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Dallas Car Crash Attorney: Grimes County Wreck Kills Two Texas Tech Students

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:16:22 GMT

A car crash in Grimes County killed two Texas Tech University students and sent two others to a hospital with critical injuries. Jeffrey Michael Inns and Kyle Drew Anderson of Montgomery, were killed when their car collided with a pickup, according to Texas DPS officials.

The 2008 Subaru was headed westbound on 105 around 3 miles from Plantersville, when it veered into the eastbound lane. They collided with a 2006 Dodge Ram and were pronounced dead at the scene. Texas Tech students Marissa Whitworth and Chelsea Wiseman of Austin were taken by Life Flight helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital where their current condition was not available.

According to DPS officials, Inns was wearing a safety belt, while the other three were not. The driver of the Subera was taken to Conroe Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. DPS officials said that Baigrie was wearing a seat belt at the time. According to DPS officials, the only person injured in the truck was Garrison Kirsch, a five year old from Montgomery. He was later treated for bruises at the medical center.

The students were heading back to Lubbock after camping on Saturday night at the Texas Renaissance Festival near Plantersville, according to Anderson's mother. Anderson graduated from Montgomery High School in 2007 and was an international economics major. He was planning on attending law school after graduation.

Our hearts go out to the families of the deceased.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

A contract with my new teen driver.

Jeff Rasansky — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:17:05 GMT

When your sixteen year old start to drive, it opens up all kinds of new worlds! Each of us has a different perspective on what it means for our teenager to start driving but at the same time we are all in agreement – we want them to be safe. I did what I do best to make sure my teenager is safe…I drew up a contract. A contract that shares my concern with my sixteen year old and puts my teenager in the safest and best position possible as a new driver.

Here is the ‘Safe Driving Contract’ you can use as a resource with your new teenage driver. Pass it around and make sure any teenager takes the safest route home.

Other resources for teen drivers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

'Technology feeds' about drivers and driver studies

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:24:44 GMT

Here are some good videos on drivers and driver studies.

Safety belt fetes 50 years

Drivers get virtual "guardian angel"

Crash test warning

Marijuana makes for bad drivers

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Texas Drivers, Meet Big Brother and Big Insurance

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:13:51 GMT

Rarely drive your car?

Rarely drive your car at night, during rush hour, or in major cities?

Do you always accelerate and deccelerate smoothly?

Do you live in a state that would guarantee a discount for providing your insurance company information about your driving habits?

Have no privacy concerns about your personal driving habits?

You must not live in Texas.

Progressive Insurance has recently introduced a technologically advanced method to record driving statistics called MyRate. This device is a chip that is placed inside the car and records driving information and, after a couple months, the information is sent to Progressive. This device may lead to discounted insurance rates, but many across Texas view the technology as unnecessarily intrusive.

MyRate tracks several different driving variables including what time of day the car is being driven, how far it travels, and how smoothly the driver starts and stops. This data is used by Progressive to determine the liability involved to insure the driver.

In most cases, MyRate claims to lower insurance costs for safe drivers who tend to not drive many miles or at night. Drivers who drive fast, too many miles, at night, or repeatedly step on the brakes might not receive a discount - but see an increase in insurance costs!

Progressive provides plenty of evidence pointing to discounted insurance rates - yet this data comes from states where insurance companies are required to provide these discounts in exchange for driving data.

The information tracked by MyRate might be used in a different manner. This device might be used to help distinguish how accidents are caused and who is to blame. As stated above, this system tracks how smoothly a driver starts and stops. In most accidents, drivers slam on their brakes as they react to a possibly collision. Sudden braking will appear on the MyRate and will raise cause for concern. Speed is also a variable tracked by MyRate, another variable in car accidents.

This new technology may allow Progressive to bully consumers and policyholders into unfairly low car accident settlements using MyRate data as evidence. Drivers locked in a dispute regarding whether one was speeding, hit the brakes, time of day, length of trip, miles driven that day can now use the MyRate as evidence to deny various claims.

Stephen McKay, a products manager at Progressive, states that information gathered by the MyRate chip cannot be used in an accident investigation without the driver's permission. At-fault drivers who are involved in a legal case with another driver might not want these statistics released to the jury.

