Dallas Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer Blog

As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, one of my greatest concerns for public safety is the distracted driving epidemic. I am far from alone in my concern as celebrities such as Justin Bieber and the Texas Rangers’ Derek Holland have also spoken out against texting while driving. You may have seen the results of a survey published this week by GMAC Insurance which suggest that the number of people using a cellphone while behind the wheel is on the decline. As fantastic as this news is, however, I am skeptical of the study’s findings.

From a total of 5,130 drivers surveyed nationwide, 75% of drivers aged 16 and 17 claim they never use their smart phones while driving. GMAC attributes this apparent result to increasing parental pressure not to use handheld devices while driving. I certainly agree that family and social pressure not to use a phone can help reduce the number of young drivers, but I think GMAC’s assertion that distracted driving is declining is more than a little optimistic.

According to the same survey, nearly 66% of all age groups said they regularly make phone calls while driving and 80% admit to reading and sending text messages while stopped at traffic lights. In my book, that’s still considered distracted driving. Any time you take your attention off the road you are impairing your ability to safely operate your vehicle.

I’m glad that the dangers of distracted driving are getting more publicity, but it is still a big problem. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, give me a call for a no fee, no obligation consultation on your personal injury claim: call toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or call locally at 817-294-1900.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that it’s important to stay with your vehicle – but not in your vehicle - if your car stalls or if you are stranded at the side of the interstate. Nowadays, the majority of people have a cellphone with them at all times which is useful for calling roadside assistance.

A lot of the time, police departments have regular courtesy patrols which travel throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex offering assistance to motorists who need help changing a tire or who have run short on gas, among other problems. The important thing is that you should avoid attempting to walk along a busy highway or to cross the road at all costs because the freeway is simply not a safe place for pedestrians. Drivers don’t expect to see people walking across the road so they are not watching out for pedestrians.

Unfortunately, a DFW woman was killed in a collision which happened on Texas 121 in Grapevine early yesterday morning. The victim has not yet been named but police report that her car was found along the median of the road, just north of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, and deduced that she had been attempting to cross the road when she was struck by an oncoming Hyundai Elantra. No charges are being pursued against the driver who hit her and the death is being ruled accidental.

If you have been injured in a car wreck, motorcycle crash or any other traffic collision you will need to go to the doctor for the appropriate medical treatment. Whiplash, broken bones and traumatic brain injuries are common accident injuries, with the most severe requiring an extended hospital stay and life-long consequences. It’s not always obvious, however, just how much of an impact your injuries might have at first which is why it’s so important that you don’t accept the insurance adjustor’s initial settlement offer.

Very serious injuries often require extended periods of hospitalization, coupled with forced leave from work. Such a combination of expensive medical bills and loss of income can be catastrophic. Especially if your injuries mean you won’t ever me able to return to work, it means life-long financial consequences from the accident. The good news is that Texas law gives you the right to seek compensation for both past and future medical expenses, as well as recovering any and all lost wages because of the tragedy.

Consulting with an experienced personal injury lawyer is essential. At the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, our two attorneys have over 40 years of combined success in winning their PI clients the full and fair compensation they deserve. Give us a call today to schedule your free no obligation consultation. We can be reached at toll free 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

According to Dallas-Fort Worth meteorologists, today is the 24th consecutive day for temperatures to hit 100°F. In addition to the increased electric bill (thank-you A/C) and the dried-out lawn, I’m here to tell you as a Tarrant County personal injury lawyer that the sweltering heat can also be a concern for your vehicle. Obviously cars have a tendency to overheat in the Texas summers anyway, so it’s always important to regularly check and make sure your radiator is working effectively throughout July and August. One of the main hazards caused by this year’s almost 4-week long heat wave is tire blowouts.

A tire blowout can be dangerous because it happens to suddenly it can cause you to lose control of your car, meaning potential danger both to yourself and other road users. The problem also affects motorcyclists too, not to mention commercial trucks, which are probably most dangerous of all vehicles on Texas roads. Imagine driving past a huge 18-wheeler truck when one of their tires explodes: it’s a scary thought!

Aside from the increased risk of collision a blown out tire can cause, it can also leave drivers stranded in the middle of the road, causing an obstacle for other motorists. Similarly, the more tires that burst on the highway, the more tire debris are left behind for other drivers to try and avoid. Unfortunately, there is really nothing that can be done to prevent tire blowouts, save for regularly maintaining your vehicle to avoid any potential problems the weather might cause. This includes issues with the air conditioning, battery, engine and transmission as well.

Mark Anderson is a board certified traffic crash attorney. If you or a loved one have be injured in an auto collision, get a free copy of Mark’s book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case.

Tonight, HBO premiers a controversial documentary on the horrifying car accident in New York caused by Diane Schuler. The car accident was one of them most upsetting crashes in recent memory. Two years ago this Tuesday, Diane Schuler drove two miles in the wrong direction on the Taconic State Parkway, ultimately killing eight people including herself, her daughter and three nieces. At first there was confusion as to how an accident of this magnitude could have happened, but after toxicology report was released the cause of the accident was clear. Diane was drunk and high at the time of the accident with a blood alcohol level of .19 percent –what equals about 10 shots of liquor.

It’s kind of disturbing to admit, but because of my job as a personal injury attorney in Fort Worth, hearing about car accidents is just an everyday thing for me. But accidents like this one will shake you to the core. Apparently, some of Diane’s family members cannot believe she would have driven drunk with her kids. Instead they think somehow there must have been a mistake with the reports or that Diane had a medical emergency that caused the accident. This documentary is part of their attempt to answer their lingering questions about what caused such a terrible thing to happen.

Since I haven’t seen the film, I can’t say what the movie discovers. I do know it’s hard to argue with toxicology reports. But still, it’s very hard to believe that someone everyone described as a loving and devoted mother could endanger the lives of their children by driving drunk. I guess sometimes you never truly know people. Whatever the cause of this accident, it is a reminder to all parents to never drink and drive, especially if your kids are in the car. Even a couple margaritas at dinner can be too many. Drunk driving accidents can happen to anyone and just because you think you can handle your liquor doesn’t mean you can.

“There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane” premieres tonight on HBO at 8 o’clock.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that it is not always a negligent driver which is the cause of a fatal traffic collision, but sometimes other factors such the road itself. I was saddened to learn of a fatal single car accident which occurred last night, about 40 miles north of DFW in Leonard in Fannin County.

Brandon Richards (19, of Dodd City) was driving the car as it crested a hill and became airborne. According to the police investigation of the crash scene, Richards then lost control of the vehicle which flipped and rolled over several times before coming to a stop. Both Richards and one of his passengers, Brian Hilliard (15) were taken to Parkland Hospital by helicopter with critical injuries. Their current conditions are unknown. The two other passengers in the car, Alexandria Hilliard (16) and Zachary Kelton (19, of Ector) were pronounced deceased at the site of the wreck.

My thoughts are with the families and friends of all of these young victims. This is a terrible tragedy which has occurred.

The crash happened on FM 896 which local residents describe as narrow and hilly. This latest disaster is the latest in a number of fatal accidents which have occurred in this same stretch of road. As a Texas car wreck wrongful death attorney, I hope that the local authorities in Leonard are prompted by this seriously poor record to review the allegedly hazardous road conditions where this wreck occurred and take whatever action is necessary to ensure that more lives are not needlessly lost.

Maybe if we had more Amish in Texas there would be less fatal drunk driving accidents. At least in Cattaraugus County in New York, some of the driver’s boozing on the road are riding dirty in a horse and buggy, not cars and trucks. Yes, today’s weird legal news comes right out of the Old Country where a 17-year-old Amish boy has been charged with resisting arrest and unlawful possession of an alcoholic beverage by a person under 21 after police saw him with an open container of beer in his buggy.

The young man took police on a short chase when they attempted to pull him over and ask about the open container of alcohol. Not to self: when evading arrest, horse and buggy is not the best option. Eventually police caught up with the teen and arrested him for driving under the influence.

As a personal injury attorney in Fort Worth, if there had to be drunk drivers I’d much rather them be driving horses than cars with horse power, but the law is the law. It’s illegal to operate any motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol – including horse and buggy.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth motorcycle accident & injury attorney, I know that motorcyclists are the most vulnerable motorists on our road, and the most likely to suffer life-threatening injuries in the event of a highway collision. Such accidents are rarely the fault of the bike rider. Rather, it is the fault of truck and car drivers who fail to give motorcyclists the respect they deserve to the point of negligence.

I am greatly saddened to hear that Jason Wakeford (30), a motorcyclist from Keller, Texas, was killed in a traffic wreck in far north Tarrant County in the early hours of yesterday morning. A Jeep being driven by a suspected drunk driver, Cristan Jerri Melancon (18), also from Keller, turned on to Wall Price Road and crashed into Mr. Wakeford’s bike. Mr. Wakeford was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards. Ms. Melancon is being held at Tarrant County Jail on suspicion of intoxication manslaughter. She was uninjured in the crash.

