Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

Accidents aren't accidents at all according to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. At the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, that's something our personal injury attorneys have known for years – but it's nice to have a fancy study back us up. According to their research, 78 percent of all car accidents aren't accidents at all because they could have been prevented.

The full article of the 8 Most Dangerous Things You Do in Your Car is on Yahoo!, but I wanted to point out what ranks in the #6 and #8 position. Texting and talking on your cellphone while driving. I know distracted driving is something I write about a lot, but I feel it's necessary to point out the factual evidence of just how dangerous it is whenever possible.
Talking on your cell phone while driving comes in as the 8th most dangerous thing to do in your car while driving. This study found that it causes 1,000 deaths per year and that drivers are generally slower to react to brake lights and take longer to regain speed after braking if they're on their phone (duh!).

A growing number of U.S. cities and towns—not to mention more than 50 countries around the world—now ban cellphone use while driving. Why? Of the 10.2 million car accidents in the United States last year, roughly 2.5 million of them involved drivers on cellphones. Talking on your cell isn't just dangerous for youngsters and it doesn't just cause small wrecks. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, when a driver between the ages of 30 and 39 dies in a car crash, there's a 24 percent chance he or she was on the phone at the time of the accident.

Ranking #6 on the list was texting while driving, which kills 3,945 people per year. Look around you on your commute to work – so many people are texting! It makes me want to shake some sense in them. Did you know that as soon as your fingers start typing an “lol” you are 23 times more likely to get into an accident?

Most everything included on this list is a no-brainer. Don't hurt yourself by being dumb – put your phone down and pay attention to the road. Call my law firm if you were hurt in a car accident that wasn't really an accident. We're located in Fort Worth and our personal injury lawyers can help you get on the road to recovery.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, some of the more upsetting cases I handle involve the unintentional discharge of a firearm. Most of these gunshot wound accidents involve someone inadvertently firing at either a friend or a relative. Sometimes alcohol is involved; sometimes it's just bad luck. Whatever the case, there is usually an insurance policy involved that the victim's attorney can claim against to recover any medical expenses or other costs related to the shooting.

Danny White of Plano has been charged with manslaughter after fatally wounding an employee, Dean Grimes (45, of Frisco), in what White claims was an accident. White reportedly told police that he and White were playing with the gun at the Northwest Dallas warehouse of White's printing company when it unexpectedly discharged. Grimes died at the scene as White held his head. There were no witnesses to the tragedy.

This incident further underscores the need for greater common sense when handling a firearm. While Texans have a right to bear arms, playing with a gun is an act of grave carelessness. Grimes' family is understandably keen for criminal justice to be sought in this case, but I hope they are equally aware of their right to pursue a civil claim to help compensate them for their loss of a loved one, and all the financial consequences that brings.

People need to be careful about what they put online. This is something I advise my personal injury clients all the time. If you've been seriously injured in a semi accident, for example, you need to think twice before you publish something on Twitter or update your Facebook status. Even if you think you have all your setting set to private, the trucking company's investigators might still be able to keep tabs on you. It's important that you don't say anything which could be misconstrued or used against you to make your injuries appear any less serious than they really are.

It seems that it's not just individuals who have been hurt in a traffic wreck that need to be careful about their use of social media either. Jonathan Hudson, 22, was a juror sitting on a Fort Worth car crash trial last month when he attempted to friend the defendant, Courtney Downing, on Facebook. Downing informed her lawyer who promptly notified the Tarrant County judge in charge of the civil case, Wade Birdwell. Hudson was thrown off a car crash trial and has been sentenced to two days of community service for his actions.

As a Fort Worth accident and injury attorney, I have a love/hate relationship with social media sites. On the one hand, I think they provide a great opportunity for sharing ideas and communicating with all sorts of people from all around the world. On the other hand, lots of people forget that what they put online can affect them in real life too. That's what happened with Hudson, and it's exactly what can happen if you're an accident victim with a pending case.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer I know that life just isn't fair sometime. If it was, then no-one would be injured in a car wreck or other traffic accident. No one wants to be in a crash. No one wants to suffer broken bones, head injuries or amputation. Unfortunately, highway collisions are a fact of life in North Texas. No matter how much care we take, there is always that one idiot driver you just can't avoid.

My job as an accident and injury attorney is to go to that negligent driver's insurance company, and make them pay you the full and fair compensation you deserve – to cover your hospital bills, loss of income and any other costs you may have incurred.

