Motorcycle hit by wrong way driver in US 59 HOV lane

A motorcycle rider was injured in an accident this morning when he was hit by a wrong-way driver in the HOV lane of the Southwest Freeway (US 59) during this morning’s rush hour.  The accident happened around 8:30 a.m. at 59 and Hillcroft.  METRO officials say the wrong-way driver was elderly, and that after the motorcycle was struck by the wrong-way vehicle it then hit a third vehicle.  The motorcyclist was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston.

DaraghCarterLaw.com Houston motorcycle accident attorney information

Photo credit: Tim Wetzel / KHOU 11 News

Update 1: the injured motorcyclist has been identified as 57-year old Peter Trevor Quentin and the wrong-way driver as 86-year old Gerald Peterson. Mr. Quentin was not wearing a helmet at the time and is in fair condition at Ben Taub. Accident eyewitness Hermin Gin thinks Peterson probably got turned-around at the Hillcroft Transit Center.

Major accident on Chimney Rock: driver took 10 hits of acid

A 20-year old driver was transported to hospital after causing a major accident and then telling officers he had taken ten hits of acid. The accident happened around 1:00 a.m. Sunday when the driver, heading north on Chimney Rock Road in southwest Houston, suddenly veered across the median and into oncoming traffic, crashing into an SUV heading southbound. The driver of the SUV was transported to hospital. The name of the driver who told police he had taken the acid hit was not included in Channel 2's story. This likely prove to be a very expensive trip for the acid-taking driver, no pun intended.

I get a great deal of satisfaction from helping clients recover their damages from intoxicated or impaired drivers and their insurance companies, and I have a strong record of success on drunk driving accident cases. If you're searching for a Houston drunk driving accident attorney, contact me and I would be glad to discuss what I can do help you.

Photo credit: Channel 2 News. The driver of this sedan told police he
had taken ten hits of acid before crashing into an SUV on Chimney Rock.

18-wheeler accident on I-10 East, woman rescued by bystanders

Investigators say a 26-year old woman was speeding down Interstate 10 East around 3:30 a.m. Saturday near Magnolia when she crashed into another car. The car that was struck ended up coming to rest against the concrete center divider and the speeding car came to a stop in the middle of the freeway. An approaching 18-wheeler couldn't stop in time and struck the woman's car causing it to burst into flames. Some witnesses rushed to the woman's rescue to attempt to remove her from the vehicle, including Calvin Rutledge. The woman was rushed to hospital in critical condition with burns on 15% of her body. The freeway was shut down for a couple of hours. Channel 2's story is here.

DPS Trooper injured, rear ended by Ford Taurus on East Freeway

Around 12:30 a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper pulled over a vehicle for a violation on the East Freeway near Federal. A man driving a Ford Taurus entered the emergency lane and rear-ended the Trooper's patrol car. The Trooper, who was in his vehicle at the time, was transported to hospital in stable condition and the driver of the Taurus was transported also. DPS investigators will try to determine what caused the accident. Channel 11 story here.

You may be surprised to learn that the Trooper involved in this accident would be able to use his personal automobile insurance coverage (if necessary, or if he wanted to). This is true even though he was at work and not driving one of his personal vehicles. I've handled a similar case before for a Houston Police Department Sergeant who was t-boned by a drunk driver in Houston while on patrol. I set up a claim for the officer under his Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage.

Kevin Roberts and Arturo Munoz injured at Exxon plant in Baytown

Two workers employed by Savage Services were injured in an incident at Exxon Mobil's Baytown plant today. Exxon officials have not said how the two workers were injured, just that they were being treated at the hospital. Darryl Roberts told Channel 2 News that his son Kevin Roberts was one of the injured workers and that Kevin had been burned over 40% of his body. Roberts said the second worker injured in the incident was Arturo Munoz, and that Arturo was burned from the waist down. Channel 11. Channel 13.

Injured in an accident at work? Contact me for a no-charge consultation to make sure your rights are protected.  

Pickup driver injured in rear end accident with METRO bus

The driver of a Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck was injured Saturday night when his truck rear-ended a stopped METRO bus on the Highway 59 feeder at Fountain View in Houston. Police said the driver told them his accelerator was stuck when he crashed. The man was rescued from his badly damaged truck and taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries. A couple of the bus passenger were hurt but will be okay. Channel 2's story here.

Photo credit: Channel 2 News

Did you know there there is NOT a law in the State of Texas that automatically makes the rear driver responsible for a rear end accident? There is a statute that says all drivers must maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle in front, but that is definitely not the same thing as automatic fault and I have seen insurance companies deny liability on claims where my client has been rear-ended.  If you've been injured in a rear end accident, submit your case online or contact me and I'd be glad to provide a free consultation.

Injured in a New Year's drunk driving accident and need an attorney?

As discussed in a previous blog post, it is virtually guaranteed we will see a surge in drunk driving accidents in Houston and the greater Harris County area over the New Year's holiday, particularly tonight (New Year's Eve).  Just as with any car accident injury claim, a person injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver has the right to recover money damages as compensation for: medical bills, lost wages, damage to their vehicle, physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment and if applicable, disfigurement for injuries such as scars or broken teeth. Unlike a regular car accident injury claim however, a person injured by a drunk driver can also seek recovery of "punitive damages." Punitive damages are actually not intended to compensate the injured person, rather the purpose of punitive damages is not to punish the drunk driver for their conduct. Even though punitive damages are often not covered under an automobile insurance policy (meaning if punitive damages are awarded, the insurance company is not obligated to pay them), insurance companies still consider the possibility of a jury awarding punitive damages, which in turn gives the insurance company extra incentive to settle the injured person's claim.

I can't abide drunk drivers. Not because I think nobody should drink alcohol: on the contrary, I think if people want to have a drink and do so responsibly, that is their choice. Drunk driving however shows a complete lack of consideration for other people. There is at least one drunk driving fatality in the news every week in Houston or the greater Harris County area, and some of those accidents involve multiple fatalities. People who choose to drive drunk cannot help but realize that their choice could have potentially deadly consequences.  Ironically it is rarely the drunk driver who is seriously injured or killed, it is more often an innocent victim.

If you are injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver over the New Year's holiday, call me, email me or submit your case online through my web site. I have been practicing in Houston as a personal injury attorney representing individuals and their families since 2005 and have handled many drunk driving car accident claims and lawsuits.

Hiring a personal injury attorney for a drunk driving accident in Houston?

A good personal injury attorney will tell you and just about any insurance company will reluctantly agree on one thing: drunk driving accident injury claims have a significantly higher settlement value than "regular" accidents (i.e. those that did not involve a drunk driver). The reason drunk driving accident settlements are higher is because insurance companies know that jurors usually have very little sympathy for drunk drivers, particularly drunk drivers who injure and sometimes kill people.

Insurance companies have spent decades refining their claims handling processes to save themselves as much money as possible. I once took a call from a potential client who was hit and injured in a serious car accident caused by a drunk driver on his third DWI offense: the insurance adjuster was telling him the fact that it was their insured's third DWI made his case worth "...a little bit more money, but not much." That was completely false. Insurance adjusters are trained to act quickly to resolve claims that have the potential to cost the insurance company a large settlement. They sometimes achieve this by pressing injured people to sign a release and accept a settlement within a few weeks, sometimes even a few days of a drunk driving accident. 

Don't do it. Talk to an experienced, reputable personal injury attorney if you have been injured in a drunk driving accident in or around Houston. Personally I find it very extremely rewarding to represent people injured by drunk drivers, and any client I have represented in a drunk driving accident will tell you I take a special interest in those cases. Over time I have figured out ways to add additional value to drunk driving accident settlements by quietly gathering evidence early in the case (which I am not discussing here...I'd prefer not to help insurance adjusters work against me!). Don't let yourself be rushed into settling for pennies on the dollar.

Click here to contact me and click here to submit your case online