The Kahn Law Firm's Blog » Houston Trial Lawyer

Houston Auto Accident Lawyers Warn of Teen Safety Post Street Racing Accident

Jennifer Kahn — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:56:25 +0000

An accident earlier this week in West Harris County should be a wake-up call to Houston parents and personal injury lawyers. Two teen motorists were seriously injured in what seems to have been a street racing accident. The two teens both aged 15 years old, were racing a Chevy sedan and a Lincoln Navigator. The sedan crashed into a ditch, while the Navigator hit a telephone pole. The Navigator driver suffered critical injuries, and had to be airlifted to the Memorial Hermann hospital. The Chevy driver was also injured.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Department is confirming that neither driver had a license. It also appears that the two teenagers’ parents were possibly aware that their children were driving their cars. Residents at Keith Harrow Boulevard and Barker’s Cypress where the accident occurred, say that such street racing is common at that location. Most of these races take place at night. Last year, three people were killed during a race in North Harris County. As Houston auto accident lawyers and parents ourselves, we would encourage parents of teenagers to talk to their children about the importance of safe driving practices. Street racing is a complete no-no, and parents must step up to take away the car keys and place restrictions on children who may not be mature enough to practice safe driving.

Teen motorists are at a higher risk of an accident because of a number of factors.

Lack of experience
Recklessness
Love of adventure and thrills
Peer pressure
Distractions by fellow teen passengers
Love of thrills

Any of these factors can cause an accident, and a combination of one or more can be deadly, causing catastrophic injuries. Some automakers have begun to recognize the safety issues that the parents of teen motorists struggle with. Ford has come up with MyKey, a key that allows parents to restrict car speeds and the volume of the music systems in their teenagers’ cars. The system can also be programmed to shut the car down if the driver or front seat passenger is not wearing a seatbelt. While these technologies are very welcome, and help parents keep tabs on their children’s driving, they are no substitutes for parental supervision and guidance.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact the lawyers at The Kahn Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation at 713-226-9900 or toll free 1-877-226-9940.

We are Called to Serve

Jennifer Kahn — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:54:22 +0000

Lawyers are too often characterized as greedy, dishonest, and faithless. Our society does not trust lawyers and often considers attorneys as a class entirely separate from the rest of society. And perhaps, the legal profession has embraced and promulgated these thoughts in an attempt to validate the notion that attorneys are somehow better than most of society.

The accolades lawyers receive from exceptional case results, successful verdicts, and high dollar settlements and judgments can become very seductive. It is often too easy to bask in the glory of personal success and believe in our own greatness. Is it possible that we have we lost sight of our true purpose in our pursuit of greatness?

Sunday’s Gospel according to Mark, helped me search for my own answers and to guide me in my own life.

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” -Mk 9:30-37

Have I been like the disciple in that I am so focused on achieving personal greatness that I have lost sight of what is truly important? Christ reminds us all that our greatness will come from our service to others. As an attorney, Christ calls us to serve our clients.

I pray for the strength to be a servant and I ask for your prayers as I most certainly need them.

How the new Palm Pre Smartphone Can Help Lawyers….

Jennifer Kahn — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:18:19 +0000

Sprint has finally released the much anticipated Palm Pre Smartphone. After manipulating it for several hours today, I have decided that it can certainly be beneficial to any lawyer’s productivity. It is very small, about 2/3 the size of my last several phones. It was extremely easy to sync with Microsoft Exchange for Outlook email, calendar and contacts which helps lawyers stay connected with the office when we are away. The applications that come with the phone allow for viewing of documents and PDFs. And the large screen makes it easy to see websites fully and clearly. Additionally, it is easy to type on with the slide-out keyboard–much more useful than my last phone.

I am looking forward to the productivity apps–similar to those that the Apple iphone now has–that hopefully will come in the very near future. I would anticipate that applications that would allow for voice activated notes and dictation that can then be emailed to a legal assistant for transcription are on the horizon which would allow for even more efficient time for travel time in a vehicle. For now, however, I am very pleased with this phone. I’ll update again later once I have used it more.