Dallas Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Late Wednesday afternoon, a motor home crashed into a Venus ISD school bus in Johnson County.

The accident happened near the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 157 and County Road 507, about seven miles west of Midlothian. The school bus had just made two stops along the road when the brand-new motor home driven by 73-year-old Don Pierson of Canton, rear-ended it.

Four students suffered minor injuries the worst of which is a broken leg. But it looks like the school bus and the motor home will need more doctoring than any of the children. The accident caused severe damage to the back of the school bus and the front of the motor home, which will cost well over $500,000.

As a parent, stories like this scare me because so many kids ride in school buses every day. Although a recent Texas law requires that all new school buses purchased by school districts have seat belts, not all school buses driving in Texas currently actually have seat belts.

With or without seat belts, school bus accidents can leave catastrophic injuries to children. When this happens, questions of liability naturally arise. If your child has been hurt in a school bus accident, read my article on school bus wreck liability in Texas. You do have legal options in school bus accident cases and you can start a lawsuit against the negligent party. Read my article and then call my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. We can get you the help your child needs.

As a Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I know that drunk driving is always incredibly dangerous, but it is rare that one drunk driver brings upon himself the wrath of an entire city… Following the fiery wreck in the early hours of yesterday morning, more details have emerged about the pickup driving the wrong way down I-30 which collided with a fuel-carrying tanker truck, causing a massive explosion which killed the driver of the 18-wheeler and shut down the westbound lanes of the interstate for the entire day. The driver of the pickup has been named as Louis Nieves, 23, who has been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and intoxicated manslaughter.

I’ll come back to Mr. Nieves in a moment, but first an update on how this crash continues to affect Fort Worth commuters: it’s not good – and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better any time soon. TxDot has announced that two of the westbound lanes will be shut down “indefinitely” while essential repairs are made to the bridge where the big rig burnt out. As the semi was transporting a large amount of gasoline at the time of the accident, much of the fuel ran down the interior of the bridge where it continued to burn causing massive structural damage which could take several months to repair.

The death of the truck driver, who has still not been named by authorities, is enough to condemn Louis Nieves; but due to the severity of the wreck he caused, Nieves has inconveniences thousands of people due to the increased congestion on all routes heading westbound into downtown Fort Worth. Already this morning, commuters experienced sever delays on I-20, East Loop 820, Texas 287 and Texas 121. But while the traffic mayhem will surely become the eventual focus of the local media as the chaos continues, let us not forget that this whole mess is because one idiot decided to get behind the wheel after drinking. Many people are experiencing inconvenience due to his actions, but one family is mourning the loss of a loved one. Most drunk driving accidents do not get this much attention, but they always end in serious injury or death. Driving while intoxicated is inexcusable, and given the attention he is getting, I hope that Nieves is made an example of.

Mark Anderson is a Tarrant County auto accident and wrongful death lawyer, and author of the book 15 Mistakes To Winning Your Texas Accident Case. He is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and has been helping injury victims across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex since 1991. To arrange a free, no obligation consultation on your case, call 817-294-1900.

As a Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I was shaken by the news that commuters faced another traffic nightmare this morning a following an explosive truck crash which occurred in the early hours of the morning. At approximately 2.30 am Monday a pickup truck was driving the wrong way along I-30 westbound and collided with a gasoline tanker truck just west of Beach Street in Fort Worth. Emergency officials report that the big rig came to a stop over Sycamore Creek, where it burst into flames. By the time fire crews arrived on the scene the fuel-carrying 18-wheeler was engulfed in flames. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the trucker died in the wreck, while the driver of the pickup was transported to hospital to be treated for injuries. The accident caused significant delays for motorists heading into downtown this morning as a large portion of the interstate was shut down, forcing commuters to find alternative routes. TX DOT is anticipating two lanes of Interstate 30 to be closed for up to a month as repairs are made to the bridge.

This tragedy is particularly disconcerting as it comes so soon after the drunk driving accident which caused the truck wreck which shut down I-35W last week. Although it is too early to speculate on the causes of today’s wreck, I have to wonder whether alcohol was yet again a factor since the pickup driver was driving in the wrong direction. If so, it demonstrates just how dangerous it can be to get behind the wheel after hitting the bars. One person is already lost their life and a massive hazard and inconvenience has been created to the public at large. I will be paying close attention to further details as they emerge.

One thing is for certain: we must all remind ourselves to be cautious when driving around large trucks. Although neither of these wrecks were the fault of the truckers, it is important to remember that due to their sheer size and the weight they carry, trucks take a lot longer to stop than other vehicles. If a car were to cut in front of a semi, for example, then the car driver is endangering both their own life and that of the semi driver. Even though a truck driver might perceive a hazard up ahead, their truck may not be responsive enough to avoid it in time, as appear to be the case here.

I’m sure there will more on this story to come…

Mark Anderson is a board certified auto accident and wrongful death lawyer who has worked on truck wrecks across the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1991. His book, 15 Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Texas Accident Case is available for fee to injured motorists and their families. For a free consultation on your case call 817-294-1900.

Local news stations were buzzing yesterday with the dramatic rescue of three people in a two car crash that left an 18-wheeler dangling over a guardrail on the southbound ramp connecting westbound Interstate 20 and I-35W and a red car pinned underneath it.

It was a dramatic rescue, the likes usually seen only in Hollywood. It took Fort Worth emergency responders three hours to clear the scene, but in the end everyone escaped with only minimal injuries.

But today, new details on the cause of that accident lead investigators to believe alcohol may have been a factor. Police are accusing Nicholas Colon, the driver of the red Honda, of causing the crash by pulling in front of the tanker truck. Colon was taken into custody at JPS Hospital after being freed by the Jaws of Life for suspicion of DWI and unlawfully carrying a weapon. According to Fort Worth police, Colon had stopped against the left retaining wall on the ramp, but then pulled out abruptly and was hit by the truck.

We look at a lot of terrible car accident pictures at my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth, but after looking at the pictures of this wreck I am so surprised everyone is alive and without any serious injuries! All of the emergency responders, especially the Fort Worth Fire Department, should be commended for their incredible ability to pull off an amazing rescue.

This morning when I learned the driver of the car might have been drunk it really irritated me. It especially bugged me when I read this guy’s already been busted for a DWI before! When will people learn that driving drunk causes car accidents? If any of you have ever been on the ramp where this accident happened, you know that nobody in their right mind would ever pull over there—unless their car just quit on them. It seems to me that this guy may not have learned his lesson from his first DWI offense.

Drunk drivers are a major problem in Texas, but there are ways to avoid costly and damaging drunk driving accidents. Protect yourself against drunk drivers by driving defensively. If you have been hit by a drunk driver, call my law firm at 817-294-1900. We can go over your options and talk about how you can recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering that are directly related to the drunk driving accident.

I’m so glad this accident didn’t involve any fatalities and again, great job to the Fort Worth Fire Department. You guys are awesome.

The very day the American Academy of Pediatrics announced new car seat safety recommendations, a child was ejected from a car on Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas.

The crash happened at about 1:30 p.m. on Harry Hines Boulevard at Wolf Street Monday, March 21. Police said the 3-year-old was in the back seat of a Nissan Altima sedan when the Nissan made an illegal left turn in front of a Lexus that was traveling in the left lane. The Lexus struck the Nissan and spun it twice ejecting the toddler and another adult passenger.

Now, the young child is at Children’s Medical Center listed in critical condition. No names of the passengers are known at this time, but all adult passengers were minimally injured. Police said they are investigating whether or not the child was properly restrained.

Is this story a prime example of what the AAP is warning parents about in their new car seat recommendations? Yesterday, it was announced that all children between 3 and 12 should be in a booster seat. I sure hope this innocent child at least had a seat belt on.

We handle a multitude of car accident cases at my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth and I know a serious car accident can happen to anyone at any time – especially when you least expect it. Don’t increase your chances of being permanently injured or even killed because you don't put on a seatbelt. If you’re a parent, you make sure your kid is wearing a seatbelt all the time. Every time.

As a Tarrant County personal injury lawyer, I have seen firsthand the horrible injuries suffered by people involved in a distracted driving-related traffic collision. According to the NHTSA, 20% of all auto accidents resulting in injury or death in 2009 involved some form of distracted driving. Far too many lives have been unalterably changed, damaged or lost as a result of this antisocial behavior. So it is no surprise that public awareness has increased and new laws are even being proposed in an aim to reduce the amount of dangerous driving on our roadways.

In Texas, the most prominent speakers are Johnny Mac and Jeanne Brown of the Remember Alex Brown Foundation in Lubbock. You may have seen them featured on TV already, but in case you don’t know the story, please allow me to indulge you…

Johnny Mac and Jeanne’s teenage daughter, Alex, used to text and drive. Her parents knew that it was unsafe to do so, but didn’t realize just how dangerous it was until Alex failed to turn up to school one day. Panicked, they set out to look for her, fearing that something had happened on her way to school. Jeanne found Alex’s car – totaled – having crashed head on into a utility pole on a rural road. There were no other vehicles involved in the wreck. Alex was already dead when Jeanne found her. She had been texting.

Today, Johnny Mac and Jeanne travel to high schools across the state trying to increase awareness of the dangers of texting while driving. They take Alex’s ruined car with them as a poignant visual aid which really makes the message hit home. They have declared March 21 2011 as a National Day of Awareness and will be hosting live presentations on their website throughout the day. Please join the Anderson Law Firm in supporting this important cause and spread the message to make our roads safer for everyone.

Mark Anderson is a board certified PI and wrongful death attorney who has helped many victims of car crashes across the Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex since 1991. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a traffic wreck, call the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation toll free on 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally on 817-294-1900.

Continental Tire has announced a recall of 390,000 tires used in Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks due to a fatal auto accident which occurred earlier this year as a result of the defective tires. Continental reports that approximately 330,000 of the tires were used on new trucks, the other 60,000 were to be sold as replacement tires at various outlets, including some in Fort Worth and Arlington. The affected product numbers are LT275/70R18 and ContiTrac size LT275/70R18 125/122S.

It seems like there have been a lot of recalls involving the safety of vehicles on our roadways recently, and while I’m sure the financial cost of this recall will hurt Continental to an extent, I’m sure that they’re getting off lightly considering the tires have already been found responsible for at least one death – but who knows how other lives they have already put in danger, or how many other wrecks they played a part in?

From my perspective as a Texas personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, these tires should never have been released to the public marketplace. If the evidence is clear enough that the tires are defective then why was production not halted in the first place? I am fed up of recalls of dangerous products which are rushed to stores before the proper safety checks have been completed. Big companies need to slow down and curb their desire for a quick buck and actually make sure that what they’re selling is safe. It might mean it takes a little longer for them to see a profit, but even if it means one death can be prevented, then I think it’s worth it.

Mark Anderson is a board certified PI attorney in Fort Worth. To arrange a free consultation on your car crash or truck collision, call toll free on 800-354-MARK (6275).

The driver of a lifted Ford F-250 struck and killed a woman outside in the parking lot of Dallas strip club, Spearmint Rhino. The driver, Eric Crutchfield, was pulling out of the parking lot when he hit and killed Kasey McKenzie of Granbury, TX.

Crutchfield told Dallas police that he couldn’t see McKenzie because his truck was lifted so high. Witnesses said McKenzie had just stepped in front of the truck when the vehicles three foot tires hit her. The driver told police he didn’t even realize what had happen until after it was too late.

Officers arrested Crutchfield on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He has a suspended license and two previous arrests in Dallas County on controlled substance charges. Now, he is being charged with intoxication manslaughter.

From the pictures of the vehicle that hit McKenzie, it looks like the driver must have been riding at least 10 feet above the ground. It’s entirely possible that he didn’t see her, but with the driver having alcohol in his system it kind of ruins his story.

We handle a lot of drunk driving and pedestrian accident cases at my law firm, but usually not ones that are as tragically bizarre as this.

I think the driver of this monster truck is absolutely irresponsible. For one, who drives an enormous monster truck on a residential street? A car like that takes a ladder to even get inside! Furthermore, if you are going to drive such a vehicle why in the world would you even risk your life or the lives of others around you by even having a sip of alcohol? If you ask me, this guy should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. With two previous serious charges against him, he should have known better.

St. Patrick’s Day is known for green beer and partying, but this year you may want to keep the drinks away from the curb.

Last Saturday, Dallas police cracked down on open containers at the annual St. Patty’s parade on Greenville Avenue causing a lot of frustration for the partiers. State law says that open containers need to be 18 feet from the public right-of-way (like a sidewalk or road). Those who are in violation of the law, a class C misdemeanor, could be fined up to $250.

