Posted on July 02, 2018 in Uncategorized

Most everyone has had a moment of inattention behind the wheel, whether it was while adjusting the temperature, trying to find a parking space or turning to address your children in the back seat. When you think about it, though, it's not difficult to see how a moment of distraction could end disastrously in a collision.

The reality is that negligent or reckless driving is preventable. Still, people get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol; they text and drive; or they willingly disregard the speed limits. If you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to a negligent driver, you may be considering the benefits of hiring an attorney to represent you in a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim.

Dealing with insurers

Soon after your accident, an insurance adjuster will likely contact you, and he or she will want to resolve the matter quickly and put it to rest. In fact, the adjuster may have a check already printed out, supposedly to cover all your damages and losses, and you may think it is a generous offer. However, the first offer you receive from an insurance company is rarely the best you can do.

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 Posted on June 08, 2018 in Uncategorized

Texas readers know that drunk driving is a significant problem in the state, and it poses a serious threat to the safety and well-being of every person on the road. There is no excuse for intoxicated driving, and even a small amount of alcohol can have an effect on a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle.

If you are the victim of an accident caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to take action and defend your interests. It is possible to hold these drivers accountable for their actions and irresponsible choices, and through a civil claim, you may be able to seek appropriate compensation for your losses, as well as your pain and suffering.

The effect of alcohol on a driver

Alcohol affects each person in different ways. You know that each driver is responsible for knowing when he or she has had too much alcohol and is not able to drive. Even one or two drinks can affect physical reaction and cognition. Consider the following facts about blood alcohol concentration and its impact on a driver:

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 Posted on May 08, 2018 in Truck Accidents

If you suffered injuries from a Texas truck accident, you know how difficult it can be to put your life back together after this type of traumatic incident. Truck accidents can lead to serious damage and grave injuries, and often, these types of accidents are completely preventable.

Trucking companies and their insurance providers do not have your best interests in mind. You may receive an offer for a financial settlement after a truck accident, but this may not reflect the true value of your case and the amount to which you have a rightful claim. You would be wise to carefully consider the terms of any agreement offered to you before you accept or sign anything

Fighting for what you deserve

If the truck accident that left you injured was the result of the negligent or reckless actions of the truck driver, you would have a rightful claim to financial compensation. In some cases, it might be necessary to seek compensation through a civil claim, but often a trucking company may prefer to reach a settlement in order to avoid complex litigation.

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 Posted on April 13, 2018 in Uncategorized

Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation records statistics on a number of subjects — one of them being fatal automobile accidents. The state has not yet released the 2017 numbers, but the 2016 numbers show that serious or fatal car accidents happen all too often in Texas.

What do the numbers say? What is causing these accidents? What can victims or — in the event of fatality — their surviving family members do after the fact? Can they seek relief for their losses?

Numbers, numbers, numbers…

As far as injuries go, there were roughly 265,000 people hurt in auto accidents in Texas in 2016. It appears that a little over 17,500 of them suffered serious injuries. As far as fatalities go, 3,773 individuals lost their lives on Texas roads that same year. By the numbers, this means that there was an auto-related fatality just about every two hours, an injury every two minutes and a car accident every minute.

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 Posted on March 09, 2018 in Uncategorized

The issue of distracted driving isn't new. Since cars took to the road, drivers' attention has wandered away from the road and caused accidents. Since people began talking to passengers, eating, shaving or even reading a newspaper, the danger existed.

However, technological advances in recent years increased instances of distracted driving, with serious and deadly consequences. The technology that should make life easier also involves complicated maneuvers to use, which creates significant distractions. In 2017, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released research regarding technology and distracted driving.

What the AAA Foundation discovered

The foundation evaluated 30 vehicles that rolled off the assembly line in 2017. Each of them included "infotainment" systems that require a driver's mental, visual and sometimes tactile involvement in order to use. During the evaluation, drivers had to perform the following actions while in motion:

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 Posted on February 07, 2018 in Uncategorized

Staying connected has often been a goal of many people. With loved ones and friends living far apart, it is not unusual for parties to want to find ways in which they can easily communicate and stay updated on recent personal news. With social media and apps within arm's reach, constant communication has never been easier.