Yet how many consumers unknowingly provide ammunition to the insurance company? The privacy policy for the use of the device leaves this little tidbit out.

Deeia Beck, public counsel for the state Office of Public Insurance Counsel, does not believe at-fault drivers will be allowed to keep these driving statistics - some might be forced into giving this data to a judge. "They may not use it against their own insured," she said. "But let's say you're a Progressive customer, you're the at-fault driver, and these records are available. I'm sorry, but the opposing attorney is going to subpoena records, and it's not necessarily a done deal whether that's going to be admissible."

Ready to hand over all your driving information?

We're not either.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Dallas Car Crash Kills 2

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:16:37 GMT

An accident in Dallas Monday night took the lives of a newlywed couple. Uriel Perez Palacios, 22, or Dallas has already been involved in two police chases and four outstanding drug and DWI warrants under his belt prior to Monday’s crash. Why wasn’t this guy already locked up?

Palacios was pulled over around 2 a.m. by a Dallas County sheriff’s deputy for weaving through traffic at a high rate of speed on North Central Expressway. He then sped away as the deputy approached his vehicle. He exited Mockingbird Lane and ran through a red light in his SUV, colliding with another vehicle. That sent Palacios’ car into the air and into the vehicle of Erika and German Clouet, crushing the car and killing the couple.

Palacios was ejected from his vehicle and his passenger, Bibiana Espinoza had to be cut out of the wreckage. Both were taken to a hospital.

Officials charged Mr. Palacios with intoxication manslaughter and three counts of intoxication assault.

According to statistics provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), around one third of all drivers arrested or convicted of driving under the influence are repeat offenders. There is a 40 percent increase in the likelihood of fatal crashes with those who have a prior DWI.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Teen Drivers Responsible for 31,000 Auto Accident Deaths

Robert Wolf — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:24:19 GMT

An analysis of federal crash statistics by the American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety found that approximately 31,000 people were killed in crashes involving teenage drivers between the ages of 15 and 17 from the years 1995 to 2004. "While we may think of this as being a teen driver problem, it really affects a much broader audience," said Robert Darbelnet, AAA president and chief executive.

About one-third of the people killed in automobile crashes involving the nation's youngest drivers were pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles, according to a report released Wednesday. Many automobile safety groups said the statistics emphasize the need for states to strengthen laws involving graduated licensing programs, which place restrictions upon beginning drivers and outline training programs.

The statistics are nothing short of staggering.

The report found that of the 30,917 deaths during the span, 36.2 percent, were by teen drivers aged 15-17. The death toll included 9,847 passengers of the teen drivers, or 31.8 percent; 7,477 occupants of other vehicles operated by drivers at least 18 years of age, or 24.2 percent; and 2,323 pedestrians and bicyclists, or 7.5 percent.

The report mentioned that every state has some form of a graduated licensing program but they vary in their scope. Many safety groups insist a comprehensive program to include at least 50 hours of supervised driving with an adult, restrictions of the time of day when a beginning driver can use a vehicle and limits on the number of passengers in the vehicle without a supervising adult.

These safety groups say distractions and risks grow sharply for teen drivers at night and when they travel with their friends. One recommendation is that regardless of what the state law says, parents should not allow their teen to ride with other teen drivers, nor should they be allowed to transport other teens in the first year of driving.

Kathy Fowler, 37, a medical reporter for WJLA-TV in Washington, survived a crash on a rural road in Ohio when she was 18. Two other people were killed in the accident.

"I guess as teenagers you think you're invincible, immortal," she said. "None of us realized back then that something we did in a split second could have such a lifelong impact and create so much pain for so many people."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Robert Wolf

How Damaging Can Social Networks Be?

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:15:43 GMT

Today it’s not so much about what we say but when and how we say it. People who are posting on social networks need to realize it has repercussions across all aspects of their life. They can’t just post a personal message without a business colleague finding it and reading it. They can’t go out and party it up for the weekend without a friend posting pictures online and who wants to see that! Here are 5 ways to keep your online persona clean, honest and undamaging (as best possible).

