In addition to filing a lawsuit against a man who caused a car accident that killed a Houston couple and left their two children paralyzed, the family of the victims is suing Chrysler, alleging that the family's van was improperly designed.
]]> The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Houston, charges Chrysler with designing the family's 2003 Chrysler Town & Country minivan with an inadequate safety cage, which was supposed to protect the driver and passengers. It also alleges that the van lacked proper front crush zones, which are designed to absorb impact, and alleged that seat belts and seats backs were faulty.In a statement, a Chrysler spokesman said the van meets or exceeds all federal safety standards.
The collision, which happened last summer, was caused by the other driver, who Texas state troopers said was reaching into the backseat of his car. That man's wife was also killed in the accident.
The family's attorney said that while the collision was severe, a properly designed van wouldn't have crumpled in the crash the way it did, or left the two young boys paralyzed. The boys and their sister, who also survived the accident, now live with their aunt and uncle, who filed the lawsuit.
Source: Houston Chronicle, "Relatives of Berry family sue Chrysler, driver in wreck that killed parents," Susan Carroll, May 15, 2012
]]>According to the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority, a city bus that had passengers on board rear-ended another vehicle in the 3000 block of Antoine Drive in northwest Houston last week. The collision sparked a chain reaction of car accidents that ended up involving 11 vehicles.
]]> In all, nine people were injured in the accident, seven on the bus and two from other vehicles. Fortunately no one suffered any life-threatening injuries, but the situation could have been much worse. Many times city buses don't have seat belts for passengers, and if the collision had happened at a faster speed, the results could have been disastrous.And according to a later report, the driver, a 10-year veteran, was fired after an internal investigation showed he was at fault. According to surveillance camera footage, the driver stepped on the gas instead of the brake as he was approaching stopped traffic.
In the previous accident, the driver had been working for metro for 12 years. This is starting to become an alarming trend that Houston residents should be worried about. Clearly the city is not doing all it can to ensure that its drivers are following proper safety standards. In less than a month, one person has died and nine people have been injured because of Metro bus drivers; hopefully officials get the message now.
Source: Houston Chronicle, "9 hurt in accident involving Metro bus," Robert Stanton, May 1, 2012
]]>But it appears that a city bus driver violated that trust, and it led to what could be ruled a wrongful death.
]]> According to reports, a man was struck and killed by a city bus on April 17 as he crossed the street near a bus station in the early evening hours. The bus was empty when the accident happened.After an internal investigation by Metro, it was determined that the driver could have done more to prevent the accident from occurring, even though the driver told investigators that he did not see the man in time to stop.
Metro officials recently fired the driver, who had been an employee for 12 years.
A senior official with Metro said that the organization regrets the accident, and that it is doing enough to ensure that drivers are operating buses safely. The Harris County, Texas, prosecutor, however, continues to investigate the accident.
Metro's internal investigation and the driver's firing is likely of little comfort to the family of the victim. It is more likely that they are interested in the prosecutor's findings. Besides the driver being directly responsible, Metro could also share in the blame if it is found that the company did not take safety issues seriously. But that is something an organization that serves the public should take incredibly seriously.
Source: KHOU, "Metro discharges bus driver involved in fatal accident in Midtown," May 3, 2012
]]>In some cases, the city of Houston has fought lawsuits because the officer causing the accident was in the middle of a high-speed pursuit in what is deemed an emergency situation. That was the case for one woman, whose car was struck at high speed as she was proceeding through a green light. But in fiscal year 2011 alone, the city paid out more than $1 million to people involved in accidents.
]]> But in many cases, victims in those accidents have found the city's settlement offers insulting. One man racked up approximately $60,000 in medical bills after his pickup truck was struck by a cop running a red light. The man says the police car's lights and sirens were not on at the time. He rejected an offer from the city, because he said it was far too low.The police department has said that it is working aggressively to curb the number of accidents that officers are at-fault for, and that just because no tickets are issued that does not mean that officers driving negligently are not held responsible.
