San Antonio Legal Blog

Thirty four states, including Texas, require DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles, though the details vary. IIDs are breath test machines that prevent cars from starting when drivers failt, and their safety benefits are well-known. Those 34 states with an IID law experience 15% fewer alcohol-related crash fatalities than the other states do.

However, there is one concern that needs to be addressed, especially when considering how some lawmakers want to mandate IID technology on all new vehicles by 2024. A New York Times investigation into dozens of car crashes found that drivers can be easily distracted by IIDs.

Back in 2007, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released the results of its Large Truck Crash Causation Study, a definitive analysis of what causes large truck crashes in Texas and across the U.S. The study focused on 963 truck crash cases from a pool of some 120,000 fatal incidents involving 141,000 trucks.

The LTCCS states that 44% of two-vehicle crashes between one truck and one passenger vehicle arose because of error on the trucker's part. Three errors in particular were frequently cited as the "critical reason" for a crash: speeding, driving with bad brakes and driving negligently because of unfamiliarity with an area's roadways.

While most people think of the romance and excitement of getting engaged, there is also a deeply pragmatic side to it. Couples in Texas who are intending to tie the knot need to discuss a variety of financial matters, including prenuptial agreements. This agreement needs to be drawn up before the wedding date in order to protect both parties.

A prenuptial agreement is a legal contract that discusses how assets and liabilities would be divided if the couple were to divorce in the future. The benefit of signing a prenup is preventing frustration and arguments if the marriage ends. It can also prevent the expense and disappointment that can come when a judge has to decide how assets will be distributed after the divorce. While not all couples need a prenuptial agreement, all would benefit from a prenuptial consultation with a legal adviser in order to understand how they could be affected by a future divorce.

It is possible that proceeds inside of a retirement account will need to be divided in a divorce. Therefore, it is important for an individual to understand asset division rules regardless of whether that person will benefit from the transaction. In Texas, assets are considered community property, which means that they will generally be split 50/50. However, other factors could determine how assets, such as retirements accounts, may be allocated in a final settlement.

It is possible that an individual will have an emotional attachment to a retirement account. This is because that money typically represents years or decades of hard work and discipline on his or her part. In many cases, losing a portion of a 401(k) or IRA may impact a person's financial security later in life. Therefore, both parties to the divorce should be ready for a potentially contentious asset division process.