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Hit And Run Claims

What To Know About Hit And Run

March 18, 2018/in Personal Injury /by damg

Under normal circumstances, after a minor car accident the parties involved get out of their vehicles, exchange information, take pictures, and go on their way. If injuries are more severe, first responders and police are called to address injuries and create a report of the incident. Unfortunately serious injuries resulting from Houston car accidents happen far too often, sometimes with deadly consequences.

Last month, deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded to an accident scene in Spring, Texas. Sadly, when they arrived they found a female victim deceased in the middle of the road. After investigating the scene, authorities determined the woman was struck by at least three vehicles, all of which fled the scene of the accident. Fleeing the scene of an accident isn’t just wrong, it’s illegal and these drivers need to be held responsible.

Hit And Run Accidents

In the State of Texas, parties involved in a motor vehicle accident are required to stop and stay on the scene if the accident has caused an injury or property damage. Drivers who flee the scene of an accident can be charged with a misdemeanor or felony, depending upon the severity of the accident. Drivers who flee the scene of a car accident where serious bodily injury or a death has occurred can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. Unfortunately, these criminal penalties for hit and run drivers do nothing to help compensate the victim. In order for the victim of a hit and run accident to obtain compensation, he or she will have to file a personal injury lawsuit, which can be difficult because the guilty party left the accident scene.

Investigating Hit And Run Claims

Victims of hit and run accidents will need to partner with experienced hit and run attorneys who will be able to conduct an investigation to identify the fleeing party. A hit and run attorney will investigate the scene of the accident and the surrounding neighborhood. Oftentimes convenience stores and other businesses have surveillance cameras that contain footage of the accident. An attorney can then work with police as they file criminal charges and ensure the victim’s best interests are being protected.

https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/crashed-car-2727666-e1545357111377.jpg 800 1200 damg https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/logo-blizzard-law-pllc-2-300x92.png damg2018-03-18 09:52:382019-11-07 17:01:44What To Know About Hit And Run
Illegal Left Turns

Illegal Left Turns Are Causing A Record Number of Accidents

March 5, 2018/in Personal Injury /by damg

Houston has numerous intersections that don’t allow left turns. While this can be inconvenient, it’s for good reason. Intersections that don’t allow left turns do so for a reason, and drivers who make illegal left turns greatly increase the likelihood of car accidents, not just for themselves, but for other motorists too. The Houston METRO Police have seen so many accidents caused by illegal left turns they have launched a new traffic initiative to crack down on offenders.

Many illegal left turn accidents occur at intersections in and around the Texas Medical Center. This area of Houston regularly experiences traffic congestion, and drivers either do not pay attention or choose not to abide by traffic rules. Illegal left turns in the Texas Medical Center are particularly problematic because of the METRO Light Rail, which shares numerous intersections with the rest of traffic. To prevent accidents between the Light Rail and other vehicles at intersections, many left turns are forbidden. Of course, this only works if drivers abide by the rule.

The Texas Medical Center isn’t the only place drivers find intersections that don’t permit left turns. Intersections all over Houston restrict left turns; and, no matter where they are, drivers should always abide by the rules of the road. Illegal left turns can cause severe car accidents, whether drivers are colliding with the METRO Light Rail, other vehicles, or even pedestrians.

To help prevent these types of motor vehicle accidents, Houston METRO Police are stepping up enforcement. In January, the police department began watching troublesome intersections and issuing warnings to offenders. Last month, the police began issuing citations to drivers performing illegal left turns. Citations can cost drivers up to $200, which is hopefully costly enough to deter illegal left turns.

https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/iStock_000051711374_Large.jpg 1368 2050 damg https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/logo-blizzard-law-pllc-2-300x92.png damg2018-03-05 09:52:092019-11-07 17:01:44Illegal Left Turns Are Causing A Record Number of Accidents
Fast Lane

Driving Slow In The Fast Lane

June 13, 2017/in Personal Injury /by damg

The state of Texas has some of the highest posted speed limits on highways in the country. With posted speed limits up to 85 miles per hour, driving safely on Texas highways requires alert and educated drivers. Many people wrongfully assume driving slower is actually safer on the highways. While all drivers should obey posted speed limits, drivers who drive too slowly are actually more dangerous than drivers who drive too fast.

