A hit-and-run collision left a local 17-year-old partially paralyzed. The accident occurred on Fairway Boulevard. The 17-year-old, Clay Sorrells, was riding a motorcycle when he was struck from behind. The driver initially fled the scene. Law enforcement officials were able to apprehend the driver, a 26-year-old, Connard Lee Riddles III. Sorrells was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. He sustained critical injuries to his brain and face. Sorrells has already undergone two brain surgeries. The details of how the accident occurred are still unclear. Law enforcement officials haven’t made any charges regarding drugs or alcohol. An experienced North Texas personal injury lawyer can check phone records to determine if distracted driving was a factor.
A recent article by KAUZ News Channel Six reports that it has been 12 years since Texas roadways have gone a single day without a traffic related fatality. At least one person has died on a Texas roadway everyday for the past twelve years. That adds up to over 41,000 deaths on Texas roadways. Many of those deaths are attributed to people not wearing seatbelts, drinking and driving or distracted driving. 3,048 deaths on Texas roadways occurred in 2011. The Texas Department of Transportation is working in conjunction with local law enforcement and public safety officials to bring awareness to this issue.
Drivers are urged to take more responsibility in their driving habits. Many traffic related deaths could be prevented. 13.4 percent of the traffic-related deaths that occurred last year were associated with distracted driving. Distracted driving can include texting, checking one’s email and talking on the phone. Motorcyclists are at an even greater danger for serious injury and death on Texas roadways. They do not have the benefit of automobile safety features such as seatbelts and airbags. Many motorcyclists know that riding defensively is the safest way to avoid dangerous and distracted drivers. Unfortunately, avoiding a dangerous driver is not always possible.
The team at Altman Legal Group wishes Clay Sorrells a speedy and complete recovery. Preventing these traffic related injuries and deaths should be a top priority for drivers and law enforcement alike. Drivers are encouraged to focus on safely navigating Texas roadways, and law enforcement is tightening up on distracted drivers. Victims of Texas roadway accidents are encouraged to contact a North Texas personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer can ensure that the victim’s legal rights are protected, and those responsible are held accountable.