The poor judgment – or rather, inexcusably bad decisions – by drivers who decide to get behind the wheel after drinking causes a great many deaths in the DFW metroplex each year. It seems that not a week goes by without another fatal alcohol-related car wreck. It genuinely makes me angry. There is no excuse to attempt to drive if you’ve been drinking. I hope that Ms. Melancon receives the harshest punishment for her crime and the devastation she is responsible for in causing this fatal accident.

My thoughts go out to the friends and family of Mr. Wakeford. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

Although I have practiced personal injury law in the DFW area for 20 years, I am always upset to learn that someone has lost their life in a car crash. Wrecks happen every day, of course, but we should not forget that these are people who have lost their lives. They leave behind many loved ones who must now move on without them.

One such tragedy occurred on FM 1417 on Thursday night. Taylor Williams, 17 from Sherman, Texas, was killed in a traffic collision. She was a passenger in a car which was t-boned by a pickup truck. Police say that Williams died at the scene. One other girl who was riding in the vehicle was careflighted to a hospital in Dallas. The driver of the car, another passenger and the driver of the pickup truck were also all taken to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. Police are still investigating the conditions that caused the fatal accident to occur.

I would like to offer my condolences to Taylor’s friends and family. This is undoubtedly a most difficult time for you all. My thoughts are with you.

If you are ever unfortunate enough to be injured in a collision, it is important that you contact an experienced Fort Worth motorcycle crash lawyer for legal advice to make sure that the insurance adjustor does not take advantage of you and that you get the fair compensation you deserve. Under Texas law, you are entitled to recover damages to cover the cost of your medical treatment. However, you should nearly always expect a fight. Insurance companies are a business and their priority will always be profits, not the innocent people injured by their clients.

The worst examples of motorcycle wrecks, in every sense, are truck-on-motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists have very little protection anyway. When their body is faced with the force of a heavy, speeding 18-wheeler truck the effect can be devastating. The injuries are extremely serious. But the trucking company will still try to avoid paying any sort of compensation. The truck driver will be instructed not to make a statement and the insurance adjustor will arrange for a crash scene investigator to get on the scene almost immediately to collect evidence to help them avoid making any sort of payment.

You deserve to have an experienced truck wreck lawyer on your side. Dallas-Fort Worth auto accident injury attorney Mark Anderson has a proven track record of gaining successful settlements for his personal injury clients, and he has handled many truck and motorcycle collisions over the past 20 years. Mark is also the author of the books Roadmap To Winning Your Texas Motorcycle Accident Case and 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case.

If you or a bike rider you love has been injured in a truck-on-motorcycle crash, or any other traffic collision, call Mark for a free consultation to understand your legal right to compensation in your personal situation. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or call locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

As a Richardson personal injury lawyer, I know that distracted driving accidents are on the rise. Although texting while driving is by far the highest contributing factor, other common examples include eating while driving or having a loose pet in the vehicle with you, as is the case in a tragic hit and run accident which occurred in Richardson yesterday, seriously injuring a child pedestrian.

An 11 year old boy was hit by a vehicle while playing on the sidewalk near his home in Richardson, Texas yesterday. The boy was riding a go-cart near the intersection of Twilight Trail and Floyd Road when a dark-colored sports utility vehicle mounted the curb and struck him. According to witnesses, the SUV (possibly a Toyota 4Runner) was either black or dark blue and was driven by a woman who had a small white dog on her lap. The boy, who has not been named, was rushed to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas where he received surgery for his serious head injuries suffered in the collision.

The distracted driver apparently fled the scene in her vehicle, leaving the injured child lying at the side of the road, witnesses said. Police are now looking for her as she could face hit and run charges for failing to stop and render aid. I sure hope the police are able to find this woman is caught and prosecuted for her crime.

If you or a loved one has been injured in any kind of traffic accident, whether you were a driver, passenger or pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your medical costs and other expenses related to the crash. For a free consultation on your personal situation call a DFW personal injury attorney toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally at 214-327-800 in Dallas or 817-294-1900 in Fort Worth.

In Texas, most people over the age of 18 probably get behind the wheel of a car every day and over time, driving to and from places feels like second nature. If you’ve driven a number of years in Dallas or Fort Worth and haven’t gotten into an accident, you may take more risks while driving like talking or texting on your cell phone, eating, putting on makeup or messing with your iPod. As a personal injury lawyer in Fort Worth, I know that no matter how many years you’ve been driving in Texas, failing to give your full attention to the road can be deadly for yourself and the other drivers around you.

Just last week, a Burleson car accident caused by driver inattention killed a newborn baby boy. Kayla Roberts of Cleburne was driving along FM 1902 in Burleson when Daniel McWhorter crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with Roberts’ truck. Roberts’ was air lifted to a hospital in Fort Worth where she delivered her baby, Adam Roberts. The baby was pronounced dead the next day.

