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Parking Tickets Forgiven This Weekend in Downtown Austin! HNY!

Heads up, Austin! We know you’re just as excited to ring in the New Year as we are. A lot of you will be headed downtown to check out the fireworks and then probably hit the bars afterward. We want to encourage our readers not to drink and drive by letting y’all know that Austin police will forgive parking tickets for cars left downtown overnight if you provide proof that you took a sober ride home! All you need is to fill out a form and submit a receipt from your cab/Fasten/bus ride, email it to the police and they’ll get the process rolling to dismiss the ticket! Cheers Austin, here’s to an awesome 2017!

#happynewyear #6thstreet #fireworks

It’s a way to get around traffic, but Austin paramedics say ambulance chasing is not only illegal, it’s dangerous.When an ambulance tries to maneuver its way through grid-lock traffic, cars slow down and move to the right to give it room to get to where it

According to local paramedics, ambulance chasing is a real problem in Austin. While in traffic, cars will clear the way for an ambulance, but then jump in right behind them to get past congestion. This practice is not only illegal, it’s also dangerous.

#Austin #traffic #cityofaustin #ems

An idea that could have you soaring above Austin traffic is now a bit closer to taking off.

What started as an offhand joke for a traffic solution just got real. As it turns out, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority approved a more than $5,000 to fund a study to test the viability of a gondola cable car system in Austin. Is Austin weird enough to build a gondola?

#austin #austin traffic #gondolas #gondola

Chances are good that you drive through at least one of the most dangerous intersections in Texas, because a handful of them are right here in Austin.

Did you know Austin has some of the most dangerous intersections in Texas? This information is based on collision data compiled by the Texas Department of Transportation and highlights intersections where at least 48 crashes have occurred between 2012 and 2015. Four of those intersections are located in Austin and include:

East Riverside Drive and South Pleasant Valley Road – 68 crashes

Lamar Boulevard and Parmer Lane – 56 crashes

Butler Road and Lamar Boulevard – 69 crashes

Riverside Drive and Willow Creek Drive – 51 crashes

Luckily, the Austin City Council approved an ordinance for a $720 million bond that will go towards making Austin roads safer.

#austin #atx traffic #dangerous roads #car crash #car accident

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This man flew off a privately owned water slide in Austin and fell down a cliff. The man survived, but sustained multiple lacerations and broken bones. The video capturing his accident has since gone viral and is a cautionary tale about at-home water slides or other types of rides. http://www.aaronallisonlawfirm.com/

#accident #austin #waterslide #austininjuryattorney

Former Uber and Lyft drivers are suing for back pay and benefits after the companies abruptly left Austin, Texas.

In an unsurprising twist in the Uber and Lyft scandal, Austin drivers who previously drove for the two ride hailing companies are suing. The lawsuit essentially states the two companies left these drivers high and dry. Drivers claim they were entitled to a 60-day notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. This act states companies with more than 100 employees must give a 60-day notice before a mass layoff.

#uber #lyft #austin #employment #layoff

An Austin company is working on a plan to present to the city council that would add a gondola line to help alleviate traffic in parts of Austin.

The traffic situation in Austin is a serious problem and Austin’s City Council is desperate for a transportation solution. So much so, that they’re even considering gondolas. One creative technologist and designer thinks it’s a great idea. Whether City Council approves gondolas or light rails, something needs to be done quickly to improve the public transportation in Austin.

#Austin #austintraffic #austinskyline #gondola

New Program Could Change Traffic Light Timing

The city of Austin has recently taken on a pilot program to study traffic signal light timing in particularly busy areas of Austin. Specifically, the program is being tested on South Lamar Boulevard from Treadwell lane near the recently-renovated Alamo Drafthouse down to Brodie Oaks. Basically, the city will install a software that allows the light timing to change according to traffic volume.

http://kxan.com/2016/03/17/new-signal-light-timing-being-tested-on-south-lamar-boulevard/?cid=facebook_KXAN_Austin_News

#Austin #cityofaustin #austintraffic #austin personal injury

New Austin Skyscraper to Be the Tallest Building in Austin Skyline

Austin’s downtown skyline is receiving a new addition. The Independent will stand at 685 feet with 58 stories, making it the tallest building in Austin. The $3 million skyscraper will contain 370 new condos at the corner of West Ave. and Third Street.

