Brantley Sasseen grew up throughout the Southern United States, primarily in Nacogdoches, Texas. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Political Science, a B.S. in Spanish, and a minor in Information Technology Studies from Centenary College of Louisiana. At Centenary, he was also a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha honor society, and Who’s Who in America’s Colleges and Universities. Brantley received his J.D. from Penn State University, Dickinson School of Law. At Penn State, he was president of his senior class’s appellate moot court team, a member of the Order of the Barristers, and an inductee to the Woolsack Society. Brantley is an active member of the Texas Bar. He is also a member of the American Bar Association and the American Association for Justice.
Brantley is an avid sports fan, fisherman, cook, and karaoke star. He has a large extended family and travels across the country as often as possible to spend time with them.
EDUCATION:
J.D. | Penn State Dickinson School of Law 2006 - 2009
LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE:
Personal Injury Attorney | Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law 2010 - Present
BAR ADMISSION:
Texas Bar - 2012
CONTACT: (Houston Office)
Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law
12777 Jones Rd #297
Houston, TX 77070
Phone: (281) 664-6500
(Travis Office)
Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law
808 Travis St #1507
Houston, TX 77070
Phone: (713) 333-3940
Road rage afflicts truck drivers, too, and victims of such behavior must know their rights. Although you might not attribute road rage to a professional driver, it happens more frequently than you might imagine. If you were ever a victim of road rage, you understand how frustrating and oftentimes frightening it is. When you’re faced with road rage from the driver of a vehicle ten times the size of your own, the conditions grow even more dangerous.
Road rage is understood as a marked impatience demonstrated by erratic and sometimes reckless driving that endangers innocent lives. The U.S. National Library of Medicine defines it as afflicting one-third of American drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, trucks that collide with passengers in automobiles due to road rage cause hundreds of casualties. A recent study reported that hundreds of people have died as a result of truck drivers striking them.
While road rage can include many behaviors, common acts by drivers with road rage include:
Intentionally hitting a vehicle with a car
Running someone off the road
Pulling over, getting out, and engaging in a physical confrontation
Inciting passenger(s) to threaten or fight the other driver
Using any sort of weapon to inflict harm on another driver or vehicle
Road Rage Affects Many Drivers on the Road
According to the National Safety Council, motorists rate road rage as a top threat to highway safety. Researchers say that young men are most predisposed to road rage. They also tell us that while many drivers with road rage fit this profile, women and older drivers inflict road rage. Drivers who use drugs, prescription medications, or who suffer from panic disorders are more prone to road rage. Drivers of different types of vehicles, men and women, healthy and unhealthy, all are susceptible to this behavior.
Risky Driving Increases the Risk of Injury and Fatality in Accidents Involving Trucks
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, risky driving includes driving while drunk or on drugs, distracted, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, or other reckless behaviors. Speeding endangers everyone on the road, killing 9,557 persons in 2015. Road rage combines speeding with a risky state of mind, where the driver’s anger gives way to dangerous acts. Truck drivers make up a demographic that fails to curb all forms of risky driving, and thereby they can endanger national highway safety. Unfortunately, truck drivers are prone to the same vices as other drivers, especially in traffic, including speeding up excessively before quickly coming to a halt, tailing other drivers, and getting out of vehicles and entering into verbal altercations on the road, to name the most egregious examples.
Compensation for Truck Accidents Due to Road Rage
To compensate people whom truck drivers with road rage seriously injured or killed, and to deter future harm caused by road rage, Texas law awards money for victims. Our team of attorneys has represented the rights of clients injured in aggressive driving accidents, as well as the families of those who did not survive their truck accidents. At Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, we are in business to help victims by using the fullest extent of the law to the best of our abilities.
Guidelines for Safe Truck Driving May Help Reduce Lives Lost in Road Rage Accidents
Many trucking companies advise truck drivers to take safety precautions when they encounter troublesome situations along their routes. Truck drivers who avoid stress on the road make the road safer for all drivers. Although truck drivers receive these tips, the casual driver could benefit from following this advice.
