In August of 2018, a Dallas County jury awarded more than $242 million to a family after finding manufacturing defects in the family's Lexus vehicle had caused their children to suffer skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries after an otherwise minor collision.
Geico Refuses Its Insured's Claim Despite Underinsured Motorist Coverage
On August 5, 2019, a Texas resident filed a lawsuit in Harris County Civil Court against Geico County Mutual Insurance Company ("Geico"), alleging breach of contract and bad faith.
Self-Driving Uber Vehicle Kills Pedestrian
A $10 million lawsuit was filed against the city of Tempe, Arizona after a woman was killed by an autonomous Uber vehicle. The suit states that the Arizona suburb created a dangerous situation by installing a brick pathway across the median where people were not allowed to cross the road. Essentially, city officials paved a walkway for jaywalkers. The suit seeks $5 million in damages each for the surviving husband and daughter of the 49-year-old woman killed in the collision. While the city's spokesperson could not comment directly on the case, she has stated that the suburb has since landscaped the median in place of the walkway.
Lawsuit Filed Against Bar After Drunk Driver Killed Mother and Daughter
On January 14, 2017, a drunk driver caused a deadly five-vehicle crash after driving a Dodge Durango in the wrong direction on the Southwest Freeway in Houston, Texas.
Texting While Driving Verdict
Many companies are adopting 100 percent cellphone bans when operating a company vehicle. This helps protect the driver, passengers, and other vehicles on the road from being involved in a collision. A lack of cellphone polices can create great anguish for all parties involved.
More Fatal Train Collisions in Texas
The Texas Department of Public Safety has confirmed a fatal car accident involving a train in Iowa Park, Texas. The collision occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m. on Friday, October 13, 2017. The collision occurred near the intersection of West Smith Avenue and Johnson Road. The railroad track crosses Johnson Road approximately 25 yards before the intersection with West Smith Avenue. There are retractable railroad gates near the tracks, but it is unknown at this point whether they were activated as the train approached. There is a residential property located near where the collision occurred, but there is no report yet that there were any witnesses. Iowa Park Police and Fire, Wichita County Sheriff's Deputies, Department of Public Safety Troopers, and railroad officials were all called to the scene to investigate. The driver was reportedly operating a Dodge SUV. Unfortunately, the driver of the vehicle has perished.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Releases 2016 Fatal Traffic Crash Data
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released fatal traffic crash data collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia for calendar year 2016. According to NHTSA, there were 37,461 people killed in crashes on U.S. roadways during 2016, an increase from 35,485 in 2015. The number of vehicle miles traveled on U.S. roads in 2016 increased by 2.2 percent, resulting in a 2.6 percent increase in fatalities from 2015. NHTSA found that distracted driving and drowsy driving fatalities declined, while fatalities related to other reckless behaviors such as speeding, alcohol impairment, and failure to wear a seatbelt increased from the previous year. Fatal traffic crashes increased from 2015 to 2016 in almost all segments of the population including passenger vehicle occupants, occupants of large trucks, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, alcohol-impaired driving, and time of day (daytime/nighttime).
18-Wheeer Cargo Crashes into Bridge on the Katy Freeway
On June 26, 2017, several lanes of the Katy Freeway were shut down after an 18-wheeler traveling on the eastbound lanes struck an overpass near downtown Houston striking at least two vehicles. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. when the truck's cargo crashed into the Houston Avenue Bridge. The lanes remained closed until the cargo was removed from the freeway.
Flying Object Kills Another Texas Motorist
For the second time in one week, a flying object has killed a Texas motorist. On June 10th, a 69-year-old woman was killed when a trailer hitch ball crashed through the windshield of her car and struck her in the head. The woman was immediately taken to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The Houston Police Department is conducting an investigation surrounding the details of the accident. It is currently unclear where the trailer hitch ball came from and how it got loose.
Man Killed by Flying Tire on the Freeway
Abdias Levya was killed on his way home after dropping his father off at work. It was almost 6:00 a.m. when Abdias was travelling northbound on I-45 near San Jacinto, when a wheel fell off a Ford F-150 travelling southbound and bounced into the northbound lanes before crashing through Mr. Levya's windshield, killing him instantly.