But what if you in a wreck caused by an uninsured driver, or were injured in a hit-and-run accident? In those cases there is no insurance policy to make a claim against, which is why I strongly encourage everyone to make the small investment of adding uninsured motorist coverage to your insurance policy. Most likely it will only increase your monthly premiums slightly, but in the event that you are hit by a negligent driver who doesn't have insurance, it can really help you out.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, motorcycle collision or truck wreck anywhere in Texas, call an experienced personal injury lawyer today for a free, no obligation consultation on your personal injury case. Call toll free at 800-354-6275.

Dallas-Fort Worth may have been teased with a few drops of rain this week and the talking heads on TV might be incessantly chattering about Hurricane Irene battering the East Coast throughout the weekend, but the fact remains that here in North Texas it continues to be hot. Despite the few drops of precipitation we got yesterday morning, the high was still 103 degrees.

As a DFW personal injury lawyer, I'd like to stress the need to continue to be careful about the heat until it really does start to cool down. If you're running, cycling or playing sports outside, please make sure that you drink plenty of water. Make sure that you continue to regularly maintain your car, truck or motorcycle by making sure you've got air in the tires, water in the radiator and Freon in the air conditioning. Always be especially vigilant that you do not leave your children locked in your vehicle.

I was saddened to learn of one such heat-related death which occurred yesterday. A two-year-old boy died in his mother's SUV in Irving in what local police have termed “a very tragic accident.” The single mother had just relocated from California with her nine children. Apparently she believed all of her children were in the house when she locked her car. It was only later in the evening that she realized one of her kids was missing and contacted the Irving Police Department. Officers quickly found the boy inside the SUV, but he was already dead.

It is a horrible story, and my thoughts are with the boy's mother, the family and their friends. As a parent myself, I can't even imagine what they must all be going through right now. Please continue to be vigilant and take care. You never think that you might leave your child locked in a hot car, but the truth is these accidents happen with scary regularity.

Yesterday afternoon an 18 wheeler wreck caused hours of traffic delays throughout Roanoke. The tanker truck was carrying 5,600 gallons of jet fuel when it crashed into a Jeep Wrangler on State Highway 114. The collision happened at the intersection of Litsey Road, although the exact cause of the investigation is still under investigation.

As a North Texas personal truck lawyer, I know that it's always essential to conduct a thorough analysis of a crash scene whenever a commercial truck is involved. This is because trucking companies have their own investigators on retainer, so it's important that the police can gather as much evidence as possible to determine the truth about what happened. It is also why motorists injured due to a negligent truck driver should hire an attorney as soon as possible following the accident to ensure their best interests and legal rights are correctly protected.

Although the tanker truck fortunately did not explode after the impact, the fire burnt for five hours and the dark column of smoke was visible over much of Dallas-Fort Worth. Highway 114 was shut down between I-35 and Highway 377 in both directions during the evening commute, but all lanes have since been reopened.

Injuries sustained in big rig collisions are usually extremely serious. Fortunately, despite the dramatic nature of this crash, neither the driver of the truck or the Jeep was hurt. A passenger in the Jeep was taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck accident, the experienced personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm offer free no obligation consultations to explain your rights and help you determine the full and fair compensation you deserve. Call us toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

Proof that accidents can happen anywhere and at any time occurred last week when a pedestrian was injured by an out-of-control car driven by her own husband at a church in downtown Dallas. On Wednesday, Maria Cerellio and her husband went to Crossroads Community Service near the intersection of St. Paul Street & Young Street to pick up free groceries offered to low income families.

Mr. Cerellio got into the driver's seat and apparently lost control of his vehicle, accelerating towards a crowd of people, most of whom were able to dive out of the way. Mrs. Cerellio was not so lucky, and soon found herself pinned between the couple's car and a brick wall. Eyewitnesses said that Mr. Cerellio was clearly panicked and managed to get the car into reverse, only to speed backwards across the street. He was stopped only by an iron fence across the road, his wheels still spinning in the dirt.

Mrs. Cerellio was taken to Baylor Hospital to be treated for serious head injuries. Investigating police officers found no malfunction with the car and no charges are being brought against Mr. Cerellio. The incident is being treated as a freak accident.

My thoughts are with the Cerellio family, and I wish Maria and speedy and full recovery. As a North Texas personal injury lawyer, I hope that the couple has good auto insurance as they will be able to make a claim against their policy to help pay the co-pays and deductibles that their health provider won't cover. It is very normal for a wife to make a claim against her spouse if she was injured in a wreck where he was the negligent driver, and the same precedent would apply here. Assuming that the couple does have car insurance but no health coverage, I would suggest they consult with an experienced car crash attorney to explore other options to make sure Mrs. Cerellio receives the best medical treatment possible.

