More than 6 million auto accidents occur in the United States each year. In those crashes, over 3 million people are injured. Some injuries are minor, but others can have a significant impact on the life of the affected person. In fact, about 2 million people per year suffer permanent injuries in car crashes, and sadly, not all of these severely injured individuals will receive compensation. This is, in part, because far too many of them do not seek treatment until it is too late. If you experience an accident, it is important to know how to avoid the same troubling fate.  

Adrenaline and Injury Symptoms

When a crash happens, those involved often experience a rush of adrenaline. This evolutionary response to trauma can mask the symptoms of an injury, leading the person to believe they are fine. Even more troubling is that, even when symptoms do start to manifest, people often fail to directly attribute them to the accident. If they continue to overlook the connection and never seek treatment, their risk for long-term complications and/or death can increase dramatically. 

Symptoms That Could Indicate a Serious Injury

One of the biggest reasons that people may not immediately attribute their delayed symptoms to an accident is that, at first glance, the symptoms might not seem very serious. For example, a simple headache after a crash could be an indication of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a blood clot, or brain hemorrhaging. Pain and stiffness in the neck or shoulder area—which might be written off as stress from the accident or simply being “shaken up”—could be an indication of whiplash. Back pain could indicate a herniated disc or damage to nerves or muscles. 

Losing someone you love in a head-on collision can be a traumatic and devastating experience. While grieving, it may seem impossible to consider taking legal action. But if the accident was caused by another person's negligence or recklessness, filing a wrongful death claim could provide some closure and help your family receive financial compensation for damages like lost financial support. Here is what you need to know about taking legal action after a loved one dies in a head-on collision.

Identifying Negligence or Recklessness That Led to the Accident

In order for any successful wrongful death claim, there must be evidence that another individual or party was negligent or reckless in their actions and directly responsible for causing the accident that resulted in the victim's death. This means gathering physical evidence from the accident site (such as photos or video footage) as well as witness statements and police reports detailing how exactly the crash happened. The more evidence that can be provided, the stronger your case will be when it comes time to present it in court. Fortunately, you will not need to do this yourself. Work with an attorney experienced in wrongful death cases who can gather and preserve evidence to use during your claim.

A woman died in Houston recently after she drove the wrong way and crashed head-on into another vehicle on Interstate 610 (I-610) North. A deputy with the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable's Office saw the woman going the wrong way on Hardy Toll Road at about 2:30 a.m., but could not get her attention.

When the woman made it to I-610, she collided head-on with another man who was transported to a hospital in critical condition while the woman died at the scene. Investigators did not indicate whether the woman was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

How Wrong-Way Crash Cases Work

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), wrong-way crashes only account for 2 percent of all motor vehicle accidents but they account for 10 percent of traffic fatalities. Wrong-way crashes often occur because people are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but other common reasons can include distracted driving, confusion with traffic signs, or entering highways from off-ramps.

KTRK-TV reported that at least two people were killed in motor vehicle accidents around Houston during a weekend of rainy weather last month. One fatal two-vehicle crash occurred on the North Freeway at North Main and another person was killed in a wreck on the East Loop at Clinton Drive.

As we enter the winter months in Texas, snow is not particularly common in Houston, but rain, wind, and other adverse weather conditions will likely still be an issue. 

Car accidents almost always involve more than one causal factor. Often, a combination of negligent driving, poor weather, poor road conditions, and other issues lead to a serious car crash.  

While many residents of Texas do not mind the lack of snow the state gets compared to the rest of the country, winter conditions can pose all kinds of driving hazards. Rainfall late one evening can easily turn into ice the following morning, and people can be skidding all over the roads.

As we head into another winter season, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) both offer some good tips people should keep in mind. Begin taking steps now to prepare yourself in case you happen to be involved in an emergency situation.

How You Can Drive Safely This Winter

Here are some basic tips that all drivers should keep in mind this winter: