According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 46 million vehicles have been recalled by auto manufacturers this year, which has hit a high in United States history. Currently, 20 percent of vehicles on the road are under recall.

About the High Recall Rate

NHTSA has recently stated that 1 in 5 vehicles on the road now is under recall. In most of these cases, the driver’s don’t even realize that their vehicle may be under recall.

Of the 46 million vehicles recalled this year, more than 37 million were recalled for defective Takata airbags. Government records indicate the defective airbags have killed 23 people worldwide in recent years, and injured hundreds more.

Although airbags are the big issue, they are not the only recall issue involving cars. In the last year there has been recalls with vehicles that include:

• 4.8 million cruise control issues
• 1.4 million loose steering wheel problems
• 350,000 transmission shifter issues
• 123,000 power steering problems

Government Agencies and Private Business Struggle to Keep Consumers Informed

In light of the high recall rate, the government has mandated that car dealerships send notices informing vehicle owners of open recalls. However, in some cases, the information never reaches the current vehicle owner.

Other organizations are also taking steps to improve recall notification. For example, there is a website created by JD Power allows users to look up open recalls by entering any make and model. Consumer Reports offers a similar car recall tracker, but it requires users to sign up for a free account in order to access it as a member.

NHTSA, the federal agency that’s charged with highway safety, has a website that allows users to look for recalls using car’s vehicle identification number. It goes deep, looking at safety recalls conducted over the past 15 calendar years, and it even includes motorcycles. The U.S. Department of Transportation also has a website that lists not only automobile recalls, but includes recalls for tires, child safety car seats, and even school buses.

If you suspect your car has been recalled please look on any of the websites mentioned in the article and follow the proper steps to stay safe.

Contact an Experienced Product Recall Attorney

Drivers have enough to worry about while traversing the roadways on a daily basis. When a person gets behind the wheel of a car, there is a reasonable expectation that the car is going to perform in a matter that would not put the operator’s life in jeopardy. Unfortunately there are hundreds of vehicle recalls each year due to manufacturer defects, from the tires to the ignition switches, that can cause catastrophic injuries and in some cases death. If you or a loved one have been injured due to a defective part in a vehicle, contact Thomas J. Henry.

Our experienced defective vehicle lawyers have handled a multitude of injury claims caused by recalled vehicles. We continue to handle cases involving faulty and dangerous GM ignition switches and Takata airbags. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free legal consultation — our attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

Two people are dead and two others are injured as a result of a T-bone crash in Northeast Bexar County Tuesday morning.

Details of the Fatal San Antonio Crash

According to KSAT, a Dodge Durango traveling south on Green Mountain Road lost control while attempting to pass a slow driver and slid into oncoming traffic where it was T-boned by a GMC Sierra.

The two occupants of the Dodge Durango died in the collision, and the driver and a passenger in the Sierra were hospitalized. They were listed in stable condition.

San Antonio police are still investigating the crash, but say the streets were slick at the time of the collision due to rain.

Authorities did not identify the deceased individuals.

Texas Automobile Accident Statistics

The following information was provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT):

• 3,773 people were killed in Texas traffic accidents in 2016, marking a 5.45% increase from the 3,578 deaths reported in 2015.
• 638 of the deaths reported in 2016 were attributed to head-on collision.
• Alcohol was determined to be a factor in 987 traffic deaths, accounting for roughly 26% of all Texas traffic fatalities.
• An additional 264,076 people were injured in auto accidents in Texas in 2016.
• Based on reportable data for 2016, TxDOT estimates:
  • One person was killed in a traffic accident every 2 hours and 20 minutes.
  • One person was injured every 1 minute and 59 seconds.
  • A reportable crash occurred every 57 seconds.

Contact an Experienced Commercial Trucking Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury after being involved in an 18-wheeler accident, contact Thomas J. Henry immediately. Our experienced commercial trucking injury attorneys are available to respond to semi-truck accidents at any hour, day or night. Our lawyers understand that the immediate acquisition of evidence is paramount to understanding how the accident occurred. We will take immediate action on your case.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Remember, your choice does matter. Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

An 18-year-old is dead and two other teenagers were seriously injured as a result of a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 295 in Salem County early Monday.

Details of the Fatal Crash

According to reports, the fatal crash occurred around when a car traveling south on the interstate veered off the road and struck the left guardrail before crossing back onto the highway, where it collided with an SUV.

A third vehicle attempted to avoid the initial collision and struck the right guardrail.

The driver of one of the vehicles, an 18-year-old boy, was killed in the collision. Two other teenage boys, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, were transported to Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware with serious injuries.

Three others involved in the crash were treated for moderate injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

National Traffic Accident Statistics

According to the latest available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 35,485 people were killed in auto accidents in the United States in 2016, marking a 5.6-percent increase from 2015.
• Of those killed in auto accidents in 2016:
  • 22,639 were occupants of passenger vehicles
  • 5,495 were pedestrians
  • 5,029 were motorcyclists
  • 829 were pedalcyclists
  • 665 were occupants of large trucks
  • 235 were listed as other or unknown
• Injury estimates for the year have not yet been made available.

Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, contact Thomas J. Henry. Our experienced auto accident attorneys have experience handling a multitude of injury accidents, no matter how severe the crash or injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages if another driver acted negligently. Our firm has the experienced lawyers and financial resources that you need to achieve the real results you deserve.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free case review — attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends. If you cannot make it to our office, we can visit you at your home, in the hospital, or at work.

A Rio Grande City boy was killed Tuesday after the vehicle he was riding in overturned on U.S. Highway 77 in Refugio County.

About the Fatal Refugio County Collision

According to the Corpus Christi Caller Times, the fatal crash occurred about two miles north of Woodsboro at around 2:45 pm.

Preliminary reports indicate a 1999 Ford F-350 pickup carrying five occupants was traveling north on Highway 77 when the vehicle’s rear right wheel assembly detached from the vehicle. The  pickup lost control, crossed into northbound lanes of the highway, then overturned in the center median.

Jonathan Gonzalez-Pena, 10, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Three other passengers were flown to Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline where they were listed in stable condition. The driver was transported to Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline and was also in stable condition.

The accident remains under investigation.

Texas Automobile Accident Statistics

The following information was provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT):

• 3,773 people were killed in Texas traffic accidents in 2016, marking a 5.45% increase from the 3,578 deaths reported in 2015.
• 638 of the deaths reported in 2016 were attributed to head-on collision.
• Alcohol was determined to be a factor in 987 traffic deaths, accounting for roughly 26% of all Texas traffic fatalities.
• An additional 264,076 people were injured in auto accidents in Texas in 2016.
• Based on reportable data for 2016, TxDOT estimates:
  • One person was killed in a traffic accident every 2 hours and 20 minutes.
  • One person was injured every 1 minute and 59 seconds.
  • A reportable crash occurred every 57 seconds.

Contact an Experienced Automobile Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury after being involved in an auto accident, contact Thomas J. Henry immediately. Our experienced auto accident injury attorneys are available to respond to car crashes at any hour, day or night. Our lawyers understand that the immediate acquisition of evidence is paramount to understanding how the accident occurred. We will take immediate action on your case.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Remember, your choice does matter. Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

A man in his 60s died on Tuesday afternoon after an 18-wheeler collided with a motorcycle on Texas 71.

Details of the Texas Trucking Accident

According to the Austin American-Statesman, the crash occurred in the eastbound lanes of Texas 71 around 4:13 pm, near Ross Road.

A preliminary report suggests 64-year-old Brian Jeffrey Hastings of San Antonio crashed his Harley-Davidson into a Volkwagen Golf as he pulled on to Texas 71, about 5 miles east of Austin. Hastings’s motorcycle then crossed two lanes of traffic and was struck by a semi truck.

Hastings and his motorcycle were dragged for a short distance by the semi. He was pronounced dead at 4:29 pm.

Texas Trucking Accident Statistics

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 438,000 trucking accidents in the U.S. in 2014.
• These accidents resulted in 3,903 deaths and 111,000 injuries.
• Of those killed in trucking accidents:
  • 17 percent were occupants of large trucks
  • 73 percent were occupants of other vehicles
  • 10 percent were listed as nonoccupants, including bicyclists and pedestrians
• Texas led the nation in trucking accident fatalities with 553 trucking-related deaths reported. California followed Texas with 300 recorded deaths.

Contact an Experienced Commercial Trucking Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury after being involved in an 18-wheeler accident, contact Thomas J. Henry immediately. Our experienced commercial trucking injury attorneys are available to respond to semi-truck accidents at any hour, day or night. Our lawyers understand that the immediate acquisition of evidence is paramount to understanding how the accident occurred. We will take immediate action on your case.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Remember, your choice does matter. Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

Kia has announced a recall for 500,000 vehicles due to concerns that the vehicles’ airbags may not inflate in the event of a crash.

