Fatal Houston DUI Case | Houston, Texas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

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California Car Accident Attorneys Speak Out About Medical Liens

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Texas Distracted Driving: 15 Percent of Motorists Admit to Sex While Driving

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3 Children Killed, 2 Children Seriously Injured in Bastrop County, Texas Crash

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Houston, Texas Motorist Seriously Injured in Monday Morning Crash

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Two Killed in Multiple Vehicle Crash in Pearland, Texas

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Poor Sleep Linked to More Car Accidents in Teenagers

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Family of Deceased San Antonio Bicyclist Couple File Wrongful Death Lawsuit

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What to Bring to Your First Meeting with a Houston Car Accident Lawyer

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Efforts Lag to Improve Safety in Texas Work Zones

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Katy, Texas Cheerleader among 3 Killed in Burning Crash

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Red light cameras in Texas catch more than 1 million drivers every year

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Teen Dies and 3 Others Sent to Hospital Following Houston Single Car Wreck

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Lufkin Emergency Personnel Busy with Accidents

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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.

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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.

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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."

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Fire Truck versus Auto Accident Kills Toddler

A fire truck on its way to a car accident collided with a pick-up truck, killing a little girl inside the vehicle.  Upon impact, the pick up truck was sent spinning into the center median where it slammed into a light pole.  A three-year-old girl was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.  Two other children and two firefighters were also taken to the hospital, but their injuries were not considered life threatening.  Several pedestrians were also hurt when the light pole fell, but are expected to be okay.

Emergency vehicles have the right-of-way in most cases, especially when they are en route to an accident or are responding to an emergency situation. However, most fire departments have their own protocols and procedures regarding stopping at intersections and making sure they have clearance before proceeding. This is especially true of busy intersections where the chances of a collision are heightened.

If a city vehicle is determined to have been operated in a careless or negligent manner, the injured victim or the family of the deceased victim can file a wrongful death against the city department in charge of maintaining emergency services. In most cases, that agency could be the city, township or county. There are strict time limits when it comes to filing these claims.

If you decide to pursue your legal rights, it is best to contact an experienced car accident lawyer at the earliest chance so that you can get the compensation you rightfully deserve. Call SMSH at 1-800-282-2122.

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Maintaining Your Car to Prevent Auto Accidents

A new article suggests that one should test the engine of a car before driving, in particular if you are going for a long drive out of town and will be driving faster than average. This is to prevent any trouble that might not take place while driving in a slow speed, but may encounter you in case you drive at a fast speed.  Other tips include looking under the hood and checking the fluids, along with knowing the level of gas in the car.  One could also check their tires, check the water in their car battery, and make sure their brakes are regularly tested by a professional.

Some of the worst accidents are caused when a tire bursts, and the car careens out of control of the driver.  If you have been involved in an auto accident please call the experienced attorneys of SMSH.

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Semi Truck Cash in Grayson County, Texas

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Lockhart, Texas Teenagers Killed in Truck Accident

Two high school students were killed last week and one more was injured in a truck accident on Texas 21 in Mustang Ridge in Texas.

Zared Castellan was traveling with her cousin Bernice Castellan and Deimie Castellan. They were on their way to confirmation classes at a church in Lockhart when their car was struck by an 18-wheeler. Zared and Bernice were killed at the scene of the accident, while Deimie was rushed to the hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

This tragedy is one more reminder of the kind of dangers motorists face when they share their highways with tractor trailers. As Texas truck accident lawyers, we know that driving around or near a tractor trailer can be a challenge, but we don't believe it has to be fraught with risk.

Every year, an estimated 5,000 people are killed in accidents involving tractor trailers, 18-wheelers and semi rigs. Most of these accidents are entirely preventable.  Typically, tractor trailer accidents can be traced to driver error, truck malfunction, driver fatigue, impaired driving, and in some cases, errors on the part of the motorist.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration lays down strict guidelines for trucking companies. These rules govern hiring of employees, maintenance of trucks, and guidelines for safe operation of these massive vehicles.

Preventing Truck Accidents

This accident also reminds us of the need to be especially careful when we are on the road with 18-wheelers. As a motorist, it's important for you to know that a truck driver has blind spots which can prevent him from seeing you.  Also, know that a tractor trailer takes a much longer time to come to a complete stop after the brakes are applied. Never tailgate a tractor trailer, and when you try to pass one, remember that the length of a tractor trailer can stretch up to 57 feet. Often, motorists underestimate the length of these rigs with devastating consequences.

