Dallas Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Texting, eating, applying makeup or shaving, disciplining kids, and reading are all average everyday activities for most Texans living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Doing any of them while you’re driving, however, and you’re putting multiple lives at risk: your own, your passengers, and every other person who is unfortunate enough to be on the road near you at that time.

As a DFW personal injury lawyer, I know just how serious a problem distracted driving is in all its forms. The amount of property damage and bodily injuries which can be caused in a multi-vehicle wreck caused by a distracted driver can be catastrophic. If you or someone you love has been injured in such an accident, it is critical that you are aware of your legal rights. Texas law gives distracted driver crash victims the legal right to make an insurance claim to pay for your medical bills, loss of income and other costs associated with the collision. This even applies if you were a passenger in a car being driven by a negligent driver.

In order to help victims such as yourself understand the key information you need to know, I have put together a resource called Distracted Driving 101. It highlights the main issues you need to know and will hopefully answer a lot of the questions you have at this stage. It is no replacement for personalized legal service, however, and I strongly encourage you to call an attorney to discuss your cases one-on-one as soon as possible.

To speak to a board certified personal injury attorney immediately, please call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-2675 or call locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

If you or someone you love have been injured in a Dallas-Fort Worth car wreck caused by a drunk driver, it might seem obvious to you who was to blame, but that doesn’t mean that the insurance company will play fair.

Under Texas law, if you are hurt in a traffic crash caused by someone else, you have the right to pursue a claim against the negligent driver’s insurance policy to recover your medical expenses, lost income and other costs associated with the accident. As you might expect, this usually means a lot of money on the link. For an innocent accident victim such as yourself, it is not fair that you have to pay all those bills out of your own pocket and likely go in debt. If the collision was not your fault, there is no reason why you should have to pay.

Unfortunately, giant insurance companies often care more about their profits than innocent, hardworking Texans, so they will do everything they can to avoid paying you the full and fair compensation that you deserve. Even in cases where the at-fault motorist was clearly intoxicated at the time of the wreck, you will have a hard time recovering the money you need without the aid of a board certified personal injury lawyer.

To help you better understand your legal rights and options before you speak to an attorney, I’ve put together some of the key information that you need to know in one convenient place: Drunk Driving Accidents 101. I hope that you find it beneficial. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me at 817-294-1900.

According to Travel and Leisure magazine, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is ranked as the sixth rudest city in the USA. As anyone who spends any amount of time dealing with the congested traffic on DFW’s highways and city streets, that is entirely believable. Dangerous drivers who weave between traffic, cut off other vehicles and tailgate incessantly are a dime a dozen. Couple that with the fact that last year, Men’s Health Magazine ranked Dallas as the seventh angriest city in America, and it is no surprise that DFW is holds the title of second worst city for road rage car wrecks according to AutoVantage.

This is incredibly worrying to me as a DFW personal injury and wrongful death lawyer. I have seen firsthand the very real damage which can be done by unintentionally hazardous driving habits, but when you bring in a high level of fury and a disregard for other people and you’ve got an obvious recipe for roadway disaster. When motorists fall prey to road rage, they are not thinking clearly. They try to intimidate other drivers by cutting too close, jeopardizing everyone’s safety for the sake of trying to make a point.

If you’ve ever been the victim of someone with road rage, you’ll know that it can be an extremely scary experience and it can be very tempting to respond in kind. Doing so would be a huge mistake as the outcome can only be bad. Instead, if you ever find yourself in a position where someone is trying to intimidate you on the road by either following too closely or some other action intended to torment you, then the best thing to do it just take a deep breath and get out of their way. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t challenge them. Take yourself out of that situation. Once they’ve gone past and away from you, I personally find that tuning the radio to classical music helps reduce my blood pressure.

You should not have to tolerate aggressive drivers at all, but unfortunately they are a hazard which you cannot always be avoided. If you have been the victim of a car crashed caused by someone with road rage, it is all the more important that you get justice and recover the full and fair compensation you deserve to cover your medical bills and other costs related to the accident. Call a board certified personal injury lawyer today at 214-327-8000 in Dallas or at 817-294-1900 in Fort Worth for no a fee, no obligation consultation on your situation.

Dallas-Fort Worth area residents who travel Texas 114 and Texas 121 on a regular basis already know what a traffic nightmare those roads can be. Yesterday, the congestion got even worse following an 18 wheeler wreck which subsequently led to the road being closed for an emergency inspection. Just before noon yesterday, a CDL vehicle carrying an oversized load crashed into the Texan Trail overpass bridge in Grapevine. The eastbound section of the highway was reduced to just two lanes yesterday afternoon, while the whole road was closed overnight from 8:00 pm until about 6:00 am this morning. Texan Trail was closed to all vehicles immediately following the wreck as officials were concerned that the accident may have caused significant structural damage to the bridge.

As a DFW auto accident and injury lawyer, I am certainly thankful that no-one was seriously hurt in this incident, but the episode should serve as a reminder of just how significant the consequences caused by negligent truck drivers can be. The reason for the crash was that the trucker was carrying an oversized load which was too tall to pass safely beneath the bridge. According to Grapevine’s commercial vehicle inspection team they “did find violations” which are being blamed for the collision.

The official report regarding the safety of the bridge has yet to be completed, but there is already speculation among Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials that Texan Trail may be closed indefinitely until the bridge (which was already scheduled for demolition later this year as part of the DFW Connector project) can be knocked down and replaced.

A woman in McKinney died yesterday in an 18-wheeler accident when a semi-truck hit the back of her Honda sedan while she was stopped at a traffic light. Around 8:20 a.m. Catheline Peppers of Nevada, Texas was stopped at a red light on Highway 380 at Bridgefarmer Road in McKinney. That’s when an 18-wheeler truck failed to recognize the red light and slammed into her car.

The semi-truck driver, David Beachem of Georgia said he did not see the traffic light and at this time it does not appear that alcohol was a factor in the car accident, although the wreck is still under investigation.

This is such a tragic accident that could literally happen to any of us stopped at a red light – especially if there are negligent truck drivers around. How somebody driving a vehicle weighing several tons that is larger than everything else around doesn’t notice a red light completely boggles my mind.

Truck drivers need to be more careful and realize the magnitude of destruction their vehicles cause when they get into wrecks. Our condolences go to the victim’s family and we hope other truckers out there take more caution.

An 18 wheeler truck crash shut down all westbound lanes of I-30 in Garland this morning after it overturned blocking the roadway. The accident happened at 3:30 am near the Zion Road exit, but it was more than three hours later before emergency responders were able to upright the big rig and reopen the highway to traffic. The wreck is believed to have an issue of negligence on behalf of the truck driver. Authorities reported that it appears the semi drifted across lanes of the interstate, eventually colliding with the guardrail which resulting in the truck flipping on to its side.

Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries sustained in this accident and it does not appear that any cars or other vehicles were involved in the collision. As a DFW personal injury lawyer, I know that large truck wreck typically involve massive property damage and severe bodily injuries, so we should all be thankful that this morning’s crash in Garland merely inconvenienced commuters.

Trucker negligence is a very serious matter, particularly when you consider that truck operators are professionals. I understand that they are often hard workers under a lot of stress to meet time and distance deadlines, but there is never any excuse for jeopardizing the safety of other road users. To illustrate just how serious this problem is, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently revealed that the number of fatalities caused by truck drivers getting behind the wheel drunk increased by 13 percent in 2010 and that the number of injuries caused by tractor trailer accidents rose by 12 percent overall.

If you or someone you loved has been injured in a multi-vehicle accident involving a commercial truck, it is important that you speak with an attorney to make sure you are fully informed of your legal rights. You may be entitled to significant compensation. To talk to a local lawyer today, please call toll free at 800-354-6275 or Dallas 214-327-8000.

It’s easy for Texas truck accident victims to become confused and daunted by the claims process after their 18-wheeler accident. Trucking laws are extremely confusing and it’s easier for the trucking company’s insurance adjuster to take advantage of that and make it seem like they are not at fault for causing your wreck. But after more than 20 years of representing Texas semi-truck accident victims, I know something that doesn’t lie: the trucks on board computer.

Often called the 18-wheelers “black box,” these on board computers work similarly the black boxes you hear about on air planes. The trucks on board computer records a wealth of data that can be used to prove the truck driver’s or trucking company’s negligence in your accident case. Most electronic control modules (ECMs) take note of average speed, hard stops, miles driven and even other crucial evidence that can be used in your claim.

But the most important thing is getting to this information quickly. Most of the black boxes on trucks only record data for a certain amount of time. If you wait too long to access it, the information could be deleted forever. What’s even worse, many trucking companies will delete this data if they think or know their driver was at fault for your semi-truck accident in TX.

Find out more about on board truck computers in this article on my Texas truck accident website.

We’ve all been there. You’re driving along a Texas highway, going at a steady speed when suddenly you’re forced to come to a screeching halt. There could be an accident, unexpected debris or a traffic pile-up in front of you. What’s scary about this scenario isn’t just the fact that you must come to a hard stop, it’s that the car behind you has to as well and if the vehicle behind you is an 18-wheeler, it can become even more terrifying.

It doesn’t take a genius to know that semi-trucks take longer to stop than regular passenger vehicles simply because of their size. In general, it takes an 18-wheeler 40 percent longer to come to a complete stop than an average car. Depending on road conditions and reaction time, it can take even longer.

• The stopping distance for a tractor-trailer that is fully loaded on dry pavement going at 60 mph is approximately 335 feet—a little over a football field. Keep in mind this does not include reaction time or the .5 second delay found in air brakes.

What’s this information to you? Well, as a Texas truck accident attorney I can tell you that this is important information to your claim or case if you’ve been hit by an 18-wheeler. Truck drivers know how long it takes to stop their vehicles and they know they shouldn’t ride someone’s tail in traffic; acknowledgment of doing so is negligent on the part of the truck driver.

You can read more about how long it takes to stop an 18-wheeler on my Texas injury law firm’s website. The information there could be useful to your truck wreck case and if anything isn’t clear, call me at 817-294-1900 to discuss your case. Knowing your legal rights and Texas trucking laws is the best way to prevail after your 18-wheeler wreck.

Yesterday, Arlington Police Department announced that just four people have been cited for texting while driving since the city’s introduced a ban last November to make the hazardous habit illegal. As a Tarrant County personal injury lawyer, I expect that there are countless other motorists who have similarly broken the law without being caught. Arlington PD need to step up their enforcement of this ban in order to make people realize just how dangerous distracted driving really is.

Also yesterday, Facebook announced that 2013 Mercedes-Benz vehicles will come preloaded with an app for the popular social media site. According to their press release the app will be accessible form the car’s dashboard color screen and will be GPS-enabled to allow drivers to find nearby attractions and friends. As if there weren’t enough distractions for motorists already! This is just too much. When you’re sitting in the driver’s seat, your entire focus should be on operating your vehicle safely. If you’re using Facebook or any other app, that means you are taking your attention off the road ahead and are seriously jeopardizing the safety of everyone else who is driving around you.

I’ve been a personal injury and wrongful death attorney for over 20 years now. I’ve seen firsthand the incredibly serious car wrecks which have been caused by people who talk or text behind from the wheel. Unfortunately, it seems that when it comes to society at large realizing just how fatal distracted driving can be, it’s a matter of one step forward, two steps back.

Since it’s a new year, I’d like to ask you all who haven’t already to sign the pledge that you will not text while driving in 2012 or ever again. Help me spread the word and I’ll help you keep this resolution by sending you a bracelet to wear so you can constantly be reminded of the promise you made. By giving up texting while driving you could well save someone’s life – it could be your own.

Take the pledge here.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a traffic crash caused by a distracted driver or any negligent motorist, call the Anderson Law Firm for a no fee, no obligation consultation on your case. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

Texans are known for a lot of things, but being able to drive in the rain isn’t one of them. An 18-wheeler jackknifed early this morning on the Dallas Mixmaster in the eastbound lanes of I-30 and the I-35 intersection. The truck wreck is thought to have been caused by rain at this time. Although the semi-truck overturned another vehicle in the wreck, nobody was seriously injured.

Crews worked for three hours to untangle the truck and pull it out from the mud and wreckage. Thankfully, all lanes were finally cleared at 6:30 a.m. – just moments before rush hour traffic began filtering in.

If you’ve ever driven the Mixmaster in Dallas, you know just how scary it really is. The lanes are tiny and confusing and cars are whizzing in between. It’s a wonder more truck accidents don’t happen there. Texans should be cautions while driving all the time but especially during inclement weather. It’s already confusing enough trying to driving in downtown Dallas – the last thing you need is a car accident to make life even more complicated. Rain is expected for much of the rest of the day; be careful out there everybody.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I have helped thousands of auto accident victims throughout Texas since 1991. Car crashes are nearly always caused by a negligent driver. Sometimes the at-fault motorist was texting while driving, sometimes they were speeding, other times they were negligent because they following the vehicle in front far too closely. Early speculation assumed that last explanation was the initial trigger which led to a massive pile-up in Southeast Texas this morning.

It is estimated that more than 50 vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction wreck which occurred at approximately 5.30 am on Highway 73 near Port Arthur. Initial reports from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department said that more than 40 people were being treated following the collision, with injuries including broken bones, abrasions and trauma. Two individuals were rushed to hospital with critical injuries and one man suffered a heart attack.

The poor weather conditions around Port Arthur are being partly blamed for the accident as visibility was significantly compromised due to a combination of early morning fog and smoke from nearby wildfires. These conditions recalling the 34 vehicle wreck in England two months ago which killed seven people and injured 51 other. Fortunately, it does not appear that anybody was fatally wounded in today’s crash.

While it may be another couple of days before more concrete details of this morning’s tragedy come to light, I would encourage all those involved to seek legal advice from a board certified personal injury attorney as full as possible. Once fault is determined, you may be entitled to recover compensation from the insurance company to cover your property damage, medical expenses and other costs related to the accident.

Here at the Anderson Law Firm, we are happy to offer completely free, no obligation consultations to traffic wreck victims. To speak to a lawyer today, please call toll free at 800-354-6275.

Driving while intoxicated is a crime. As a Fort Worth area personal injury lawyer, I have handled my share of auto accident cases caused by drunk drivers over the past 20 years. Such wrecks always anger me because I know they could easily have been avoided. Everyone knows that you should never get behind the wheel after drinking, but still many do so on a regular basis. As a result, innocent victims are badly injured. Many victims lose their lives.

Traditionally, the period surrounding Christmas and the New Year is one of the worst times of year for alcohol-related car crashes in DFW. It’s a time of year when local police forces step up their focus on drink-drivers in an attempt to minimize the pointless deaths which are caused by these reckless idiots who break the law and put lives in jeopardy.

This year, the Tarrant County District Attorney vowed to take things one step further in an effort to further dissuade motorists from getting behind the wheel when they were overly merry. Yesterday, Assistant District Attorney Richard Alpert made good on this promise by publicly naming and shaming all drivers who have so far been charged with a DWI over the New Year’s weekend. According to the website, at least 107 individuals were arrested in Tarrant County for alcohol-related driving offenses over the past weekend and at least 39 of those have been formally charged as of today.

If you or someone you love has been injured due to the negligent actions of a drunk driver, you may be entitled to compensation. To find out more about your legal rights as the victim of a intoxicated motorist in North Texas, please call 817-294-1900 for a free, no obligation consultation on your situation.

As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I have handled a variety of car, truck and motorcycle accident cases over the past 21 years. Injuries sustained in vehicle collisions are frequently extremely serious – particularly when the injuries involve damage to the brain, head and skull. One of the lesser known consequences of suffering a blow to the head is damage to the vestibular system (which includes the brain and inner ear organs) which controls and coordinates a person’s balance.

Symptoms of vestibular injuries typically include vertigo-like symptoms such as dizziness and lightheadedness, but the condition is significantly more serious. The damage to the vestibular system is often irreparable, and the patient can often suffer long-lasting consequences as a result of the head trauma which caused the injury.

Fortunately, a special therapy has been developed to assist vestibular injury patients retrain their brain to compensate for the damage which has been done. The vestibular system will remain permanently damaged, although the therapy teaches the brain to adapt to the unbalanced spatial orientation signals being sent from the brain.

If you or a loved one has suffered vestibular injuries as a result of a car wreck or other accident where someone else was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation. To talk to an attorney to day regarding your legal options, please call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

We might have suffered a particularly bad drought here in Texas this year, but as a personal injury lawyer I know that when it eventually does rain in DFW – it pours! When rain and sleet hit our roads, the potential for a car wreck increases – so it’s important that you’re aware of some basic safety tips before you get behind the wheel.

Drive Slower: A wet road is a slippery road. Driving slower will improve your tire traction and give you better grip. It also means you have more time to brake when you spot a potential hazard up ahead.

Brake Slowly: When you’re driving in icy conditions, the last thing you want to do is slam on your brakes. The same is true in the rain. Your car could hydroplane and spin out of control.

Improve Your Visibility: Blast your windshield with heat to defog it and use your wipers. Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you, but make sure you pay attention when they brake so that you’re not forced to make any sudden maneuvers. Similarly, make sure you have your lights on so other motorists can see you clearly.

Avoid Driving Through Water: Standing flood water is a very real danger during and after rain. Try to drive in the middle of the road where possible as water usually collects near the sidewalk. If you do have to drive through standing water, slow down before hand and gently test your brakes afterwards.

Unfortunately, all of these safety tips cannot protect you from reckless idiots who drive dangerous regardless of the weather conditions. If you or a loved one have been hurt thanks to a negligent driver, give me a call for a complimentary, no obligation consolation on your case. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

Christmas is often considered the most wonderful time of the year, but it can often be stressful too. There are a lot of decisions to make: Should I attend the office party or the family function? Do I get a real tree or fake? Would Uncle Jack prefer slippers or cologne? The most important decision you make this festive season has an easy answer: Take a cab.

Seriously. If you've had a drink, then leave your car or truck where it is and let someone else drive. 'Tis the season for over indulging after all, and while we're not looking to stop you enjoying yourself, it is important to realize that this is when more people than any other time of the year get behind the wheel when they're way too merry.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that deadly collisions involving intoxicated drivers increase from a daily average of 36 fatalities nationwide to 45 per day over the Christmas period. Throughout the closing days of December into early January each year the figure further increases to 54 a day. Happy New Year indeed.

And yet, people just don't get it. Driving while impaired is illegal. Everybody knows this and yet everyday lives continue to be wrecked as the result of drunk driving-related accidents. Accidents which could have been avoided.

As a Fort Worth personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, I would like to ask you all to make a particular effort this Holiday Season to make a firm promise that you will not get behind the wheel after having a drink. Don’t let your friends do it either. Be safe and be sensible – you could save someone’s life. You might even save your own.

A traffic accident involving a jackknifed 18 wheeler truck shut down Interstate 30 into Dallas this morning causing a commuter nightmare just four days before Christmas. According to reports, the commercial motor carrier vehicle jackknifed and tipped over, rolling across the eastbound lanes of I-30, before eventually flipping and coming to a stop blocking all eastbound lanes. The trucker was taken to be hospital to be treated for minor injuries sustained in the incident. So far, the cause of the wreck has not yet be determined. As a DFW auto accident and personal injury lawyer, I know that it is very important that any crash involving a CDL driver is thoroughly investigated.

This morning’s crash may have caused a great many people a major headache while heading into work, but we should consider it extremely fortunate that no-one was seriously hurt in the accident. As a Dallas-Fort Worth injury attorney, I know that collisions involving 18-wheeler trucks usually cause a tremendous amount of property damage and bodily injuries – and they are frequently fatal.

If you or a loved one is every hurt in an accident involving a truck or bus, it is essential that you consult with an area attorney as soon as possible so that you can be informed of your legal rights and so that a lawyer can start working on your case immediately. The trucking companies will have their own investigators looking into the cause of the accident within hours – so should you.

For a free, no obligation consultation with a DFW traffic accident lawyer today, call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900. You may also request a complimentary copy of my book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I nothing but respect for commercial truck drivers – I’ve even helped a number of injured truckers get the fair compensation they deserve after being hurt in traffic accidents which were not their fault. Perhaps it is unfair, but truckers generally have a bad reputation as being the bullies of the road. In my experience, the majority of 18-wheeler drivers are honest motorists, who are trying to make a living a living just like the rest of us.

Unfortunately, there are many that are not so honest. In April of last year, for example, the FMCSA decided to crack down on those drivers and companies who routinely falsified their drivers’ logs in an effort to hide hour of service violations designed to keep fatigued drivers off Texas roads. It is now estimated that within the first year alone, 5,700 motor carriers and 128,000 drivers were found to be forging at least 10% of their records. That’s huge public safety hazard!

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by a negligent truck or bus driver, it is critical that you hire an experienced DFE truck wreck attorney as soon as possible. Time is often of the essence in CDL collisions, so the sooner you have a board certified lawyer on your side, the better. It’s also important that the attorney you hire has a proven track record in handling commercial motor carrier cases as they will be aware of the many ways that untruthful truckers attempt to conceal their lies – and will know the best ways to catch them out on their lies.

I’ve been helping truck accident victims across DFW and throughout Texas since 1991. I know what it takes to fight the trucking companies for the full and fair damages my clients deserve. I offer all new clients a completely free consultation on their situation and there is never any fee unless I win your case. To discuss your case today, please call me toll free at 800-354-6275 or call me locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900.

As a DFW personal injury lawyer, I have been helping accident victims pick up the pieces and get their lives back together since 1991. I am well aware that the aftermath of being seriously hurt in an auto accident does not just mean suffering physical and mental scars but also having to deal with a number of financial concerns often involving expensive medical bills at a time when you’re incapable of returning to work and thus losing out on your usual wages.

Even if you haven’t been injured, you still have the headache of dealing with making a property damage claim against the negligent driver’s insurance company. To make matters worse, you might even receive a bill in the mail from the local fire department who responded to your wreck. As a North Texas attorney, I’ve seen these first responders service charge bills become increasingly common throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. However, if you were not the at-fault motorist whose negligent caused the crash in question, then it is not your responsibility to pay.

In order to stop getting bills, however, it's always worth notifying both the person who sent the bill and the person responsible for paying it (the at-fault party’s insurance company). I suggest writing a letter to both of them explaining the situation as soon as possible.

For more helpful tips on dealing with unexpected tasks following an auto collision, you might be interested in a free copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. To request your complimentary copy, please call my office in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900.

As a DFW personal injury lawyer, I have helped the victims of car, motorcycle and truck collisions throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and the North Texas region since 1991. In that time, I’ve seen some utterly terrible accidents which have caused hundreds of thousands in property damage and medical costs for those drivers and passengers who have suffered terrible bodily injuries. The financial cost of being hurt in a traffic crash means it is critical that you consult with a board certified PI and wrongful death attorney to make sure you are fully aware of your legal right to compensation before it is too late.

Some of the worst car crash injuries are the result of side-impact collisions. These accidents frequently occur at intersections when one driver (often drunk or on a cellphone) ignores a red light or stop sign and plows straight into the side of another vehicle who actually had the right of way.

The reason that such accidents cause such severe injuries or even death is because cars are simply not engineered to absorb side-impact crashes to the same extent that they can absorb head-on or rear-end collisions. Even if you have a SUV or other large vehicle, there is still a risk of suffering awful injuries as SUV are extremely prone to rollover in broadside wrecks. According to the NHTSA, accidents resulting in a vehicle rollover are at increased risk of resulting in a fatality.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a side-impact crash or any other traffic accident, it is important that you are fully informed of your legal rights and obligations. Too many accident victims make critical mistakes before they understand the law, which is why I wrote my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case to help the public understand their rights. To order your free copy, please call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275).

Speeding is one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and throughout North Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) lists speeding as one of the leading causes of car wrecks in the state alongside drunk driving, failure to yield or stop at intersections and following other vehicles too closely.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer and wrongful death attorney, I have helped the innocent victims of many interstate collisions caused by a negligent driver who had been driving in excess of the posted speed limit.

I get that everyone want to get wherever it is they’re going as soon as possible - I understand that no one likes a journey to take longer than necessary – but speed limits are in place for a reason. The faster you drive, the more likely you are to lose control of your car, truck or motorcycle – a risk which is further increased during the winter months as North Texas gets covered in snow, ice and freezing rain. It should also go without saying that the faster you’re traveling prior to a collision, the worse the bodily injuries and property damage which will result.

If you or someone you love has been badly hurt in a crash caused by a speeding motorist, it’s important that you speak to an experienced lawyer who will be able to explain your legal rights as they relate to your personal situation. You may be entitled to compensation.

For a free, no obligation consultation, please call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally at 817-194-1900.

Nodding off behind the wheel can be one of the most unnerving things you'll ever experience, but it happens more than you might think.

Here at the Anderson Law Firm we won't judge you if you over-indulge this holiday season. After all, aside from counting our blessings and spending time with loved ones, Thanksgiving is all about eating and drinking far too much! But getting behind the wheel of your car afterward could be a fatal mistake. We all know that you should never drive after you've been drinking alcohol, but if you're as stuffed as a turkey, chances are you'll be feeling sleepy which has its own hazards.

Falling asleep while driving is a very real hazard, particularly after a huge Thanksgiving meal. I know firsthand just how serious an accident caused by a sleepy driver can be - many of the commerical truck wrecks I've handled over the years are the result of overworked drivers trying to operate on far too little rest. Even with Federal restrictions in place to avoid such disasters, many 18 wheeler drivers are forced to brake the rules by their greedy employers who value profits over people.

But of course tired truckers aren't the only motorists who could cause a terrible traffic collision if they fall asleep at the wheel. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that every year approximately 100,000 car crashes are the result of drowsy drivers.

So if you know that you're going to have to drive home after your Thanksgiving dinner, please make sure that you plan ahead.

Obviously you need to stay away from any alcoholic beverages. Ideally, allow plenty of time to digest your meal before heading off. If you're able to take a nap before you have to drive, then that's even better. Having a coffee or other high-caffiene drink can temporarily relieve any drowsiness, but this is just a short term fix.

Remember that if you are involved in a wreck which has been caused by a tired driver, you have legal rights just as with any other auto wreck or other kind of accident. If ever you need us, we're here to help you.

A pickup driver was killed and their two passengers were critically injured after their vehicle was hit by an 18-wheeler truck at approximately 1.30 this morning. Regina Duane, 43, of McKinney, was driving a pickup towing a trailer with three sheep inside when she jackknifed on a particularly wet section of I-35 near Saner Avenue in Oak Cliff. A semi-truck driving in the same direction as the pickup came over the rise and was unable to brake in time to avoid a collision.

The commercial goods vehicle crashed into the pickup’s passenger side, killing Ms. Duane and seriously injuring the two unidentified female passengers, whose ages are believed to be 15 and 26. Both were transported to Methodist Hospital in Oak Cliff to receive medical attention for their life-threatening wounds. The unidentified trucker (employed by Freymiller Transportation in Oklahoma City) was not injured in the accident, but according to Texas state regulations had to undergo a mandatory blood draw. It is unclear at this time whether he will face any charges. A section of I-35 was closed overnight but was reopened before the morning commute.

I would like to offer my sympathies to the family and loved ones of Ms. Duane and to the two girls whom I hope will make a full and speedy recovery. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know just how devastating a traffic collision involving a large truck can be. Aside from the property damage, they frequently result in bodily injuries necessitating hundreds of thousands in doctors’ fees.

If you are ever hurt in a wreck involving a big rig – even if it is unclear whether the trucker was at-fault – you owe it to yourself to speak to a board certified personal injury and wrongful death attorney to learn about your legal rights. They can help you determine who was negligent and how you can get the full and fair compensation you are entitled to under Texas law. For a free consultation today, call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 214-327-8000.

A major truck wreck in Dallas was cleared up just in the nick of time this morning after an 18-wheeler carrying brand new medical supplies overturned on Interstate 30 near Lamar Street around 2 a.m. The tractor trailer spilled out all over the highway and the truck was splayed out on its side for several hours before crews could get it upright again.

Luckily, there were no injuries from the accident and the truck driver was able to escape and is doing fine. Traffic was brought to a stand-still as police had to shut down all lanes of traffic and create an emergency bypass lane while they cleared the 18-wheeler wreckage. Traffic was finally able to resume as normal around 7:20 a.m.

Truck wrecks like this in Dallas almost never happen without injuries and I’m glad to hear that the driver of this big rig is doing fine this morning. If you have had the unfortunate incident of getting injured in commercial truck accident in Texas, contact my law firm. Our injury lawyers are ready to help you after your Texas truck wreck.

A multi-vehicle collision on US 287 near Kennedale and Forrest Hill shortly after 8 am this morning caused a traffic nightmare for commuters traveling along I-20 in both directions, as well as those heading into downtown Fort Worth or to the northern mid-cities via I-820. Three lanes were shut down, causing all motorists to funnel through just one lane. Drivers reported it taking 40 minutes or more to travel just one mile.

So far, there are few known details of the crash which involved at least two cars and one pickup truck. Fort Worth Fire and Police Departments were quick to respond to the wreck along with some members of the Tarrant County Courtesy Patrol. Despite the inconvenience caused to DFW commuters, onlookers did not believe the accident appeared particularly serious. There is no word whether any injuries were suffered in the collision.

As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I hope that those involved in the crash were lucky enough to escape without any serious injuries. Regardless, I would encourage them to see a doctor as soon as possible, just to make sure there are no signs of an injury which may not yet be pronounced. Sometimes whiplash or other common car crash injuries are not apparent until later, especially when you’re still dealing with the shock and adrenaline of being involved in an auto accident.

The section of 287 where this accident occurred is a difficult stretch of roadway as traffic merges from several feeder roads and many vehicles must cross several lanes to ensure they are able to reach their appropriate exit. Motorists who regularly travel this route to work during the week know that fender benders happen on a regular basis. We should consider today’s crash as a reminder to be a little more mindful while dealing with our morning commute. If all road users were a little more patient, such accidents could likely be avoided meaning no lengthy delays or worse.

If you have been unlucky enough to be involved in a Dallas-Fort Worth car wreck – even just a minor fender bender – then you will learn firsthand just how stressful the post-crash experience can be. Even if you’re not seriously injured, you still have the headache of dealing with a property damage claim and other issues which arise because of your collision. It may well be that later in the day after your accident occurred, you start experiencing some muscle aches or other pain. As a personal injury lawyer, I know that not all injuries are immediately apparent after a car crash, but that it is important that you visit a doctor and get yourself checked out anyway – ideally, the same day if possible.

However, it might be that your doctor will refuse to see you if you tell them that you were potentially hurt in an accident. Yes, it does happen; primary care physicians decline to help accident injury victims on a regular basis in North Texas.

Can they do this? Yes. Unless you require emergency medical treatment, your doctor has no legal obligation to help you. Why do they do it? They’re afraid that they won’t get paid. Even if you have health insurance, these doctors are afraid that the insurance company won’t pay them. It is silly that they think this, as they will get paid. I think these doctors are doing their clients a great disservice by mot treating their patients.

So what should you do?

Give me a call. Not only do I know of doctors throughout the DFW Metroplex who are experienced in treating car wreck victims, but I am able to offer them a letter of protection which assures them I will make sure that they get paid as soon as your case against the negligent motorist is settled. For a no obligation, no fee consultation on your situation today, give me a call toll free at 800-354-6275 or call locally at 817-294-1900.

If you have to deal with the nightmare traffic in and around DFW on a daily basis, then it might not surprise you to learn that a recent study has declared Texas motorists as the third worst drivers in the country. Only Louisiana and Missouri drivers are more dangerous than Texans, according to the study conducted by Car Insurance Companion.

One of the main reasons why Texan drivers are considered particularly dangerous is the frequent distracted driving habits of Texas drivers. “Inattentive driving, texting while driving [and] cell phone use” are all major factors, according to Jerry Johns of the Southwestern Insurance Information Service.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I have seen firsthand the devastating bodily injury that distracted drivers can cause. The problem is that while most of us understand why it’s so hazardous to use your cellphone or other electronic device while behind the wheel (or eat, or apply your makeup – or whatever), we continue to do it regardless. This is crazy. We know that we’re not just putting other people’s safety in jeopardy – we’re risking our own lives as well!

Distracted driving is dangerous. We all know that. Now we need to actually stop doing it.

I would like to invite you to take a pledge to promise that you will give up texting while driving. Just click this link, take the pledge, and I’ll mail you a free bracelet to wear to remind yourself of the promise you made.

Maybe if we all vow to stop using our cellphone while on the road, Texan drivers can move closer to the safer end of the list the next time around.

A multi-vehicle crash in England on Friday was so large that it has made international headlines. 34 cars and trucks were involved in the collision which killed seven and injured 51 others. The devastating accident is being blamed on a combination of factors including wet roads, excessive speed and poor visibility.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that the magnitude of this wreck cannot be underestimated. The section of road where the pile-up occurred has never been an accident black spot and it seems that it was simply a deadly combination of environmental factors which caused the crash to occur.

The accident took place short after dusk, so the roads were dark. Suddenly, a dark fog descended over the freeway reportedly reducing visibility to just 100 feet. Crash scene experts believe that some 18 wheeler drivers instinctively began to brake because of the potential hazard. Unfortunately, since the speed limit was 70 mph and the roads were slick with recent rain, many other vehicles behind the trucks were unable to slow in time, setting off a chain reaction of deadly crashes. Many of the semi-trailers and passenger cars burned literally to the ground.

This is an absolutely terrible accident and the pictures of the crash scene are utterly horrific. It should go without saying that my thoughts are with the families and loves ones of those who were killed or hurt in this massive tragedy.

At the same time, however, it is entirely possible that a similar wreck could happen in the DFW metroplex. Speeding is certainly a problem here too, and as the weather turns gradually colder and wetter, our roads are prone to similar conditions which are being attributed to causing the England wreck. Let’s all drive carefully out there. Keep your distance between the car in front of you and be particularly cautious of driving in bad weather or after dark.

Now that the cooler weather is upon us, the Dallas Cowboys are starting to play better and the Texas Rangers are in the World Series, tailgating is once again incredibly popular across in and around Arlington.

Unfortunately, another kind of tailgating – a much more dangerous kind – is also happening. Tailgating is the name given to the practice of driving dangerously close to another vehicle. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer I’ve handled a number of cases where a car wreck was caused by a tailgater. Sometimes they are motorcyclists, sometimes they are 18 wheeler truck drivers – but they are all extremely serious.

As stressful and annoying as it is to find another car riding your tail, it’s important to remember not to respond angrily. Do not “brake check” them as you’re almost certainly going to cause a potentially fatal accident. Whether they are deliberately tailgating or not, the best course of action is to just try to get out of their way. Let them pass you and get out of your way. Get yourself out of danger.

If you have been in a collision caused by an aggressive driver, then it’s important that you hire a board certified personal injury attorney as soon as possible who can build a case against this dangerous driver to make sure their insurance company pays you the full and fair compensation you deserve to cover any medical expenses you’ve incurred as well as recover any property damage costs. To talk to a lawyer today call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I know that traffic accidents are extremely common in the North Texas area, which is why we must always take every precaution possible whenever we get out on the road. Particularly if you are traveling with passengers – and the passengers are children – it is critical that you do everything you can to ensure you arrive at your destination without getting in a wreck and without anyone being injured.

Unfortunately, in the 20 plus years I’ve been working on car crash cases in DFW, I’ve seen a number of collisions involving daycare vans. Vans are notoriously dangerous because they are extremely likely to rollover if they are involved in an accident. Eight percent of all 15-seater van fatalities are a direct result of the van rolling over after impact.

Passenger vans are so dangerous, in fact, that Texas schools are banned from using them, however, there are no restrictions on other organizations such as churches and daycares from using them. If organizations transporting your child do choose to use a van, they have an obligation to ensure every safety precaution is taken, otherwise their negligence could result in a very serious child injury.

Given that 50 percent of all rollover van accidents (according to the NHTSA) occur when the van is loaded to capacity, this means that a daycare van transporting more children than the van is built for is directly jeopardizing the safety of all those children. The following video from China is a direct example of what not to do:



If you or a loved one have been injured in a Texas auto collision, call the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

If you occasionally drive outside of Dallas-Fort Worth down to either Austin or San Antonio, you’ll know what a nightmare it can be on I-35; particularly when the interstate shrinks to just two lanes in each direction between Waco and Hillsborough. I’ve spent many hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic in that area and it is incredibly frustrating. Usually, there isn’t even a collision which has caused the congestion; more often than not it’s one semi truck trying to pass a tractor trailer.

Yesterday morning, however, it was a crash which brought I-35 to a standstill near Waco. Predictably, it was an 18-wheeler truck which was responsible. Police say that the truck, which was carrying a tank-like container was too big to pass beneath an underpass, so the trucker performed an emergency stop. Unfortunately, several other motorists following behind him were unable to brake in time and the result was a ten vehicle pile-up including two trucks and eight other cars and pick-ups.

Texas state troopers are still investigating the accident and in particular are focusing on the tanker truck which caused the wreck and whether its oversize load was illegal. As a Texas personal injury lawyer, I know that overloaded or improperly secured cargo has been responsible for many auto accidents over the years. This is negligence on behalf of the trucker and the motor carrier company they work for. If it is determined that their negligence was responsible for Tuesday’s crash, then they are certainly liable to pay compensation to those who suffered personal injury or property damage in the wreck.

I offer a complimentary copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case to all Texas accident victims and their loved ones, because I know that the days following a crash are often very confusing and it’s important that you understand your rights – particularly if you have been hospitalized. To request your free copy, please call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth auto wreck personal injury lawyer, I have long campaigned North Texas motorists to switch off their cellphone before getting behind the wheel of their car, truck or motorcycle. Distracted driving is a potentially fatal hazard. If you’re not paying attention to the road ahead – to driving safely – then you are risking your own life, the life of your passengers and anyone else who is unfortunate enough to be on the road near you at that time.

Think about how long it takes you to look down and read or send a text message. Now think about what potential danger you might miss or fail to notice in time: the 18 wheeler ahead of you breaking, for example; or a child running across the street. If you’re not paying attention, the results can be devastating. I know because I’ve helped the personal victims of people injured in such accidents, and the relatives of those who’ve lost someone to a distracted driving wrongful death collision too.

A new study by the Texas Transport Institute (TTI) has found that distracted driving is even more dangerous than previously thought. In fact, a distracted driver’s response time is double the reaction time of a focused, concentrated driver; taking up to five seconds longer. To put this in context, at 30 mph a vehicle will travel 220 feet in five seconds. At 60 mph, it will travel 440 feet. That means a huge risk for a major crash.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 5,500 people were killed in wrecks attributed to a distracted driver. A further half a million were injured. Remember too, that a large proportion of distracted driving victims are actually the distracted drivers themselves.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in accident caused by a distracted driver, it’s important that you consult with an experienced trial attorney to make sure you are fully aware of your legal responsibilities and your right to compensation to cover any medical expenses or other costs which you have incurred following your run-in with the negligent driver. For a free, no obligation consultation, please call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or call locally at 817-294-1900.

An 18-wheeler carrying a full load of caught fire Sunday night around 11 p.m. in Terrell, TX.
The semi-truck carrying about 48,000 bottles of wine was headed from California to Georgia on Interstate 20 when the driver realized his tractor was on fire. Luckily, the trucker was able to get out of the truck safely. The fire consumed the cab of the truck, the trailer and a half-acre grass around it. The truck was virtually melted before firefighters were able to extinguish the flames. All eastbound lanes of I-20 were close for a couple hours due to the truck accident.

Trucks all driving all around us in Dallas and Fort Worth are carrying flammable materials just like this one in Terrell. Thankfully, this accident ended without anyone getting hurt, but rarely is that the case in most 18-wheeler accidents. If you have been hurt in a truck wreck in DFW and need to explore your legal options, contact the Fort Worth semi-truck accident lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm today.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I’ve warned numerous times of the very real danger posed to cars and motorcycles alike by the huge 18-wheeler trucks which travel throughout the metroplex in ever-increasing numbers. A smaller vehicle doesn’t stand a chance against a much larger commercial truck and it’s inevitable that significant property damage and personal injuries are going to result.

Yesterday, however, a professional truck driver lost his life in a single vehicle wreck in Arlington. Police report that at approximately 4.15pm, a semi was driving west on Interstate 20, near Texas 360 when, the big rig somehow drifted off the highway and crashed on the roadside, apparently suffering severe damage to the cab portion of the truck. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the deceased trucker nor the cause of the crash.

While I would like to express my sympathy to the family and friends of the driver whose life was lost, I think we should also be thankful that no one else was injured in this terrible accident. This terrible tragedy serves to remind us all that despite their giant trucks, these men and women are just as vulnerable as the rest of us in the event of a collision.

A garbage truck traveling northbound on the Sam Rayburn Tollway in The Colony hit and killed a stranded motorist that was trying to cross the highway. The motorist was hit around 6 a.m. after he attempted to cross Highway 121 between Main and Paige Road.

The truck accident caused a traffic nightmare for those driving the tollway as they had to use the highway’s frontage road during morning rush hour.

Unfortunately, stranded motorists are injured or killed all the time in DFW while changing tires, or like in this case, attempting to cross the road. Remember – there is an emergency number on the back of your Texas driver’s license you can call for roadside assistance. If you are stalled on an especially busy road or highway, call the police station and request that a squad car with warning lights wait nearby. These accidents are far too common, but can be avoided – especially if you use the resources available to you.
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The Anderson Law Firm and it’s team of top-rated Fort Worth personal injury lawyers are ready to help you after your car wreck, motorcycle accident or other personal injury claim. Contact us today to set up a free case consultation.

A six vehicle accident shut down multiple lanes of Northeast Loop 820 near Rufe Snow Drive and Meadow Lakes Drive in North Richland Hills this morning. While the full details of the multi-vehicle wreck have not yet been made public it is understood that an 18 wheeler tractor trailer was involved in the collision. At least one injured person was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. The crash happened around 5.40 this morning, although eastbound lanes remained closed for several hours while authorities investigated the scene.

While my thoughts are with the family of the hospitalized motorist, as a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I am surprised that just one individual was hurt badly enough to need immediate medical attention. Traffic accidents cause devastating injuries in any situation, but whenever a commercial truck is involved, the injuries are likely to be so much worse. If you or a loved one was involved in this morning’s crash, I would encourage you to go see a doctor as soon as possible – today if you can – just to get yourself checked out in case. It would be awful if you discovered you had a serious problem a few days or weeks later, but neglected to seek treatment right away.

Since I’ve been practicing personal injury and wrongful death law throughout North Texas since 1991, I know that there are many mistakes which traffic accident victims are prone to make – many within the first 48 hours – which could seriously ruin their chances of recovering the full and fair compensation they deserve later on! For a free no obligation consultation on your personal situation, or to request a complimentary copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case please call 800-354-6275.

Surprise, surprise: Interstate 35W, north of downtown Fort Worth during rush hour is the most stressful road to travel on in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2011 edition of the 100 most congested roadways. This comes as no surprise to everyone at my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth, or the thousands of other Texans that drive this highway every day.