A growing number of states fine slow drivers in highway fast lanes, including Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and Tennessee. This is because the biggest predictor of a motor vehicle accident is actually a driver’s variance from the average speed around him or her, not speeding.

What To Know About The Fast Lane

The leftmost lane on the highway, commonly referred to as the fast lane, has a very special purpose as its name implies. This lane is for drivers who want to go faster than surrounding traffic or drivers who want to pass slower moving vehicles. Unfortunately, not all drivers understand and adhere to the fast lane’s uses, and this causes dangerous situations.

According to research, driving five miles slower than surrounding traffic is actually more dangerous than driving five miles faster than surrounding traffic. This fact is slightly counterintuitive, but driving slower is actually more dangerous because it forces others cars to weave in and out of different lanes to get around slow moving cars. This greatly increases the likelihood of a car accident.

In addition, just one slow vehicle in the fast lane could cause traffic congestion, which can easily be compounded by another slow moving vehicle in the next lane. Whenever traffic begins to build up on the highway, drivers can get into accidents.

Drivers should also watch out for signs on Texas multi-lane highways that read “Left Lane For Passing Only,” as this indicates the left lane is not a “fast lane” but a passing lane only.

Driving Safely On The Highway

Sometimes drivers are unaware they are driving slowly, but others do it intentionally. Vehicles might drive slowly if they are pulling a trailer, suffering some type of mechanical issue, or simply because the drivers believe driving slower is safer. If drivers are going to get onto any Texas highway, they need to operate at the same speed as the vehicles around them. Failing to do so is reckless, and could cause other innocent motorists to get hurt.

https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/iStock-464931564_high.jpg 1333 2000 damg https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/logo-blizzard-law-pllc-2-300x92.png damg2017-06-13 15:29:122019-11-07 17:01:46Driving Slow In The Fast Lane
Traffic Deaths

Traffic Deaths Highest In Nearly A Decade

March 13, 2017/in Personal Injury /by damg

Getting behind the wheel comes with all sorts of risks, some of which drivers are in control of and some that are out of their control. Unfortunately, the risk of an accident while driving has gotten greater in the past several years, reaching its highest point in nearly a decade.

According to the National Safety Council, traffic deaths rose 6% in 2016 over the previous year. An estimated 40,200 deaths occurred on American roads last year, nearly reaching the record set in 2007 of 41,000 traffic deaths.

A number of key factors contribute to traffic deaths, including lower gas prices, increased speed limits, and an improving economy – but distracted driving is by far one of the most significant factors contributing to car accident deaths, specifically using a cell phone while driving.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found 69% of drivers admitted to talking on their cell phones while driving and 31% of drivers reported they read or sent text messages while driving. These statistics are particularly alarming considering the average amount of time a person takes his or her eyes off the road while texting is five seconds – long enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 miles per hour. This makes drivers who are texting 23 times more likely to cause a car crash than drivers who are not distracted.

What makes accidents caused by cell phones more tragic is 94% of drivers acknowledge using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, but many do it anyway. This reckless decision-making causes serious motor vehicle accidents. Drivers need to remember driving is both a privilege and a responsibility. And, drivers who recklessly endanger the lives of others can be held responsible for the damage they cause.

https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/crash-1308575-e1545349519442.jpg 800 1204 damg https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/logo-blizzard-law-pllc-2-300x92.png damg2017-03-13 16:04:372019-11-07 17:01:46Traffic Deaths Highest In Nearly A Decade
Teen drivers

Dangers Faced By Teen Drivers

October 24, 2016/in Personal Injury /by damg

Learning to drive is an important milestone in life, and while teenagers might find this liberating, driving is a serious responsibility. Because of their inexperience, teenage drivers more often engage in risky driving behaviors that put themselves, their passengers, and surrounding motorists at risk of injury or death.

