Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

Channel 2 is reporting a car accident involving a Houston Police Department officer who was pursuing two teens in a stolen minivan.  The crash happened around 10:15pm on Wednesday September 7: a woman had called police to report that her minivan had been stolen from her driveway. An officer who spotted the vehicle tried to pull it over but the minivan fled: the officer pursued but crashed at a turn at McCarty Road from Mesa. A 17-year old boy and 13-year old girl fled the van on foot but were detained shortly thereafter. Although Channel 2’s picture of the police cruiser shows pretty significant front end damage, the report indicates that fortunately the officer was not injured.

Car accidents commonly result in medical bills, lost income from work and a period of time after the accident when the injured person is in pain and is impaired from performing their normal activities. Texas law allows a person injured in a motor vehicle accident by another’s negligence to seek recovery of money damages.  Speaking to an experienced Houston personal injury attorney early in the process can make the difference between a relatively straightforward claim under the other driver’s insurance policy and a real nightmare.  Insurance companies will deny or undervalue claims if they have a reason to.  Smith & Hassler’s trial-tested Houston personal injury attorneys will provide you with a free consultation regarding your motor vehicle accident injury claim: call now or submit your case online.

Three separate accidents involving a total of 8 vehicles occurred one after the other on I-45 near Cavalcade and police believe alcohol to be a factor in two of those accidents. The first car involved two cars: nobody was hurt in that crash. Investigators had stopped traffic to investigate the first crash when a GMC failed to stop (believed to be stolen), crashing into two other cars and then a police car. The only injury was to the Yukon driver, who police believe was intoxicated at the time.

The last accident happened at the top of an overpass near Patton: 25-year old Christopher Trumpower, driving a black Jaguar, came up the hill and did not see the two cars stopped at the top of the hill. Police believe Trumpower tried to swerve around the vehicles at the last minute, but the passenger side of his Jaguar struck the rear of a silver-colored Lincoln MKX SUV. Tragically the passenger riding in Trumpower’s Jaguar was killed and Trumpower was taken to hospital with non life threatening injuries: he has been charged with intoxication manslaughter. A female passenger riding in the Lincoln was taken to hospital in extremely serious condition. Police found two open liquor bottles in the Jaguar.

Read Click2Houston.com’s report here. Video from the scene of the collision is here. KHOU’s report is here.

This Lincoln MKX sustained massive rear-end damage when struck by Christopher Trumpower's Jaguar

There have been new developments in an accident between a private school bus and a pickup truck driven by an HPD officer previously reported on Smith & Hassler’s blog. Click2Houston.com is now reporting that HPD sergeant Ruben Trejo, age 46, was almost 3 times the legal limit for driving while intoxicated at the time of the crash. A mandatory blood draw performed on Sgt. Trejo at the hospital showed a blood alcohol content of .20 – the legal limit for intoxication under Texas law is .08. HPD officials have said that Trejo was relieved of duty on Friday as HPD investigates “criminal activity.” DWI charges were filed against Sgt. Trejo on Monday afternoon.  Sgt. Trejo was in uniform but off duty and on his way to begin his regular shift when the collision occurred.

If you or a loved on have been victimized by an automobile accident, motorcycle accident, pedestrian accident, bicycle accident or truck accident caused by a drunk driver, call the experienced Houston personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler for a free consultation. The earlier in your case you call, the better: the insurance company will want you to settle for a small amount as early as possible and have you sign a release. This will limit the insurance company’s liability and prevent them from having to pay more later. Smith & Hassler’s personal injury attorneys have aggressively represented injured people in the Houston area and throughout Texas for more than 20-years, including bereaved family members bringing wrongful death lawsuits.

