Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

After a month of signing pledges, the Teens Against Distracted Driving contest is finally over! Haltom High School was able to get the most pledges signed to not text and drive, with 89.3% of their student body! The other four schools did outstanding as well, with Southwest High School coming in second with 68.5% of their students, Mansfield Summit High School finishing with 41% of their student body, Keller High School with 39.7% of their students, and Boswell High School with 27.2% of their students. Overall, 5, 385 teens signed the pledge.

Congratulations to all the schools that participated for your hard work and dedication! Haltom High School Student Council will be receiving a $500 donation from The Anderson Law Firm for recognition of their achievement. I know they’ll find a good place for the money to go.

I hope this Project will encourage both teens and adults to drive without distractions, remember the average driver will go 200 yards without looking at the road when reading just one text. Stay safe, and congratulations again to all of the high schools that participated in TADD!

Motorcycle Rider, Terry Purdom, is leaving for a big road trip on Saturday. It will consist of a 90-day, 15,000-mile journey that will take Purdom across 15 states and part of Canada on his motorcycle. Terry’s Big Adventure is his dream trip involving him, his tricked out Harley-Davidson, and the open road.

In 2004, Purdom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer that attacks the plasma cells. He didn't have much hope of survival; he figured he had three years to live. But five years later, he's in remission and wants to share his message with other cancer survivors.

Purdom said that the cancer changed his life for the better because he had always dreamed of taking his motorcycle on the road for a long meandering trip with no schedule or time line. And when he decided to share his idea with that of the Facebook world, the trip went from just 30 days long to 90 days long. Strangers who were his friends on Facebook encouraged him to stay with them.

He hopes to enjoy the ride and is determined to spread the message of never losing hope, even in the fight against cancer. According to Purdom, “If you lose hope, you lose the battle. Hope is what drives everything.”

I think what Terry is doing both inspiring and motivating. I can’t imagine riding that long on a motorcycle, but he is doing it for cancer awareness. It has always been his life-long dream, and I’m so happy that he finally has a chance to fulfill it. Terry and I have worked together for a long time with a program called Ride Safe, Ride Sober. The Anderson Law Firm sponsors this service that allows motorcyclists to call Terry to pick them up, along with their bike, so that no rider is drunk on the roads. Terry has woken up at unimaginable hours in the night to pick up these cyclists, and I know he has saved many lives in the process. Motorcycles can potentially be dangerous, so it is important to be aware of tips that can protect motorcyclists.

I hope Terry has an amazing time on his trek, and I hope it motivates other cancer victims and survivors to do the same. Life is too short to have regrets, so make sure you accomplish everything you want in life before it’s too late. I’ll be keeping up with Facebook to witness this incredible journey! Ride Safe!

Information and commentary is provided Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions regarding motorcycles or a motorcycle accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

The Anderson Law Firm is sponsoring the Teens Against Distracted Driving Project. We have provided orange bracelets to several Student Councils at local high schools here in Tarrant County. On each bracelet is I PLDG 2 NT TXT N DRV. We have also provided pledge cards whereby each student who receives a free bracelet must first pledge to not text and drive. In addition to providing the bracelets and the pledge cards, the Anderson Law Firm will give $500 to the Student Council who is able to obtain pledges from the highest percentage of their school's student body.

Throughout the month of May, the five high schools have been encouraging students to sign pledges and, so far, Haltom High School is in the lead with 89.3% of the student body pledging to not text and drive. Southwest High School is second with 64.2%, Keller High School in third with 32.8%, followed by Boswell High School with 27.2%, and Mansfield Summit High School with 21.8%. The contest ends May 24, and we will announce our contest winner the next day.. All of our schools need to keep up the good work and push to have the highest percentage of the student body pledge to not text and! Great job guys, keep those pledges coming! Only one week left!

The man who was killed by a hit-and-run driver on Wednesday morning on the Airport Freeway was a Marine. He was on two week’s leave from Afghanistan.