Dangers faced by teen drivers include:

  • Cell Phones – With the vast majority of teens owning a cell phone, using a cell phone while driving is a serious problem. Cell phone use takes a driver’s hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, and mind off the task of driving.
  • Other Distractions – From talking to passengers to personal grooming, teen drivers don’t always understand how dangerous these seemingly innocent actions can be.
  • Reckless Driving – Teenage drivers might find it exhilarating to race their friends on the roadways, speed through stop lights and stop signs, and engage in other reckless driving behaviors, but these behaviors are incredibly careless. Not only can reckless driving cause accidents, but reckless driving can also increase the severity of accidents.
  • Drinking and Driving – Although the drinking age is 21, some teenagers will find ways to drink, and some will drink and drive. Because they don’t want to get caught drinking illegally, many teen drivers will drink and drive rather than call a cab or ask for a ride home from a sober family member.
  • Not wearing a seatbelt – Seatbelts can save your life in the event of a crash. Despite this, some teenagers might not use seatbelts for various reasons.

The risk of a car accident is higher for teenage drivers than any other age group. Every year, around 2,800 thousand teenagers die in auto accidents and hundreds of thousands more are injured. The best way to prevent car accidents caused by teen drivers is to talk to your teenagers about the responsibility of driving. Drivers who don’t drive safely put themselves, their passengers, and other motorists at an unnecessary risk.

Where Do Teens Learn Dangerous Driving Behaviors?

A study from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual surveyed 2,500 teen drivers and 1,000 parents, finding 55% of parents used some kind of application on their cell phone while driving and 62% talk on their cell phone while driving. The study also found that teens know the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. Thirty-three percent of teens have asked their parents to not use a cell phone while driving.

Unfortunately, even when they are not behind the wheel, parents can still teach their teenage drivers bad driving habits. The study also found that 50% of parents admitted calling their teenager when they knew he or she was driving at the time of the call.

Set A Good Example

There is no excuse for using a cell phone while driving or engaging in any other distracted driving behavior. To make the roads safer for everyone, parents have to set a good example for their teen drivers. This means all drivers should put down their phones and focus on the task of driving.

https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/iStock-124089956_super.jpg 720 1080 damg https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/logo-blizzard-law-pllc-2-300x92.png damg2016-10-24 13:03:382019-11-07 17:01:47Dangers Faced By Teen Drivers
Texas Drivers

Texas Drivers Are The Third Worst

August 26, 2015/in Personal Injury /by damg

Most people who drive on Texas roadways commonly view their fellow drivers as a lot more reckless and downright dangerous than they are, and up until recently they probably figured it was just their imagination. Unfortunately, a new study has come out showing that perhaps Texas drivers were being kind in their assessment; the drivers here are apparently really bad.

A recent study by a company that compares auto insurance rates attempted to rate all 50 states’ driving records by looking at statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in a number of different categories, including the accident fatality rate, the number of fatal accidents involving failure to obey traffic signals, wear seatbelts or maintain a valid license; and the number of fatalities involving speeding, careless driving and drunk driving, as well as the fatality rates involving bicycles and pedestrians. When they added all of the scores together, Texas scored a solid third, meaning we have the third-worst drivers in the country.

Exactly How Dangerous Is It To Drive In Texas?

The state earned its poor record because we fared poorly in all categories; the best we did was coming in 22nd worst in the category of failure to obey. Texas was also the 14th worst for speeding, which is surprising given the posted speed limits on many highways, but only 11 states had overall fatality numbers that were worse than ours. Only eight states had worse records than Texas when it came to careless driving, but the most troubling rating we had was for drunk driving; only five states had worse records for drunk driving fatalities.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2013 alone, there were 3,377 fatalities on Texas roads, and well over half, or 1,883, of them were from alcohol-related crashes. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), that’s a greater number of fatalities than any other state. In all, there were more than 25,000 crashes, which led to more than 17,000 injuries, in addition to the fatalities.

To put things into perspective, according to the NHTSA, more than ten percent of all drunk driving fatalities that occurred nationwide happened in Texas. More disappointing is that these numbers show no signs of improving, despite a number of educational programs designed to warn people of the dangers of driving while intoxicated.

https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/iStock_000051711374_Large.jpg 1368 2050 damg https://www.blizzardlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/logo-blizzard-law-pllc-2-300x92.png damg2015-08-26 16:21:082019-07-27 21:20:47Texas Drivers Are The Third Worst

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