Dallas Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Two children were hurt in a wreck involving ejected people on U.S. 287 Thursday morning in northwest Fort Worth. The children went to Cook’s Children Medical Center and two adults were also taken to other area hospitals.

Police and ambulance crews responded at about 8:35 a.m. to the wreck in the 12100 block of U.S. 287. The area is a short distance northwest of the highway's intersection with Blue Mound Road. There have been no further reports about the extent of injuries.

It is important to remember that most of these motor vehicle accidents happen because a driver make reckless mistakes, like not paying attention. I also hope that everyone was wearing a seatbelt, because that could make the injuries far less severe. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants, more than half (55%) of those killed in 2008 were unrestrained. I hope everyone involved in this accident is okay, and I hope that they can figure out what the cause was.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Car 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 concerning a car accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

Late Thursday, in Pleasant Grove, TX three children were hospitalized after a hit-and-run.
The children were riding in a white Plymouth minivan. The minivan was traveling south on Masters Drive a little after 11p.m. when a silver Lincoln Navigator ran a stop sign at Muskogee Drive and hit them.

The driver on the minivan was unharmed, but four members of his family were taken to various hospitals. The victims include: his wife, an 8-year-old boy, a 3-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl. His youngest daughter, 3-years-old, suffered the most serious injuries out of the group and was taken to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. None of their injuries are thought to be life threatening.

The driver of the Lincoln Navigator fled the scene after the accident. He still remains at large. Police later found the vehicle abandoned in a backyard of a house nearby. Anyone with information can call Dallas Police at 214-670-5817

Hit-and-runs are one of the worst types of accidents to hear about. In this case, a driver of a sports utility vehicle made a mistake by running a stop sign. Mistakes happen, but running away from accident you caused, especially when there are multiple children involved, is despicable. Hopefully the police will be able to track down this reckless driver and bring him to justice.

Most motor vehicle accidents, including this one, happen because driver's make reckless mistakes, like running a stop sign. They can either be simply not paying attention, or it could be the driver was talking on a cell phone, texting, or eating. By following road safety rules the probability of a being in a car accident is greatly reduced. If you have any information about this accident please call the Dallas Police at 214-670-5817. Making a mistake is one thing, running from it is another.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth 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. If you have questions about a hit-and-run accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

Police say that wearing seat belts may have prevented serious injury in a van wreck involving children. The Children’s Academy Daycare van was on Highway 360 Monday morning when the brakes locked.

The van tumbled down an embankment on Highway 360 and hit a sign. The six kids and the driver suffered cuts and bruises and were taken to the hospital to be checked out, but wearing a seat belt likely protected them from any severe injury.

These are the blogs I love writing about because it shows the good that can happen when you follow the rules of the road. Wearing a seat belt is important, especially since, among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants, more than half of those killed in 2008 were unrestrained. Putting on a safety belt is a simple action that could save your life, so suck it up and buckle up. You won’t regret it.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth 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. If you have questions about a car accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

With the enactment of the new booster seat law, many low-income parents are worried about how they can afford booster seats in their cars for kids up to 8 years old. These booster seats will help prevent injury in the case of a car accident. For parents who can't afford a booster seat, the Texas Department of Health Services gives away free car seats to low-income families through its Safe Riders program.

In the past four months, Safe Riders has given away 540 booster seats and 2,613 car seats to parents across the state. The program has distributed an additional 5,000 car seats to be given out at events around the state.

This is such a great way to ensure that all kids ride safe while in a motor vehicle. It would be hard for all families to obey the law, because some families are unable to purchase a car or booster seat with the income they make. It is estimated that approximately 47 percent of the fatally injured children in the 0 through 9 years old are generally unrestrained. I think it is a great program that is watching out for the safety of children from all types of families, which is always important. Not only will these families follow the law, they will help protect their kids from serious injury.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Car 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 about a car accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

On the morning of May 9th a tragic car accident occurred in Fort Worth. The driver, Livita Simms, was driving north on the I-35 service road when her car went over the curb, hit a medium and burst into flames. Four members in the six person car were killed. The wrecked killed Simms, her five year old daughter, and two thirteen year old boys identified Elijah Drisdle and Deguone Matlock Jr.

There is confusion as to whether a seventh person was in the car when the automobile crashed at 1:30 a.m. Simms was said to have dropped off Jamie Muriel at her house minutes before the wreck took place. One of the two boys who survived said there was a seventh person who grabbed the steering wheel during an argument and fled the scene after the accident. Muriel however denies being in the car at the time of the incident.

Our hearts go out to those involved in the accident. It’s unfortunate to hear of an accident of this severity. Our condolences to those families involved. We hope the police will be able to sort through the facts to find the missing pieces in this case.

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 car accidents, please fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

The Food and Drug Administration has recalled over 40 medications for children earlier this week. The list includes Children’s Zyrtec, Benadryl, Motrin, and Tylenol. The FDA said that they are not too concerned with serious side effects occurring from the recall; however, they do recommend that any medication that is on the recalled list be stopped immediately.

The FDA also said that there are generics for almost all of the medications, so children will not have to go without their meds. The issue with the medications is that they may contain too much of an active ingredient, or may not meet quality control standards.

As always, it is important for parents to stay up to date with children’s products that are being recalled. Just last week hundreds of thousands of Graco and Simplicity cribs were recalled for children. It is important when picking out toys or other equipment for your child that you always research toys before you buy.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/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 personal injury or car accident case, please fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

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.

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.

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.

Raziel Aguilar, who was just 16 months old, was hit by a car near a Southeast Dallas mobile home park on Friday evening. A family member found Aguilar and waved down a nearby police officer. He was taken to the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, and was pronounced dead Saturday morning. The Dallas Police Department is unsure who was involved in the accident, and also noted that everyone in the family is being very cooperative with the investigation. As of right now, police are hoping that someone will come forward and take responsibility for the accident. However, there is also a possibility that whoever did run over the child may not have been aware that they did it. My sincere condolences go out to the family of Raziel Aguilar. I can only hope that the responsible party will come forward and hold themselves accountable for their actions. Children are often the victims of so many preventable incidents just like this one. This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth 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. In addition, our contact page will give you option to contact us about your car wreck or personal injury however is best for you.

On Wednesday afternoon, 15 year old Anquanette Patterson was tragically killed by being hit by the school bus she rides home from school each day. Patterson was a student at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas.

The bus accident occurred when school bus driver, Eddie Farrell, stopped the bus because two boys had gotten into a fight. Farrell soon realized that a passenger was riding on the bus that had lost bus privileges due to discipline problems so he stopped the bus and ordered the boys to leave.

After the two boys left the bus, Farrell resumed the bus ride home when Anquanette ran to the front of the bus and demanded that the driver stop. In the process she pushed on the doors of the school bus and fell to the pavement where she was run over by the bus. She was brought to Medical City Dallas, though it is suspected that she died on impact.

A Facebook memorial page had almost 500 members late Thursday night. My deepest sympathy goes out to family and friends of Patterson. It is absolutely tragic to hear about the loss of such a young life.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 16 fatal bus accidents happened in Texas in 2008, and from those 16 accidents 36 deaths occurred. We can never be too careful about keeping students safe when riding home from school. My heart goes out to the Patterson family during this time of grieving.

Information provided by DFW Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson who can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or online by clicking here.

In October and November 2008 I blogged here and here about a Euless, TX mom who drove drunk and crashed her SUV injuring eight teenagers, including two of her own children. Brenda Rogers was sentenced Friday and taken into custody for the drunk driving car accident that send eight teenagers aged 14 and 15, including her twin daughters.

Rogers pled guilty to charges of driving while intoxicated with a child, endangering a child, and injury to a child. She is now serving a two-year sentence and will have to serve five years probation after she is released from jail. Rogers had been free on $20,000 bail since shortly after her arrest on November 6, 2008. Her blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.13. The legal limit in Texas is 0.08.

I am glad to hear that this mom is getting punished. She put the lives of eight young people at risk. She deserves punishment. Drunk driving is never OK, but when you do it with kids in the car it is especially aggravating.

Information provided by Tarrant County DWI Accident Victim Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached at 817-294-1900 or by clicking here.

12-year-old Liberty Christian school student Ian Kay was killed in a car crash on Tuesday in Flower Mound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash, which happened near Liberty Christian school, occurred when a car rear-ended a truck, which then crashed into two other vehicles. The driver of the car, Hunter Johnson, is still in the ICU. His brother, Evan Key, was treated at Texas Health Harris Methodist hospital in Fort Worth and then released.

