Austin Family Law And Personal Injury Blog

A previous post here discussed how the number of pedestrian fatalities continues to rise across the country, even in the face of a traffic fatality rate that is declining on the whole. It was a sad coincidence that, shortly after that post, a pedestrian from out of state lost his life after attending a popular automobile racing event in the Austin area.

According to reports, the man was struck by a pickup truck during the evening of a Formula 1 United States Grand Prix event, an event which is attended by over 250,000 people. The driver of the pickup fled the scene after striking the pedestrian, and police have provided a description of the vehicle to the public.

According to a recent report, Texas's ongoing problem with motor vehicle accidents related to drunk driving are not just an issue for motorists traveling after dark. While the common perception of drunk driving is that it happens after an evening or afternoon of partying, this recent study suggested that almost 17% of all fatal car accidents in Texas that happened between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. were related to drunk driving.

This percentage placed Texas fourth among all the states. Moreover, Texas's number was way above the national average. Across the country, just under 11% of all fatal accidents during the mid-morning and early afternoon hours involved drunk driving.

As one of many Texas parents who filed for divorce this year, you can likely relate to those who say they worry about their children's well-being when it comes to custody issues. If you and your ex have a solid co-parenting plan and a strong support network, you might feel confident that your kids will bounce back quickly and be able to move on in life without lasting repercussions.

On the other hand, you might be among hundreds, if not thousands, of other parents who are deeply concerned because a co-parent is unfit. If this is so in your case, it's of paramount importance that you know your rights and how to protect them. In situations like yours, the first logical step to take is to bring the matter to the court's attention. If you know someone who has gone through a similar experience, his or her guidance and support may prove invaluable.

Although they know in theory that the practice is illegal, many drivers in the Austin area may be tempted to try and beat a light just as it is turning red. They may think that there is little harm in this practice since cross-traffic does not start traveling through an intersection immediately or because they do not see anyone coming. While some people who think this way may just get lucky and have nothing happen, the reality is that when drivers choose to run red lights, other people are the ones who get hurt.

According to a recent report, of those who died following a driver running a red light, half were either people in the vehicle that got struck or a passenger in the car that ran through the red light. An additional 5% of victims were either pedestrians or people on bicycles.