An illegal street race, which led to a car crash that killed a Houston mother and her two children in late September, has resulted in felony fatality racing charges against the two teenage drivers involved in the race. It’s hard to say how many Houston vehicle accidents result from illegal street racing since, in many cases, there are no witnesses. Investigating officers end up noting the cause of the accident as due to excessive speed, reckless endangerment, exhibition of speed, or other similar terms.

A look at 2009 Texas car accident statistics reveals some of the top crash contributing factors are changing lanes when unsafe, disregarding stop signs or traffic signals, failure to control speed, failing to drive in a single lane, and failure to yield. Obviously, not all of these incidents were street racing, but the facts demonstrate, many auto accidents would be prevented if drivers stopped engaging in reckless behavior.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to another’s reckless driving, contact Houston auto accident lawyer, Brian Jensen.

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A young, Galveston woman is in the hospital with severe brain trauma and other bodily injuries after being struck by a drunk driver on her way to work Monday morning. The injured driver of another vehicle involved in the multi-vehicle accident told police an SUV had fled the scene. Police tracked the driver and arrested him for intoxicated vehicular assault resulting in an accident with bodily injury or death.

While Texas no longer leads the nation in drunk driving fatalities, according to the latest report available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it lags California by only 10 deaths. The declining death rate due to drunk drivers is a step in the right direction. However, no one should lose loved ones in an auto accident that never should have occurred in the first place.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the reckless actions of a driver under the influence, contact Houston car wreck attorney, Brian Jensen.

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Over 1,000 vehicular accidents occurred between 2007 and 2009 at freeway exchanges involving the 610 loop, making these interchanges, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, Houston’s most dangerous. The four most dangerous spots are where 610 W Loop meets the Southwest Freeway, the 610 Loop at the Northwest Freeway, the 610 Loop at the Gulf Freeway and the 610 Loop at the North Freeway. The fifth most dangerous interchange is where Beltway 8 intersects the Katy Freeway. Driving under the influence, speeding and other reckless behavior such as tailgating and multiple or sudden lane changes are top contributors to accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligent driving of another, contact Houston auto accident lawyer, Brian Jensen.

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The ramp from Houston’s Eastex Freeway to westbound 610 North has reopened a week after an 18-wheeler accident. According to police, the semi-truck driver was speeding, which led to the truck flipping. The tanker caught fire, leading to the closure of both sides of the freeway. Thankfully, no one was injured, but repairs cost $200,000.

In addition to obvious repair costs, accidents often have hidden costs. When vehicular accidents shut down congested roadways, drivers are forced onto other congested roadways making driving on these stretches of road even more time consuming and potentially more dangerous. According to the latest information released by the Texas Department of Transportation, Harris County tops the list for most congested roadways.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle, contact Houston 18-wheeler attorney, Brian Jensen.

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Last Friday, a nursing student was killed in an auto accident when an intoxicated driver crashed into her vehicle. On Sunday, an intoxicated driver struck a motorcyclist and then fled the scene of the accident. When police found the truck a few blocks away, the motorcycle was still wedged underneath the front end. The motorcyclist is recovering from injuries.

Texas leads the U.S. in fatalities related to driving under the influence. According to data available from the Texas Department of Transportation, there were over 1500 DUI crashes in Houston in 2008. The city was second to San Antonio, which had close to 2000 DUI-related accidents.

Victims of DUI-related accidents are entitled to compensation. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, contact Houston accident attorney, Brian Jensen.

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Over 700 bicyclists died and another 52,000 were injured in bicycle/vehicle accidents in 2008 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Bicyclist fatalities contributed to 2% of all traffic-related deaths. The accidents most often occurred between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. with the highest number of accidents during the months of June and September. According to the National Safety Council, bicycle injuries and fatalities cost $4 billion a year.

May is National Bicycle Safety Month and with the summer months fast approaching and more bicycles on the road, it’s important to keep certain safety tips in mind. Bicyclists should always wear a fitted helmet and remember to obey the rules of the road. Cyclists should also wear bright colored clothing and have appropriate lighting and reflectors to increase their visibility. Drivers of motor vehicles should leave at least three feet of clearance when passing cyclists and be vigilant when approaching intersections, opening car doors, entering traffic and making turns.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle or auto accident, contact Houston vehicular accident lawyer, Brian Jensen.

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An 18-wheeler accident and a fire truck accident made Monday morning a busy one for Houston Police Truck Enforcement. An 18-wheeler travelling on I-10 East near Studemont jack-knifed and struck the median barrier before catching fire. The driver made it to safety before the blaze engulfed the cab, which was hanging over the shoulder of the westbound side of the freeway.

In a separate incident, a fire truck responding to a multi-vehicle accident involving a school bus and a car on 290 ran off 290 near the 610 interchange and onto the shoulder before striking a concrete pillar. Three firefighters were taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Both scenes are being investigated.

Road conditions were hazardous given recent rain. Drivers of large vehicles on wet roads must exercise extra caution since the time required to stop their vehicles increases. Following too closely, driving too fast or allowing distractions under any circumstance, much less one involving more dangerous driving conditions, often major contributing factors to vehicular accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, call Houston auto accident lawyer, Brian Jensen.

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