Our Montgomery County fatal accident lawyers noted a tragic accident on Monday evening in which a mother driving an SUV lost control of the vehicle and wrapped it around a tree. The wreck claimed the life of her 8-month-old daughter.
News reports mention that Ashli Nicol Heil, the mother, acted at the scene as though she did not realize that her daughter, Whilow Heil, was in the car with her at the time of the wreck. The mother apparently did not realize her infant had died in the accident. Authorities are reluctant at this time to ascribe the mother’s disorientation to anything other than shock, pending the return of toxicology results following a blood alcohol test.
Investigators have said that Ashli Nicol Heil was driving at an unsafe speed when the accident occurred and that a speed can be unsafe in wet road conditions even if it’s not over the speed limit. Our Montgomery fatal accident lawyers point out that if Ashli Heil’s toxicology tests come back positive for intoxication, she could face an array of charges that might include:
If your child has been injured in an accident and you need help, contact our experienced Montgomery County accident lawyers for a free and confidential legal consultation. We could help you understand your options for obtaining the financial relief that could help your child.
Our Montgomery County fatal accident lawyers sadly learned of a fatal single vehicle accidentthat claimed the life of an 8-month-old baby girl and severely injured her mother around 6 p.m. on Monday. The accident occurred on FM 1484 near Cut and Shoot.
Witnesses say that the mother’s Chevy SUV was traveling southbound at least 70 mph on weather-sodden roadways when the vehicle failed to successfully negotiate a curve. The SUV became airborne and struck a tree before wrapping around the tree in a mangled mess of metal. Witnesses and DPS troopers mention there’s no evidence that the mother tried to slow down before crashing. The Chevy SUV also struck an aboveground gas meter, sending gas spewing into the air. Our Montgomery County fatal accident lawyers note that ehe danger of a gas explosion hampered the rescue response.
The baby girl was found dead at the scene of the crash, properly restrained in a child safety seat. News reports say that the cause of the infant’s death is as yet unknown. Authorities are trying to determine whether the mother was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, since she was found partially ejected through the SUV window.
A bus driver that witnesses the crash said she’s never seen a crash so horrible. She regularly travels the roadway where the crash occurred and theorized that the mother might not have noticed the speed limit change from 55 mph to 45 mph in the vicinity of the curve, nor the curve in the roadway. The bus driver believes that drivers tend to drive too fast through that stretch of roadway and mentioned that there’s a wreck there every 2 or 3 months.
Our Montgomery County fatal accident lawyers point out that it’s actually not unusual for more than one cause to contribute to a tragic and deadly wreck. To learn more about what you could do after a serious wreck, you can download our Montgomery County fatal accident lawyers’ free book containing important information you need about coping with the aftermath of a serious wreck. Learn what steps to take to protect your rights and obtain the financial compensation you need to pay your medical bills and expenses after the accident. The book is free to our readers. Just click and download from this web page.
Our roller coaster accident attorneys spend a lot of time talking about the terrible injuries that riders can suffer from these thrill rides. But we realize that the odds of any given rider experiencing an injury are extremely small. So we feel it’s only fair to offer a short list of some of the worlds’s most extreme rides for the enthusiast.
Takabisha: Japan. World’s steepest roller coaster. It accelerates to 100 mph and boasts a drop of around 150 feet and a 121-degree freefall.
The Swarm: London, England – Thorpe Park. A unique, winged ride from which riders’ arms and legs dangle. It features an inverted drop of 127 feet.
Kingda Ka: Six Flags Great Adventure Park in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Has a height of 456 feet, a drop of 418 feet, and a speed of 128 mph (the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the United States so far).
Top Thrill Dragster: Cedar Point Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Known for its height of 420 feet, its drop of 400 feet, and its speed of 120 mph.
Millennium Force: Cedar Point Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Boasts a height of 310 feet, a drop of 300 feet, a length of 6595 feet, and a speed of 93 mph.
Son of Beast: Kings Island Park in Mason, Ohio. Has a height of 218 feet, a drop of 214 feet, and a speed of 78 mph. It’s the world’s record holder for wooden roller coasters in terms of height, drop, and speed.
And last, but certainly not least, our roller coaster accident attorneys present NASA’s own Vomit Comet, an earthbound ride designed to simulate the thrills and nausea of space flight that astronauts experience. Even underwritten by the space agency, your ticket to ride could cost you more than $3,000.
Our roller coaster accident attorneys remind you that you ride at your own risk. You should always take note of the ride’s safety polices and procedures, and follow them to the letter. If you do suffer an injury, feel free to contact us for a legal consultation concerning your accident. We’re among the few attorneys to actually have practical, hands-on experience tacking complex roller coaster injury claims. We know what you’re up against. And we could help. Your initial consultation/case evaluation is entirely free of charge.
