The DOT’s public affairs officer, John Hurt, stated that these toll roads are made to accommodate vehicles moving at these high speeds, and said that the distance between the highway’s exits are sufficiently spaced out to ensure both efficient and safe transportation. He also stated that the increased speed limit will make drivers looking to avoid traffic more inclined to travel on the toll roads.

However, Hurt said that it’s critical that drivers keep their full attention on the road when driving on the toll roads – regardless of speed. He pointed out that reaction time and distance are significantly decreased at high speeds, making it even more dangerous to do things like text and drive.

Others expressed concerns that the increased speeds not only decreases fuel efficiency, but that driving at higher speeds increases the risk that an accident will be deadly. Still, others are happy with the increase, saying it will allow them to reach their destination more quickly, and that there really isn’t much difference between going 75 mph or 80 mph.

It’s unknown what, if any, effect, these increased Austin speed limits will have on the number or severity of car accidents on Highways 45 and 130. However, those injured in a wreck in Austin should immediately contact a top Austin personal injury attorney who can ensure that they receive the full compensation to which they’re entitled.

In October of 2011, Austin law enforcement officials upped their efforts to apprehend traffic law violators of all types, including those walking, biking, or driving – and ended up ticketing over 1,100 people. Although 85% of those cited were on bike or foot, according to Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, this phase of the program will focus on drivers.

Although some Austin car accidents are due to distracted driving or other momentary lapses in judgment, others are the result of undoubtedly negligent driving behavior. Such is the case of a 24-year old man who was recently sentenced to 25 years in prison for an Austin car accident that killed another man who was waiting at a bus stop. At the time of the car accident, the driver was traveling at over 90 mph before he lost control of his vehicle. He was attempting to outrun a police officer who was pursuing him for a traffic violation.

No matter the circumstances, if you are injured or lose a loved one in an Austin car wreck, you are entitled to monetary compensation from those at fault. When you’re recovering from serious injuries, or grieving the loss of a family member, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit in Texas state court may be the last thing on your mind. Yet it’s important that those who caused the accident be held accountable for their actions. An experienced Austin car wreck lawyer can handle all of the details to ensure that you get the entire amount that you deserve for your Texas car accident case. Contact an Austin, Texas car accident attorney if you’ve been involved in an auto accident in Austin.

Austin, Texas personal injury attorneys know all too well the dangers of distracted driving.

But what exactly is distracted driving? According to distraction.gov, distracted driving is any activity that would take your focus away from driving. The site includes the following examples:

• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

Not only is distracted driving dangerous to all drivers, but distracted driving endangers passengers and bystanders as well. You may think that answering your phone or responding to a quick text won’t do any harm, but statistics taken from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) have shown that in 2009, 5,474 people were killed in car crashes caused by distracted driving. In the same study, an estimated 448,000 people were injured from distracted driving car accidents alone.

The CTIA, which is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, reported that in June of 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the United States. That number has risen nearly 50% from June of 2009.

If you don’t think distracted driving affects you, take a look at the following video link.

Faces of Distracted Driving: Alex Brown, 17

Contact the Austin personal injury attorneys at Gonzales and Gonzales, if you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by distracted driving. Take the pledge now to end distracted driving.

In an age where we are constantly on the go while staying in contact with our friends, family, the office and co-workers—never miss a text or email thanks to the latest technological advancement—it’s no wonder why more car accidents occur behind the wheel as a result of distracted driving.

This federal proposal recognizes the issues of distracted driving and the increasingly bad habits many Americans have when trying to multi-task while operating a motor vehicle.

The announcement made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood comes just days after President Obama’s (FY) 2013 budget request.

“Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America’s roadways – that’s why I’ve made it a priority to encourage people to stay focused behind the wheel,” said Secretary LaHood. “These guidelines are a major step forward in identifying real solutions to tackle the issue of distracted driving for drivers of all ages.”

According to the Phase 1 proposal guidelines, automakers must minimize the distraction of installed electronic devices by adhering to the following recommendations, as listed on the NHTSA’s website:

• Reduce complexity and task length required by the device;
• Limit device operation to one hand only (leaving the other hand to remain on the steering wheel to control the vehicle);
• Limit individual off-road glances required for device operation to no more than two seconds in duration;
• Limit unnecessary visual information in the driver’s field of view;
• Limit the amount of manual inputs required for device operation

Phase II and Phase III proposals are being considered as well in an effort to keep drivers less distracted.

