The Texas A&M Transportation Institute has released a study showing that speech-to-text technology on smartphones is not safer in preventing distractions when driving compared to manual texting. Apple Inc.’s iPhones contain a feature known as “Siri”; software allowing operation of the mobile phone through speech. Android mobile phones also have a similar technology called “Vlingo”. The two technologies were used in the study.

Sponsored by the Southwest Region University Transportation Center, the study was performed with the participation of 43 subjects driving four laps on a closed course while texting. Each individual lap included:

• No distractions
• Manual texting
• Using Apple’s Siri
• Using Android’s Vlingo

Reaction time was based on the driver looking at the road and a blinking light on the dashboard as well as receiving and sending texts. The results revealed that through manual texting, reaction time was twice as slow compared to having no distractions. Time spent paying attention to the road was also limited. The dangers of texting and driving presented in the study reflect the findings of the Texas Department of Transportation.

April has been designated as the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which informs the public of the dangers of texting and driving. Texas state lawmakers are also considering the passage of a bill that outlaws the act.

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If you have been injured due to the negligent driving of another person, contact a personal injury lawyer from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys in McAllen at 956.630.6700.

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 83-year old Tarrant County resident Alice Wilkinson Stanley in relation to a bus crash that resulted in injury and death. The April 11th incident involved a Cardinal Coach charter bus Stanley was riding in destined for Durant, Oklahoma. Witnesses onboard claim to have heard a pop, followed by the bus driver losing control of the vehicle. After hitting a barrier, the bus flipped on its side before striking the center median.

The wreck resulted in two deaths and over 40 injured passengers. Stanley’s injuries included an injured arm, which required amputation, broken ribs, fractured vertebrae and a crushed sternum. Information regarding which specific injury led to her death has not been released. The lawsuit states that the bus’s driver, Loyd Earl Rieve and Cardinal Coach Line Inc. were negligent in maintaining, supervising and operating the bus. The amount sought in the lawsuit remains unknown.

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If negligence was a factor in the injury or death of you or a loved one, contact one of the highly skilled personal injury attorneys from McAllen’s J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

A North Texas police officer has died after being fatally struck by a drunk driver on the evening of Saturday April 20^th. The driver fled the scene. Deputy Chad Key of the Grayson County Sheriff’s Department was directing traffic near Highway 82. Ricky Trent Stanley of Whitesboro struck Deputy Key and fled the scene of the accident. Key was taken to an area hospital where he later died. He had begun patrol duty just over two months before his death.

28-year old Trent was later arrested. It was later discovered that he had two previous drunk driving convictions; one in 2002 and the other in 2004. Authorities also stated that he’d been released on a bond of $10,000 after being arrested in August. The results of blood tests to determine Trent’s alcohol level are pending. He faces charges of intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer, failing to stop and render aid, unlawfully carrying a weapon and driving with an invalid license.

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If you, or a loved one, has been injured by a drunk driver, contact a highly-skilled personal injury attorney from the law office of McAllen’s J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.6300.6700.

McAllen police have released a statement concerning a hit and run accident that occurred on Saturday, March 23^rd. According to the McAllen P.D., 36-year old Mission native Claudia Martinez has been charged with an accident resulting in personal injury or death. The accident occurred during the early morning hours of the 23^rd when Martinez struck 23-year old Juan Estrada. Estrada had allegedly been crossing East Expressway 83.

Despite pedestrians not being allowed on the Expressway, Martinez failed to stop and render aid to Estrada. Details of whether Estrada died at the scene or in a hospital have not been released. Witnesses to the accident assisted authorities in identifying Martinez’s vehicle.  The charge filed against her is a third degree felony, punishable by a prison term of two to ten years. She is currently being held on a $20,000 bond.

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If you have lost a loved one due to a hit and run driver, contact a McAllen personal injury attorney from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

A Houston family has been killed following an accident with a truck during rainy weather on March 23^rd. The couple and their two children, all of whose names have not been released to the public, were driving through Montgomery County when a truck driving the opposite direction collided with their vehicle.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the truck swerved into the oncoming lane. The truck’s driver was also injured; however, his injuries have been determined not to be life threatening. The family, natives of Cleveland, Texas, died at the scene after paramedics were unable to assist them. Officials have declared this accident to be one of the worst in the area due to the high loss of life and the severity of the wreck. An investigation is underway and it is unclear which charges the driver faces, if any.

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If you’ve lost a loved one in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact a McAllen personal injury lawyer from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

A bill currently working through the Texas legislature may convince those who have committed a hit and run to reconsider their actions. Senate Bill 275 aims to increase the penalty for anyone who fails to stop and render aid following an auto accident. The bill was passed unanimously on April 2^nd by the Texas Senate and is awaiting approval by the House of Representatives before being signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry.

The bill was introduced by State Senator Kirk Watson of Austin. Watson’s motivation comes from the death of 30-year old Courtney Griffin after having been fatally struck by Gabrielle Nestande, a legislative aide. In February of 2012, Nestande was convicted of negligent homicide and was sentenced to ten years of probation with a $10,000 fine. Of those ten years, six months must be served in jail. This is not the first bill of this type to be introduced. House Bills 72 and 2229 were both introduced by Congressmen Allen Fletcher and Gene Wu, respectfully.

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If you or a loved one has been the victim of a hit and run driver, contact a McAllen personal injury attorney from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

A yet-to-be identified man from Bryan, Texas has received a $250,000 settlement following an auto wreck caused by a drunk driver. A police report details that the wreck occurred when the driver of the other car was evading police at well over 100 mph. At one point during the chase, the vehicle swerved onto the oncoming lane and struck the victim’s car. The wreck was so severe that the driver was killed and the victim was left with serious injuries. Afterward, it was discovered that the driver’s blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit.

Kathryn Knotts, who is representing the man injured in the accident, has stated that his client has suffered both financial and emotional burdens resulting from the incident. He was awarded a quarter of a million dollars for his ordeal. Following the payment of medical bills and attorney fees, the man was left with just over $130,000.

According to dui-usa.org, over 1,200 drunk driving-related accidents occur each year which results in the death of at least one person. Nearly 1,500 accidents result when the drunk driver has a blood alcohol content of at least 0.08 percent.

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Have you been injured due to the fault of a drunk driver? Seek the damages you deserve by contacting a McAllen personal injury attorney from the law office of the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

Florence Brown of Port Arthur, Texas has filed a lawsuit against H-E-B Grocery Stores following a slip and fall she suffered at one of their locations. The incident occurred at the Port Arthur store on May 13^th, 2009 when Brown slipped on a puddle of water she claims was not labeled by the business’s staff. According to Brown, the business and its employees had a duty to make the hazard known to her and other customers.

Brown also maintains in her suit against the grocery giant that the business did not maintain safe levels for customers by failing to inspect and keep the premises clean. She lists past and future mental anguish, impairment, medical expenses and disfigurement as factors for seeking monetary damages. The case will go to court in April.

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If you have suffered injuries, serious or minor, from a slip and fall accident, contact a McAllen personal injury attorney from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

A Rusk County, Texas boy is recovering from injuries suffered from a dog attack that happened a few miles outside of the City of Henderson. Authorities have stated that they are aware of who owns the animal but no information will be released yet. According to Joe Sorrells, Rusk County 5^th Precinct Justice of the Peace, nine-year old Julio Hernandez was outside of his home playing with friends when he was attacked as he was retrieving a ball.

Hernandez suffered injuries to the left side of his face. He was immediately transported to Dallas where he was treated for his wounds. He is expected to make a full recovery. The investigation has discovered that the animal belonged to someone on another street and has been ordered to be put down by the court. Sorrells went on to state that it is unknown if the animal received a rabies vaccination. The body is being tested to determine if it has. If the animal was not kept up with rabies shots, charges will be filed.

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If you or a loved one has suffered a dog attack, contact a McAllen personal injury attorney from the J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.

An accident, which occurred in McAllen early Sunday morning at the corner of North 23^rd and Trenton Road, has left one person in the hospital and the other incarcerated. The McAllen Police Department has identified the driver, who is believed to have been drunk at the time of the accident, as 28-year old Ulises Rodriguez. The victim has not been identified.

The charge brought against Rodriguez is intoxication assault, a third-degree felony in Texas which carries a punishment of two to ten years in the Texas Department of Corrections with a fine not exceeding $10,000. The MPD’s investigation revealed that Rodriguez struck the victim as he rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the intersection at 2:30 AM Sunday. The victim has been listed in critical but stable condition. Rodriguez is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly one in three people will be involved in a drunk driving-related accident at some point in their lifetime.

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Have you been the victim of a drunk driver? If so, contact a personal injury lawyer from McAllen’s J. Gonzalez Injury Attorneys at 956.630.6700.