As a Texas personal injury lawyer, I know that whenever there is a high-speed police car pursuit, there is a high potential for a wreck to occur and for innocent citizens to be hurt. Fortunately, no one was injured in a decidedly slower chase which took place around Fort Worth on Sunday. Timothy Raines, 43, allegedly drove a stolen forklift truck along University Drive while intoxicated. When police began following him, Raines threw empty beer bottles at them and other vehicles. He was eventually apprehended along I-30 near the exit for Ashland Avenue and Hulen Street.

Normally that would be the end of the story, apart from the fact a local resident, Nathan Lowery, 25, captured the entire pursuit on video and his footage subsequently became a local YouTube hit. I won't post the video here due to Lowery's cuss-laden commentary, as well as the fact that he was driving the entire time he was recording, possibly the worst case of distracted driving I've witnessed in a long time. Fort Worth Police have now turned their attention on Lowrey's video and he himself is now under investigation for violating traffic laws and further endangering public safety.

You might think that although Lowery's actions were reasonably stupid, they pale in comparison to Raines'. I'll concede that as far as idiotic spectacle is concerned, driving a forklift while drunk takes first prize, but distracted driving is an equally serious offense. In fact, a study conducted by the University of Utah found that distracted drivers exhibit greater impairment than intoxicated drivers. Neither are acceptable.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver, call the accident and injury attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your case. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

Just a few blocks away from our personal injury law firm in Fort Worth, a Tyler man was seriously injured after a car hit him while he was walking on the second story parking garage at The Lofts on West 7th. Grant Morby, 24, was on his way to a friend's apartment when a man in a white pickup ran over him and sped away.

The man in the truck was backing out of his parking spot when he hit Morby. He left the scene of the accident before authorities arrived. Morby was left helpless on the ground until a woman found him and was able to call 911. Now, he is in critical condition with a severely lacerated liver.

So many people ruin their lives by fleeing the scene of an accident and when they get caught, they are always in more trouble than they would have been if they had just stayed. In this hit-and-run accident, why didn't the driver of the truck just stick around? Accidents happen—maybe he didn't see Morby behind his truck, or maybe he was drunk and should have never been driving. But even if he was drunk why would you go and be a coward and run away from an accident? It only proves your guilt later and makes everything worse for you and the innocent victim you hurt.

West 7th is a hopping place to hang out, but with a string of recent parking lot crashes in the area, we all need to be more careful walking and driving there. On behalf of myself and everyone else at the Anderson Law Firm, we wish Grant a speedy recovery and hope they catch the coward that ran away from this accident.

Most people in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex know how popular 15 passenger vans are with local churches and other community organizations in the area. But did you know that the vehicles are so dangerous that Texas schools are actually prohibited from using them to transport children? The reason for this is that in the event of a crash, these vans have an extremely high likelihood of rolling over, which can cause devastating injuries and fatalities. In fact, 80% of the deaths which have occurred in van accidents involved a rollover.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a church van rollover accident, it's important to know that you do have rights. If you were a passenger in the van, it doesn't matter whether another motorist was at fault for causing the collision, or if it was the driver of the van you were riding in who was negligent. You still have rights. You are still entitled to make a claim for compensation to cover your medical expenses and any other costs related to being injured in an accident.

For a no obligation consolation on your van accident claim, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at the Anderson Law Firm to understand your legal rights and responsibilities and the opportunities available to you. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or contact us online and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

What is it with all the wrong-way car accidents in DFW lately? Just yesterday morning there was one which shut down I-20 in Arlington, and then last night there was another one on North Central Expressway in Dallas. As a Texas personal injury lawyer, I know that usually these collisions involve drunk drivers – how else do you explain someone seemingly oblivious to the fact that they are driving against the flow of traffic? Police do not yet know whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in this particular wreck, but I suspect that it is more than likely.

The crash happened near the Royal Lane exit of I-75 at around 3.00am this morning. The wrong way driver was a male, driving a dark-colored sedan northbound in the southbound lanes. His victim was a female motorist. Authorities have not yet released the identification of either driver. Police do not yet know where the negligent driver entered the wrong way lanes, but witnesses reported seeing him as far south as Northwest Highway.

The female victim was conscious at the scene, but was rushed to hospital once emergency responders were able to cut her out of her vehicle. It apparently took considerably longer for the emergency crew to remove the at-fault driver from his car. Both individuals are now receiving medical treatment for their injuries, although their conditions have not been made public at this time.

