Dallas Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on Simplicity and Graco cribs saying that there is a risk that infants could suffocate or be strangled while in the cribs. The CPSC released the recall this morning.

The Graco recall is for approximately 217,000 cribs. The recall is associated with a “drop side” that can break or detach, causing a dangerous gap between the mattress and crib. There have been 99 complaints about problems with the “drop side” portion of the cribs.

The Simplicity recall is for all full sized cribs with tubular metal mattress support frames. There is a problem with the frame that can cause the mattress to collapse, and the baby could end up being trapped or suffocate in the mattress. There has been one death from this issue with the Simplicity cribs.

It is very important that parents stay up to date with the latest list of safety recalls released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Anderson Law Firm has several resources on what to look for when purchasing toys for your child and child injuries that can be attributed to recalls.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. Mark can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If your child has been injured and you have questions about their injury please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

A car wreck involving four vehicles and a horse happened around 5:30 a.m. this morning on I-20 near St. Augustine Road in Dallas. A horse had walked onto the highway and caused the accident between the four cars.

The horse was killed in the accident. No one knows who the horse belongs to or where it came from.

One of the four cars had to be towed, and a passenger from one of the cars had to be taken to the hospital. The man is said to be injured, but in stable condition. Several lanes of the highway were closed after the accident.

I can’t imagine seeing a horse on the highway at 5:30 in the morning. That must have been quite a shocker for the driver’s of the four cars involved in the wreck. Though I do not know if a wreck could have been avoided in this case, following road safety rules and regulations is the key to avoid being involved in a car accident. I am sorry to hear that an animal has been killed this morning, but glad that no one was more seriously injured in the wreck.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions about a car accident, please fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

The U.S. Coast Guard has a Boating Safety Center that has all kinds of helpful tips on how to stay safe on the lake or ocean this spring and summer.

Many of the tips cover always wearing your life jacket while boating. Here are their tips on life jacket use:

•Certain life jackets are designed to keep your head above water and help you remain in a position which permits proper breathing.
•To meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements, a boat must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V life jacket for each person aboard. Boats 16 feet and over must have at least one Type IV throwable device as well.
•All states have regulations regarding life jacket wear by children.
•Adult-sized life jackets will not work for children. Special life jackets are available. To work correctly, a life jacket must be worn, fit snugly, and not allow the child’s chin or ears to slip through.
•Life jackets should be tested for wear and buoyancy at least once each year. Waterlogged, faded, or leaky jackets should be discarded.

The boating safety center also covers why boaters should not “BUI” (Boat Under the Influence).

Here are a few statistics and safety tips about alcohol use while on the water:
•A boat operator is likely to become impaired more quickly than a driver, drink for drink
•The penalties for BUI can include large fines, revocation of operator privileges and serious jail terms
•The use of alcohol is involved in about a third of all recreational boating fatalities

I know summer is one of my favorite times of the year. It is important to always be aware of how to avoid boating injuries while on the water. I hope these tips help you and your family to have an enjoyable time while at the lake! This information and commentary is provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000.

Eastbound I-30 was completely shut down after a tractor-trailer collided with a Dodge Durango around 6 a.m. The Durango was initially caught underneath the semi-truck and the passengers were rescued around 7:15 a.m.

The trailer of the 18-wheeler was completely blocking all eastbound lanes of traffic because it was lying across the entire highway. The truck driver and two passengers of the Dodge Durango were taken to the hospital.

Details on what caused the accident and the current condition of the passengers and truck driver has not been released.

It will be interesting to see if further details of this 18-wheeler wreck will be released. The Dallas Morning News reported that the details of the cause of the accident are “sketchy.” Any car accident involving an 18-wheeler is usually a pretty serious one. Almost 500 tractor-trailer accidents happen in Texas each year. Of all fatal car accidents, 18-wheelers are involved in 8% of the wrecks. I am glad to hear no one was killed in this particular accident. My thoughts are with the two passengers and truck driver while they are in the hospital.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions about your car accident case, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

A Ford F-150 ran into a home on Thursday morning in Hurst. The car accident occurred on Brown Trail near Shady Lake Drive.