The Marine, Evan Sanchey, 23, was flying home to Washington but had a layover at DFW Airport. The victim was trying to cross S.H. 183 when he was struck in the far right eastbound lane. No one can say for sure why Sanchey was crossing the highway on foot, and no car parts were found that could give the make or model of the car.

What is even more suspicious is the fact that he was booked on a flight for Thursday, which meant that the military would have put him in a hotel overnight. So officials are unsure as to why he was crossing the road when he could have stayed at the hotel.

This is saddening not only because he was killed, but also because he was a man fighting for his country. Our sympathies go out to his family and friends who are dealing with an indescribable loss. I am sure no one thought he would make it through Afghanistan but die from a hit-and-run. Still, it is important to recognize the serious danger involved with pedestrians and a crowded highway. 4,654 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2007. And because this death could have been prevented, it is even more important to be informed about cross-walk and pedestrian laws.

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

Friday, May 21 is Bike to Work Day in Fort Worth, and many cycling devotees are going to be using the cities hike and bike trails to get to work. Many riders say they will use the popular Trinity Trails to get downtown.

Some prominent figures in the Fort Worth community that will be riding their bikes to work are Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, Tax Collector Betsy Price, and Fort Worth transportation Authority President Dick Ruddell. One group of riders even plans to meet and pedal en masse to the Intermodal Transportation Center to get free coffee and snacks.

While it may take longer to get to work, there are many benefits to riding a bike to work. You don’t experience traffic, you get exercise, and you help out the environment. I think it is a great idea and a way for Fort Worth residents to get outside and get some fresh air. It is still crucial to remember the safety precautions that one must make when riding a bicycle to prevent bike accidents. 72% of bicycle accident fatalities occur in urban areas. Also make sure that drivers can see you as the number one cause of bicycle accidents is the fact that the driver couldn’t see the bike rider.

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

Two people died in an accident around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night in the southeast Dallas. Police say that Lashon Hudson, the motorcycle, struck a pedestrian, Paul Pellard, while driving in south in the 6200 block of Bonnie View Rd., near I-20 and I-45.

Police say the biker was speeding and doing a wheelie when he hit a man walking across the road. Pellard flew across the medium into oncoming traffic. Hudson then lost control of the bike and ran into a speed limit sign where he was knocked off and fell under a DART bus.

Bellard did not use the crosswalk. Bellard failed to yield right of way to the motorcycle being ridden by Hudson and was hit.

Our hearts go out to the families of the two victims. It’s hard to hear of a tragedy like this that could have been avoided had the motorcyclist not been speeding and if Bellard had used a cross walk and yielded the right of way.

In 2007 there were 4,654 pedestrians killed in vehicle collisions in the U.S. 67% of pedestrian fatalities occur at night. For your safety, always follow pedestrian crossing laws. Cross with the right of way, and cross in crosswalks—where people expect to see you.

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

Two teens were riding their bikes on the unlit back road in Venus, a town southeast of Fort Worth, last night when a drunk driver hit them both and then sped off. Seventeen year-old Brandon Simmons sustained fatal injuries, while the other teen, Ian French, sustained only minor injuries.

Donald Cassell III, 47, is the man accused of causing the tragic and preventable crash. He is charged with both intoxication manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid.

This is not only an accident involving drunk driving, but also an accident that involves the dangers of bicycling, especially at night on a poorly lit road. Our sympathies go out to Brandon’s family and hope that this is something that we all can learn from.

It is crucial to remember that drinking and driving is never acceptable, and it causes injury and death. In 2007 alone, nearly 13,000 people died in drunk-driving related crashes. This scenario could have been avoided, and the fact that Cassell didn’t offer aid is disturbing. Then there is the matter of the unlit road that the teens were riding on. Both children and adults should remember that riding a bike at night is dangerous, and if for some reason you have to do it, it is always good to be aware of the safety concerns and wear protective and reflective gear.

Information and commentary is provided by Texas Personal injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or toll free across Texas at 1-877-294-1115. If you have questions about a drunk driving accident or questions about a bicycle accident, please fill out a contact form online for a free consultation.

