Car Accidents Archives - Page 2 of 7 - The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C.

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: 2 minutes | Car Accidents

How can I prove a drunk driver caused my injuries?

Any time an injurious or fatal car accident happens, Texas law enforcement personnel will investigate what happened and who was to blame. This may involve an evaluation to determine the intoxication levels of drivers at the time of the collision. Let’s say you were involved in a motor vehicle crash on your way to work one morning. If police have reason to suspect you or another driver is intoxicated, they’ll perform BAC tests to evaluate intoxication levels. In the case of a fatal accident, some states have mandatory testing for blood alcohol content (BAC) following a fatal crash, but in Texas BAC testing is discretionary. As such police can decide whether or not BAC testing is appropriate. Criminal evidence can be used in your claims for damages When police perform BAC tests and evaluations, their primary goal is to gather evidence to convict a potentially at-fault driver of drunk driving in connection with the crash. However, injured plaintiffs can use this evidence — in addition to evidence pertaining to a criminal conviction — to support their claims against the at-fault party in civil court. Family members can also use this evidence to pursue wrongful death claims against the at-fault party. In a civil court lawsuit, injured parties — and family members of deceased parties — will need to prove that the at-fault driver’s state of intoxication directly resulted in the accident and caused the resulting injuries or deaths. Part of making such a case involves proving that the defendant’s state of intoxication was too high to safely operate a vehicle. Other evidence that plays an important role in proving your case In addition to the results of criminal trial proceedings, eye-witness testimony, police reports, surveillance camera footage, expert witness evaluations and other evidence can play a very important role in a personal injury case relating to a drunk driving accident. Ultimately, a personal injury lawyer may be essential to the process of strategically organizing this information to pursue the financial compensation you deserve.

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: 2 minutes | Car Accidents

Driving in rush hour traffic can be nerve-wracking and dangerous

There is little enjoyment in finding yourself amid a rush hour traffic jam. Not only does this slow your progress, but you may also have concerns for your safety and well-being. Driving in rush hour traffic has a way of raising your anxiety level. Furthermore, rush hour vehicle accidents are common, and that’s not something you want to be part of in the future. If you find yourself driving in rush hour traffic, here are some tips you can follow to relieve your stress and remain safe: Leave more time to reach your destination: This may not matter after work, but it definitely comes into play in the morning. If you’re in a rush to reach the office, you’re more likely to make a mistake that results in an accident. Leave a few minutes early so you don’t have to rush on the road. Change your route: Rather than drive on roads that are known to be full of traffic, find a different route. It may take longer to reach your destination, but it could go a long way in enhancing your safety and reducing your anxiety. Leave more space: Bumper to bumper traffic is stressful, as you’re in close proximity to so many vehicles. Do your best to leave additional space between your vehicle and those around you. Stay in your lane: You want to reach your destination as quickly as possible,so you may get the idea of jumping to the lane that’s moving the fastest. Not only is this dangerous, but it’s not likely to save you much (if any) time. Choose a lane and stay there until it’s time to exit. No one will ever argue that it’s fun to drive in rush hour traffic. While this isn’t your idea of a good time, it may be something you have to deal with almost every day of the week. If you’re part of a rush hour traffic accident, move to the side of the road and call for help. After you receive treatment, review the police report and consult with your insurance agent on what comes next. This should lead you toward the steps you can take to protect your legal rights and hold the negligent driver responsible.