1. Consider your medium. It might sound simple but don’t mix business with pleasure. Don’t post personal information on your business sites and try to keep your personal postings private.
2. Control your friends. Be careful who you let into your ‘friends’ circle in on your personal and business networks. Avoid guilt by association and be ready to reject or remove friends to preserve your image.
3. Monitor your state. Don’t post when you have been drinking, don’t post when you are angry. Always give yourself time to come down before you let the world know something you shouldn’t.
4. Be true to yourself. Always be who you are online. Fakes, when found out, will be driven out of the village never to be heard from again.
5. Know your tools. There are ways to track when your photos or postings are being use. Use those tools so you can be sure your information isn’t showing up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Don’t miss this interview with the Legal Broadcast Network about an attorney’s client posting damaging info on his Facebook and MySpace pages that cost him at least $20,000! It really does pay to keep your social networking, well, undamaged.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Dallas Student Killed in Semi Truck Accident

RLF Staff — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:20:30 GMT

A 20-year-old college student was one of two reported deaths in a freak accident Wednesday. An 18-wheeler ran off a freeway ramp in downtown Dallas and landed on a car.

Ashley Parra, a political science major at the University of North Texas, was on her way to work at a local restaurant when the semi truck jumped over the freeway ramp and crushed her car with her inside. The driver, David Simonelli, was also killed in the unusual accident. Simonelli was working for Texas Land & Air Co. for about a month according to the company's CEO.

According to the police, one possible cause of the tractor trailer accident could be that the load in the back shifted causing the large truck to lose control. Police suspect Simonelli was traveling too fast on the ramp.

Accidents involving semi trucks happen far too often in Dallas. Most are cause by unsafe drivers speeding or not paying attention, and un maintained semis. If you or someone you know has been in an accident with a tractor trailer or other large vehicle, you may be compensated for medical bills, property damage and pain and suffering. contact Dallas truck accident lawyer to see if you have a case.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by RLF Staff

Texas Trucking Companies Putting Unsafe and Illegal Drivers on the Roads

RLF Staff — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:32:38 GMT

Texas trucking companies often gamble on putting unsafe and even illegal drivers on Dallas highways. Often, they hire illegal immigrants who have trouble reading road signs and communicating with employers, police and emergency crews. Texas trucking companies have also been known to hire felons, alcoholics and drug addicts because many background checks are not completed or rushed through. These types of people are dangerous behind the wheel of any motor vehicle, but many end up driving multi-ton 18 wheelers on the Dallas freeways.

About 500 people are killed each year and nearly 10,000 are injured in accidents involving large trucks. When these accidents happen, it's common for the trucking company to defend their drivers and place blame on the other drivers no matter what the evidence shows. The increasing number of big rigs on Texas highways make it more and more difficult for police to keep track of the thousands of licensed and unlicensed semi truck drivers in Texas which lets many illegal drivers slip through the cracks and get behind the wheel.

Often, the punishment for drivers and companies involved in negligent truck accidents is a compliance review. Although a compliance review can lead to a company being forced out of business, they often get the opportunity to correct errors with little to no punishment or reason to maintain safe drivers and vehicles.

However, when state officials can't or won't do anything to correct the problems of semi truck companies, victims and their families have one method of recourse - filing a lawsuit against the driver and/or the trucking company. Unfortunately many victims do not know of this option and the negligent drivers and companies can get away with little more than a slap on the wrist. When lawsuits are filed, victims are often compensated for medical bills, property damage, lost wages and pain and suffering. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, victims can recieve thousands to millions of dollars.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by RLF Staff

2 Accidents In North Texas End in Deaths

Jeff Rasansky — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:25:53 GMT

An explosion from a tractor trailer in Arlington filled the sky with flames and smoke on Monday night.

The 18-wheeler exploded and formed a huge fireball on Mayfield Road at the Highway 360 overpass at around midnight.

Investigators claimed the truck had leaked gas shortly before the blast.

Luckily, the driver of the truck was not injured.

Highway 360 was closed while firefighters battled the intense blaze. The overpass was checked for possible damage before traffic resumed.

And two people are dead and a third one is injured after a late night car crash in East Texas that involved six 18 wheelers and one car.

A representative of the Texas Department of Transportation told Tyler TV that the cleanup could be extensive and it is currently unknown how long the interstate will be out of commission.

Officials claimed that the accident started when an 18-wheeler rolled and erupted into flames. Details weren't available about the two adults who died in the crash, but they were riding together in the one car involved in the wreck.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky