Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer Recommends Report on Wrongfully Convicted Persons Exonerated Through DNA Testing
Not even a Houston criminal defense lawyer would be able to tell you what it must feel like for a person wrongfully convicted of a serious crime, to be finally exonerated through DNA testing. Yet, wrongful convictions are more frequent than we care to think about.
The Innocence Project profiles 250 wrongfully convicted people who have been exonerated through DNA testing, in a report called “250 Exonerated. Too Many Wrongfully Convicted.” These people had been wrongfully convicted for various crimes including rape, sexual assault, abductions, sexual abuse, robbery, and murder.
There are several stark facts in the report that jump out at us. According to the report:
- These persons spent a total of 3,160 years in prison for crimes they never committed.
- That works out to an average of 13 years in prison for each person.
- 60% of those who were exonerated were African American.
- 8% were Latino.
- 29% were Caucasian.
- 47% had spent at least 1/3rd of their lives in prison or on parole.
- 84% had been convicted of sexual assault
- 29% had been convicted of murder.
- 16% had been convicted of both sexual assault and murder
- 70% were convicted based on misidentification by witnesses. So much for eye witness accounts.
- 53% of those wrong identifications involved a person incorrectly identifying a black person.
- 52% were convicted based partly on improper forensic science.
- 21% were convicted partly because of improper use of microscopic hair analysis.
- 5 people were convicted based on the wrong use of DNA.
We highly recommend you read the report. It’s not something that criminal defense lawyers in Houston like to think about – an innocent man being put away for a crime he didn’t commit – but these are 250 examples that force us to face the ugly truth. This is exactly why we fight these cases so aggressively.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a serious criminal offense, contact the Husband & Wife Legal Team at the Kahn Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation at 713-226-9900.
Kinder Morgan Tugboat Sinks in the Houston Ship Channel-Texas Injury Lawyers
A 56-foot tugboat named the JR Nichols sunk at approximately 10:30pm last night in the Houston Ship Channel. Four of the five individuals were pulled from the water by LyondellBasell rescue team and then were transported to a local hospital. The United States Coast Guard and the Houston Police Dive Team are currently searching the water for one crew member of the tugboat who is still missing. The tugboat is a Kinder Morgan vessel which was on its way to their facility. The cause of the accident is still unknown, but preliminary reports indicate that it may have been caught in the wake of a larger vessel. The Houston Ship Channel remains closed at this time. 
If you or a loved one has been injured on any type of boat, ship or vessel, contact the Texas injury lawyers at the Kahn Law Firm at 713-226-9900 for a free consultation.
9 People Injured in Metro Train Bus Accident in Downtown Houston-Houston Injury Lawyers
While personal injury lawyers in Houston would advise strict following of traffic rules for all motorists, the fact is that commercial motor vehicle drivers and mass transit operators have a higher responsibility to drive safely. The failure of a Metro bus driver to follow these rules is being blamed for a bus-light rail train accident in downtown Houston. Nine people have been injured in the accident.
The crash occurred Monday afternoon. Preliminary investigations indicate that the bus, which was traveling west on St Joseph Parkway, ran a red light, and crashed into a northbound train. Nine people in all were injured, including the bus driver. The incident caused some disruption of bus services for a while.
If further investigations show that the driver did indeed break the rules here, we hope that Metro authorities take a serious view of such behavior. Very often, Houston accident lawyers notice that mass transit operators are treated leniently. They are often given more than a single chance, and may be put through a long process of suspensions and second and third chances, before they are finally dismissed from their jobs. With thousands of passengers using Houston’s light rail and bus systems every day, it is imperative that the operators who are trusted with the safety of these passengers are highly trained, experienced and responsible.
Unfortunately, we often see that monitoring and tracking of transit operators takes a backseat. This can happen because of resource crunches. Transit agencies around the country are struggling with stretched budgets. In such a situation, investigating every single safety incident involving an employee may not be possible, and minor incidents may be placed on the back burner. As Houston personal injury lawyers, we hope that the Metro Transit Authority takes suitable action against the driver here.
San Antonio, Austin, Houston Feature on List of Drunkest Cities in America–Houston DWI Lawyers
This is probably the reason why DWI lawyers in Texas are as busy as they are. A new survey released by Men’s Health magazine lists the 100 “drunkest” cities in America. Three cities in Texas – Austin, San Antonio and Lubbock – feature in the Top 10.
The survey took several factors into consideration before compiling the list. These included DWI arrest rates in the cities, death rates from alcohol-related liver diseases, alcohol-related car accidents, rates of binge drinking over the past month and the severity of penalties for DUI. Fresno, CA has the proud distinction of being the most sloshed city in the country, followed by Reno, Billings, Riverside, Austin, St Louis, San Antonio, Lubbock, Tucson and Bakersfield.
Several other cities in Texas feature on the rest of the list. These include:
- El Paso at number 24
- Corpus Christi at number 25,
- Houston at number 47
- Arlington at number 50
- Fort Worth at number 55
- Dallas at number 77
Not everyone agrees with the list, and as DWI lawyers in Houston, we find it surprising that Austin, San Antonio and Lubbock beat out our very own Houston for the so-called honor. A couple of years ago, Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimated that the risk of being killed in an alcohol-related crash in Houston was four times higher than in Austin, and three times higher than in San Antonio. Harris County in fact, has some of the highest DWI rates in the country, keeping DWI lawyers in Harris County very busy indeed.
Driving intoxicated is not just a major risk to your safety, but also to the safety of motorists around you. To avoid the license suspensions and penalties that come with a DUI conviction, the number one piece of advice we would have, is to never drive after drinking.
If you get arrested in for DWI in the Greater Houston area (including Harris County, Galveston County, Brazoria County and Fort Bend County), contact the experienced DWI lawyers at the Kahn Law Firm today for a free consultation at 713-226-9900.
Toyota Expected to Issue Recall of 2010 Prius Today-Texas Product Liability Lawyers
According to reports, Toyota is expected to issue a recall of 2010 Prius hybrid vehicles on Tuesday, February 9 due to problems with the anti-locking brake system. The recall will be for 2010 models sold from May 2009 through January 2010 and involves 300,000 cars sold in the United States and Japan. More than 120 complaints about the brake system have been reported by Prius owners as of last week prompting NHTSA to begin a full investigation.
Texas DOT Uses Funny Super Bowl Ad to Prevent DWI-Houston DWI Lawyers
Texas DWI lawyers braced for Super Bowl Sunday, one of the biggest drinking days of the calendar. The Texas Department of Transportation too put to rest its traditional approach to preventing DUI crashes, and used humor to get young men – the traditional Super Bowl audience – to drive sober or not drive at all.
The DOT produced a TV spot that features a bunch of “high” men chanting “Will take a cab or ride in a car, with a friend who’s S-O-B-E-R”. It’s a different approach to the typical DWI public service announcement spots that show victims of drunk driving crashes. The Texas DOT conducted enough research to show that the traditional messages were not reaching men between the ages of 18 and 34, who are frequently arrested for DWI on Super Bowl night. In fact, these Super Bowl viewers tend to simply zone out during the PSA, ensuring that the message never reached those it was intended to.
Holiday DWI enforcement can sometimes seem draconian. Often, as Houston DWI lawyers see, these are hurriedly put together operations with breathalyzers that are malfunctioning, tests that are rushed through, and with more of a focus on reaching or crossing the previous year’s targets.
The best thing would be for you to avoid drinking and driving. If you have any doubts about whether you are legally intoxicated, ask a friend to drive you home, or hire a cab.
If you have been charged with a DWI, intoxicated assault or intoxicated manslaughter, it is important that you contact an experienced DWI lawyer TODAY. You only have 15 days to request a hearing through DPS to save your drivers license. Contact the DWI lawyers at The Kahn Law Firm at 713-226-9900 for a free confidential consultation.
Dorel’s Delayed Car Seat Recall has Houston Product Liability Attorneys Concerned-Texas Child Injury Lawyers
As product liability lawyers representing clients in and around Houston, we have been concerned at the slow pace at which recalls are initiated by companies, and the failure of federal agencies to pressure these companies to act faster. However, even by these already sluggish standards, Dorel’s delayed recall of defective car safety seats last month involving models manufactured almost a decade ago, is stunning.
Last month, Dorel Juvenile Group announced a recall of several of its car safety seats because of weak restraint straps. Theses straps were susceptible to failure during an accident, causing children to fall out of the seat. The recall came in January 2010, a full 9 years after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tested the seats, found them susceptible to wear and tear and asked Dorel to initiate a recall. The company appealed that decision in 2002, and in 2008, a full 6 years after Dorel’s appeal, the NHTSA denied Dorel’s appeal. Dorel appealed this decision too. Last month, the agency rejected Dorel’s appeal a second time, and asked the company to recall the seats.
Between 2001 when the NHTSA first noticed the problem and 2010 when the recall was announced, the children who were using these seats have grown into teenagers. It has taken the agency 9 years to get Dorel to initiate what should have been a simple recall. As parents ourselves and Houston product liability lawyers, we fail to understand why it should take a car seat maker and the NHTSA 9 years to initiate a recall, which is, quite frankly, now meaningless anyway. A majority of these seats are no longer in use, and it would all have been laughable if it didn’t concern the safety of our children.
As an after note, it’s possible that some of these seats are still around, and are being used for siblings, or being sold at thrift stores, discount stores and online. We would advise parents to look up the Dorel website, and check if they still have the recalled car safety seats.
It is important to note as well, that car seats even have expiration dates, as does a gallon of milk. Most car seat manufacturers put an expiration date on the side of the car seat, but if not, most “expire” 6 months after the manufacturing date. Some manufactures allow for 10 years of use, but most are not that long. Check your car seats for an expiration date and discontinue use of expired seats.
If your child has been involved in an accident or injury, contact the husband & wife legal team at the Kahn Law Firm today for a free consultation at 713-226-9900.
Students Injured in Harris County School Bus Accident-Texas Child Injury Lawyers
There was yet another Harris County school bus involved in an accident 10 days ago, and this one left several students injured. The accident, which occurred on the last Monday of January on TC Jester, seems to have been the result of motorist recklessness.
According to police, a Toyota Camry pulled out right in front of the bus to make a left turn. The school bus driver was not able to stop in some time to avoid the Camry, and ended up striking the car. At least three students in the bus suffered injuries, and were taken to the hospital. Fortunately, according to reports, none of the injuries in this accident were serious, and the students are expected to recover soon. Residents in the area say that the intersection where the accident took place, plays host to far too many speeding motorists.
Houston School Bus Accidents Can End in Serious Injuries
Any time an accident involves a school bus, it’s a matter of grave concern to us. As Houston auto accident lawyers, we know that although school bus accidents aren’t as frequent as motor vehicle accidents, they can result in more serious injuries. With seatbelts still not mandated, it is highly likely that children will be thrown out of their seats and hit the interior of the bus, leaving them with potentially serious injuries. Injuries to children in a school bus accident can range from fractures, sprains, bruises and cuts, to more serious head injuries, brain injuries and spinal cord fractures.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced 4 recalls for Thomas Built buses. According to School Transportation News, the recalls are linked to problems with brake pedal arms, accelerator pedals, brake lines and undertorqued fasteners. The recalls affect more than 15,000 buses of model years between 2006 and 2011.
Thomas Built’s parent company Daimler Trucks is also recalling several school buses of model years 2006 to 2011 because of jammed accelerator pedal problems.
If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, it is important that you contact an attorney quickly. We offer free case evaluations on all injury cases. Call us at 713-226-9900 or toll free 1-877-226-9940 today.
Toyota Recalls More Vehicles over Floor Mat Entrapment Issues-Texas Personal Injury Lawyers
Houston product liability lawyers have been very frustrated with Toyota’s kneejerk responses to proven episodes of unintended acceleration in several of its vehicles. The company last week announced that it was extending its earlier recall of 4.3 million vehicles by adding another million vehicles to the list.
In October last year, the company had recalled 4.3 million vehicles for what it called “floor mat incompatibility” issues. The company blamed floor mats for a devastating accident in California last August that killed four people. The Toyota Lexus in that crash accelerated to about 120mph, went out of control and crashed. Toyota was quick to blame all-weather floor mats that it said could jam the accelerator pedal, causing the car to rev up to high speeds. A recall followed.
Now, the company has extended that recall by another million vehicles. The vehicles included in the recall are
- 2008-2010 Highlander
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Venza
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
The recall was followed by another shocker this week. The company has announced that it will stop manufacture and sales of 8 of its models. Toyota apparently was asked by the Department of Transportation to take this drastic step. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood confirmed in a radio interview that his department had pressured Toyota to recall the vehicles and temporarily stop production and sales of 8 models, including
- 2009-2010 RAV4 Crossover
- 2009-2010 Corolla
- 2009-2010 Matrix
- 2005-2010 Avalon
- 2007-2010 Camry
- 2010 Highlander
- 2007-2010 Tundra and
- 2008-2010 Sequoia
Millions of Toyota owners in Texas are likely to be stressed and anxious now that their cars’ safety has been called into question. For these people, getting answers to their questions has become a matter of urgency, especially in light of developments over the past week. Judging by the handwringing by which Toyota has handled the entire acceleration-related crisis, it doesn’t seem like Houston product liability attorneys or Toyota owners will be receiving answers anytime soon.
Toyota dealers in Houston say they have been besieged with anxious telephone calls from customers. So far, dealers are asking customers not to panic while Toyota works to develop repairs for the problem. Considering that the acceleration episodes began to emerge in 2002, we would think Toyota has had ample time to identify the problem and develop solutions.
If you have been involved in an accident in one of the vehicles listed on Toyota’s recall list, contact the Texas product liability lawyers at The Kahn Law Firm today for a free consultation at 713-226-9900 or toll free 1-877-226-9940.
How to Drive Safely with Kids in the Car-Texas Child Injury Lawyers
As Houston auto accident lawyers, we know that distracted driving is one of the biggest contributing factors to motor vehicle accidents. But as parents, we also know that our days are filled with some of the noisiest distractions in our cars. You can restrict the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving. But how do you deal with the kind of distractions you face every day as you drive your children around?
As parents who struggle with distractions from children ourselves, we were very pleased to see this list of advice and tips for parents driving with kids from Consumer Reports. We’re familiar with a few of these, and know they work. It’s very important for Texas parents to realize that traveling with the kids doesn’t have to be an exercise in frustration, anger and non-stop anxiety. Here are some of the tips from Consumer Report.
- Pack plenty of snacks, drinks and toys for the kids. Make sure you have coloring books, crayons, and games stashed away in easy-to-reach places in the car. Occupied kids are less likely to distract. We like this idea and use it frequently.
- Play little games as you are driving with your kids. Ask them to read cloud formations. Play a game of I- Spy. Play counting games. Kid love games, and the more occupied they are with counting red pickup trucks, the less likely they will be to demand your undivided attention.
- Keep your eyes focused on the road ahead at all times. Houston auto accident lawyers cannot stress enough how important this is.
- If a tantrum is getting out of control, see if you can pull over to comfort your child.
- Tune out noises from the back seat as much as possible. The less attention your child gets from you, the quicker he or she will stop whining.
- Switch off your cell phone while driving. All it takes is a second to look down at the number display panel for an accident to occur.
We don’t stop to think twice about the distractions our kids pose when we drive. But it’s important to realize that the most innocent distractions can be sufficient to cause a serious accident.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious accident, contact the husband and wife legal team at the Kahn Law Firm today by calling 713-226-9900 or toll free 1-877-226-9940.