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: 2 minutes | Car Accidents

Tips to keep you safe when driving on the highway

When driving on the highway in Texas, it won’t take long to realize that there are safety risks all around. While you can’t control other drivers, you can make personal decisions that enhance your safety and reduce the risk of being involved in an accident. Here are five tips that can help keep you safe when driving on the highway: Follow the speed limit: This starts with knowing the speed limit on the portion of the highway you’re traveling. From there, keep a close eye on your speedometer to ensure that you’re driving at a safe speed. Share the road with others: It’s easier said than done, especially when other drivers are being aggressive, but you should always do your best to share the road. For example, if a person wants to change lanes in front of you, don’t speed up to stop them from doing so. Maintain a safe following distance: This is difficult to do, especially when the flow of traffic is constantly changing, but it’s a good habit to get into. Following someone too closely at a high speed greatly increases the risk of a rear-end collision. As a general rule of thumb, leave a minimum of three seconds stopping time between you and the vehicle in front of yours. Eliminate distractions: One-hundred percent of your focus should be on the road ahead. Don’t get caught up in too many conversations with passengers. Don’t text or talk on the phone. Don’t eat or drink. When you eliminate distractions, you’ll feel better about your ability to remain safe. Watch for dangerous drivers: Your eyes should always be scanning the road, watching for anyone who isn’t taking caution. You could see everything from a person who is texting and driving to a trucker who is talking on a cellphone. There’s no denying that these tips will keep you safe when driving on the highway. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a guarantee when it comes to your safety and well-being. Another driver could cause an accident, thus resulting in damage to your vehicle and serious injuries. If this happens to you, receive immediate medical treatment, contact your insurance company and learn more about your legal rights. You may be in position to seek compensation from the driver who caused the crash.

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: 2 minutes | Car Accidents

6 important steps to take after a car accident

If you drive, there’s a chance you could be part of a car accident. If this happens, the steps you take immediately after the crash will impact your future in many ways. Even though no two car accidents are the same, here are six important steps anyone can take if they find themselves in this position: Move to safety: This is a challenge if your vehicle is damaged, but, if possible, you could move your vehicle to a safe place. For example, if you’re part of a highway accident, move to the shoulder of the road. Upon doing so, turn on your hazard lights to warn others of your situation. Check for injuries: Check yourself for injuries, and if possible, assist your passengers. If you or someone in your vehicle suffers an injury, consider the type of first aid you can administer. Call 911: By doing this, you know that an ambulance and police will arrive at the scene of the accident as quickly as possible. Provide the dispatcher with as much information as you can, while taking their guidance on what you should and shouldn’t be doing. Collect information: It’s difficult to do if you’re injured, but, if you’re able to, collect information such as license plate numbers, insurance details, contact information for witnesses and the location of the crash. These types of details come in handy when filing an insurance claim. Follow the advice of your medical team: You should receive medical assistance immediately after the accident, even if you feel okay. Some injuries, such as bleeding in the brain, don’t always present immediate symptoms. In addition to immediate treatment, stay in close contact with your medical team in regard to your long-term health care strategy. File an insurance claim: Depending on your injuries, you may not be able to do this right away. The first chance you get, contact your insurance agent to file a claim. If you’re unable to do so, ask a loved one to assist you. All of these steps are meant to protect you in some way, shape or form. As you file an insurance claim and learn more about your accident, you can formulate a plan on how to hold the negligent driver responsible. Visit our website for more information on your legal rights following a motor vehicle accident in the state of Texas.

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: < 1 minute | Car Accidents

Here is when deadly DWI crashes are most likely

Driving while intoxicated is incredibly dangerous, not just to the driver himself or herself, but to everyone else on the road. You know better than to get behind the wheel while under the influence, but you also understand that not everyone else does the same. What can you do to avoid deadly accidents? The first step is simply to understand when these crashes are most likely to happen. Research shows that there are three main times to avoid. Bar closings The primary danger, when the majority of these accidents happen, is when bars close for the night. That hour between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., sees the highest totals consistently. Everyone who stayed to close down the bar eventually has to get on the road. Happy hour endings You also need to watch out for the end of happy hour, which is when bars and restaurants offer low-priced drinks. This usually occurs between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Deadly DUI accident statistics jump at 7 p.m., as people who just came for low-priced drinks head home. They may also drink quickly to get a good deal. Midday drinking Less dangerous, but still accounting for a slight uptick in accidents, was the lunch hour. Specifically, the statistics rise around 3 o’clock p.m., when those who went out for lunch at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., are starting to leave the bars and restaurants. Now, it is important to remember that drunk driving accidents can happen at any time, so you always need to know your legal options if you’re hit and injured by a drunk driver. Source: Consumer Affairs, “Fatal drunk driving accidents are more likely to occur late at night and at 7 p.m.,” Christopher Maynard, accessed April 05, 2018

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: 2 minutes | Car Accidents

Engaged Texas couple dies in tragic drunk driving crash

A tragic motorcycle accident claimed the lives of an engaged couple last Sunday in Aubrey, Texas. Perhaps the saddest part of the deaths in this case was the fact that they were avoidable. According to police, the pickup truck driver who allegedly caused the crash was intoxicated and he had prior DUIs on his record. Family members and friends of the victims hope that the deaths of their family members will serve as a reminder to all Texas drivers not to drink and drive. The collision happened along Highway 377 on a Sunday afternoon. A 52-year-old man and his 50-year-old finance were traveling northbound on the highway when a pickup truck driver decided to make an abrupt U-turn into their path. The 52-year-old motorcyclist tried to brake but there wasn’t enough time to react. The bike drove into the side of the pickup. Both the man and his fiance were pronounced dead at the crash site. Witnesses say that the pickup truck driver tried to flee the accident scene, but good Samaritans detained him until police arrived. The pickup truck driver has since been charged with two counts of intoxicated manslaughter. Family members of the victims described them as a beautiful couple with lots of love for one another. Relatives were also pleased that a firefighter managed to find the diamond from the bride-to-be engagement ring in the accident debris. Following a fatal drunk driving crash, close family members of the victims may want to consider the pursuit of a wrongful death action in Texas civil court. If successfully navigated, such a lawsuit could bring family members financial compensation to pay for the end of life expenses of their loved one. It could also bring money to compensate for lost family income and other financial damages stemming from the death. Source: CBS Dallas, “Two Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver In Motorcycle Crash,” Gabriel Roxas, June 11, 2017

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: 2 minutes | Car Accidents

How a severe auto crash can leave you at risk for unemployment

When people think about the consequences of a collision, they probably think about the damage to their vehicle or the potential for an injury. They may not stop to think about how a car crash could impact their career and finances for the rest of their lives. There are several ways in which a crash could leave you particularly vulnerable to the loss of your employment afterward. Understanding these issues can make it easier for you to predict the impact of a wreck on the rest of your life. You might miss work because of your injuries Many people have to miss work on the day of their accident. Between waiting for law enforcement to arrive and seeking a medical evaluation, they may not ever make it to their job that day. For quite a few people, the medical consequences of a crash will persist for many weeks or even months after the collision. For some people, such as those with spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries, the effects of a motor vehicle collision may wind up lasting for the rest of their lives. The more days of work you will miss because of your injury, the more likely it is that your employer will replace you or terminate your position. If you know it is going to be three or four months before you can return to your job, you may have to find a new job when the time comes. Returning to work may be harder than you think Thanks to excellent trauma care and the combination of physical and occupational therapy, you may feel ready to return to the workforce when your wounds have mostly healed. However, the pain from your injury may make tasks that were once simple prohibitively painful and difficult. It is hard for people to accurately assess the way that a lifelong injury will impact their job until they attempt to return to work. From hand cramps that prevent you from typing to back injuries that make both standing and sitting for more than a few minutes painful, the physical consequences of a crash may make it difficult for you to continue working. Getting a job with major injuries is harder Certain employment fields are highly competitive, due to a glut of available candidates or because the work is so demanding. When you have injuries that limit your stamina, range of motion or function, employers may not want to accommodate those injuries. Although federal law mandates that employers should offer reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities and medical issues, many companies will simply pass over hiring someone with a known or obvious medical condition. The long-term financial impact of an accident is often much more than just the damage to the vehicle or the cost of your medical care. The loss of your wages or your decreased earning potential will also impact the rest of your life.