With constant construction, distracted drivers, truckers and more cars that can seem to fit – it’s no wonder car accidents are a daily occurrence on I35. It seems I35W isn’t just stressful; it also ranked as the 5th most congested road in the state according the calculations by the Texas Transportation Institute. What are the most congested roadways in Texas? Look at the list here - the top three are all in North Texas.

Have you been in a car accident on one of these busy roadways? If so, call one of the accident and injury attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm – we’re here to help.

Are trucks in New York too big for their bridges? It seems to be the case in one town in particular where large commercial trucks simply can’t clear the overpass. In the town of Binghamton on Tuesday, a tractor trailer hit a railroad bridge and got jammed underneath it as the truck was simply too tall to pass underneath. It’s the third truck accident in two months at the same bridge.

In the video shot by TV station WBNG, you can see how the bridge crushed all the cars the tractor trailer was carrying. Drivers are warned of the bridges low clearance, but either they aren’t paying attention or just can’t find another route to get where they’re going.

This got me wondering about the bridges in Fort Worth and the rest of DFW. Do we have bridges that eat trucks like this in our area, too? As a personal injury attorney in Fort Worth, this makes me question the bridges structural integrity. It’s been hit so many times; can it support the train that drives over it? Obviously, the truck drivers in Binghamton need to pay more attention to low bridges like this and the city needs to ensure all motorists that the bridge is safe to drive under.

Over the years I’ve heard every excuse possible from distracted drivers who’ve crashed into my personal injury clients. Usually it’s something along the lines of “I had an important work email” or “I didn’t want my friend to think I was rude by not picking up.” My answer to those pleas is that a) no email is more important that the safety of you, your passengers and other road users, and b) I’m sure if you called your friend back later and explained that you’d been driving, there would be no problem.

As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I firmly believe that there is never an excuse to use your cellphone while driving: not to text, not to call someone, not to email. Fortunately, as the dangers of distracted driving become more prolific, more cities (such as Arlington) are cracking down on drivers who use their cellphone while behind the wheel.

Simultaneously, new technology is helping to put an end to the distracted driving epidemic as well. One new app which could really help those people who don’t want to miss a thing, is Text ’n Drive which was even featured on CNN. It’s a voice-operated app, which means you can use it hands free, and it will read you your emails and your text messages while you’re on the go. Even better, it will send an email or SMS to your contact to let them know you’re driving but that you’ll respond to their message as soon as you’ve reached your destination! How good is that? Not only does it keep you from appearing rude, but it also reminds others that using a cellphone while driving is dangerous. Fantastic!

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Dallas-Fort Worth, chances are that you’ve asked yourself this question. Particularly if the insurance adjuster assigned to your car wreck case was able to help you get your vehicle repaired without much hassle, you might wonder whether it’s even worth paying an attorney to handle your personal injury claim.

The honest truth is that sometimes it might not be worth it. In my 20 years of experience, I’ve found that generally if the total amount of medical expenses and loss of income is less than $5,000, you can probably handle your claim without an attorney and still expect to receive the full and fair settlement you deserve. However, once you start taking into account all past and future doctor bills, hospital visits, lost wages and reduction in quality of life, the dollar amount goes up. The higher the amount of money you think you deserve, the more likely it is that you need a lawyer to fight the insurance company for you.

Not convinced? Then consider this study funded by the United Sates insurance industry that found that personal injury victims who hired a lawyer, netted on average 3½ times more money that people with identical injuries who decided to go it alone. Do the math: even if your lawyer’s fee was a third of the total settlement, that means you’d still come out with more than double if you’d tried to take on the insurance company alone.

For an honest and fair assessment of what your Texas personal injury case is really worth, give me a call toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275). There is no obligation to hire me as your attorney, and there is absolutely no fee unless I win your case.

Truck accidents in Texas usually happen on the ground, but that wasn’t the case today in New York when a Department of Sanitation truck crashed through the third floor of building in Queens.

The driver of the truck was literally left hanging from the third story in the cab of the truck until emergency teams could rescue him 30 minutes later. The driver was taken to a local hospital with neck and back injuries, but no word yet on what caused the wreck.
Crazy to look at huh?

No-one ever wants to be involved in a car crash, let alone seriously injured. Unfortunately, however, serious traffic collisions happen throughout Dallas-Fort Worth on a daily basis. If you or a loved one has been injured in a wreck which wasn’t your fault it is wise to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who can explain your rights and responsibilities as a Texas accident victim.

When a new client hires me as their attorney, I handle everything on their behalf. I deal with the insurance company. I can make sure that they get the medical treatment they need. I pay for all case expenses upfront; this includes obtaining medical records, filing the lawsuit, depositions and hiring experts to help explain the evidence. Only when a successful settlement is achieved do I take my payment. My clients do not have to cut me a check every month, or each time I get a bill related to their case. I handle it all, allowing my clients to focus on recovering from their injuries and getting better.

For a free, no obligation consultation on your personal injury claim, call the Anderson Law Firm at either 817-294-1900 or 214-327-8000.

I’ve said it hundreds of times before, and it seems that certain idiot drivers are determined for me to say it several hundred more times: don’t drink and drive. There is never an excuse. Since I first started helping personal injury victims throughout Dallas-Fort Worth 20 years ago, alcohol-related traffic accidents have caused far too many pointless injuries and fatalities throughout the metroplex. I have helped many of those people who have been injured by a drunk driver as a Texas car crash lawyer.

Yet people continue to wreck both their lives and the lives of others by making to inexcusable decision to get behind the wheel after having a drink. At approximately 1:45 this morning, for example, a woman suspected of drink-driving drove the wrong way down I-20 in Arlington and sideswiped an 18-wheeler. Both drivers were transported to John Peter Smith Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. As a result of the collision, police were forced to close the westbound lanes of I-20 near Green Oaks Boulevard for several hours, interfering with the morning drive for thousands of commuters.

As if that wasn’t enough, Arlington emergency services were already busy dealing with the aftermath of two other fatal accidents which occurred within the previous few hours:

At 10.30pm yesterday a lone driver was speeding down Eden Road near Kennedale when he lost control of his vehicle and flipped off the road. The deceased was a 30-year-old male. His name has not yet been released by authorities.

Later, at approximately 1.30am, a passenger riding in pickup was ejected and killed after the pickup was struck from behind by a hit and run driver. Police are still searching for the driver responsible for the collision, whom they believe was driving a white Nissan truck. Anyone who may have any information is asked to contact Arlington Police Department at 817-459-5635.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by a negligent motorist, regardless of whether alcohol was a factor, you are invited to call the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm by calling toll free at 800-354-6275.

If you’ve been injured in a traffic wreck involving an 18-wheeler, you’ve likely suffered some serious injuries. Unfortunately, negligent trucking companies and their insurance providers are notorious for dragging their feet when it comes to actually paying a settlement. However, as a Fort Worth truck accident and injury lawyer with 20 years’ experience, I’m here to tell you that you do have options.

If you don’t have health insurance, then you can use the public health system which is available to you. Alternatively, you can incur the medical bills and pay them once your case has been resolved.

Even if you do have health insurance, you still have to deal with paying deductibles and co-pays which can quickly mount up too. These contribute to one of the lesser-known effects of being in a crash: damage to your credit rating. If you’re not able to make the payments to cover your doctor bills, it can seriously hurt your credit. Unsurprisingly, unpaid medical expenses are the leading cause of bankruptcy in America.

Fortunately, a board certified attorney is usually able to negotiate with the health care provider to prevent your debt from going to collections. Here at the Anderson Law Firm, we have plenty of experience in fighting the commercial trucking companies as well, to make sure that you get the full and fair compensation that you deserve. Give us a call today for a free consultation on your case. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or call locally at 817-294-1900.

“I know it’s not smart,” my client explained “but I don’t do well with stress.”

My client had called to tell me that he had decided to throw in the towel. “I’m willing to accept whatever the insurance adjuster is willing to offer,” he clarified.

He sounded like his mind was made up, but I really hoped that it wasn’t. I understood his concerns, they were perfectly natural. I’d had this exact same conversation with countless other personal injury victims before. Usually I was able to make them understand that deciding to go it alone without a lawyer up against the bullying might of the insurance company is rarely a wise move.

In this particular instance, my client was afraid of the stress of pursuing a claim. Yet he was ironically attempting to handle the claim process alone – without an attorney. I explained to him that many clients actually hired me simply to take the stress off them. When you hire a personal injury attorney, we deal with the stress for you. We’ll file the paper work, negotiate with the insurance adjuster and handle everything. You can just focus on getting better and putting your life back together.

To make matters worse, by deciding to pursue his claim for compensation alone, and by willingly accepting an insufficient low settlement, my client could look forward to plenty of future stress trying to cover the cost of his medical treatment for his injuries. Bare in mind, of course, that unpaid hospital bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy in America, and that accident injury victims who hire a lawyer typically recover 3.5 times as much than those who don’t.

Just because Texas law entitles you to full and fair compensation for your injuries, it doesn’t necessarily mean the insurance company will willingly give it to you. Hiring a board certified trial lawyer is the best way to simultaneously reduce your personal stress during the claim process while maximizing the compensation you may receive.

For a free, no obligation consultation on your personal situation, please call me in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000.

As a Fort Worth commercial truck accident lawyer I know that auto collisions involving big rigs are always extremely serious and frequently fatal. A young couple were killed in a deadly 18-wheeler crash in Fort Worth early this morning. Police report that the wreck occurred on westbound I-30 near Las Vegas Trail around 2.30am. The driver of a Suzuki Forenza, identified as Antonio Andrade (22) and an unnamed female passenger (20) died after crashing into the back of a stopped 18-wheeler. The trucker – who has also not yet been identified - was not injured in the wreck.

Early reports suggest that the commercial truck was completely stopped when the car ran into the back of it, although the police investigation is ongoing. Thorough investigations are always essential whenever someone is injured or dies in a collision with a trucking company vehicle. This is because trucking companies and their insurance providers do whatever they can to protect their profits, so they want to avoid paying out claims for compensation in instances when someone was hurt due to their employee’s negligence, if that was the case.

Whenever someone is injured in a commercial truck crash, it is essential that they hire an experienced truck accident injury attorney as soon as possible so that you have someone who understands the legal process making sure that your rights are respected and protected, and to make sure that you get the full and fair damages you might be entitled to. For a free consultation on your Texas truck wreck claim, call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

You read that right. According to a new survey by GMAC Insurance, almost a third of all Texas drivers and one in five Americans would fail if they took a national driving test today. One in three Texans would fail a driver’s test? Crazy—maybe that’s why there are so many car accidents in Fort Worth and Dallas.

Even though I see the stupidity of driver’s every day in my line of work as a Fort Worth car wreck and personal injury lawyer, it’s shocking to me that these numbers are so high. Do you realize that if this study is truly accurate that means 18 percent of people would not meet the basic requirements to get a driver's license?

This news is especially terrifying considering the amount of distracted drivers who cause car wrecks because they text and talk on their cell phones on the roads in Fort Worth and Dallas. Think of just how terrible they are behind the wheel just by messing with their phone and driving. Then add the fact that one in three of them can’t pass a simple driver’s test? It’s almost too scary to think about.

Fortunately, the survey found that Texans weren’t the worst drivers in America at passing the test—that honor goes to the northeast region of the country.

Do you think you can pass the driver’s test? Visit nationaldriverstest.com to find out.

And if you’ve been the unfortunate victim of a car accident in Fort Worth or Dallas caused by a negligent driver, give my law firm a call at 817-294-1900. At the Anderson Law Firm, our accident and injury attorneys handle all kinds of car accident and other injury claims and are ready to set up a free case review with you to go over your legal options.

It’s a good day for America, everybody! The US House of Representatives has introduced a bill designed to prohibit texting while driving nationwide. This is especially good for Texans as it means distracted driving could be outlawed despite Rick Perry’s backwards philosophy. As a Fort Worth accident and injury lawyer, I think this is great news. Car wrecks caused by drivers who were using a handheld cellphone are on the rise and studies have proven the bad habit is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

According to the Transportation department, more than 5,400 fatalities were attributed to traffic collisions where distracted driving was a factor, so it is extremely encouraging to see that some lawmakers are taking the epidemic as seriously as it deserves. The so-called Safe Drivers Act of 2011 will enforce the ban thanks to an inspiring clause which threatens to withhold 25 percent of a state’s federal highway funding if the state does not enforce the law. I think that demonstrates loud and clear just how serious distracted driving is and that it is unfortunately a much-needed law which has the very real potential to save lives.

Mark Anderson is a board certified personal injury and wrongful death attorney who has been helping car crash victims throughout Tarrant County and across the DFW Metroplex since 1991. The Anderson Law Firm is the proud sponsor of Teens Against Distracted Driving (TADD); an organization which educates high school aged student of the dangers of texting while behind the wheel.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, call for a free consultation at 817-294-1900.

Coming from a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, this may come as a shock to you but I want to put this piece of advice out there: you don’t need to hire a lawyer for all DFW car accidents. In fact, most car wreck insurance claims can be handled completely on your own. In minor car accidents and fender-benders, it’s perfectly fine to exchange insurance information and go through the claims process without hiring an accident attorney.

But when the car accidents is more serious in nature, say with thousands of dollars in medical bills things get tricky, especially if multiple insurance policies are involved. Oh yes, in Texas you can make a claim against multiple insurance policies if they are available, but you will probably be in need of a Board Certified personal injury attorney to help you.

At the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, we handle claims against multiple insurance policies most commonly in the following scenarios:

• If you were injured at work by someone other than your employer or a colleague
• If you were hurt in a car accident and make a claim against the other driver’s auto liability insurance, but you also have personal injury protection (PIP) and/or uninsured motorist coverage
• Or if you were a passenger of a vehicle involved in a car accident where you can make a claim against the other driver’s insurance, your PIP/uninsured motorist protection and if you could also use the PIP of the driver of the vehicle in

Dealing with multiple insurance policies can become confusing quickly. It’s important that you have an accident attorney on your side that knows how to go after the right policies to ensure that you get fair compensation for your injuries.

If you think multiple insurance policies could come into play in your car accident claim, give the personal injury lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm a call at 817-294-1900. We’ll set up a free case consultation to go over all the facts of your accident and see what we can do to help.

