Fatal Car Accidents

Defective Vehicle Accident West Side

Published on: January 5, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

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A man tragically lost his life early on Friday morning. He was on the city’s far West Side when this single-vehicle accident occurred. According to initial reports, the fatal incident occurred at roughly 1:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of SW Loop 410 on the access road headed southbound, nearby Loop 410 and Marbach Road. After driving over a puddle on the street, the driver lost control, and the 2004 Mustang crashed into a utility pole, a fire hydrant, a tree, and a drainage culverts metal railing. The Mustang flew over the metal railing and landed on its roof. The driver, unfortunately, did not come out unscathed from this accident. He received fatal injuries, and officials declared him dead at the scene. Reports say a passenger in the Mustang suffered minor injuries.

In accidents such as this one, the manufacturer of the car may be held liable. The reason is that in the car’s production process, the parts used can sometimes be dangerously poor in quality. At Carabin Shaw, we’ve seen time and time again defective product lawsuits overlooked in an auto accident due to ignorance of knowing how to determine a potential claim or potential defect in the product. It’s often the case that unless an experienced injury attorney, qualified investigators, and product experts are involved early on in the process after a car accident, those claims go unnoticed. Instead, driver error is commonly determined to be the cause of the incident. Product liability claims are, in some cases, never even investigated. In our experience, a highway collision involving death or severe injury needs investigating and reviewing as a potential crashworthiness claim or product defect claim.

There are a vast number of product liability cases involving automobiles. In instances where the possibility of a product defect in an accident could be, an investigation into the matter should go underway. Here are some instances:

Tragic Accident Involving a Drunk Driver on Northwest Side

Published on: January 5, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

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On Saturday night, an individual driving a Dodge Ram was drinking and driving on the road. This individual’s actions led to an accident on the Northwest side that ended in the tragic loss of a woman’s life and severely injured four individuals. This event happened at around 6 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of Culebra Road and Zarzamora Street. The individual driving a Dodge Ram was heading east on Culebra when he ran a red light and collided with a Chevrolet Silverado heading south through the intersection. The force of the collision sent the Chevrolet Silverado through the intersection and into a Jeep Patriot that was stopped in the right northbound lane of Zarazomora. The drunk driver was charged with manslaughter and intoxication assault.

The 53-year-old woman who tragically lost her life was seated in the rear of the Chevrolet Silverado. The police stated that she was not wearing a seatbelt. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the San Antonio Fire Department. There were three other passengers in the Chevrolet Silverado that were transported to University Hospital because they sustained severe injuries. In addition, an occupant in the Jeep was taken to Brooke Amy Medical Center due to severe injuries.

Police stated, the individual driving the Dodge Ram was transported to University Hospital after sustaining minor injuries. The police determined that the Dodge Ram driver, who was not identified, was intoxicated.

Man Sentenced to 110 Years After Trucking Accident Kills Four

Published on: January 2, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

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December 17, 2021 – A Colorado truck driver was sentenced to 110 years in prison for a crash that occurred on I-10 in April of 2019 which left 4 people dead. 26-year-old Texas native Rogel Aguilera Mederos pleaded for leniency and the Colorado judge refused, claiming the law prevent such an action. However, as of today, more than three million have signed a petition asking for clemency or commutation for time served from Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

In April 2019, Rogel was driving down I-10 at 85mph during rush hour when his brakes failed, and he collided with dozens of stopped vehicles. The collision sparked a massive fire that shut I-10 down for roughly 24 hours, killing 4 people trapped by the flames. Among the victims was a 24-year-old named Miguel Angel. Rogel had previously failed to utilize one of the state’s runway truck ramps, which the prosecution focused heavily on during his trial. When asked why, he said that he was unaware that his brakes were out, and that he made efforts to prevent the accident.

Auto Accidents happen every day, but when an 18-wheeler is involved the injuries and damage that occurs can be so much greater. It is important to be aware of your rights if you or someone you love is affected by an auto accident involving an 18-wheeler.

Fatal 18-Wheeler Accident Claims One Life in Smith County, Texas

Published on: September 14, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Recently, one person was killed in a Texas truck accident in Smith County. While details about the accident are still sparse, according to a local news report, the accident occurred on FM 346. The driver of the truck survived the accident with serious injuries. However, an unidentified person was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is still under investigation, and there is no indication whether criminal charges will be pursued.

Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of preventable injury in Texas. In fact, according to the most recent data from the Texas Department of Transportation, there are more than 15,800 people injured and another 3,600 killed in Texas car accidents each year. Truck accidents are responsible for a significant portion of these collisions.

Although Texas does not have the highest population of all U.S. states, it does see the highest number of trucking accidents. In part, this is because of the large number of interstate highways spanning the state. However, there also seems to be a certain disregard of the state’s traffic laws and regulations among many Texas truck drivers. For example, the majority of Texas truck accidents are the result of entirely preventable driving behavior, such as distracted driving, drunk driving, and aggressive driving. There is also a portion of truck accidents caused by vehicle and equipment defects.

