Lawyers Make Us Safer?

“Lawyers Make Us Safer?” by Texas Personal Injury Attorney Daniel Willis

Your car is full of safety features that you may not ever think about; seat belts, airbags, windows that prevent occupants from being ejected, design of fuel tanks, etc.  The reason these safety features and many more exist is because of personal injury attorneys.

Your car is safer and numerous lives are saved every year because personal injury attorneys insisted on it.

Perhaps the most famous example of this is related to the Ford Pinto.  In short, a design flaw in the Pinto made it possible for the fuel tank to explode in rear-end collisions.  An internal memo showed Ford was aware of the design flaw, but decided it would be cheaper to face potential lawsuits than redesign the vehicle.  As a result, some estimates say the design flaw resulted in  over 500 deaths.  You can read more about the Ford Pinto debacle here.

An article in the Washington Post, “How Our Cars Got Safer,” does a great job detailing how litigation has forced car makers to add safety features they otherwise would not have.  A short excerpt from the article is printed below:

It is easy to take for granted just how much safer vehicles have become and how safety measures have been standardized. For years, the auto industry has worked to undermine regulations and limit its liability by pushing for complete immunity from lawsuits when their vehicles comply with minimum federal safety standards. This would, in short, be devastating for consumers.

Recall that the Pinto’s design met all government standards of the time. Had compliance with federal standards been a complete defense of vehicle safety, Ford could not have been held accountable for the many burn victims that the company was later shown to have anticipated.

Put another way, without the civil justice system, gas tanks would still explode in rear-end collisions, seat belts and airbags would not be standard, and cars would roll over onto roofs that would be easily crushed.

Unfortunately, money, not safety, is the number one motivator for most companies.  History has shown that hitting a company where it counts, their pocketbook, is the only way for some to add necessary safety features.

The jury foreman in one Ford Pinto case where a woman died and her 13-year old passenger suffered burns on over 90% of his body was asked why the damages awarded were so high.  He replied, “so that Ford wouldn’t design cars that way again.”

If you or someone you know has been injured by a defective vehicle, please contact the Begum Law Group today.  As always, it’s free to meet with us and you don’t pay any attorney’s fees until you receive compensation.  We would love to help you.

Drunk Driving Statistics

“Drunk Driving Statistics” by Texas Personal Injury Attorney Daniel Willis

A 2010 survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed some interesting statistics about DWI accidents and the cavalier attitude toward drinking and driving across the nation.

Specifically, the survey found that, in the past year,  1 in 12 drivers admitted to driving while intoxicated and 1 in 5 drivers admitted to driving within two hours of consuming an alcoholic beverage.

Additionally, 4 out of 5 people surveyed indicated that they consider drinking and driving to be a significant threat to their safety and general welfare.

According to NHTSA officials, nearly a third of all fatal accidents in the United States are caused by drunk drivers.

“We could cut fatalities by half if we had 100% seat belt use and eliminated drunk driving,” said Vernon Betkey, chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

In addition to finding that nearly 8 percent of all drivers have driven drunk, the survey also found the following:

• 8 percent of people rode as a passenger in a car driven by someone they believed was too drunk to drive
• 40 percent of people believed they could drive safely after consuming 3 drinks
• 11 percent of people believed they could drive safely after consuming 5 drinks

“We have to do more as a country to close the gap between believing that drunk driving is a threat and actively doing something about it. Impaired driving remains a very serious problem,” said David Strickland, an NHTSA Administrator.

If you or someone you know is involved in an accident involving a drunk driver, please contact The Begum Law Group today.  As always, it’s free to meet with us and you don’t pay any attorney’s fees until you receive compensation.  We would love to help you.

Wichita Falls Car Crash Kills Two Teens, Unborn Baby

“Wichita Falls Car Crash Kills Two Teens, Unborn Baby” by Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Daniel Willis

Two teenage girls and an unborn baby died late last Thursday night following a two-car wreck  involving a Wichita Falls police car.  The girls were identified by Wichita Falls police as 18-year-old Yeni Lopez, who was 7-months pregnant, and 13-year-old Gloria Montoya.  All three were pronounced dead after being transported by ambulance to United Regional Hospital late Thursday.

You can read more about this tragic story here.

Police cars, Border Patrol vehicles, other government-owned vehicles are frequently involved in crashes.  Those wrecks often involve major impacts with significant injuries due to high speed, the size of the vehicle and because those wrecks typically occur at intersections.   When the at-fault driver is a government employee, special rules apply.

If you have been injured in any type of crash, including those involving a police car, Border Patrol vehicle, or other government-owned vehicle, please contact us today.  We would love to meet with you.

Texas Auto Insurance Explained

“Texas Auto Insurance Explained” by Texas Insurance Attorney Daniel Willis

Texas law requires people who drive in Texas to pay for the accidents they cause. Most drivers do this by buying automobile insurance.

Below is a broad overview of common types of insurance coverage.  You should read your auto insurance policy for specific details.

Liability Insurance:  This is required by law in Texas.  If you cause an accident, your liability insurance pays for the property damage you cause and the injuries you cause.  Liability insurance does not pay to repair or replace your car or to treat your injuries. 

The minimum liability limits Texas law requires are:

• Bodily Injury – $30,000 per person; $60,000 per accident
• Property Damage – $25,000 per accident.

This basic coverage is called 30/60/25 coverage. 

If your liability limits are too low to pay for all of the injured victims’ costs, those injured  may sue you to collect the difference. To protect yourself financially, consider buying more than the minumum limits.

Property damage coverage:

• Collision Insurance:  This pays for damage to your car from a collision, even if it’s your fault. 
• Comprehensive Insurance:  This pays for damage to your car caused by most anything other than a car collision. Glass breakage, theft, fire, explosion, impact with an animal, vandalism and flood are some common examples.

Bodily Injury Coverage:

• Uninsured Motorists (UM): Unfortunately, not everyone purchases auto insurance. If you or your passengers are injured by someone who does not have insurance, UM coverage will pay for your damages up to the amount of your policy limits.
• Underinsured Motorists (UIM):  Just as some drivers don’t carry any auto insurance, some don’t carry enough insurance to cover the damages they cause.  UIM coverage pays for damages to you or occupants of your car when the other person’s insurance is inadequate. 
• Medical Payments (Med Pay):  This pays for medical, hospital or funeral expenses for you and others injured or killed while riding in your car, regardless of fault. It also covers you and family members if struck by a car as a pedestrian or if riding in another car.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP):  This covers the same as medical payments coverage, plus 80% of lost income and the cost of hiring a caregiver for an injured person.

Insurance companies must offer to sell you PIP coverage and UM/UIM coverage along with your liability coverage. If you decide not to purchase PIP or UM/UIM, you must reject it in writing.

Dealing with insurance companies can be a frustrating task.  If you or someone you know needs help dealing with an insurance company, please contact The Begum Law Group today.  We would love to help you.

11 Injured in Texas Bus Crash

“11 Injured in Texas Bus Crash” by Texas Bus Crash Attorney Daniel Willis

Authorities say 11 passengers have been injured after a charter bus rolled over on an interstate in south central Texas.

WFAA.com states the following:

Hays County Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Gutierrez tells the San Antonio Express-News that three people were taken to a San Antonio hospital with life-threatening injuries after the crash early Friday morning. He said the other injured passengers were taken to area hospitals.

Gutierrez said the accident happened about 4 a.m. on Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin. He said the 72-passenger bus was nearly full.

Gutierrez said investigators were still gathering information about the crash as rush hour began.

Ruth Alanis of Dallas-based bus owner Mares Tours told The Associated Press that the company did not yet know anything about the crash.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus crash and need help, please contact us today.  We would love to help you.

The Deadliest Weekend for DWIs

“The Deadliest Weekend for DWIs” by Texas Car Accident Attorney Daniel Willis

The holidays are a great time, but they’re also a time to be extra careful on the road. Unfortunately, every year hundreds of people die as a result of alcohol-related car crashes. The Fourth of July has repeatedly ranked as the deadliest holiday of the year for such crashes — even deadlier than New Year’s Day.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2008 

When people think of a deadly holiday, they usually think of  New Year’s.  This may be why people stay off the roads more on New Year’s than they do on July Fourth. (While the New Year’s statistics are totaled over four days, the Fourth of July statistics are for three days.) 