On Wednesday, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an earlier decision by Austin, Texas US District Judge Lee Yeakel concerning solicitation rules for chiropractors and personal injury lawyers, such as myself. The legal battle goes back to a law which was introduced in September 2009 which made it illegal for medical professionals to contact accident injury victims within the first 30 days following their accident. A Houston-based chiropractor filed a lawsuit to challenge the new regulation and in March 2010 the law was overturned under the ruling that it violated free speech rights. Back then, I said that I thought an appeal by the Texas Attorney General’s office was a necessity. To my mind, this is a reasonable restriction on free speech. Even though the most unethical attorneys and chiropractors engage in such shady habits, they give the wider community of decent professionals a bad reputation. We have all been tarnished by the “ambulance chaser” perception. Now that the earlier decision has been superseded the law is clear: you cannot contact car wreck survivors or relatives of deceased individuals until 30 days after the crash.

I think that is absolutely correct. Injured people need that time to properly recuperate. If you’ve been in a catastrophic accident which has potential life-changing consequences, you need time to get your head straight. The problem is that the law does nothing to prevent the at-fault driver’s insurance company from visiting you in your hospital room and coercing you into signing away your legal rights for a quick $4,000 check when your medical expenses will likely run in excess of $20,000 medical bill (not to mention all those lost wages, a totaled car, etc.) Tighter rules also need to be enforced to protect injured people from these ruthless insurance adjustors who consistently put profits above people.

My hope is that personal injury victims are smart enough to know how to protect themselves. You don’t need to sign anything the insurance adjustor gives you – in fact you’re not obliged to talk to them at all. You can refuse outright if you want. You have no legal right to discuss your case with them whatsoever. Of course, you can hire a PI lawyer to represent you immediately following your accident if you so wish. There are many lawyers situated throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. At the very least, you should get online and do some research into your rights so that you can confront the situation informed. My website is a comprehensive resource for you regardless of whether you’ve been injured in an auto collision, pedestrian accident, animal attack, or any other situation.

Please concentrate on getting well, but don’t be naïve. It’s important that you know your rights. If you decide that you would like to speak to a board certified attorney with 20 years’ experience, then you can give me a call at your convenience. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or call locally in Fort Worth at 817-29-1900 or Dallas 214-327-8000.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I know that traffic wrecks can produce devastating and life-changing injuries. Sometimes they can be deadly. They are always preventable.

There is no more upsetting story than a fatal car crash, particularly when the person who loses their life is a kid. A deadly freeway collision occurred in Plano last night. 9-year-old Marcie Hooton from Carrollton was riding in a car with her mother and sister on State Highway 121 off southbound Sam Rayburn Tollway when they experienced engine trouble. Their stopped car was hit from behind by a tow truck, killing Marcie.

Marcie’s mother and sister were taken to the Medical Center of Plano. Both are expected to survive, both their conditions are described as serious. Frisco Police Sgt. Adam Henderson said it was not likely that charges would be brought against the driver of the tow truck sine he was neither impaired nor distracted at the time of the crash, according to the Dallas Morning News. The cause of the accident in still under investigation at this time.

Based on the initial report it seems spectacularly clear to me that the tow truck driver is clearly at fault for causing the wreck which led to the wrongful death of this young child. You don’t have to be drunk or texting behind the wheel to be a negligent driver. Speeding, failure to observe the road ahead of you, and failure to act to prevent a collision are all negligent actions. In my mind the tow truck driver is certainly the one at fault in this tragic accident.

My thoughts are with the Hooton family and their friends at what must certainly be a most difficult time. I wish Marcie’s mother and sister and full and speedy recovery.


Mark Anderson, Personal Injury Lawyer. Toll free: 800-354-6275. Local: 214-327-8000.

An 18-wheeler accident is causing traffic delays of over an hour in Dallas today. The accident occurred around 5.30 this morning which has meant a nightmare commute for thousands of motorists. The big rig was headed west on I-30 when the truck overturned. The wreck happened near I-635 in Mesquite, closing the ramp from southbound I-635 for several hours. Currently there is no information regarding the cause of the collision or whether other vehicles were involved. I certainly hope not, because as a Texas personal injury lawyer I know that passengers in car which are involved in large truck accidents often suffer terrible injuries.

The fact that the road is still closed suggests that the police are conducting a thorough investigation of the crash scene and the circumstances leading up to the wreck – as they should. This is particularly important in a commercial trucking accident if anyone has suffered life-threatening injuries as big truck companies are notorious at trying to delay or deny payments to innocent victims injured due to the negligence of a truck driver.

That is why if you or a loved one have been hurt in an 18-wheeler collision it is essential that you consult with a board certified PI and wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible following the accident. At the Anderson Law Firm we have our own in-house investigator who is able to visit the crash scene and gather evidence to support your claim for compensation. Without an attorney on your side, it can be incredibly difficult to recover the damages you deserve to cover your medical bills, loss of income and pain and suffering caused by the truck wreck.

For a no fee, no obligation consultation on your big rig accident injury case, call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally at 214-324-800. Alternatively, you can contact me online and my office will get back to you straight away.

If you have been involved in an auto accident in Tarrant County then most likely the responding police officer will have completed a collision report (officially called a Texas Peace Officers Crash Report). As a Fort Worth and Arlington personal injury lawyer, I find these reports extremely useful while investigating the situation surrounding my clients’ injuries. Not only does it collect together a load of important information regarding all parties involved in the car wreck (such as traffic conditions, vehicles involved, insurance policies of the various drivers) but it also includes a section titled Contributing Factors (Investigator’s Opinion). This is the section where the attendant officer will assign fault regarding what – and perhaps most importantly WHO – caused the crash to occur.

In order to interpret the crash report, you need this code sheet which lists the any different factors which a police officer could decide contributed to the wreck. Reasons include driver inattention, failure to yield, followed too closely and road rage – among many others. For a motor injury lawyer, this is extremely valuable information as it quickly allows us to identify who the at-alt driver was. What is also good is that most of the time the insurance adjustor will accept the report’s findings, which can really help when I’m trying to reach a settlement to get you the most damages available to cover the cost of your medical bills, loss of income, as well as compensation for your pain and suffering.

Of course, there are occasions when a police report does not get completed. That’s not a problem. Just because there is no report, it does not mean that you lose the right to pursue a claim.

If you or a loved one have been hurt in an accident that was not your fault, give me a call for a free, no obligation consultation on your personal situation. I’ll be able to explain your legal rights in detail and tell you whether you have a claim. Call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. Alternatively, you can contact me online.

At my personal injury law firm in Dallas, we take a variety of truck and car accident cases. With as many 18-wheelers driving around DFW and Tarrant County, it’s only natural that some accidents occur and when they do, they can have catastrophic consequences.

But today there was a story on the channel 8 News that really caught my attention – for all the wrong reasons.

Truckers carrying dangerous, not to mention illegal chemicals are driving all throughout Texas. It took News 8 only 10 minutes with a Dallas County Sheriff to pull over an 18-wheeler carrying illegal corrosives right through the center of Dallas.

As frequently as truck accidents occur in the Metroplex, it’s absolutely absurd that these trucks are driving through our cities, breaking the law and carrying substances that could harm so many people if they were to wreck!

I’m glad the Dallas Sherriff’s department is on the lookout for truckers driving hazardous material through Dallas.

This commentary was provided by Mark Anderson, a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. If you or a family member was injured because of a truck accident or 18-wheeler wreck, give my law firm in Dallas a call at 817-294-1900.We can set up a free meeting to go over the events of your accident and talk about your legal options.

As a Tarrant County personal injury attorney I often speculate that passengers in a bus or train are far more vulnerable in the event of an accident as they have no control over the vehicle and are powerless to avoid any hazard. Their life is entirely in the hands of the driver. Such a situation would be bad enough – but imagine if you were handcuffed at the same time?

That’s exactly what happened to a truckload of paroled inmates from Mineral Wells minimum-security prison as they were traveling along I30 in Fort Worth yesterday. The van they were riding in blew a tire, causing it to roll over and land on its side. Fortunately, passersby took quick and decisive action and rescued the driver, the guard and the parolees from the wreckage. The driver and two of the passengers were treated for minor injuries, but all others are reportedly okay.

I’d like to salute the good Samaritans who stepped in to help out, and I wish those injured speedy recovery from their injuries. From the report it seems this accident could have been much worse than it actually was, and for that we should all be thankful.

Mark Anderson is a board certified Texas traffic collision lawyer and author of the book 15 Mistakes That Could Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car crash which was not your fault, call now for a free, no obligation consultation on your case. Toll free 800-354-6275. Fort Worth 817-294-1900.

Slow your speed or get a ticket is what Grapevine Police are warning drivers along the DFW Connector between sections of Highways 114 and 121.

The speed limit has decreased from 60 mph to 50 mph as parts of the DFW Connector are under construction. Police are in full force to give speeding tickets to anyone going over the legal limit. They said the reason for the decrease in speed is because too many accidents have been caused in the area by distracted drivers.

I know from my experience as a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer that it doesn’t take much to cause a car accident and speeding, especially in a construction zone can do just that.

It’s tempting to speed on Texas Highways especially during rush hour when everybody else is speeding too. But, for the safety of yourself, other drivers and your pocket book – ease up on the pedal and follow the posted speed limits.

Call the Anderson Law Firm if you were hit by a distracted or speeding driver. You might be able to pursue an insurance claim for lost wages, medical expenses and the pain and suffering caused by preventable collisions. To set up your free consultation, just by call us at 817-294-1900.

Yesterday was an unusually cold and rainy day here in DFW. About the only thing worse than the weather were the roads! It took me a while just to get to work at my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth just because of all the delays from car accidents.

According to police in Tarrant County, hundreds of car wrecks were reported yesterday. On Monday, 166 car accidents had been reported to Fort Worth police from midnight until 3:30 p.m. In Arlington, 32 major accidents were called in and there were 25 minor fender benders reported.

Unfortunately, not all of the auto accidents yesterday and Sunday were minor. One person was killed and five people were seriously injured when a Dodge truck carrying nine passengers hit standing water and spun out of control at I 30 and Rosedale Street in Fort Worth.

The 17-year-old driver has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.

Car accidents are avoidable in the rain if you just take precautions. The casualty in this accident probably could have been avoided if it wasn’t a drunk driver behind the wheel! Also, nine people in one pickup truck seems like way too many to me. Were they all wearing seatbelts? Another way they could’ve avoided injuries.

Nobody likes to drive in the rain and it’s true; rain does cause some car accidents. But if drivers in Fort Worth and Dallas would just go back to the basic rules of driving (don’t speed, drive defensively, put down the cell phone) I think the number of car accidents on rainy days could definitely decrease.

If you were in a car accident because of someone’s negligence on a rainy day, you should give my accident and injury law firm a call at 817-294-1900. Just because it was rainy doesn’t mean you can’t pursue a claim against the other driver for hitting you. Set up your free consultation today.

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 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.

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).

Yesterday afternoon, an SUV rear-ended a school bus on Fort Worth Highway in Weatherford, Texas. By all accounts the wreck was certainly dramatic. The driver of the car, Becky Clark, had to be rescued from her vehicle which was wedged beneath the back of the bus. She was rushed to John Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth and is currently reported to be in fair condition. Two students were injured as they exited the bus and were taken to Weatherford Regional Medical Clinic as a precaution but have since been released to their parents and were fortunately well enough to attend school today. The 47 other students from Boase Ikard Elementary School aboard the bus reported no injuries.

A press release from Weatherford ISD stated that the school bus was propelled forwards 15-20 feet due to the impact of the collision. Immediately following the crash, the driver of the bus thought she saw smoke and ordered an emergency evacuation of the bus. Weatherford ISD Superintendant, Dr. Deborah Cron, has applauded the quick thinking and responsible actions of the Durham School Services’ bus driver and I would absolutely have to echo her praise.

As a father, hearing news of an accident involving kids or a school bus always makes my heart leap up into my throat. We should all be thankful that none of the children on the bus were seriously harmed. I also hope that Ms. Clark makes a full and speedy recovery. Although the cause of the crash is not yet known, it should certainly give us all cause to pause for thought and remember the importance of basic safe driving practices such as focusing our attention on the road ahead and being aware of our surroundings.

Remember as well that it is illegal to pass a school bus which stops to pick up or drop off passengers. This law applies to drivers approaching from either direction. You must wait for the bus to pull off again unless the driver signals it is okay to pass or turns off his stop signals.

Information and commentary provided by Mark Anderson, Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer.

Just before 7 a.m. yesterday, a DART bus ran over a 53-year-old man at the West Transfer Station in downtown Dallas. The man was hit by an oncoming bus as he stepped off the curb. Witnesses said the man was transferring from one bus to another when he got hit and that his hood was pulled up over his head, possible blocking his view. The man was rushed to Parkland Hospital where he was pronounced dead. DART police and DPD are investigating because it’s not clear if the pedestrian or the bus driver was at fault.

Serving as a Dallas-Fort Worth injury attorney for more than 20 years, I often write about the dangers of distracted driving. Was the bus driver distracted? What caused this accident? My sympathies go out to this man and his family. I certainly hope the authorities get to the root of what caused this terrible accident. I assume an investigation is being performed by DART, and possibly by the Dallas Police Department.

If you or someone you know has been injured or wrongfully killed in a bus, truck, car, motorcycle, or other vehicle-related accident, please contact the Anderson Law Firm at 817-294-1900 for a free consultation on your rights.

Eastbound Interstate 20 in Arlington is closed at New York Avenue due to a major accident. Police encourage eastbound motorists to exit at Cooper and Collins to avoid the traffic backup.

Arlington police spokeswoman Tiara Richard said an eastbound Toyota driver changed lanes and struck a second car, forcing the Toyota into a spin. An 18-wheeler hit the Toyota. The driver and a passenger in the Toyota were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released the names of the victims pending notification of next of kin. There were no other major injuries. An investigation is under way.

I can’t even imagine the thought of being helpless and seeing a semi-truck about to hit my car. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this accident. The story reported sounds like a situation where the big rig truck did not have time to stop. 18-wheelers do not have the ability to stop like cars because they weigh 10,000 pounds compared 4,000 pounds. But a thorough accident investigation will hopefully reveal exactly what happened.

Information and commentary provided by Texas Car Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached at 800-357-MARK. If you or a loved one has been injured in a traffic collision, please call the Anderson Law Firm or fill out our contact card for a free consultation.

A woman was killed and three other people, including a 3-year-old boy, were hurt this morning when their SUV struck a tractor-trailer on Central Expressway. The crash, which shut down northbound Central, happened shortly after 10:30 a.m. near Loop 12 when the sport utility vehicle crashed into the semi as it tried to make a U-turn.