Phase II will focus on portable devices drivers bring inside the car, such as smartphones, iPads, iPods and other tablets that can be used to connect to the car.

Phase III will focus on voice activated controls, like GPS navigation systems.
Contact the Austin car accident attorneys at Gonzales & Gonzales, to learn more.

Finley was taken to Dell Children’s Hospital where she was treated for a scraped chin, bruises on her knees and scrapes on her feet. With no major personal injuries, she was released wearing an arm sling.

Apparently, the Bee Cave Elementary fifth grader forgot her backpack and went back to get it out of her mom’s car. As the bus driver waited, Rithy Kehm drove around and accidently hit the 10-year-old.

Molly Finley could hardly see the car that hit her.

“Well, my mom yelled and I looked on the side and saw it but it was too late,” said Finley.

The driver of the Honda was ticketed for passing the school bus and not displaying an ID. People who witnessed the accident say Kehm was “visibly shaken”.

The bus stop at the community’s front entrance has frequently caused backups, and residents say drivers would frequently pass the busses. After the incident on Tuesday the HOA posted signs informing the community, that beginning Wednesday, the stop will move from the community’s mailboxes to the community’s amenities center, away from the front entrance.

Molly knows how lucky she is to have survived the accident without too many personal injuries.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of a personal injury accident, contact the Austin personal injury attorneys at Gonzales & Gonzales today.

The hit-and-run took place in the northbound service lanes of the highway near Technology.

Several callers contacted the police around 10:30 p.m. Monday reporting a man lying in the road on U.S. Highway 183 in Northwest Austin.

Justin Patrick Murphy, 25, was the victim, identified by police late Tuesday.

The vehicle killing Murphy never stopped and police said the vehicle’s front-end and passenger-side headlight was damaged.

Detectives found debris at the scene of the accident and believe it is from the vehicle that hit Murphy. They hope to find the driver to figure out what happened.

“It could be the person who hit him was not at fault,” said Sgt. Anthony Bigongiari. “That’s why our detectives are analyzing the debris at the scene.”

Austin personal injury attorneys understand the dangers of the road and caution motorists and bicyclists to be aware of each other.

There are safety measures bicyclists can take, however, to help prevent future accidents. Some include:
• Paying attention to vehicles on the road
• Making eye contact with cars before riding your bike across the street
• Attaching a light to your bike if you are going to be riding at night
• Wearing bright clothes so that other motorists can see you

If you or someone you know has been injured in a hit-and-run or car accident, contact our Austin car accident attorneys at Gonzales & Gonzales.

The purpose of the DWI initiative is to enforce DWI laws, so that people can stay safe on the roads as they travel on this night. Each year a high number of DWI arrests are made in Austin, Texas. Traffic fatalities increase during the holidays, and New Year’s Eve sees more people out on the street, drinking and driving till they end up in a hospital, than on any other night.

With the “New Year’s Eve No Refusal” initiative program, the Austin Police Department hopes to educate people about the dangers of drinking and driving while intoxicated. If a person doesn’t have the money to pay for a taxi, or is too alcohol impaired to drive their car, there are other options to getting home safe. Choosing a designated driver for the night is the best way to begin planning your New Year’s Eve celebration. You also have the option to use SoberRide, which is a free cab ride service that can take you to your destination.

If you or someone you know has been injured, contact the Austin personal injury attorneys at Gonzales & Gonzales. Wishing you a Happy New Year!

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on About.com, candles start about 11,600 fires annually, “resulting in 150 deaths, 1200 injuries, and $173 million in property loss”.

So before you start climbing up the roof to string your decorations from one end to the next, you may need to follow a few safety tips provided by CPSC, to keep your holiday free from personal injury.

Pay Attention to the Type of Tree You Purchase

• If you are going to purchase an artificial tree this Christmas, make sure it is labeled “Fire Resistant”. Trees that are fire resistant can still catch fire, but the advantage is that they tend to extinguish a lot quicker.

