Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

A Dr. Pepper delivery truck flipped over a guardrail and crashed to the freeway below on Monday September 6th. The 18-wheeler had been traveling on Highway 288 when it fell to Highway 59 below. The big-rig fell about 40 feet and burst into flames when it crashed to the ground. Unfortunately the truck driver sustained serious injury when he was burned over almost half his body; he also suffered two broken legs. Tex DOT will ensure both roadways are structurally sound before traffic is allowed back in the area. Click2Houston.com story is here.

Bellaire police are reporting a wreck on the West Loop near Evergreen Street at about 11:00pm. The collision was shortly after the Houston Texan’s game ended Thursday night and caused a two-mile backup of traffic. Two vehicles were involved in the collision and two injured people were taken to Ben Taub Hospital — the extent of their injuries has not been released. The cause for the collision is under investigation. Click2Houston.com story here.

From the Texas Department of Insurance’s web site:

Texas law requires people who drive in Texas to be able to pay for the automobile accidents they cause. Most drivers do this by buying automobile liability insurance. Liability insurance pays to repair or replace the other driver’s car and pays other people’s medical expenses. It does not pay to repair or replace your car or for your injuries.

The minimum coverage amount required by the state’s financial responsibility law increased on April 1, 2008, to $25,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. (The limits prior to April 1 were $20,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $40,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident.)

The limits will increase again on January 1, 2011, to $30,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Drivers will be required to comply with the new limits as their policies are issued or renewed on or after the effective dates.

This is good news for automobile accident victims.  All too often the insurance coverage carried by a negligent driver is not sufficient to cover the injured person’s damages.

A 56-year old La Marque woman fended off an attempted robbery by a man in a Wal-Mart parking lot when she pulled a concealed handgun and opened fire. The woman struggled with the man shortly before 3:00pm as he apparently attempted to take her car. The woman, a concealed handgun holder, was able to grab the pistol from the console of her car. She pointed her gun at the man who fled toward a silver or gray SUV driven by an accomplice. The woman fired several shots at the fleeing SUV as it sped away, one of the bullets struck the rear of the vehicle. The attacker was armed with a pistol. Police are looking for a silver or gray SUV with a bullet hole and Texas license plate number NMG 714. The Houston Chronicle’s story is here and has drawn many reader comments, which are overwhelmingly in praise of the woman’s actions.

CNN is reporting that an oil rig owned by Mariner Energy has suffered an explosion this morning. The rig is located off the Louisiana coast. The site is 80 miles south of the Vermilion Bay and coast guard helicopters are responding. The Coast Guard is reporting that 12 oil rig workers are overboard. There was a total of 13 people aboard the rig at the time of the explosion and 12 have been accounted for thus far. It is unknown at this time if there are any injuries.

Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Tom Phillips (and his family) were sued yesterday over an automobile accident that followed a party last year at the Phillips’ home in Bastrop, Texas just outside Austin.  A 17-year old girl became intoxicated at the party, held in the garage apartment of the Phillips’ son.  Mrs. Phillips ordered everyone attending the party to leave when the noise level rose: the car accident happened as the girl drove away.  The Phillips’ are being sued under social host liability: that they knowingly permitted alcohol to be served to a minor at their home, and that the minor became intoxicated as a result.

Houston lawyer Dax Faubus contends in the lawsuit on behalf of the parents of Audrey King, the 17-year-old who died in a drunken car crash shortly after leaving the party, that Tom and Lynn Phillips were “well aware that minors were getting drunk in their back yard.” Through their attorney, the Phillips say they didn’t even know a party was taking place in their son’s quarters in a carriage house behind their home.

Monday August 30, 2010: The Houston Chronicle is reporting that a 67-year old woman is dead and her 71-year old husband is critically injured after an early morning car accident with a City of Houston police car. The accident occurred in southwest Houston in the 7500 block of South Braeswood near Braesridge at around 12:30am. The woman and her husband were taken from the accident scene to Ben Taub hospital where the woman died. The names of the couple have not been released. The police officer was taken to Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center: police say the officer suffered a broken neck, arm injury and a gash to his forehead. The officer, who has been with HPD for about a year, was responding to an urgent call for assistance and was in a marked patrol car at the time of the car accident. The patrol car’s siren and emergency lights were not on at the time of the crash according to police.

Ford has issued a recall for Ford Windstar minivans, model years 1998 to 2003. A total of 575,000 vehicles are affected. The recall is due to possible corrosion problems with the rear axle.  Because cracking problems or axle failure affect vehicle handling, corrosion problems or defects could lead to accidents or injuries. People who own a 1998-2003 Windstar are advised to take their vehicle to a Ford dealership for inspection. Ford states that if the axle shows signs of cracking, owners will be offered a repair and alternative transportation while the repair is performed. If there is no cracking, owners will be offered a reinforcement bracket for the axle. A story is available here, including a Youtube video highlighting the problem.

Ford Motor Company’s official recall notice is here and reads as follows:

Ford is voluntarily recalling older, high-mileage Windstar minivans produced between mid-1997 and early 2003 for rear axles. In a very small number of cases, the axles have fractured in certain locations on the right and/or left side, and affected vehicle handling. We will notify affected owners in the very near future and ask them to bring their vehicles to their local dealers for inspection and any necessary repairs. As always, Ford is committed to responding quickly for our customers.

The recall for the Windstar – which is no longer in production – applies to vehicles in 21 states, the District of Columbia and Canada where road salt corrosion is more common.

Ford dealers at no charge to customers will reinforce the axles of the affected vehicles as parts are available. If it’s determined the axle can’t be reinforced, it will be replaced as soon as parts are available. Ford will provide for rental vehicles for customers until the rear axle of their vehicle has been replaced.

A man was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital with severe leg injuries after his pickup truck collided with the trailer of an 18-wheeler in Houston on Thursday August 26th.  The accident was south of Reed Road on Alameda Road in Houston. Both vehicles were traveling south when the 18-wheeler stopped to make a left turn and the pickup truck collided with the rear of the trailer. A Houston Chronicle report available here shows severe damage to the pickup truck.

News Channel 2 is reporting that Gina Wiggins has been accused of driving drunk and causing a car accident in Houston that resulted in the death of another driver. Harris County Sheriff’s Office states that Wiggins was driving a Nissan Xterra SUV southbound in the 21000 block of FM2100 in Houston at about 6:15pm on Wednesday August 25, 2010. Detectives say Wiggins failed to stay in her lane and hit a Ford Escort coming from the other direction nearly head-on.  Angela Maxwell, driving the Escort, sustained injuries that proved fatal. Wiggins was transported to hospital where a blood sample was drawn, and she was subsequently charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.  Wiggins is being held in the Harris County Jail in lieu of $60,000 bail. The Houston Chronicle’s report is here.