Amusement park injury attorneys emphasize that employers are responsible for the safety of their employees and amusement parks are responsible for the safety of their employees and their guests. The Scandia Family Fun Center, an amusement park in northern California, and Maxim Crane Works, which had employees on the site to help disassemble rides, have both been found in violation of those responsibilities following an investigation by Cal-OSHA (the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration) into a crippling accident at the site.
The 2011 accident occurred when two Maxim workers were engaged in disassembly of a large amusement park ride called the Screamer using a crane. The ride lived up to its name when part of the ride overloaded and tipped the improperly weighted crane and crushed an employee’s arm between the tower and another piece of equipment. The severely injured worker was left dangling helplessly in the air until fire crews could extract him.
The Scandia Family Fun Center faces fines of around $40,000 while Maxim Crane Works faces fines approaching $36,000. Cal-OSHA cites improper crane rigging, underestimating the weight of The Screamer, neglecting to protect crane operators, not having a qualified person at the site to assess the weight of The Screamer, and hoisting a load beyond the rated capacity of the crane as some of the factors contributing to the disabling accident. Our amusement park injury attorneys note that the two negligent employers have said that they will contest the violations. In effect, they’re contesting their responsibility for worker safety.
If you’ve suffered a disabling work injury or amusement park accident, and you face similar companies reluctant to accept their obligations, contact the amusement park injury attorneys at Denena & Points for a free legal consultation. Our knowledge and experience in successfully handling claims for injured victims over the course of more than 12 years could be your key to a successful outcome in your case. We could inform you of your legal rights, options, and your potential for financial recovery from the negligent parties that caused your harm. Call us toll free at 877-307-9500 or contact us via our online contact features for your free case evaluation.
When our Texas truck collision attorneys reported the sadly fatal wreck of a car into a tanker truck in SE Travis County, we were troubled by our inability to find solid information on the web regarding charges against the reckless BMW driver that caused the fatal tanker truck crash.
A news story published by the Austin American Statesman late Thursday night reveals that 24-year-old Hernan Garcia-Segura, the driver of the 1998 BMW that crashed into the tanker truck, has been charged with criminally negligent homicide and aggravated assault. Texas troopers said that Garcia disregarded a stop sign just prior to wrecking into the tanker truck at the intersection.
Garcia’s reckless crash crushed his own car, trapping his own mother inside, and caused the tanker truck to explode and burn, which killed the truck driver, 41-year-old Dedrick Brooks of San Antonio. Garcia’s mother suffered a broken pelvis and head trauma.
Our Texas truck collision attorneys were gratified to hear of the strong charges against Garcia, apparently a driver with heedless disregard for others’ safety, even that of his own mother. Authorities were holding Garcia in the Travis County Jail and bail had not been set. Bail might not be appropriate in this case.
The tragic results of this collision to the Brooks’ family demonstrate very clearly the hideous toll that reckless driving can take on the lives of innocent victims. To learn more about what you can do when you and your family have been affected by the reckless behavior of a heedless driver, download our Texas truck accident attorneys’ free book on the steps you need to take following a serious accident.
The in-depth information inside the book could help you and your family members obtain just compensation for your losses and expenses after a serious accident. Our Texas truck collision attorneys’ detailed step-by-step guide could help you successfully find your road to recovery. The book is available free to our readers here on this web page. Just click and download.
Experienced Houston truck accident lawyers know that the financial consequences of a truck accident and the injuries you sustain from the crash can be devastating. A Texas truck accident could leave you with catastrophic injuries like brain damage, spinal injuries, paralysis, multiple broken bones, burns, disfigurements, damaged internal organs, and a host of other physical complications you never expected to face. So what do you do? What recourse do you have to help you cope with the traumatic consequences of a collision with a heavy truck?
Suffering victims injured by a truck crash can seek financial compensation from the negligent parties that caused their injuries. These victims might be entitled to file a civil claim for monetary damages for their personal injuries against the truck driver, trucking company that employer the driver, cargo loaders, and other parties. Filing your personal injury claim might be the only means you have to legally ensure that those who caused your injuries are held accountable for their actions.
Your personal injury claim could win you monetary damages for all of the expenses resulting from the accident and your injuries. Our Houston truck accident lawyers note that you might seek financial compensation for:
The experienced Houston truck accident lawyers at Denena & Points could help you recovery the full financial compensation you deserve because of your accident. Contact us for a completely free and confidential consultation regarding your specific injury accident.
We could help you understand your legal rights, the options you have in seeking proper monetary damages for your injuries, the obstacles the truckers, trucking companies, and insurance adjusters are likely to put in your way, and the ways that our experience and legal expertise in the personal injury arena could help you overcome those obstacles to your advantage. Call us today at 877-307-9500 (toll free) or use our convenient online contact features to make your appointment for a free consultation/case evaluation.
