Archive for the ‘Bicycle accidents’ Category

Texas Approves $345 Million for Pedestrian and Bike Safety

Pedestrian signal for crossing street in downtown Houston, TX.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently approved $345 million worth of projects, including bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways, designed to make the state safer for everyone and reduce the number of bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Texas.

“This is a major investment in communities across the state that will help make it safer and easier to get around on foot or a bike,” Texas Transportation Commissioner Robert “Robie” Vaughn said in a statement recently released by TxDOT. “This optionality supports safety, active lifestyles, health and wellness, and can provide alternatives to traveling by vehicle.”

Pedestrian and bicycle projects in Houston, Texas

The $345 million will be spent on 83 projects throughout the state. According to TxDOT officials, “These projects will help improve safety for people walking, biking, or using wheelchairs, including 24 projects that will go in areas with a high pedestrian crash history.”

In the Houston area, such bicycle and pedestrian projects include:

  • Construction of West Loop shared-use path and Bayou Bridge in Harris County, Texas – $18.45 million.
  • Multi-modal path construction in University Asia Town area – $8.87 million.
  • Construction of shared use path in The Woodlands, Texas – $7.47 million.
  • Construction of Emancipation Trail shared use path in La Marque, Texas – $4.5 million.
  • Bicycle lane and sidewalk construction in Angleton, Texas – $4.27 million.
  • Sidewalk construction, traffic signal improvements, and other pedestrian projects in Dickinson, Texas – $2.8 million.
  • Construction of sidewalks and other public safety improvements in Hitchcock, Texas – $2.45 million.
  • Sidewalk improvement project in West Columbia, Texas – $2.26 million.
  • Bicycle transit study in Harris County, Texas – $920,000.
  • Planning study for Improving Safety and Access to White Oak Bayou – $460,000.
  • Pedestrian and bicycle master plan designed to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety in Houston – $368,000.
  • Transportation plan in Clute, Texas – $288,075.

Pedestrian accidents on the rise

One of the driving forces behind these projects is the dramatic increase in the number of pedestrian accidents and fatalities throughout Texas in recent years. Between 2013 and 2022, the number of pedestrian accident deaths in Texas has increased by 72.9 percent, from 480 deaths in 2013 to 830 deaths in 2022, according to accident data collected by TxDOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Bicycle accidents are also a problem

Along with pedestrian fatalities, fatal bicycle accidents have increased sharply in the past decade in Texas. Between 2013 and 2022, bicycle accident deaths have increased by a staggering 91.6 percent, from 48 deaths in 2013 to 92 bicycle fatalities in 2022, according to the NHTSA and TxDOT.

“People who walk and bike make up about 1 out of every 5 deaths on roadways here in Texas,” said Texas Transportation Commissioner Alvin New in a recent statement. “These projects will help the state move closer toward the goal of zero deaths by giving people a place to walk and bike separate from traffic.”

Contact a Houston, TX pedestrian accident attorney

An insurance claim involving a cyclist or pedestrian hit by a car might initially seem straightforward. But many times, they become complicated legal cases. That’s because the stakes can be high, and rather than paying injury victims the money they deserve, insurance companies will often do everything they can to reduce or deny injury claims.

Our Houston pedestrian accident lawyers at Smith & Hassler know how to handle insurance companies and can help you every step of the way. We know how to investigate such accidents and what evidence to look for to build a strong legal case. Many insurance companies agree to negotiate in good faith once they see we’re serious about your case. If not, we’re not afraid to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit on your behalf, seeking the compensation you deserve.

Get the law firm that gets results for injured Texans, and schedule a free case evaluation with a Houston pedestrian accident attorney who puts your best interests first. We have four offices conveniently located throughout Texas, including three offices in Houston. We also offer legal representation on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no fees unless we win your case. Contact us today to learn more about your potential legal options.

