Personal Injury

Published on: September 22, 2020

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT – Two Killed in Rideshare Car in Houston

Monday, September 21, 2020: HOUSTON – Two women riding in the back of an Uber are dead after police said a pursuit suspect crashed into the car they were in. Police said the driver they believe is responsible is now facing felony murder charges.

Officers said the crash happened at the intersection of Jensen and Parker around 11:30 Saturday night. According to police, they were chasing a vehicle after a driver, identified as 45-year-old Brian Okeith Tatum, reportedly ran a red light. He was estimated to be driving more than 100 mph.

Houston police say it started when Harris County deputies tried to stop a driver for running a red light. The driver didn’t stop, but instead took off at a high rate of speed and slammed into the rideshare car.

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Published on: September 21, 2020

Recovering After a Texas Motorcycle Hit-And-Run Accident

By Carabin Shaw

pexels-alexas-fotos-2156246-300x196 Many people prefer motorcycles to cars because of the freedom associated with whizzing down the road. In addition to making your daily commute potentially easier and more fun, motorcycles can also offer an increased sense of mobility. However, a certain degree of risk comes with operating a motorcycle – without the steel exterior of a car to protect you on the road, you may be more at risk in the event of a serious accident. When an accident happens unexpectedly, especially if you are riding a motorcycle, the consequences may be drastic.

In a recent news article, local Texas authorities reported that two motorcycle riders were killed in an early morning hit-and-run accident. One of the motorcyclists was a local high school student. Police are still currently investigating the details of the collision and have identified an individual who is suspected to have been involved in the crash.

In Texas, accidents involving motorcycle hit-and-runs can often be complex. Following a hit-and-run accident, it is important to obtain the necessary medical attention. Next, documenting the scene is a crucial step in identifying the person who caused the accident and fled the scene. Taking photographs, writing down everything that you can remember from the accident, and searching for potential witnesses or traffic camera footage could strengthen your claim. If the at-fault party is identified, potential plaintiffs should file their claim as soon as possible because of the two-year statute of limitations in Texas motorcycle accident cases.

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Published on: September 15, 2020

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT: One Confirmed Dead, Multiple Injuries Greyhound Bus Crash in North Texas Baylor County

By Carabin Shaw

Tuesday, September 15, 2020: BAYLOR COUNTY, Texas — Multiple first responder units were on the scene of a crash involving a Greyhound bus and a pick-up truck at U.S. 277 and U.S 183 in Baylor County, Texas on Monday afternoon.

The bus was headed eastbound on Highway 277 between Seymour and Wichita Falls in Mabelle when a pickup truck coming southbound on Highway 183 collided with the bus. The collision being hard enough to push the bus off the road and on its side.

A Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant said one passenger was confirmed dead, who has been identified as James Dayton Jones, 40, and multiple passengers were seriously injured. There were 29 passengers on the bus, including some that had been picked up in Lubbock.

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Published on: September 15, 2020

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT: Fatal Car Crash in Edinburg Kills Pedestrian Girl and Injures Other

By Carabin Shaw

pexels-energepiccom-174936-300x225 Tuesday, September 8, 2020: The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a fatal auto-pedestrian crash in Edinburg Sunday evening that left one girl dead and another injured.

According to the release, the accident occurred around 10 p.m. on Owassa Road between Tower Road and Val Verde Road where a woman driving a blue 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe struck two pedestrians.

The release says the woman was allegedly speeding and under the influence of alcohol and continued driving west on Owassa. She was later found near Earling and Tower roads.

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Published on: September 15, 2020

Accident Victims Should Anticipate Defenses in a Texas Weather-Related Accident Claim

By Carabin Shaw

pexels-blue-ox-studio-1686961-300x225 Everyone has heard a friend or loved one jokingly claim that everyone forgets how to drive when it rains. However, inclement weather or slippery and wet conditions can be a major danger to motorists, especially if there are many cars on the road. Every driver knows that when weather conditions are poor, driving with extra caution is crucial to ensuring your safety and the safety of others. Unfortunately, even with the utmost of caution, sometimes accidents inevitably happen.

In a recent news report, a tragic weather-related car accident left two Texans dead and one injured. The young driver and her passenger were both killed when their vehicle was hit head-on by a pick-up truck. According to officials on the scene, the pick-up truck was driving when it began to hydroplane and was sideswiped by another large vehicle, causing the pick-up truck to hit the deceased’s vehicle head-on. The driver of the pickup truck was taken to a local hospital on an ambulance because an air ambulance and helicopter was unable to fly due to the inclement weather. Officials on the scene reported that the accident was both a result of the weather and because of the hydroplaning of the responsible party’s pick-up truck.

In Texas, the weather is notoriously unpredictable. If you are involved in a vehicle collision, there are certain legal defenses that you should be aware of before initiating a claim. Some potential main defenses include:

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Published on: September 8, 2020

Tragic Texas Car Accident Leaves Local Sheriff’s Deputy and Fiancé Dead

By Carabin Shaw

pexels-mike-192364-300x225 For many, a car serves as the primary method of transportation on a daily basis. However, no matter how careful someone is while on the road or how skilled they are at driving, other motorists who do not follow the traffic laws pose a significant threat. When others are careless and cause accidents or even fatalities to occur on the road, those who are responsible can be held accountable for their actions through a Texas personal injury lawsuit.

