Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

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 has reported an automobile versus pedestrian accident that happened on Westpark Drive near Rampart Street about 8:15AM on Tuesday March 29, 2011. Sadly the pedestrian died after being hit by a vehicle. Investigators say the pedestrian walked across Westpark Drive against the light and the vehicle had the right-of-way at the time. The pedestrian was in a crosswalk. She was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital where she died: her name has not yet been released. Sergeant G. Hall with Houston Police Department is quoted in the article as saying the driver of the vehicle was very distraught, and will not be charged with any offense. Sgt. Hall told the reporter speed wasn’t a factor and a witness waiting at a red light saw what happened.

Scene of a fatal automobile versus pedestrian accident on Westpark Drive on 03-29-2011

Smith & Hassler has practiced exclusively in the area of personal injury for more than 20-years. Attorneys are available for a free consultation, and you can even submit your case online. Run a Google search for “Smith and Hassler” and check out the reviews from previous clients.

ABC Channel 13 eyewitness news made brief reports of two accidents in the Houston area over the weekend.  In one accident on Sunday March 27th a 6-year old child pedestrian was struck by a car outside a Houston church at around 5:00PM. Churchgoers took the child in a private car to Fire Station 59 on Post Oak Boulevard. From there the firefighters took the child to Texas Children’s Hospital where the child was reported to be in stable condition.

Around 7:30PM on Saturday March 26th a man in his 50’s died in a motorcycle crash after it was claimed he took a curve at too high a speed. Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigators say Burl Alsbrooks was driving a 2000 model Honda Shadow motorbike and traveling at a high rate of speed northbound in the 7400 block of the Texas Spur 330. He took the exit ramp to the I-10 east freeway, westbound, at which time he lost control of the bike, left the roadway and hit the metal guardrail. Mr. Alsbrooks was wearing a helmet at the time but it was not a full face helmet, and he struck his face on the guardrail sustaining fatal injuries.  Our sympathies to Mr. Alsbrooks family and friends.

ABC Channel 13 (KTRK) has issued a brief report that a family of four was struck and run over by a vehicle at the Houston Rodeo. The initial report is that the family consisted of a mother, father and two children under the age of seven.

Update: The Houston Chronicle is now reporting that the driver of the vehicle that struck the family was drunk. He is identified in the Chronicle’s story as 31-year old Nicholas Jackson.  The story says Jackson has been charged with failure to stop and render aid and driving while intoxicated.  Fox 26 News is also reporting the incident on their web site.  According to the Fox News report, Nicholas Deandre Jackson (32) was driving a white-colored Ford Crown Victoria the wrong way down Kirby Road next to Reliant Stadium at around 10:00PM Monday night. The vehicle turned sharply on Murworth and hit the family: the driver then continued down Murworth on 2 flat tires before being stopped by police.  Contrary to other reports, Fox News says the injured family consisted of a 27-year old woman, a 2-year old girl, a 4-year old girl and a 9-year old boy, all of whom were transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital.  Reportedly Nicholas Deandre Jackson, a Houston resident, has a very extensive criminal record.

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 a woman died this morning in a hit-and-run collision in northeast Houston. The woman was walking along the shoulder of Aldine Bender near Marine when she was hit and killed by a car. The accident happened around 2:04AM. A witness was able to note the license plate of a maroon-colored 1999 model Mercury minivan that he thought may have been involved. Police officers went to the address where the vehicle is registered and found sufficient reason to seize the van and bring it in for testing. Police say that evidence gathered from the suspect van will be compared to physical evidence collected at the scene of the hit-and-run. The named of the female pedestrian who was killed has not yet been released.

If you or a family member have been injured in a hit-and-run collision, call the experienced Houston personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler for a free consultation.