The Hurst Police Department said that no one was injured inside of the house. However, there were three passengers in the pickup truck; two were injured, and one was killed.

There is currently an accident investigation taking place surrounding the cause of the car wreck.

The man who died was identified as Steve Manisela.

I am curious to see what the finding is on the cause of the car crash. The police will look into all aspects, as it is unusual for a truck to run off of the road. I did see that another wreck occurred in Fort Worth yesterday involving an off duty FWPD officer running off a road and into a house. In that case, it appears that drinking was involved.

This information and commentary is provided by Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have questions about a car accident investigation and would like a free consultation please fill out our contact form.

It’s time again for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, Walk Like Madd fundraising event. MADD provides a great public service to the community, educating people about the dangers of drinking and driving as well as offering support to families of drunk driving victims. As a car accident attorney I see firsthand the devastating effects of drunk driving every day, so I wholly support MADD and the Walk Like Madd event. The event will be held at 1800 N. Pearl Street in Dallas, and will start at 8:30 a.m.

This year’s Fort Worth walk on April 5 was a huge success, raising over $48,000! The walk in Dallas will take place this Saturday, April 24, and I hope it will be as successful as the walk in Fort Worth. I’ve recently supported Dallas Assistant District Attorney Jamie Bagnall who is half-way to his goal of $5,000.00. Please consider supporting a walker, or Walk Like Madd yourself this weekend!

Information provided by Dallas Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. He can also be reached by clicking here.

Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, wants to change Texas legislation so that DWI offenders with 2 or more convictions will lose their driver’s license forever.

The current law states that a license may be suspended for a maximum of two years.

Nelson was motivated by the John Patrick Barton case, which took place Easter Sunday. To read about Barton’s DWI conviction please read our blog from last week.

The law she wishes to create would implement a “two strikes and you’re out” policy that would also make a DWI conviction a first degree felony. First degree felonies carry a 5-99 year sentence and a fine up to $10,000.

Nelson believes that the penalties for driving while intoxicated are not great enough to influence DWI offenders to change their behavior.

I applaud Nelson for wanting to make a major change in the penalties for drunk driving. With all of the recent wrecks involving drunk driving in the Fort Worth community, something has to be done to get DWI offenders off the road. I don’t know if the loss of a driver’s license will motivate all DWI offenders to stop driving under the influence completely, but it is at least a step in the right direction.

Information and commentary provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-327-1900. If you are the victim of a drunk driver and have questions about your case please fill out of contact form online for a free consultation.

It has only been two weeks since John Patrick Barton ran into the Hull family and killed Candace and Autumn Hull. A grand jury indicted Barton with 2 counts of murder on Thursday. The jury also charged him with 3 counts of intoxication assault.

This particular DWI car wreck as caused a lot of media attention as Barton had 3 previous DWI convictions. To read about the details of the drunk driving wreck read our blog from a few weeks ago.

The Denton Country First District Attorney Jamie Beck stated that “This is as serious as a DWI conviction can get.” Barton remains jail in lieu of $1 million bail and is being held without bond because of a parole violation.

I think that the jury made the right decision to indict Barton with both the murder and intoxication assault charges. I sincerely hope that this case makes other DWI offenders aware of the extreme consequences of getting behind the wheel after drinking any alcohol. The Hull family had no choice in the actions Barton made.

The Anderson Law Firm has resources to help keep you and your family safe from drunk drivers. With all of the drunk driving crashes that have occurred in the past few weeks, you can never be too safe before heading out on the road.

This information and commentary is provided by DWI Accident Victim Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have been a victim of a drunk driver and have questions about your wreck please fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

A North Texas man died on Thursday on North Stemmons Freeway when he slammed his motorcycle into a guard rail. He was riding alongside another motorcyclist when the wreck occurred.

