Car accidents take lives. It is an unfortunate reality that many of us are all too familiar with. Fatal auto accidents tend to be in urban areas with dense populations, such as Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. If you live in one of those cities, there is a chance that you or someone you know has lost a loved one to a car crash.
Reach out to a San Antonio fatal car accident lawyer following that incident and make sure the guilty party is held accountable for their actions.
Types of Fatal Auto Accidents
Certain auto accidents lead to fatalities more frequently than others. Let’s discuss those accidents in this section of the article.
Accidents That Expose Drivers to Direct Impact
Head-on collisions and T-bone crashes tend to be more dangerous than most other types of car accidents because one or both of the parties involved are exposed to direct impact. During a head-on collision, both drivers experience the full force of the crash. In a T-bone accident, the driver of the car on the receiving end of the impact could be completely vulnerable if the other vehicle hits certain spots.
You might need to contact a fatal car crash attorney in San Antonio if your loved one was involved in that type of crash.
Accidents Involving Fixed Objects
When a car in motion hits a roadside barrier, the latter may not offer any give. The driver inside the vehicle is completely vulnerable in a crash like that. Have your car crash lawyer investigate that incident to determine if the actions of another driver may have contributed to the tragic outcome.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Accidents involving multiple vehicles are also notoriously deadly. Even modern cars struggle to provide adequate protection during a multi-vehicle crash. With cars and debris moving in all directions, drivers are more likely to sustain fatal injuries.
Common Causes of Texas Car Crashes
Being wary of certain things can help you stay safe while you are navigating Bexar County roads and other parts of Texas. In this section, we will discuss those factors that commonly contribute to fatal car accidents so you can recognize and avoid them.
- Impaired Driving – Drivers should never be on the road when they are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. No matter how skilled of a driver you are, you cannot overcome the impairment caused by those substances. Stay away from the driver’s seat when you are intoxicated so no one calls a car crash attorney to sue you.
- Distracted Driving – Anything that takes a driver’s focus away from the road is dangerous. If you are driving, ensure your focus is on the road and not on anything else. For example, avoid using your smartphone, put down your sandwich, and do not engage in any other distracting activity while driving. You should also hire an experienced legal representative if you believe a distracted driver caused the crash involving your loved one.
- Reckless Driving – Reckless driving occurs when an individual ignores the rules of the road without regard for the safety of the other motorists around them. Often, this type of driving also involves violating traffic laws.
- Speeding is a form of reckless driving. Those drivers who engage in the dangerous act of brake checking are also exhibiting reckless tendencies. Drivers who fail to yield the right of way can also be reckless. Do not let a reckless driver get away with their irresponsible behavior. Get in touch with a car accident attorney to recoup compensation from them.
What Makes a Fatal Car Accident a Wrongful Death?
When does a fatal car accident also become a wrongful death case? An accident enters the territory of wrongful death if there is proof that negligence and/or intentional actions contributed to the outcome. For example, a motorist who crashes into another vehicle after running a red light can be held responsible for wrongful death. That is because the negligent driver’s actions directly caused the person’s death in the other car.
You may also have a wrongful death case if a faulty component or improper repairs lead to a deadly accident. In that scenario, you can sue the party who supplied the faulty component or the person who administered the improper repairs.
In the state of Texas, the deceased driver’s surviving spouse, children, and parents are all eligible to file the wrongful death claim. If none of those parties has filed a wrongful death lawsuit within three months of the victim’s passing, the executor of that person’s estate can move forward with the claim. The executor of the estate is only barred from filing that claim if the spouse, children, and parents of the deceased have told them not to pursue the case.
Enlist the help of an attorney if you intend to proceed with that lawsuit.
Is Texas a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?
Determining fault correctly is important if you or someone you know was recently involved in a car accident in Bexar County or any other part of Texas. That is due in large part to Texas being an at-fault state. Since Texas is an at-fault state, that means the driver responsible for the accident is also the one who must pay the damages.
However, the doctrine of proportionate responsibility also comes into play when determining how they dole out compensation in car accident cases. With proportionate responsibility in effect, the plaintiff’s financial award can be reduced based on the percentage of blame they share for the accident. The plaintiff may not pursue compensation if they bear more than 50% of the blame.
The courts establish fault in San Antonio car accident cases by determining which party or parties breached their duty of care. Once they prove that the breach of duty of care directly led to injuries and/or other losses, the person responsible will receive blame for the accident. Get an auto accident lawyer involved, so the blame is properly distributed in your case.
Types of Car Accident Cases Barrus Injury Law Handles
Examples of the car accident cases Barrus Injury Lawyers frequently handles are detailed below.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions take place when two vehicles moving in opposite directions crash into one another. These collisions are known for being deadly because the drivers involved take the brunt of the crash. They also have minimal time to react and protect themselves. Get an attorney on the case if your loved one died in that type of crash.
Rear End Accidents
Rear-end car accidents may not seem deadly, but as an experienced attorney, Stacey Barrus can tell you they can be under certain circumstances. If the car in front becomes bumped strongly enough, it may end up in the middle of an intersection where another vehicle could hit it. That scenario could even lead to a multi-vehicle crash. These crashes are also known to cause concussions. A severe concussion may cause symptoms that are capable of killing someone.
Distracted Driver Accidents
The dangers presented by distracted drivers are real. Given how oblivious they are to their surroundings, they are liable to move in such a way that causes a fatal crash. All drivers must be more careful on the road. Avoid distractions at all costs to stay safe while driving on Texas roads.
T-Bone Accidents
A T-bone accident involves one vehicle colliding with the side of another car. These T-bone crashes can easily become fatal if a person occupies the side where the two vehicles made contact. Passengers are especially vulnerable because they lack protection from those specific types of crashes. You often see T-bone accidents take place at intersections. Unfortunately, more often than not, they also involve drivers breaking the law. Call a fatal car accident lawyer so they can handle this case on your behalf.
Wrong Way Accidents
A motorist may end up in the wrong lane due to a distraction or intoxication. When motorists in the same lane travel in opposite directions, the chances of a fatal crash increase.
Rollover Accidents
Vehicles tend to roll over when drivers tackle turns at excessive speeds. As they turn, they may lose control of their vehicle. That will likely lead to the vehicle rolling over. These accidents can also happen if a driver fails to see obstacles on the road in time.
Company Vehicle Accidents
Accidents involving company vehicles differ from typical car crashes because you may need to recoup compensation from the company instead of the driver. Securing compensation from a company could prove to be a greater challenge because they often have high-powered attorneys. Make sure you are ready for that legal battle by hiring an experienced San Antonio fatal car accident attorney.
Hit and Run Accidents
Identifying the assailant in your loved one’s hit and run accident should be your priority. They must answer for their negligence and provide compensation for what happened. If the negligent driver proves elusive, you may need to turn to your loved one’s insurer for compensation.
Lyft/Uber Accidents
Victims in Lyft and Uber accident cases can pursue compensation from either the driver or the ridesharing company. That will depend on the status of the ridesharing app at the time of the accident. The driver will be responsible for compensating if the app was inactive during the accident. However, the ridesharing company must offer compensation if the app was active in the moments leading up to the crash.
Fatal Car Accident Lawyer in San Antonio
We at Barrus Injury Lawyers have considerable experience handling fatal car accident cases. Contact us today to investigate your case and secure compensation from the responsible party.