The Chronicle is reporting an automobile versus pedestrian accident that happened around 3:00pm on Monday April 25, 2011 on Clear Valley Drive at Glade Hollow in north Harris County. A teenage driver operating his mother’s car took a corner too fast and lost control, leaving the roadway and hitting two teenagers who were walking on the sidewalk.  The teen driver now faces aggravated assault charges, according to the article. The injured teenagers went from the scene of the car accident to their homes and were then transported by ambulance to area hospitals in unknown condition. According to the article the teenage driver did not have permission to use his mother’s car and after hitting the pedestrians he left the scene but returned later and was arrested. Click2Houston.com’s report of the incident is available here. According to that article, the students had just stepped off a school bus before they were hit by the car, which witnesses report was traveling 70 to 80MPH in a subdivision before it jumped the curb. A witness named Virgil Ford is quoted as saying the teenager was showboating in his mother’s Cadillac. Another witness named Zerrion Mallery claimed his knee was badly injured by a mailbox struck by the speeding Cadillac. According to the Precinct 4 Constable’s office, one victim sustained a broken leg.

A teenager injured by a speeding Cadillac that mounted the sidewalk on Clear Valley

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 bones, spinal 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.

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Michael Linkinhoker, 30, has been charged with negligent homicide in the hit-and-run car accident death of 15-year old Charli Gore. Also arrested and charged was Linkinhoker’s 34-year old girlfriend Cindy Nelton, who was charged with interfering with a police investigation. Apparently Linkinhoker was driving a gray Hyundai Sonata on County Road 443 near FM 1409, south of Dayton, Texas and Nelton was riding as his passenger. The two were apparently leaving a Liberty County party that was being held to celebrate the conviction of a woman who fatally shot a 7-year old boy on her property in 2009. It is thought Charli Gore left the large outdoor party some time around 1:30am, possibly due to a fight or argument that occurred at the party. Charli left on foot and shortly after leaving was struck by a vehicle: Charli’s body was found in a ditch by a man who lives on CR443. Linkhoker and Nelton, both residents of Dayton, were investigated after tips from the public. Allegedly the couple were removing license plates from the Hyundai, which had front end damage and a broken windshield.

Michael Linkinhoker, charged in connection with the hit-and-run death of Charli Gore

Click2Houston.com is reporting two deaths in separate but related accidents stemming from a police pursuit. A man was attempting to evade METRO police officers when he fled across I-45 at Crosstimbers on Tuesday April 5th: he was struck by a car and killed, and that collision then caused another fatal crash according to Houston police. The incident happened shortly after 10:00PM. Allegedly the man was suspected of assaulting and robbing someone near downtown Houston, after which he got on a METRO bus and exited at a stop at Acres Homes. METRO police then caught up to the man at the northbound North Freeway feeder road, at which time the man argued with police officers and tried to flee across I-45. The man was able to make it across the northbound lanes of I-45 but when he tried to cross the southbound lanes he was hit by a Ford Expedition and possible two other vehicles. The fatal collision then caused the freeway to back up. As an 18-wheeler sat in the backed-up traffic, a 19-year old female driver failed to slow her car in time and struck the rear of the big rig. The driver died at the scene and her two rear seat passengers were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition: the front seat passenger was said to have sustained minor injuries. The victims have not been identified: police said the man who ran from them had no weapons and no identification on him.

The 19-year old woman driving this car was killed and her rear seat passengers severely injured in a rear-end collision with a big rig on I-45

Our sympathies go out to the friends and families of the occupants of the car.

Click2Houston.com is reporting on a strange set of circumstances surrounding a car accident on Houston’s Southwest Freeway yesterday morning during rush hour traffic. The accident happened near Chimney Rock. A driver hit a car and stopped to exchange information with the motorist who had been hit, but when police arrived things got weird. Police said the driver gave them his driver’s license, then scrammed. The driver lead police on a chase along the Southwest Freeway, onto the West Loop to Westheimer Road. The chase ended on Wesleyan near Richmond Avenue when the driver was cornered. During the chase the driver hit two more vehicles. The reason the driver gave police for leading them on a chase: he said he had to meet his parents in downtown Houston. The driver has been charged with evading arrest and failure to stop and provide information.