Police continue to investigate the cause of the wreck. I feel very sorry for the family of young Ian. To lose a child is so tragic. I hope the investigation will bring answers to the family.

Information provided by Texas Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted online by clicking here, in Dallas at 214-327-800 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

A tragic New Year’s Day automobile accident left three teenagers dead and three other teenagers, including the driver, injured and in the hospital. Killed immediately upon impact were Adrian Alvarez, 18, and Fernando Cuevas, 19. Another teen died after being airlifted to Methodist Medical Center of Dallas. Of the injured, a 16 year old girl was ejected from the vehicle and a 17 year old girl suffered a broken leg and is being treated at Denton Regional Medical Center.

According to Denton Police, speed was a major factor in this accident. A policeman had just clocked the car going 78 mph and skid marks indicate the sedan was going close to 100 mph when the driver lost control and hit a barrier on North Loop 288.

To make matters worse, it looks like alcohol may have played a factor, as there were alcoholic beverages in the car and officers noted the smell of alcohol. I don't know if the driver was legally intoxicated but we do know that laws were broken since Texas law requires one to be at least 21 years old to drink alcohol and the driver and all passengers were teenagers. Each year, there are around 1,400 people killed in Texas due to drunk driving.

This is an absolutely horrible wreck. Three teenagers with there entire lives ahead of them--all now victims of another preventable car accident. This wreck had the lethal combination of youth, speed and alcohol. This is a parent’s worst nightmare. My deepest condolences go out to the victims families. I wish them strength during this very trying time.

Information provided by Texas Car Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson, 1-877-294-1115. With offices in Fort Worth and Dallas, The Anderson Law Firm represents accident victims all over the North Texas area.

In a tragic accident Tuesday afternoon, 16-year-old Robert Tucker of Richardson died when his friend lost control of the truck he was driving. The truck rolled over and hit a tree, killing Tucker and injuring three other teens.

The driver of the truck was speeding in the 600 block of South Plano Road in Richardson when he lost control. Tucker was pronounced dead at the scene.

More than 5,000 teens die in car accidents every year. Experts say excessive speed, as in this case, and driver distraction and inexperience are often major contributing factors to these deaths. It is so tempting to speed when you are a teenager, but bad things happen when teens speed.

I feel very sorry for the family and friends of Robert Tucker. To lose a child or a friend anytime is just horrible, but especially at this time of year.

Information provided by Dallas Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached at 214-327-8000 or toll free at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

Holly Klein and her daughter Deva Szymankiewicz were the only survivors of a tragic crash on Thanksgiving that killed four of their family members on Texas Highway 103 in Lufkin, Texas. The family was traveling from Austin to East Texas when their van collided with a tractor trailer. Apparently the van made a u-turn and was struck by the oncoming truck, according to the Department of Public Safety.

Ms. Klein’s son Dakota, 14, was killed the crash, as well as Ms. Szymankiewicz’s husband Todd and their children, 5-year-old Casimir and 3-year-old Aoibhin. Ms. Klein and Ms. Szymankiewicz were treated at the hospital for their injuries.

This is a tragic accident and my heart goes out to the surviving family members. It sounds like the accident is still under investigation by the DPS. Hopefully, the investigating officers will be able to re-create the accident and determine exactly how it happened. It is possible the driver of the van was not able to appreciate the distance or speed of the 18 wheeler.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

A toddler died at the hospital Sunday after his older sister backed up the family’s SUV without realizing the child was there.

The 17-year-old older sister was leaving for the grocery store from their Oak Cliff apartment complex home on North Marsalis Avenue. She didn’t realize her 18 month brother had wandered behind the vehicle. Police say they do not expect to file charges against the sister.

This is such a terrible accident. My heart goes out to the family of this tragedy. According to safety advocates, two children are killed every week in this type of accident, mostly involving children younger than two-years-old and adults driving large SUVs. Back up cameras help in these situations, but nothing is better than another adult watching out for the kids while the car is backing up.

Information provided by Dallas Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached at 214-327-8000 or toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Lerado is issuing a recall of certain Mia Moda child restraint seats. The Viva and Viva Supreme models are affected in the recall. Lerado will notify registered owners of the seats and is offering a full refund.

