Austin Personal Injury and Car Accident Law Blog

Sharing the Texas highways with large commercial vehicles can often be a nerve-wracking experience -- even for experienced motorists. Unfortunately, regardless of the precautions one may take to drive defensively, a serious truck accident can result in a victim suffering devastating injuries. Recently, a jury awarded one victim a precedent-setting amount in compensation for his multiple injuries.

The wreck occurred approximately five years ago. The victim was driving his pickup truck home after having attended a church service. For reasons that were not clear, a man operating a tractor-trailer loaded with sand and other by-products from fracking hit the pickup from behind. The driver of the semi was unharmed in the collision, but the pickup driver suffered extensive spinal and neck injuries.

There are a variety of different way to utilize Texas roadways. Many drivers are likely more used to encountering more traditional motor vehicles such as trucks or cars, but all drivers must remain on the lookout for other users, such as bicyclists. Unfortunately, a recent incident in Texas underscores the potential harm that a bicycle accident can cause.

The incident happened one morning on a day in mid-July. Reports indicate that a 42-year-old bicyclist was struck by a car driven by a 38-year-old woman. The latter is accused of exiting her vehicle before returning to it and driving away. Unfortunately, the man died as a result of injuries suffered in the collision.

Traffic conditions can change in the blink of an eye, and no one may know this better than a motorcyclist. Debris in the road, poor weather conditions or road construction can all require an operator to act quickly to avoid a motorcycle accident. Sometimes, it is not always possible to get out of the way of a hazard, especially when a rider is suddenly in the path of another vehicle. Several Texas motorcyclists experienced this terrifying event on a recent Saturday night, and the result was tragic.

The motorcyclists, several of whom had passengers on their bikes, were returning from a benefit when an SUV swerved into their lane and collided head-on with the two lead bikers. The SUV had apparently struck the rear of another vehicle, lost control and spun into the opposite lane where the motorcyclists were traveling. A 49-year-old man operating one of the lead motorcycles died at the scene, and the operator of the second bike suffered minor injuries. Both of their passengers also suffered injuries.

Morning traffic can be brutal along Texas roadways. It seems as if everyone is rushing to get to work or get their day's errands started. The average morning driver must remain vigilant and watch out for drivers whose minds appear to be elsewhere. When drivers are not paying full attention to the road, a car accident can easily occur. It seems that most morning rush hour car accidents are the result of distracted driving; unfortunately, there does not appear to be a time of day when the possibility of a drunk driving accident does not occur.

Recently, a little after 7 a.m., a 62-year-old woman was on her way to get her day started. Unfortunately, this never happened. As she was driving, a pickup truck came flying up behind her and crashed into the rear of her vehicle. The woman was seriously injured in the accident and died before she could be transported to a hospital.