Please be safe this holiday weekend. 

If you or someone you know is involved in an accident involving a drunk driver, please contact The Begum Law Group today.  As always, it’s free to meet with us and you don’t pay any attorney’s fees until you receive compensation.  We would love to help you.

Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents

“Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents” by Texas 18-Wheeler Attorney Daniel Willis

One out of every eight traffic-related deaths involves large commercial trucks — also known as tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks and big rigs. In a recent 10-year period, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes rose by 10 percent.

Trucks are larger and heavier than other cars on the road, which explains why 77% of those injured and 86% of those killed in large truck collisions are the drivers or passengers of smaller vehicles, including cars, SUVs and motorcycles.  Many times the driver of the 18-wheeler walks away with only minor injuries.

When the 18-wheeler driver is at fault, the cause is often one of the following:

Alcohol/Drugs

Unfortunately, an inordinately high number of 18-wheeler drivers involved in accidents test positive for drugs and/or alcohol. 

Brake failure

Semi-trucks are notorious for brake system failures. Recent statistics on the high number of brake problems have caused companies to improve their brake systems for semi-trucks.

Fatigue

Perhaps the most common cause of 18-wheeler accidents is driver fatigue.  Many semi-truck drivers are pressured to meet deadlines, and they compromise their sleep to meet those deadlines.

Speeding

In addition to compromising their sleep, many truck drivers resort to speeding in order to meet deadlines and quotas. Even 10 mp/h over the speed limit can be very dangerous when driving a large 18-wheeler.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an 18-wheeler accident, please contact us today.  It is important to contact an attorney quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, photos are taken, and witnesses are contacted.

Two Killed in Overnight Car Wreck in La Feria

“Two Killed in Overnight Car Wreck in La Feria” by Texas Personal Injury Attorney Daniel Willis

According to KRGV.com, a car wreck has taken the lives of two people, 62 year old Ramiro Villagomez of Edinburg and 36 year old Rudy Zuniga of Harlingen. The wreck occurred early Saturday morning near La Feria, Texas.

KRGV.com states the following:

The accident happened around 2:30 on Old Business 83 near Rabb Road. DPS Trooper Johnny Hernandez tells CHANNEL FIVE NEWS us a truck and a van collided.

He says the driver of the van was backing out of his driveway when the two vehicles collided.

To read more about this wreck, click here.

If you or someone you know is injured in a car accident, please contact us today.  The consultation is free.  We would love to meet with you.

Two Brownsville Men Injured When SPI Pier Collapses

“Two Brownsville Men Injured When SPI Pier Collapses” by Texas Personal Injury Attorney Daniel Willis

Two men were injured while fishing Friday afternoon when a pier collapsed.  The incident happened near Pirates Landing on South Padre Island.  The Brownsville Herald states:

Ruben Hernandez, 20, and Emmanuel Trevino, 17, both from Brownsville fell through the concrete slab to the ground below, and had minor injuries, officials said.

To read more, click here.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a slip and fall accident, please contact The Begum Law Group today.  As always, it’s free to meet with us and you don’t pay any attorney’s fees until you receive compensation.  We would love to help you.

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

“Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents” by Texas Slip and Fall Attorney Daniel Willis

Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injuries in the U.S.  Whether you’re walking into a store and a crack in the sidewalk causes you to trip and fall or you’re browsing the aisles at a grocery store when water on the floor causes you to fall down, slip and fall accidents can be dangerous. 

Many dangerous conditions can cause a slip and fall injury, but some of the most common are:

• Slippery substances, such as grease or ice, on the floor
• Lack of lighting or poor lighting
• Lack of handrails on stairways
• Uneven walking surfaces
• Cracked walking surfaces
• Holes in walking surfaces
• Loose tiles

In general, business owners have a legal duty to keep their property in a safe condition.  This duty requires an owner to: 

• Periodically inspect the property; and
• If a dangerous or hazardous condition is found, to adequately warn of that condition. 

If a property owner breaches this legal duty and a slip and fall injury results, the property owner may be liable for the injuries.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a slip and fall accident, please contact The Begum Law Group today.  As always, it’s free to meet with us and you don’t pay any attorney’s fees until you receive compensation.  We would love to help you.