There are a couple of problems with the seats. The harness splitter plate, located on the rear of the seat, has sharp edges that can cut the harness and leave the child unrestrained. Also, the base of the seat could crack in a crash.

We all know how important it is to secure young children in safety seats. In fact, the Texas Legislature just tightened up on the child safety seat laws, which I blogged about here. That is why it’s so important to make sure the seats we do use are working correctly.

For more detailed information about the seats affected in the recall, click here.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

On September 22 a school bus carrying members of the Rockwall Heath High School swim team ran off the road and into a pond about three feet deep. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

The cause of the accident has not been determined, police said. I wonder if there a problem with the bus or the driver? According to the Texas Department of Transportation, more than a million children and teens depend on buses to get them safely to over 9,000 schools every day. Proper bus maintenance and adherence to safety standards is essential in protecting our students.

Luckily no one was injured, but if they were, these families would certainly be in need of an accident injury attorney. In an accident like this, especially concerning a bus with the possibility of dozens of victims, it would be an absolute mess trying to deal with the insurance company by themselves. When seeking the advice of an attorney for a personal injury, it’s important to find the right lawyer.

Information provided by Board Certified Accident Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115 or contacted by clicking here.

The city of Dallas is expected to pay a settlement to the family of Cole Berardi, a 10-year-old boy who was tragically killed while riding his bike when a Dallas Police Officer struck him with his squad car. If the settlement is approved by the Dallas City Council, the city will pay the family $250,000-the maximum allowed under Texas law.

The fatal accident occurred at night on October 17, 2008 on Belt Line Road in Dallas. Senior Cpl. Michael Vaughn was racing to a call without his lights and siren on when he struck Berardi on his bicycle. Speed was a factor in the crash, according to police. Vaughn was driving around 70 mph in a 40 mph zone. In July of this year, Vaughn received a one-day suspension for driving over the speed limit without the lights and siren on. Within days of Berardi’s death, Police Chief David Kunkle issued new driving rules for Dallas police.

The value of a human life is worth way more than this settlement. But our laws protect our governments and this is the most the law allows one to recover against our cities. I feel so sorry for the family of this young boy. While it is necessary for police to speed on occasion, it is wrong to speed without the lights and sirens on. If the officer had been using the lights and sirens, then this accident probably would not have happened.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Here is a news story about a really bad traffic accident which could have been prevented in so many ways. A day care van ran a red light Monday morning causing an accident that sent 13 children to the hospital. The driver of the Kids Clubhouse day care van did not have a license, and there were 20 children in a vehicle meant to hold 14, according to police.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Mayfield Road and Great Southwest Parkway in Grand Prairie. 20-year-old Karissa Acosta was driving the van west on Mayfield when she swerved around another car waiting at a red light, ran the light, then was struck by an SUV. The collision caused the van to roll over onto its side. The driver of the SUV, who also did not have a license, and two small children passengers were hospitalized as well.

The children in the van were not wearing seat belts, and police said Acosta will face charges for not requiring them to buckle up, as well as multiple traffic violations. Although none of the children's injuries were life threatening, some were quite serious; one child had to undergo surgery for a broken leg.

I feel bad for all the injured kiddos and their families. They trusted the day care center to take care of their kids and it simply did not. There is no way in the world that a day care center should allow an unlicensed driver to operate a van. There should be checks to ensure a valid driver’s license and a good driving record. And no seat belts? That is ridiculous. The day care center should have had another employee riding along as a monitor to make sure the kids were buckled up. And then we have the over the limit issue. There is a reason that vans have passenger limits. There are only so many seat belts in a van. Here, there were 20 kids in a 14 passenger van. Again, that is ridiculous. And then we have the reckless driving of the van driver. When one is transporting 20 children, one must take extra precaution to drive safely. Running a red light while transporting children is extremely reckless.

Clearly, the day care center has a big liability problem here. I sure hope they have enough insurance to cover all of the expenses incurred by all of these families. While all accidents involving innocent children are tragic, this one is especially aggravating as it was easily preventable.

Information provided by Mark A. Anderson, Dallas/Fort Worth Injury Lawyer, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

In what is a father’s worst nightmare, a Dallas man accidently ran over his three year old son on Friday in his own driveway. The boy had exited the Ford F-250 to go to another vehicle and the father backed up and did not see his son behind the truck. The child was transported to Children’s Medical Center of Dallas where he was listed in critical condition.