In a recent news report, a young Sheriff’s Deputy and his fiancé were killed in a tragic car accident. Officials say that a tanker truck may have run a stop sign and crashed into the deputy’s vehicle, which killed his fiancé on impact. He passed away shortly after and his brother, who was also a passenger, was airlifted in critical condition to a local hospital with spinal, facial, and arm injuries.

In Texas, cases like these can often pave the way for potential wrongful death claims. To file a wrongful death claim, one must first ensure that the circumstances surrounding their potential case fall within Texas’s definition of wrongful death. Claims can be filed by specific parties if the death is caused by a wrongful act involving carelessness, unskillfulness, or neglect. Thus, potential plaintiffs could have a claim if their loved ones die because of the negligence of others, such as during a major car accident, or a vehicle collision involving distracted driving.

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Published on: August 18, 2020

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT: SUV Driver Dies After Crashing into Heavy Duty Wrecker in Houston

By Carabin Shaw

Thursday, August 13, 2020, HOUSTON, TX — A portion of Sam Houston Parkway westbound in north Houston was shut down early Wednesday August 14th, after a driver was killed in a crash with a tow truck, according to investigators.

The victim has been identified as a 23-year-old man. It happened about 2:45 a.m. Wednesday in the westbound lanes of Sam Houston Parkway Beltway 8 near John F. Kennedy Blvd.

The 23-year-old driver of a Chevy Tahoe was trapped inside their vehicle due to the accident and according to police, was pronounced dead at the scene. It’s still unclear what caused the Tahoe to crash into the tow-truck. The Parkway was shut down for several hours before reopening shortly after 7 a.m.

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Published on: August 13, 2020

Is Evidence of an Accident Victim’s Failure to Wear a Helmet During a Texas Motorcycle Accident Admissible?

By Carabin Shaw

pexels-alexas-fotos-2156246-300x196 When a plaintiff brings a Texas personal injury case following a motorcycle accident, various types of evidence are often discussed during the case. Plaintiffs will face all kinds of questions designed to reduce a defendant’s liability. Was either of the parties under the influence of any kind of substance? Did the weather cause slippery or dangerous conditions? Was the victim taking all the necessary safety precautions and wearing a helmet?

In a landmark Texas Supreme Court opinion, the court overturned 40 years of precedent and reversed rules that previously precluded evidence involving a plaintiff’s failure to wear a seat belt. Previously, the court had held that such evidence was inadmissible because it would reduce a claimant’s ability to recover for the injuries they sustained in an accident based on actions that did not contribute to the accident. However, in a change of heart, the court decided that evidence of use or non-use of seat belts would now be admissible for the purpose of apportioning liability in such claims.

Upon further analysis, the Texas Supreme Court’s opinion does not simply or only extend to seat belts. It held that relevant evidence of use or non-use of seat belts, and relevant evidence of the claimant’s pre-occurrence, injury-causing conduct is admissible. Because of the broad nature of pre-occurrence, injury-causing conduct, attorneys may now have the opportunity to submit evidence that motorcycle accident victims suing for damages in civil lawsuits were not taking full safety precautions by choosing not to wear a helmet.

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Published on: August 8, 2020

Recovering from a Texas Public Transit Bus Accident

By Carabin Shaw

For some people, a daily commute is an escape before the demands of the day. For others, it can be stressful. For those who rely on public transportation to get around on a daily basis, there is a reasonable expectation of safety while they are on board a bus or train. Indeed, no one expects to be injured while on public transit. However, when these injuries occur, those responsible may be held accountable for their actions through a Texas personal injury lawsuit.

For example, in a recent Texas Supreme Court opinion, a plaintiff was injured while riding a bus supplied through a public transit authority. The plaintiff boarded a bus and grabbed onto a hanging strap. The bus was operated and driven by a new employee who was still in training, with his supervisor standing behind him. As the driver pulled away from the stop, another passenger shouted, “Back door!” to notify the driver that a passenger was still trying to exit from the vehicle’s rear door. Although the bus was only traveling less than five miles per hour, the driver made an abrupt stop, causing the plaintiff to fall forward into the partition behind the driver’s seat. The plaintiff suffered injuries to his neck and shoulder. After several months of treatment, the plaintiff underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck.

The plaintiff sued the transit authority, claiming it was negligent and responsible for his injuries. Because the defendant was a common carrier, the plaintiff argued, they owed him a duty to exercise “a high degree of care.” In Texas, common carriers are people or entities that are in the business of carrying passengers or goods and are hire-able by the public. To qualify as a common carrier, the entity must provide transportation services to the general public, as opposed to services for particular individuals or specific groups.

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Published on: August 3, 2020

ACCIDENT INJURY REPORT: Woman Charged with Intoxication Assault After Family of 3 Struck by Car in Beaumont Neighborhood in Pedestrian Hit and Run

By Carabin Shaw

July 29, 2020: BEAUMONT, Texas — A 21-year-old Beaumont woman has been charged after police say the car she was driving struck two adults and a child in a west end Beaumont neighborhood Wednesday evening.

Kenlie Davis, 21, of Beaumont, was arrested near the scene and later charged with three counts each of intoxication assault and failure to stop and render aid according to a Thursday news release from the Beaumont Police Department.

When officers arrived on the scene on Oak Trace Drive, they found the three victims in the street suffering from multiple injuries and the vehicle unoccupied in the grass nearby according to the release.

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