In a tragic accident on July 18, 2020, Houston-area pastor John Powell was struck and killed by a semi-truck as he tried to help another victim of a traffic crash. The accident happened at about 11:30 Saturday evening.
A Dodge Charger and a Chevy truck pulling a trailer were involved in an accident on U.S. Highway 75 near FM-691. The collision caused the Dodge Charger to catch on fire. At least two men pulled over to help the accident victims.
Pastor Powell saw the semi-truck headed toward the other man who had stopped to help at the crash scene. He pushed the other many to safety before being hit by the semi-truck. Pastor Power died at the scene from his injuries.
The accident is still under investigation. No charges have been filed at this time. The individuals involved in the original crash had minor injuries.
Pastor Power was 38 years old at the time of his death. He served as pastor at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in New Caney, which is near Houston. He is survived by his wife and four young children.
Traffic Accident Fatalities in Texas
During 2019, one person died on Texas roads every two and a half hours. A person was injured on Texas roads every two minutes. There was a reported traffic accident every 56 seconds in 2019.
The numbers are staggering. Thousands of people die or are injured in Texas traffic accidents each year. Last year in Texas, traffic accidents claimed 3,610 lives including:
- 410 motorcyclists
- 660 pedestrians
- 68 bicyclists
- 886 motorists
- 886 drunk driving fatalities
- 377 distracted driving fatalities
Additionally, there were 12,897 serious injury crashes reported in 2019. Approximately, 15,843 people sustained a serious injury. Countless other individuals sustained injuries that also resulted in medical treatment, missed time from work, and other damages.
The factors contributing to crashes are numerous. Many of the factors can be attributed to poor driving decisions and human error. However, poor weather conditions, animals on the road, road hazards, and defective vehicles were also contributing factors to traffic accidents.
Other factors that contributed to crashes include:
- Cell phone use
- Distractions
- Speeding
- Failing to obey traffic laws
- Reckless driving
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
If a person causes an accident, that person is responsible for the damages caused by the accident. The person did not need to intend to cause an accident to be liable for damages.
Therefore, the only thing that you must prove to recover compensation for a crash is that the other driver was at fault. However, proving fault for a car accident is not always easy.
For a legal consultation call (713) 500-5000
Do I Need an Attorney for a Car Accident Claim?
There is no law that requires you to hire an attorney to file a car accident claim or a wrongful death claim. However, it is generally in your best interest to talk to an attorney about your case.
The insurance company is interested in settling your claim as quickly and for as little as possible. For that reason, a claims adjuster may offer you a quick settlement for your injury claim. In most cases, these settlements are lower than the actual value of your claim.
Some claims adjusters may try to settle your claim before you finish your medical treatment. Again, this insurance tactic is designed to pay less than your claim is worth. Once you settle your claim, you cannot pursue a legal action to collect more money.
Talking to an attorney allows you to learn about your legal rights form someone who has experience handling car accident claims and who has your best interests in mind. If you decide to retain an attorney, your attorney aggressively pursues every legal remedy to get you the maximum value for your claim.
Reasons Why You May Need a Car Accident Lawyer to Help With Your Case
You may not need an attorney in every case. However, some incidents that indicate you could benefit from talking to a lawyer include, but are not limited to:
- The traffic accident resulted in the death of a family member
- You sustained catastrophic injuries or permanent impairments
- There were multiple vehicles involved in the accident
- A government vehicle or employee caused the accident
- Your child was injured in a traffic accident
- The accident involved a commercial vehicle or semi-truck
- A defective vehicle or defective vehicle part was a factor in the accident
- The accident involved a drunk driver
- The insurance company alleges you were partially to blame for the cause of the accident
The above examples of traffic accidents generally require comprehensive investigations. They may involve additional or different laws and require the assistance of expert witnesses. An experienced car accident lawyer has the resources, skills, time, and knowledge to handle complex car accident claims.
However, even if your car accident case does not involve a complex matter, you can still benefit from the advice and counsel of an attorney before you agree to an insurance settlement.
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Contact the Houston Car Accident Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help
Contact the Houston personal injury law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers at (713) 500-5000.
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About the Author Brian White
Brian White earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston and is licensed to practice in Texas. He is a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer.
Dedicated to giving back, he actively supports local charities and community initiatives.
Client testimonials highlight Brian’s compassion, open communication, and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for those he represents.
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