So, even at game day tailgating and big parades, it’s still not legal to have an open container near a sidewalk or a street – even if everyone else is doing it, too.

What counts as an open container? In Texas, "Open container" means a bottle, can, or other receptacle that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage and that is open, that has been opened, that has a broken seal, or the contents of which are partially removed.

So why am I telling you this? Because even though I only handle personal injury lawsuits, a lot of the clients I represent have been in accidents caused by drunk people. I know the Dallas police department got a lot of flack for getting strict on open container laws, especially at the St. Patty’s Day parade, but I think the reason they did is to protect people from something worse, like a DUI or a drunk driving accident.

I guess what I’m saying is, enjoy your green beer…responsibly! Know the law and know your limits and everyone will have a great St. Patrick’s Day.

As a Tarrant County personal injury attorney, I have written before that I believe red light cameras can dramatically reduce the number of fatal car accidents on our roadway, and now the evidence is in that I was correct… North Richland Hills has reported that the number of wrecks causing injuries has fallen from 269 in 2007 to just 30 in 2010 – a 64% reduction - even though the city’s population has continued to increase. A lot of that has to do with the increased use of red light cameras throughout North Richland Hills, mainly along congested routes where most accidents have occurred in the past.

The improved safety on the streets is being attributed to special traffic enforcement programs as many residents have said they consciously focus on good driving habits - including staying within posted speed limits and not running red lights – as they know there are motorcycle cops out there keeping an eye out for anyone driving dangerously and who might pose the threat of a collision with another vehicle. North Richland Hills also has red light cameras at a total of 7 of the town’s busiest intersections. Although these extra measures to improve traffic safety have resulted in an increase in citations (27,067 tickets were issued in 2010, up from 19,787 – a 36% rise) the increase is far less dramatic than the decrease in auto accidents. It really does seem that NRH Police Department’s tactics are working, and I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually the number of citations decreases as people fully embrace safe driving habits.

I hope that other cities across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex will learn from North Richland Hill’s experiment. According to the latest census bureau figures, the number of people – and vehicles – continues to rise across North Texas, which means the need for safer roadways is increasingly important too. Most drivers are focused simply on getting wherever it is they’re going, but really they should pay more attention to other road users and focus on their own safe driving to make sure that we can all reach our destination safely.

Mark Anderson is a board certified PI and wrongful death attorney who has helped victims of truck and motorcycle wrecks across the DFW area since 1991. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a traffic collision, call the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your case. Call toll free on 800-354-6275.

Next week is spring break for many schools across Fort Worth and Dallas so that means the malls are going to be swarming with teenagers and families whose parents are struggling to find creative ways to get the kids out of the house. So it is a good time to remember just how dangerous a mall parking lot can be. Yes – personal injury accidents can occur there too! Whether it’s the driver who thinks the parking lot is their own private race track, or the one who is concentrating more on texting their friends than on the road, parking lots pose significant risks to pedestrians and other motorists alike.

So if you are venturing out into the crowds next week, just make sure you pay attention to your surroundings while driving around a parking lot. Being alert to what other cars are doing can help you avoid a collision with a careless driver. Once you have parked and are heading into the stores, make sure that you keep your kids close and treat it like you are crossing a busy road together. Even when are ready to leave, be careful when backing out of your parking spot and go slow so that other vehicles have time to see you and stop to prevent a crash. Not all cars will stop though, so be prepared to stop yourself if you need to.

Whatever your plans are for the next week – take care to stay safe and don’t wreck your week off with a preventable accident. If you’re looking forward to March Madness, you can sign up for my free brackets competition. It costs nothing to enter and you could win an iPad. For more information, or if you or a loved one has been hurt and needs advice, you can contact me online or call the Anderson Law Firm toll free on 817-294-1900.

Dallas police are asking for any information involving a hit and run that occurred last Friday, March 4.

Selena Christian was crossing the street using a crosswalk on Henderson Avenue when a large SUV slammed into her and then drove off. Christian was thrown nearly 20 feet by the car but luckily sustained no serious injuries.

A security camera from J.Black's Lounge on Henderson caught the shocking incident on tape. So far, police have the vehicles license plate number, but still no suspect.

I’ve watched the video of this woman getting hit and honestly, it’s amazing that she isn’t more hurt! We handle many pedestrian accidents at my injury law firm in Fort Worth and usually the injuries are catastrophic. I’m just glad Selena was able to walk away from this scary incident relatively unscathed.

Doesn’t it seem like there have been a lot of pedestrian accidents in the news lately? What’s the deal? Either the crosswalks aren’t visible enough to motorists or North Texas drivers are just being careless. If you’re going to be walking in an area notorious for lots of cars AND people on foot, remind yourself what you can do to stay as a pedestrian. Especially when you’re driving in a heavy pedestrian area, look ahead and be aware of people crossing the street. Whatever you do, don’t drive away if you’ve been involved in an accident. It will only make things worse for you and everyone else involved in the wreck.

I really hope they find the person that hit Selena Christian, but most importantly, I’m glad she’s ok.

Yesterday was a good day for personal injury attorneys such as myself who have long cited distracted driving to be more dangerous than drunk driving, as the Secretary of Transportation himself, Ray LaHood, joined the cause and announced a new program aimed at educating young drivers and their parents on the very real dangers of texting while driving. In a poll taken during the last 2 months of 2010, only 30% of drivers aged 30 or younger felt that it was unsafe to use a handheld phone while operating a motor vehicle. This is a very troubling statistic, so I definitely welcome the government’s efforts to help spread the message and reduce the number of distracted drivers on our roads. As a Fort Worth car wreck lawyer, I already support organizations such as Teens Against Distracted Driving and the Remember Alex Brown Foundation – both of whom serve a similar purpose.

It is good to know that the message is being heard and becoming stronger as more people repeat it. The Remember Alex Brown Foundation has certainly captured the public’s attention since it was heavily featured on a recent episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The government’s program, which is being organized in partnership with Consumer Reports Magazine should place the issue even more prominently within the public’s collective consciousness. In addition to offering a free brochure for parents of teen drivers, there will also be public service announcements broadcast nationwide and a video which will be played on TVs in Walmart and other stores. All of this is great news.

LaHood has also reportedly met with CEOs of car manufacturing companies to discuss whether new high-tech features now standard in many cars might be contributing to the distracted driving epidemic. Presumably this includes features such as in-car mp3 players, voice-controlled dialing and so on… And of course the regulators are saying they don’t have “good data” on the subject yet. Really? Because I’ve read a number of reports which suggest anything which takes your attention off the road – even using a hands free device or talking to your child in the back seat – can distract you enough that you are at risk of crashing your car. Distracted driving is dangerous – it puts you, your passengers and other motorists at risk. Don’t do it.

Mark Anderson is an Auto Accident Trial Lawyer who has been serving the people of Tarrant County and the surrounding areas for 20 years. If you or loved one has been hurt in a traffic collision where the other driver was texting while driving, Mark would like to offer you a free no obligation consultation on your situation. Call toll free on 800-354-MARK or locally on 817-294-1900.

Drunk driving accidents are no joke. Of all the personal injury victims that I’ve met over the years, those who have been hurt in a traffic collision where the driver at fault was driving while intoxicated often suffer most needlessly. Alcohol-related car crashes are 100% preventable. Fortunately, Fort Worth’s Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee endorsed a bill this week to introduce sobriety checkpoints throughout the city and state.

If the bill passes, then Texas will become the 40th state to implement DWI checkpoints since the US Supreme Court ruled them constitutional more than 20 years ago. While the exact details are still being worked out, Ft. Worth Police are already emphasizing that the traffic stops are not intended to produce more arrests, but rather to act as a deterrent to those considering driving home when they know better.

I think that this proposal is a great idea - as anything that is able to reduce the number of drink driving deaths in Tarrant County truly benefits us all. There were a total of 90 alcohol-related fatalities in Fort Worth alone from 2008-2010, not to mention countless other injuries as a result of someone getting behind the wheel after an evening at the bar. In 2008, Texas had more DWI deaths than any other state.

Mark Anderson is a board certified PI and Wrongful Death Attorney who has served the people of Fort Worth, Arlington and the surrounding areas since 1991. If you or a loved one have been injured in a wreck that wasn’t your fault, call the Anderson Law Firm for a complimentary evaluation of your case. Our number is 817-294-1900. There is no obligation, and unless we win, you don’t owe us a penny.