All four people in the SUV — two 20-year-old women, a 17-year-old girl and the boy — were taken to area hospitals. The 20-year-old passenger, Nakenya White of Dallas, died from her injuries. The conditions of the other people were unknown. The truck driver was unhurt. The crash briefly shut down all northbound lanes, while crews cleaned up diesel fuel from the semi. A single lane has since opened.

I hate seeing that collisions involving 18-wheelers, typical do not have good outcomes. It is not known if the SUV tried to make a quick pass, or if its driver just did not see the truck, but no matter the case my hearts and prayers go out to all the family and friends that will be affected by this tragedy. In Texas alone, there were 4,707 deaths caused by 18-wheelers in Texas. Additionally, 63% of fatal tractor-trailer wrecks were from front-end-collisions; either trucks unable to stop, or head on injuries with other trucks.

Information and commentary provided by DFW Truck Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-000. If you have any questions about an accident caused to you by another’s negligence, please fill out our contact form for a free consultation.

When accidents involving an 18 wheeler occur in Texas the outcome is usually not good. Last night two people were killed after the pickup truck they were riding in struck the back of a big rig in rural Johnson County Sunday night.

The crash happened sometime between 10:30 and 11 p.m. about 10 miles north of Cleburne at the intersection of county roads 904 and 1017 when a Ford pickup traveling east struck the back of a 2000 Peterbilt tractor-trailer that was backing up into a private drive.

Rusty Talamantes, 26, of Alvarado, and an unidentified passenger in the Ford pickup were killed.Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The tractor-trailer's driver was uninjured.
The Ford pickup ended up underneath the trailer with the top of the truck ripped off. According to DPS investigators, no charges will be filed against the tractor-trailer's driver at this time.

Truck accidents occur every day in Texas.In 2007 there were 455 tractor-trailers involved in fatal accidents in Texas resulting in 4,808 fatalities. Additionally nearly 20% of 18-wheeler accidents involved the truck being rear-ended; cars unable to stop or otherwise hitting the back of the semi. My thoughts and prayers go out to Talamante’s and the unidentified passengers families.

Information and commentary provided by Texas 18 Wheeler Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Texas at 877-294-1115. If you have questions about a tractor truck accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

A toxicology report says a truck driver who died in a crash on Interstate 30 that also killed three other people had taken illegal drugs before the wreck. The crash just east of Texarkana last November occurred when a semi driven by Vaughn Gentry, 43, of Dallas ran into the back of a vehicle that was stopped because of a construction delay on I-30. About four miles east of the Arkansas-Texas state line. An explosion and fire that followed after the wreck and killed two Hot Springs residents in the car along with Gentry and a companion in the truck. Arkansas State Police say blood tests done as part of an autopsy showed Gentry had been using cocaine and marijuana.

In wrecks involving tractor-trailers, 44% of people injured in a tractor trailer accident suffer incapacitating injuries. Tragically, approximately 9% die. This means that 53% of people driving other vehicles in truck-related accidents suffer an incapacitating injury or death as a result of a truck accident. This is an absolutely staggering number, and is exponentially higher than all other types of motor vehicle injury statistics. My thoughts and prayers go to the Hot Springs residents’ family and friends.

If you've been injured in a truck accident, it's very important that you hire a lawyer that is experienced in truck accident cases. These trucking companies and their insurance companies are very sophisticated at handling cases to make sure that the injured party receives zero or close to zero if possible. 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 any truck accidents please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

The Interstate 35 corridor runs from Laredo through North Texas to Gainesville, and it is known as one of the most important links for business in the state.

But state and local leaders agree that the highway is not ready for what the future holds: More traffic and more commerce. The city is designing a new approach to develop plans for improvements called My 35.

The idea behind it is to involve local leaders and citizens at every segment of the interstate across Texas. I-35 is more than just a highway; it's one of the state's primary routes for freight and passenger cars and trucks. Improving it is a huge issue.

Segment committees are meeting across Texas. One of those panels will gather in Arlington Wednesday morning to discuss Segment One of the highway, which runs through 11 North Texas counties.

Those counties and seven local cities — including Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton, McKinney, Rockwall and Weatherford — will all be represented.

Everyone seems to agree that I-35 needs more room for traffic and improved safety. The challenge is coming up with a plan that does exactly that — from South Texas to the Oklahoma border.

Keeping roadways as safe and traffic-free as possible is important, especially in an area as busy as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. I think it’s great that the city is willing to include its’ citizens in this planning, because they are the people who utilize the highway most frequently. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were over 37,000 deaths in the United States this year from fatal car crashes. A roadway that is more open and less congested might prevent some of these accidents from happening.

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, fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

Jadarion Montez Taylor, a Texas truck driver, died in Converse, Louisiana early Saturday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

According to the Times of Shreveport, the native of Longview, Texas entered a slight left hand curve in the highway, ran off the road to the right and began traveling in the ditch. Montez, 26, was ejected from his diesel fuel 2010 International truck when it flipped several times.

The crash was reported about 7:40 a.m. Saturday morning. The tragedy forced closure of one of the lanes of the highway for several hours as cleanup crews tried to clean the spilled diesel fuel. Taylor was hauling 5,000 gallons of fuel.

I am very saddened to hear of this tragic crash. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jadarion Montez Taylor. In wrecks involving 18-wheelers, 44% of people injured in a truck accident suffer incapacitating injuries. Tragically, approximately 9% die. This means that 53% of people driving other vehicles in truck-related accidents suffer an incapacitating injury or death as a result of a truck accident. This is an absolutely staggering number, and is exponentially higher than all other types of motor vehicle injury statistics. Fortunately, in this case, there were no other cars involved in this accident.

Information and commentary are provided by Dallas/ Fort Worth Truck 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 truck accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

A Pepsi products 18-wheeler overturned going southbound on the Dallas Tollway at Beltline yesterday morning.

The tractor trailer truck was traveling southbound when another vehicle cut him off. When he over-corrected, he crossed the median and ended up in the northbound lane of the Tollway. Six vehicles were involved in the accident, and at least two have been towed.

While it was not reported that anyone was hurt, it is important to remember to be cautious when driving next to a large vehicle, like an 18-wheeler. You're looking at a vehicle weighing more than 10,000 pounds; the injuries sustained in a semi-truck wreck are far more severe than a regular car accident. One out of every nine traffic fatalities in 2007 was caused by a tractor-trailer or other large truck. Following the rules of the road could have prevented this accident, so make sure to be attentive and courteous while driving.

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

Authorities were forced to shut down LBJ freeways southbound lanes for hours after a tractor-trailer crushed another vehicle earlier this morning.

One victim died at the scene and the other two members in the wreck were sent to the hospital. Their names and conditions have not been released.

Authorities reopened the freeway about 6 a.m. Authorities are still trying to identify what caused the accident. More details will be released later.

In wrecks involving tractor-trailers, 44% of people injured in a truck wreck suffer devastating injuries. Tragically, around 9% die. This means that 53% of people driving other vehicles in truck-related accidents suffer an incapacitating injury or death as a result of a tractor-trailer crash.

At The Anderson Law Firm we want to help those who have been injured in a truck accident. With investigating and reconstructing the accident, we work to immediately uncover and collect all the facts pertinent to your case. We do this to help those injured get the best possible compensation for their injuries.

So far there is no evidence to explain why and how this crash occurred, but hopefully there will be a thorough investigation. Through reconstruction of the accident, police may be able to tell what happened. Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased victim. We wish for a speedy recovery to the two injured still in the hospital.

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 truck accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A bus crash Tuesday that killed two people and injured many more was likely caused by a broken drive shaft, according to investigators. The bus, on its way to Matamoros, Mexico, underwent its regularly scheduled maintenance the day before the crash.

The crash killed Christina Lozano Campos 62, of Lewisville, and Efrain Dominguez-Valenzuela, 27, of Brownsville. Two other people were hospitalized and in critical condition Wednesday. Many of the other passengers were treated at the hospital for minor injuries.

The Americanos USA bus was carrying 42 people and driving along I-37 through Campbellton, about 45 miles from San Antonio, when it went from the right lane toward the median, spun out of control, and turned over on its side. Investigators think the drive shaft, which transfers power from the engine to the wheels, fell off causing the accident. Newer buses are equipped with safety devices to catch a broken drive shaft, but even these can fail, said Motorcoach Training & Development Inc., a company that trains and certified bus mechanics.

Americanos USA is operated by Greyhound Lines Inc. According to Grayhound’s parent company, FirstGroup America, the 15-year-old bus had undergone its scheduled maintenance the day before the accident, which included routine inspection of the engine, tires, brakes and wheels. The National Transportation Safety Board is not planning to investigate because its initial assessment turned up no new potential safety issues involving the company or crash, according to an NTSB spokesperson. According to the Department of Public Safety, these finding are preliminary and they are still investigating the crash.

Americanos USA has a good safety record. It has been involved in one accident for every 13 buses. By comparison, Grayhound has been involved in one accident for every eight buses. Over the last two years, investigators placed Americanos USA buses out of service following 11.2 % of inspections. 22.3 % of inspections lead to buses being placed out of service nationally.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Accident Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, in Dallas at 214-327-8000, and toll free across Texas at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

A Dallas Area Rapid Transit, or DART bus, was involved in a collision that ultimately caused it to crash into the side of a building in Dallas Monday afternoon.

According to local news reports, the bus wreck was caused when the bus was struck by a car that apparently ran a red light. The bus hit a light pole then crashed into the side of a building near the intersection of Olive Street and Woodall Rogers Freeway frontage road.

Two passengers on the bus were taken to Baylor Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. A third person was treated at the scene for minor injuries, and the driver of the bus and the car were reportedly unhurt.

Running a red light is the most obvious form of motor vehicle negligence. Hopefully, the at fault driver carries enough liability insurance to compensate for all of the property damage and personal injury damages caused by the accident.

Information provided by Dallas Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached at 214-327-8000, or contacted by clicking here.

A Union Pacific freight train collided with a military truck in Saginaw, northwest of Fort Worth, causing a fire that injured an engineer and damaged a locomotive. The cause of the train crash is being investigated.

According to a Union Pacific spokesperson, the lights and gate at the railroad crossing were operating when the collision occurred. The locomotive damaged was one of three in a wheat-hauling 100-car train. The engineer was treated for injuries and released from the hospital.

The military truck involved in the crash was hauling a trailer with another military vehicle on top of it. That driver reportedly sustained no injuries.

Even though local authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident, it looks like to me the driver of the military truck is probably at fault. Unless there is some sort of defect in the lights and gate, then the presumption is that the truck driver should have noticed the train and given the train the right of way.

Information provided by Fort Worth/Dallas Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, in Dallas at 214-327-8000, and toll free at 877-291-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

A Blue Ford Mustang collided with a tractor-trailer around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. The fatal car accident occurred on an exit ramp off of I-30 at Westmoreland Road in Dallas, TX.

The exact cause of the crash remains unknown. The driver of the blue Mustang was declared dead at the scene. The Dallas Police Department stated that the female passenger in the Mustang was rushed to Methodist Charlton Medical Center. Her condition is currently unknown.

The semi-truck collision occurred in the middle of Dallas rush hour traffic, causing the entire surrounding area to be at a standstill for several hours.

The information does not conclude whether both vehicles were on the exit ramp or not. Could the accident have occurred because either the Mustang or the semi did not yield to whoever was exiting the freeway? Approximately 9% of all wrecks with semi-trucks end with fatalities. It is very unfortunate that this statistic holds true with this accident. I am interested to see if further information is released about the cause of this accident.

This information and commentary is provided by Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson. Mark can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or online by clicking here.

An 18-wheeler was involved in a fatal car accident with a pickup truck early this morning in Denton County. A 25-year-old Bridgeport man, whose name has not been released, was killed when his pickup crashed into the 18 wheeler head on.

The driver of the 18 wheeler was not injured. The Bridgeport man was westbound on 380 around 3:30 a.m. when his truck crossed the center line and made contact with the 18 wheeler.
The entire highway has been shutdown since the accident, and is expected to have heavy traffic being diverted to other access and side roads until late Friday morning.

My condolences go out to the Bridgeport man’s friends and family. The results of many semi accidents are absolutely devastating. Unfortunately, the great state of Texas leads the nation in semi-truck accidents. 10% of the nation’s fatal wrecks occur in Texas, which is double or triple the rate of most states. When a motor vehicle is involved in a wreck with a semi weighing in excess of 10,000 pounds, the injuries sustained are much more severe.

This information and commentary is provided by Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. Mr. Anderson has successfully helped with many semi accident victims and their families in the past. Mark can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or online by clicking here.

A fatal collision occurred yesterday on Westbound I-20 in Arlington, TX, when a passenger vehicle rear-ended a tractor trailer as it moved slowly from the outside shoulder into a lane of traffic. One of the car’s passengers, Natalie Aguilar, of Garland, was pronounced dead at John Peter Smith Hospital yesterday afternoon. Oscar Zapata was also a passenger in the car and died about an hour after the crash. The driver of the car, whose name has not been released, is in critical condition. Arlington Police Department investigators found open beer cans in the vehicle.

The results of this accident investigation may take a few days. Clearly, alcohol may be a potential issue. It is illegal in Texas to have open containers of beer in a moving vehicle. But this alone does not answer the question of whether the driver was intoxicated. The accident occurred around noon, which is a bit early for DWI accident cases. And the investigators will be looking into the speed of the big rig as it entered the highway. It is always dangerous when a large truck has to enter a busy freeway from the shoulder. It just takes them a long time to get up to the minimum speed. So the truck driver has to make sure that the traffic is clear for him to enter. The trucks hazard lights should have been on as it was getting up to speed. All of this will be looked into by the investigating officers as they try to determine the cause of the tractor trailer accident.

Information and commentary provided by DFW Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000, in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 and across the State of Texas at 1-877-294-1115. For a quick nswer to your legal question, click here.

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.

Thankfully no one was killed yesterday when an axle fell off of one tractor trailer and hit another on I-20 in Hudson Oaks near Weatherford, TX. The axle fell off of an eastbound truck, bounced across the median and crashed into a truck going westbound.

The axle hit the semi’s windshield, according to police, then the cab caught fire, soon spreading to the trailer. The driver of the big rig suffered cuts and bruises. There is no word on what caused the axle to fall off of the first 18-wheeler.

