Dallas Improper Passing Accident Attorney

Passing other vehicles is allowed by Texas law as long as the passing maneuver is performed in compliance with certain rules. Generally, motorists in Dallas and elsewhere in Texas are allowed to pass other vehicles, because motorists have a right to go as fast as the speed limit allows.

“Unfortunately, many passing maneuvers on our roads and highways are performed incorrectly and negligently, which puts the safety of other motorists in danger,” says our Dallas car wreck attorney at Law Office of Dorothy Hyde.

There are very strict and fixed rules for passing, and failure to follow these rules might expose the passing driver to liability if his or her actions cause injuries or harm to others. Let’s review some of these rules.

These are four most common mistakes made by Texas motorists that may constitute “improper passing”:

1. The first most common mistake that drivers performing a passing maneuver make is failing to scan their surroundings in rear-view and side-view mirrors to check if there are other vehicles behind them or driving in adjacent lanes. If there are other vehicles in the vicinity, it would make the maneuver unsafe to perform.
2. Another common mistake is made when a motorist wants to pass another vehicle when there is not enough space to do so. “Under Texas law, a motorist must keep a safe distance between their vehicle and other vehicles in order to eliminate the risk of causing a car crash,” explains our Dallas improper passing accident attorney.
3. The third most common mistake that may amount to the “improper passing” offense is when a passing driver fails to use turn signals when performing the maneuver to alert other motorists of his or her intention to pass.
4. And then there are also the so-called “blind passes,” which occur when a passing driver performs a passing maneuver while not having a complete view of oncoming traffic. In most situations, motorists are prohibited from passing on the right.

Also, many motorists in Dallas and all across Texas seem to not know or forget about the left-lane passing law, which came into effect in 2013. Under the left-lane passing rule in Texas, it is illegal to drive on the left when you are not trying to pass another vehicle. In other words, if a motorist is driving slowly in the left lane and does not intend to pass anyone, that motorist is violating Texas’s left-lane passing law.

Our experienced car accident attorney in Dallas says that motorists should always watch for signs on multi-lane highways in Texas that read “Left Lane For Passing Only.” By disregarding the left-lane passing law, you impede the flow of traffic and could face a fine of up to $200.

In Texas, improper passing may amount to reckless driving conduct. If an investigation concludes that a motorist caused a car crash due to improper passing – or any other form of recklessness, for that matter – the at-fault motorist will be held liable if his or her recklessness caused harm to other motorists.

If you or your loved one suffered harm in a car accident caused by improper passing, you will have to demonstrate evidence proving that the other motorist was negligent or reckless in order to recover damages. You may want to get legal help from a car accident lawyer to learn more about your options for proving that the other driver breached his or her duty to exercise reasonable care when performing the dangerous passing maneuver.

Contact our car accident lawyers from Law Office of Dorothy Hyde to discuss your particular situation. Call our offices at (214) 883-1700 to schedule a free consultation.

You may not think about them as often with the rise of ridesharing services, but buses still play a valuable role in our lives, especially in and around the Dallas area. They perform valuable services, from getting our kids to and from school to keeping the streets less crowded through public transportation. Buses are a good option and are usually safe.

There are times when bus accidents happen though, and they can be devastating. If you or a loved one have been hurt and need a bus accident attorney in Dallas, we want to help. The Law Office of Dorothy Hyde has a team standing by and ready to take your case.

You see plenty of buses during the day. You may even use one regularly. The Dallas Area Rapid Transit has plenty of routes through the city to help you get where you need to go quickly and affordable. It’s a great option when you just don’t feel like driving. There are also plenty of school buses, getting thousands of kids to and from school.

Since Dallas is a popular place, we also have plenty of long-distance transportation buses traveling around.

We know you have expectations that your bus rides will be safe, and for the most part, they are. Unfortunately, sometimes accidents happen that are out of your control.

Bus companies or government agencies are usually responsible for ensuring the buses themselves are safe. They should perform regular inspections and fix any mechanical problems. If they do not, the results could be detrimental for the passengers and others on the roadway. If the brakes or engine fail, a bus crash has the potential to cause a mass casualty situation.

Bus drivers should all have their commercial driver’s license, and many must obtain specific endorsements depending on what type of bus they will be driving. If a driver is distracted by their phone or another device, they are just as deadly as someone who is driving impaired.