Last week Charmion Bell, a Dallas woman, was attacked by two pit bulls as she rode her bike. The dogs mauled Bell in her Oak Cliff neighborhood.

Bell was riding her bicycle when the pit bulls assaulted and knocked her from her bike into a ditch. Once in the ditch, the aggressive dogs kept biting. She tried to fend them off but her attempts were ineffective. Covered in blood, Bell had over 60 bites before neighbors came to rescue her.

Bell’s body is now covered in bandages. She has to use a crutch to get around.

Police could not immediately locate the vicious dogs. They are currently in the process of investigating whether the dogs are strays or pets. Neighbors say the dogs have been terrorizing the neighborhood for weeks. Bell hopes that no one else will become a victim to these ferocious dogs, especially a child.

Aggressive and vicious dogs that attack humans can cause many different types of injuries. The most common injuries from dog attacks involve bites which can cause unsightly scarring. These bites can also result in serious tendon tears and ligament damage. Pit bulls, as Bell situation would agree, are some of the more uncontrollable dogs.

A while back I wrote an article about the Post Office’s movement to publicize Dog Biting Prevention week. Stories like Charmion Bell’s just enforce to reality and pain of dog biting. Best wishes to a speedy recovery for Bell. Hopefully her story will help convince the public that dog attacks can happen anywhere and they are a serious concern.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. If you have been injured in a dog attack or from a dog bite, feel free to take advantage of the free consultation offered by the Anderson Law Firm. We can be reached in Dallas at 214-328-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

Department of Public Safety Authorities are investigating an off-duty trooper reported missing in Burnet County Monday following a boating accident.

The trooper, Wesley Chenault, was a resident of Lakeside Beach, a waterfront community 30 miles northwest of Austin. His wife reported him missing Monday afternoon when she discovered that his boat had drifted ashore on a far northwestern part of Lake Travis. Chenault was heading out around 5 p.m. Monday to check and bait his trot lines. Chenault’s wife found the empty boat at 6:30 p.m. and immediately called 9-1-1.

DPS aircrafts and rescue boats, a DPS dive team, Lower Colorado River Authority Rangers, and a Texas Game Warden water rescue team have joined the search for Chenault. He was off-duty at the time of his accident.

Our hearts go out to Chenault and his family in this time of distress. It is hard to imagine the emotions felt when a loved one goes missing, and we hope that authorities have him home safe sooner rather than later. It is important to remember that boats are just as dangerous as automobiles, but Chenault was well-trained as a DPS, so it’s easy to assume that he knew the ins and outs of boating safety.

Each year at least 5000 people are injured in the United States due to boating accidents. There are many distractions available to a person operating a boat, so it is important to be attentive and focused while operating a watercraft. It is also good to review the Texas Boating Laws.

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

On May 13th Luis Trujillo became a hero to an 8-year-old Corsicana boy who was being attacked by two violent pit bulls. Trujillo heard children screaming in the neighborhood and ran to find out what was going on. As he ran around the corner he found the children standing outside a gate all of them to afraid to go inside where the dogs were aggressively biting the little boy. Trujillo knowing he had to act grabbed a broom and held off the dogs until other help arrived.

The boy was flown to a Dallas hospital and the brutal canines were quarantined. Two days after the vicious dog biting the boy is still recovering in the Dallas hospital.

Corsicana police are still in investigation determining whether or not the dogs were up to date on their rabies vaccinations. There is no word yet on whether or not charges will be filed.

Two percent of the United States population is bitten by a dog every year. Dog biting is a serious concern in the United States, especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It is always sad to read these stories about a young boy being attacked by dogs. This one especially because it was near fatal, luckily a Good Samaritan, a handy man, was able to save the boys life. The family of the injured child will have the right to pursue a civil claim if the dogs owners knew or should have known of the dangerous propensities of the dogs.