My prayers go out for this family. I sure hope the child recovers. These types of accidents are just horrible and I am sure the father undoubtedly feels terrible. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each year we have around 200 such driveway back over accidents resulting in fatalities. Plus there are around 7000 injuries reported each year n our country. Predictably, children are by far the most common victims. New technology is helping, with backup cameras and sensors.

A school bus and an SUV were involved in an accident yesterday morning in Mansfield, Texas. Both drivers were taken to the hospital, but thankfully no children were hurt.

The wreck happened early Saturday morning at Debbie Lane and Highway 157 in Mansfield. The driver of the Ford Explorer was taken by air ambulance to the hospital. The bus driver went to the hospital in an ambulance. There were two children on the bus at the time.

I hate to see school bus crashes. Because the buses are so large, the injuries sustained in these wrecks can after time be very serious. Plus, there is the fact that children are usually in the buses (such as in this case). These two child passengers do not appear to be injured, which is great news.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Five people died in a car crash Wednesday near Pampa, Texas. 14-year-old Aime Banuelos was driving the van that crossed the center line on Texas 70 and collided with a truck hauling oversize machinery.

The only survivor of the crash was 5-year-old Celeste Espitia, who was taken to a nearby Amarillo hospital. Aime Banuelos, 15-year-old Juan Banuelos, 16-year-old Jeff Pace, 46-year-old Teresa Martinez, and 74-year-old Estafana Cortez-Rosales were all killed in the car accident. The truck driver was not injured.

Why was a fourteen year old driving this van? The current law in Texas requires a person to be 16 in order to obtain a license. While a learner’s permit or a hardship license can be obtained at age 15, there are no licenses available for a fourteen year old.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115 or contacted by clicking here.

Dozens of new laws go into effect today across Texas. Please take note of some of the changes and make sure you are still driving safely and in compliance with these new rules.

Starting today, all occupants in a vehicle must wear seat belts, no matter how old they are or where they’re sitting in the car. It is important to take note of this change because adults sitting in the backseat could previously choose not to wear a seat belt. Now, everyone must do so.

Several changes in child safety laws went into effect today as well. A motorcycle rider cannot have a passenger on his or her bike under the age of 5 unless the child is seated in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle. You don’t see many motorcycle sidecars these days; I wonder if this law will change that?

The law has also changed for small children in the car. Now, all children younger than 8 years must sit in an approved child safety seat. Children under age 8 but who are at least 4’9” are exempt from this rule. Although the law goes into effect today, police officers cannot issue citations for violations until June 1, 2010, so you have plenty of time to find the right seat for your child. The law also creates a new court cost for conviction of this offense which will go toward buying safety seats for low income families. Although some parents might see this law as a pain, remember that securing a child in a safety seat can be the difference between life and death in an auto accident.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted toll free at 1-877-294-1115 or by clicking here.

Dallas police arrested a 39-year-old woman Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger and endangering a child. A DWI with child passenger is always a felony offense.

Maria Elizabeth Rendon was arrested on Webb Chapel Extension near Love Field in Dallas, Texas after repeatedly ramming her car into another vehicle. Although the police did not report why, they did note there was an unused child safety seat in the back of Rendon’s car, and her 11-month-old grandchild was sitting beside her in the front seat. In Texas, it is illegal for a child under age five and less than 36 inches tall to ride in a vehicle without a safety seat. Not only could Rendon have caused a drunk driving accident, but she put a child in danger of injury as well.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted at 817-294-1900 or by clicking here.

As children across the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex go back to school this week, there are some important safety factors to remember when driving in school zones.

Use of hand-held cell phones is now banned in school zones across Texas. This means no calls and no texting. Texas implemented this ban in the hopes of reducing car accidents and injuries to children. While the ban will not go into effect until September 1, signs displaying the new rule are already appearing in many local school zones. Violators will face a citation with a $50.00 fine.

There are some exceptions to the new ban, however. Hands-free phones are still allowed, and a stopped vehicle may use a hand-held cell phone. Emergency calls are, of course, exempt from the ban.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted at 817-294-1900 or by clicking here.

A new book has just been released which informs all types of victims in their personal injury claims. The book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case, is written by Mark A. Anderson, a Board Certified Personal Injury Specialist from Fort Worth, Texas.

The book, which focuses largely on car accidents, discusses all the different ways that injury victims can harm their own claims and offers practical pointers on how injured parties can avoid these common pitfalls. But that's not all the book covers. It also discusses what constitutes valid injury claims, what goes into valuing an injury claim, how the injury claims process works (from the accident all the way through trial) and what to look for, as well as what to be wary of when hiring an accident attorney. 15 Mistakes also points out and describes various types of available insurance which come into play during the claims process and common myths about insurance companies and settlements.

15 Mistakes is a must-read for accident victims in Texas. It's written in plain English--not filled with typical legal jargon. The book is most-helpful if it's read after an accident and before a decision is made to hire an attorney, but everyone can benefit from its useful tips.

Mark Anderson's book is available for FREE to Texas residents, who can order the book by visiting www.DontWreckYourCase.com, or by calling the Anderson Law Firm at 817-294-1900. Non-Texas residents can purchase the book online for $16.95 at www.amazon.com.

The House and Senate are working on presenting a bill to Gov. Rick Perry which, if passed, would require children to ride in car-seats until they are at least 4-foot-9 or 8 years old.

Currently, the law requires children to be 5 years old and/or more than 3 feet tall. The number of deaths and injuries to children from car wrecks are a huge problem in Texas. In fact, lawmakers say motor-vehicle accidents are one of the main causes of child fatalities.

At first glance, the bill seems like a no-brainer, but it does present problems for those with many children. People with multiple children under 8-years-old may have to go out and buy more booster seats because their 6 or 7-year-olds have grown out of their chairs and passed them on to younger siblings. This is another expense in a tough economy.

Another problem the potential law presents is in carpooling instances. The new law would require every child in a vehicle under age 8 or under the height requirement to be strapped into a booster chair and circumstances don’t always allow for that—especially in emergency situations or when mothers give other children rides home from school.

Luckily, if the bill passes, there will be a 1-year warning period where tickets will not be administered. Then after June 1, 2010, the fine for violating the law will be 25 dollars.
Seatbelts are made for adults and requiring young children to stay in a car-seat longer is a much safer option. Lap belts ride up and shoulder belts can cut into a child’s neck and face in a car crash. Booster seats elevate small kids so that their stronger bones (like the collarbone and pelvis) are the ones the seatbelt targets in an accident.

If your child has suffered injuries in an auto-accident or other type of injury incident, please contact the Anderson Law Firm to learn how you can act as an advocate for a child.

The Texas House of Representatives has just approved a bill which would ban the use of handheld cell phones in school zones. It would allow the use of hands-free devices such as Bluetooth. The bill now moves to the Texas Senate.

I think this proposed law is great. I have blogged before when local municipalities passed similar laws how I thought it was a terrific idea. Some of the local cities to pass this law are Southlake, Dallas, Denton, Hurst, Flower Mound, University Park, Watauga, Irving, Duncanville and Rowlett. As we drive through school zones, we should not be distracted with a phone held up to our ear. Plus, these Bluetooth devices are very inexpensive and really make driving while you are talking safer. Keeping our kids safe should be our top priority. Let’s hope our Texas Senate and Governor go along with this bill.

For questions about injury law, feel free to contact Fort Worth Board Certified Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson at 817-294-1900. Or Contact Us Online.

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A 16-year-old Little Elm High Schooler was killed early Sunday morning when a woman drove the wrong way on the Dallas North Tollway and crashed into her vehicle. 24-year-old Mariza Martinez of Dallas was driving her pickup truck south in the northbound lanes of the tollway just after midnight when she crashed into Kara Taylor’s SUV by the Main Street exit. Taylor was taken to Frisco’s Centennial Medical Center where she was pronounced dead immediately following the car crash.

A 15-year-old girl who was riding passenger in Taylor’s car was also taken to the hospital, but released with minor injuries. Martinez was taken to the Medical Center of Plano with unknown injuries. She was not killed in the crash, though.

A pending accident investigation will reveal whether or not charges will be filed. Results from toxicology testing and scene investigation will determine whether or not Martinez will be cited.
The lanes on the tollway were closed until 4 a.m. Sunday due to the wreck.

If someone you love suffered a wrongful death in a car wreck, or sustained serious injuries, please contact the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation at 817-294-1900.