Many buses do not have seatbelts, making an accident even more dangerous for passengers. Other drivers on the roadway, as well as pedestrians, are at risk of getting hit by reckless bus drivers. An injury could put you in the hospital and leave you with high medical bills. If you are unable to work, the lost income could impact you and your family financially.

 Make sure all of your medical needs are taken care of after a bus accident. Even if an injury seems minor, please know that some internal and head injuries don’t begin to show symptoms until well after an accident. After that, you may need a Dallas bus accident attorney to help you with your case. Turn to the Law Office of Dorothy Hyde for more than 30 years of experience. We want to help you get the compensation you deserve so you can get back on your feet. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at (214) 883-1700. 

If you’ve come to our page looking for help after the loss of a loved one, we know you are hurting. If you need a fatal car accident attorney in Dallas, let the team at The Law Office of Dorothy Hyde help you through this difficult time.

We will patiently sit with you, answering all of your questions as we work out the best path forward. If someone else’s negligence caused the death of your loved one, we know you’ll stop at nothing until you have all the answers to your questions. Neither will we.

 In 2017, there were no days when someone wasn’t killed in a crash on Texas roadways. A total of 3,721 people were killed. In Dallas, 197 people lost their lives in vehicle crashes. 

We recognize that sometimes fatal accidents happen and nobody was at fault and it really was an accident. We also know that sometimes, other drivers are reckless on the roadways.

When another driver is impaired by drugs or alcohol, they are much more likely to cause a fatal accident. Their irresponsible behavior is a hazard to anyone on the road around them. Not only should they be held liable, but so should anyone who knew they were intoxicated and continued to serve them. In Texas, there are dram shop laws that allow servers and bartenders to be held liable if they served alcoholic beverages to someone who is obviously intoxicated and that person proceeds to hurt or kill someone.

Drivers who are distracted by their phones or other devices can also be held liable for injuries and fatalities they cause. Many people think that taking their eyes off the road to send a text message or watch a video won’t hurt anyone. We know better. Driving while distracted can be just as deadly as driving while intoxicated.

In the aftermath of a fatal accident, surviving family members have so much to deal with. After the funeral services are over and the initial shock wears away, you will have many questions. Losing the income of a loved one can have devastating financial consequences for your family as well.

First, we want to say we are sorry for your loss. This must be an unimaginably difficult time for you and your family. At the Law Offices of Dorothy Hyde, we want to help you get your life back to normal, to somehow offer your closure. We will help you recover compensation for:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Lost and future income of your loved one
• Pain and suffering damages
• Punitive damages

If you need a fatal car accident attorney in Dallas, we will stop at nothing until those responsible for the death of your loved one are held liable. We know that compensation won’t solve the hurt. You just want answers. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at (214) 883-1700.

You see the little “Lyft” sticker in the windows of plenty of vehicles around Dallas. Ridesharing services are no longer a strange concept to most people in the country. They’ve revolutionized the transportation industry. Before, when you needed a ride somewhere you had to call a cab. Now, all you have to do is open an app on your phone, press a button, and wait for your ride to show up.

• But what happens if your Lyft driver gets into an accident?
• What if you are in another vehicle that is hit by a Lyft driver?

If you need a Dallas Lyft accident attorney, you can turn to the Law Offices of Dorothy Hyde. Our team has over 30 years of experience to bring to your side.

Lyft and other ridesharing services have exploded in popularity over the last few years and regulators have had a hard time keeping up. Becoming a Lyft driver in Texas is not difficult. All someone needs is a license, a registered vehicle with insurance, and a vehicle that is from the year 2002 or newer with four doors.

We’ve seen cases of Lyft drivers operating under the influence of alcohol, and that is scary. Some places have even moved to change the law to lower the allowable blood alcohol content for Lyft drivers when they are working. There have also been cases of drivers operating while distracted by their phones, whether texting or watching videos. This is often just as dangerous as driving impaired.

These are regular people and most of them have no professional experience with driving passengers as fares. They aren’t like taxi and bus drivers who undergo stricter regulations.

If you are injured due to the negligence of a Lyft driver, it could have devastating consequences. You could incur high medical bills. If you have to miss work, the lost income could impact you and your family financially.

Lyft covers their drivers with insurance for a range of possibilities, both when they have passengers and while they are awaiting fares. That doesn’t mean the insurance company will offer you enough compensation to cover all of your needs. You may need legal help to ensure you are getting what you deserve. 

