Study: Texting Bans Ineffective

A recent Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) study found that the number of texting-related crashes did not decrease in states that passed laws banning texting while driving. In fact, texting bans are associated with an increase in the number of insurance claims filed for collision damage in vehicle crashes during the months after the laws were passed, according to statistics released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Virginia. The HLDI study compared collision claim rates in the months before and after laws were passed that banned texting while driving in California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington with the rates in nearby states without texting laws.

The studies do not mean that texting while driving is safe. Rather, the evidence may indicate that texting laws are ineffective and that other measures to cut down on texting while driving should be explored. A previous study by HLDI uncovered similar results for bans on talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, a Houston Auto Accident Attorney can help you get just compensation for your injuries.

If you or someone you love has been injured in any type of accident, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to explore your legal options. Palermo Law Firm handles personal injury and auto accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land. Our Houston personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a fee unless you recover money for your injuries. 

Gulf Platform Fire Raises Safety Concerns

A massive fire on a production platform in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday prompted an evacuation of the platform, news reports say.  Thirteen employees, who had to jump into the Gulf to escape the flames, were all rescued with no injuries. Although the platform, owned by Mariner Energy of Houston, is not an oil drilling platform, the incident has raised concerns about the safety of lifting the moratorium on drilling in the Gulf. In the wake of the Deep Horizon catastrophe, all drilling-related accidents are under public scrutiny, according to experts. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in this platform fire. However, platform accidents like this one can be tragic, potentially resulting in serious, catastrophic injuries and death to workers. In particular, burn injuries can leave a worker in need of painful skin grafts and rehabilitative therapy for years to come. In addition, burn victims typically suffer substantial scarring that will serve as a permanent reminder of their physical pain and emotional trauma.

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an oil rig or production platform accident, contact the Houston accident lawyers at 1-888-839-8879 today to explore your legal options. Palermo Law Firm handles oil rig and refinery accident cases in Houston and the surrounding suburbs, including Bellaire, Brookside Village, Channelview, Crosby, Deer Park, Dyersdale, Galena Park, Houmont Park, Jacinto City, Kinwood, Meadows Place, Meyerland, Missouri City, North Hudson, Park Place, Pasadena, Pearland, Satsuma, South Houston, Stafford, and Sugar Land.