This accident is truly upsetting because it has affected the lives of such young people -not only the baby boy, but also 18-year-old Daniel, who caused the accident. Police said alcohol, drugs or cell phones weren’t the cause of the accident, just a driver not paying attention. Now Daniel must live with this on his conscious for the rest of his life.

If we’re being honest, I’m sure everyone can admit that they’ve been a distracted driver at some time or another in their life. But when I read about accidents like this, it reminds me that my full attention always needs to be on the road. Preventing distracted driving is a cause me and my personal injury law firm are very serious about. We especially want to stop young distracted drivers the most, so we’ve created a program called Teens Against Distracted Driving. Too many young people have been taken from this world in distracted driving car accidents. These car wrecks don’t have to happen – take our pledge to become a safer driver.

I’ve been updating my personal injury lawyer blogs all week with updates on a charter bus crash that sent everyone on board to the hospital. The charter bus owned by Dallas based Mares Bus Lines and was headed to DFW from Laredo when it veered off the road and flipped after hitting a highway sign. The driver, Jesus Basio-Ramirez was asleep at the wheel and because of him a 4-year-old girl had to have her leg amputated.

With clear liability and evidence of negligence in this bus accident case, all of the injured passengers can file a suit against the bus company. That’s why I wasn’t surprised to see this morning that two suits have already been filed against Mares Bus Lines by the mother of the 4-year-old girl and another injured passenger, Maria Barboza. My experience as a Texas personal injury lawyer and bus accident attorney tells me that there will probably be several more suits filed against Mares Bus Lines in the coming weeks.

You see, when multiple people are injured in a bus accident in Texas, it is possible for the injured parties to file against the same insurance policy. Basically, there could be only a certain amount of money to go around to every injured victim. If that is true, then it’s incredibly important that you hire an experienced truck accident attorney who can make sure you are equally represented.

Truck accident cases with multiple claimants can become complicated, but hiring the right personal injury attorney can make the process much smoother and ensures that you will receive the maximum compensation for your injuries. If you need a bus accident lawyer in Texas call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-MARK to set up a free case consultation. Our attorneys can get you the medical treatment you need and make an economic recovery for your pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer with 20 years’ experience in dealing with fatal 18-wheeler wrecks, one of the new Texas laws due to come into effect on September 1, 2011 has me concerned for the safety of driver and passengers traveling throughout our state. House Bill 1353 will increase the speed limit on both state and US highways outside urban areas to 75 mph. The reasoning behind this is that it will reduce the traffic collisions caused by aggressive drivers that either recklessly change lanes or tailgate other vehicles that are driving slower. While I can certainly sympathize with the frustration of being stuck behind a slow-moving semi-trailer truck, I have to question the logic of legislation seemingly designed to accommodate dangerous drivers.

Perhaps most worryingly, HB 1353, neglects to recognize the additional hazards created by increasing the speed limit at night for commercial trucks. Already, 410 Texans are killed each year in big rig accidents, according to data compiled by the Department of Transportation. The Texas Commercial Driver’s License Manual acknowledges the very real danger of a big rig driving too fast as even at 55 mph a tractor trailer will take at least 290 feet to come to a stop. The problem is that trucks’ headlights only illuminate 250 ahead of the driver. Meaning if a car stops ahead of the truck, then that truck is going to crash right into it, causing massive injuries.

This legislation seems incredibly ill-conceived to me. I cannot see how it could make Texas roads safer at all.

Mark Anderson is a board certified personal injury and wrongful death attorney who has been fighting for the rights of individuals injured or killed in Dallas-Fort Worth trucking accidents since 1991. If you or someone you love was injured in a traffic collision involving a commercial truck, you deserve an experienced lawyer with a proven track record. Mark Anderson offers free no obligation consultations, so don’t delay. Call toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally at 817-294-1900 in fort Worth or 214-327-8000 in Dallas.

Some of the very worst auto accidents I have encountered in my 20 years as a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer have been caused by drunk drivers. According to MADD, more than 11,000 people die in alcohol-related traffic collisions each year, and many thousands more are injured. Fort Worth drunk-driving wrecks cause devastating injuries, which is why I support the use of a new technology called the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) which aims to prevent such tragedies by automatically detecting whether the driver is intoxicated when they get behind the wheel. If the driver’s alcohol limit exceeds the legal limit of .08, then their vehicle becomes inoperable – forcing them to take a cab home and potentially save someone’s life.

Congress is currently considering the Roads Safe Act which would make the DADSS technology mandatory in every new vehicle. I believe this technology could really make a difference and make our roads safer for everyone. I’ve seen accidents caused by a drunk driver who was driving on the wrong side of the road, who ran a red light, or dozens of other idiotic scenarios. Driving while intoxicated is a crime – it is deadly. To make sure your voice is heard on this subject, you can email your Representative and Senators in support of the Roads Safe Act.

Mark Anderson is a board certified Tarrant County personal injury and wrongful death attorney. If you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, we would like to offer you a complimentary consultation on your personal situation to discuss your legal right to compensation. We can help you get the compensation you deserve and can also help you cooperate with the criminal justice system to make sure the drunk driver is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

For a free consultation call today at 817-294-1900.

A charter bus owned by Dallas-based Mares Bus Lines swerved off the road and flipped in San Marcos early Friday morning, sending all 21 passengers and the driver to the hospital. Although there were no fatalities in the charter bus crash, the severest injury belonged to a 4-year-old girl who had to have her leg amputated. Other injuries from the bus wreck ranged from head trauma and broken bones to cuts and bruises; one woman even had to be put on life support.

The bus was heading to Dallas from Laredo on I-35, when investigators said the driver over-corrected and flipped the bus. The bus wreck blocked the highway on both the north and southbound lanes near San Marcos for several hours.

Investigators don’t believe there were any mechanical issues that led to the accident. The Dallas company who owns the charter bus, Mares Bus Lines, has had five violations for unsafe driving and 12 violations for driver fatigue in the past two years according to the Department of Transportation. Six months ago, another bus in the company’s fleet was involved in a wreck that injured three people.

My background as a Fort Worth personal injury attorney and bus accident lawyer tells me that bus wrecks like this usually don’t end well. When I read this headline I was actually surprised and thankful that more people weren’t seriously injured. I’m left wondering, what happened to cause the accident? The spokesperson for the Dallas bus company said that although they have had minor incidents in the past, they’ve received favorable ratings and the bus driver involved in this wreck has not every had any problems. But I did a little digging on this charter bus company in records from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and in the last two years, their bus drivers have received five violations for unsafe driving and 12 violations for driver fatigue. Was this accident caused by a bus driver falling asleep at the wheel? All the signs are there that it could’ve been: it was 4 a.m. and the driver veered off the road although there was no obstruction that would have made him do that.

If the bus accident was caused by driver fatigue, these bus passengers could file a personal injury claim for their damages. Bus companies and their drivers must adhere to certain driving rules and are held to a higher standard than regular motorists. Driving more than the mandated hours allowed is a clear sign of negligence and if investigators find that this bus driver did violate those driving rules, the passengers injured in this wreck would definitely have a right to pursue a claim against the bus line. For more information on how to get a personal injury claim started, visit my website where you can learn all you need to know on the ins and outs of making a claim.
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This commentary was provided by accident and injury attorney, Mark Anderson. If you’ve been injured in a car, truck or bus accident in the Dallas Fort Worth area, call the Anderson Law Firm at 817-294-1900 for a free case review. Our injury lawyers can help get you the compensation you deserve for you accident injuries.

To celebrate the Fourth of July, I thought it would be an appropriate time to share some fun facts that you may or may not know about Independence Day and our nation's history. On behalf of everyone at the Anderson Law Firm, I'd like to wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July!

1. Fourth of July was first declared a national holiday in 1941.

2. Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal but was outvoted by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson who chose the bald eagle.

3. In 2010 alone, the US imported fireworks from China worth an estimated $190.7 million.

4. The first White House Fourth of July party was in 1801.

5. More than 150 million hot dogs will be enjoyed on Fourth of July. That's about one frank for every two people in the US!

6. Interestingly, the majority of flags and other Fourth of July gear are actually made in China. Nearly $349 million worth of patriotic paraphernalia such as flags, banners and decorations are
imported each year.

7. The 13 stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were considered equal.

8. Teddy Roosevelt was the first president to ride in an automobile (I wonder if he ever got in any car accidents?)

9. There are 30 places nationwide with the word “liberty” in their name. Some examples include Liberty, MO and Libertyville, IA.

10. Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the 50th Anniversary of Independence Day in 1826.

11. John Hancock was the only person to actually sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The other 55 signers did not sign it until August 2nd or even later.

12. When the Declaration of Independence was signed, there were 2.5 million people living in America. Now there is an estimated 310 million people living here.

13. In 1989, a bargain hunter bought a painting at a flea market for $4 and found that it had an original copy of the Declaration of Independence stuck between the canvas and the frame! He
later sold that same copy for $8.14 million!