TEMPLE, Texas (AP) — A tractor-trailer clipped a school bus full of students Tuesday, flipping the bus onto its side and sending 32 people — 29 of them children — to a central Texas hospital. Police said a 9-year-old boy was ejected through the escape hatch in the bus roof, and the bus driver was knocked unconscious.
The accident occurred about 7:30 a.m. on Farm-to-Market Road 93 on the southeastern outskirts of Temple, about 60 miles northeast of Austin. Trooper Harpin Myers of the Texas Department of Public Safety said a hardware truck apparently ran a stop sign when it hit the Academy school district bus. Conditions were foggy, but it was unclear whether that factored into the crash, Myers said.
Three of the 29 children being treated were admitted to the hospital, one in critical condition, while the other 26 were discharged, said Katherine Voss, a spokeswoman for the Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple. Academy school Superintendent Kevin Sprinkles said the three were expected to recover, although "they all face a long road" to recovery.
The bus driver also was listed in critical condition, but both of the other adults, including the truck driver, were treated and discharged, Voss said.
Sprinkles said the bus was carrying about 38 children from all grade levels and was on its way to drop students off at the first of three school locations when the crash happened.
Christina Mendoza said she was driving to work when she came upon the accident scene and stopped to help.
"There was a bunch of little ones all scraped up, and they were all alone," she told the Temple Daily Telegram.
Mendoza said she has teenage children who usually take the bus but they did not on Tuesday.
Counselors were to be available for students at the Academy schools on Wednesday, Sprinkles said.
If you've been injured in an auto accident, you are entitled to cash compensation from the person that caused the accident. You are entitled to money for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and property damage. Our San Antonio automobile accident lawyers are dedicated to helping people recover the compensation they deserve. Call now to speak to an experienced Texas automobile accident lawyer.
Thousands of auto accidents take place on our nation's roads and highways each day in the U.S. and the consequences of these collisions can be devastating. From minor scrapes to life-threatening trauma or paralysis, injuries resulting from careless or impaired drivers can be emotionally and financially draining. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, you have the right to be fairly compensated. In order to give yourself the best chance of getting the maximum value on your case, you need a smart and experienced attorney on your side. That's where we come in. We have the knowledge and experience you need. Call us now and show the insurance company that you means business. If you're tired of getting the run-around, call us. We'd love to help you.
Drunk Driving Accidents:
Tragically, there are more intoxicated drivers on American roads at any given minute than ever before, resulting in thousands of unnecessary accidents every day. Alcohol related accidents are one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities on our nation's roads and highways, killing someone an average of one almost every 30 minutes and injuring a victim nearly every two minutes. When a driver chooses to break the law and operate a vehicle after drinking, they are quite literally choosing to take innocent lives into their own hands - many times with disastrous results.
Some startling drunk driving statistics:
- Of 1,672 motorcyclist fatalities in 2004, 41% had BAC levels of .08 or greater.
- During weekdays in 2004, 30% of all fatal crashes were alcohol-related.
- 51% of all fatal crashes occurred on the weekends in the same time period.
- 80% of alcohol-related fatalities are caused by drinking beer.
- Drunk driving accidents are three times more likely to occur at night.
- Almost 30% of all Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash.
Survivors of drunk driving accidents are left with extensive emotional trauma as well as expensive and sometimes debilitating personal injuries - ranging from minor scratches to complete paralysis. If you have been injured by the negligence of an intoxicated driver, you deserve to be compensated for their dangerous neglect, and in some cases, for the negligence of those who supplied the alcohol itself. You deserve an experienced attorney who can help you recover monetary compensation for your injuries - including pain and suffering, the reparation for any property damage, those mounting medical expenses, loss of time and money from work absence and other accident-related costs. You may even be able to collect for punitive damages and punish the driver for his illegal and destructive behavior.
An accomplished and knowledgeable attorney who is experienced in drunk-driving related compensation suits for your specific needs can be vital in ensuring that you are rewarded for your harrowing experience. Don't miss your opportunity for restitution by allowing the statute of limitations to expire. An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your injuries – call now to speak to a San Antonio, Texas car accident lawyer or simply fill out our free case review form above.
Asleep-at-the-Wheel Accidents:
A major life-threatening problem on our nation's roads involves drivers who are fatigued or sleep deprived. Nearly four percent of deadly crashes nationwide involve sleepy or fatigued drivers and hundreds of people are injured every year from drivers who fall asleep at the wheel. Though not intentionally malicious or premeditated, the decision to drive while fatigued - and thus the responsibility for the collision - ultimately belongs to the driver. The victim of the ensuing accident should not have to suffer financially for the negligence of another.
Some startling statistics about sleeping at the wheel:
- 31% of all drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel at least once.