Source: http://austin.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/04-13-15-downtown-austin-tallest-building-the-independent/

#Austin #austinskyline

Zipline Injuries Increasing

Ziplines are getting more popular each year, and as they do, injuries are increasing at an alarming rate, according to a new study.

Researchers found the injury rate from ziplines increased by more than 50 percent between 2009 and 2012, with children 9 and under making up 45 percent of the injuries.

“One of the things that really struck us about this study is how serious the injuries were. Almost 50 percent of them were fractures or broken bones, and over 10 percent actually had to be admitted to the hospital,” said Tracy Mehan of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, who led the study.

Mehan said injuries from ziplines were much higher and more serious injuries than the injuries seen with a lot of studies, and it suggests the activity is much more like an adventure sport.

The researchers looked at a national database of emergency room visits and discovered that 16,850 people have been injured badly enough on a zipline to visit an ER since 1997.

Among the most telling stats: 70 percent of ER visits due to zipline injuries were in the last four years. In 2012 alone, there were more than 3,600 injuries, or about 10 every day.

http://www.aaronallisonlawfirm.com/whats-causing-a-major-increase-in-zipline-injuries

#ziplines #ziplineinjury

New Oil & Gas Survey Focuses on Safety

In a new oil and gas worker safety study, scientists from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will distribute questionnaires to 500 oil field workers in Texas and other states.

Oil field workers will be asked about the types of injuries they’ve suffered while on the job, what they were doing when they were injured, the training they’ve had and whether oil companies provide bonuses to workers who don’t report an injury or over a certain period of time.

The institute decided to take on this survey to gauge firsthand the dangers that oil and gas workers deal with every day.

“We’ve analyzed fatality numbers, and we knew that fatality rates were high among oil field workers,” said Kyla Retzer, an epidemiologist with the institute’s oil and gas program. “But we haven’t talked to workers directly in a systematic way about some of their safety-related behaviors and what their concerns are.”

http://www.aaronallisonlawfirm.com/what-will-this-new-study-tell-us-about-safety-in-the-texas-oil-and-gas-industry

#oil and gas news #texas personal injury

5 Safety Tips For New And Returning Motorcyclists

This summer, many Texans are experiencing riding a motorcycle for the first time, while others are returning to motorcycling. Motorcycles can be dangerous if safety procedures aren’t followed. Here are five safety tips for novices and those rediscovering motorcycling:

Antilock brakes are a great investment. Studies indicate motorcycles equipped with ABS brakes are 37 percent less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than bikes without it.

Hone your skills. A motorcycle safety course or similar class can teach you the basics as well as more advanced techniques. Furthermore, an approved safety course may make you eligible for an insurance discount.

Wear a helmet. Motorcyclists without a helmet are 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury in a crash and are three times more likely to suffer a brain injury than those wearing a helmet.

Wear the right attire. You want gear that will protect you from wind chill, flying insects and debris, and road rash if you should slide out.

Be defensive. You need to be alert, particularly in this age of texting and driving. Keep an eye out for cars changing lanes and pulling out from frontage roads. Don’t tailgate.

The Law Offices of Aaron Allison – Austin Motorcycle Accident Attorney

http://www.aaronallisonlawfirm.com/5-motorcycle-safety-tips-for-new-and-returning-riders

#motorcycle safety #austin

Cap Metro Buses Have More Crashes But Fewer Injuries This Year

More Capital Metro buses in Austin, Texas are getting into collisions than in previous years. However, while there have been more crashes, fewer people are getting hurt on the buses. An analysis of Capital Metro crash and collision data from January to mid-May found that buses are getting in collisions more frequently this year than during the same period in 2014. The number of collisions rose from 166 to 202. However, crashes where Capital Metro determined the bus driver could not have prevented what happened have outpaced the rise in preventable collisions.