The building collapse attorneys at Denena & Points have been writing about the deadly Harlem warehouse collapse at the Columbia University expansion site as an example of the type of collapse often caused by weakened structural connections. In a previous article, we had noted the statements of Breeze National, a subcontractor on the site, that indicated the collapse was due to an unexpected beam connection configuration and weakened connecting bolts.
As an aside, we mentioned that companies involved in the work on the site had previous code violations and had been connected in the past to New York-area crime families. Further details have come out on the contractor over the site, Bovis Lend Lease. Bovis has been bound by a legal agreement since 2008 that required the company to reform its safety practices.
The 5-year binding non-prosecution agreement resulted after a deadly fire at the Deutsche Bank building in Manhattan in 2007 that cost the lives of two New York firefighters. Investigations into the causes of the fatal blaze uncovered serious mistakes by both Bovis Lend Lease employees and employees of its subcontractor on the Deutsche Bank site. (Our building collapse attorneys note that the subcontractor at that time was not Breeze National.)
The Manhattan DA’s office apparently isn’t saying whether Bovis has actually been complying with the non-prosecution agreement. The terms of the agreement required Bovis to hire an independent monitor to determine whether Bovis hired competent sub-contractors on its work sites and whether the company’s new safety initiatives were actually effective. The independent monitor had to submit semi-annual reports with its findings to the city. The Manhattan DA’s office maintains that the contents of the reports are not public; therefore it is not releasing details of the independent monitor’s conclusions on Bovis’ safety practices compliance.
Our building collapse attorneys continue to follow the tragic story of the Harlem warehouse collapse with attention. The unfolding story demonstrates how the actual causes behind a fatal structural collapse can be complex and varied. The negligent parties at fault for the accident might involve a sequence of companies and business connections not readily apparent.
Grieving family members seeking redress for their tragic losses might not know where to turn in their quest for proper compensation. If you’ve lost a loved one to a deadly structural collapse, you would do well to seek the help of knowledgeable and experienced building collapse attorneys that can help you uncover the causes behind the accident and the evidence you need to prove your claims.
If you’ve suffered the devastating loss of a family member to a building collapse caused by someone else’s negligence and you have questions, feel free to contact our dedicated building collapse attorneys for a confidential legal consultation and case evaluation. Your initial consultation is free and it could provide you with the understanding of your legal options that you need to make informed decisions about what to do. Call toll free 877-307-9500 or use our online contact forms.
The Lake Jackson tire defect lawyers at Denena & Points have mentioned before the critical importance of sound tires to your safety on the road. Your tires are the only part of your vehicle designed to be in direct contact with the roadway. The tires’ good condition is necessary for the safe operation of your vehicle.
The condition of your tires can have a dramatic effect on vehicle handling, road traction, braking effectiveness, and ability to negotiate curves and turns. Defective, worn, or poorly maintained tires can suddenly fail. When your tire fails, you’re likely to lose control of the vehicle and experience a drastic wreck. Then parts of your vehicle never intended to contact the roadway could meet the asphalt and concrete in a hard landing.
Our Lake Jackson tire defect lawyers point out that one of the easiest elements of tire safety to control is proper inflation. Overinflation, underinflation, and unequal inflation of tires are all problems you might face. But regular checks of your tires’ pressure and corrections to inadequacies in inflation could extend the life of your tires and yourself by helping you to avoid catastrophic wrecks from tire failure.
Research has indicated that up to half of the cars on U.S. roads could be riding on one or more tires that are underinflated. Underinflated tires put more of the tread in contact with the ground. Your vehicle becomes more difficult to control as one or more tires become more underinflated. The condition can cause additional friction and also flexion in the sidewall that causes excessive heat to build up within the tire. The excess heat could lead to tire tread separation, tire failure in a blowout, and a rollover wreck. Even before the tire fails, your vehicle might “wallow” on underinflated tires. The vehicle will ride slower and get lower fuel economy.
Our Lake Jackson tire defect lawyers caution that you can’t accurately determine if your tires are properly inflated just by looking at them. A visual inspection might show that your radial tires are bulging slightly, but modern tire design results in this effect even when the tires are properly inflated. You need to make a regular check, at least monthly, of your tires’ pressure.
Follow the tire pressure recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. You can usually find a notice indicating the recommended tore pressure inside the glove compartment, on the doorjamb, or on the fuel tank door. You need your cold tire pressure. Measure the tires’ pressure (psi) while the tire is still cold to obtain an accurate reading. It’s best to take your pressure reading and make pressure corrections before you start driving or when you have driven no more than a mile or two. Once you have driven any farther and the air inside the tire has begun to heat up, it becomes difficult to accurately inflate the tire. You can get your own inexpensive tire pressure gauge at an auto parts store.
Taking proper care of your tires enhances your safety on the road in your vehicle. But sometimes tires leave the factory with hidden manufacturing defects you won’t know about until a recall announcement arrives or you suffer a catastrophic wreck. If you’ve been injured in a wreck caused by a defective tire, download our Lake Jackson tire defect lawyers’ free book on the steps you need to take to make a successful car injury compensation claim
Houston tire defect lawyers state that tire tread separation can cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle and crash. Depending upon the driver’s speed and roadway conditions at the time of the tread separation, the wreck could cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities. Below we list some of the common causes behind tire tread separations and what to watch out for in your tires.
Excessive mileage and wear on your tire:
Manufacturers rate their tires according to the specific number of miles for which they’re designed to last. Tire composition and construction affect the mileage a tire can endure. So it’s important to be aware of the rated mileage for your tires and replace them when the manufacturer recommends. Once your tire passes the rated mileage, tire tread separation, blowouts, and loss of road traction are likely to occur.
Inherent defects caused during manufacturing:
The Houston tire defect lawyers at Denena & Points note that making a tire is a very complex process. Many different layers of varying composition are bonded together into a functioning whole. A slight misstep in the process can result in a hidden, but deadly, defect inside a tire. Sometimes a defective tire will give way without warning and cause a serious wreck. And sometimes the defective tire will begin to exhibit warning signs before it fails. It might seem out of balance, or it might begin to cause vibrations as you drive because of a bump that has formed in the tread. A bump or deformity in the tread or a warning vibration might indicate imminent tread separation. If you receive such warning signs of impending tire failure, you should replace your defective tire before it gives way and sends you into a rollover wreck.
Improper repair of a flat tire:
When the process of repairing a punctured tire using a plug and a patch is done incorrectly or without proper care, the tip of the plug might protrude and cause the tread to begin separating. Our Houston tire defect lawyers emphasize that you can’t correct this problem. Once the tip begins to separate the tread from the body of the tire, the separation will grow until your tire fails. At any sign of this problem, you should replace your tire immediately before it can fail.
Improper inflation of the tire:
Overinflation can be even more problematic than underinflation of your tire. The overinflation can result in additional wear to the tire, excessive buildup of heat, and a reduced ability to absorb the shocks of the road.
Bad road conditions:
Tires suffer additional wear and damage from potholes and other road deformities. The size of a pothole and the speed at which you hit it can have devastating effects on a tire. Tires and your car’s suspension system are designed to withstand and absorb a certain amount of impact from road deformities and obstacles. But hitting a major pothole at a high speed can generate enough force to result in a tire tread separation and a serious wreck.
Tread separations are particularly likely to end in dangerous rollover wrecks. Learn what to do if you suffer a wreck because of tire tread separation. Download our Houston tire defect lawyers’ free book on your essential steps to a successful financial recovery following a serious Houston wreck.
Houston car accident lawyers mention a Texas District and County Attorneys Association seminar in Wichita Falls on Friday brought together a group of the top experts in the field of DWI enforcement to discuss current DWI issues and trends in the state. Among those addressing the law enforcement officials gathered for the seminar were Assistant District Attorney John Gillespie who started the impaired drivers prosecution unit within the District Attorney’s office and Clay Abbott, a renowned DWI prosecutor from Austin, TX.
On the seminar’s agenda was discussion of a defense gaining popularity among defendants during their DWI jury trials. The defendants are claiming that they didn’t start drinking until after their wrecks. The defense claims that the wreck so upset the defendant/driver that he started drinking afterwards and so… by the time police and other authorities reached the scene of the accident, these officers found the previously sober driver drunk behind the wheel….
(Our Houston car accident lawyers ask: Would you believe this defense? Would you even find it particularly clever? Is one of the underlying premises of this defense that these drivers keep a handy supply of alcohol on hand in their vehicles just in case they should cause a wreck and become upset by its effects? And if they have the “foresight” to lay in a stock of alcohol as a precaution against become too upset after they cause a crash, why don’t they have the foresight to take the safety precautions that would prevent them from causing wrecks in the first place? Just wondering….)
The Houston car accident lawyers at Denena & Points note that local Houston billionaire John Goodman just tried this somewhat novel defense at his Florida trial following a fatal DWI accident. It apparently failed to win over the jurors who found him guilty as charged.
If you’re injured by a drunk driver who’s trying to weasel out of responsibility for the accident, contact us for a free legal consultation. We could help you hold the negligent driver liable for your harm and help you win the full financial recovery you deserve after your needless injuries.