Take care of any injuries you sustain immediately, even if it seems minor. Make sure you keep all documentation related to the accident, including police reports and medical files. In the aftermath of an accident, you may have questions. At The Law Office of Dorothy Hyde, we want to provide you with a Lyft accident attorney in Dallas that has over 30 years of experience. Sure, ridesharing is fairly new, but we’ve been dealing with a vehicle accident and personal injury cases for a long time. We will work to ensure that you get the compensation you need to cover your medical bills as well as any lost income if you are unable to work. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at (214) 883-1700. 

Our team has over 20 years of experience in handling personal injury cases. We have a proven track record of success and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients.

 You have a certain expectation when you ride your bicycle on the roadway or sidewalk. One of those expectations is that there won’t be any damage that can cause you harm. Unfortunately, sometimes sidewalks and roadways are improperly designed or poorly maintained by governmental authorities or companies contracted to fix them. Whether it is root damage that causes a sidewalk to buckle or potholes that haven’t been filled, they can cause you serious harm when you ride. 

If a driver is driving too fast for conditions, fails to yield the right-of-way, or just ignores bicyclists, they can cause serious harm. Worse, if they are distracted by their phone or other devices and strike a cyclist, they should be liable for their negligence.

In cases when drivers are impaired by drugs or alcohol, they are much more likely to injure or kill cyclists. Not only should they be held criminally liable, but financially liable as well.

 Bicyclists don’t have the same amount of protection that people in vehicles do when a crash occurs. When cyclists are hit by vehicles that weigh thousands of pounds, injuries can range from lacerations and broken bones to more serious internal and head trauma. Often, surgery is required to fix damages. Bicycle injuries can lead to extended hospital and rehabilitation times, impacting the injured personal both emotionally and financially. 

 If you need a Dallas bicycle accident attorney, you can turn to the Law Offices of Dorothy Hyde. Our team has years of experiences when it comes to both personal injury and vehicle accident cases and we will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve. We won’t stop at simply getting you help with medical bills. If someone else’s negligence has caused you harm, we will ensure they are liable for damages relating to medical costs, lost income, and punitive damages. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at (214) 883-1700. You need to focus on healing – we will focus on your case. 

Whether you are a Dallas native or a transplant, we can tell you that there’s no better way to get out and see the city than setting out on foot. Any time you are out and about in Dallas, you are sure to see plenty of people strolling around. Unfortunately, sometimes accidents happen when you are walking. If someone else’s negligence has caused you harm, you may need a Dallas pedestrian accident attorney. The experienced team at The Law Office of Dorothy Hyde has over 30 years of experience and is ready to fight for you. 

When you are walking, we know you take steps to stay safe by walking in areas designated for pedestrians and crossing streets at appropriate spaces. That’s the thing – pedestrian accidents are often another driver’s fault. Whether they choose to ignore you, thinking you will stop for them, of they simply aren’t paying attention, a vehicle striking a pedestrian can have devastating consequences.

There is simply no way for our bodies to absorb thousands of pounds of force without getting injured in some way. Even slow-moving vehicles can cause damage to our bodies. If we are lucky, we get away with some bumps, bruises, or scrapes. Unfortunately, more major injuries often occur.

2017 in Texas saw 614 pedestrians killed in crashes and over 10,000 pedestrian injuries. Those are alarming numbers for anyone who walks regularly. Drivers who are impaired by drugs or alcohol are much more reckless and pose a significant danger to pedestrians, as do drivers who are distracted by their devices.

Injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident could mean major surgeries and long recovery times, meaning missed work and an inability to lead a normal life. Not only that, but it could leave you emotionally impacted for years.

If you are struck by a vehicle, the first focus is getting the medical attention you need. After that, you will have questions.

• Why did this happen?
• Who was at fault?
• Will my insurance cover all of my expenses?

To answer these questions, you need a Dallas pedestrian accident attorney. At the Law Office of Dorothy Hyde, you will be getting a team who will stop at nothing to get you the compensation you deserve. If someone else’s negligence caused your accident, we will make sure they are held liable. Dorothy Hyde will stop at nothing to ensure that you are able to cover all of your expenses, from medical bills and rehabilitation to lost income. We don’t want the financial livelihood of your family to be in jeopardy. We’ll fight for you the whole way to court if we have to. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at (214) 883-1700.