Injuries have decreased from 39 during the first part of 2014 to 26 this year. In most cases where someone was injured on a bus, Capital Metro determined the driver couldn’t have reasonably prevented what happened. Of the 26 injuries this year, six of them were in cases Capital Metro believes its bus drivers could have prevented.

The Law Offices of Aaron Allison – Austin Injury Attorney

http://www.allisonwardllp.com/more-collisions-but-fewer-injuries-on-austins-cap-metro-buses

#bus accident #austin personal injury

Recent $663M Judgment Largest Whistleblower Award Ever

A Texas federal judge handed down a $663 million judgment against Trinity Industries, a guardrail manufacturer accused of producing a faulty product that can jam and spear through vehicles.

The judgment, which is the biggest known whistleblower award in U.S. history, stems from the trial held last year in a lawsuit filed by a competitor who discovered in 2011 that Trinity had made a critical change to the dimensions of its ET-Plus guardrail in 2005 but failed to tell regulators as required by law.

At least nine deaths have been linked in personal injury cases to the ET-Plus.

Trinity says they plan to appeal the decision. A spokesman for the company said after the ruling that “the evidence clearly shows that no fraud was committed” and that the court made significant errors in applying federal law to the plaintiff’s allegation.

When defective products result in serious injuries and wrongful deaths, it is often necessary to pursue legal action. In addition to compensating the victims for the loss they may have suffered, a lawsuit forces the manufacturer to make the product safe, which can prevent future injuries.

Allison & Ward – Austin Injury Attorneys

http://www.allisonwardllp.com/texas-judge-hands-down-633-million-judgment-against-guardrail-maker

#whistleblower #lawsuit

Head-On Collisions Have a High Fatality Rate

Head-on collisions make up about 10-percent of all fatal accidents in the United States every year. By their nature, these types of accidents are frequently fatal. Earlier this month in Austin, TX, two people involved in a head on collision were tragically killed. Local news outlets reported that a man driving an Oldsmobile while having a blood-alcohol level of .20 crashed his vehicle head on into a Toyota Prius. The driver of the Prius was killed on impact, and a passenger of the Oldsmobile died several days later. Due to his intoxication, the Oldsmobile driver was charged with manslaughter, among several other crimes.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 523 people died from head-on collisions in 2013. The most common causes of head-on accidents are distractions, fatigue/falling asleep, driving under the influence, and medical emergencies.

Head on accidents usually cause pretty devastating injuries that can take months or even years to recover from. If a head-on accident is caused by someone else’s negligence, the victim often stands a good chance of winning a lawsuit against that individual which could provide them with necessary financial assistance for medical bills and more.

Is it Safe to Bicycle in Austin?

Many Austin residents like to stay physically fit or use bicycles as a form of transportation—this is especially true when the weather begins to heat up over the summer.

Unfortunately, the Austin Police Department responds to an average of about 300 bicycle accidents each year, many of which are caused by negligent drivers.

There are some steps bicyclists in Austin can take prior to hitting the road in order to decrease their chances of being in an accident, including:

Riding with traffic and not against it

Obeying all signals and signs, observing the right-of-way of others

Avoiding passing other vehicles in the same lane

Staying visible at night by using lights and by wearing reflective clothing

Remember, if a negligent driver hits you, you have legal rights. You may be able to pursue damages, which can help pay for injury treatment and rehabilitation. For more information, speak to our Austin injury attorneys.

Stay safe and enjoy the warm weather on your bike!

Allison & Ward – Austin Personal Injury Attorneys

Blue Bell Products Recalled

Brenham-based Blue Bell Creameries has recalled several products after five people in Kansas developed listeriosis after ingesting items.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that a bacterium was found in samples of the following Blue Bell items:

• Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Country Cookies • Great Divide Bars • Sour Pop Green Apple Bars • Cotton Candy Bars • Scoops • Vanilla Stick Slices • Almond Bars • No Sugar Added Moo Bars

For more information about the recall, you can visit the FDA’s website. Remember, if you become ill after ingesting a tainted product, it may be in your best interest to speak to an attorney.

By filing a lawsuit against a manufacturer over a defective product, you can make sure that it is held liable while pursuing damages for your injuries.

Allison & Ward – Austin Personal Injury Attorneys

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