The Dallas Police Department identified excessive speeding as the cause of the wreck. The motorcycle flew over a guard rail and flipped several times.

The motorcyclist, who was identified as Brian Ballew, was declared dead at the scene. He was riding a 2003 Suzuki Hayabusa.

My sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Brian Ballew. Motorcycle accidents often have some of the most serious outcomes from even the most minor driving error. There are many things that motorcyclists can do to increase safety by following a few motorcycle riding tips and using protective motorcycle gear.

This information and commentary is provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions about a motorcycle accident please fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

An 11-year-old student from North Richland Hills was injured on Wednesday when he was riding his bike to school. The boy was struck by a motorist who stopped after hitting the boy, got out of her vehicle and looked around, then got back into her car and drove away. According to the North Richland Hills Police Department, the woman may have been driving a black Toyota Corolla. The person is yet to be identified and anyone with information regarding this hit and run driver should contact the North Richland Hills Police Department at (817) 427 7000.

The accident occurred with the 11-year-old, who is a student at North Richland Middle School, was crossing the street when his bicycle was hit. The boy was taken to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth where he was treated for his injuries.

This is an absolutely amazing story. I can't believe that the woman hit the child, got out of her car, and then left. Apparently she was thinking that nobody would see her and that she could get away with leaving the scene of an accident. I sure hope that she is caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It is one thing to be negligent, as she probably was, and run into a child on a bicycle. It is entirely another thing to actually leave the scene without attending to the minor. I just can't believe that someone would do something as low as leaving the scene of an accident after hitting a child.

Information and commentary provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted at (817)294-1900. For information regarding pedestrian/bicycle accidents, click here to visit the web site of Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson.

Everyone has heard the phrase: “accidents happen.” Unfortunately, what many people fail to realize is that car crashes do not “just happen.” Every Dallas/Fort Worth car wreck has a cause, and that cause can typically be traced back to someone failing to follow highway laws or operate their vehicle properly.

Car Accidents Have Causes
Car accidents don’t “just happen.” In the vast majority of motor vehicle collisions, either you or the other driver is at fault. Not paying attention is one of the leading causes for car wrecks; people texting, or eating, or talking on the phone, or fiddling with the radio often are not looking at a key moment and run into someone.

In other cases, people look the wrong way when accidents happen – a driver paying attention to the left, for example, when someone comes from the right. Either way, someone is at fault for those accidents, and the at-fault party is responsible for the accident.

I hope that you see the point that someone is always at fault in any kind of accident. It is important if you are involved in some sort of accident that you investigate the scene of the accident so that the cause of the wreck can be determined.

This information and commentary is provided by Texas Board Certified Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-1900 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions about your car wreck case, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

As the weather gets warmer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, it is important to take note of several simple safety tips surrounding your car tires. Though it is important to check your tires regularly, the warmer weather puts extra pressure on your tires throughout the spring and summer months.

Here are some tips from weather.com to ensure that your tires are not the cause of a car accident:

•Check your tires regularly to be sure there are no visible signs of wear or damage.
•Be sure your tires are properly inflated. Check your tire pressure often with a gauge, especially on long trips. Measure when the tires are cold, before you drive on them. You can find the recommended inflation pressure in your owner's manual, on a label frequently found in the glove box, near the door latch on the driver's side, or other locations on your vehicle. The recommended inflation pressure is not to be confused with the maximum inflation pressure shown on the side of the tire. At the recommended inflation pressure, tires will last longer and be less likely to fail, and the car will use less fuel. Serious injury can result from tire failure because of under inflation or overloading.
•Never overload your vehicle. Your car and tires are designed to operate safely only up to their load limits. These limits are shown in your owner's manual and on the certification plate on the edge of the driver's door.
•Make sure there is enough tread on the tire to operate safely, and make sure the tires are wearing normally. All grooves should be visible and deep enough to at least touch the top of Lincoln's head on a penny inserted head first in the tread. Low tread or bald tires are unsafe and need to be replaced.
•If some spots on the tire seem to be wearing faster than others, see your service station or mechanic. You could have misaligned wheels, worn shock absorbers, or other potential problems. Make sure your tires are aligned and balanced properly.
•Don't drive at a high rate of speed for a long time, particularly in hot weather. Obey posted speed limits. Lower speeds also mean better gas mileage.

I hope this helps inform you on a few important things surrounding the safety of your vehicle’s tires. I know I hadn’t thought of a few of these things until reading them. The Anderson Law Firm also has safety tips to help you avoid car accidents and keep your family safe on the road.

Information and commentary provided by Dallas Area Personal Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. For a free consultation with the Anderson Law Firm regarding your personal injury or car accident case, please fill out our contact form online.

Brianna Munez, age 4, and her sister, Deanna Mata, age 2 are the latest victims of drunk driving in our community. The accident happened early Saturday morning in Southeast Fort Worth at Mitchell Blvd.

The Fort Worth Police Department reported that a red Dodge pickup crashed with a Ford Taurus in an intersection. It is unclear whether the pickup ran a stop sign, as the Taurus had the right of way.

The driver of the Taurus was 18-year-old David Whitworth, who was charged with DWI with a child. The driver of the pickup, David Clark, was also driving under the influence and was charged with 2 accounts of intoxication manslaughter and 3 charges of intoxication assault.

It is absolutely horrible to hear about 2 young children being the victims of drunk driving. How irresponsible to endanger the lives of two innocent children who had no say in whether or not they were going to be passengers in the car. It is very unusual to hear about both drivers involved in the car accident being under the influence.

To help ensure your safety on the road, The Anderson Law Firm has traffic safety and preventative tips to make sure you are not a victim of a drunk driving accident. Drunk Driving is a factor in over 45% of the car accidents that occur on Texas roads.

Information and commentary provided by DFW Car Accident Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. For a free consultation with the Anderson Law Firm please fill out our contact form online.

If you have hurt in an automobile accident in or around Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and are trying to handle your case on your own with the responsible party's car insurance company, you might find yourself in a very common predicament. Many car insurance companies, such as USAA, Geico, Allstate, State Farm and Farmers, like to offer very low and insulting "nuisance" value offers upfront. Sometimes these offers are as low as $500 but they are more common around the $1,000 level. The offer comes from a message from the insurance company adjuster that your case has low or little value due to (insert your own crazy excuse here) and that you're lucky to be receiving this offer. Car insurance companies just don't treat injury victims right! At that point, an injured person has two options: They can either accept this low offer and be stuck paying the medical bills on their own or they can fight for what is right.

The only way to fight for fair compensation is to file a lawsuit. A lawsuit is the great equalizer. No longer does the big 800 pound gorilla (i.e. the insurance company) have the upper hand. They have to play fair as in the end of a lawsuit there is a jury trial facing them where someone else determines the value of the case, but not them.

Just last week I resolved a motor vehicle collision case where my client had received a very low-and insulting- offer prior to me filing a lawsuit on his behalf. After the attorney hired by the insurance company deposed (a formal interview) my client, he was able to realize that my client would make a very credible witness and would present well in front of a jury. By that, I think the jury would believe him when he relates the medical treatment he received directly to the accident. Ultimately, the automobile insurance company paid what was fair. But what was fair was much, much more than the initial crappy offer they sent to him. Last week's case was just another reminder about how bad and unfair insurance companies can be. After all, they care about their profits, not about the wellbeing of the people who are injured as a result of their own insured's reckless driving.

If you have been injured in a car, truck or motorcycle wreck, sometimes you just got to fight for what you believe is fair. The Anderson Law Firm specializes in helping those individuals who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents. We also work on other types of personal injury claims. Mark Anderson is Board-Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and has been helping the injured his entire career. To discuss your situation confidentially, please contact the Anderson Law Firm at 1-877-294-1115. You can submit your question online by clicking here to reach Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson.

The month of April is Alcohol Awareness month, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants to make the public aware of the alcohol dependence and abuse problems in the United States. MADD is all about awareness and understanding of the horrific statistics surrounding alcohol abuse and drunk driving related fatalities.
Here are a few key points MADD would like to educate America on this month:

•A drunk driving traffic fatality occurs every 30 minutes in the United States.
•Every month, more than 1,000 families have a loved one killed by drunk driving, and even more have someone injured.
•One out of three Americans will be impacted by a drunk driving crash in their lifetime.
•At any given moment, American families share the roads with an estimated 3 million drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving at least three times – and with 600,000 drivers with five or more convictions.
•As many as 75% of drunk drivers continue to drink and drive even when their licenses have been revoked.

The Anderson Law Firm also has many resources related to staying safe on the road and avoiding drunk driving related car accidents. Education is often the key to prevent tragedies involving drunk driving in our communities. The Anderson Law Firm also sponsors a Ride Safe, Ride Sober towing service that will tow impaired motorcycle riders free of charge.

This information is provided by Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have questions related to a drunk driving accident you can fill out a contact form on our website for a free consultation.

A motor vehicle crash that included an 18 wheeler, a work truck, and a pick-up completely shut down Highway 121 in Lewisville Thursday afternoon. The wreck occurred when an 18-wheeler slid about 50 feet running into a NTTA dump truck and causing 3 vehicles to catch fire.

All three vehicles were completely decimated, and miraculously all of the passengers escaped their vehicles and were not injured.

The actual accident happened when the three vehicles collided and slammed into a guardrail on an overpass. Four northbound and two southbound lanes were shutdown for most of Thursday afternoon.

Engineers will have to inspect the overpass for structural integrity before the toll road can reopen.

It is so fortunate that no one was injured or killed in a wreck such as this one. Usually, when you hear or read about such a massive wreck involving fire, someone is always injured to some degree. Texas leads the nation in tractor-trailer accidents that result in fatalities. Luckily, in this case, no one has become a part of that horrific statistic. The pictures really speak for themselves on this particular tractor-trailer wreck. It is important as a driver to be aware of semi-truck wreck statistics and know what you can do to avoid being in a wreck with an 18-wheeler.

Information and commentary provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Car Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions about a trailer-truck or car accident the Anderson Law Firm has free consultations by filling out a contact form on our website.

Courtney Moss, 17, of Joshua, Texas, died on Tuesday when her Mazda Miata crashed into a Dr. Pepper truck on Farm Road 917 west of Joshua. After discovering a suicide note left at her house, authorities believe Mrs. Moss intended to kill herself.

At 12:56pm one of Mrs. Moss’s friends notified the police that she had received messages indicating Mrs. Moss wanted to take her own life. Five minutes after receiving the call, police were notified about the collision on FM 917. When police arrived at Mrs. Moss’s home they found her suicide note. Mrs. Moss was married with a 3 month old baby.

Ron Lane II, 26, of Watauga was driving the big rig that the Miata crashed into. He was travelling eastbound on FM 917 and had just topped a rise when the crash occurred, according to police. According to local news reports, he did not sustain serious injuries but was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

This sure is a sad situation. I feel bad for Mrs. Moss’s family and friends. I wonder if she intentionally ran into the 18 wheeler or if she was just despondent and suicidal and was driving recklessly. If she did intend to drive into the 18 wheeler (thereby putting Mr. Lane in danger), it clearly is an intentional act and legally, Mr. Lane might have issues recovering from any car liability insurance as these insurance policies typically exclude intentional acts. I have represented people before in these types of situations and know from experience how difficult—and terribly sad—these cases are.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. You can reach the Anderson Law Firm in Dallas at 214-327-8000 and in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions concerning any type of personal injury case you may also fill out our contact form on our website.

