Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

Everyone knows that speeding is dangerous, even those who speed, but some drivers are willing to take that risk in order to reach their destination “faster.” Other drivers are under the impression that their speeding will never cause a crash, but national figures speak for themselves.

In 2018, almost 10,000 people were killed in speed-related crashes across the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition, speeding was a factor in one-third of all traffic fatalities over the past two decades.

In Texas, speeding was a factor in:

• 670 rural crashes — 88 of which were fatal
• 2,275 urban crashes — 219 of which were fatal

Where most speeders got tickets

In response, the Texas Department of Public Safety has begun cracking down on speeders in the Houston area, according to the Houston Chronicle. In July alone, nearly 2,000 speeding tickets were issued by law enforcement officers throughout Harris, Chambers, Brazoria, and Galveston counties. The majority of speeding citations were issued on:

• Highway 288 in Brazoria County — 316 tickets
• Interstate 10 in Chambers and Harris counties — 241 tickets
• Interstate 45 in Galveston and Harris counties — 137 tickets
• Farm-to-market Road 1960 in Harris and Brazoria counties — 129 tickets
• U.S. 290 in Harris County — 103 tickets

Risk factors in speed-related crashes

Speeding increases the likelihood of a fatal crash due to:

• Increased risk of losing control of your car
• Reduced effectiveness of airbags and seatbelts in a collision
• Reduced time and increased distance to stop when a collision is imminent
• Increased crash severity

Despite knowing the risks, why do drivers speed? According to the NHTSA, speeding is often driven by:

• Aggressive driving caused by traffic congestion
• A driver running late
• Anonymity or detachment from surroundings
• Habitual aggressive driving and disregard for the law or other road users
• Drowsy driving
• Being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol

When these drivers fail to acknowledge the potential consequences of the risks they take, their actions can result in someone’s injury or death. Luckily, those who are impacted by speed-related crashes have legal options available to them. So, if you or a loved one was hurt in a crash caused by a speeding driver, it is critical that you take immediate action.

Consulting with an experienced Houston car accident attorney is a crucial step in pursuing a strong legal claim against the at-fault driver and his or her insurance company. The legal team at Smith & Hassler Attorneys At Law knows how to get results. We can help you maximize your compensation, so you can focus on recovery. To learn more, contact us online today and schedule your free case evaluation.

Large commercial trucks are an absolute necessity to the economy in Texas, but they can be dangerous when sharing the road with drivers of smaller cars or other road users. With a fully-loaded trailer, a commercial truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds and can take up to the length of two football fields to stop when traveling at 65 mph.

Dangers of limited enforcement

A booming economy in Houston and other Texas communities, while good for business and residents, brings in more heavy commercial vehicles, which means more potential accidents.

Commercial trucks are causing damage to Houston’s roads, crashing on highways and injuring motorists, and creating traffic problems and noise concerns for Texas residents.

Some roadways lack the infrastructural capacity to handle large commercial trucks. When these massive vehicles use these roads, they often leave behind large potholes, cracked concrete, and damaged shoulders – all of which put every day road users at risk of being injured in a crash.

Compliance is the answer, according to experts and lawmakers who are working to bring change when it comes to heavy-truck inspections and enforcement.

In Austin, legislators filed eight bills related to commercial vehicle inspections granting specific police or sheriff’s departments the authority to enforce trucking rules.

The Houston Police Department’s Truck Enforcement Unit offers a free program to commercial businesses that employ commercial vehicle drivers. Police also perform safety inspections throughout Houston but not every community can enforce these laws yet.

According to the Houston Chronicle, a bill filed last week by State Rep. Gina Calanni would allow local law enforcement to apply for a “certification to enforce commercial vehicle standards for overweight trucks” that pass through their city limits. Similar legislation has passed in previous sessions.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is currently the only law enforcement agency authorized to enforce overweight commercial vehicle safety standards. Calanni’s bill includes several conditions for communities that apply.

Fewer state troopers on the streets have contributed to truck accidents as well, said State Rep. Terry Canales, chairman of the State House Transportation Committee.

According to the Chronicle, lawmakers are lined up to approve the requests but remain skittish. Granting cities commercial truck oversight could, some fear, make some municipalities speed traps for trucks. So, they are taking enforcement requests on a case-by-case basis.

What you can do in the event of a crash

Victims of Houston truck accidents caused by commercial vehicles have recourse. If you’ve been injured in a crash, you need an experienced attorney on your side fighting for you every step of the way. Truck accidents can be complex and overwhelming but the legal team at Smith & Hassler, Attorneys at Law, have a wealth of legal knowledge and the competitive edge to take on trucking companies and their insurers. Don’t wait. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

Our attorneys break down the legal implications

At around 1 a.m. on Friday, March 1, a passenger in a Lyft vehicle was killed in a car crash that also left the Lyft driver in a coma, according to ABC 13.

The crash occurred when a motorist driving a gray Dodge truck hit the rear of another, smaller, pickup truck, kept going through an intersection and slammed into the Lyft vehicle. The passenger in the rear of the Lyft car was killed instantly – less than five miles from his home – and the driver was severely injured.

The driver of the Dodge truck was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. According to investigators, he failed a field sobriety test.

While this tragic wreck is still being investigated, it raises important questions about legal liability in complex car crashes.

In situations such as this one, the bar can be held liable

According to ABC 13, the driver who caused the accident told officers that “he was pounding tequila shots” at a bar within seven miles of the crash scene. This type of wreck is exactly why bars and restaurants are legally required to “cut off” or refuse to serve patrons who are obviously intoxicated.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code includes a “dram shop” statute; that is, a provision to hold establishments legally responsible for injuries caused by over-consumption of alcohol among their patrons. Under the dram shop statute, it must be proven that the drunk driver was obviously intoxicated to the extent they were a danger to themselves or others and were still sold alcohol. These claims are subject to comparative negligence – for example, if a jury finds that the bar was 60 percent responsible for the accident, then the bar will be held responsible for 60 percent of the damages (financial compensation) awarded in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Proving that an establishment failed to follow proper safety protocols in a “dram shop” case is a fairly high bar to clear. In this case, it is apparent that the bar in question has a recent history of negligence – in June 2018, its license was temporarily suspended after a Houston police officer was hit by a driver who had allegedly been over-served alcohol at the bar. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon in dram shop cases. Many bars have a known history of overserving patrons but fail to make a change until it’s too late – and someone is seriously injured or killed.

The ride-share situation complicates matters in this accident

In this example, both victims were in a ride-share vehicle – the man killed was a Lyft passenger, and the Lyft driver was left in a coma. Ride-share services, because they use drivers’ personal vehicles, can become complex from an insurance perspective. Specifically, most personal auto insurance policies do not cover drivers who are “driving for profit,” which generally includes ride-share drivers.

Ride-share services, such as Lyft, carry supplemental insurance that covers drivers when they are involved in accidents not covered by their personal insurance. There is sometimes confusion over which coverage applies – for example, if an accident occurs when a driver is using the Lyft app but is not actively picking up or transporting a passenger. In this case, because a Lyft passenger was physically in the driver’s vehicle when the wreck occurred, it is likely that any applicable coverage that Lyft carries should be available to the victims.

The best course of action is to call an experienced attorney

Our hearts break for the families of the victims of this wreck. No one should have to suffer a serious injury or lose a loved one due to negligence or recklessness.

These kinds of wrecks are exactly why it’s so important to hold negligent drivers and businesses accountable. Establishments that serve alcohol have a responsibility to their patrons and the public to monitor their patrons’ level of intoxication and follow safety protocols. Texans who choose to drink alcohol have a responsibility to make safe decisions, including calling a cab or asking for a ride instead of getting behind the wheel.

Victims of wrecks caused by negligence have recourse through the civil justice system. No lawsuit can bring back a lost loved one, nor truly bring back what was lost after a severe or permanent injury. That said, recovering compensation for a deadly accident can make it easier for families to rebuild. It also sends a strong message that negligence has consequences here in Texas and helps to prevent other families from being similarly harmed.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, Smith & Hassler, Attorneys at Law can help. We would be honored to meet with you for a free consultation.