Driver Intentionally Runs into Vehicles in Round Rock
Recently, Round Rock police arrested a man who had been intentionally running into other vehicles with his car on I-35 S. The man had been deliberately causing accidents until he wrecked his car in a ditch between the highway and frontage road. Once his car was in the ditch, he barricaded himself inside, requiring a SWAT team’s intervention. Eventually, he was arrested on criminal charges, but the people whose automobiles were damaged can also file civil suits. Damage to your vehicle caused by another person gives rise to potential liability, even if a typical accident has not happened.
Many Different Types and Causes
Texas’ large population leads to a disproportionately large amount of car crashes each year, and a number of fatalities that are roughly proportional, with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reporting roughly 3,600 fatalities in 2018. Different factors affecting collision frequency can also be tracked via statistics – for example, in 2018, approximately 55 percent of all fatal crashes occurred on rural roads – which generally boast higher speed limits and fewer lanes, which can make the odds for a crash higher.
Different types of collisions can also lead to different injuries. While most of the accidents caused by the man in Round Rock were rear-end collisions, there are several ways that cars can collide with each other or with other fixed objects – front-end, sideswipe, broadside or T-bone, and rollover crashes all can lead to severe injuries and fatalities, especially if drivers and their passengers are not wearing seatbelts (as 43 percent of accident fatalities were not at the time of their crash).
Injuries and Damages
Because there are so many different types of accidents, it is possible to see many different types of injuries. Some of the most common in rear-end crashes, such as those caused intentionally on I-35 S, include whiplash, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, among many others. Regardless of exactly what type of injury you receive, though, you may be able to recover for more damages than just your medical bills. Most accident cases are brought as negligence cases, meaning that if you can establish that the other driver (or someone else) caused your injuries by their negligent behavior, you may recover for additional damages, which are usually referred to as non-economic damages.
This is in addition to any criminal penalties that the state of Texas might impose – usually, a criminal trial will come before a civil trial, but it is not double jeopardy for the same person to go through both. The man on the highway in Round Rock faces charges of aggravated assault and assault on a public servant, but could conceivably face charges for leaving the scene of an accident as well. None of this precludes someone suing in civil court.
Contact a New Braunfels Car Crash Attorney
While it remains to be seen what will happen to the man on the highway in Round Rock, it is important for people to know that even after someone has committed a crime, they almost always have civil options. Consulting an experienced New Braunfels auto accident lawyer may be a good first step to get your questions answered. The Bettersworth Law Firm is happy to work with you toward a fair outcome. Call us today at 888-392-0039 for a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.amarillo.com/news/20191024/police-driver-intentionally-ran-into-other-vehicles-in-round-rock
http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/trf/crash_statistics/2018/01.pdf
