At Vujasinovic & Beckcom, we pride ourselves on keeping up-to-date with important injury and accident developments in Texas and across the United States. Here you'll find our thougths on a range of topics from auto and truck accidents to defective automobile and product cases to serious injury cases involving neck, back, brain and workplace accidents.
Did you know that standard auto insurance companies do NOT cover vehicle fires?
Many people have horrific stories of vehicle fires. In fact, in the United States, 33 car fires are reported every hour! One person a day dies – that is one too many.
If you have been injured in a car fire, it could very well be nothing to do with you, but everything to do with the manufacturer! It seems every time you turn your head there is a new recall with auto makers due to negligent equipment that may result in an accident.
In case this happens to you, we want you to be aware of how you can save yourself and prevent future mishaps.
A FEW TIPS:
• If you smell burning rubber or plastic, pull over and investigate. Do NOT try and make it home before seeing what the problem is. • You MUST get in the habit of taking in your car for a tune up at least once a year. They should also check for gas and oil leaks. • If you suspect a leak in your car, put a newspaper underneath during the night. In the morning, come back and check to see if there are stains. • If a fuse keeps breaking, it is electrical trouble! Don’t let it keep happening without an investigation. It could very well be the source of a fire. If your car catches fire while you are driving, it is important to know to remain calm. There are certain situations that require you to take action. For example: • If there is smoke coming from under your hood, but no flames, you may crack the hood slightly and spray an extinguisher from a few feet away. Do NOT open the hood all the way as this can bring more oxygen (which fire feeds on) and can create a bigger issue. • If the fire is near the gas tank, you must not try and take it out. Instead, you have to call the fire department. • If suddenly your car catches quick fire, you must pull over immediately, get all passengers out, stay at least 150 feet away, and most importantly warn ALL who pass that your car is on fire and may cause an explosion.
If you have been injured due to negligent car fires, we urge you to do some research on our website. We have loaded it with free information that you will find helpful. You have a right to recover damages if the manufacturer is at fault for you injury!
For a free consultation, contact our offices today. 888-473-1258.
It is no question that car accidents can cause severe psychological effects on those involved. Dealing with trauma is extremely important. Some individuals may go through PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, especially when they have received serious injuries or witnessed a death brought about by a car accident. Numerous psychologists will say that PTSD must be treated, especially when the victim is dealing with long episodes of depression. What are some symptoms of trauma?
Irritability
Extreme anxiousness
Anger
Inability to sleep
Nightmares
Change in appetite (Binge eating or loss of appetite)
Depression
Frequent reliving of accident through thoughts
A constant tendency to feel unsafe.
Individuals who are experiencing such symptoms may feel disconnected from the world and from the people around them. They often lack emotion and sometimes feel numb towards everything. Those who are suffering from PTSD must learn to face what has happened to them. It is unhealthy to avoid the memory and other triggers that will remind them of the accident. Children suffering from trauma will have special needs. The most important fact to keep in mind when living with a traumatized child is to make him or her feel your love and support. Children must never feel that they are alone. Communicate with them and reassure them that they are safe. They can really benefit from the extra attention you give them. Never expect children to think and act like adults. If you have been in a serious car accident that has rendered you with severe trauma, you have legal rights to recover damages. The lawyers at V&B have offered our help by designing our website with you in mind.
Our website is updated every day with free information that will help you answer the questions you may have regarding your situation. We urge you to take time to do some research and educate yourself. Contact our offices today for a free consultation. 888-473-1258.
If you’re a lone star state resident, you’re already at high risk for a semi truck crash. Texas has one of the highest 18-wheeler crash rates in the country with over 200 fatal semi truck accidents reported every year. According to the latest data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, over 50,000 large truck accidents took place in 2009 in the United States. Nearly 3,000 people were killed as a result, most of whom were passengers in small vehicles that collided with the truck.
The Texas Department of Transportation has narrowed down the causes of these accidents in the hopes of preventing them. They have discovered that over two-thirds of Texas truck wrecks occurred in rural areas, and that speeding, inattentive driving, and driving under the influence were usually factors in the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board is trying to combat the problem on a federal level and has suggested several ways to improve trucking safety. Their recommendations include:
Requiring the Federal Highway Administration to re-evaluate semi truck rollover potential, including redesigning heavy trucks and identifying hazardous points in the road that can cause rollover accidents
Mandatory use of stability control systems on all tankers, and enforcement of these systems by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Rigorous performance testing for all trucks exceeding 10,000 pounds
Our Houston truck accident lawyers know that it can take years for such standards to go into effect. In the meantime, countless victims will suffer serious injuries after truck crashes—many of whom deserve compensation for their injuries.
Call Vujasinovic & Beckcom today at (877) 724-7800 for a free consultation on your case. When you call, we’ll also send you a FREE copy of our book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Texas Truck Accident Case.
While many drivers see red light speed cameras as a simple revenue tool for the state, studies have shown that these simple tools may actually save lives.
According to a November 2008 study by the Center for Transportation Safety of the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, the number of broadside or “t-bone” collisions in Texas went down drastically at intersections where red light cameras had been installed. The data collected from 56 intersections with cameras showed a 43 percent decrease in t-bone collisions over the course of the year.
In addition, a 2007 study by Iowa State's Center for Transportation Research and Education found that the annual "expected average number of crashes per quarter” caused by running a red light went down by 40% after cameras were installed at intersections.
T-bone accidents are the most common type of intersection collision and one of the most deadly for a car’s occupants. Since a car is less equipped to handle impact at the sides than it is at the front and rear, the passengers are more likely to absorb the force of an oncoming vehicle and suffer serious injury.
If you have been injured in a Texas side-impact crash, our Houston car crash lawyers may be able to help you obtain the compensation you need to heal. Call Vujasinovic & Beckcom today at (877) 724-7800 for a free consultation, or fill out our online contact form. We’ll also send you a FREE copy of our book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Texas Car Accident Case.
Pregnant women will often monitor everything they eat and drink to make sure their baby is safe. Unfortunately, many do not take similar precautions when they get behind the wheel. Nearly 170,000 car crashes involve pregnant women every year.
Here are just a few of many ways to avoid injury to your baby in a Texas pregnant car accident:
Always wear your seatbelt. Seatbelts greatly reduce the risk of injury in a crash, so make sure the seatbelt is buckled on your hips below your belly. Keep the shoulder belt attached and never put the shoulder belt under your arm.
Take breaks. Pregnant women are more susceptible to fatigue, which can lead to drowsy driving. Try not to drive more than five hours a day, and never drive if you are tired.
Keep the airbags on. Do not turn off the airbags while pregnant. You and your baby will be better protected if you leave them on.
Back up. To prevent a steering wheel injury to your baby, tilt your car seat back slightly and slide it further back from the steering wheel. You can also tilt the wheel upward toward your chest.
Get treatment. If you are in an accident, always seek medical attention immediately.
Our Houston accident lawyers have experience dealing with complex injuries after a car wreck. We know how to get compensation for your injuries from the at-fault driver and from the insurance company.
For a free consultation with an attorney, call Vujasinovic & Beckcom today at (877) 724-7800 or fill out our online form. We’ll also send you a FREE copy of our book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Texas Car Accident Case.
You’re probably not surprised to hear that teenagers cause accidents due to inexperience or that cell phones cause distracted driving. However, there are a few safety hazards you may not have considered when it comes to elderly drivers.
Here are just a few ways elderly drivers in Texas are likely to cause accidents:
Medications. Seniors often take more medications than younger drivers, many of which can affect motor skills or dull the senses.
Failing eyesight. Even with eyeglasses, many seniors have difficulty reading signs or seeing long distances. Some seniors are unlikely to admit to faltering senses.
Hearing problems. Seniors with deteriorating hearing ability may not be able to hear sirens, horns, or other auditory clues on the road.
Decreased range of motion. The elderly are often less physically capable and cannot move their legs or arms fast enough to avoid an accident.
Our Houston accident lawyers know how to handle a senior driving wreck with care and compassion, while getting you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. With your help, we can make the roads safer for all drivers and get payment for your medical costs, making it easier for you to heal.
Call the attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom today at (877) 724-7800 to start your free consultation, or click the link above for a FREE copy of our book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Texas Car Accident Case.
While you may not be able to avoid getting into an accident with an aggressive driver in Texas, you can control the behavior of one driver: YOU.
Many people have driven angry without realizing the potential for an accident. Whether you have just received bad news or are simply taking your work stress home, road rage can impair a driver’s movements much the same way as fatigue or alcohol. By staying informed, you can recognize the symptoms of road rage and correct them before an accident occurs.
What you can do to protect against road rage while driving:
Anger can spread like a virus. If another driver cuts you off or makes you mad, try to shrug it off instead of passing it on.
If you suspect that your emotions are affecting your driving, pull off the road or take the nearest exit. Park in a public place and take several deep breaths until you return to a calm state.
Pay attention to your passengers! If they think you are driving aggressively, you probably are.
