A civil engineering research team from the University of Texas determined that intersections with flashing lights have three times more accidents than those with only stop signs. They also determined that intersections with highway frontage roads are more dangerous than other intersections, reports Bloomberg Business Week. This study was undertaken so that future studies can consider the causes of such accidents and make these intersections safer.

“Understanding their causes should be a priority for transportation and safety professionals, so that we can develop countermeasures to reduce the high incidence of crashes and resulting deaths and injuries at intersections,” said Professor Chandra Bhat, the leader of the study.

About 40 percent of all traffic accidents take place at intersections. Drivers exiting highways are also more likely to crash.

A key finding in the study is that intersection accidents are affected by the larger traffic patterns around them. Fixing a high risk intersection will reduce accidents on neighboring streets.

“If you don’t account for this dependence, which is what almost all earlier studies have done, you underestimate the value of roadway and traffic control improvements,” Bhat said.

Intersections with traffic lights are the safest, except when people blow through red lights.

The findings of this study will be presented to the National Transportation Safety Board next month.

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Have you or someone you know been injured in a Texas auto accident?

The Texas car accident lawyer at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law may be able to help.

A 24-year-old female survivor of a Greyhound bus crash in rural Texas in December 2007 was awarded a $7.2 million settlement by a Dallas jury this week, according to the Sacramental Bee.

The injured passenger alleged that the bus driver was using a cell phone while driving in icy conditions on Interstate 40 in Wheeler County, Texas.

The driver braked improperly as he approached a wreck on the highway and lost control of the bus, according to trial testimony. The bus rolled over, injuring the passenger’s head, neck, and back.

The evidence presented during the three week trial showed that the bus driver had received three speeding convictions shortly before Greyhound hired him and had used his cell phone 17 times in the three hours before the accident.

The jury found Greyhound and its drivers grossly negligent in the accident.

“The verdict will enable [the victim] to have lower-back surgery next month for injuries received in the crash. We hope it sends the message that companies like Greyhound will be held responsible for any injuries they cause. In this case, we alleged that Greyhound hired an unqualified driver, that he was improperly trained, and that he ultimately failed to control his speed, which caused the bus to flip over,” her lawyer said.

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Have you or someone you know been injured in a Texas bus accident?

The Houston Auto Accident lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law may be able to help.

Last week a New York Times article pinpointed Dallas as the U.S. city most vulnerable to natural disaster; in fact, five of the eight most disaster-prone cities are located in Texas. Along with tornadoes and hurricanes, flooding is listed as one of the greatest risks for Texans-as Texas County residents experienced last month. However, there are some easy ways to safeguard yourself and your family from disease and personal injury during a flood.

The Illinois Department of Public Health recently released a number of solid recommendations for good health during a flood, predominately urging victims to avoid flood waters and sewer overflows which contain bacteria, fecal matter, and disease-causing organisms.

Here are some more guidelines for taking precaution during a flood:

— Use only bottled or boiled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing your teeth until you’re sure that your water supply is safe. Don’t ingest anything that’s come in contact with sewer water.

— Keep cuts and sores covered and away from sewer water. If you do have a cut or sore that’s been exposed to sewer water, get a Tetanus shot if it’s been more than five years since you last received one.

— Don’t permit children to play in areas with contaminated water.

— Keep contaminated objects away from your eyes, mouth, and nose.

— Wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating, and wash your hands immediately if you’ve come into contact with sewer water.

Read  more.

Have you or someone you know experienced personal injury during a flood or natural disaster? The Houston personal injury lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law may be able to help.

Everyone aspires to have a job they love; however, occupational hazards come with many jobs, but especially with construction work.

According to The Houston Chronicle, one family is dealing with loss after a tragic accident that could lead to a Texas workers’ compensation case.

The accident happened when a 65-year-old worker suffered blunt force trauma when a slab of cement fell on him during a demolition. He died from injuries sustained during the accident, which could lead to a Texas workers’ compensation case.

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Have you ever suffered a work-related accident that could lead to a Texas workers’ compensation case?

Do you drive a motorcycle? If so do you worry about losing control of your bike? Drivers of all kinds face dangers on our roads, but perhaps motorcyclists face additional risks. Have you had any close calls on the road?

According to The Houston Chronicle, one driver has died after a Houston motorcycle accident on Gulf Freeway.

The Houston motorcycle accident occurred when the driver lost control on Gulf Freeway and struck a column that supported a ramp.

The Houston motorcycle accident victim died at a hospital following the crash.

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Have you suffered Houston motorcycle accident injuries?

Do you think motorcycle drivers should be required to wear helmets as other drivers must wear seatbelts?

Some dispute helmet and seatbelt laws because they limit the driver’s right to make his or her own decisions about personal safety. However, no one questions the benefit these devices can be in saving drivers serious injuries in auto accidents.

Unfortunately, one person has died after a Houston auto accident on FM 2920, according to The Houston Chronicle. Whether the motorcyclist involved crash was wearing a helmet is unknown.

The Houston motorcycle accident victim died at the scene of the crash after a collision involving a motorcycle and another vehicle.

No other details about the accident, such as identity of the victim, or Houston auto accident injuries have been released.

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Have you ever been injured as the result of a Houston motorcycle accident?

Often wreckers have to rescue us from auto accidents, but drivers of wreckers are not immune to truck accidents, especially since driving a wrecker requires much time spent on our roadways. Have you ever been involved in a Houston auto accident to which a wrecker service responded?

Unfortunately, the driver of a wrecker died when he was involved in a Houston truck accident. The man’s wife and child were also in the wrecker at the time of the Houston truck accident, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The Houston truck accident occurred when the wrecker left FM 2920 and overturned.

Authorities continue to investigate the Houston truck accident.

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Have you been injured in a Houston truck accident?

We’ve all seen police chases in movies and television shows in which all parties involved escape a fiery crash unscathed. However, as this Houston auto accident shows, police chases can lead to serious consequences for more than just the driver being chased and the officers in pursuit.

According to the Houston Chronicle, two people died in a Houston auto accident that arose during a police chase.

The Houston auto accident occurred when a man fleeing police was hit by two cars on Interstate 45.

However, another driver was killed when that person struck the back of a tractor trailer that had slowed due to the first Houston auto accident.

Three others in the vehicle that struck the truck suffered Houston truck accident injuries as well.

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Have you ever witnessed a police chase? Have you or your loved ones suffered Houston auto accident injuries?

Do you worry about sharing the road with commercial trucks? Sometimes it’s easy to forget that truck drivers face dangers on the road too, but one truck driver faced definite danger as a Texas truck accident left his big rig dangling over an overpass.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the Texas truck accident occurred when the driver was trapped in his truck which was dangling from an Interstate 20 ramp.

Firefighters had to free the man from the truck before he was taken to the hospital. His condition following the Texas truck accident is unknown.

Rescuers also checked for trapped victims in a car that may have been part of the Texas truck accident.

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Have you ever been involved in a Texas truck accident? Did you suffer Texas truck accident injuries?

Auto accidents involving parked cars happen all the time: a bump here or scratch there. Unfortunately, one vehicle involved in a Houston truck accident with a parked truck has led to one man’s death.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the Houston truck accident occurred when a 25-year-old man driving a Honda Accord on Spur 527 when he crashed into a tow truck that had stopped to help another driver who had run out of gas on the roadway. Another wrecker was also stopped at the scene to help the driver.

The driver of the Accord was pronounced dead at the scene of the Houston truck accident. The driver of the truck was taken to a local hospital for treatment of Houston truck accident injuries.

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Have you ever been involved in a Houston truck accident?