Posted on October 10, 2024 in Car Accidents

Five people died, and two more were critically injured in a recent Fannin County, TX, head-on collision on SH-56. The apparently at-fault driver was driving at an unsafe speed when he lost control of his vehicle and drove into oncoming traffic, killing all occupants in the struck vehicle. Two passengers in his vehicle sustained critical injuries. In an interview with KXII, a lifetime SH-56 resident stated, "They keep the dirt roads around here in better shape than they do this highway."

Although speed was evidently a factor in this devastating crash, the interview implies that poor road conditions may have also contributed to the collision. Who is liable if potholes and other unsafe road conditions cause a car crash? Are claims against a government agency complicated? Your experienced New Braunfels, TX lawyer from The Bettersworth Law Firm can help you collect the compensation you deserve.

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 Posted on September 26, 2024 in Car Accidents

News stories often provide details of deadly crashes on Texas roadways in conjunction with traffic reports advising viewers to seek alternate routes. For victims involved in the collisions and their families, the consequences are much closer to home.

Injured victims often have grounds to file a personal injury claim, while families of fatal accident victims may bring a wrongful death action. Damages in these cases are typically high, making liable insurance companies more reluctant to pay. When you work with an experienced attorney from The Bettersworth Law Firm, we will work to see you get the compensation you deserve.

Negligent Driving Is Dangerous

Using interstates is a common way to travel through the Lone Star State, but drivers should do so responsibly to avoid causing wrecks. Unfortunately, August and September have been deadly months for interstate accidents in Texas:

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 Posted on September 09, 2024 in Brain and spine injuries

Did you know that Texas has the dubious distinction of being the worst state in the nation for truck accidents?  That may not come as a surprise due to the state’s cargo transportation volume and having the country’s largest highway network. Collisions involving tractor-trailers often produce severe and sometimes catastrophic injuries, with brain and spinal cord injuries among the worst.

If you sustained a spinal cord injury in a truck wreck, you may be able to get a settlement. Truck accident claims are usually complex, but an experienced lawyer from The Bettersworth Law Firm can help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case.

How Can Truck Accidents Cause Spinal Cord Damage?

A fully loaded truck can weigh 80,000 pounds, and its dimensions dwarf passenger vehicles. A truck’s enormous size makes it capable of doing significant damage in many types of accidents, such as rollovers, rear-end collisions, and head-on crashes. One of the most serious consequences of accidents with semi-trucks is spinal cord damage.

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 Posted on August 26, 2024 in Car Accidents

It is illegal to drive while intoxicated in Texas. Sadly, many people drive drunk anyway, often causing otherwise avoidable collisions that result in injuries and fatalities. Drunk driving is a negligent behavior, which can qualify you to obtain compensation through a car accident claim. However, the driver is not the only potentially liable party.

The people or establishments that served or sold alcohol to the driver may also be held accountable for your injuries and related losses. A knowledgeable attorney from The Bettersworth Law Firm will investigate the circumstances surrounding your crash and identify all at-fault parties.

What Is the Dram Shop Law in Texas?

Patrons of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, liquor stores, and other licensed alcohol providers can buy alcoholic beverages. Whether the patron drinks the beverages on the premises or elsewhere, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code may allow you to hold these providers accountable for injuries later caused by the drinker.

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 Posted on August 09, 2024 in Car Accidents

Extremely heavy or very light traffic conditions, whether on smaller roads or busy interstates like IH-35 and IH-10, can increase the likelihood of collisions. While weather and road conditions contribute to causing some car accidents, human error is responsible for the majority of these motor vehicle crashes.

A single accident caused by a driver’s negligence can cause devastating injuries and fatalities, and injured victims deserve compensation. Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer from The Bettersworth Law Firm can increase your odds of successfully resolving your case.

What Effects Does Congestion Have on Drivers?

The effects of congestion as a contributing factor in motor vehicle accidents have been studied for almost 100 years. You would think that more collisions happen in periods of heavy congestion, but surprisingly, many accidents also happen during light traffic conditions.

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 Posted on July 26, 2024 in Truck accidents

When a plane crashes, one of the first things investigators will look at is the flight recorder. A flight recorder, also referred to as a "black box," records certain data about a flight that often helps explain why the plane crashed. These devices are built to be virtually indestructible so that they survive even fiery crashes.

Many trucks also come equipped with black boxes called electronic control modules (ECMs). ECMs are not actually black boxes, but computer chips that sit inside the truck’s engine. They are only called black boxes because they function similarly to the black boxes on planes (which, incidentally, are also not actual black boxes).

This article will discuss what an ECM does and the role it plays in a truck accident. If you or someone you know has been involved in a truck collision, contact a Texas truck accident attorney who will know how to make use of the truck’s black box.

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 Posted on July 08, 2024 in Car Accidents

When most people hear the words "personal injury," they think of medical bills, lost wages from being off work, and other losses. These are called economic damages, and they are the most common type of damages that personal injury victims seek compensation for.

Some damages, however, are not physical. Someone who has been in a truck crash, for example — which is often more traumatic than car accidents due to the weight and size of trucks — can suffer psychological and emotional shock. Texas law refers to the psychological impact as pain and suffering. Even though pain and suffering are considered non-economic damages, a victim can still receive compensation for them.

But how are pain and suffering calculated? This article will discuss the methods used to determine the value of pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a truck accident or any other incident, contact a Texas personal injury attorney to find out if you may be eligible to claim compensation for pain and suffering.

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 Posted on June 24, 2024 in Truck accidents

People who are injured in collisions involving trucks are more likely to sustain severe injuries than people injured in car crashes. This is not only because trucks are larger and heavier, but because they sometimes carry cargo that can spill in the event of a crash and hurt other vehicles.

Most truck accident victims who sustain injuries want to seek compensation. They know that they are supposed to file a claim with an insurance company, but they are not familiar with the rest of the process. Knowing the whole process is important because, as you will see, a Texas truck accident attorney can be the key to receiving the most compensation possible for your injury.

The Accident

The process begins with the truck accident. Try to account for all your injuries and their severity. Remember every detail you can and write it down. The more information you have, the better you can help your attorney identify who is at fault.

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 Posted on June 07, 2024 in Truck accidents

Truck collisions are known to have higher fatality rates than passenger car collisions. When someone dies in a truck wreck, the victim’s family may be able to sue the other party for wrongful death.

According to Texas law, wrongful death means that someone died as a result of another person’s “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default.” So, if a person was killed in a car or truck accident, his or her relatives may be able to claim compensation for damages.

This article will discuss the types of damages that can be claimed in a wrongful death case following a truck collision. However, keep in mind that some of these claims are not easy to win, so they should be brought by a skilled personal injury attorney.

Economic Damages

Economic damages, which refer to financial losses, are the easiest type of damages to claim. This is because they can be quantified. When you sue for economic damages, you are telling the court that you lost money and you want the other party — the defendant — to reimburse you. Such losses include:

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 Posted on May 28, 2024 in Truck accidents

Reckless driving is the most common cause of fatal car accidents. Texas law defines reckless driving as when a “person drives a vehicle in wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” This is slightly different from aggressive driving, which is “any unsafe behavior performed purposely with ill intent or disregard for safety that puts other drivers or property at risk.”

Both types of driving are moving violations and are punishable with fines and jail time. If someone gets injured as a result of aggressive or reckless driving, the victim may be able to sue for damages. However, not all claims are entitled to compensation, so make sure to consult a Texas personal injury attorney about your specific case.

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