Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P.

Texas Drunk Driving Accidents

7/28/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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Drugged Driving Poses New Challenges for Law Enforcement

Prescription drugs and driving is a new threat to driver safety in Texas and across the United States. How can law enforcement test for drugged driving? Read our article for more information.

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Labels: Accident Automobile Car Driver Drunk Driving Texas

7/19/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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Fatal Houston DUI Case | Houston, Texas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Sajan Tamalshina is now a fugitive, possibly having returned to his native Nepal after killing three local teenagers in a drunk driving accident. RaShaunda Raleigh, Avianca Cortez, and Detrihanna Davis died after the Ford Excursion in which they were riding was struck by Tamalshina, a drunk driver.

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Labels: Accident Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident Driver Drunk Driving Texas

Houston Car Accident Attorneys

8/24/2010
Jonathan S. Harris
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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.

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Labels: Accident Automobile Automobile Accident California Car Car Accident Medical Lien Personal Injury

3/9/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Accident Automobile Automobile Accident Bastrop County Car Car Accident car seat seatbelt Texas

3/1/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Accident Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident Houston Texas Wrongful Death

2/17/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Accident Automobile Automobile Accident Burn Car Car Accident Death fatalities fatality Pearland Texas

2/17/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Accident Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident sleep teen teenager

1/13/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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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!

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Labels: Accident Automobile Automobile Accident bicycle Car Car Accident Death Safety San Antonio Texas Wrongful Death

1/12/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident

1/5/2010
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Accident Auto Pedestrian Accident Automobile Automobile Accident Odessa Pedestrian Texas Truck

12/28/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Aldine Auto Pedestrian Accident Automobile Automobile Accident Bus Houston Pedestrian Texas Texas Bus Accident

12/23/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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12/15/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Automobile Automobile Accident Burn Car Car Accident Death Katy Texas

12/11/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Accident Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident Duncanville Houston red-light cameras Texas

12/10/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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Labels: Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident Houston Texas

12/8/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

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6/3/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

Labels: Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident Death Driver Driver Negligence fatalities fatality Injury Negligence Negligent Nevada Personal Injury Safety Wrongful Death

Texas Truck Accidents

3/23/2010
Jonathan S. Harris
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Semi Truck Cash in Grayson County, Texas

On Highway 75, an accident involving a semi truck and two additional vehicles occurred near the Texas Travel Plaza in Grayson County, Texas last week. Cars on the highway had slowed as the Northbound lane narrowed down to one lane. Unfortunately, while the cars did slow down, a tractor trailer truck did not and it slammed into one car and side-swiped another. Attorney Jonathan S. Harris is board-certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Together with his partners and their associates, Mr. Harris fights relentlessly for those affected by fatal trucking, motorcycle, and car accidents throughout Texas. To schedule a consultation, contact us online or e-mail us at info@smslegal.com.

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Labels: 18 Wheeler 18-wheeler Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident Grayson County semi truck Texas Truck Truck Accident Trucking Trucking Accident

11/4/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.

7/19/2009
Matthew D. Shaffer
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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.

Labels: 18-wheeler Automobile Automobile Accident Car Car Accident Driver Driver Negligence Idaho Injury Safety Truck Truck Accident Trucking Trucking Accident

6/22/2009
Stacey E. Burke
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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.