Deadly Fireball Collision in West Houston
Investigators believe that a man was speeding when he recklessly tried to pass another vehicle and caused a head-on collision that killed two people.
Responding officers with the Houston Police Department and the Houston Fire Department found two vehicles on fire with drivers trapped in both respective cars. Investigators said the unidentified drivers died from the injuries they suffered.
Meanwhile, a third vehicle was also found in the area, and the unidentified woman driving the car was rushed to a nearby trauma center, where authorities believe she is expected to survive.
Based on the initial investigation, police say an unidentified man driving a Dodge going northbound in the street tried passing another vehicle but caused a head-on collision with a driver going southbound, thereby causing a 3-vehicle crash.
The two vehicles, including the driver’s, then caught fire as a result of the crash, while the third vehicle suffered serious damage before spinning out and hitting a pole.
Emotional Issues in Wrongful Death Claims
After a sudden tragedy like a car crash, legal action is usually the last thing that survivors think about. They correctly reason that a lawsuit won’t bring back their loved one, so what’s the point.
Point number one is these survivors need compensation. They must pay final expenses, such as the decedent’s final medical bills along with funeral costs and other such expenses. They also need compensation to pick up the pieces of their lives.
Of course, no amount of money, no matter how large, can possibly make up for the loss. But, quite frankly, money assuages the grief these survivors feel. And at this point, that’s the best possible outcome.
Point number two is tortfeasors (negligent drivers) must accept responsibility for the injuries and other damages they cause. If we lived in a perfect world, tortfeasors would voluntarily step up and face the music. But we don’t live in a perfect world, which is why a Sugar Land personal injury lawyer must get involved.
Unless a lawyer obtains compensation, survivors must depend on charitable and insurance company handouts. Tortfeasors should clean up their own messes, not leave them for someone else.
Compensation in a wrongful death claim usually includes money for pecuniary losses, such as the aforementioned final expenses, as well as compensation for lost future emotional and financial support.
Legal Issues
Fireball crashes often destroy most of the physical evidence. Additionally, complex legal doctrines often apply in head-on wreck claims.
The loss of most physical evidence, like the damage patterns on a vehicle, make the Event Data Recorder much more important. These onboard computers, which normally survive even the worst fire, capture and store data like:
- Engine RPM,
- Steering angle,
- Brake application, and
- Vehicle speed.
A Missouri City personal injury lawyer must act quickly and decisively to ensure this vital information is available.
Usually, insurance companies “accidentally” destroy these gadgets within a few days. If a lawyer sends a spoliation letter, the insurance company must preserve all potential physical evidence, including the EDR, for later inspection.
A proper inspection requires more than a laptop and a screwdriver. Attorneys must use special tools to tap into EDRs. They must use special legal tools, like a subpoena, as well. Texas has very strong vehicle information privacy laws.
Speaking of legal issues, head-on wrecks often involve the last clear chance doctrine. The duty of care leaves no room for fatalism. A driver cannot sit back and let a crash occur. Instead, a driver must do everything possible to prevent a crash.
If a driver fails to take advantage of the last clear chance, which could be changing lanes or speeds in a wrong-way wreck, that driver could be liable for damages, even though that driver did nothing wrong.
Count on a Dedicated Harris County Attorney
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Missouri City, contact the Henrietta Ezeoke Law Firm. We routinely handle matters throughout the Lone Star State.
Source:
click2houston.com/news/local/2024/04/23/fiery-crash-off-westpark-tollway-turns-into-deadly-trap-for-2-houston-drivers-another-hospitalized/
