New Forest, Houston, TX — December 21, 2024, Daniel Contreras was injured following a single-car accident at approximately 9:45 p.m. along State Loop 8.

According to authorities, 53-year-old Daniel Contreras was traveling in a southbound Toyota Tacoma pickup truck on State Loop 8 in the vicinity south of U.S. Highway 90 when the accident took place.

The cause of the accident remains unclear. Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the pickup took faulty evasive action. It was consequently involved in a single-vehicle collision in which it apparently struck a utility pole. Contreras reportedly suffered serious injuries over the course of the accident. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. Investigations continue.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a single-vehicle crash results in serious injuries and involves a sudden evasive maneuver, the assumption is often that the driver overreacted or misjudged the situation. But in my experience, especially in cases like this one along State Loop 8, the details behind what prompted that evasive action are often left unexplored. To fully understand what caused this crash and whether it could have been prevented, there are three critical questions that should be asked.

First, did the authorities conduct a thorough investigation? Evasive maneuvers don’t happen without a reason—whether it was to avoid another vehicle, an animal, debris in the road, or some unexpected obstruction. Investigators should assess whether road design, lighting conditions, or signage played a role in limiting the driver’s reaction time or visibility. Was there anything on the road surface that shouldn’t have been there? Were lane markings clear? If these details weren’t fully documented at the scene, an independent crash reconstruction may be necessary to uncover what triggered the maneuver in the first place.

Second, has anyone looked into whether a mechanical issue contributed to the loss of control? If the Toyota Tacoma didn’t respond properly during an evasive maneuver—if the brakes locked, the steering failed, or a tire malfunctioned—that could indicate a defect or maintenance problem that played a central role in the crash. These kinds of issues typically require a forensic inspection of the vehicle, and that’s only possible if it is preserved in the condition it was in immediately after the crash.

Lastly, has all electronic data from the vehicle been collected? The Toyota Tacoma is likely equipped with an event data recorder that can provide crucial information about speed, brake pressure, steering angle, and throttle input in the seconds before impact. That data can help confirm whether the evasive action was taken in response to something sudden and whether the vehicle reacted as expected. Other digital sources, such as GPS logs or surveillance footage from nearby businesses, may also help establish what unfolded. As always, this information is time-sensitive and must be retrieved promptly.

When a crash causes serious injury and the circumstances are still unclear, it’s not enough to settle for guesses about what might have happened. Asking these questions is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by this crash get the clarity and closure they deserve.