The Kipness Law Firm, P.C

The minimum amount of auto liability insurance in Texas to cover a car accident is:

• $25,000 for a single death or injury;
• $50,000 for death or injury to more than one person; and
• $25,000 for property damage

Failure to carry auto insurance can result in the suspension of your driver’s license.

If you move to Texas, you need to confirm your auto insurance company will still cover you.  If you are involved in a car accident, you must report the accident to the police if:

• more than $500 of property damage was done to a car or
• if anyone is injured, no matter how seriously

Each driver must make a report to the Texas DPS.  If a law enforcement officer investigates the car accident, the officer’s report will take care of this filing requirement. 

You should purchase as much insurance as you can afford.  Many personal injury and wrongful death cases involving car accidents are worth more than the policy limits.  You may be personally responsible for any personal injury cases if the jury returns a verdict above your policy limits.

In 2008, 263 people were killed in car accidents with trains.  You are 40 times more likely to die in a car accident with a train than an accident with another car. 

Almost half of all car accidents at railroad crossings occur at crossings that do not have safety equipment such as flashing lights, automatic gates.  Trains, due to their size and weight, need more time and distance to stop than a car.  A train traveling 50 mph needs 1 1/2 miles to stop.

Car and train accidents can be avoided by doing the following:

1. Cross tracks at designated crossings
2. Do not walk, run, cycle or ride ATVs on the railroad track
3. If your car stalls on a railroad crossing, get out immediately and call the police
4. Watch for a second train if you are crossing multiple railroad tracks
5. Do not race a train to a railroad crossing
6. Do not drive around or under lowered railroad gate
7. Approach railroad intersection, like all intersections, with care and be ready to yield to the train
8. Expect trains to run day and night and at anytime

To cross a railroad intersection safely, you should:

1. Stop well away from the tracks
2. Observe all warning devices and determine if lights, bells, or gates have been activated to indicate an approaching train
3. If warning devices are not on, still look in both directions
4. Listen for warning sounds such as train whistles or horns
5. If you see a train coming, stop and do not cross the tracks until the train has passed
6. Once it is safe, cross without delay and never stop on a railroad track

When driving a car, you need to be appear of the different rules that apply to trucks that are traveling near you.  To reduce the chance of a Dallas truck accident, be familiar with a truck’s capablities and how it moves.

You should never pull in front of a truck and suddenly stop or slow down.  Trucks, due to more weight, require more time and distance to slow down.  A car traveling at 50 mph can stop in 230 feet but a large truck requires 400 feet at the same speed.

Because trucks are longer, they require a longer parth to make a turn.  This is why trucks and 18 wheelers swing out left before making a right turn.  When behind a large truck, if it signals for a turn, slown down and look at its signals because a right turn signal may require the truck to turn left first.

One should also be aware of a truck’s blindspots.  Car drivers wrongly assume a trucker can see the road better because it is higher on the road.  Trucks have serious blind spots and a car can get lost in the blind spot.  If you cannot see the truck driver, assume you are in a blindspot and he cannot see you..

Trucks cannot move the same as cars.  They require longer stopping and starting distances and need more space to turn.  Common car driver mistakes that lead to truck accident, injuries, and even death are:

1. Cutting off a truck to reach an exit or make a turn (Do not speed up to pass a truck)
2. Driving alongside a truck when passing in slow manner (Move ahead of truck after passing it)
3. Tailgating (truck driver cannot see you and leaves no space in the even the truck must stop)
4. Underestimating size and power of a truck (Do not think truck is traveling at slower speed)

Knowing these rules should help a driver avoid truck accidents.

It is important to know how to react to equipment problems with driving.  Bad reactions to equipment failures can result in personal injuries and even death.

BRAKE FAILURE

If your brakes do not work and they are not anti-lock brakes, you should do the following:

1. Downshift to low gear;
2. Pump the brake pedal fast to build up brake fluid pressure
3. Apply the parking brake but release it if car skids
4. Steer and swerve into bushes or soft landing area
5. Sound horn to warn others
6. Turn off car when car stops

      If you car has anti-lock brakes, you should do the following:

1. Apply firm and steady pressure to brake pedal
2. Steer car around any obstacles
3. Release brake pressure
4. Drive normally but travel at lower speed once you have control of the car

TIRE BLOWOUT

      If you have a tire blowout, do the following:

1. slown down gradually
2. hold the steering wheel tightly and steer straight ahead
3. take foot off gas but do not appl brakes
4. slow to a stop
5. turn on emergency flashers
6. apply brakes when car is almost stopped

HEADLIGHT FAILURE

     If headlights go out at night, you should:

1. Try the dimmer switch
2. Try to headlight switch
3. Put parking lights and emergency lights on or turn on signal
4. Pull off the road ASAP and leave flashers on

STUCK GAS PEDAL

     If your gas pedal gets stuck when driving, do the following:

1. Shift to neutral
2. Apply brakes
3. Look for way out
4. Do not look down at gas pedal
5. Flash lights and honk horn to alert others
6. Drive car safely off the road
7. Turn off ignition
8. Try to free pedal by tapping it or placing toe under the pedal lifting

