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Elderly Couple Die in Fatal Pedestrian Accident

February 28, 2016 By

On Wednesday evening, February 4, an elderly couple were victims of a fatal pedestrian accident.

According to police the accident happened shortly before 7 p.m. along the FM 528 near Bay Area Boulevard in Friendswood in front of Brookside Intermediate School where two events were taking place that evening; a basketball game for boys and a concert.

The elderly couple, who were 66 year old Lina Kuehn Owen and 64 year old Larry Wayne Owen of Clear Lake were crossing the road in front of the school to go to the concert when they were hit by a Honda Accord driven by a 21 year old man from Webster.

Lina was pronounced dead at the scene and Larry was taken to hospital with critical injuries where he later died.

The driver remained at the scene having stopped immediately and gave police his full cooperation. Police say that no charges have been filed and the man has consented to a blood test while the investigation continues.

According to Friendswood officials, FM 528 is the most dangerous roadway in the city for pedestrians with fatalities occurring at night almost every year.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident our Houston accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Auto Accident

How Teenage Drivers Can Stay Safe

January 29, 2016 By

Teenage drivers have more auto accidents than any other age group and while it is very sad to lose any family member in an auto accident it is even more poignant when it is a teen that has only just begun his or her adult life.

However, there are many safe driving techniques that a teen can practice to ensure that he or see and the passengers stay safe in a vehicle.

The first thing is always to turn the cell phone off. Driving while texting, or speaking on the phone, even hands free is one of the major causes of accidents involving teens. In addition, in many states it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving. Those who text while driving lose focus on the road for just under five seconds, which is plenty of time for a fatal collision. And don’t text while stopped at lights or in traffic as you will not notice what is happening around you.

Second, turn on headlights especially at dusk and dawn as many teens think that if they can see, they have no need to turn on lights.

Teens should always obey the speed limit as it has also been shown that speed is a major factor in fatal accidents involving teens. Just because other vehicles are driving faster, they may have significantly more experience, so only drive at a speed you feel comfortable and make sure it is below the marked speed limit and not too fast for the conditions.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident our Houston accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Road Safety

McAllen School Bus in a Two Vehicle Collision

December 29, 2015 By

On Wednesday, December 2 a McAllen ISD school bus was involved in a two vehicle collision.

According to the McAllen Police Department, the accident happened at around 12.30 p.m. when the bus was carrying students from McAllen Memorial High School, near the intersection of North 2nd and Business 83. The bus was involved in a collision with a white vehicle.

School officials sent three nurses to the scene to assist the 23 students, one teacher and the bus driver but there were no serious injuries. One mother chose to take her child to hospital and the child was later released and in addition, the bus driver was also transported as a precaution to a McAllen hospital and then released. It is thought that one person in the white vehicle was taken to hospital by ambulance but no further information was available.

The crash is still under investigation.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident our Houston accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Auto Accident

Injuries Due to Car Accidents

November 28, 2015 By

One of the leading causes of injuries in the United States is car accidents. There are over five million accidents a year with around 2 million people injured.

People suffer from many different types of injuries due to a car accident but one of the most serious is a head injury. Drivers and passengers who are injured in a high speed accident can hit their heads against the steering wheel, dashboard, windows or roof of the vehicle which can cause traumatic brain injuries. If the blow is not too hard, there may simply be a mild concussion but if the injury is severe it can lead to coma, lasting problems and even death.

If the head hits something with force there can also be a skull fracture or problems with hearing or vision.

Another type of injury which is common in car accident is a back injury. Any damage to the spinal cord can harm the nerves which lead to a loss of feeling and control of arms, legs, hands or feet. If the damage is severe it can lead to people being paralyzed for life.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident our Houston accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Auto injuries

Two People Killed in Boat Crash

October 30, 2015 By

On Sunday, October 11, two people were killed in a boat crash on Lake Austin.

According to Austin police, the crash happened at around 5 a.m. before dawn when 50 year old Shawn Hurwitz, the CEO of Maxxam Inc in Houston was driving a boat on the lake and collided with a barge and began to sink. Hurwitz died at the scene around an hour later and a passenger, 34 year old Jennifer Walley, was flown to University Medical Center Brackenridge where she also died from her injuries. Two more males and one female were also taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Authorities said that although life jackets were on the vessel, only one person was wearing one and neither of those who died had life jackets on. It is felt that had they been wearing them they might not have died.

