Mopac Realignment Causes Traffic Headaches Throughout Austin

Austin residents are well familiar with the Mopac construction project, but the recent reduction of northbound Mopac to only two lanes of travel has created a whole new set of problems for commuters throughout the city. Starting late last month, a single lane along Mopac at Enfield Road will be closed to allow crews to work on underpass and realignment construction. This phase of the Mopac construction project is expected to last for 6 months.

The lane reduction has created substantial problems for Austin as drivers try to find alternative routes during rush hour, causing serious congestion on other northbound routes, including South Lamar, South 1st, and South Congress. Along with longer travel times, Austin drivers are also reporting more accidents and increased frustration, especially during the rush hour periods when drivers are in a hurry to get to and from work.
In situations like this where lanes are reduced, drivers sometimes become more aggressive, which results in a variety of traffic accidents, including rear end collisions, T-bone collisions at intersections, fender benders, sideswipe collisions and many others. Aggressive drivers often fail to drive defensively, thus putting themselves and others at risk.
If you have been injured in a traffic accident in Austin, contact an Austin car accident attorney as soon as possible. You may be eligible to receive money damages to compensate for your injuries and property damage. An experienced Austin car accident attorney will review your case and help you understand what options are available.
The attorneys at Terry & Kelly, PLLC have represented many victims of car accidents. They strive to protect their clients’ interests and advocate for fair settlements. Call us at 512-900-9000 for a free initial consultation and case review.


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Gravel Truck Plows Through Intersection, Flies Off Overpass

Recently, a video of a dump truck driving through an Austin intersection and causing an accident involving 4 other vehicles has gone viral. The dash cam video shows the moment when a dump truck, carrying a load of gravel to a location on Jester Boulevard on RM 2222, runs an intersection striking several vehicles, runs off of the roadway, and falls below an overpass causing another vehicle to crash into a utility pole. Austin-Travis County paramedics reportedly transported four people to a nearby hospital.


The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but the owner of the dump truck recently stated that he performs weekly equipment safety checks on the truck. Investigators are now looking into the likelihood of ‘distracted driving’ being the cause of the accident.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is becoming the most common cause of motor vehicle accidents in the country. The issue is particularly worrisome when trucks, especially a dump truck weighing 30,000 pounds or more, runs out of control. Because trucks are typically 10 times the weight of the average passenger vehicle, occupants of surrounding vehicles are far more likely to be severely injured or killed when they’re involved in an accident with a truck.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a large truck, contact an Austin truck accident attorney immediately in order to preserve certain legal rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact Terry and Kelly, PLLC at 512-900-9000 for a free consultation and case evaluation.


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The National Transportation Safety Board Pushes for Lower BAC

With an increasing number of drivers on America’s roads, safety continues to be a primary concern. As decades of public service announcements regarding the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol appear to have done little to quell the alarmingly high number of car collisions attributable to this one cause alone, many are urging something more needs to be done. Because of this, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now asking for the legal blood alcohol content level for drivers to be lowered yet again.
The current concentration level that is recommended nationwide is .08. While states are free to implement their own legally accepted levels, the NTSB is now recommending that this be lowered to .05. This is in response to a recent Center for Disease Control (CDC) finding that more than 112 million alcohol impaired trips are undertaken by drunk drivers every year. In addition, the CDC now reports that driver impairment actually begins before an individual’s blood alcohol content level reaches .08.
Women will be particularly affected by the new recommendation, as the average weight woman would only be able to drink one alcoholic beverage in an hour before she is over the .05 BAC limit. Because of this and numerous other factors, there are certain complications related to the lowering of the national blood alcohol content level that must be taken into consideration.
Car crashes caused by drunk drivers involve unique factors and can be complex, especially when someone is injured. Individuals who have been in a wreck involving a drunk driver should consider contacting and retaining an Austin Car Accident Attorney right away in order to protect their rights.
Terry and Kelly, PLLC reminds everyone to find a sober, safe ride home whenever drinks are a part of your night out. If you have been in an accident involving an impaired driver contact an Austin Car Accident Attorney right away in order to preserve certain legal rights. Contact Terry and Kelly, PLLC today at 512-900-9000 for a free consultation and case evaluation.


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Who’s Liable If You’re Injured While Renting An Airbnb?

With a valuation of over $25 billion Airbnb has quickly become a major force in the travel industry, changing the game by offering travelers a new way to connect and stay in cities around the world. Airbnb lists millions of properties for rent by ordinary people – ranging from lofts overlooking a city skyline to remote cabins in the mountains.

Travelers are gravitating towards the service because Airbnb provides unique rentals that allow you to “live like a local” at a price usually much lower than a hotel room. However unlike booking a hotel room, if you are injured while staying in an Airbnb property (e.g., because of an unsafe condition in the property), it could be challenging to get relief.

Most homeowners or renters insurance policies exclude coverage of accidents or injuries that occur when the homeowner or renter is using the property for profit. So even if the host is at fault you may have trouble recovering compensation for your injuries. Airbnb does not provide direct financial relief to an injured guest. The company’s Terms of Service provide that individuals who use Airbnb assume the risk of any injury they may sustain. The company does, however, provide Host Protection Insurance of $1 million to anyone who lists a property on Airbnb.

The Host Protection Insurance program provides primary liability coverage for up to $1 million per occurrence in the event of third party claims of bodily injury or property damage. Currently, the coverage is provided in fifteen countries (including the U.S.), leaving most Airbnb countries without coverage.

If you have been seriously injured during an Airbnb stay, contact an Austin Premises Liability Attorney immediately in order to preserve certain legal rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact Terry and Kelly, PLLC at 512-900-9000 for a free consultation and case evaluation.

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San Marcos, Texas Goes “Hands-Free” Only

The city council of San Marcos, Texas officially passed a hands-free ordinance in November 2015 with an effective date of February 1, 2016. With their slogan “No Hands, No Hassle” the city hopes to inform San Marcos residents and visitors of the new law and to make the transition to hands-free devices while driving as smooth as possible. The council recognized the seriousness of driving while talking or texting and designed the new law to protect those who are driving, walking, or riding their bikes from inattentive drivers.

Starting March 1, 2016 officers in San Marcos will be on the lookout for violators and begin issuing tickets. Fines for a first offense is $100, a second citation is $250, and if stopped a third time the fines rises to $500. The point of the law is to encourage people to put down the phone and stay attentive. Statistics show that accidents happen more often when drivers are distracted while using a cell phone. People who use their cell phones while driving put the lives of their passengers, pedestrians and other drivers at risk of injury, or even death.

Austin, Texas adopted a similar ordinance prohibiting the use of electronic hand-held devices while operating a car or bicycle back in January 2015. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, it’s extremely important to contact a personal injury attorney immediately in order to preserve certain legal rights. If you are looking for an Austin Distracted Driving Accident Attorney contact Terry and Kelly, PLLC today at 512-900-9000 for a free consultation and case evaluation.

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Road Rage Leads to Violent Encounter on Austin Road

This January in Austin, a road rage incident turned ugly. While stopped at a traffic light on a heavily congested street, two men engaged in an armed fight. A fellow motorist took a video of the incident on his phone, and the incident is now being investigated by the Austin Police Department as an aggravated assault.

The 30 second video shows a visibly hot-tempered man approach a truck with a baseball bat in his hands. The other motorist then proceeds to grab a large wooden staff from the bed of his truck. After he grabbed the staff, he swings it at the man with the bat, and an intense exchange of blows ensues. The man who filmed the attack was laughing as he captured the incident, but he later told reporters that he was afraid that the driver of the pickup was going to retrieve a gun.

It’s not clear what started the fight, but sadly, road rage is nothing new to Texas drivers. While not all road rage incidents turn violent, there are some extreme cases where road rage can escalate resulting in injuries or even death. With a booming population and an ever-increasing traffic problem, incidents like this are starting to become more common. Hopefully this incident will remind drivers that they should take a deep breath and consider the possible consequences of road rage before engaging with another driver.

If you’ve been injured in a road rage incident, it’s extremely important to contact a personal injury attorney immediately in order to protect your rights. If you are looking for an Austin Car Accident Attorney contact Terry and Kelly, PLLC today at 512-900-9000 for a free consultation and case evaluation. We will help you obtain justice and compensation for any personal injuries or vehicle damages that were sustained.

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Rock Throwing Incidents Continue On I-35

Local and state officials are stepping up their efforts to identify those responsible for throwing rocks at vehicles traveling along Interstate 35 in and around Austin, TX. Approximately 60 rock-throwing incidents have been reported since June 2014, some of which have resulted in serious injuries.

At first it was believed that the rocks were being thrown from overpasses, which led the Austin Police Department to install cameras in the hopes of identifying the perpetrators. However, authorities now believe that the rocks are being thrown from other vehicles traveling in the opposite direction as the cars being struck. This makes identification of the perpetrators more difficult and, according to police, it may also expand the area where the attacks occur.

In order to deal with this new threat, motorists have been advised to drive in the far right lane of the highway during the night and to avoid the lower deck of I-35 whenever possible. Motorists have also been asked to notify police if they see objects being thrown from vehicles or if they are struck themselves. Notification should be made as soon as possible to increase the chance of the perpetrator being identified and apprehended.

The victims of these crimes should contact an Austin Car Accident Attorney immediately in order to determine their legal rights. An attorney may be able to help you obtain the financial compensation needed to deal with the physical and emotional trauma you may have experienced. If you have been the victim of a rock attack on I-35, contact Terry and Kelly, PLLC at 512-900-9000 for a free consultation and case evaluation.

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