I personally love my two dogs. I have a golden retriever, Andie, and a Labrador, Ellie. Regardless of how great a pet is, sometimes defense instincts can kick in and dogs attack. Dogs can attack in many different scenarios. The majority of attacks happen on the property of the dog owner, which is what happened in this case. Canines can cause many devastating injuries which is why we have to be careful around them.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Child Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. Mark can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you or someone you know has a question on dog biting please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

The City of Fort Worth, Texas has offered $2 million to resolve a pending lawsuit filed by the family of Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr. Mr. Jacobs died on April 18, 2009 after he had been shot for a total of 54 seconds by a Fort Worth police officer. The officer who had used the Taser had “inadvertently” held the trigger down for 49 seconds the first time she shot Jacobs. This incident occurred in front of Mr. Jacobs’ family home and was watched by his entire family. The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office has ruled Mr. Jacobs’ death a homicide, but the Fort Worth police officers involved were cleared of any wrongdoing by a Tarrant County Grand Jury.

The lawsuit was apparently brought on civil rights grounds in Federal Court, which makes the state’s statutory immunity limits of $750,000.00 inapplicable. As such, there was no limit on the amount of money that the family of Mr. Jacobs could pursue.

The $2 million settlement is the largest settlement of any injury or death paid out by the City of Fort Worth. The plaintiffs were represented by Brian Eberstein of Dallas, who clearly did a great job on this case for the family. To achieve such a large settlement, and so quickly, is commendable.

Information provided by Fort Worth Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson who can be reached at (817) 294-1900 or by visiting the Anderson Law Firm’s accident and injury website at www.maafirm.com.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week is an annual event meant to increase the awareness of the health issue while providing everyone with information on how to be responsible pet owner. Over 4.7 million Americans are bitten annually by dogs; over 2,860 of those are Mailmen.

The Postal Service considers the safety of its staff a top priority. Postal Service letter carriers who are afraid of an unrestrained pet may stop delivery and ask the owner to pick up their mail at the nearest Post Office until the carrier can be guaranteed the pet is restrained.

Dog attack is a serious health concern in America. Given the right circumstances any dog can bite. It is very important that everyone be aware of the Typical Scenarios When Dog Bites or Dog Attacks Happen. The Anderson Law Firm has several resources on what Insurance is available to compensate for dog attack or dog bite injuries and damages recoverable in Texas dog bites or dog attacks

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. Mark can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you or someone you know has a question on dog biting please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

A Cleburne man was stitched up and released from Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital on Monday. The motorcycle accident occurred at 11:45 a.m. in the morning.

The motorcyclist, Matthew Lybbert, told rescuers that the truck in front of him had come to a sudden stop. Lybbert was able to swerve right, but clipped the left side of his bike on the truck.

Lybbert believes the truck stopped because the driver thought the light at North Main Street and U.S 67 was red instead of green. While he was able to avoid direct contact with the truck, he was unable to regain balance and fell off his bike.

Crashes like this can be prevented by paying more attention to the road. By being aware and by adhering to road safety rules many accidents can be avoided. A motorcycle rider is 37 times more likely to die in a crash than automobile driver. Luckily Matthew Lybbert was able to escape the accident with only thirty stitches.

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

A woman in her mid twenties died early this morning after being hit by a pickup truck on Matlock Road in Arlington. Witnesses said that they saw the woman step into the roadway.

The woman has not yet been identified, and the fatal car accident is still under investigation. The driver of the pickup truck was cooperative with the Arlington Police Department.

Matlock Road was closed from around 5:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. while the police department investigated the accident.

I would like to hear further details about why the woman was near the roadway. It is unclear whether or not she was in a car and then stepped into the roadway, or whether she suffered from a pedestrian injury. It is important in any situation to follow safety laws concerning pedestrians when you are driving near intersections.

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

Over 6,000 teens die each year in car accidents. This statistic is staggering, and it is obvious that something has to be changed in the way we teach our teens how to drive. I recently found a website called Teens in the Driver’s Seat, which has many great resources about preventative measures to help keep teens safe while driving.

