Hannah Hernandez (Full Name: Hannah Nicole Hernandez), 20, of Floydada, Died In Lubbock Car Accident With Utility Van By Farm-to-Market Road 400 and U.S. Highway 62/82
LUBBOCK, TEXAS (February 6, 2023) – A woman identified as Hannah Hernandez was killed in a Lubbock car accident with a utility van by FM 400 and U.S. Highway 62/82.
Lubbock County officials are saying that the collision took place around 9:10 a.m. on Monday. The driver of a utility van failed to yield the right-of-way to traffic and crashed into a passenger car driven by Hannah Hernandez.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victims. The driver of the passenger car was transported to the University Medical Center in Lubbock.
A 7-month-old infant girl was also taken to the hospital. Despite life-saving measures, Hannah Hernandez was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The driver of the utility van remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
Liability For Lubbock Car Accidents
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in Texas. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, “The Fatality Rate on Texas roadways for 2021 was 1.56 deaths per hundred million vehicle miles traveled. This is a 4.17% increase from 2020. There were 15,764 serious injury crashes in Texas in 2021 with 19,448 people sustaining a serious injury.” There are a number of situations where car accidents are more likely to occur.
- Car accidents are more likely to occur in urban areas that tend to have denser traffic.
- Car accidents are much more likely to occur in the early morning and late evening when visibility is reduced.
- Around 22% of all crashes involve drivers making left turns compared to 1.2% for drivers making right turns.
All drivers must exercise due care in order to avoid being involved in accidents. Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code 545.151, the driver of a motor vehicle approaching an intersection shall stop and yield the right of way to traffic that are close enough so as to pose a hazard. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that hits another vehicle after going past a yield sign without yielding.
Liability for a car accident could extend beyond the driver of a vehicle. Utility vans are often used for commercial purposes such as medical or cargo transport. If the driver of a van was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees who were performing their job duties. There are many steps that should be taken after a car accident.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed in a car accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help with many of the unexpected expenses that come with the sudden loss of a loved one. In order to win a civil claim, plaintiffs will typically have to demonstrate negligence. Negligence is the failure to use the care that an ordinary and reasonable person would have used under a similar set of circumstances.
Investigating A Lubbock Car Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Hannah Hernandez. This was a preventable collision that should not have taken place. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all who have lost so much.
Do you need more information about a Lubbock car accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
