In Texas as well as elsewhere, the initial media reports on a vehicular accident must be viewed with some skepticism. The details of the accident will be more accurately reported by the authorities after at least preliminary investigations are conducted. Reports about the cause of the accident and the degree of personal injury suffered by the participants are always subject to change due to more accurate findings.
An accident that occurred in Abilene on Thanksgiving Day is an example of sketchy initial reporting that will no doubt be supplemented after further investigation by the police. Media reports indicate that the police at the scene of the accident stated that an SUV was stopped at the intersection of Hwy 36 and Loop 322 when a truck rear-ended it. The police stated that the driver of the truck was in critical condition.
The driver of the SUV and its five passengers were hospitalized with “minor injuries,” according to the police. Initial reports indicate that the police believe that there may have been alcohol or drugs involved in causing the accident. The investigation, however, is ongoing. One thing is generally certain in a rear-end accident, and that is that the driver of the vehicle that did the rear-ending was negligent in not having his or her vehicle under adequate control to avoid the collision.
Therefore, under Texas negligence law, it is likely that the truck operator and the truck’s owner will be liable for damages to each of the six individuals who were injured. Although the reports stated that these persons were hospitalized with minor injuries, it is too early to tell whether any of those who suffered personal injury will encounter serious and permanent physical and emotional symptoms directly as a result of the accident. Sometimes, victims of an accident appear to be relatively unscathed initially. That is often a result of shock that may be masking serious internal injuries.
Source: bigcountryhomepage.com, “7 hospitalized, 1 critical, after southeast Abilene crash”, Erica Garner, Nov. 23, 2017