Back off of aggressive drivers
Leave plenty of time to get to your destination
Focus on getting out of traffic when possible
Breathe and employ other techniques to remain calm
Practicing mindfulness while driving not only decreases the chances of devastating collisions, but also helps drivers better cope with the ups and downs of life on the road. Many truck drivers can alter their approaches to driving to prevent aggressive emotions that may give way to road rage. Truck drivers should remember to:
Get plenty of sleep and rest
Plan ahead and take ample time
Avoid listening to overly loud or aggressive music
Find ways to remain relaxed behind the wheel
Realize you cannot control many traffic or road conditions
Practice anger management techniques and realize the dangers of hostility on the road
Know All of the Facts Surrounding a Truck Accident
Road rage can result in deadly accidents, especially when the aggressive vehicle is the size of a semi-truck. Regardless of the level of damage from an accident involving road rage, you may hold the at-fault driver responsible. At the law office of Stewart J. Guss, we deal with many accident cases involving truck drivers exhibiting road rage. When you face a situation in which a truck driver displayed signs of road rage that led to an accident, get an experienced legal team on your side. Our firm has seen the damage that road raging truck drivers can cause. We also know that drivers of high-capacity vehicles such as trucks have a greater responsibility for keeping the public safe. For this reason, we hold truck drivers accountable for lapses in professional judgment that put the lives of other drivers and their passengers at risk.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today to Discuss Your Case
If you were involved in an accident, speak to a Houston personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. To schedule a free case evaluation with the attorneys of Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, call today at (713) 766-5883 or send us an email through our online contact form.
Stewart J. Guss has been practicing personal injury law since 1995, representing clients from all over the world in the most serious and catastrophic injury claims. Stewart grew up in Houston, Texas, graduating from Clear Lake High School and going on to obtain his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Texas at Austin. After additional graduate study at the Red McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, Stewart went on to earn his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Stewart is an active member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, as well as numerous other professional organizations.
After many years of nationally recognized professional accomplishments, Stewart has been recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel as one of the top one percent of personal injury attorneys in the country in 2015; by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the nation in 2016; and as one of the “Best Attorneys in America” by the prestigious Rue Ratings since 2015. Stewart has also been designated one of the Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Houstonia magazine for 2013-2017, every year since it began publishing its rankings.
In addition to gaining substantial peer and industry recognition and numerous professional accomplishments, Stewart is an active philanthropist and avid believer in the need to “pay it forward.” He sponsors an annual college Scholarship and established, runs, and funds Houston’s Unsung Greats “HUG” Award. Stewart supports numerous charities, including Reach Unlimited and the MS150 and is also a patron of the arts, underwriting both Stageworks Theater and the Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
Stewart lives in northwest Houston with his wife of almost 20 years, his two teenage children, and his two dogs. Stewart’s entire family has strong roots in Houston: his father worked at NASA for many years, and his sister is employed as Head Librarian at Jersey Village High School. When not hard at work for his clients, Stewart can be found playing with his family or cycling the back roads of Northwest Harris and the surrounding counties.
EDUCATION:
J.D, University Of Houston - 1994
BS (Psychology), University of Texas - 1989
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law (Founder) 1999 - Present
Broemer and Weisblatt (Associate Attorney) 1997 - 1998
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you should first seek medical attention and then consult with a Texas personal injury attorney. Car accidents are notoriously complex and establishing and proving fault can require many resources. A car accident is no time to assert your independence and it is always wise to retain an experienced Texas car accident lawyer before you even file an insurance claim.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you will probably be required to give a statement, to complete attendant paperwork, and to provide documentation. All these tasks are important to your claim and how they are handled may have either a positive or negative effect on that claim. A personal injury attorney’s skill and knowledge can ensure that all tasks are completed accurately and in a timely fashion, protecting your rights and safeguarding your interests.
If you incurred injury or property damage in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you know how difficult such an experience can be. You need an experienced personal injury lawyer to skillfully guide you through the process, preserve your right to compensation, and fight for the best possible outcome.
The Insurance Company and Your Claim
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you probably recognize the outsize role that the insurance company or companies will play in your claim’s outcome. These companies assess accident damages but they are not in the business of protecting anyone’s right to compensation. Before you were involved in the accident, you probably weren’t sure exactly what your insurance provider covers in such situations. After you’ve brought a claim, however, you may find that your provider is less than proactive regarding your compensation. Don’t let an insurance company intimidate you. Instead, allow your experienced personal injury lawyer to skillfully fight for your rights and your recovery.
Your Rights and Your Recovery
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, you know just how painful and disruptive the aftermath can be. Whether the injuries or property damage you suffer are relatively minor or significant, a car accident is likely to upset your world. Every car accident is unique but if someone’s negligence caused you to suffer an injury, you are entitled to compensation that can cover a variety of incurred losses, including:
Property damage
Medical expenses
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Incurred general expenses
You should have an attorney determine the full value of your case and review any settlement offers to ensure they are adequate before you ever accept payment.
Contact an Experienced Houston Personal Car Accident Attorney Today
If you or someone you care about was injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced Houston lawyer on your side. The law office of Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law has extensive experience handling every aspect of car accident claims, from insurance communications to settlement negotiation to litigation if necessary. Call us at 281-968-3589 today for a free consultation.
Stewart J. Guss and his team of Houston personal injury attorneys and staff are committed to representing the rights of the injured. We relentlessly pursue justice for our clients, and will work tirelessly to obtain the highest possible recoveries on all of our client's cases. Our personal injury law firm always puts the client’s needs first. This includes providing clients with the information and assistance they need, and insuring that they can expect nothing but excellent service at all times. We work tirelessly to obtain the maximum possible recoveries for our clients while minimizing their stress. We consider each and every one our clients to be family and we treat them as such.
Injuries and accidents can happen at any time, so we are available to speak to potential clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We will discuss your claim, answer your questions, and if needed, we can visit you at your home, hospital, or any other location convenient to you. Our staff is trained to always provide the highest levels of customer service.
Our quest to provide the highest possible recoveries for our clients while providing top level customer service has earned our firm significant recognition. In addition to a perfect 10.0 rating on Avvo, Stewart has been designated a “Texas Super Lawyer" for 2017 by Thomson Reuters. Stewart has also been recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel as well as the National Trial Lawyers Association. We are fully committed to continued dedication to our clients and their cases. Our experience, dedication, and results have earned us an excellent reputation. We are sympathetic with our clients, yet aggressive when fighting for their rights. We don't rest on our laurels, but work relentlessly every day for our clients. Our results and recognition speak for themselves and we are ready to fight for you.
The law office of Stewart J. Guss has been seeking maximum damages for our clients for over 20 years. Whether an auto accident, slip and fall, or wrongful death claim, our skilled personal injury team has earned a reputation as successful and hard-working, and for treating our clients like they are family. You may be entitled to recover significant compensation-but don’t wait too long or you may forfeit your rights.
Remember - the insurance company doesn't work for you, and it is in their interests to pay you as little as possible on your claim. Call right now, or fill out this case evaluation form to get a highly experienced personal injury attorney’s opinion on your case - there is no charge for this review. Keep in mind, you pay NOTHING up front, and you pay NOTHING unless we win.
Our founder, Stewart J. Guss, has been practicing personal injury law based out of his Houston office since 1999. With a passion for justice, proven results, and a “Client First” mentality, Stewart has built a team of attorneys and staff that will do whatever it takes to strive for the best possible results for our clients. Because we focus on personal injury cases, our team has the knowledge, resources, and experience to handle a wide variety of personal injury matters, up to and including the most serious and complex catastrophic claims.
Stewart grew up in Houston, graduating Clear Lake High School, detouring to the University of Texas for his undergraduate degree before returning to Houston to attend the University of Houston Law Center – Bates College of Law. Because of his deep roots and commitment to the people of Houston, Stewart chose to base his practice here. Over the years, his commitment to excellence, reputation and results have allowed him to significantly expand his practice. The firm now employs over 60 people, including attorneys, paralegals, management, and support staff, and we are able to work with clients statewide and across the nation.
While our attorneys and legal professionals have the opportunity to work on a large docket of a wide variety of personal injury cases, there is one thing we all share: A complete commitment to put everything we have into every single case, and to ALWAYS put the client first. One of the most common complaints about personal injury law firms is that they don’t seem to care about their clients. We had one client tell us about the way she was treated by another law firm in town: “They treated me like I worked for them.” At our firm, we NEVER forget that we work for our CLIENTS. We have an absolute commitment to return every call or email within 24 hours, and we take a proactive approach to insuring that our client’s expectations of client service are always met and exceeded. Our goal is to deliver for our clients the best possible results on their cases and the best possible service during the process. We will change the way you think about lawyers.
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