Cell phones can easily allow you and others to conduct many different activities simply using a device in the palm of your hand. If you need to ask a quick question to a friend, you can simply send a text. If you need to give a general update about your day, you can post to social media. Even if you need to check your bank account, you can likely access an app that gives you information regarding your balances. Though this may seem convenient, when is cell phone use too much?

Cell phone addiction

You may initially think it humorous to think about, but cell phone addiction is a real problem. While you certainly know that setting electronic devices down and giving your attention to other activities is beneficial, some parties may find this action incredibly difficult. If a person exhibits at least four of the following signs, he or she may have a cell phone addiction:

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 Posted on January 09, 2018 in Uncategorized

Sadly, as you may be aware, Texas regularly leads the nation in DWI fatalities. Of course, you already know the dangers of driving while intoxicated and the increased risk it means for both you and any passengers, not to mention everyone else on the road, pedestrians included. You know how important it is to arrange alternate transportation ahead of time if you're going to be drinking. If nothing else, you can call an Uber.

What you may be less certain of, however, is how to spot when another driver on the road has been drinking. Perhaps even more important is knowing what to do about it. Figuring out the signs of impaired driving can help you take preventative measures, if necessary, to keep you and your passengers safe, and reporting a drunk driver to the appropriate authorities can potentially save the lives of any number of others.

How to report a drunk driver

Reporting someone driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances removes that danger from the roads, keeping not only you safe but possibly countless others as well. Before doing anything, though, you'll want to pull over, to avoid unintentionally causing your own accident in the process. Above all, do not try to follow the vehicle or detain the driver − that is what the police are for. Instead, after you've safely pulled over, you'll first want to call 911 and tell the operator you would like to report a drunk driver.

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 Posted on December 08, 2017 in Uncategorized

Every driver in Texas will likely admit to getting behind the wheel while in a hurry and driving a bit too fast at least once. However, as you know, speeding is dangerous, and the reality is that driving too fast greatly increases the chance of a car accident and the severity of a collision.

If you were hurt in an accident caused by a speeding driver, you have options. Victims of excessive speed are able to hold liable drivers accountable through personal injury claims. You have no time to lose in ensuring the protection of your rights and learning more about your options for obtaining compensation after an accident.

Too fast is simply too dangerous

When the speed is especially high, driving too fast is a type of reckless driving. Many people speed, and some may think that it is not that bad as long as no one gets hurt and they don't get caught. In reality, speeding is simply too risky. Consider the following about excessive speed and car accidents:

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 Posted on November 08, 2017 in Uncategorized

Distracted driving accidents have been on the rise in Texas and across the country, despite increased education and law enforcement efforts. While not necessarily as risky as distraction behind the wheel, distraction on the part of pedestrians is also an issue.

In fact, statistics show an 11-percent increase in the number of pedestrians killed in the United States last year, and pedestrian distraction was a contributing factor.

Factors to Consider

As vehicles these days come with more safety features than ever before, you might assume that the number of car accidents would decrease, but that is not the case. Overall, the number of motor vehicle accidents has increased by 6 percent, and a significant number of these collisions involve people on foot. Researchers note a variety of contributing factors:

• Better gas prices and a stronger economy mean more people driving, which raises the risk of vehicle accidents, including pedestrian accidents.

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 Posted on October 08, 2017 in Uncategorized

Driving in the Dallas area can be a challenge at times. Highways and interstates are often heavily laden with traffic, and chances are you have witnessed some close calls. No matter how cautious you are, your best efforts may not be enough to avoid a collision, especially if a distracted driver is in your midst.

Anytime a driver takes hands off the wheel, mind off the task of driving, or eyes away from the road, that driver is distracted.

Texting while driving is known to be the most dangerous form of distracted driving — just as dangerous as drunk driving — but there are other forms of distraction.

These are the most common kinds of distracted driving that make roads in Dallas County unsafe:

• Eating or drinking while driving: crashes occur when people drop hot liquids on themselves; try to brush crumbs off their clothing; try to fix the wrappers of sandwiches; reach for food; and generally focus on eating or drinking more than on driving. This kind of distraction leads to more crashes than you might think.

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