If you’re taking a road trip in Texas, you’re guaranteed to cross paths with many other drivers on our busy highways… but you’re also likely to encounter long stretches where the only thing around is farmland – or pure nature – as far as the eye can see. The mental shift between these two types of driving situations can be difficult, and if you run across someone behaving in a reckless or negligent manner, it may be even harder to deal with.

Still, there are things you can do to decrease your chances of getting into a car accident while you drive across the Lone Star State. Here are the best tips to keep you safe while you navigate your trip.

Schedule Your Trip to Avoid the Most Dangerous Travel Days

If you can avoid scheduling your trip during the days when deadly crashes are most likely to happen, you’re already off to a great start. To the extent that you’re able, avoid these proven deadly days for road travel:

• July 3
• July 4
• August 3
• August 5
• August 6
• August 12
• September 2
• December 23
• January 1

If you can’t avoid traveling on these most dangerous days, plan to use additional caution on the road.

Chart Your Trip Ahead of Time

Planning out a road trip used to be a matter of course for people. They would buy maps and study them, checking out different potential options before deciding on the best course of action.

Today, it’s far more common for people to “wing” it, relying on GPS apps to navigate trips. Unfortunately, these systems aren’t always reliable if you lose reception or your battery is low, and in some cases their directions can even cause confusion.

Before you hit the road, chart your trip online and print a copy. Then use GPS as a backup to navigate road closures or construction. As an added bonus, plan the places where you will stop for bathroom breaks, fuel fill-ups, and meals.

You are more likely to get in a crash if you pull over on the side of the road. By knowing where to stop, you can decrease your chances of accident and injury.

Maintain Your Vehicle

Allow time before your trip to get an oil change, inflate your tires, fill fluids, and check lights. If your vehicle is due for any other scheduled maintenance, take care of it before your road trip. A tune-up will ensure that your wipers, belts, battery, air conditioner, computer, transmission, and engine are in good working order.

To be well prepared, also make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle. It should contain jumper cables, a tire inflator, a flashlight, a flare, and a utility knife. It’s also wise to pack extra food, water, blankets, and a first-aid kit – just in case an emergency occurs.

Check Your Towing Weight

Why?

Because an overloaded vehicle is prone to tire blowouts and other problems. Be sure to check your recommended towing weight. If your packed items exceed a safe weight for your car, consider pulling a trailer or even renting a larger vehicle.

If you need to secure items to your vehicle’s roof, make sure to use heavy duty straps that you have recently inspected for wear and tear. If you see any problems with the gear you’re using, replace it to avoid a costly or dangerous accident.

Sign Up for Roadside Assistance

Many newer vehicles come with a roadside assistance program, which can be vital if you are stranded in an unfamiliar area. If you don’t have a roadside assistance program, consider signing up for one before your road trip to gain peace of mind.

Pack Your Phone Chargers

Don’t rely only on a wall charger for a road trip. Use or purchase a new phone charger that works in your vehicle. This will help keep your phone charged in case an emergency occurs – and make sure you don’t lose navigation at a pivotal time if you decide to primarily use GPS.

Childproof Your Vehicle

Make sure that the door and window locks are secured before going on a trip. Also remove any choking hazards or sharp objects from the seats where children will be riding – and anything else your kids might get into that could potentially distract you on the road.

Stay Alert

Fatigue is a common reason that accidents occur, especially on long road trips. Get a good night’s rest before your trip. Stay awake with caffeine or upbeat music. Take breaks every two hours, and switch drivers if possible.

Keep Your Focus

Distracted driving is one of the top reasons accidents occur. Don’t use your phone while driving – pull over if you must call or text. Also, refrain from eating, changing the music station, applying makeup, or any other activity that takes your eyes off the road, even for a second.

Look Ahead

By only focusing on the vehicle immediately ahead of you, it’s possible you may miss upcoming hazards. Try to focus on the long range, at least five vehicles ahead, and make adjustments as necessary to avoid a car accident.

