Schuelke Law Focuses on Roadway Design as a Factor in Serious Car Accidents

A recent update to news reports of a Gardendale crash that killed one child and left several others injured underscores the importance of roadway design and signage in helping drivers navigate Texas roads safely.

Recent Serious Car Accidents on FM 554

The Gardendale crash occurred on June 25th at the intersection of FM 554 and Cottonwood Road. A driver failed to yield the right of way at the stop sign, colliding with another driver who was passing through the intersection at the time. Both vehicles left the roadway and landed in a nearby field. 

Both drivers in the crash were treated for their injuries, and one passenger, an 11-year-old boy, lost his life. Two other children and an adult passenger also required treatment for serious injuries. 

This crash, along with others that have recently occurred at that intersection and along FM 554, has spurred the community’s demand for better signage and safety features. According to a recent news report, community members call dangerous accidents at that intersection “an ongoing issue” for local drivers. 

Local drivers note that the intersection of FM 554 and Cottonwood Road is particularly challenging because drivers can’t see the intersection as they approach it due to a curve in the road. They note that in addition to adding stop signs, the road needs signs warning drivers of the upcoming highway intersection. Recent road widening projects have also prompted drivers to speed more frequently, increasing the risk of an accident. 

Why Texas Drivers Need Safer Intersections

The intersection of FM 554 and Cottonwood Road demonstrates several factors that contribute to dangerous intersections – and to deaths and serious injuries – throughout Texas.

Speeding was a factor in over 8,000 roadway deaths in 2021 and 2022, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Other top factors in crash deaths and serious injuries during this time period include:

• Driver inattention: 2,336 crashes
• Failing to yield the right of way while turning: 1,143 crashes
• Ignoring a stop sign or signal: 879 crashes
• Failing to yield at a stop sign: 1,030 crashes

Proper attention to highway design can help drivers avoid these costly mistakes. Installing stop signs, lights, warning signs about upcoming intersections, and other features can slow traffic, grab drivers’ attention, and keep traffic flowing properly. Yet all drivers must pay attention so they can spot these features and obey them. 

“While all drivers have a responsibility to practice safe driving, roadway design plays a significant role in what drivers can expect and how they behave,” stated Austin car accident attorney Brooks Schuelke, speaking from long experience helping injured drivers and passengers seek compensation for damages after an accident. “When a crash occurs, we can assist you in filing compensation claims.” 

Schuelke notes that roadway design cases are difficult and complicated. They often involve claims of immunity by the various agencies responsible for the design so it is important to talk to a lawyer with experience in these types of cases.