.
Suit was filed against the driver of a pickup truck the sophomore was a passenger in when it rolled over and the driver's parents.
The suit alleges the parents are also responsible for letting their son drive their 2004 Silverado pickup, despite allegedly knowing he was an unsafe driver. This lawsuit alleges that at the time of the wreck, the driver had a limited driver's license permitting him to have no passengers in any vehicle he drove except for an adult relative.
In the criminal case, the driver acknowledged he was neglectful, driving 62 mph in a 25 mph zone, and that his neglect resulted in the death and another passenger's injuries, which included a fractured vertebrae and internal bleeding.
If you or someone you care about have been injured or killed in an automobile accident, please contact SMSH attorney Jonathan Harris at (800) 282-2122. Mr. Harris has handled thousands of cases dealing with automible accident injuries.
Land Rover maker ordered to pay $21.1 million in rollover case
A judge has ordered automaker Jaguar Land Rover to pay $21.1 million to a man who was paralyzed when his Land Rover Discovery SUV rolled over several times after a collision on the freeway.
Listed among the reasons for the decision were the vehicle's high center of gravity, which made it susceptible to rolling over, and its roof collapsed too easily. These two problems caused the injured man to suffer a debilitating spinal cord injury, permanently lost the use of his arms and legs, and now lives with his parents and three children, who provide him constant care.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident involving a rollover, please contact Jonathan Harris or AJ Rosenfeld at (800) 282-2122 for a free evaluation of your case.
U.S. Senators John Kerry and Arlen Specter Introduce Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act
Senators John Kerry and Arlen Specter today introduced a bill intended to protect the blind and other pedestrians from injury or death as a result of silent vehicle technology. The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on how to protect the blind and others from being injured or killed by vehicles using hybrid, electric, and other silent engine technologies.
Because blind pedestrians cannot locate and evaluate traffic using their vision, they must listen to traffic to discern its speed, direction, and other attributes in order to travel safely and independently. Other people, including pedestrians who are not blind, bicyclists, runners, and small children, also benefit from hearing the sound of vehicle engines. New vehicles that employ hybrid or electric engine technology can be silent, rendering them extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and pedestrians come into proximity with each other.
"The National Federation of the Blind appreciates the wise and decisive action taken today by Senators Kerry and Specter to preserve the right to safe and independent travel for the blind," said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "The blind, like all pedestrians, must be able to travel to work, to school, to church, and to other places in our communities without being injured or killed. This bill will benefit all pedestrians for generations to come as new vehicle technologies become more prevalent. The blind of America will do everything in our power to ensure its swift passage."
If you or someone you know has been injured due to the failure of a vehicle to make appropriate noise, or in any automobile-pedestrian accident, please contact Jonathan Harris at (800) 282-2122.
Distracted driving prevention program aimed at reducing car accidents in Southwest Florida
A new education program aimed at increasing awareness of the dangers of distracted driving is now available in Southwest Florida. The program -- offered by "Stay Alive... Just Drive!" and its founder, retired Fort Myers-area paramedic Jay Anderson -- is available for purchase or for presentation to non-profit and other groups as an educational resource.
"It's a very comprehensive presentation aimed at raising the awareness of distracted driving in all forms," said Anderson, who likens distracted driving to driving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
Anderson is supporting Heather's Law -- Florida Senate Bill 172, which will be debated in the upcoming spring session of the Florida legislature -- which would make it illegal to talk on the phone or text message while driving.
"Results of various studies have proven the dangers of distracted driving and obviously people are not going to make an attempt by themselves," said Anderson of the law. If passed, Florida would join half-a-dozen states with similar restrictions. A 2006 study of 100 drivers by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found driver distractions are the cause of 80 percent of vehicle crashes and 65 percent of near misses.
There are things you can do to protect your rights if you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed in a car accident or other traffic collision. SMSH offers free appointments to discuss your case both over the phone and in person. We routinely handle cases where crashes have been caused by distracted drivers and urge motorists to pay attention to the road for their own safety and the safety of those around them.
See also "My Cell Phone is Killing Me."
Arthur L. Schechter, Matthew D. Shaffer and Jonathan S. Harris are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
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