Utilizing these tips isn’t a guarantee that your trip will be crash-free – after all, you can’t control the actions of other drivers. However, it should greatly reduce your chances of getting hurt, and that’s worth a lot.

About the Author:

Since she started practicing law in Texas in 2004, Sharon Fulgham has been named a Rising Star by SuperLawyers and a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine multiple times. Additionally, she has worked with some of the best attorneys in the state, and served as a partner at the biggest law firm in Fort Worth. Sharon has successfully handled cases at both the state and federal level, and always provides her clients with legal services that are personalized to fit their needs. Outside of work, the most important things in Sharon’s life are her faith, her family (husband Brandon and three children), and serving her community.

The post How to Avoid Texas Road Trip Accidents appeared first on Fulgham Hampton Personal Injury Attorneys.

If you are thinking about filing a personal injury lawsuit, here are the most common examples of cases that are successfully awarded by the Texas court system.

Types of Personal Injury Lawsuits Filed by People in Texas

You have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit if someone’s negligence caused harm to you, and serious injury was the result. In these cases, you can seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, property damage, or pain and suffering. These are the most likely cases to be won by plaintiffs in Texas.

Car Accident Injuries

If another was at fault for the injuries you sustained in a car accident, you may have grounds for an auto crash lawsuit.

In Texas, the courts operate under a modified comparative negligence principle. Under this principle, the judge or jury will look at the percentage of fault among all parties involved in the accident. If you did not cause any more fault than the driver who caused your injuries, you can file a claim. However, your damages may be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if the other driver is determined to be 70 percent at fault for your accident, your court award will be reduced by 30 percent, which is equal to your share of the fault.

Texas laws also have limits on how much you can be awarded. Your maximum reward is equal to the greatest number of the following three options:

• $200,000
• Twice the amount of economic damages plus $750,000
• Twice the amount of economic damages plus the amount of non-economic damages

Economic damages include vehicle repair, lost income, and medical expenses. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering experienced after the accident.

Slip and Fall Accidents

If you fall and experience injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to receive compensation in a premises liability lawsuit.

You can file a claim against the property owner’s insurer, or you can file a lawsuit with the Texas court system.

You’ll need to file within two years of the accident. You can seek compensation for injuries and any personal property that was damaged, such as jewelry.

You could also be held partially responsible for a fall, which may reduce your potential compensation. For example, if you were texting while walking, the court may determine that your damages should be reduced. Your final award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Defective Product Accidents

Some injuries occur because a product is defective. In these cases, you can hold the product’s maker responsible for your injury.

Common examples of defective product cases include the following:

• Toys
• Tools
• Kitchen Appliances
• Household Appliances
• Chemicals
• Machinery

A skilled Texas injury attorney will know whether you can hold the product designer, manufacturer, or distributor liable for your injury. Sometimes several parties can be held liable. These cases can be complicated and hard to fight, and you will need a knowledgeable lawyer to advocate on your behalf.

These are not the only types of injuries for which you can receive compensation. If you or someone you love has been injured and you believe that another is responsible, get in touch today for your free consultation with a Texas personal injury lawyer.

About the Author:

Brandon Fulgham has an in-depth understanding of both Texas law and Texans themselves. Before practicing law here, he received his undergraduate degree from TCU, and his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. After graduation, he worked in District Attorneys’ offices as a prosecutor. Now, he uses that knowledge to anticipate opposing counsel’s arguments and protect the rights of people in and around Fort Worth. He has been recognized for his work by The National Trial Lawyers, Fort Worth Magazine, and others.

The post  Some of the Most Common Personal Injury Claims in Texas appeared first on Fulgham Hampton Personal Injury Attorneys.

In 2016, the state of Texas experienced 3,773 fatalities from car crashes. Thousands of other Texans were involved in other non-fatal crashes.

Those statistics just begin to paint the picture, though.

