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24
Jan

Police Need Help In Solving Austin Hit-And-Run Accident

January 24, 2012

Police are asking for help in solving a recent hit-and-run accident that happened Monday evening in Austin, Texas. According to reports from KVUE News, the Austin police department received calls of a cyclist lying in the road on Research Boulevard, near the Oak Knoll exit, at around 10:30 PM.

It was there that they found the 26-year-old cyclist who had been hit from behind by a car. The cyclist did not have a light on the rear of the bike, nor was he wearing a helmet, which may have contributed to the accident, and ultimately, his death. Police say that a lack of witnesses to the accident is the biggest obstacle to overcome.

This problem is not all that uncommon when it comes to hit-and run accidents in Austin. Corporal Anthony Hipolito, a spokesman for the Austin police department, says that out of the 8,500 reported hit-and-run crashes from last year, a meager 287 arrests have been made and a mere 34 cases have warrants out for arrests. He says most of these cases stall and go unsolved because of a lack of witnesses.

Police say the vehicle involved may be a Ford with front-end damage near the right headlight. They ask that you call (512) 974-5784 if you have any information regarding the crash.

The Austin auto accident attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers often handle cases for victims of hit-and-run crashes and may be able to help you if you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence.

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17
Jan

Pilot Says He Warned Woman Before She Walked Into Plane’s Propellor

January 17, 2012

The pilot responsible for the plane that injured a Plano, Texas, woman told investigators that he warned the woman to stay away from the front of the plane moments before she walked into the propeller. According to KVUE News, the 23-year-old fashion Magazine editor lost a hand and an eye in the December 3rd accident.

A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that upon landing that day, the pilot did not turn the engines off on the plane as he waited for his next sight-seeing customer. He saw the victim walking toward the front of the aircraft after exiting, and reached his arm out in front of her and told her to walk around the back of the plane. The pilot continued by saying he then looked away for a split second before hearing screaming and looking back to see the woman on the ground.

While this tragedy was definitely an accident, the pilot could be held accountable for the woman’s injuries based on premise liability law. That law states that a business or property owner has the responsibility to keep all customers and patrons safe while on their property. In this case, the pilot failing to kill the engines as a customer exited the plane could be considered negligence on his part, especially if the woman was not warned of the dangers prior to the flight.

The Texas premise liability attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers suggest contacting them immediately if you have been hurt due to someone else’s negligence.

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10
Jan

Home Explosion Kills One And Injures Another

January 10, 2012

A north Austin neighborhood was rocked early Monday morning by the fatal explosion of a home caused by a gas leak. According to KVUE News, the owner of the house, who was killed in the explosion, had complained to neighbors for several weeks about a gas odor in the home.

The explosion happened at around 8:30 AM Monday at the residence located on Payne Avenue. Neighbors say that they heard two explosions before the home was engulfed in flames. The home next door caught fire as well from the whipping flames next door, requiring paramedics to take the neighboring homeowner to the hospital to be treated for critical respiratory injuries.

Once the fire burned out, firefighters were able to discover the body of a man on the front porch and later confirmed it to be that of the home owner.

Investigators determined the fire was started by a gas leak and work has begun to find and fix the leak by this morning. In the meantime, 15 homes have been evacuated in order to prevent any similar accidents. Texas Gas Service, who operates the leaking lines, have taken responsibility for the explosion and are putting up evacuated residents in a nearby hotel until the matter can be resolved.

The Texas wrongful death attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers say that being able to prove fault in a wrongful death case is vital. If you have lost a loved one in an accident that was not their fault and feel you have proof as well, contact us today to discuss your case further.

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3
Jan

New Smartphone App Helps Track Blood Alcohol Content

January 3, 2012

What is the biggest problem facing those hoping to eradicate drunk driving from America’s highways? One common answer that is supported by research is that most intoxicated individuals don’t think they are drunk.

