Archive for the ‘ Wrongful Death ’ Category

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13
Mar

Austin Water Utility Worker Killed In Tragic On-The-Job Accident

March 13, 2012

The Austin Metro Police Department (AMPD) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are continuing their investigation into the mysterious death of an Austin Water Utility worker who was killed in an on-the-job accident two weeks ago. According to reports from YNN News, the accident occurred March 2 at 3 p.m. on Barton Hills Drive, near Farnswood Circle.

A spokesman for Austin Water Utilities, Jason Hill, said that the 51-year-old worker—a 22 year veteran of the department—was in the area replacing and updating service lines to neighborhood homes when the accident occurred. The only other details being released specify that the accident involved a backhoe at the worksite.

The worker was laid to rest on Friday while investigators still work to iron out the details of what happened that afternoon. Hill stated that, in the meantime, the AMPD’s main priority now is to console and comfort the family of the victim and other workers who knew him as well.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, operating heavy construction equipment can be dangerous, and workers in this occupation incur injuries and illnesses at a higher-than-average rate.

The Austin Wrongful Death Lawyers with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers would like to send their thoughts and condolences to the family of the victim who tragically died. The firm would also like to send their thoughts to the victim’s numerous co-workers who knew him as well.

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6
Mar

Austin Metro Police Shift Focus To Improving Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety

March 5, 2012

After successfully reducing the number of car accidents throughout the city, the Austin Metro Police Department is now shifting some of its resources toward keeping the city’s pedestrians safer. Reports from KXAN News indicate that some of the Metro Police Department’s saturation patrols are being reassigned to areas with the highest number of auto-pedestrian accidents.

Yesterday, officers patrolling the area of Riverside and Pleasant Valley Drive and were able to cite 26 pedestrians and motorists in less than three hours. Officers said tickets issued were for violations ranging from jaywalking to not yielding the right of way.

Officers say they will continue the effort by analyzing crash data on a weekly basis to determine how and where to shift their presence. A spokesman for the Austin Metro Police Department, Sgt. Mike Fitzgerald, added that the department would also use a motorcycle unit for these efforts.

The number of pedestrian and cycle accident fatalities this year have Austin on track to be named one of the most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrians. Data shows that of the 14 accident fatalities in the city in 2012 alone, eight were pedestrians or cyclists.

The Austin Auto Accident Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to keep one another safe by always looking twice at intersections and making yourself visible by using lights and turn signals.

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24
Jan

Police Need Help In Solving Austin Hit-And-Run Accident

January 24, 2012

Police are asking for help in solving a recent hit-and-run accident that happened Monday evening in Austin, Texas. According to reports from KVUE News, the Austin police department received calls of a cyclist lying in the road on Research Boulevard, near the Oak Knoll exit, at around 10:30 PM.

It was there that they found the 26-year-old cyclist who had been hit from behind by a car. The cyclist did not have a light on the rear of the bike, nor was he wearing a helmet, which may have contributed to the accident, and ultimately, his death. Police say that a lack of witnesses to the accident is the biggest obstacle to overcome.

This problem is not all that uncommon when it comes to hit-and run accidents in Austin. Corporal Anthony Hipolito, a spokesman for the Austin police department, says that out of the 8,500 reported hit-and-run crashes from last year, a meager 287 arrests have been made and a mere 34 cases have warrants out for arrests. He says most of these cases stall and go unsolved because of a lack of witnesses.

Police say the vehicle involved may be a Ford with front-end damage near the right headlight. They ask that you call (512) 974-5784 if you have any information regarding the crash.

The Austin auto accident attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers often handle cases for victims of hit-and-run crashes and may be able to help you if you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence.

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10
Jan

Home Explosion Kills One And Injures Another

January 10, 2012

A north Austin neighborhood was rocked early Monday morning by the fatal explosion of a home caused by a gas leak. According to KVUE News, the owner of the house, who was killed in the explosion, had complained to neighbors for several weeks about a gas odor in the home.

The explosion happened at around 8:30 AM Monday at the residence located on Payne Avenue. Neighbors say that they heard two explosions before the home was engulfed in flames. The home next door caught fire as well from the whipping flames next door, requiring paramedics to take the neighboring homeowner to the hospital to be treated for critical respiratory injuries.

Once the fire burned out, firefighters were able to discover the body of a man on the front porch and later confirmed it to be that of the home owner.

Investigators determined the fire was started by a gas leak and work has begun to find and fix the leak by this morning. In the meantime, 15 homes have been evacuated in order to prevent any similar accidents. Texas Gas Service, who operates the leaking lines, have taken responsibility for the explosion and are putting up evacuated residents in a nearby hotel until the matter can be resolved.

The Texas wrongful death attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers say that being able to prove fault in a wrongful death case is vital. If you have lost a loved one in an accident that was not their fault and feel you have proof as well, contact us today to discuss your case further.

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3
Jan

New Smartphone App Helps Track Blood Alcohol Content

January 3, 2012

What is the biggest problem facing those hoping to eradicate drunk driving from America’s highways? One common answer that is supported by research is that most intoxicated individuals don’t think they are drunk.

A new application for smartphones hopes to give drinkers a more precise way to measure their blood alcohol content. YNN News reported yesterday that the app, called Drink Tracker Breathalyzer, records and tracks the drinks you have had throughout the evening and figures your blood alcohol content (BAC) based on information such as height, weight, sex, age, and metabolic removal rate.

The application can be downloaded for $1.99 and is easy to use. Drinkers will first enter all their personal information into the system to create a profile. Then as the night goes on, touch screen buttons will allow you to record and track the number of drinks you have had. The app updates your BAC every sixty seconds and even offers a timer to let you know how long it will be before you reach a target BAC low enough to drive.

While the app offers a somewhat quantifiable way of measuring your blood alcohol content, it is not exact. The Texas auto accident attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers say that the safest bet is to not drink at all before driving. If you have been drinking, it is best to just take a cab home rather than risk your life and the lives of those around you.

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20
Dec

Texas Plane Crash Kills Family Of Five

December 20, 2011

A plane crash Monday night in northeastern Brazos County, Texas, killed all five people aboard the aircraft. According to The Atlanta Journal Constitution , The Piper Saratoga aircraft crashed just before 10:00 PM in a field north of Bryan-College Station, Texas.

Investigators say the flight originated in Atlanta, Georgia, and stopped in Jackson, Mississippi, on its way to Waco, Texas. Severe storms, including heavy rain and lightning, were rolling through the area at the time of the accident and investigators are still working to determine if weather may have played a role in the crash.

Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did confirm today though that all those aboard the plane were related to one another. The 33-year-old pilot, his 34-year-old wife and older brother, along with his young son and teenage daughter were all killed instantly in the crash.

FAA statistics show that it is much more dangerous to fly in small planes than it is large commercial airliners. The FAA reports that there were 20 aircraft crashes in the state of Texas in 2008. Of those crashes more than 95 percent involved single engine aircraft.

The Texas Personal Injury Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers understand the dangers these aircraft can pose. We know that often, mechanical failure is at the heart of the accident. If you have been injured or lost a loved one because of a plane crash that was caused by negligence, contact us today to discuss your case.

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29
Nov

Texas Drunk Driver Arrested In Connection With Fatal Crash

November 29, 2011

An Arlington, Texas, woman has been arrested in connection with a fatal crash that she caused along Interstate-35 early Tuesday morning while driving under the influence. According to KVUE News, Fort Worth Police say the woman was driving the wrong way down the interstate while her six-month0old daughter was in the vehicle.

The woman was charged with intoxication manslaughter and child endangerment after officers witnessed the woman drive onto an off-ramp and proceed down the interstate in the wrong direction with her hands up behind her head. Two other vehicles crashed as a result of having to dodge the woman’s oncoming vehicle. Both drivers exited their vehicles after the minor crash, but one of them was struck on the highway by another passing car and was killed.

The woman was eventually pulled over and arrested. She and her daughter were uninjured in the incident.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol is the leading factor of fatal accidents in the United States– linked to more than one-third of all deadly crashes in the country. The agency’s research has also shown distracted driving is almost just as deadly.

The Texas Auto Accident Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers know cases involving a drunk driver can often be complicated. That is why we suggest contacting an attorney to handle the case before you settle with an insurance company. We can be reached to discuss your case by filling out a free initial consultation form.

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30
Aug

Austin City Council Settles Wrongful Death Suit

August 30, 2011

Two lawsuits filed against the City of Austin, Texas, were closed last Wednesday after members of City Council voted on a settlement amount for victims of a police shooting. According to MYFOX-Austin, the city decided to pay the family members of one of the victims $750,000 so that the case would not go before a jury. The other man was paid $175,000 for the gunshot he sustained that night.

The incident occurred in 2009 when an officer with the Austin Police Department shot and killed the victim as the two struggled to gain control of a gun. The officer then shot the other man as well. A grand jury cleared the officer of any wrong doing, but an independent report found he had used excessive force during the incident.

Council members voted last week after realizing it would cost close to $100,000 just in attorney fees to take the case to court. Council member, Sheryl Cole, reiterated the uncertainty of trials by saying, “Everybody knows attorneys cost a lot of money and a trial doesn’t guarantee anything it’s a roll of the dice at best.”

Council members said after the vote that they hope the decision will bring the community closer and lay to rest hostility that has built amongst factions on both sides of the argument.

The Texas Wrongful Death Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers encourage you to contact them if you have lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence. Complete a free online consultation form today if you need legal help.

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16
Aug

Arlington Billboard Worker Falls to His Death

August 16, 2011

A man hanging a billboard in Arlington, Texas, fell to his death on Monday afternoon. According to a report by News Channel 25, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as a 40-year-old man from Boyd, Texas.

The man was on the billboard near Cowboys Stadium midday Monday when he suddenly lost his footing and slipped, falling approximately 30 feet before hitting the ground. Witnesses immediately called 911, and rescue workers transported the man to Arlington Hospital; however, it was too late for the man by the time they arrived and he was declared dead.

Investigators with several agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), are looking into the incident to determine whether the worker was wearing a safety harness at the time of the accident, and if he was, whether it was properly attached.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an all time high for fatalities resulting from falls while on the job in 2007, with a total of 847 deaths. The US Department of Labor named falls as one of the leading causes of traumatic death on the job, accounting for 8% of all reported worker deaths.

The Texas Wrongful Death Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers may be able to help you with your case if you have lost a loved one to a job site accident.  They have years of experience fighting against insurance companies that may hold up your settlement or deny you compensation altogether for your loss. Contact them for a free consultation of your case.

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19
Jul

Cab Driver Charged in Death of Two Passengers

July 19, 2011

According to KHOU.com, a cab driver who crashed and killed two passengers of the vehicle has been released from the hospital and is now facing charges. He has been charged with two counts of criminally negligent homicide in connection with the fatal crash.

The accident occurred last Friday night along a stretch of US Highway 59 in Houston. Witnesses reported that the cab had been swerving recklessly through traffic before rear-ending a stopped tractor-trailer. The two female passengers were killed, while the driver was hospitalized with severe injuries. He was released from the hospital Monday, and charged shortly afterwards.

The cab had been hired by METROLift to transport dialysis patients home from treatment. A lawyer representing the family of one of the victims stated, “It could have been anyone. There are a lot of people who depend on taxi service, on METROLift every, single day,” The victim he was referring to had relied on the company to make the weekly trip for the past ten years.

The accident has made citizens question their confidence in certain modes of public transportation. METROLift has remained fairly quiet about the situation, offering only a brief statement of condolences to the victims’ families, and announcing that grief counselors would be made available to company staff.

If you’ve lost a loved one due to the negligence of someone else, you should immediately contact the Texas Wrongful Death Attorneys with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers. They understand the complex system of proving negligence in these cases, and may be able to help you in settling yours.

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