Texas Motor Vehicle Crashes – By the Numbers

• Every 57 seconds, one reportable crash happened.
• Every 2 hours and 20 minutes, one person was killed in a crash.
• Every 1 minute and 59 seconds, one person was injured in a crash.
• The number of people who sustained a serious injury from a crash was 17,582.
• The number of people injured in crashes was 265,076.
• Over 43% of those individuals killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts or restraints.
• Accidents involving one vehicle that ran off the road killed 1,293 people, which represents over 34 percent of all fatal crashes.
• In crashes involving a drunk driver, 987 people were killed, which represents 26 percent of the overall fatality rate. Alcohol-involved crashes happened most often on Saturdays and in the hour between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.
• Crashes that occurred near or within intersections caused 814 deaths.
• Head-on crashes took the lives of 638 people.
• Distracted driving was the cause of 455 crash-related deaths.
• Rural areas were the setting for over 51 percent of all fatal crashes.

Do you know your rights and what the law requires of you if you are in a car crash in Texas?

If you ever join the ranks and become one of the many people injured in a Texas car crash, you need to know what the law states about liability and protections. A knowledgeable Fort Worth personal injury attorney can explain the fine details of the law, but here is an overview to help you gain a basic understanding of Texas car crash laws.

The Basics of Car Crash Law – and Liability – in Texas

If an accident involves personal injury or death, the law requires you to stop your vehicle or immediately return to the scene. If anyone needs aid, the authorities should be called. If someone leaves the scene of an accident, the punishment is a second degree felony if death occurs, and a third degree felony if serious injury occurs. If other injury occurs, the penalty is a fine of up to $5,000, one to five years in jail, or both.

If a vehicle is damaged in a crash, the vehicle operator must stop at the scene without obstructing traffic and remain at the scene until the authorities arrive. If the accident occurs on a freeway, the operator should move the vehicle to the roadside or adjacent street if possible. Leaving a scene of this kind of accident can result in a Class C misdemeanor charge if the total damage to all vehicles is less than $200, and a Class B misdemeanor charge if the total damage is over $200.

Texas law considers it a duty of the vehicle operators to exchange information including name, address, registration number, driver’s license, and insurance information. They should also be willing to assist one another in transportation to the hospital.

If you strike an unattended vehicle, the law requires you to post written notice on the vehicle that was struck. You must include your name and address. Failure to do so is a Class C misdemeanor charge if the total damage to all vehicles is less than $200, and a Class B misdemeanor charge if the total damage is over $200.

If you strike a fixture, structure or highway landscape, the law requires you to notify the property owner and provide name, address, registration number, and driver’s license. Failure to do so is a Class C misdemeanor charge if the total damage is less than $200, and a Class B misdemeanor charge if the total damage is over $200.

Even if you do not call the police to the scene of the accident, Texas law requires you to file a crash report within 10 days of the accident if it results in death, injury, or total damages of more than $1,000.

In Texas, you can file a lawsuit or insurance claim against the at-fault driver. All drivers may be held liable for the damage they caused. If you have liability insurance through your insurer, you should be covered up to a certain amount. Call your insurer to report the accident as soon as possible. Then get in touch with an experienced auto accident lawyer.

If you file a lawsuit, any evidence you collect will be important in your case. Share photographs, medical records, witness accounts, and insurance claims with your attorney. They will use this information along with the police report to build your case.

About the Author:

Since she started practicing law in Texas in 2004, Sharon Fulgham has been named a Rising Star by SuperLawyersand a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine multiple times. Additionally, she has worked with some of the best attorneys in the state, and served as a partner at the biggest law firm in Fort Worth. Sharon has successfully handled cases at both the state and federal level, and always provides her clients with legal services that are personalized to fit their needs. Outside of work, the most important things in Sharon’s life are her faith, her family (husband Brandon and three children), and serving her community.

The post The Rules – and Your Rights – after Getting into a Texas Car Crash appeared first on Fulgham Hampton Personal Injury Attorneys.