If you or someone you care for has been injured in a Dallas-Fort Worth traffic accident, call an experienced attorney for a free, no obligation consultation on your personal situation. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Dallas at 214-327-1900.

Now days, it seems like all prescription medications have a huge list of side effects, just listen to the drug commercials on TV. But when do the possible side effects or consequences of taking a drug outweigh the medicine's benefits? This summer, the FDA made a warning about the nation's most popular diabetes pill, Actos and its ability to increase the risk of bladder cancer in long-time users.

This warning was based on research found in a five year study conducted by the drug's manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Actos has already been banned in France and Germany and in America; lawsuits are piling up against the manufacturer of the drug for failure to warn its takers of the risk of cancer.

In my 20+ year's experience practicing personal injury law in Fort Worth, I've learned that it can take years before people realize that their physical ailments, like cancer or heart disease, have been caused by dangerous drugs. I urge you, if you are taking Actos talk to your doctor, especially if you have been taking it for a number of years or have a history of cancer. If you have bladder cancer and think it could be related to the drug Actos, call myself and the other pharmaceutical attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth. We are currently reviewing Actos bladder cancer cases and may be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries.

A little over a month ago, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sent their inspectors across the US to do spot checks on 18 wheelers and other trucks for Roadcheck 2011. Officials in the US, Canada and Mexico inspected a total of 70,712 vehicles at 2,550 locations over the 72 hour weekend which ran June 7-9, 2011.

Here in Texas, semi safety is extremely important, particularly as the I-35 corridor runs straight through Dallas-Fort Worth on the way to Oklahoma. We have thousands of truckers traveling through North Texas every day, which is why there are so many commercial truck wrecks all the time. Safety is vital.

Predictably, the most concerning result from Roadcheck 2011 was that over half the drivers inspected had violated the hour-of-service rule intended to keep tired drivers off the road. Trucker fatigue is one of the leading causes of big rig accidents, and yet 52.5 percent of the drivers stopped could prove they were abiding by the rule. For a personal injury attorney such as myself, this is troubling. Furthermore, only 14 percent of the commercial trucks had electronic on-board readers (EOBRs) which were recently mandated by the FMCSA in order to ensure accurate recording of the time individual drivers spent behind the wheel.

On a more positive note, however, 98.5 percent of the trucks stopped passed the inspection of their license, medical certificates and record-of-duty status. Of all the trucks, buses and tractor trailers inspected, 80.7 percent passed the safety inspection of their brakes, tires, lights, load security and other essential safety components. Obviously this could still be much better.

Whenever a large commercial truck in involved in a traffic crash, it invariably causes massive property damage and severe personal injuries. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving an 18-wheeler or other large truck, it is important that you consult with an experienced injury lawyer who will be able to explain your legal rights and help you make sure you receive the full and fair compensation you deserve. For a free no obligation consultation on your personal case, call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

As a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer, I know that it's important for drivers and passengers who have been hurt in a collision involving a commercial truck to contact an experienced accident and injury attorney as soon as possible following the crash. Many individuals decide not to, however, and that decision usually ends up costing them in the long run. It's true that there are certainly some personal injury claims that can be handled just fine without the aid of an attorney, but wrecks involving 18-wheelers, big rigs or other large trucks are rarely situations where I would recommend this.

The main reason why you should never attempt to recover compensation from the trucking company or their insurance adjusters alone is simply because there is so much at stake. A regular car does not stand a chance versus a large flatbed trailer. Substantial property damage and severe injuries are extremely likely to occur. The law in Texas does of course give you the right to seek full and fair compensation for any damages you've suffered in such a wreck there the trucker was at fault. However, the insurance company for the truck driver is going to do their best to minimize their losses. They will try to get you to accept the smallest settlement possible.

This happens all the time, and I've had many individuals come to me in tears because they took an early settlement offer that just wasn't enough to cover all the medical bills they've since accumulated in the years following the accident. Unfortunately, I have to tell these people that there is absolutely nothing I can do to help them. They tried to go it alone and they accepted what the insurance company offered them. They've forfeited their right to the compensation they deserve.

Please don't make the same mistake. I've been practicing personal injury law throughout Tarrant County and across Dallas-Fort Worth for over 20 years. Give me a call and I'll give you a free no obligation consultation on your personal situation. It might well be that in your case you truly don't need an attorney, but in my experience, it is always far better to be safe than sorry. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

A deadly commercial truck wreck in Fort Worth caused police to shut down I-30 eastbound this morning, causing significant traffic delays for commuters. TxDOT officials expect the interstate to remain closed to vehicles until Friday night while a thorough investigation is conducted prior to the crash scene clean up.