Houston Bicycle Safety Depends on Bike Plan

Houston bicycle accident attorneyThe future of cycling safety in Houston hinges on fully funding and implementing the city’s bike plan, making it vital that elected officials keep their promises and voters hold them accountable.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University reports that mapping recent Houston bicycle crashes onto the Houston Bike Plan underscores the critical importance of following through with short-term and long-term cycling infrastructure projects to reduce the rising accident rates.

Cycling Safety and Houston Bicycle Accidents

A growing urban environment and the increasing popularity of cycling for transportation and fitness has pushed the number of serious and fatal Houston bicycle crashes to historic highs. Statewide, the Texas Department of Transportation reported nearly 500 bicycle crashes through the first six months of 2018.

The good news is the Houston Bike Plan looks to be targeting some of the area’s most critical cycling safety needs, according to accident data.

The study found 1 in 4 crashes happened on local streets, along mostly residential areas. Safety advocates say this is due to a lack of dedicated bike lanes on main thoroughfares, which pushes riders into nearby neighborhoods. Some 60 percent of accidents were reported on or near streets marked for future projects, while 22 percent occurred on streets already targeted for short-term retrofit improvements, primarily low-cost projects like re-striping and adding signage.

Liability for Houston Cycling Accidents

Planners noted cooperation between Houston City officials and Harris County will also be critical. ABC13 reported a fatal Harris County bicycle accident as a rider attempted to pull into traffic near West Mount Houston and Ella Boulevard.

The bad news is the Houston Bike Plan remains little more than a promise. Adopted in March 2017 by the city council, the aim is to make Houston a gold-level bike-friendly city by 2027. But the city describes the plan as a  “guide,” and acknowledged future funds have not been earmarked or dedicated.

The Houston Chronicle series Dying to Ride examined the growing risks to riders on city streets, reporting that at least 23 riders have been killed on Houston streets in the past 5 years. The newspaper detailed several high-profile fatal hit-and-run bicycle accidents.

A rider’s first avenue of compensation will be a claim against an at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, in cases of hit-and-run, or in collisions where an at-fault party lacks insurance or does not have enough insurance to compensate a victim for all losses, a rider may pursue an uninsured (UM)/underinsured (UIM) motorist claim – if the cyclist has his or her own auto insurance with this type of coverage or is covered under another household member’s policy.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Houston, an attorney at Smith & Hassler Attorneys At Law can help.

Seventh grader from Goodson Middle School injured in bicycle accident

An accident this morning at the intersection of Barker Cypress and Spring Barker sent a 12-year old Goodson Middle School student to the hospital.  The young man was riding his bike to school when he was struck by a Ford Mustang.  A ground ambulance took the boy to Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center; his injuries were not listed in Channel 2’s article.

Personal injury attorney in Houston Smith and Hassler

Barker Cypress and Spring Barker

HPD bike patrol officer injured in accident in Kingwood with pickup truck

KHOU says that a HPD bike patrol officer was knocked down and injured in an accident in Kingwood. A pickup truck was turning into a gas station on Kingwood Drive near W. Lake Houston Parkway when the officer, who was riding a bicycle, was hit. He was transported to hospital, fortunately with injuries that were not life-threatening. The article doesn’t say if the officer was on duty at the time, but presumably not given the accident happened in Kingwood.

Houston bicycle accident attorneys personal injury Smith and Hassler

Kingwood Drive and W Lake Houston Parkway

Bicycle rider killed in accident on Highway 6 – driver may have been drunk

Harris County deputies are investigating a fatal accident involving a bicyclist to determine if the driver of the pickup that killed him was intoxicated at the time.  According to witnesses, the bicycle rider was proceeding on the shoulder of Highway 6 near Empanada Drive when he was struck by the red-colored Ford F-series pickup truck, which was also driving on the shoulder for some reason.  The bicycle was thrown about 75 feet onto the grass verge to the roadside and the pickup sustained front end damage to the passenger side.  The driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene and investigating officers performed field sobriety tests and will also order a blood draw to determine if the pickup driver was driving drunk. The victim of the accident has not yet been identified, but according to Channel 2’s report he was in his late 40’s.