While cities continue to debate whether chasing a fleeing car over a minor crime is worth putting other citizens' safety at risk, one thing is certain: Officers should not have the right to drive negligently just because he or she is a police officer.
Source: KHOU, "Police-caused crashes leave victims wanting justice," April 26, 2012
]]>According to the study, performed by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, only 21 out of 98 cars managed to comply with federal regulations called LATCH, which were enacted in 1999 to make car seats easier to install.
]]> LATCH stands for lower anchors and tethers for children. It requires two clips at the base of the car seat and a tether at the top. They are to be easy to access and are designed to hold the car seat in place. The study, however, found that auto manufacturers are putting the latches and tethers too far in between seats, which can lead to parents putting in a car seat that isn't secured enough.For Houston parents worried about their child's safety in a car seat, local chapters of SAFE KIDS USA provide free clinics that show parents how to properly install a safety seat.
The results of the study are startling. One would think that car manufacturers would take great pains to protect the most vulnerable passengers -- children -- in a car accident. It would be hard to fault a parent whose child is injured in an accident for blaming the car seat manufacturer, but in many cases it appears the car manufacturer should be the party held liable.
Source: Houston Chronicle, "Kids not safe in car seats?" Jim Adler, April 19, 2012
]]>According to reports, a 48-year-old driver was speeding in his pickup truck late at night near the intersection of the Eastex Freeway and Tidwell Road when he ran a red light. The truck crashed into the passenger side of a Volkswagen, and one of the passengers in that car was killed.
]]> The driver of the Volkswagen also had to be taken to the hospital, but his injuries were described as non-life threatening. The force of the collision pushed the two cars into three other vehicles that were waiting at the red light. Police said that no one in those vehicles was hurt. But with five cars involved, the outcome could have been much worse.The condition of the man who caused the accident is unknown, but police say the man failed a field sobriety test. He is now being charged with intoxication manslaughter. It's unknown what his blood alcohol content was at the time, but it's possible that more charges could be filed against the man.
Not only was the man apparently driving drunk, but he was speeding and he ran a red light. When one is drunk, they usually get a false sense of confidence that they can get away with things, like driving dangerously. It can be a lethal combination.
Source: Click2Houston.com, "1 killed in 5-car pileup," April 12, 2012
]]>The city of El Paso, the only Texas city with an ordinance banning texting or cellphone use while driving, is giving first-time offenders the chance to have a ticket dismissed if the driver displays a red and black "No Talking, No Texting" sticker on their cars.
]]> The new program has been put together by El Paso municipal courts. Judges say the goal is to raise more awareness of the law. Drivers who choose to display the stickers will have to abide by certain terms in order to have the ticket dismissed.According to the Texas Department of Transportation, more than 81,000 crashes in 2011 in the state involved distracted driving. While El Paso is the only city with a cellphone usage and texting ban, Austin and Arlington both ban texting.
A statewide ban on texting while driving was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry last year, who, according to reports, said the bill imposed too many restrictions on law-abiding adults. State law bans texting and cellphone usage for all drivers younger than 18.
But with the alarming number of accidents caused by distracted drivers just last year, more adults should take the dangers of distracted driving seriously. It puts everyone's safety at risk.
Source: El Paso Times, "Distracted driving? Pay fine or put sticker on car," Aileen B. Flores, April 4, 2012
]]>One pickup truck driver in Houston learned this the hard way, when he sustained a serious head injury while driving on the Interstate 610 North Loop earlier this week.
]]> According to police, the injured driver hit a pickup truck that was sitting in the emergency lane on I-610 because it had run out of fuel. The driver's pickup truck reportedly clipped the parked truck, causing the man's vehicle to roll onto its side.While he sustained a head injury and had to be taken to a hospital, the driver is expected to survive. According to a report, tests conducted on the driver indicated that he was drunk at the time, but it's unclear what the testing methods were. No charges have been filed yet.
Fortunately, no one in the parked pickup truck was injured. Depending on the speed the moving truck was traveling at, the collision could have been much worse if it had been a more direct impact.
And while it's fortunate that everyone involved will survive, the driver should be aware that his actions put multiple lives at risk. Emergency lanes and shoulders exist to give stranded motorists a place to safely park while they wait for assistance. Parked drivers shouldn't have to worry about other cars driving dangerously while they try to get back on the road.
Source: My Fox Houston, "1 Driver Hurt in Accident Involving 2 Pickup Trucks," Alexander Supgul, March 29, 2012
]]>According to police and witnesses, a 7-year-old boy and his 4-year-old brother were hanging out with their father on the front porch of their apartment complex in southwest Houston last weekend. It was then that the suspected drunk driver's car left the road and slammed into the apartment complex.
]]> According to police, the 27-year-old driver was driving westbound when his car crossed the median into the eastbound lanes, left the road and hit the porch. The 7-year-old boy was killed, while his little brother suffered burns on more than 40 percent of his body. He was taken to a hospital in Galveston, where he remains in critical condition.The second child could have died if it wasn't for the quick work of witnesses and neighbors, who helped to lift the car up and free the children.
The driver was given a blood alcohol test, but the results are not yet available. He has already had an initial court appearance on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. Sadly enough, this man pled guilty to a driving while intoxicated charge in 2007 and had his license suspended for a year. He also spent time in jail last year for allegedly punching his wife.
Hopefully the family receives the justice they deserve, although a conviction will still not bring the child back. But if the man is put in jail, then hopefully he can learn his lesson and not put anyone else at risk.
Source: KHOU, "Man suspected of driving drunk in fatal wreck appears in court," March 19, 2012
]]>A recent accident in Houston, however, had a more interesting conclusion. According to police, a 50-year-old man was driving drunk when his SUV rear-ended a college student's car on Scott Street.
]]> Instead of waiting and calling police, the female college student, who had passengers in her car, took off after the man on Highway 59. She eventually caught up to him and was able to trap his car until police arrived and arrested him. He is now facing his third charge of driving while intoxicated.Fortunately no one was hurt, but according to the female driver, the chase hit speeds of up to 95 mph. She said that she was talking to police on the phone the entire time the chase was happening.
While this may sound exciting and like something that every driver wishes they could do, the consequences of the chase could have been disastrous. While the woman should be commended for wanting to help bring a drunk driver to justice, other drivers could have become victims in the chase if an accident occurred.
The man could also face a personal injury lawsuit if anyone in the car he hit was injured, but the female also could have faced a lawsuit if she had hit any other cars during her pursuit.
Source: KTRK, "Police: Driver chases down hit-and-run suspect," March 15, 2012
]]>A recent incident of road rage on the Gulf Freeway in Houston still has a lot of questions left unanswered. A 42-year-old man is dead after a fight stemming from a car accident.
]]> According to the 28-year-old man who was the other party in the incident, he acted in self defense. According to him, the two were involved in a minor car accident on the Gulf Freeway earlier this month.The man said the other man threatened him, as the survivor went back to his car to tell his wife to call 911, he said he was hit in the back of the head. The survivor then said that as the two were struggling on the ground he was able to get the other man in a headlock. He held him in the headlock until police arrived.
According to police, the man was having trouble breathing, and he died later at a hospital. According to another report, the dead man's family does not believe he was an aggressor, and they are likening his death to a murder.
This is a sticky situation, depending on who police determine is at fault in the deadly fight, there could be a wrongful death lawsuit filed.
Source: Houston Chronicle, "Man said he acted in self-defense in fatal road rage incident," Erin Mulvaney, March 7, 2012
]]>A toddler is now in the hospital with what are described in differing reports as very serious and life-threatening injuries. According to police, the girl was in the parking lot of an apartment complex near the intersection of Bissonnet and Rampart streets in Houston when a woman who was leaving for work backed over the child.
]]> The woman is cooperating with police, and it is being treated as an accident, meaning police do not expect to file any charges. The woman voluntarily took a blood test, but alcohol use is not suspected.The accident is another example of what some lawmakers in Washington, D.C., describe as a serious problem. Some members of Congress are calling for all new cars to have rearview video cameras installed by 2014, but that is unlikely to happen because automakers have complained that the technology is too expensive.
It is not known what type of vehicle the woman was driving, but if it was a pickup truck or SUV, there is a good chance that she had more of a blind spot than in a normal car.
But for now cars don't have to have cameras, and drivers have to realize that they need to check more thoroughly before backing out of a parking spot. Even though this incident is being ruled an accident, does that mean the woman should escape any consequences?
Source: KTRK 13, "Toddler hit by car in southwest Houston," Christine Dobbyn, March 1, 2012
]]>A recent car accident that happened on the North Freeway in Houston could have been much worse, because the accident involved a city bus. According to police, a pickup truck and a car collided at around noon, the collision sent the car spinning into a bus that had 25 people on board.
]]> That was not all though, as the truck was sent careening into a shopping mall parking lot, where it hit a handful of parked cars.In total, five people were hospitalized: a bus passenger, two people in the car involved in the accident and two other people. All of the injuries were described as non-life threatening.
Witnesses to the accident said they believe the truck driver is to blame for the accident. Police said they are investigating possible driving while intoxicated charges against the driver. A woman who was sitting in a parked van that was hit by the truck said that after the accident she saw beer containers.
The truck driver is lucky that more passengers on the bus were not injured. Many buses do not provide seat belts for passengers. If the truck driver is charged with DWI, anyone injured may also want to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against him to further hold him accountable for his reckless actions.
Source: KHOU, "5 hurt in Metro bus crash on North Freeway," Feb. 20, 2012
]]>Most school buses don't have seat belts, and in the accident that happened this week, it's fortunate that all students on the Humble, Texas, school district bus were not injured in the car accident.
]]> According to a school spokesperson, the bus was taking students from Kingwood Park High School on a field trip to Texas A&M University in Galveston when the accident happened on Interstate 45.According to the school, there was a multi-vehicle accident, and some of the cars involved were pushed into the bus. While no students were injured in the accident, the driver had to be taken to an area hospital with a knee injury.
One of the previous bus accidents this blog reported on also involved buses with the Humble school district. Those two accidents happened less than a month ago, but the school stressed that it doesn't appear the bus drivers were at fault in any of those accidents.
But that may be of little comfort to parents, who trust that when they put their children on the bus that they will get to their destinations safely. Perhaps it's time for schools to take more proactive measures to ensure that children stay safer while riding on a bus.
Source: Atascocita Observer, "K-Park school bus involved in accident during field trip," Stefanie Thomas, Feb. 16, 2012
]]>According to reports, the woman was walking on a sidewalk near Bellaire Boulevard and Pella Drive in the Sharpstown neighborhood when she was hit and dragged by a tow truck. The tow truck was coming out of a strip mall at about 3 p.m. last Monday when the accident happened.
]]> The woman was pronounced dead upon arrival at a Houston hospital. The tow truck driver was taken by police for questioning. No charges have yet to be filed, but police are asking for additional witness accounts. The accident happened while a nearby school was letting out, and numerous parents and students saw the tragic accident unfold.And according to one neighborhood resident, the accident or something like it was bound to happen. He said he has called in the past to complain about tow trucks driving dangerously along Bellaire. He said that they often exceed the speed limit and dangerously weave in and out of traffic with no regard for other drivers.
If the man's account of tow truck activity in the area is accurate, then the city needs to do something. When a truck that large is driving dangerously, accidents are bound to happen, and a child or older person who is slow to react will have less of a chance of getting out of the way.
Source: KTRK 13, "Woman struck, killed by tow truck in SW Houston," Adela Uchida, Feb. 7, 2012
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