Single-Vehicle Accident in South Texas Claims Ten Lives

Published on: August 17, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Earlier this month, a Texas car accident involving a van carrying an estimated 30 people crashed, killing ten and injuring twenty others. According to a local news , the accident occurred in South Texas, about 80 miles north of the Mexico border. Evidently, the driver of the van was attempting to make a right-hand turn when they lost control and crashed into a utility pole.

All passengers aboard the van are believed to be undocumented immigrants. The crash occurred less than a week after the Texas Governor issued an executive order preventing private transportation companies from providing transit to migrants. Some believe the Governor’s orders may have limited safer forms of transportation, resulting in the accident victims cramming into the overcrowded van.

Recovering After a Texas Single Vehicle Accident

Two Killed, Four Hurt in Texas Head-On Collision Montgomery County Texas

Published on: August 10, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Head-on collisions are some of the deadliest Texas car accidents. These collisions often involve high speeds and direct impact, increasing the chances of all occupants suffering serious injury. Head-on accidents are also almost always avoidable when motorists use common sense when behind the wheel. For example, the most common causes of head-on collisions are impaired driving, drowsy driving and distracted driving. Each of these driving behaviors involved a motorist’s decision to place their own convenience or desires over the safety of others on the road.

Recently, a tragic accident claimed the lives of two women and injured four others. According to a recent news report, the accident occurred around 1:45 am in Montgomery County, TX. The collision occurred near the Rayford/Sawdust exit in Spring.

Evidently, a woman driving a Honda was traveling the wrong way on the North Freeway when she crashed head-on with a Dodge pick-up truck. When emergency responders arrived on the scene, the wrong-way driver was immediately pronounced dead. Shortly after the collision, the pick-up truck caught fire.

Young Child Killed in Texas Wrong-Way Accident Houston

Published on: July 29, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous motor vehicle accidents. These accidents typically involve direct impact at high speeds, often leading to deadly consequences. At the same time, most head-on accidents are entirely avoidable if motorists use sound judgment when behind the wheel and follow all traffic laws.

Recently, a two-year-old was killed in a Houston wrong-way accident. According to a local news report, the collision occurred on Eastex Freeway at North Loop 610 at around 3 a.m. Evidently, a family of five was traveling northbound on the highway when another driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes crashed into the family’s vehicle. It later came out that a police officer on the other side of the highway noticed the wrong-way driver but could not get to the driver in time.

As a result of the accident, the family’s two-year-old child was killed. Additionally, the wrong-way driver also lost her life in the accident. This accident is the second fatal wrong-way accident occurring in Houston within the past month.

Fatal Rear-End Accident on Highway 249 Claims One Man’s Life in Houston

Published on: July 16, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Rear-end accidents are some of the most common motor vehicle collisions on Texas roads. In part, this is because vehicles travel quickly, and an unexpected slow-down ahead may not leave motorists with enough time to stop. For this reason, it is incredibly important to leave sufficient room between vehicles, especially on crowded roads.

While it’s commonly known that the rear driver in a rear-end accident is generally the party responsible for the collisions, that isn’t always the case. In some situations, the driver that is hit may either share the responsibility or be completely at fault. For example, if the driver up front suddenly slams on their brakes for no reason or slows down to turn without signaling, a subsequent rear-end collision may be all but unavoidable for a driver behind them.

A recent example of a situation where the lead driver may share responsibility comes from an accident out of Houston. According to a recent news report, it was around 8 p.m. on Highway 249, near the Greens Road exit, when a man driving a white car pulled in front of a van before applying the brakes. The driver of the van was unable to stop in time and crashed into the back of the car. Sadly, the car’s driver was taken to the hospital and did not survive the injuries he sustained in the accident.

Texas Woman Killed in Fatal Left-Turn Accident near Tyler, Texas

Published on: July 12, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Late last month, one woman was killed and another man seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision occurring in Tyler, Texas. According to a recent news report, the driver of a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage was traveling southbound on State Highway 110. As the driver of the Mitsubishi began making a left turn, a Toyota Sienna was traveling northbound on the same road. The driver of the Toyota was unable to avoid the collision, crashing into the passenger side of the Mitsubishi.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 44-year-old woman from Tyler, was taken to UT Health East Texas but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the Toyota was taken to nearby Christus Trinity Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler. At the time of the article’s publication, he was is in stable condition.

While every traffic maneuver presents some level of risk, some are more dangerous than others. For a few reasons, left-hand turns are among the most dangerous.

Two Killed in Texas Truck Accident in West Texas

Published on: June 17, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Earlier this month, on the tail end of Memorial Day weekend, two people were killed in a truck accident occurring on Interstate 10 near Van Horn. Heavy rain was a contributing factor in the fatal collision.

According to a local news report, a Honda SUV was traveling eastbound on I-10. Due to the heavy rainfall, the driver of the Honda lost control. The vehicle spun out, coming to a stop while blocking several lanes of traffic. Moments later, the driver of an 18-wheeler approached. The truck driver did not stop in time and collided with the SUV. The truck then traveled onto the shoulder, where it flipped over. Another approaching semi-truck then crashed into a rolled-over 18-wheeler.

The passenger in the SUV and the driver of the 18-wheeler both died as a result of injuries they sustained in the accident. The driver of the SUV and the driver of the semi-truck were injured, although they are expected to recover.