- 100,000 accidents each year are caused by sleeping drivers
- 1,500 people die as a result of falling asleep at the wheel
- These accidents cost the American taxpayer $30 billion each year
- Out of 593 long-distance truck drivers, 47.1% had fallen asleep at the wheel.
- 100 million drive while drowsy each year.
You have the right to be compensated for the injuries sustained during an asleep at the wheel accident - and perhaps even collect for punitive damages as well. It's important that you speak to an experienced San Antonio auto accident attorney as soon as possible to avoid certain statutes of limitations that could end your case before it even begins.
Asleep at the wheel accidents are preventable and perpetrators of such incidents need to take complete responsibility for their mistakes. If you are the victim of driver negligence, you need to contact a qualified and experienced asleep at the wheel San Antonio auto accident attorney or personal injury lawyer immediately so that you can be compensated for your injuries.
High Speed Collisions:
A person is injured in a motor vehicle accident every 10 seconds in the United States and someone is killed every 13 minutes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that speeding alone was a contributing factor in almost 30% of all fatal crashes last year. For the innocent survivors of such harrowing accidents, the recovery process - both emotional and physical - can be horribly painful and exorbitantly expensive.
High speed collisions facts:
- High speed plays a role in almost 30% of all fatal collisions that occur each year
- In 2002, 13,713 people died in speeding-related deaths.
- 41% of drivers of involved in speeding accidents had a BAC over .08.
- Saturdays are the most likely days to have a high-speed collision.
- 40% of all high-speed collisions occur at curves.
As a victim of a high speed collision, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries that you incurred because of the other driver's negligence. You should communicate with a qualified and experienced San Antonio auto accident attorney or personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that you can be compensated for your emotional and physical distress.
Highway Accidents:
As the population explodes and the number of both commercial and recreational vehicles on America's roads and highways increases - combined with an exponential increase in interstate travel - accidents between automobiles and trucks on our highways and freeways are rising exponentially.
Each year there are more than 42,000 American deaths and almost two million injuries sustained in automobile accidents. Collisions taking place on highways and interstates can be especially catastrophic, and with high driving speeds and increased congestion, these numbers are rising each year. If you have been the victim of a highway or freeway accident, you should contact an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible to ensure that you are compensated for your injuries.
An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your injuries – call now to speak to a San Antonio, Texas car accident lawyer or simply fill out our free case review form above.
Lane Change Accidents:
With the substantial increase of drivers and the escalating speed limits on roads and highways in the United States, lane changing accidents have proven to be an increasingly costly hazard for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike. Each year there are over 200,000 lane-changing and merging traffic accidents, with over 200 of them resulting in deaths. The lane-changing vehicle may be legally at fault in such an incident, because before a lane change is attempted, the driver has a duty to make sure it is safe to do so.
If you are injured in a lane changing accident, you may have the right to collect compensation for your sustained injuries. Only an experienced accident or personal injury attorney can access the damages and help you collect what is rightfully yours. Don't let the statute of limitations expire before you find out if you can be compensated for your injuries.
You deserve educated and experienced guidance when you become the innocent victim of driving negligence from a lane changing collision. An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your injuries – call now to speak to a San Antonio, Texas car accident lawyer or simply fill out our free case review form above.
Automobile/Pedestrian Accidents:
Being hit by a moving vehicle can be at the very least terrifying for an innocent pedestrian - and at worst, it can be fatal. Over 110,000 pedestrians are injured every year in this country and nearly 62,000 are killed. Faultless victims of all ages are affected by these staggering statistics, but school age children and the elderly are the most vulnerable. In fact, over 1/3rd of pedestrian-related accidents happen when innocent children are leaving school and walking home! Many times the collision is caused by a careless driver who ignores traffic signals or overlooks the pedestrian entirely. This kind of gross negligence is entirely preventable, and the lawbreaker should be held accountable for the costly mistake.
If you obeyed pedestrian laws yet still became the victim of driver negligence, you need to contact a qualified and experienced pedestrian accident attorney or personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that you can be compensated for your emotional and physical distress. It's important to start the process immediately so that the investigation can have the time to study and construct the evidence to prove that you were the victim of the driver's negligence and thus deserve to vindication for your distressing experience.
Don't let the statute of limitations expire and inhibit your chance for compensation. You deserve an experienced attorney who will help you recover your rightful compensation for being the innocent victim of driving negligence. An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your injuries – call now to speak to a San Antonio, Texas car accident lawyer or simply fill out our free case review form above.
Don't let your opportunity to right a wrong pass you by.
