Jump to Navigation

El Paso Personal Injury Law Blog

Texas woman killed in I-20 crash

On May 10 a Texas woman was killed in an automobile accident that occurred shortly after 9:45 a.m. The collision occurred on Interstate 20 near Rankin Highway. Traffic in the area had been slower than normal due to two minor collisions that had occurred nearby.

A Ford Expedition was hit from behind by a semi-truck that failed to stop. The impact caused the Ford to roll over. The semi-truck then continued and hit the driver's door of a Pontiac Grand Prix in front of the Ford. The 33-year-old driver of the Pontiac was pronounced dead at the scene of the auto accident.

Police kick off Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

In Texas, Austin police have taken measures against the rise in motorcycle accidents by kicking off Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which is in May, with a ride through downtown Austin. The police were joined by about 20 members of the Patriot Guard. According to police officials, there had already been six fatal motorcycle accidents by May of 2013, and they are hoping to remind the city's drivers to be careful. The riders of the Patriot Guard usually have flags on the back of their bikes in honor of fallen soldiers and first responders, but during this ride, their flags bore the phrase, 'Look Twice" instead.

The phrase "Look Twice" means to look left, right and then left again, according to officials. Because most drivers are conditioned to look only for cars, looking twice may encourage drivers to become more aware of motorcyclists with whom they share the road. 89 percent of motorcycle accidents in Austin resulted in death or injury.

Penalty for hit and run auto accident may soon increase

The family of a pedestrian killed in a car accident has worked to change the law after the criminal case against the driver failed to satisfy their need for justice. Under Texas law, Intoxication Manslaughter is a serious charge, but Failure to Stop and Render Aid carries a lesser sentence. A drunk driver may receive a lesser penalty for fleeing the scene of a car accident instead of stopping to provide assistance.

A bill intended to raise the penalty of Failure to Stop and Render Aid in conjunction with fatal injuries to the same level as Intoxication Manslaughter has passed both the Texas House and Senate by unanimous vote. It is currently awaiting approval by the governor. A related bill, which imposes additional criminal penalties on individuals failing to stop after any accident that may have resulted in injuries, is also under consideration.

Fatal explosion may point to need for regulations

First responders were killed and injured and homes were destroyed in West, Texas when an explosion occurred in a fertilizer plant. A fatal incident such as this has naturally caused legislators to have an investigative hearing. At this hearing, it was once again mentioned that the state does not have its own Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the federal agency is unable to do inspections due to underfunding. The plant involved in this premises liability incident had only been inspected once in 30 years.

The State of Texas does not have a state OSHA such as those that exist in other states as it has been the practice to keep regulation to a minimum and encourage economic growth. This philosophy can leave workers in hazardous conditions if companies do not want to go to the expense to meet safety standards. If a state OSHA had existed, there would have been regulations set up in this factory in West to protect the workers and the community might have been protected from this devastating loss.

Texas sheriff's office claims no wrongdoing in inmate suicide

The Hays County, Texas, Sheriff's Office has refused to admit any wrongdoing in its actions connected to the suicide of an inmate who was incarcerated at the time of his death. The family, distraught at losing a loved one, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the sheriff and eight employees on behalf of the 25-year-old victim who was found in his cell hanging by the neck. He died two days after the incident.

The Texas Civil Rights Project is helping the mother of the inmate in her legal action against the sheriff's office. The mother claims that the department violated her son's constitutional rights by failing to provide mental health counseling or services, despite the fact that the young man had expressly stated that he intended to kill himself. The suit also states that employees were aware that the young man suffered from a bipolar disorder and did not protect him from his own actions.

Nissan recalls vehicles over brake issues

Texas drivers who own the Nissan Pathfinder or Infiniti JX crossovers may find that they are facing a recall of the vehicles over defective brake problems. Under product liability laws, manufacturers may be held liable for injuries caused by a defective product, so recalls are common when an automaker finds an issue that could lead to a crash.