Hurwitz was the son of Houston billionaire, 75 year old Charles Hurwiz, the founder of Maxxam and took over from his father as CEO in 2007. He was also an instrumental founder of commercial horse racing in Texas. He was known for his generous spirit and big heart and dedicated to education.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident our Houston accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Boating accident

Police Still Seeking Hit and Run Driver

September 30, 2015 By

On Thursday, September 3, there was a hit and run accident in Houston.

According to police, the accident happened shortly after 4 p.m. in the 2300 block of Fountain View Drive. They went on to say that a 45 year old man was working in a parking lot belonging to an apartment building when he was hit from behind by a white SUV.

Luckily there was a witness to the incident who was able to tell police that a man got out of the SUV following the crash and then fled the scene without calling 911 or helping the injured man. The witness described the man as being 25 to 30 years old with black wavy hair but could not describe the make or model of the vehicle nor any details of the license plate. Unfortunately there are no security cameras which recorded the incident.

The victim was taken to a hospital in Houston with serious head trauma and facial lacerations.

By the end of the month the police still did not have any leads and Crime Stoppers are now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the hit and run suspect.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident our Houston accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Hit and Run

More Chance of Fatalities If Ejected From a Vehicle

August 26, 2015 By

A recent study has shown that those who are completely ejected from a vehicle during a traffic crash have twenty times higher chance of being severely injured and 91 times greater risk of being killed. The study goes on to say that two thirds of the fatalities in traffic accidents are due to the occupants of the vehicle being ejected and it is also a major source of fatalities among children.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, using a safety belt dramatically reduces the risk of being ejected during a vehicle crash as only 1% of those wearing seat belts are totally ejected, compared to 30% of those not using them.

The main reason for ejection from vehicles is where negligence of the driver plays a significant role, with the most reported factors being driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or speeding.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident our Houston accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Road Safety

Continuous Raised Median to be built

August 11, 2015 By

On June 22, the McAllen City Commission approved the construction of a continuous raised median on North 10th Street from Trenton Road all the way to Highway 107 but several businesses are unhappy.

Many years ago, a study said that there are less accidents when there are raised medians however, businesses in the area say they suffer.

Edinburg had a continuous median on Highway 107 all the way to the Hidalgo County Courthouse but many businesses that existed prior to this construction have since closed down. Those in the convenience store or fast food business say that raised medians limit access from the public to their businesses and they found their income dropped by up to half.

According to the current plan for this new median, there will be openings along the median at Valencia Market Place; Wisconsin Avenue; Northgate Lane; Freddy Gonzalez Drive and Sprague Road.

However, where they plan to build the median has dozens of businesses including Whataburger, Starbucks, Walgreens, Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Hobby Lobby, Subway, Which Wich, Footlocker, McDonalds, Jack in the Box, Wallbangers and PetSmart. Customers for all these establishments will have to drive past their destination and make a U turn to get to where they wanted to go or to go in the wrong direction to take a U turn at the next light. The businesses suspect that customers are unlikely to do either and will simply go elsewhere.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident our Houston accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Road Safety

Defective Vehicle Accidents

July 31, 2015 By

If you are afraid that your car may be a ticking time bomb, you’re not alone. Massive auto recalls for deadly defects continue to make headlines, and the scariest part is knowing that the recalls just keep expanding. No matter how many times you check and find that your vehicle is not on the list, you cannot rest assured that it is not affected by the defect. Worse, these are just the defects that have been acknowledged by auto makers, and just scratch the surface of all of the defective vehicles that are on the road today.

Types of Defects

There are three primary types of defects:

  • Defects that cause accidents
  • Crashworthiness defects – defects that causes injuries in the event of an accident
  • Defects that cause fires when the vehicle is not in use

Some defective parts have the potential to cause accidents or cause injuries to be worse in the event of an accident. For instance, the defective Takata air bags that are involved in the recent ongoing and ever-expanding recall can deploy when there is no accident, causing an accident and causing severe or fatal injuries when they shoot shrapnel into the vehicle occupants. They can fail to deploy in the event of an accident, causing injuries to be worse. And when they do deploy at the appropriate time, they can deploy with too much force and explode with shrapnel like having an IED go off in the car with you

If you know or believe that a defective vehicle caused your accident or injuries, our Houston defective vehicle accident attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation from the automaker and others along the supply chain. Please call the Almaraz Law Firm PLLC, at 1-800-247-WRECK or contact us online today.

Filed Under: Auto Accident, Personal Injury Attorney
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