Fortunately for the 3 vehicles he hit, it appears he did not hit any of them intentionally. Intentional damage caused by a motor vehicle (for example, ramming another car) is NOT covered under the insurance policy of the car used to cause the damage.  Call the hard-working Houston personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler for a free consultation regarding your car accident injury case.

Police are looking for the driver of a champagne-colored Chevrolet Tahoe involved in a collision with 67-year old Harold Williams, who died in hospital of his injuries this past Sunday. The collision between the Tahoe and a bicycle happened just south of downtown two weeks ago when Mr. Williams, who liked to ride his bike and even ran in marathons, left his home to ride to a nearby Walgreens. It was on the way home while crossing the busy intersection of Southmore and Highway 288 that the champagne-colored Chevy Tahoe hit Mr. Williams.

Eyewitness Tina Betts was driving behind the Tahoe that hit Mr. Williams. Realizing the accident was serious, Ms. Betts called 911 and remained on the scene to render aid. The woman driving the Tahoe stayed on the scene also, along with her young daughter who was riding with her. With all the attention focused on the injured Mr. Williams nobody thought to get the license plate of the Tahoe. The driver then told the witness and some bystanders that she had to leave to follow the ambulance to whatever hospital Mr. Williams was being taken to. Unfortunately that didn’t happen: the Tahoe driver just drove away and has not been heard from since.  13-days after the accident Mr. Williams died in hospital from his injuries. The Tahoe driver is facing serious criminal charges, including failure to stop and render aid.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, Smith & Hassler’s experienced Houston personal injury attorneys are available to provide a free consultation and explain your legal rights. Bicycle versus car accidents often leave the bicyclist with painful road rash that may turn into permanent scars: take good quality, well-lit photographs that document your injuries. A Smith & Hassler personal injury attorney can use those pictures when negotiating a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Fortunately terrible bicycle accidents like this one are not common, but when they happen usually result is very serious injury to the bicyclist.

Tuesday February 22, 2011: A Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured in a rollover two car accident on Beltway near C. E. King around 10:15PM last night. The deputy, whose name has not yet been released, was briefly pinned inside his patrol car. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. Another car was involved in the wreck, and the cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Also in recent local news for the Houston area: Richmond police investigated a disturbance in a restaurant parking lot around 10:15PM on Monday. Officers were told that several men had been fighting and were trying to leave the area. Officers stopped the driver of a Lincoln Continental who they believe was involved and was trying to flee the area. Police chased the driver into Rosenberg, Texas where he lost control of the Lincoln on Avenue H near Herndon Drive. The driver then crashed the Lincoln into the Pappa-Mex restaurant on Herndon Drive, got out of the car and ran away. Police tracked him down where he was hiding nearby.

The driver and one of his passengers were taken to nearby Oak Bend Medical Center for treatment. Jose Manuel Diaz, the driver of the Lincoln was charged with evading in a motor vehicle causing serious bodily injury, in addition to traffic citations for no driver’s license and failure to control speed. The passenger was not charged with anything: the passenger sustained serious injuries that included broken ribs and potentially a broken back.

Lincoln crashes into restaurant in Rosenberg, TX seriously injuring passenger

No matter what the facts of your particular car accident injury case, the experienced Houston personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler can help you navigate the insurance claim process and advise you of your legal rights. Generally speaking the earlier you speak to an experienced personal injury attorney, the better. Unfortunately clients sometimes hurt their cases by delaying contacting us because they think they’re “doing something wrong” by contacting an attorney or because the insurance adjuster they are dealing with discourages them from seeking the advice of an attorney. Don’t make that mistake! You’re not doing anything wrong by getting a free consultation and informing yourself of your rights under Texas law, and besides, the insurance company is working hard to protect their interests: doesn’t it just make sense that you’d want someone protecting you?