MEN - Texas Car Accident Data Reflects Worrisome Trend
--News Direct--
Vehicle accidents and fatalities in Texas have continued on a worrisome trend upward in 2022 according to recent data compiled by Justinian & Associates, an Austin personal injury lawyer firm. The trend is not only reflecting an increase in the number of overall accidents and deaths, it’s contributing to a growing economic loss for the state, up significantly from the $43-billion loss from vehicle accidents alone reported just over a year ago.
“The worrisome trend of increased Texas car accidents and fatalities, particularly here in the general Austin area and surrounding communities of Round Rock and Pflugerville, is something that can’t be ignored,” said Dustin Fox, lead attorney for Justinian & Associates.
“While not all car accidents result in fatalities,” said Fox, “they can result in catastrophic injuries and huge losses for those involved who don’t know what to do after a car accident occurs. This knowledge gap is one of the reasons why we’ve prepared a list of top things to do immediately after an accident occurs, to help Austin area residents limit potential losses and medical bills.”
Fox has six primary tips for drivers who have been in an Austin car accident . “First, know that you have the right to know the other driver's information. Other parties involved are required to share specific information with you, and it's important that you get that information as soon as possible after the accident. Second, be cautious about what you say or share with the other driver or passengers involved. Any comments can be used against you later in court. For this reason, it’s best not to discuss the accident with the other driver at the scene.”
The third tip has to do with paying medical bills, a topic many accident victims worry about. “Some personal injury lawyers will work with medical providers under a Letter of Protection after the accident,” says Fox. “If you've been injured in a car accident in Austin, this will delay the need for you to pay medical bills you might incur until after a settlement. A good personal injury lawyer will negotiate with medical providers on a client’s behalf.”
Texas Department of Transportation data shows that 2021 was the deadliest year on record for Austin’s roads, with more than 106 deaths reported by year-end. This number reflects the danger of driving in Texas statewide, where, on average, more than 11 people died each day in traffic-related accidents in 2021.
The record deaths-from-accidents data led one state official to lament the worrisome trend: “We have a real crisis in our state,” said Bob Kaufman, chief communications officer with the Texas Department of Transportation.
The three most common causes of vehicle accident deaths in Texas shed some light on where Austin area drivers need to exercise more caution and restraint: Driving while intoxicated, not wearing a seatbelt, and speeding.
“Oftentimes, the cases we see and try are situations that could have been avoided if drivers exercised more caution before getting on the road,” said Fox “That’s the general message we want to convey — be careful on the road because, while an Austin personal injury lawyer is there to help you navigate the challenges of the legal system, the best approach is to avoid having to deal with the hassles and potentially catastrophic consequences of a car accident in the first place.”
Listen to a podcast interview with Dustin Fox on Six Things To Do after a car accident.
Justinian & Associates is an Austin personal injury law firm with offices in Round Rock and San Antonio, Texas. www.justinian.com
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