Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Ridesharing Operators and Distracted Driving Wrecks in Texas
Demand for ridesharing services has skyrocketed since coronavirus lockdowns ended in 2020. But the number of ridesharing operators hasn’t skyrocketed. As a result, the remaining drivers often operate in unknown areas and over-rely on GPS navigation devices. This dependence probably explains why the number of distracted driving crashes has also skyrocketed in recent years…. Read More »
Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Ridesharing Operator
As she was changing a tire on eastbound Interstate 10, a hit-and-run driver struck and killed a 57-year-old woman. Few details were available about the wreck, but many details are available about the victim. According to the family, the woman was changing a flat tire at the time of the wreck. “My wife called… Read More »
Fatal Shooting at Allendale Apartment Complex
Few details were available after officers responding to a shots-fired disturbed call found the body of a man in his 30s. Neighbors in the apartment below told police they heard three gunshots and a thud hit the floor. They then say it sounded like someone jumping out the back window of where the apartment… Read More »
Building a Slip-and-Fall Claim in Texas
Slip-and-fall injuries, like broken bones and head injuries, prompt over eight million Emergency Room visits per year in the United States. These incidents also cause emotional injuries. Fall injury victims often become very depressed. Most of these victims are older adults with pre-existing medical conditions that increase the risk of a fall and/or the… Read More »
How Does a Crash Helmet Affect My Bicycle Accident Claim?
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the complexion of bicycle crash-related head injuries. In 2020, bicycle crash head injuries for riders over 40 increased 21 percent. According to this same report, bicycle helmets reduce head injuries by between 20 and 55 percent. This large and uncertain distribution reflects the uncertain science of bicycle helmets. One thing… Read More »
TBI Diagnosis and Treatment Issues
Traumatic Brain Injury diagnosis and treatment is very uncertain, as outlined below. But TBI statistics are straightforward. These injuries killed almost 70,000 Americans in 2021. Car crashes cause most of these injuries. Seatbelts, airbags, and other restraint systems cannot absorb all the force in a high-speed car wreck. The head and neck are simply… Read More »
Common Defenses in Pedestrian Accident Claims
Until recently, legal defenses in pedestrian accident claims wasn’t a blog-worthy topic. These claims were very rare. But the pedestrian accident rate has shot up 80 percent since 2009. Quite simply, many tortfeasors (negligent drivers) refuse to share the road with these victims. Pedestrian accident victims usually sustain catastrophic injuries. They literally have nothing… Read More »
Legal Issues in Wrongful Death Matters
Car crashes, falls, and poisonings, usually drug overdoses, account for almost 90 percent of the wrongful deaths in the United States. Property owner negligence usually causes falls and driver negligence usually causes car crashes. Several layers of negligence, like medical, shipping, pharmacy, and manufacturer negligence, usually cause drug overdose deaths. In all three instances,… Read More »
Starting and Ending a Distracted Driving Wreck Claim
Distraction at work or home is a way of life. A friend once claimed that she could simultaneously feed her infant, pour a glass of milk, cook dinner, talk on the phone, and yell at her older kids. Knowing her, that claim is probably true. Distraction behind the wheel is deadly. Operator distraction causes… Read More »
Motorcycle Wreck Seriously Injures Sheriff’s Deputy
In July 2023, an off-duty Harris County law enforcement officer nearly lost his leg in a Houston motorcycle crash. Houston Police Department investigators said the off-duty deputy was riding his motorcycle when he hit a black Chevrolet Tahoe. The deputy’s motorcycle is marked in county colorings, but it’s a personal bike, according to HPD…. Read More »