How in the world does an axle just fly off a truck? Is this an instance of poor maintenance of a truck? I see that in my injury practice all of the time. It is amazing that no one was seriously injured or killed.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, in Dallas at 214-327-8000, and across Texas at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

Photo from the Fort Worth Star Telegram

An absolutely horrible accident occurred today in Arlington TX. According to police and local news reports, an Arlington police department motorcycle officer, whose name has not yet been released, was killed this morning in a collision with an Arlington ISD school bus . The fatal wreck occurred near the intersection of S. Cooper Street and W. Inwood Drive near Arlington High School. Neither the bus driver nor any of the bus’s nine passengers, students at several elementary and middle schools in Arlington, were injured.

Police are investigating the crash and are still unsure of exactly what happened. Witnesses report hearing a loud noise then seeing the officer’s motorcycle in flames. Police are interviewing witnesses at the school to help determine what caused the fatal motorcycle wreck. One student stated that the officer had his lights on, but he didn’t hear a siren.

I am very saddened to hear of this tragic wreck. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the fallen officer. Years ago I represented the family of an Arlington PD officer who was killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver. I was amazed at the outpouring of support the police department and the community showed the officer’s family. I am sure that the APD and the Arlington community will again help out the family in this difficult time.

I will post more information as it becomes available.

Information provided by Arlington Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted online by clicking here or by calling 817-294-1900.

Photo from the Fort Worth Star Telegram

If you have been injured in a car accident, truck wreck or motorcycle accident in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas area, you might be considering making a personal injury claim against the person responsible for your injuries. If so, you have probably noticed that all injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. If you decide to take advantage of those free meetings, you should be prepared when you attend the meeting. I think it is a great idea to bring with you ALL (and I mean ALL) documents you have regarding your accident, your injury and your medical treatment. This includes the following:

*Any notes from the accident scene
*Any medical bills (ambulance, hospital, doctors…)
*Any medical records or discharge papers
*Any receipts from pharmacies
*Any notes regarding insurance (your policy as well as info on the other person’s insurance)
*The police accident report

And most importantly, any pictures you have regarding the claim (this means the accident scene, the injuries, the vehicles…). Even if you do not have the pictures printed out yet, bring your cell phone or camera so the pictures can be downloaded onto the attorney’s computer. If you have not taken photos of the damage to the vehicles, then take those photos before the first meeting.

Stated simply, if you have something that is related to your car, truck or motorcycle accident or injury in any way, make sure you bring it to the first attorney meeting.

Sometimes the injury victim deals with the insurance company on their own and then gets frustrated with the way they are being treated and calls an injury attorney. (Click here on information on why you can't trust insurance companies). If that is the case with you, then you need to bring all documents related to your communications with the insurance company. This includes all letters, e-mails and notes regarding telephone conversations.

The more documents you bring to the initial meeting, the more productive the meeting will be. The attorney will be better able to evaluate your claim and offer you advice on how it is best to proceed.

Dallas Fort Worth Board Certified Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson offers free consultations. To set up a meeting regarding your injury claim, please call us in Dallas at 214-327-8000, in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or toll free in Texas at 1-877-294-1115. Or please click here to schedule an appointment online.

A five vehicle wreck today on Highway 75 (Central Expressway) in Plano injured eight people and tied up traffic for hours. According to the Plano Police Department, the wreck started when an 18 wheeler careened into the HOV lane on the southbound side. The tractor trailer first struck a TxDOT truck, and then hit a passenger pickup truck. The pickup then flipped over a box truck and into a Mazda. Also, after the big rig hit the TxDOT truck, it caused the state vehicle to hit the concrete barrier between the Northbound and Southbound HOV lanes, and the barrier was pushed into the Northbound lane. Unfortunately this will cause the HOV lanes to be closed in both directions until the proper repairs can be made.

Of the eight people injured in the truck wreck, three had to transported to local hospitals. I certainly hope their injuries are not serious and that they are able to be released very soon. This accident appears to be yet another caused by the reckless actions of a truck driver. These truck drivers have a duty, like all of us, to drive safely. But when they fail to do so, the consequences are enormous. These trucks can cause incredible damage, both physical property damage (to cars and heavy cement carriers), but also can cause bodily injuries to innocent drivers.

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

According to a figures released by the Texas Department of Insurance, nearly 270,000 driver in Texas don’t have insurance on their vehicles. This 21% figure for Fort Worth is slightly lower than the statewide average of 22%-but that’s still a lot of uninsured drivers.

The percentage of vehicles believed to be uninsured has dropped, however, from 25% in June 2008. This is when Texas launched the TexasSure database, a way for police officers to verify insurance coverage. With this database, officers can check after an auto accident to see if the driver who claims to have lost or forgotten his or her insurance card is really covered.

The Dallas/Fort Worth area is certainly more insured than some places in Texas. In Kennedy County, south of Corpus Christi, nearly 50% of its residents are believed to be uninsured. Cameron County, near Brownsville, comes in at nearly 38% uninsured.

I have blogged before (and written in my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck your Texas Accident Case) about the need to purchase UM insurance. This type of insurance is the best kind to buy. When you are in a car wreck and the other driver had no insurance (or not enough), then UM/UIM is the insurance which will compensate you for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. So don’t delay—pull out your policy now and check to see if you have it. If you don’t, call your insurance agent now.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000, in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, and toll free anywhere in Texas 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.

Recently I wrote about the investigation into the causes of at 2008 deadly bus wreck in Sherman that left 17 dead, which I blogged about here and here. Now, three employees of the inspection company that looked at the bus prior to the deadly accident are being charged with tampering with a government document.

The inspection company, 5 Minute Inspections in Houston, was allegedly issuing hundreds of stickers a month to vehicles that had not been properly inspected, according to investigators. The Texas Department of Public Safety, who filed the charges, did not provide information on whether or not the bus involved in the crash was properly inspected, as the investigation is still ongoing.

This type of conduct is horrible. It puts all of us at risk each time we get in our cars. Without proper inspections, certain companies are going to use trucks and buses that have bad tires, bad brakes….Allowing these dangerous buses on the roads is criminal and I am glad to see that charges have been pursued.

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

In a horrific tragedy on Tuesday, two Dallas-area natives were killed when a tractor-trailer crashed into vehicles stopped in a construction zone on 1-30. The collision set off an explosion that killed four people.

43-year-old Vaughn Gentry was originally from Sherman, and 51-year-old Albert Pruitt was from Addison. Mr. Gentry and Mr. Sherman were in a car stopped in the work zone on the highway. Arkansas residents Walter Carpenter, 77, and Victory Barker, 64, were also killed in the explosion.

My heart goes out to the families of those killed in this tragedy. It seems like every month or so we read about an 18 wheeler running into cars, killing the occupants, in a construction zone. There have been two similar accidents in Gainesville recently. Truckers make mistakes like the rest of us, but their mistakes in not seeing or reacting properly have terrible consequences. These truckers have a higher duty to be careful. Again, I feel sorry for the friends and families for their losses.

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.

Car and truck accidents happen every day here in the Fort Worth Dallas area. When you’re injured in an accident, the goal is always recovery. You want to get back to the point you were at before the accident happened, or as close to that as possible. Unfortunately, in some cases, it’s not possible to fully recover from an injury. Some injuries leave permanent scars or long-term repercussions that will affect you for the rest of your life. How do you live with a long-term injury?

Provide for ongoing medical care
If your injury is a result of someone else’s negligence, that person should be responsible for providing for ongoing medical care. If you’re injured in a car accident, for example, you can make a claim for not only the existing injury and medical bills to date, but also future medical care expenses.

In the event of a serious, long-term injury, you’ll potentially need intermittent medical care for the rest of your life. Your injury case should include this “element of damages.”

Seek counseling for a change in the quality of life
Sometimes it can be hard to adjust to a change in your quality of life. Say you’re an avid runner prior to an accident, but a knee injury changes that forever. It’s natural to feel angry, resentful or unhappy about the change in your circumstances. Depression is a very real possibility in these circumstances.

Seek counseling if you’re having trouble to adjusting to a long-term injury. There’s nothing unusual in having these feelings, and outside help can give you the tools you need to deal with them constructively. Don’t let a physical injury stunt you emotionally. Find ways to deal with the repercussions, and that may mean getting help from a professional.

Get an advocate on your side
Finally, having a strong advocate on your side can help you pursue your personal injury case and let that aspect of your life take a backseat to learning to live with your life changes. An experienced personal injury attorney understands that these changes affect you for life, and know how to make arrangements for long-term care as a part of the case.

Mark A. Anderson is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and has successfully represented many injury victims over the past 18 years. For a free, no obligation consultation with Mark, just call 817-294-1900 in Fort Worth, 214-327-8000 in Dallas or toll free 877-294-1115, or contact us online.

In a move that I very much agree with, the Texas Transportation Commission voted yesterday in a meeting in Fort Worth to remove phone numbers from the standard form used by police officers after an accident. This change goes into effect January 1, 2010.

I recently blogged about this topic (read it here) and said that removing the numbers is a great move. The way things happen now, if you are in an accident there is a good chance you will get called from a “marketer” offering the services of an attorney or a chiropractor. Sometimes these “marketers” are not so honest and represent themselves as being from an insurance company. This leads to all kinds of confusion and irritation to the car accident victims. By removing the phone numbers, it will make the marketer’s job extremely difficult. The harassing won’t stop, but it will definitely slow down.

I also recently was interviewed by Channel 11 News about this topic. Here is a link to the article from their website.

To contact Mark A. Anderson, call toll free 877-294-1115 or click here.

A tandem trailer truck jackknifed and overturned on the wet highway in Fairview, Texas this morning. The truck blocked the highway and caused the road to be closed for several hours.

According to news reports, the driver of the big rig failed to see the construction barriers in the northbound lane and over-corrected as he tried to miss them. The truck cab and the trailer attached directly behind it overturned while the other trailer remained upright. Because of dense fog, the driver couldn’t see the warning signs posted about the upcoming barriers. The National Weather Service had issued a dense fog advisory for North Texas until the previous morning, but apparently conditions were still dangerous this morning.

Police said they hoped the North Texas Tollway Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation will add additional, well-lit signs that could help prevent another wreck. But all drivers, especially tractor trailer drivers who possess a CDL permit, should adapt their driving to the weather. If the fog is too heavy to see, they should exit the road way and park in a safe, non-obstructive spot until the fog lifts. Luckily no one was injured in this accident, which is great news.

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

Picture from WFAA.com

A truck driver is in critical condition at John Peter Smith hospital in Fort Worth after a car incorrectly entering 1-20 caused a crash involving two 18-wheelers.

Yesterday, 18-year-old Lauren Vitale was traveling westbound on the 1-20 service road when she suddenly entered the highway by driving across the grass between the highway and the service road instead of using the entrance ramp. 31-year-old Joshua Pottker swerved to miss her but her car struck the right front tire of his big rig. The tractor trailer was then forced into the highway’s eastbound lanes, which put it in the path of the 18-wheeler driven by 57-year-old Pascual Rincones Cisneros Jr. Cisneros’s 18-wheeler hit the trailer behind Pottker’s truck, cutting it in two pieces and severely damaging the front of Cisneros’s big rig. Pottker’s vehicle landed on its side.

Pottker was treated at Weatherford Regional Medical Center and released. Cisneros is still in the hospital on life support. Vitale, who caused the crash, was unharmed.

What a horrible accident. My prayers go out to the family of Mr. Cisneros. A collision of two big rigs like that is devastating. I can’t believe this whole thing was caused by a driver entering the highway by going across the grass. Why would she do this? While I have seen cars exit the highway through the grassy area, I have never seen or heard of anyone entering the highway this way.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Accident 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.

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.

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.

A woman died Tuesday after a collision with a dump truck on North Main Street in Fort Worth.

41-year-old Fuguria “Renee” Reed was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after the van she was riding in struck the side of a dump truck. The dump truck turned left onto Main Street from Auto Court in front of the van. As a result of the crash, Ms. Reed was thrown from her wheelchair inside the van. The driver of the van, Ms. Reed’s mother, was injured and taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist in Fort Worth. The dump truck driver was not hurt.

There are many questions surrounding this terrible accident. Was the dump truck at fault for turning in front of the van? Was Ms. Reed’s wheelchair properly secured? Hopefully these questions and more will be answered during the course of the investigation.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Accident Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached at 817-294-1900, or contacted by clicking here.

A school bus driver died yesterday morning in a collision with an 18-wheeler that ripped off the front of the bus. Thankfully, no children were on board at the time.

The accident happened on FM 439 just outside of Belton, a town near Waco, Texas. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident with the big rig.

Luckily no children were hurt in this terrible accident. So far there are no details about who was at fault as the crash is still being investigated. The driver of the tractor trailer seemed to be fine.

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

A Texas woman who recently started a new business in Florida died Monday in a tragic accident at her hot dog stand in Tampa.

40-year-old Catalina Allmon was outside the stand when the accident occurred. An unsecured trailer carrying a large riding lawnmower detached from a passing truck and entered the parking lot. The trailer struck Allmon and her business partner Vicente Hernande Quintero. The mower crushed and killed Allmon while the trailer ran over and injured Quintero.

According to investigators, the trailer became unhitched from 16-year-old Dennis Tintle’s truck as he drove over a dip in the road. Tintle was cited for failing to secure his trailer. Unfortunately, Tintle’s negligence caused a wrongful death.

This is such an unfortunate and avoidable accident. Drivers pulling anything behind their vehicle have a responsibility to make sure it is properly secured. In this case, properly securing that trailer could have prevented the death of a mother who was trying to provide a better life for her children.

Information can be 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.

David Kelton, a 19-year-old resident of Arlington, Texas, was killed early Tuesday morning August 4, 2009, after he crashed into the back of an 18-wheeler in the 1200 block of West North Carrier Parkway in Grand Prairie. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Kelton was driving his 1997 Ford pickup truck on West North Carrier. According to Grand Prairie police, the 18-wheeler had just exited a warehouse driveway and pulled out in front of Mr. Kelton’s truck onto West North Carrier, blocking the lanes. The crash left the roof of David Kelton’s pickup truck sheared off. The truck driver was not injured. The crash is still under investigation.

David Kelton recently graduated from Arlington Martin High School in June.

This is Grand Prairie's ninth traffic fatality this year.

Commentary: At this point, we still don't know what caused this tragic wreck. But having handled many trucking accident cases in the past, I would guess that the truck entered the roadway directly in front of the pick up truck and the young driver could do nothing to avoid the accident. Another accident which could have been avoided.

