Car accidents can impact your life in ways you may never have considered.
No one wakes up and thinks, “I’m going to get into a car accident today.” They just happen. And, when they do happen, you don’t expect them to have a lasting impact on your life.
Which parts of the vehicle can the police search?
(December 28, 2022) In a previous post, we discussed search and seizure laws pertaining to automobiles. We saw how a warrantless vehicle search must meet two requirements: probable cause and mobility. But how much of the vehicle can police officers search under this rule? If they see evidence of illegal contraband (illegal substances, for example), do they have the ability to search the entire vehicle? What about bags or locked containers in the passenger compartment or trunk? Let’s take a look at what’s covered under the mobile conveyance exception – and what is not.
Here at Carabin Shaw, we are concerned about making Texas roads safer and our state an even better place to live. Kxan reports that in Austin, “On average, more than 11 people have died each day in traffic-related accidents on Texas roadways in 2021, state transportation leaders said Thursday. Each of these deaths has contributed to the state’s nearly 21-year streak of at least one traffic death per day.”
Bob Kaufman, the Texas Department of Transportation chief communications officer, stated. “We have a real crisis in our state,”
On Thursday, in a conference, the Texas Department of Transportation officials (DOT) broke down avoidable components that have given rise to more than two decades worth of traffic fatalities. The Texas Department of Transportation official, Michael Chacon, stated on Thursday that there were 3,556 fatalities statewide in 2021. In 2020, 3,896 individuals lost their lives in fatal traffic accidents in Texas. The total deaths figure was the highest it’s been in almost 30 years.
Self-driving, or autonomous cars, are revolutionizing the way the public looks at travel and car ownership. These vehicles turn active drivers into passive passengers, allowing motorists to rely on the car’s advanced computerized system to navigate the roads and avoid collisions. However, these cars may result in a serious Texas car accident, as the new technology is still being refined.
Autonomous vehicles rely on complex computer systems, sensors, actuators, and various algorithms to operate on the roads without an active driver. In theory, these cars provide a glimpse into a more environmentally friendly and safer future for road users. However, as it is, these features often present more dangers than benefits.
For example, recently, a national news report described a fatal Tesla crash involving a driverless vehicle. According to reports, the vehicle did not have a driver and was operating on high or full automation mode. As such, one of the occupants was in the front passenger seat, and the other occupants were in the back seat. The car was speeding along a dangerous curve when it slammed into a tree. Emergency responders used over 30,000 gallons of water to put out the massive fire that the collision sparked. Tesla did not respond to this incident but previously stated that their vehicles are intended to be used with an attentive driver who has their hands on the steering wheel. However, safety officials argue that the company does not do enough to deter drivers from depending too much on the vehicle’s features.
Texas has specific procedural requirements that parties must adhere to when they proceed with a lawsuit. If these procedures are not followed and prescribed deadlines are ignored, it could result in your case being dismissed or leave you unable to get the compensation you deserve. Thus, hiring an experienced attorney is crucial when you decide to proceed with a lawsuit—especially someone who understands the ins and outs of Texas laws and procedures.
In a recent Supreme Court of Texas case, a plaintiff challenged a court order allowing the defendant in the dispute to designate an unknown person as a responsible third party. The plaintiff initially sued the defendant for negligently causing a chain-reaction car accident that occurred when a truck driver employed by the defendant rear-ended the truck behind the plaintiff. The defendant initially filed an answer asserting a general denial of responsibility and that the plaintiff was comparatively responsible for causing the accident. Then, 135 days later, the defendant filed a motion to designate an unknown person, referred to as “John Doe” as a responsible third party, arguing that John Doe negligently caused the accident. Although the plaintiff objected to the defendant’s filing, the trial court allowed the defendant to designate John Doe as an unknown responsible party in an amended answer.
More than two years later, the defendant filed its amended original answer, which still did not include allegations of John Doe’s responsibility. The plaintiff objected, stating that the defendant failed to meet the procedural requirements necessary to designate responsibility to John Doe since it was not in the amended complaint the defendant filed. In response, the defendant filed a second amended answer, this time including allegations stating that John Doe caused the accident. The trial court then denied the plaintiff’s summary judgment motion, and the plaintiff filed for relief with the Supreme Court of Texas.
TYLER COUNTY, SATURDAY Dec. 14: A multi-vehicle accident over the weekend in northeast Tyler County sent two people to the hospital with serious injuries. The Hyundai driver, Cora Goneau, 36, failed to yield the right of way to the GMC pickup truck which was towing a horse trailer. The car turned onto Highway 92 in the path of the GMC. Driver Cora Goneauand and her passenger Joseph Griffith, 31, were taken to Baptist Hospital Beaumont with serious injuries. Laramie Dunn, 21, driver of GMC truck – sustained minor injuries. Two horses and six dogs traveling in the vehicles were not injured.
The truck towing a horse trailer was eastbound on Highway 190, while the Hyundai car was traveling westbound. The collision happened at the intersection of U.S. Highway 190 at State Highway 92, just west of Exxon Dam B convenience store, at about 2:00 Saturday afternoon. The GMC pickup truck then struck a Chevrolet Trailblazer and a Ford pickup truck before crashing into the convenience store wall.
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