• If you want to purchase a naturally grown, “live” tree for authenticity, it should be fresh. You’ll know when a tree is fresh because it will be green with needles that won’t break when you bend it. The needles will also be hard to pull from the branches.

• When setting up your tree at home, be sure to keep it away from fireplaces and radiators. Depending on the type of tree you get, fresh trees should be watered to prevent drying out. All trees should be set up where they won’t block room entrances.

Decorations and Lighting

• Non-combustible, flame-resistant materials should be used to trim a tree.

• Never place lit candles on a tree. If lighting candles around the house, it’s best to use non-flammable candle holders.

• Any lights you hang outside or inside the house should have fused plugs and conform to safety standards.

• Electric lights on a metallic tree should NEVER be used. Repeat NEVER. Faulty lights can cause the tree to be charged with electricity and if anyone touches the tree or even a branch on the tree, could be electrocuted.

• Finally, when you go to bed at night, make sure you turn off all the lights; literally, turn off all the lights including holiday lights and those candles burning bright.

The Austin personal injury attorneys at Gonzales & Gonzales wish you a Happy Safe Holiday. Contact us, if you or someone you know has been the victim of a personal injury accident.

The chances for getting into a car accident during the busiest time of the year dramatically increases, as families head out in droves to gather together. Keep your family safe this year and every holiday season, by following 5 important safety tips from auto accident attorneys.

1. Check Your Vehicle Before Taking a Road Trip—Heading out on the road can be dangerous, especially if your car isn’t functioning properly. Always inspect your vehicle before taking it on a long-distance road trip.

2. Avoid Texting and Talking on the Cell Phone While Driving—Every state has different cell phone usage laws while driving. If you’re traveling outside the state of Texas, you can avoid driver distractions by not using your cell phone when driving.

3. Don’t Fall Asleep at the Wheel—If you’re tired after driving for long hours, it’s better to find the nearest rest stop or well-lit area off the side of the road to take a nap. Falling asleep behind the wheel can not only cause a major car crash, but it can also cause personal injuries to you and others.

4. Don’t Drink and Drive—DWI is one of the leading causes of car crashes in Texas and the surrounding areas. Find a designated driver to take you home, if you plan on drinking at a holiday party.

5. Stay Focused—Avoid all other distractions, such as eating, talking, texting and searching for items in your car while driving. Keep your hands on the wheel and be aware of your surroundings.

The Austin car accident attorneys want you to have a safe and happy holiday travel this year. Contact Gonzales & Gonzales if you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident.

According to State Farm Insurance, Texas ranked #1 for having the most cooking related fire accidents on Thanksgiving Day, from 2005-2009. Since turkey frying has become a delicious alternative to traditional baked turkey on Thanksgiving, U.S. fire departments across the nation, are putting out an average of more than 1,000 fires each year, involving deep fryers.

There are ways, however, to prevent grease fires and possible burn injuries, if you do decide to deep-fry your turkey this holiday season. Here are some important safety tips to keep in mind:

• Be Careful Not to Use Too Much Oil in the Fryer Pot—being splattered with hot oil is considerably one of the worst types of burn injuries that can occur, since frying oil has a tendency to stick to the skin. If you don’t measure the correct amount of oil to use, it could overflow, hit the burner, and cause a fire. Be sure to follow the owner’s manual.

• Be Sure Your Turkey is Completely Thawed and Dry—partially frozen or wet turkey that is dipped into temperatures of 350 degrees or more, can cause an instant grease fire. Make sure your turkey is dry, inside and out, before lowering it into the deep fryer.

• Don’t Deep-Fry Turkey on Wood—if you’re going to deep-fry your turkey this year, make sure you cook it outside, away from the house, and NOT on wooden surfaces.

• Keep a Fire Extinguisher Nearby—you never know when a grease fire will erupt, so it’s best to have a fire extinguisher approved for cooking or grease fire close by, and call 911 for help immediately.

• Never Leave the Fryer Unattended—deep fryers don’t have thermostat controls, which means the oil will continue to heat up to the point of combustion.

If you or someone you love has suffered a burn injury in Austin, Texas, contact the Austin personal injury attorneys of Gonzales & Gonzales today. Free consultations are available.

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