Do not drive immediately after receiving bad news or after a traumatic event.
Our Houston accident injury lawyers know that it is not always possible to avoid an accident. However, laws have been enacted to protect victims in road rage cases, which can help people who have been seriously injured in car crashes get compensation for their injuries.
For a free consultation on your road rage accident case, call Vujasinovic & Beckcom today at (877) 724-7800 or click the link above for a FREE copy of our book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Texas Car Accident Case.
We have an update on the Waller County car accident that claimed the life of a mother and child earlier this week.
Officer Cody Parchman, a passenger in the vehicle that fatally injured Katherine Addison and her son Kendall, was relieved of his position on the Katy police force this morning. Parchman had been a member of the force for less than a month.
Instead of driving under the influence, Parchman let his 23-year-old friend Taylor McShan drive his pickup truck after a night of drinking. Unfortunately, McShan had also been drinking and took the wheel while under a suspended license, striking and killing Katherine Addison on Interstate 10.
Addison had gotten out of the car to change a flat tire. Her vehicle caught fire in the crash, and her son’s body was later discovered in the wreckage.
McShan will face criminal charges for the incident, but police were unsure how to proceed with Parchman. After conducting an internal investigation, Katy Police Chief Bill Hastings said the department ultimately chose to dismiss him because Hastings saw that he was intoxicated at the scene.
Addison’s family stated Friday that they believe Parchman should face criminal charges. While the accident is still under investigation, Hastings has attested that Parchman will not appeal his firing.
The Houston accident lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom express their condolences to the Addison family, hoping they will find a way to heal after this senseless tragedy.
For free legal advice, accident victims are urged to call Vujasinovic & Beckcom at (877) 724-7800.
As experienced Houston car crash lawyers, we realize that it’s impossible to always predict the severity of a car accident based upon the type of vehicles involved. A bicyclist can walk away from a head-on collision, and a rear-end accident can prove fatal.
Despite the fact that nothing is ever certain, we have noticed a trend with Houston motorcycle accident victims. Motorcyclists are certainly more likely to be injured in a crash than passengers in a car. The most important thing a motorcyclist can do to prevent injury in a crash is to prevent the crash from taking place by practicing safe riding. However, sometimes crashes are unavoidable, which is why it is crucial that you wear a helmet and adequate protection from road rash.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the accidents that made the news last year:
An Abilene man caught his kick stand on the ground and flipped over the handle bars. Although he was not wearing a helmet, he was not seriously injured.
A biker in Houston lost control of his motorcycle on a bridge and hit a concrete retaining wall. He fell 45 feet onto an embankment below and died of his injuries.
Texas musician Victor Villarreal was killed while riding his motorcycle; he was struck by a pickup truck.
A man and a woman ran into stopped traffic while riding a motorcycle in Farmersville. They were both ejected from the bike; the man survived, but the woman died at the scene.
Motorcycles cannot provide the same protection from injuries that motor vehicles do. Therefore, bikers should not only take as many precautions as possible while riding, they should also hold drivers accountable for the accidents they cause.
If you have been injured in a Texas motorcycle wreck, the attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom can get you compensation for your medical costs. When you fill out our online contact form to set up your consultation, we’ll send you a FREE copy of our book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Texas Car Accident Case.
In a recent story, USA Today attempted to discover a few reasons why teenagers are more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents. The news was not encouraging for teens in the South: eight of the 10 states with the highest fatal crash-involvement rates were found to be in the South.
There are a few different theories as to why this might be. Southern highway safety officials believe that law enforcement may be more relaxed in their states, and that drivers who speed or drive under the influence are more likely to get away with it. In addition, there are plenty of unlit rural roads that are unfamiliar to young drivers.
Another factor is the vehicles the teenagers are driving. Many parents are providing their children with access to SUVs or pickup trucks, both of which tend to have extremely low safety rollover ratings (some as low as two stars out of five). If these vehicles are hit on the side, they are more likely to roll over and cause serious injury.
All of these concerns are compounded by the same risks facing teens in other states: inexperience, distractions, lack of seatbelts, and the potential to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the teens drive at night, their risk increases even more.
Our Houston car accident lawyers have seen far too many parents suffer the loss of a child in Texas car accidents. While nothing can ever replace that loss, our attorneys can provide closure for your case and seek compensation from anyone responsible for your family member’s injuries.
For a free consultation on your Houston car wreck case, call Vujasinovic & Beckcom today (877) 724-7800 or fill out our online contact form.
Prevent Your Car From Catching On Fire!