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: < 1 minute | Car Accidents

Reporting car accidents in Texas

Imagine you’re driving home from your child’s soccer match on a Saturday afternoon. Out of nowhere, your sport utility vehicle (SUV) gets hits from behind by a Volkswagen. However, and the other party in the crash didn’t call the police, though. Instead, you exchanged phone numbers. According to Texas law, you must report your accident to police if damages were more than $1,000. These damages aren’t that difficult to estimate, but you might want to contact a lawyer about your crash if you’re unsure. You’ll have a 10-day period within which to file your Crash Report, Form CR-2 if the police never investigated your crash. Let’s say, you broke your arm in the collision, and fortunately, there weren’t any other injuries. Your fender was also mangled, and it looks like the bumper and the hood of the other vehicle will need to be replaced. Although your injuries and the property damage were relatively minor in this scenario, you still need to call the police because it’s likely that they exceed $1,000. Following any crash, it’s important to exchange personal details, vehicle identification numbers and insurance information with anyone involved in the accident. Also, write down the contact information for witnesses. If possible, you should make notes about the weather, condition of the road, take pictures and don’t admit to being responsible for the crash. Were you involved in a minor accident? Even if you suffered a minor injury in a car crash, you can still pursue financial damages from the at-fault party in your case. A Texas personal injury lawyer can evaluate what happened in your car accident and the extent of your injuries to determine your best course of action.

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: 2 minutes | Car Accidents

Report: Teen pickup truck racing kills two boys in Texas

The police believe that an 18-year-old man in a pickup truck was racing another truck when he slammed into a passenger vehicle. Two young boys were killed in the crash. One was eight years old and the other was one year old. The driver was a 31-year-old woman. She was the stepmother to one boy and the biological mother to the other. She did survive the accident, but just barely. Reports show that she is in critical condition and is in a coma at a medical center. The accident happened on West Whitestone Boulevard. The pickup trucks were headed west, while the SUV was trying to make a left turn and head down Walton Way. As it turned, the teen in the Dodge Ram smashed into it. Pictures from the scene show the mangled SUV sitting in the road, severely damaged. The pictures show the black pickup truck sustained front end damage. Its door is open, showing that the airbags went off. Workers who were near the wreck ran to the scene, and one of them tried to help pull the injured people out of the SUV and give them emergency care. That worker, who did not want his name in print, said he knew the pickup truck driver from when they attended high school together. He claimed that the driver said “I just killed three people.” Police also said that the man admitted he and the other pickup driver were drag racing. After a tragic accident that could have so easily been avoided, it is important for surviving family members to know what rights they may have to seek financial compensation. With funeral costs, medical bills and everything else, families can easily find themselves financially overwhelmed due to someone else’s negligence or mistake. Source: KXAN, “Police: Two trucks racing led to the crash that killed 2 boys in Cedar Park,” Calily Bien and Kylie McGivern, Jan. 18, 2018

Aug 26, 2020 | By The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. | Read Time: 1 minute | Car Accidents

What types of auto-involved accidents are most fatal?

Motor vehicle accidents are one of many different auto-involved types of incidents that the National Safety Council (NSC) describes as causing preventable injuries. Car crashes and other motor vehicle accidents, when grouped together with falls and poisonings, are responsible for 82% of preventable deaths that occur here in Texas and across the United States each year. Data that the NSC compiled in 2017 shows that poisonings accounted for 36% of all preventable deaths in the United States that year. Motor vehicle accidents were responsible for 25% of them. Falls resulted in 21% of the preventable deaths that same year. Suffocation followed in fourth place. That factor accounted for just 4% of all preventable fatalities in 2017. The NSC also compiled data regarding the causes of preventable, nonfatal injuries in the U.S. that year as well. Their researchers found that the leading reason that individuals were hurt in 2017 was due to falls. This factor was responsible for 31% of all nonfatal injuries in the U.S. that year. Struck by or against and overexertion injuries accounted for 14% and 10% respectively of all individuals’ nonfatal injuries that same year. Other auto-involved injuries made the list as the top 10 most fatal or dangerous ones. Land transport incidents were listed by the NSC as causing at least 1% of all fatal injuries in the U.S. At least 9% of all injuries that automobile passengers suffer are listed as preventable by the NSC as well. If you’ve been seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash or have lost a loved one in one of them, then you should know that there is hope. An attorney can advise you of your right to recover compensation for medical bills or funeral costs that you may have incurred as a result of your involvement in an automobile crash in Waco.