Kia Airbag Recall an Expansion on an Already Existing Recall

According to USA Today, the recall is being combined with a previous recall expansion by Hyundai, with the two automakers recalling nearly 1.1 million vehicles in all. The defect has been linked to at least four deaths.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the defective Hyundai and Kia airbags in March. At the time, the agency had received six reports of front-end crashes in which airbags failed to properly inflate.

The recalls currently affect the following vehicles:

• 2010-2013 Kia Forte
• 2011-2013 Kia Optima
• 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid
• 2011-2012 Kia Sedona
• 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata
• 2011-2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The automakers are currently working towards a repair.

What Kinds Of Injuries Can Happen When an Airbag Fails?

Injuries caused by a defective airbag include:

• Cuts and lacerations
• Fractures and broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neck and spinal cord injuries
• Hearing loss
• Blindness
• Death

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 576 people were killed in automobile crashes where a front airbag did not deploy between 2001 and 2006. Of these victims, 360 would have benefited from frontal airbag protection.

Major Airbag Recalls in the United States

Over the past decade, there have been multiple widespread recalls on vehicles containing defective and dangerous airbags.

• Takata Corp. (2013 – present) — 21 deaths have been attributed to airbags manufactured by Takata, which are present in 42 million vehicles across 19 different brands
• Hyundai and Kia (2018 to present) — Four deaths have been linked to airbag failures in 425,000 Hyundai and Kia vehicles, including the popular Sonata and Forte models.
• Fiat Chrysler (2016) — Several deaths and injuries were linked to a software defect, causing airbag deployment and seatbelt failure
• GM Chevy Cruze (2014) — Thousands of vehicles were recalled due to a manufacturing flaw that could prevent airbags from deploying in an accident
• GM SUV (2014) — More than one million GM SUVs were recalled after faulty wiring could keep side airbags from deploying in the event of a collision

Contact an Experienced Defective Airbag Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a defective or faulty airbag, contact Thomas J. Henry. Our experienced vehicle recall lawyers are available 24/7, nights and weekends to provide you with a free case review. If an airbag or vehicle manufacturer’s negligence caused your airbag injury, you may be entitled to recover damages to cover medical costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Contact us today for a free legal consultation.

Three people are dead and three others are injured following a crash between a Ford Mustang and a Mercedes-Benz near Spicewood, Texas.

Details of the Fatal Spicewood Car Crash

According to the Austin American-Statesman, the fatal crash occurred Saturday afternoon on a wet stretch of Texas 71 northwest of Austin.

A preliminary investigation concluded that Maribel Enriquez, 17, was driving a Ford Mustang, when the car’s worn rear tires lost traction, causing Enriquez to lose control of her vehicle. The Mustang slid across multiple lanes of traffic before slamming into a Mercedes-Benz.

Enriquez was transported to St. David’s Medical Center where she later died. Her brother, Jose Ornelas, 31, was taken to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.

Two occupants of the Mercedes, a husband and wife, were also killed in the collision. They have been identified as Preben Hammer, 71, and Alice Hammer, 68. Susan Stein, a passenger in the Mercedes-Benz was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center with critical injuries. The fourth occupant of the Mercedes-Benz was not transported to the hospital.

Texas Automobile Accident Statistics

The following information was provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT):

• 3,773 people were killed in Texas traffic accidents in 2016, marking a 5.45% increase from the 3,578 deaths reported in 2015.
• 638 of the deaths reported in 2016 were attributed to head-on collision.
• Alcohol was determined to be a factor in 987 traffic deaths, accounting for roughly 26% of all Texas traffic fatalities.
• An additional 264,076 people were injured in auto accidents in Texas in 2016.
• Based on reportable data for 2016, TxDOT estimates:
  • One person was killed in a traffic accident every 2 hours and 20 minutes.
  • One person was injured every 1 minute and 59 seconds.
  • A reportable crash occurred every 57 seconds.

Contact an Experienced Commercial Trucking Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury after being involved in an 18-wheeler accident, contact Thomas J. Henry immediately. Our experienced commercial trucking injury attorneys are available to respond to semi-truck accidents at any hour, day or night. Our lawyers understand that the immediate acquisition of evidence is paramount to understanding how the accident occurred. We will take immediate action on your case.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Remember, your choice does matter. Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

A child was injured Wednesday after an SUV crashed into a daycare in Mundelein, Illinois.