Bicycle rider killed in car accident on Jensen

Channel 2 and FOX News are reporting that a bicyclist was killed at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon when he rode in front of a car traveling northbound on Jensen near Collingsworth.  Driver Phyllis Broussard said the bicyclist came out of nowhere, and that she tried to swerve to avoid him but couldn’t. The bicycle rider rolled on top of her windshield.

Tricycle rider injured by hit-and-run driver North Loop at Eastman

A woman riding an adult-sized tricycle was struck and injured by a hit-and-run driver early this morning. At around 4:15 a.m. the lady was riding near the North Loop at Eastman in Houston when an unknown vehicle hit her: the driver fled the scene instead of sticking around to render aid. The woman was transported to hospital in stable condition. If you have any information on the identity of the hit-and-run driver, call HPD’s non-emergency number at 713-884-3131. Channel 11’s story is here.

Bicyclist to hospital after hit-and-run accident with Ford Mutang

A blue Ford Mustang hit and woman bicyclist and then a building at the North Loop at North Main on Saturday night at around 1:20am. The woman was crossing the intersection on her bicycle when the Mustang struck her. Eyewitness Rick Halliburton said several drivers were waiting at the red light and was watching the woman make her way across the intersection when the Mustang began to weave through traffic and then hit her. Halliburton said the Mustang driver did not stop, the actually sped up: he tried to pass a truck on the right and hit the bicycle on the rear wheel, flipping the lady off the bike.
Several people tried to follow the Mustang after it fled but were unable to keep up. The driver eventually lost control of the Mustang and crashed into a metal building at the 8900 block of North Main at Crosstimbers, causing damage to machinery and equipment inside. The bicyclist was alert at the scene when she was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital by EMS. The accident was under investigation and police do not believe alcohol was a factor.
If you have been injured in hit-and-run accident, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler to make sure you understand your options when you are hit and hurt by a driver who did not stop.

Child seriously hurt when bicycle struck by Dodge truck on Kuykendahl Road

There was a collision between a Dodge Ram pickup truck and a child on a bicycle at around 5:30pm on Thursday March 22, 2012 and the child is in critical condition. Three children on bicycle were attempting to cross the street when one of them, a boy, was hit. According to Harris County Sheriff’s deputies, the boy suffered some cuts and bruises and a serious head wound. It is not expected that the driver will be charged because the boy was not in a crosswalk at the time of the crash. Channel 2’s coverage of the bicycle accident is here. Smith & Hassler’s experienced injury attorneys represent people in Houston and throughout Texas for injuries sustained in bicycle accidents.

Jonathan Brett Leonard sought in hit-and-run death of Belinda Khan

Baytown Police are seeking the public’s help in locating 36-year old Jonathan Brett Leonard in connection with the hit-and-run death of 44-year old bicyclist Belinda Khan. Ms. Khan was fatally struck while riding her bicycle in the 3100 block of Dexter Drive early Saturday March 10th. According to officials, a piece of a pickup truck grille was found near Ms. Khan’s body.
Diligent police investigators were able to match the piece of broken grille to a pickup truck found at the Cypress Bend Apartments which were a few blocks away, then traced the pickup to Jonathan Brett Leonard. Detective say Leonard told them that he, his wife and his wife’s girlfriend had been drinking at a Baytown bar that night, then left the bar with the intention of returning to the apartment to have sex. The woman who was with Leonard and his wife has told police she was so intoxicated she may have passed out in the truck on the way to the apartment.
Convenience store surveillance footage puts Leonard behind the wheel of the pickup a matter of minutes before Belinda Khan was hit. Jonathan Brett Leonard has been charged with failure to stop and render aid, which is a third degree felony. Police haven’t arrested him yet because they cannot find him. Anyone with information on Leonard’s whereabouts can contact Baytown Police Department at 281-422-8371. Channel 2’s story is here.
Since 1989 families have trusted the experience of Smith & Hassler’s personal injury trial attorneys in the handling of claims associated with the wrongful death of a loved one. Al Hassler is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and personally handled a lawsuit against a trucking company for the wrongful death of his own sister in a trucking accident.