Wednesday March 2, 2011: a man identified by Channel 2 News as homeless was hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver while attempting to cross Highway 6 near Piping Rock in southwest Houston. According to the Houston Police Department the car versus pedestrian accident happened at around 11:20PM. The pedestrian died at the scene. Police said the pedestrian was not using a crosswalk when he was hit by the red Mitsubishi Outlander. Police said the 26-year old driver of the Mitsubishi hit and run and fled the scene after the collision but was caught in a nearby neighborhood and police brought him back to the accident scene. The driver was given a sobriety test and then taken into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. According to Channel 2’s report, the driver admitted to police that he had been drinking since 11:00am that morning. The victim has not been identified and may have been leaving The Dam Ice House on Highway 6. The driver of the Mitsubishi has not been identified either.

Update: The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the driver of the Mitsubishi has been identified as Carlton Jay Eberle. Eberle has been charged with an accident involving injury and it is expected he will be charged with driving while intoxicated. The Chronicle’s report says the deceased pedestrian was 53-years old, but did not identify him by name.

Carlton Jay Eberle, 26, driver of a Mitsubishi that struck and killed a 53-year old pedestrian on Highway 6 in West Houston

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.

This poster of 20-year old Jacqueline Saburido, victim of drunk driver, is a grim reminder of the danger drunk driving poses.

News Channel 2 is reporting that an 18-month old little boy was fatally struck by a pickup truck in an apartment complex parking lot on Sunday February 27, 2011.  According to Houston police, the boy wandered outside an apartment in the 12200 block of Sapling Way at around 1:30PM. Somehow the child found his way to the parking lot and the driver of a pickup truck traveling through the complex hit him. The boy was transported to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital where he died.  The boy has not been identified and no charges have been filed against the driver of the pickup truck.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009 4,092 pedestrians died in traffic crashes. And estimated 59,000 were injured in 2009, 13,00 of those injured were age 14 and younger.  If you or your child have been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact the experienced Houston personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler for a free review of your case.  The insurance company for the driver that injured you will be working hard to protect their interests: wouldn’t you like the reassurance of a personal injury law firm working hard to protect you?

A man crossing in the 11000 block of W. Little York near Overlook in Houston was hit by a vehicle and killed around 5:00am on Thursday February 17, 2011. Harris County Sheriff‘s deputies said the 55-year old man was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital where sadly he was pronounced dead. Because the man’s next of kin have not yet been notified the man’s name has not been released. The man was struck by a vehicle that was headed eastbound on W. Little York; so far no charges have been filed in the case.

The death of a loved one due to an accident is a tragic, terrible and life-altering event for any family. Smith & Hassler partner and board-certified personal injury trial lawyer Al Hassler knows this only too well having suffered the death of his sister when her car was hit by an overloaded 18-wheeler in Florida.  If you have lost a family member due to an accident, contact the Houston wrongful death attorneys at Smith & Hassler for expert advice.

A 3-year old toddler was hurt when he was hit by an SUV in Porter, Texas which is in Montgomery County. The accident was at around 2:15PM in the 20400 block of Ravenwing Drive at Canary Lane. Investigators said the 3-year old’s mother and aunt were backing the SUV out of the driveway to go to the store when they hit the toddler: they didn’t know he was in the driveway. The 3-year old was flown by helicopter life-light to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. The Houston Chronicle reported that the boy sustained head injuries in the accident.

Toddler hurt in auto pedestrian accident in Porter, TX is life-flighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition

The toddler was accidentally backed-over in a tragic accident

Smith & Hassler has represented hundreds of babies, toddlers, young children and teenagers injured in car accidents and auto versus pedestrian accidents. We wish these accidents never happen, but unfortunately serious injuries to children can and do occur. The personal injury lawyers at Smith & Hassler take cases involving injury to children very seriously and represent this vulnerable group of clients aggressively. All but one of the Smith & Hassler attorneys have children of their own, many of us have young children. If your child or teenage has been injured in an accident, call or email the experienced Houston personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler for a no-cost, no-pressure consultation.

Monday February 7, 2011: Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run car accident in Houston that left a pedestrian dead. The collision was at Texas 6 south near Westheimer at about 3:30am on Sunday. Police said the man was walking northbound in the roadway of Texas 6 when the vehicle struck him; he was pronounced dead at the scene. No description of the vehicle was available and witnesses have yet to be identified. Anyone with information on the case should contact the HPD hit-and-run division at 713 247 4065.