Rear-End Accidents:
Although a rear end collision is the least fatal type of auto accident, they are the most common incidents on the road today - with approximately 2.5 million occurring each year. The rising use of road distractions such as cell phones, Palm Pilots, and Blackberry devices - coupled with the ever-expanding number of young and inexperienced drivers on the road - have contributed to an annual increase in rear end collisions and the injuries stemming from such incidents.
Common external factors of injury in rear end collisions:
- The condition of the road: if the road is wet, icy, or dry it can greatly affect the ability of a person to stop a safe distance away from other vehicles
- The weather: fog, rain, snow, or dust can severely limit visibility, resulting in a number of potential situations that can cause rear end collisions
- Condition of the vehicles: poorly maintained tires are a significant factor in rear end collisions, as they can fail to grip the road properly
- Speed: even slow speed collisions can cause significant injury, although higher speed rear ends are more dramatic
While insurance companies repeatedly assert that victims of rear end collisions escape generally unscathed because of the usually low speed of the vehicles during the crash, chronic and debilitating injuries often result from even a minor accident. Evidence of such injuries as whiplash (a hyperextension of the neck) can appear days and even years after the incident, and can be lifelong and excruciatingly painful. Don't take any chances on your physical or financial health, especially when someone else was at fault.
Common internal factors of injury in rear end collisions:
- Position of passengers: cars are designed to accommodate some of the force of accidents if passengers are sitting in the correct positions, if not they risk significant harm
- Head rests: proper head rest positioning can prevent neck injuries and whiplash
- Seatbelts and airbags: if seatbelts are used properly they can prevent injury and even death in a rear end collision
- Awareness of the crash: people tend to brace themselves if they anticipate a rear end collision. These extra seconds can make a huge difference in the likelihood of an accident
If you are the victim of driver negligence, you need to communicate immediately with a qualified and experienced rear end collision accident attorney who understands the complexities of personal injury law. It's important to start the process as soon as possible so that the statutes of limitations don't lapse, leaving you empty handed and without the rightful recourse for financial compensation.
Side Impact Accidents:
A common accident on American streets occurs when the front of the oncoming vehicle strikes the side of your car - resulting in side impact collisions. These create injury and sometimes even death.
Side impact car accident facts:
- Side impact collisions are responsible for over 9,000 deaths annually
- Only head-on collisions account for more deaths
- In fact, in 2004, approximately 26% of all fatal auto accidents were from side impact collisions
- 31% of all non-fatal auto accidents were the result of side impact collisions.
- Most of these incidents occur at intersections as the result of a failure to yield at a stop sign or red light, and are thus preventable - you shouldn't have to pay for another driver's negligence.
Although side impact collisions are often serious, even minor accidents can cause debilitating and chronic injuries, and you have the right to be compensated for damages and expenses incurred when you are the victim of a wreck. It's important to start the process as soon as possible because the success of the case usually depends on the medical records registered from the accident, and as more time lapses, the connection becomes more and more difficult to prove.
An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your injuries – call now to speak to a San Antonio, Texas car accident lawyer or simply fill out our free case review form above.
Don't let your opportunity to right a wrong pass you by.
Speeding Accidents:
While auto accidents themselves injure a person in the U.S. every 10 seconds, speeding drivers are the cause of nearly 30% of these collisions, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that speeding alone was a contributing factor in almost one-third of all fatal crashes last year. The danger of speeding is threefold: First, speed reduces the reaction time drivers need to avoid crashes, which in turn increases the likelihood of crashing and severity of accidents. Secondly, speed increases the distance needed to stop a vehicle. Speeding drivers also may not be able to judge distances as well and could put pedestrians at a greater risk.
Speeding car accident fatalities on Holidays
- New Year’s Day, 32% of all accidents are due to speeding
- Memorial Day, 38%
- July 4th, 36%
- Labor Day, 37%
- Thanksgiving, 36%
- Christmas 39%
It is imperative that those harmed by such negligent behavior are compensated for their pain and suffering, as well as for property damage and medical expenses. As a victim of a high speed collision, you should contact a qualified and experienced high speed collision attorney or personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that you can receive compensation for your emotional and physical distress.
Facts on Speeding Car Accidents:
- Half of all speeding deaths occur on local low speed roads
- Local and collector roads have an almost triple fatality rate as Interstates
- 65% of all speeding-related deaths occur on rural roads
- Local rural roads are even more dangerous than urban roads; speeding deaths occur four times more there than elsewhere
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today!
Don't waste any time before standing up for what you deserve. An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your injuries – call now to speak to a San Antonio, Texas car accident lawyer or simply fill out our free case review form above.
Don't let your opportunity to right a wrong pass you by.
You should never have to pay out of your own pocket for being the innocent victim of a high-speed automobile collision.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a traffic accident, there's no time to lose. You need to contact an experienced traffic accident or personal injury attorney immediately so that you can know your rights and fight for your due compensation.