Mark A. Anderson is can be reached at 817-294-1900 or online by clicking here.

A new study was released yesterday by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute which confirmed what we already knew—that texting while driving is extremely dangerous. But the results were even scarier than all the experts had previously thought. Before this new study, all the predictions on how more likely you were to have an accident while driving were based on laboratory experiments—where drivers were in a simulator. Those tests showed a risk of having an accident about eight times more if you were texting. But the new study is much better: they used cameras mounted in trucks over an 18 month period. The new study, based on real life data, showed that you have a risk of a truck wreck of 23 times more if you are texting. That is a huge increase in risk!

Another interesting thing is that the study showed that the truckers took their eyes of the road an average of five seconds when they were texting. At average highway speeds, an 18 wheeler will travel the length of a football filed in that five seconds. That is a very scary scenario.

Currently, only 14 states ban texting while driving (Texas is not one of them). While banning it will not solve this problem, it would serve as some sort of deterrent. Certainly we can all wait (or pull over) before we text while driving. Texting while driving is about as dangerous as drinking and driving.

From a litigation standpoint, if the cause of an accident is in dispute, obtaining the cell phone records to determine if a trucker was texting at the time of the collision is crucial.

Information provided by Texas Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson, 817-294-1900.

Three people were killed and three were injured when a pickup truck hit motorcycle riders head-on during a charity ride in Corsicana Saturday.

The ride was held on a rural highway outside Corsicana, which is 65 miles south of Dallas. Apparently the driver of the pickup truck swerved into the oncoming lane of parading cyclists, striking two motorcycles before it flipped and hit two more.

Among those who died were 34-year-old Leslie McCluney, a teacher at Corsicana High School who was riding on the back of a motorcycle with her father, 61-year-old Terry Nelson, who was also killed. David Coley, 54, was the third motorcyclist who died at the scene. The three were among the first two motorcycles hit by the truck and all were residents of Corsicana.

Two other drivers were taken to Dallas hospitals and were last known to be in fair condition. The driver of the pickup who caused the crash was William Lindsey Jr, 54, who was taken to the hospital, treated and released.

The cause of the motorcycle accident is unkown at this time as an investigation is being conducted.

The ride was a charity event to benefit the Corsicana High School's drill team.

Information provided by Dallas Fort Worth Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson 817-294-1900.

An accident in South Fort Worth this morning had traffic backed up during the majority of the morning rush-hour.

A garbage truck popped a tire on Interstate 20 and hit the guardrail before flipping over. No word on whether or not anyone was hurt. Traffic was backed up at Grandbury Road and the Grandbury Road exit was closed during the morning commute to clean up the scene.

Dangerous truck accidents like this happen all the time in North Texas due to the high volume of heavy trucks and 18-wheelers passing through the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. If you have been injured in a wreck involving a tractor-trailer, dump truck, garbage truck, or any other type of large commercial vehicle, usually the injuries are life-altering. Please contact the Anderson Law Firm to learn your rights if you've been affected by an accident like this by calling 817-294-1900 or Contact Us Online.

A 13-year-old boy and his grandfather died Sunday from injuries they received in a multi-vehicle car accident just south of Gainsville, Texas.

Gervious Hinkle and his grandson Casey Hinkle, both of Fort Worth, were traveling northbound on Insterstate 35 around 2:30 p.m. when they were forced to slow for traffic and road construction in front of them. All of a sudden, an 18-wheeler came barreling up at a high rate of speed and crashed into the slowed cars, causing a 9-vehicle chain reaction auto accident.

Hinkle and his grandson were driving a Ford Explorer when they were hit. Hinkle died at the scene. Casey was taken to JPS Hospital in downtown Fort Worth where he was pronounced dead an hour later from his serious injuries.

Casey's mother and sister were also in the SUV and were hospitalized for injuries, but their conditions are unknown at this time.

The driver of the big-rig, Randy Crume, was from Harrah, Oklahoma. He was issued a citation by highway patrol for failing to control his speed.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a vehicle crash, please contact the Anderson Law Firm to learn your rights by calling 817-294-1900.

An Oklahoma Turnpike accident has claimed 10 lives--some of which were residents of North Texas. The crash happened Friday and is still under investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Cars were stopped on the turnpike due to another accident up ahead when an 18-wheeler crashed into the vehicles in front of it, causing a chain-reaction wreck involving several cars.

Among those killed were the Hayes family of Frisco, Texas--Randall Hayes, 38, Ethan Hayes, 7 and the most-recent person to die from her serious head injuries, 35-year-old Shelby Hayes.

Others who died were residents of Oklahoma including: Oklahoma City residents Oral Hooks, 69, Earlene Hooks, 63, Antonio Hooks, 42, and Dione Hooks, 41 and Crossroads Oklahama resident Cynthia Olson, 55.

The driver of the big-rig was 76-year-old Donald Creed of Willard Missouri, who is reportedly in good condition after being treated for head injuries in a Missouri hospital.

Reports say some of the victims were trapped in the accident wreckage for almost 9 hours before they were able to get out.

This tragic case of several wrongful deaths is so devastating because with a little better driver attention, this crash might have been easily preventable. My heart goes out to the families effected by this huge accident.

If one of your loved ones has died due to the negligence of another person or company, please contact Board Certified Texas Wrongful Death Attorney Mark A. Anderson for a free consultation by calling 817-294-1900.

Around 1 p.m. yesterday, police attempted to pull over a man during a routine traffic stop on I-635 and I-35 in Mesquite, Texas. The driver of the pickup truck did not stop, instead, forcing police on an hour and a half chase of the driver from Mesquite, south to downtown Dallas and back up north on the busy Interstate 635.

The chase ended when the pickup T-boned a compact car at a very high rate of speed as police looked on. Watch the crash in the video as recorded by nbcdfw.com. The two-vehicle wreck happened in Garland at the busy intersection of Plano Road and Buckingham Road.

Why did the pickup truck driver flee from police? Apparently he was wanted for drug violations, but thanks to the devastating accident the driver caused, he or she will now face much worse.
The injuries of the T-boned car driver are unknown—that person was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition. The pickup truck driver appeared to be uninjured when he or she emerged from the truck.

If you have been seriously injured as the result of someone’s negligence—and in this case, gross negligence, please contact the Anderson Law Firm to learn your rights by calling 817-294-1900.

Southbound traffic on Interstate 35 in Carrollton, Texas was shut down for the afternoon, continuing through the evening rush hour after a multi-vehicle wreck around 1 p.m. involving a tractor trailer and two cars.

The two cars were parked on the shoulder of the southbound lanes near the George Bush Turnpike when an 18-wheeler crashed into the cars, jackknifed, rolled over and then burst into flames.

A woman in one of the parked cars died from her injuries. She was 52, but her name has not been released.

The cab of the semi-truck immediately caught fire while its 64-year-old male driver was trapped inside. Another motorist stopped and pulled the truck driver out of the burning cab. Both of those men were rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas and the big rig driver was reportedly in critical condition.

Apparently three police officers were treated for heat exhaustion.

If you have suffered serious injuries in a vehicle wreck, please contact Texas 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney Mark Anderson for a free consultation.

Photograph from wfaa.com.

A construction worker died yesterday when he was run over and dragged by the truck he was repairing.

The vehicle accident happened at 9:30 in the morning at a city pump station on 4100 Main Street in The Colony, Texas. The victim, who remains unidentified, was underneath a truck working on it when another worker got in the truck and drove off.

It appears the worker who drove the truck did not know anyone was underneath it and the incident is being investigated as an accident. No charges have been filed and The Colony Police Department does not anticipate filing any.

The worker who was killed was not employed by the city who owned the pumping station, but instead, contracted out by a construction company to add more lines to the pump station.

Many times, when people call my office, they are confused when I tell them I cannot take their “worker’s comp case” because I don’t go after the employer or co-employees who are liable for accidents. In this instance however, the construction worker’s wrongful death was caused by the negligence of another person (employed by the city).

It can seem very complicated, but the point is, this man’s death was caused by the negligence of a third party and therefore his family has the right to bring a claim for damages on his behalf based on the negligence of the driver. As the driver was employed by the city, the doctrine of Sovereign Immunity will come into play, which limits the amount of compensation one can recover against a governmental entity.

If you have questions about wrongful death claims or making a claim for injuries sustained in a car wreck, please contact the Anderson Law Firm by calling 817-294-1900.

The cause of an Arlington vehicle accident is being investigated after a pickup truck collided with an ambulance carrying a patient.

The crash happened at approximately 1:45 this morning at the intersection of South Collins Street and East Arkansas Lane. The ambulance had gone to pick up a female with a pregnancy-related emergency before it wrecked with the pickup truck. The driver of the truck was not injured.

All of the occupants of the ambulance, including the two paramedics and the woman patient were taken to the hospital to be treated. There is no word on any of their conditions or the severity of their injuries.

An accident investigation is being conducted to determine how the car crash happened.

If you’ve been injured in a car, truck or motorcycle collision, contact the Anderson Law Firm to learn your rights at 817-294-1900.

It’s only 9 a.m. and already there have been two significant Dallas-Fort Worth vehicle wrecks during this morning’s commute, among the usual daily incidences.

In Haltom City, Texas on eastbound Loop 820, traffic is backed up all the way to Interstate-35W because of an overturned car near the center median.

The blue Dodge Neon flipped around 7:30 this morning and it’s unclear what caused this accident or whether anyone was hurt.

And a little earlier, around 7 a.m. an 18-wheeler accident blocked three westbound lanes of Interstate 30 between Westmoreland Road and Cockrell Hill Road/Chalk Hill Road near Grand Prairie, Texas.

Two lanes continue to be blocked and traffic is backed up all the way to downtown Dallas. There’s also no word on whether anyone was injured in this crash, but if it caused three lanes to close during the busiest hour of the day, my gut tells me it was a serious accident. An accident investigation will ultimately determine what happened.

Besides being a nuisance to other drivers, car and truck wrecks are extremely inconvenient for those involved—especially when accident victims suffer serious injuries and incur large medical bills as a result. Board Certified Texas Car Wreck Lawyer Mark A. Anderson knows how frustrating it can be for people after an accident and wants to help take the stress away. For information or a free consultation, please contact the Anderson Law Firm online or by calling 817-294-1900.

Photo courtesy of star-telegram.com.

A motorcycle accident in Wise County Saturday left three people in the hospital with serious injuries. Douglas Curry and Linnette Hinder, both 43, were riding their motorcycle southbound on FM 51 when they crashed into the back of a truck which was stopped to make a left turn.

The crash happened in Slidell, Texas where FM 51 intersects Farm Road 455. The Grandbury bikers were both CareFlighted to John Peter Smith (JPS) hospital in Fort Worth around 13:30 p.m. with severe injuries. It is unknown whether or not either was wearing a helmet.

Matthew Weathers, a resident of Slidell was the driver of the truck which was rear-ended. He was taken in an ambulance to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur for his minor injuries.

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, car crash or motorcycle wreck, please contact the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your rights by calling 817-294-1900.

A multi-vehicle wreck on Northeast Loop 820 near Beach Street closed the eastbound lanes of the highway down during rush hour this morning.

The crash happened around 8:50 a.m. in the 3800 block of Loop 820 in Fort Worth. Traffic was re-routed to the access road until the accident scene was cleared at 10:20 a.m.

The accident involved an 18-wheeler and six other vehicles, but fortunately, only one person was transported by Medstar to a local hospital with injuries. There's been no reports of that person's identity or condition.

It will be interesting to see what caused this crash--the police report will ulimately show what happened.

For information on what to do after an accident, contact Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson for a free consultation or to request his free book at 817-294-1900.

Photo by star-telegram.com.

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.

Heavy rain on Monday in Wise County caused a 61-year-old man to fishtail on U.S. 81/287, causing an 18-wheeler to crash into his pickup truck.

Lino Mares was on his lunch break from McMaster New Holland Tractors when he pulled out onto the busy highway and lost control of his vehicle in Decatur, Texas. A big-rig hauling cattle driven by Brandon Rennhack, 18 (of Ashippun, Wisconsin) could not stop in time and crashed his truck into the side of Mares’ pickup.

Mares was taken to Wise Regional Health System where he was pronounced dead from his serious injuries. Rennhack escaped injury.

Apparently, the roads were so slippery from rain that a patrol car heading to the scene slid on the road as well. The truck wreck caused a jam for two hours as traffic was re-routed onto Business 81/287 through the city’s downtown.

The funeral is at 10:30 this morning at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.

Crashes involving 18-wheelers almost always involve serious injuries and often result in death. If you or someone you love has died or suffered bodily injuries from a tractor-trailer accident, please contact North Texas Truck Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson at 817-294-1900.

According to Fort Worth Police reports, an 11-year-old boy was killed last night when he rode his bicycle into the side on an 18-wheeler truck. The accident occurred at the intersection of Northeast 38th Street and Decatur Avenue around 7:30 p.m. Witnesses said they saw the young boy exiting an alley, but was looking behind him at his cousin when he ran into the semi-trailer truck in front of him.

The boy got caught up under the truck’s back tires and died at the scene.

Each year, 23 percent of all pedestrian-related injuries affect children under the age of 15. For more information on bicycle safety, I find bikesafety.com very resourceful.

Information Provided by Fort Worth Accident and Injury Attorney Mark Anderson.

Contact Information: 817-294-1900.

A two-year old Cleburne boy was seriously injured after he ran into the street on Saturday, right in the path of an SUV. Fabian Gentry was struck by a Nissan Quest Sport Utility Vehicle which was traveling northbound at the 700 block of N. Robinson Street around 6:45 p.m. The impact knocked the child face first into the ground, before he was caught underneath the vehicle and dragged for 20-30 feet.

Amazingly, the boy—who was CareFlited to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth—only lost consciousness for a moment, sustaining abrasions and swelling, but no visible bleeding. There’s been no word on his current condition.

The driver of the SUV will not be cited since it was an accident.

Also in Cleburne on Saturday, 26-year-old Tiffany Smith was in a car accident involving a garbage truck. She was CareFlighted to Huguley Memorial Medical Center with unknown injuries. A 3-year-old in Smith's car was treated and released from Huguley with no life-threatening injuries. No further details have been released on this accident.

Like vehicle accidents, injuries to children happen all the time when children dart out in front of traffic. Remember to always keep a close eye on toddlers and young children when playing outside. And if you or your child has been injured as the unfortunate result of someone else’s negligence, please contact the Anderson Law Firm to learn your rights.