The Texas truck accident attorneys at Schechter Shaffer McElwee & Harris represent injured victims of commercial truck, 18-wheeler and tractor trailer accidents in the Houston area, and around the state of Texas.

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Trucking Association Supports Texting Ban to Prevent Accidents

Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous activities a truck driver could be indulging in, as any Texas trucking accident lawyer will tell you. The American Trucking Association this week voted to back a new bill that will ban texting by all drivers.

The bill, called the Avoiding Life Endangering and Reckless Texting by a Driver Act had been introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY). Under the bill, states will have to enforce texting bans, and those that don't, may lose 25 percent of their annual federal highway funding.

The bill was born out of several recent accidents that involved operators busy with their cell phones. Last year, a Metrolink train crash in California was traced to the operator of the commuter train texting with a rail fan in the minutes before the crash. Earlier this year, a Boston trolley operator, who was texting while at the wheel, caused an accident that left at least 50 passengers injured. Then in August, researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute installed video cameras in truck cabs, and found that truckers who were texting were up to 23 times more likely to be involved in the accident.

The American Trucking Association has had no choice in the light of all this evidence, but to support any bill that bans texting while driving. However, it has yet to take a firm stand against the use of computers in trucking cabs. These computers, which consist of a screen and a small keyboard, are used by trucking companies to keep in constant touch with truckers, and to send messages and orders. Truckers are required to pull over the truck before they use the computer. However, as Texas truck accident lawyers know, that doesn't always happen. The result is that motorists in the vicinity are at an increased risk of an accident because of the operator of a massive tractor trailer rig is busy with his computer.

The Virginia Tech Study found that texting was a much bigger distraction for truckers than using computers. However, truckers are also more likely to use their computers than text at the wheel. As the New York Times reports, trucking companies continue to insist that the computers are less of a distraction than cell phones.

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Idaho's Aggressive Driving Program to Combat Commercial Trucking Accidents

Aggressive driving is a problem in any state, but in Idaho, the police are taking specific action to combat it.  Specifically, police are seeking to curb aggressive driving related to commercial trucks.

Officers from the Idaho State Police and the Bingham County Sheriff's Office will ride along in a commercial truck on I-15 from Pocatello to Idaho Falls.   If they see someone tailgating, cutting in front of trucks, or driving aggressively, they will contact other officers to pull them over.

Troopers will give some warnings, but you could face a $75 following too closely ticket, or reckless driving citation.

The aggressive driving program will run throughout the rest of the summer.

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed as the result of an accident with either an aggressive driver or a commercial truck or 18-wheeler, please contact Jonathan Harris of SMSH at (800) 282-2122 or jharris@smslegal.com for a free evaluation of your case.

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Deadly accident in Houston, Texas, leads to two other crashes

A series of crashes early Saturday morning left one woman dead. The woman lost control of her SUV while driving on the Katy Freeway, swerving and smashing into a concrete wall.  A second SUV hit another car, causing the SUV to flip in the middle of the freeway. An oncoming 18-wheeler then rear-ended the overturned SUV.

Losing a loved one in an accident is a devastating experiences. The attorneys of SMSH have extensive experience dealing with traumatic, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death cases.  Please contact SMSH Partner Jonathan Harris for a free consultation about your trucking accident case.

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The Importance of Determining Truck Accident Liability After Debilitating Wrecks

When a semi or commercial truck is in the middle of a catastrophic accident, sometimes fault is hard to establish.  A typical fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Because of this size disparity, and due to the basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries. 

Accident victims who hire on capable trucking accident lawyers have an ally on their side that understands the complexities of these cases and knows how to dig for information to establish liability.  Liability has to be determined so that monetary compensation can be awarded to victims for their medical bills and other damages. 

SMSH can help injured victims who may never walk or work again to obtain reparations for lost wages.

If you have been severely burned, lost limbs, are paralyzed, or have suffered head or spinal injuries, your and your family members' lives are changed forever. Interestingly enough, the truckers who usually cause these tragic accidents hardly ever suffer significant damage, in fact, truckers account for only 6 percent of trucking accident fatalities.

Thankfully, victims of trucking accidents have recourse, and the trucking accident lawyers SMSH will assist you in obtaining the best possible result for your claims.  Take advantage of our free case evaluations today by calling Jonathan Harris at (800) 282-2122.

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