Texas Accident & Injury News
Particularly reckless or aggressive driving behavior can lead to an arrest.
Man Arrested on Aggravated Assault Charges After Injuring Two Children in an Auto Accident
According to a KSAT News report, two children were hospitalized after a car accident involving an aggressive driver last night.
Police reported the accident occurred at around 10 p.m. on the Loop 410 access road near Callaghan and Babcock on the Northwest Side. A Toyota Corolla was reportedly traveling westbound at the time of the accident. A 2002 Ford Thunderbird was speeding down the hill and made an unsafe lane change, slamming into the back of the Corolla. Two children, ages 2 and 10, were injured and hospitalized in the accident but are expected to be OK. The driver of the Thunderbird, a 20-year-old man, was evaluated and found not to be intoxicated. He was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The investigation is ongoing.
Did You Know?
Consumer Affairs reports that young adults who use their mobile phones while driving exhibit more aggressive and impulsive driving behaviors.
Assault Charges After an Auto Accident in Texas: What You Need to Know
An auto accident can quickly escalate to include felony charges if reckless behavior or intoxication is involved.
While a motor vehicle’s main purpose is to take you from place to place, it can quickly become a deadly weapon if drivers engage in particularly reckless or aggressive behavior. If you assault or injure someone with your car in Texas, you may face aggravated assault charges if your actions were reckless or intentional.
What Driving Behavior Can Lead to an Assault Charge?
Reckless behavior, which is the wanton disregard for other people’s lives, can include actions like:
- Excessive Speeding,
- DWI (Intoxicated Driving),
- Tailgating,
- Texting While Driving,
- Failure to Yield Right of Way,
- Cutting Off Other Drivers, and
- Ignoring Traffic Signals/Signs.
Usually, these actions are considered misdemeanors. However, if it can be proven that you recklessly, intentionally, or knowingly caused serious bodily injury to another person because of these behaviors, charges can escalate to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
What Makes Assault “Aggrevated”?
A person commits assault when they recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally injure or threaten to injure another person. However, if the assault includes a potentially deadly weapon or causes serious bodily injury, it is considered aggravated assault.
Examples of a potentially deadly weapon include:
- Vehicles,
- Guns,
- Knives,
- Or a Baseball Bat.
Serious bodily injury can include injuries like:
- Permanent Scarring,
- TBIs,
- Spinal Cord Injuries,
- Injuries Requiring Amputation,
- Broken Bones That May Result In Disfigurement.
Aggravated Assault Consequences
Aggravated Assault is a felony charge and can range from 3rd, 2nd, and 1st degree.
- 3rd-degree felony — fines of up to $10,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 10 years
- 2nd-degree felony — fines of up to $10,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 20 years
- 1st-degree felony — fines of up to $10,000 and/or life imprisonment
Additionally, if you are charged with a felony after an auto accident you can still face a civil trial in addition to a criminal trial.
Facing Aggravated Assault After an Auto Accident? Call Carabin Shaw.
Don’t wait to hire an attorney after being charged with aggravated assault. Hiring an attorney does not make you look guilty. It protects your rights.
Call Carabin Shaw criminal defense attorneys at 800-862-1260 ASAP to ensure your rights are protected. The crime is serious, and the penalties are severe — it is vital that you contact our team immediately. We will listen to your side of the story, answer all of your questions, and help determine the best strategy for your defense.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney does not obligate you to work with the firm.