Man Crashes Car Into Houston Restaurant
A dinner date recently turned into a car accident for a man who accidentally mistook his accelerator for the brake. Several people were injured in the Houston crash.
The accident happened on the evening of January 11 at The Catch, a seafood restaurant located on South Post Oak in southwest Houston. A man was meeting his wife for dinner. While he was parking his vehicle, he stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, causing the vehicle to through the wall of the restaurant.
While no serious injuries were reported, several people were hospitalized with injuries, including a family —a mother and two children — sitting at a table next to the wall. An 11-year-old was among those injured. Several others were injured by debris.
The driver was not identified, but a witness said he was an older man. Customers were startled by the crash, which sounded like a loud bang.
No criminal charges are being filed at this time, as it was simply an accident and the driver was not intoxicated. The damage closed down the restaurant for the night, as there was damage to windows and the front door. The restaurant manager made sure everything was safe before they reopened the next day. The Catch encourages customers to support their business, but reminds them that there’s “no need to drive into the building.”
Cars Crashing Through Buildings
Reports of cars crashing through buildings have been on the rise. It used to be a rare event but it’s now something that happens every day — approximately 60 times a day, to be exact. You don’t hear about all of them because they’re not always publicized in the media.
The good news is that these accidents are preventable. The majority of them are caused by pedal error, which involves mistaking the accelerator for the brake. Because these pedals are so close together, it happens often, especially when a driver is in a hurry.
Age is not a factor. While older drivers do tend to experience pedal error, so do teens and middle-aged drivers. These crashes tend to happen in parking lots when a driver is trying to enter or exit a parking space. This can happen in shopping centers, restaurants, fast food establishments, office buildings, churches, post offices, and other buildings.
Many of these accidents cause severe injuries and even fatalities to customers and employees inside the building. Barriers and bollards can be helpful in reducing damage and saving lives.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
It’s important to ensure you’re using the right pedals while driving. While accidentally pressing the brake may not have bad implications, wrong use of the accelerator can cause major damage, as seen in this case.
Injured in a crash? Seek legal help from a Houston auto accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC. We know the laws and will help you get full and fair compensation. Schedule a free consultation by filling out the online form or calling 281-347-3247.
Source:
khou.com/article/news/local/car-crash-houston-restaurant/285-bfb3b6c6-109d-4a13-9ccc-5e17e06c9a14
