The icy weather of late has taken a serious toll on the drivers of Texas and Louisiana. Police officers and first responders in Houston were especially overwhelmed with reports of accidents. In a span of less than thirteen hours, Houston police officers responded to 750 car wrecks. In another span of approximately eighteen hours, Harris County Sheriff’s Officers responded to 287 non-injury automobile accidents and 68 car wrecks where injuries were reported. The Houston Fire Department was also kept busy responding to 307 car crashes in a twelve hour period.
Unfortunately, two of these accidents resulted in fatalities. One accident took the lives of two men, who were pronounced dead at the accident scene, when their truck slid into oncoming traffic and collided with another truck. A second accident claimed the life of another gentlemen who was penned between his car and the guardrail after his car, which he exited after losing control and wrecking, was hit by another truck.
There were also two fatal accidents in Louisiana related to the weather. Similarly, one fatality involved a driver who left his vehicle after losing control due to icy conditions. He was killed when his own vehicle was pushed into him by a commercial truck that lost control. Two other 18 wheelers collided in an attempt to avoid this accident. Fortunately no one else was injured in the second accident. More on these stories can be read here and here.
Our roadways are dangerous enough without the added complications of ice and snow. Let’s hope this winter is finally behind us. But, if you or a loved one was injured in an accident during these weeks of icy roads, don’t assume that the person who hit you can avoid responsibility for the accident by blaming icy conditions. Contact the attorneys at WTL at 214-484-1930 for a free consultation, and let us put our skills to work for you.