A new application for smartphones hopes to give drinkers a more precise way to measure their blood alcohol content. YNN News reported yesterday that the app, called Drink Tracker Breathalyzer, records and tracks the drinks you have had throughout the evening and figures your blood alcohol content (BAC) based on information such as height, weight, sex, age, and metabolic removal rate.

The application can be downloaded for $1.99 and is easy to use. Drinkers will first enter all their personal information into the system to create a profile. Then as the night goes on, touch screen buttons will allow you to record and track the number of drinks you have had. The app updates your BAC every sixty seconds and even offers a timer to let you know how long it will be before you reach a target BAC low enough to drive.

While the app offers a somewhat quantifiable way of measuring your blood alcohol content, it is not exact. The Texas auto accident attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers say that the safest bet is to not drink at all before driving. If you have been drinking, it is best to just take a cab home rather than risk your life and the lives of those around you.

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27
Dec

Workplace Illness And Injury On The Decline In Texas

December 27, 2011

Injuries and illness in the workplace are on the decline. According to KVUE News, employers in private industries reported a 5.8 percent decrease in the number of non-fatal cases resulting in absence from work in 2010, resulting in a total of 56,720 incidents for the year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in cooperation with the Texas Department of Insurance-Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC), conducted the survey in order to better inform and assist employers with identifying possible health and safety risks in the workplace.

The study found that 79.5 injuries or illnesses were reported per 10,000 full-time employees across the state of Texas. The average number of days on the job missed because of these injuries and illnesses  increased to nine days this year, a slow-but-steady rise from the eight days reported in the previous two years.

The TDI-DWC plans to continue fighting the problem by offering programs such as:

  • Free safety and health consultations on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations
  • Regional and on-site safety training
  • Free safety and health publications
  • Guidance on return-to-work and drug-free workplace programs
  • A Safety Violations Hotline

The Texas workers’ compensation attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers have years of experience working with individuals who have been injured or gotten sick while on the job at no fault of their own. Their team of compassionate attorneys is available anytime to discuss questions you may have regarding your rights.

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20
Dec

Texas Plane Crash Kills Family Of Five

December 20, 2011

A plane crash Monday night in northeastern Brazos County, Texas, killed all five people aboard the aircraft. According to The Atlanta Journal Constitution , The Piper Saratoga aircraft crashed just before 10:00 PM in a field north of Bryan-College Station, Texas.

Investigators say the flight originated in Atlanta, Georgia, and stopped in Jackson, Mississippi, on its way to Waco, Texas. Severe storms, including heavy rain and lightning, were rolling through the area at the time of the accident and investigators are still working to determine if weather may have played a role in the crash.

Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did confirm today though that all those aboard the plane were related to one another. The 33-year-old pilot, his 34-year-old wife and older brother, along with his young son and teenage daughter were all killed instantly in the crash.

FAA statistics show that it is much more dangerous to fly in small planes than it is large commercial airliners. The FAA reports that there were 20 aircraft crashes in the state of Texas in 2008. Of those crashes more than 95 percent involved single engine aircraft.

The Texas Personal Injury Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers understand the dangers these aircraft can pose. We know that often, mechanical failure is at the heart of the accident. If you have been injured or lost a loved one because of a plane crash that was caused by negligence, contact us today to discuss your case.

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13
Dec

Holiday Ladder Falls Claim Two Lives In Texas

December 13, 2011

With the holidays in full swing, the number of slip and fall accidents across the state of Texas is on the rise. According to KVUE News, a 54-year-old Little Elm, Texas, woman was killed after falling from a wooden pull-down ladder she was using to access Christmas decorations in her attic.

Police spokesman, Captain Rodney Harrison, stated that the woman was alone at her home on Fieldstone Drive when the accident occurred Saturday afternoon. Investigators said that the ladder appeared to have given way when the woman stepped up onto the ladder. She fell backwards and hit her head on the concrete floor beneath her, causing severe trauma. By the time her husband found her several hours later, there was nothing that could be done to revive her.

It was also reported that a month earlier, a 52-year-old town maintenance worker died from being electrocuted when a ladder he was on became entangled in live power lines.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission states that 160,000 people are injured in ladder-related accidents each year. They also say that the number of accidents dramatically increases around the holiday months.

The Texas slip and fall injury lawyers with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers advise that the best way to stay safe on a ladder this holiday season is to:

  1. Always have a spotter below you hold the ladder
  2. Make sure the ladder is firm and steady at a 45-degree angle before climbing
  3. Never go above the top wrung

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6
Dec

Honda Recalls 304,000 Vehicles Due To Faulty Airbags

December 6, 2011

The Japanese Automaker, Honda Motor Company, announced late last week that they are recalling 304,000 vehicles from around the world due to an airbag fault. According to ABC News, 273,000 of those vehicles are in the United States and Canada.

The recall is being issued in response to defective airbag inflators that could, in the case of an accident, over inflate airbags causing them to burst. An explosion of this caliber could send metal shards and debris flying that could potentially cause injuries or death. Honda acknowledged that 20 accidents and two deaths, both of which occurred in 2009, have been associated with the recall.

Affected models include:

  • 2001 and 2002 Accord
  • 2001 to 2003 Civic
  • 2001 to 3003 Odyssey
  • 2002 and 2003 CR-V
  • 2003 Pilot
  • 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL
  • 2003 Acura 3.2 CL

This most recent recall will now bring the tally up to six total recalls the company has made since 2008 for the same problem. An estimated two million cars, vans, trucks, and SUV’s made by the company have been recalled over that 3-year period. Earlier this year, the company recalled 700,000 vehicles for stalling engines.

The Texas Car Product Liability Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers understand the dangers that faulty equipment on a motor vehicle can pose for a driver or passenger. That is why the firm is so passionate about helping victims of accidents caused by vehicle malfunction. Contact us today if you have been hurt.

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29
Nov

Texas Drunk Driver Arrested In Connection With Fatal Crash

November 29, 2011

An Arlington, Texas, woman has been arrested in connection with a fatal crash that she caused along Interstate-35 early Tuesday morning while driving under the influence. According to KVUE News, Fort Worth Police say the woman was driving the wrong way down the interstate while her six-month0old daughter was in the vehicle.

The woman was charged with intoxication manslaughter and child endangerment after officers witnessed the woman drive onto an off-ramp and proceed down the interstate in the wrong direction with her hands up behind her head. Two other vehicles crashed as a result of having to dodge the woman’s oncoming vehicle. Both drivers exited their vehicles after the minor crash, but one of them was struck on the highway by another passing car and was killed.

The woman was eventually pulled over and arrested. She and her daughter were uninjured in the incident.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol is the leading factor of fatal accidents in the United States– linked to more than one-third of all deadly crashes in the country. The agency’s research has also shown distracted driving is almost just as deadly.

The Texas Auto Accident Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers know cases involving a drunk driver can often be complicated. That is why we suggest contacting an attorney to handle the case before you settle with an insurance company. We can be reached to discuss your case by filling out a free initial consultation form.

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22
Nov

AISD Bus Crash Sends Four Students To The Hospital

November 22, 2011

Four Austin Independent School District (AISD) students were taken to the hospital following a Monday morning bus crash. According to KVUE News, the accident happened at around 8:10 AM at the corner of Bolm Road and the frontage road of Ed Bluestien.

An Austin Police Department spokesperson, Corporal Anthony Hipolito, stated the bus carrying 18 students was westbound on Bolm Road, passing through the intersection with the frontage road. He said the bus was struck in the right backside by a Dodge pickup truck headed south on the frontage road. The Collision caused four students, including a girl that hit her head on a window during the impact, to be taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge by paramedics for treatment of several different injuries.

Police are investigating who is at fault for the accident, but believe one of the drivers ran a red light.

The Texas Auto Accident Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers feel this case is a prime example of the importance of getting witness names and numbers after an accident. An independent third party, that can verify the events leading up to a crash will often make a difference in a case where investigators are unable to determine fault from the evidence available to them.

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