CAR STUCK IN MUD OR SNOW

     If your car is stuck in the mud or snow, do the following:

1. Shift to low gear and keep front wheels straight
2. Gently step on gas pedal
3. Avoid spinning wheels and drive forward as possible
4. Shift to reverse and back up as far as possible
5. Shift to low gear again and drive forward
6. Repeat forward-backward motion
7. Put boards or branches under tires when car is not in motion
8. Put chains on tires

OVERHEATING

     If your car is overheating do the following:

1. Turn off the a/c and turn heater on to draw heat away from engine
2. Shift to neutral and accelerate slightly to reduce engine load and increase air and coolant flow
3. Do not driver if steam is coming up from under the hood
4. Pull to side of the road, turn off engine and wait for it to cool
5. Do not open radiator cap
6. If battery is dead, know rules of how to jump start a battery (red clamp to positive post and black camp to negative post; do not touch cars, start car with live battery, start car with dead battery; remove cables in opposite order in which they are placed)

When driving a car, you can be presented with numerous road emergencies.  Knowing how to react and handle these emergencies can avoid severe personal injuries or death.

SKIDDING ON DANGEROUS AND SLIPPERY ROADS

To avoid skidding on slippery surfaces, you should:

1. Drive slowly and stay farther behind the car in front of you;
2. Slow down before approaching curves and intersections;
3. Avoid fast turns and quick stops;
4. Pump the brakes to slow down or stop if you do not have anti-lock brakes;
5. Shift to low gear before going down a hill;
6. If brakes get wet, dry them by pressing gas and brake pedals at the same time;
7. If you begin to skid, take foot off petal, do NOT brake, and turn steering wheel in direction of skid;
8. If you lose control, try to get car off the slippery surface by entering shoulder of road, bushes, or snow bank

COLLISION TRAPS

A collision trap occurs when you cannot maintain safe and adequate space cushions around your car.  Collision traps can occur in your front, on your sides, or in your rear.   To avoid these traps, you should use your lights, your horn or increase your distance from the car in front of you by slowing down and give yourself a way to move out of the collision trap.

If you feel there is about to be a collision, do not panic and react properly to avoid personal injuries.  If you have anti-lock brakes, you will still be able to control your car.  If you do not have anti-lock brakes, pump your brakes but do not brake hard, which will lock your wheels and cause your car to skid.

HEADLIGHTS AND HORNS

Use your horn only to avoid collisions.  Try to make eye contact with other drivers.  Do not honk on slow drivers.  The driver may be ill, lost, or have car problems.  Don’t honk to show the other driver they made a mistake.  You should use your headlights when driving when it is raining, snowing, or foggy or anytime you have trouble seeing other cars.

OFF THE ROAD RECOVERY

If your car goes off the road, you need to be careful before re-entering the road.  Do not quickly re-enter the road.  You should do the following when your car goes off the road:

1. Slow down
2. Do not get angry and remain calm
3. Brake gently
4. Hold the steering tightly
5. Position car so it is on the edge of the road
6. Allow enough space to re-enter the road, and
7. Accelerate to normal speed when you return to the road

UNAVOIDABLE ACCIDENTS

Sometimes you cannot avoid a Dallas car accident.   When you are about to be involved in a car accident, you should try to steer your car in the direction that cause the least amount of damage and personal injuries as possible.  Do not panic and try to maintain control over your car.   For head on auto accidents, try to move your car to the right to avoid the accident and lower your speed.  Once an accident occurs, try to move your car to safe location to prevent other accidents.

To protect yourself in rear collisions, you should: (1) apply your brakes to avoid hitting cars in front of you; (2) brace yourself between the seat back and steering wheel; (3) engage brakes to turn on brake lights; (4) press head against back of headrest; and accelerate across an intersection if it is clear.

To protect yourself in side collisions, you should: (1) keep a tight hold on the steering wheel; (2) prepare to steer quickly after impact; (3) brake quickly to avoid getting hit a second time; (4) blow your horn; and (5) change lanes to avoid accidents with more cars.

CAR PLUNGING INTO WATER

If your car plunges into water from a collision, you can escape through a window.  It will be hard to open due to the water pressure.  If the car sinks to the bottom, some air may be trapped near the roof.  Try to get into this air pocke to breathe.  You should then roll down a window or kick out the rear window.  You will have several minutes to escape.

CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill you.  It is odorless and hard to detect.  Symptoms of this poisoning include sleepiness, dizziness, and upset stomach.  If these symptoms occur, get fresh air asap.   Carbon monoxide can enter a car from holes in the exhaust system, other cars in traffic jams, and operating cars in closed garages.  To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, do not operate a car in a closed garage, keep the a/c running in the car, inspect the exhaust system, and avoid tailgating in traffic jams.

WITNESSING CAR ACCIDENTS

If you see a car accident, do not try to be a doctor.  You should do the following:

1. Send for help and call 911.
2. Help injured be still, do not move them, and keep them warm.
3. If you see bleeding, cover the wound and apply pressure.  Do not touch the blood.
4. In the injured can walk, get them to sit down.
5. If the injured cannot move, do not move them because movement can cause more injuries.