Author Archive

Honda Accord driver dies in West Houston collision at Highway 6 and Pine Forest

A deadly collision is being reported the morning of Sunday November 20th in West Houston at the intersection of Highway 6 and Pine Forest. A Chevy Monte Carlo was heading southbound on Highway 6 at around 7:30am when the Monte Carlo collided with a Honda Accord turning from Pine Forest. The Monte Carlo then slid into oncoming traffic where it crashed into a Nissan Sentra. The Monte Carlo caught fire, however quick thinking workers at a nearby golf course ran to the scene and put out the fire with extinguishers. A man who was driving the Honda Accord was killed instantly. The driver and passenger of the Monte Carlo and the driver and passenger of the Sentra were both transported to hospital to be treated. Police think one of the cars ignored a red light and they are trying to figure out which car was at fault. The Chronicle’s report is available here and states the driver of the Monte Carlo passed away at the hospital.

Unsure of how to handle an insurance claim for personal injuries you have suffered in a car accident?  Don’t rely on the insurance adjuster handling your claim for advice…they have a conflict of interest! The less adjusters pay on injury claims, the more profitable their company remains. Insurance adjusters want to settle automobile accident injury claims as quickly as possible so they can cut-off the insurance company’s liability for additional medical bills and close their file.  Since Smith & Hassler was founded in 1989 by Michael Smith and Al Hassler, this law firm has practiced exclusively in the area of personal injury and has handled thousands of car accident injury cases.  Call Smith & Hassler for a free consultation AS SOON AS YOU CAN AFTER YOUR CAR ACCIDENT—get advice from someone with your best interests at heart.  There is no charge for an initial consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys.

Judgment expected today against drunk driver who killed 13-year old Nicole Lalime

A judgment is expected in a multi million dollar lawsuit filed by the parents of 13-year old Nicole Lalime, killed by drunk hit-and-run driver John Winne.  The case is pending in the 189th District Court, Harris County. On December 16, 2008 Nicole walked off her school bus and was struck and killed in front of her home and classmates on the school bus. Winne got out of the wrecked white Lexus he was driving and fled: police found him hiding behind a home. John Winne was sentenced to 30 years in prison and is potentially looking at a multi-million dollar civil judgment against him. Nicole’s parents have little to no expectation of ever collecting the full judgment from Winne, but are pursuing the lawsuit to send a message to drunk drivers who often do not face jail time. Nicole’s friends have remained in close contact with Nicole’s parents, texting them almost daily and occasionally staying over at the Lalime’s house.

Nicole’s mother and father are courageous souls to re-live Nicole’s tragic death in order to send this important message in a county that leads the nation in drunk driving fatalities.

Two HPD officers hospitalized after police car struck by SUV driver on Ambien

Two HPD officers were transported to hospital after their police cruiser was struck by an SUV at the intersection of Bay Area Boulevard and Space Center Boulevard around 11:30pm. Channel 2 is reporting that the driver of the SUV was a 37-year old woman who was under the influence of the prescription sleep aid medication Ambien. A field sobriety test conducted at the scene confirmed the woman was impaired and she was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. The officers were transported to Clear Lake Regional and, thankfully, are expected to be able to return to work today.

This HPD police cruiser sustained heavy damage when it was t-boned at 11:30pm on Wednesday November 16, 2011 by a female SUV driver impaired by the sleep aid Ambien.

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) car accidents seem to happen every single night in the Houston area and throughout Harris County.  Sadly Harris County Texas ranks among the highest counties in the nation for drunk driving fatalities and drunk driving accident injuries year after year.  Drunk driving car accidents often create even more complications for the victim than a regular car accident: insurance companies usually won’t pay a claim or provide a rental car until they speak to their insured driver and get their version of what happened. The insurance company can’t do that if their insured was charged with DWI and is in jail. Call Smith & Hassler if you have been injured by a drunk driver’s gross negligence and ask for speak to one of our personal injury attorneys right now.  Smith & Hassler aggressively pursues claims against drunk drivers.

Edna Dyson passes away after South Houston pit bull attack

Sadly Channel 2 News is reporting that 71-year old Edna Dyson has passed away from injuries sustained in a pit bull attack in South Houston last week. Edna went to tend to the yard of a rental property she owns on Swiss Lane in South Houston when the neighbor’s dogs slipped through a hole in the fence and attacked Edna. Edna was able to crawl to her car and climb inside where she waited for help. Investigators say poor Edna lost consciousness and was in her car for at least two hours before a neighbor found her and called 911. Both of the pit bulls were euthanized last week.

Four Galveston students injured when car rear ends school bus

Four Galveston students and an adult driver of a car received reportedly minor injuries when a car crashed into a school bus. The motorist swerved into the lane of the school bus on Tuesday November 15, striking the rear of the bus. Four students from the Early Childhood University and Weis Middle School along with the car’s driver were taken to John Sealy Hospital. The driver was not cited with any traffic violations, but is probably legally responsible for not controlling the speed of his vehicle and rear-ending the school bus.

Juan Valentin Gante and Maria Gomez killed in Highway 105 minivan crash

Two people died and three others, including a child, were seriously injured in a collision on Highway 105 near Fostoria Road in Montgomery County on Friday November 11, 2011. According to state troopers the wreck happened when a pickup truck broadsided a minivan. Juan Valentin Gante, age 38, and Maria Gomez, age 34, died at the scene of the collision. Marisela Gomez, age 34 and 3-yeard old Monica Gomez were passengers in the minivan who were taken by life flight helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Also taken by helicopter was 67-year old Richard Olan Johnson, the driver of the pickup truck that struck the minivan. Investigators said Johnson tried avoiding the collision with the minivan.

Change may be coming to Texas law on suing for death of a pet

A Texas Appeals Court has issued a ruling that appears to depart from well established precedent. It has long been the law in Texas that a pet owner can only recover the market value of a pet, such as a dog, that has been killed. In the case of a mutt adopted from the animal shelter, the market value may not amount to much more than $100, but of course the value of a treasured pet to the owner is much more. The recent decision was that a pet owner could recover for the sentimental value of the pet.

The case was brought in Fort Worth by a couple whose 8-year old dog was accidentally euthanized by an animal shelter. After the appeals court’s decision, Randy Tuner, lawyer for the couple Jeremy and Kathryn Medlen, said this would be the first time in Texas that someone could sue for the sentimental value of a pet. A lower court had previously dismissed the Medlen’s lawsuit over the death of the Labrador mixed breed “Avery” saying they could only sue for Avery’s market value.

The Second Court of Appeals disagreed, saying that sentimental damages can be recovered for all manner of personal property, which would include an animal. In an 11-page opinion the Fort Worth Court of Appeals wrote: “”Dogs are unconditionally devoted to their owners. Today, we interpret timeworn supreme court law in light of subsequent supreme court law to acknowledge that the special value of `man’s best friend’ should be protected,”

Avery escaped from his owner’s backyard in 2009 and the city’s animal control picked him up. The Medlen’s found him at the shelter the next day, but Avery was put on the list of dogs to be euthanized in error. If the Chuck Silcox Animal Care and Control Center doesn’t appeal the ruling to the Texas Supreme Court, the case will likely be sent back down to the trial court to be considered on its merits.

The case is Kathryn and Jeremy Medlen v Carla Strickland, Cause No. 02-11-00105-CV and was appealed from the Tarrant County Court At Law No 1. The Court of Appeals opinion can be read online here. Carla Strickland was the shelter employee who incorrectly placed Avery on the list of dogs to be euthanized.

Ugbaldo Sagredo charged with intoxication assault in crash with HPD officers

We previously posted on this blog a crash between Ubaldo Sagredo and a HPD patrol car. It has just been announced that Ubaldo Sagredo, driver of the box truck that turned left in front of the HPD patrol car, has been charged with intoxication assault because he was legally drunk when he made an illegal left turn in the 300 block of Berry Road. The officers were in a marked patrol unit with emergency lights on as they rushed to a shooting scene. The officer riding in the front passenger seat of the patrol car was knocked unconscious and emergency services had to extract him from the patrol car and he was taken to hospital with a broken hip, which unfortunately is a serious orthopedic injury that usually requires a lengthy recovery period. According to Channel 11’s report, Ugbalo Sagredo admitted to drinking six beers at his friend’s house prior to the crash and he had four beer cans with him in his truck.

Mom and toddler hit by car outside Kids R Kids daycare in Houston

Channel 2 News is reporting an automobile versus pedestrian collision this morning in northwest Harris County.  A car struck a mom and her two-year old toddler outside the Kids R Kids daycare at 6020 North Eldridge Parkway.  According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office the mom and child were in the parking lot when a vehicle backed into them shortly before 8:00am. Both were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital to be treated, reportedly for minor injuries. Deputies believe the collision was an accident and are investigating.

Even at low speeds, a pedestrian versus vehicle collision is no contest and the pedestrian always fares worst. Auto-pedestrian accidents often result in serious injuries such as road rash, broken bonesspinal cord injuries, internal injuries and traumatic brain injuries. If you, a friend or a family member have been involved in a pedestrian accident, remember to document any obvious signs of trauma such as cuts and bruises by taking good quality, well-lit photographs. Keep any damaged clothing. You can contact the experienced Houston personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler for a free consultation: over our 20-year history Smith & Hassler has successfully handled hundreds of auto-pedestrian accidents for injured clients.

Chain reaction wreck on US59 involves 12 vehicles, injuries

This Toyota minivan with what appears to be out of state license plates was severely damaged in the November 8, 2011 chain reaction wreck on US 59 in Houston

Around 3:30pm on Tuesday November 8, 2011 a major collision shut down the southbound lanes of US59. The multi-vehicle chain reaction style crash involved an 18-wheeler, an RV and at least 10 passenger cars, including the severely damaged Toyota minivan pictured above. Three children had to be extracted from the van according to Channel 11, and they were transported to the hospital along with others involved. An 18-wheeler lost a load of pipe in the collision. Channel 13 reports the location of the wreck as US 59 near Northpark outside Kingwood.  Channel 2 is the only media site that lists an apparent cause for the collision: the 18-wheeler came upon the scene of a previous wreck and was unable to stop in time causing the big rig to swerve and jackknife.