In this case, 19,258 vehicles from the 2013 model lineup may be affected. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an organization that monitors vehicle safety, has received reports that Pathfinders and Infiniti JX crossovers manufactured between December 2012 and January 2013 may contain a brake torque member that was cast defectively, leading to potential cracking or failure during use. The failure of the torque member could cause the brake caliper to move and result in diminished braking ability.

Long Island siblings drown in neighbor's pool

Texas families may be heartbroken to hear about an accident in which a 5-year-old boy and his 7-year-old sister drowned in a neighbor's swimming pool. The children's mother reported them missing on April 14, which prompted a search of their Long Island, New York neighborhood. Later that day, police found the fully clothed siblings in brackish 50 degree water in the swimming pool. Although this accident occurred in New York, swimming pool accidents involving premises liability happen all over the nation, including Texas.

The children were unconscious when pulled from the water and a medical team was unable to resuscitate them at the hospital. Police found the children after noticing a shoe floating in an uncovered swimming pool in the next-door neighbor's yard. The pool was surrounded by a low stockade-style wooden fence that had been improperly installed. Its smooth side was facing in instead of out, which made the fence easy to climb using the exposed stockade bracing. City officials cited the pool's owner for the unsafe fencing.

Dow Chemical and associates sued over explosion death

After a man from Texas was burned in a chemical plant explosion and subsequently perished a month later, his mother and son filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The suit targets the Dow Chemical Co., which owns the firm that operates the Deer Park facility. Two employees and the operating firm have also been named in the suit.

The 45-year-old plant worker sustained the impact of an explosion and got third-degree burns across almost two-thirds of his body while changing a filter. According to the suit, the plant operators had prior knowledge that the ammonia recycling machine that exploded was not in proper working order, yet they failed to rectify the situation. The lawsuit also alleges that the plant did not provide its workers with appropriate safety gear to protect them from such events. The unspecified amount sought by the man's survivors includes damages for loss of income, reduced inheritance, pain and suffering and loss of companionship. The chemical manufacturer refused to comment on the death or the legal proceedings.

National recall for dangerous products under Farm Rich label

Consumer illnesses prompted the Rich Products Corporation to initiate a national recall of several frozen food products. The potentially dangerous products are suspected to be contaminated by Escherichia coli, which is a bacteria capable of causing serious illness and death in some circumstances. Consumers of the Farm Rich brand in Texas and across the nation may already be in possession of recalled products. Distributors and retailers have been notified to destroy the remaining stock immediately.

Exposure to E. Coli may result in a mild to severe infection. Recovery is generally complete for otherwise healthy adults, but those with compromised health may more severe symptoms and the potential for permanent damage and death. Among those at greatest risk are individuals with kidney disorders, the elderly and young children. Symptoms indicative of infection include abdominal cramping, diarrhea and bloody stool.

Texas driver rear-ends motorcycle at traffic light

Texas motorcycle accidents often involve a driver's blind spot, resulting in a crash while merging or changing lanes. It is not as common for a motorcycle to be rear-ended. However, a recent nighttime crash on Highway 77 in Texas involved just that type of collision.

According to authorizes, a driver in a Ford truck rear-ended a motorcycle that was idling at a Texas traffic light. Both vehicles had been heading south on Highway 77. The motorcyclist and his wife were a couple in their 50s. They were apparently waiting for the light to turn green when the truck rear-ended them.

Contact Us

Bold labels are required.

Contact Information
disclaimer.

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

close
Subscribe to This Blog's Feed Visit Our Personal Injury Website
Law Offices of Ruben Ortiz

Law Office of Ruben Ortiz
1141 East Rio Grande Avenue
El Paso, TX 79902
Phone: 915-219-5069
Toll Free: 877-415-9599
Fax: 915-545-1619
Map & Direction

El Paso Branch Office
2300 George Dieter
El Paso, TX 79936
phone: 915-591-1616
El Paso Branch Office

Ruben Ortiz was born and raised in El Paso County Texas. Mr. Ortiz graduated from Coronado High School in 1987, then obtained a Bachelors in Business Administration from.. View Profile