The United States Transportation Department is pursuing a $16.4 million dollar fine against the Toyota Corporation for not properly notifying the government about problems with accelerator pedals. This is the maximum fine allowed.

Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, stated that “We now have proof that Toyota did not live up to its legal obligations.” The Transportation Department released that Toyota knew about the potential problems with accelerator pedals as early as September 29.

The only recall that was issued in the fall pertained to floor mats, not accelerator pedals. A recall was not issued for accelerator pedals until the end of January.

Toyota has two weeks to contest, and if they do, it will be the largest fine the government has ever issued to a car manufacturer.

The Toyota Motor Corporation has issued many apologies about the recalls and safety problems.

The $16.4 million is the largest fine the US government can pursue per recall under the Tread Act. The Tread Act was created as a result of problems with Firestone Tires.

I am personally very happy to hear that something as serious as this fine has resulted from the safety problems with Toyota vehicles. Every time I read or blog about a wreck involving a Toyota, I have to wonder whether there was some kind of malfunction with the car that caused the accident. Hopefully this fine will warn all automakers that safety and quality should be there number one priority, and realize that there are large repercussions for not following the law.

This information and commentary is provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson. Contact the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. For a free consultation with the Anderson Law Firm about a personal injury case please fill out our contact form online.

John Patrick Barton, who was on probation for three DWI convictions, now faces two counts of murder after slamming into the back of a sedan in Lewisville early Sunday morning.

There were five passengers in the red Nissan Sentra that Barton ran into around 2:17 a.m. on I-35. Kandace Hull, and her 13 year old daughter, Autumn, were both killed in the accident.

The Lewisville Police Department stated that Barton was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck the rear of the Nissan when changing lanes, which caused both vehicles to spin.

Hull’s two other children and husband were still hospitalized on Sunday from injuries sustained in the fatal car crash.

Barton has a long history of criminal charges dating back to his teenage years. He turned 30 years old today. Barton was taken to a hospital for a mandatory blood test and was then taken to jail. He was arrested for intoxication manslaughter.

It makes me so angry to hear about a repeat offender like Barton continuing to violate his parole and cause a tragedy such as this one. My sincere condolences go out to the Hull family. Unfortunately, statistics show that it is often the passengers in vehicles hit by drunk drivers that are injured or killed more often than the drunk driver themselves. There are many driving safety tips that you can follow in order to avoid being the victim of a drunk driver.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. You may contact the Anderson Law Firm in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. For a free consultation about your personal injury or car wreck please fill out our contact form.

The car wreck happens and then you report the claim to the insurance company for the driver who caused the auto accident. Often times, the adjuster for the bad driver’s insurance company will request a recorded statement. The reason given is usually that they need to “investigate” the accident. However, my experience says that most of the time there is really no need to investigate the accident, as the insurance company adjuster knows what caused the accident. Instead, the adjuster uses the information as a “fishing expedition” to find out more about the injured party.

Questions asked sometimes relate to prior medical history, which obviously has nothing to do with what caused the motor vehicle accident. This is just one example of the ways the insurance company adjusters use the recorded statement to gain information which can possibly help them – and hurt the injury victim’s case.

It is my experience that recorded statements are rarely used for what the insurance company says they are to be used for. Accordingly, I do not believe it is in the best interest of the injured party to give a recorded statement. Why there are exceptions to that general rule, most of the time I do not feel that a recorded statement is necessary. And why give a recorded statement when it can't help your case, it can only hurt it.

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident and are concerned about giving a recorded statement, it is probably a good idea to contact an experienced injury attorney to help you with the decision of whether to give a recorded statement. If the decision is made to indeed give or provide a recorded statement, then the scope and detail of the recorded statement should be limited to what is in dispute, the liability (or cause) of the car crash.

This information is provided by Fort Worth Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted online at MAAfirm.com or by phone at (817) 294-1900. All initial consultations are free, and it costs nothing to give The Anderson Law Firm a call to discuss your personal injury legal matter.