Police Investigating the Accident

According to ABC 7 Chicago, the SUV was driven by a father of a child who attends daycare. Officials say the SUV jumped the curb, crashed through a window, and traveled roughly 15 feet into Vernon Hills daycare on the 2000 block of Lake Street.

The injured child, a girl between 4 and 5 years old, was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center. The driver was treated at the scene. Three children were in the vehicle at the time of the accident, but none of them were injured.

The incident occurred around 8:15 am as parents were dropping of their children. Police are reviewing security cameras as part of their ongoing investigation.

No charges have been filed.

National Traffic Accident Statistics

According to the latest available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 35,485 people were killed in auto accidents in the United States in 2016, marking a 5.6-percent increase from 2015.
• Of those killed in auto accidents in 2016:
  • 22,639 were occupants of passenger vehicles
  • 5,495 were pedestrians
  • 5,029 were motorcyclists
  • 829 were pedalcyclists
  • 665 were occupants of large trucks
  • 235 were listed as other or unknown
• Injury estimates for the year have not yet been made available.

Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, contact Thomas J. Henry. Our experienced auto accident attorneys have experience handling a multitude of injury accidents, no matter how severe the crash or injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages if another driver acted negligently. Our firm has the experienced lawyers and financial resources that you need to achieve the real results you deserve.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free case review — attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends. If you cannot make it to our office, we can visit you at your home, in the hospital, or at work.

A suspected drunk driver rear-ended a Houston police office Wednesday morning before striking a second vehicle and overturning.

Details of the Houston Drunk Driving Crash

According to the Houston Chronicle, SWAT officer Sgt. T. Fendia of the Houston Police Department was heading home when he was rear-ended by a vehicle on Highway 288 at around 12:30 am.

After hitting Fendia’s vehicle, the suspect’s vehicle hit another car before overturning. The driver had to be extricated from the wreckage and was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Fendia suffered minor injuries and the third driver was treated at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

National Traffic Accident Statistics

According to the latest available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• 35,485 people were killed in auto accidents in the United States in 2016, marking a 5.6-percent increase from 2015.
• Of those killed in auto accidents in 2016:
  • 22,639 were occupants of passenger vehicles
  • 5,495 were pedestrians
  • 5,029 were motorcyclists
  • 829 were pedalcyclists
  • 665 were occupants of large trucks
  • 235 were listed as other or unknown
• Injury estimates for the year have not yet been made available.

Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, contact Thomas J. Henry. Our experienced auto accident attorneys have experience handling a multitude of injury accidents, no matter how severe the crash or injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages if another driver acted negligently. Our firm has the experienced lawyers and financial resources that you need to achieve the real results you deserve.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free case review — attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends. If you cannot make it to our office, we can visit you at your home, in the hospital, or at work.

Edy Lopez-Hernandez, 27, has been charged with murder, intoxication assault, and failure to render aid following a fatal accident that claimed the life of 17-year-old Britney Baez.

Details of the Fatal DUI Accident

According to the New York Post, Baez and her family were on their way to a movie when their vehicle was struck by a car driven by Lopez-Hernandez. Lopez-Hernandez attempted to flee the scene of the crash with his 2-year-old son in the car.

A witness stopped Lopez-Hernandez and told him to return to the scene. Lopez-Hernandez was detained and transported to the hospital where it was determined he was “under the influence of narcotics.” Further investigation revealed that Lopez-Hernandez was traveling as fast as 70 mph when he rear-ended car Baez was traveling in.

Baez’s sister suffered injuries and her father was transported to the an intensive care unit with crticall injuries.

Texas Trucking Accident Statistics

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 438,000 trucking accidents in the U.S. in 2014.
• These accidents resulted in 3,903 deaths and 111,000 injuries.
• Of those killed in trucking accidents:
  • 17 percent were occupants of large trucks
  • 73 percent were occupants of other vehicles
  • 10 percent were listed as nonoccupants, including bicyclists and pedestrians
• Texas led the nation in trucking accident fatalities with 553 trucking-related deaths reported. California followed Texas with 300 recorded deaths.

Contact an Experienced Commercial Trucking Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury after being involved in an 18-wheeler accident, contact Thomas J. Henry immediately. Our experienced commercial trucking injury attorneys are available to respond to semi-truck accidents at any hour, day or night. Our lawyers understand that the immediate acquisition of evidence is paramount to understanding how the accident occurred. We will take immediate action on your case.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Remember, your choice does matter. Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends.