Texas Monthly recounts a horrific bike crash in south Texas where a drunk driver hit a bicyclist and the biker flew over the truck and into the trailer of the truck. The driver shamefully kept driving and then attempt to dispose of the body. Thankfully, he was caught and will hopefully spend decades behind bars. Our law firm has represented scores of bicyclists hit by cars and scores of people hit by drunk drivers. We as a society need to start dealing with these tragedies more harshly, especially when drinking and driving is involved. We support Chief Acevedo’s anti-drunk driving… Read More
On August 29, 2012, the Texas Supreme Court had settled on City of Denton v. Paper. In a previous case, the defendant, Rachel Paper, sued the plaintiff, the City of Denton, after breaking numerous teeth when she collided on her bicycle. The case concerned a depressed section in the roadway. The question is, was the depressed section: A hole almost as deep as a mechanical pencil (5.5 inches) situated close to the middle of the right lane which a bicyclist could not evade without intersecting into the lane for approaching traffic? Or: A hole just two or… Read More
Accidents are indiscriminate, they can happen to anyone. People of all socioeconomic classes have accidents and suffer injuries because of the negligence of another. People who have a good income through a skilled job can suddenly find they are injured and unable to return to that line of work and enjoy that level of earning potential. It can take months, even years, to be compensated for an injury. Many people have no place to turn except to government programs that can assist them in keeping their family sheltered and fed. Under the law, everyone has the right to be compensated… Read More
I’ve been a cyclist for a handful of year now, and I’ve learned a few tips that will keep a biker safe and a motorist out of your hair. Although sometimes a bicycle accident is unavoidable, there are many that can be avoided or lessened in severity by keeping a few things in mind. Below are some helpful tips on how to travel safely by bicycle: 1. Pretend You’re Invisible It’s safe to assume that most drivers don’t pay too much attention to the presence of cyclists. For a valid reason, we are not as big, brightly colored, and covered… Read More
The number of bikes and pedicabs in Austin street traffic are ever-increasing. While sometimes there’s safety in numbers, it’s important to each bike rider to exercise the utmost caution when sharing the road with vehicles. Don’t Swerve Unexpectedly As much as you can help it, drive in a straight line. Cars don’t look out for things like gutters and drains like bikers do, so when bikers swing out into traffic it can take cars off-guard. Follow the Law You are a vehicle in the eyes of the law, which means you are still supposed to follow the… Read More
Playing sports is a good way to stay active, relieve stress and have some fun. However, there is always a chance you or someone else can get injured if you participate in any physical or sports related activity. This is why there are particular rules and safety measures to keep those involved safe. Even if you do everything you are supposed to, accidents happen and people can become severely injured. One serious injury that happens in sports and various activities is brain injury. Brain injury occurs in over 1.7 million Americans every year. Brain injury can be caused by variety… Read More
By Texas law, bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of passenger vehicles. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, this means that bicyclists have the duty to ensure that they take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of causing preventable harm and to adhere to all traffic laws, including: Stopping at red lights and stop signs Staying within a lane and being aware of lane markers Riding near curbs and traveling in the same direction as vehicles Using lights at night and using proper signals for turns Unfortunate as it may be, even bicyclists who obey… Read More
