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SUV crashes into DiMassi’s restaurant on Kirby injuring ten people

A black SUV crashed through DiMassi’s Mediterranean Restaurant on Kirby Drive just before 2:00 p.m. yesterday injuring ten people and sending four of them to the hospital. Police spoke with the driver of the SUV, who was uninjured in the accident. It appears she hit the gas instead of the brake. The injured people will no doubt look to the insurer of the SUV to cover their medical bills, however there may be a “limits issue” meaning there may not be enough insurance coverage on the SUV’s policy to pay all of the injury claims. People are often surprised to learn that even if they were a pedestrian (and not in their own vehicle), if they have Underinsured Motorist (UIM) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on their own automobile policy, they can make an injury claim with their own insurer. Trying to figure out what to do after a car accident can be tedious and frustrating, particularly if you’re injured. The Smith & Hassler law firm has represented injured people since 1989 and has four attorneys who are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

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HCSO deputy killed in head on car accident on East Wallisville Road

A deputy who is an 11-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and a single father to a 10-year old son was killed in a head on crash early this morning, and the driver who caused the accident may have been impaired by drugs or alcohol. The deputy was on his way to do a welfare check and was heading eastbound on East Wallisville Road in Highlands. A Ford Explorer SUV coming from the opposite direction crossed the center line and struck the deputy’s patrol car head-on, sending it spinning into a drainage ditch. Rescue crews cut the deputy from the wrecked car and he was taken by life flight helicopter to the hospital, but was pronounced dead. The woman driving the vehicle was taken by ground ambulance. The deputy’s name has not yet been released.

UPDATE: the deceased Deputy has been identified as Jesse Valdez. The driver of the Ford Explorer has been identified as Kelly Ivey you can view her Facebook page here. Apparently Ivey was paroled from prison only a few weeks ago where she was serving time for a possession of methamphetamine charge.

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Photo credit: KHOU

Houston drunk driving accident attorneys Smith & Hassler

Deputy Jesse Valdez, HCSO and Kelly Ivey

Houston drunk driving accident attorneys Smith & Hassler

Kelly Ivey apparently announcing her recent release from jail

Car accident on FM 2920 leaves two drivers in critical condition

A Toyota 4Runner SUV and a Ford Escape collided early Tuesday morning on FM 2920 and Meadow Hill. Precinct Four deputies told Channel 2 News that one of the vehicles attempted a u-turn when it was struck by the other. Both drivers were trapped in their vehicles and when freed were taken by life flight helicopter to Memorial Hermann. An injured passenger was taken by ground ambulance. Officials are investigating to see if alcohol played a role in the accident.

Houston car accident personal injury attorneys Smith & Hassler

Photo credit: Channel 2 News

18 wheeler accident on Highway 225 in Pasadena claims a life

An as-yet unnamed woman was killed today when her car was struck from behind by an 18-wheeler. The vehicles were on westbound Highway 225 near Preston when, according to media accounts, debris fell from a vehicle in front of the woman causing her to slow down. The 18-wheeler, approaching from behind, did not stop in time and drove partially over the rear of the woman’s vehicle, severely crushing it. Pasadena Police Department spokesman Vance Mitchell said the accident was under investigation and no decision has been made yet whether charges will be filed.

Houston 18 wheeler accident attorneys Smith & Hassler

The scene of today's fatal truck accident on Highway 225

Dioxin lawsuit against Waste Management, International Paper and McGinnis Industrial

In 2011 Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan sued three companies for dumping toxic paper waste into the San Jacinto River. Those companies are Waste Management, International Paper and McGinnis Industrial Maintenance Corporation. The County’s factual claim is that these companies allowed dioxin, a dangerous chemical with documented risk to human health, to leak into a river system where Harris County residents have fished and swam since the 1960s. The County is seeking $2,000,000,000 ($2 billion) in penalties because the three companies failed to disclose the waste and clean it up. Residents of The Highlands have filed a lawsuit of their own; many of these residents are represented by Smith & Hassler.

In 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named the waste pits a Superfund site and took over remediation. Waste Management, International Paper and McGinnis Industrial Maintenance Corporation were ordered by the EPA to place a temporary cap over the waste pits, but the concern the Highlands residents have is that the cap could not withstand a major flood.

Red light runner causes major car accident at Hempstead and 43rd Street

A red light runner caused a major collision last night at the intersection of Hempstead Highway and 43rd Street, injuring two people. Police said one vehicle with a male driver was heading northbound on Hempstead Highway when the driver disregarded a red light at 43rd Street, striking the side of a minivan. The collision was severe enough to flip the minivan over and through it into a ditch, trapping the driver. Fire fighters cut the roof off the minivan to free the lady driver. Both drivers were transported to the hospital and are expected to survive their injures.

car accident personal injury attorneys Smith & Hassler Houston

Photo credit: Channel 2 News

Car accident personal injury claims | Getting your medical bills paid when you are injured in a car accident | Dealing with an insurance company after a car accident | Board Certified Personal Injury Attorneys in Houston, Texas

Audi driver killed in car accident on Highway 6

A woman driving an Audi was killed in a car accident last night as she made a left turn from Highway 6 onto Patterson Road, Channel 13 is reporting. The crash happened around 7:00 p.m. when an SUV in oncoming lanes struck the Audi. Both the SUV and the Audi then collided with a third vehicle driven by a pregnant lady. The lady driving the Audi was transported to the hospital but did not survive. Police say the Audi driver had a green light but failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.

Westheimer car accident puts vehicles into flooded ditch

A major car accident this morning involving at least five vehicles had emergency responders using the Jaws of Life to rescue a trapped motorist. Channel 2 is reporting that three vehicles were propelled into a ditch that was flooded by this morning’s downpour. Westheimer Parkway near George Bush Park was shut down in both directions while the scene was cleared. No word on injuries, but the accident looks pretty severe based on the damage to the vehicles involved.

Houston personal injury attorneys Smith & Hassler

Photo credit: Channel 2 News

Chevron contractor killed in natural gas pipeline incident off Louisiana coast

One contractor was killed and two others were injured while performing maintenance on a natural gas pipeline off the Louisiana coast yesterday. The incident happened around 11:10 a.m. Saturday September 13th; there were a total of four workers on the Chevron Pipe Line Co. platform at the time. Company spokesman Gareth Johnstone told the press he did not know what had caused the incident. The name of the deceased worker has not yet been released. The two injured workers were taken by helicopter to a waiting ambulance but declined to be transported to the emergency room.

Two killed in near head-on crash near Baytown

Police say a Ford pickup truck driven by an adult male was heading northbound on N. Main at a high rate of speed when the vehicle crossed the center line and went into oncoming lanes. Two adults were killed in the accident and a child was injured.

Houston car accident personal injury attorneys Smith & Hassler

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