Here are just a few of the startling facts about teen driving that are listed on the Teens in the Driver’s Seat website:

•Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S.
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2006)
•64% of youth aged 15-20 years old who died in passenger vehicles were not wearing seat belts.
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2006)
•54% of motor vehicle crash deaths among teens occurred on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
(Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2006)
•One out of every five 16 year-olds will be in a car crash.
(National Safety Council, 2006)
•31% of 15-20 year-olds killed in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking.
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2006)
•In 2006, 272,000 young drivers (15-20 years old) were injured in car crashes. This averages to about 745 injuries each day.
•Cell phone distractions contribute to a yearly cost of 2,600 fatalities and 330,000 injuries for all age groups and a total societal cost of $43 billion.

I am currently part of an initiative to stop teens from texting and driving. The program is called TADD (Teens Against Distracted Driving). I have currently partnered with 5 Tarrant County high schools, where their student councils are having pledge drives to have students sign a pledge to not text and drive. In return, they receive a free orange wrist bracelet (as pictured below).

This information and commentary is provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000.

On Tuesday, the Nissan Motor Corporation issued a statement that over 135,000 Infiniti G-35 coupes and sedans will be recalled over a possible problem with air bags deploying upon impact. The coupes are being recalled for the 2005-2007 models and the sedans are being recalled for the 2005-2006 models.

There have been no injuries reported, but Nissan is taking preventative measures to issue the recall before there is a serious problem. Nissan is worried that the air bag’s wire harness could wear down causing it not to deploy in a car crash.

The NHTSA said that Nissan has not proposed a plan to fix the problem.

Hopefully, this recall will be taken care of in a much more responsible manner than what happened with Toyota several months ago. Toyota ended up with a $16.4 million dollar fine from the Department of Transportation. Seeing that Nissan has already released a recall before any accidents have happened, I would say that this looks to be a much different situation.

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

We have all been on the highway minding our own business, when an aggressive driver ruins our day. Drivers that experience “road rage” are very dangerous. Being attacked by an aggressive driver is an easy way to end up in a car accident. Dealing with abusive drivers is not something that happens to us frequently, but it is extremely important to know what to do if an overly aggressive driver is tormenting you on the road.

The National Highway Safety Administration has several tips to help prevent yourself from being a victim of an aggressive driver:

•Make every attempt to safely move out of the aggressive driver's way.
•Do not challenge an aggressive driver by speeding up or attempting to "hold your own" in the travel lane.
•Avoid eye contact with the aggressive driver.
•Ignore gestures, and refuse to return them.
•Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, license number, location, and if possible, direction of travel. This is extremely important. Reporting the vehicle that is being overly aggressive can prevent the same behaviors from happening to other people.
•If you have a cellular phone, and can use it while driving safely, call the police immediately.

A close friend of mine was recently traveling to Austin on I-35 and had a terrible experience with an aggressive driver. A man and woman in a pickup truck caused my friend to swerve on and off the road because they were hanging out of their car spitting on her windshield, yelling obscenities, and blocking her from exiting the highway. She was in the right lane following traffic laws, and going the speed limit. Thank goodness my friend was able to get away, and report the car to the authorities.

I hope this information helps you know what to do if you are the victim of an aggressive driver. This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000.

A three car accident occurred as the result of a wrong way driver over the weekend in Richardson on North Central Expressway.

The wrong way driver, Jose Sanchez-Quezada, remains hospitalized after the car wreck. No charges have been filed against Sanchez-Quezada, who is suspected of driving while intoxicated. The Richardson Police Department is still waiting for blood test results.

Sanchez-Quezada was driving a Volkswagen Jetta and crashed into a Cadillac and Acura. Two people from the Cadillac and one person from the Acura were hospitalized. Their names have not been released.

Several wrecks occur in the Dallas/Fort Worth area each year from wrong way driving crashes. Many of these do involve alcohol use while driving. There are several things you can do to help protect your family from drunk drivers, including avoiding driving after 9 p.m. and into the early hours of the morning on weekends. Drunk driving kills almost 12,000 people each year.

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