As a Texas personal injury lawyer, I have helped many big rig collision victims over the past 20 years. I know that accidents involving commercial trucks are frequently responsible for life-threatening injuries and fatalities. This particular wreck is unusual, however, as the deceased was actually riding in the 18-wheeler at the time of the crash. Police have confirmed that the fatality was a 14-year-old boy, the son of the truck driver. Apparently the boy was asleep in the sleeping area of the truck cabin while his father drove. Neither the trucker of the child has been named by authorities at this time. The truck driver has been transported to hospital to be treated for his injuries. His condition is unknown. No other injuries related to the collision have yet been reported.

In any traffic accident caused by a delivery vehicle, a thorough police investigation is essential. This wreck deserves an especially detailed analysis not just because a death occurred, but also because the truck also broke a bridge support, possibly causing damage to the infrastructure of the roadway. The reason behind the collision remains unclear at present. It does not appear that any other automobile was involved in the collision. As a commercial truck wreck attorney is certainly seems that there are a great many questions which require answers. Hopefully these are all questions which authorities can resolve within the coming hours and days.

Do you ever watch Cops? Well, in every show some right as the cops are handcuffing the criminal and sticking them in the squad car, the police officer will read the prisoners Miranda rights. You know, the whole “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you,” spiel. While these rights apply to ever arrest made in the United States, they also apply to other aspects of the law as well, like in civil claims.

For example, if you are hurt in a truck accident in Texas, think back on your Miranda rights the first time you are approached by the negligent trucking company's insurance adjuster. As a truck accident attorney in Fort Worth, I want you to especially remember the “anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law,” part. You see, any extra information you give to the insurance adjuster will be used against you if it can be – their job is to limit the compensation you receive for you injuries.

If you've been hurt in a Texas truck accident, the smart thing to do is to stay quiet until you read this article about how what you say to insurance adjusters can ruin your Texas truck wreck claim, or seek the advice of a knowledgeable truck wreck attorney.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that no-one is invincible. Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Even if you're the safest driver in Texas, there is still no way you can protect yourself from the idiot who decided to drink and drive, or any other negligent motorist. Given the sheer size and weight of 18-wheeler trucks, it's obvious that they can cause massive devastation and injury to any car or motorcycle unlucky enough to get in a collision with them. But what about the trucker himself?

Truck drivers are just at risk from suffering critical injuries in a traffic wreck as any other motorist or passenger. When two big rigs crash into each other, the property damage and personal injuries can be horrendous. Fortunately, truckers have the same legal rights as any other road user in Texas.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident while driving a commercial truck, it's important that you consult with an experienced Texas truck wreck attorney who can explain your legal rights and options as they apply to your personal situation. Even if you're benefitting from worker's comp or a personal insurance policy, you might still be entitled to seek additional damages to help cover your past and future medical expenses and any loss of income stemming from the crash.

Call the Anderson Law Firm today toll free at 800-354-6275.

Anybody else think meteorologists in Texas have the easiest job in the summer? The forecast is always hot, hot, and HOTTER. This week we could reach highs all the way up into 108 degrees! Wow. So far this summer, we've had 30 consecutive days of temperatures in the 100s and we are well on our way to having the hottest summer on record. At the Anderson Law Firm, we've written before about how the heat can affect your car and the people in it. This week, lookout for buckling roads caused by the heat and whatever you do, don't leave your kids or pets in the car without air conditioning! Everyone should know by now that it doesn't take long for kids left in hot cars to die due to the heat, but just this week some idiot parents in Dallas left their four young children in a hot car for two hours! Thank goodness for the good Samaritans that rescued those kids and called the police – otherwise who knows what could have happened. As a child injury attorney, I've taken legal action against negligent daycares, but for a parent to willingly be so careless with their child's well-being is unfathomable to me. We shouldn't have to remind people to take their children and pets with them when they go into places, yet Texas has the highest number of child deaths due to hot vehicles in the nation. Sad.

Some other common sense advice would be to pack a gallon or two of water in your car. It may seem like a lot, but if your car breaks down or overheats, you can use the water to cool your vehicle down or yourself. We don't get to choose when our cars stop running and you never know how far you could have to walk to get help, or how long you'll be waiting before someone can come get you. With temperatures like these, you're better safe than sorry.
Stay cool out there folks.

- The Anderson Law Firm is located in Fort Worth, Texas and takes a variety of accident and injury cases like dog bites, wrongful death and motor vehicle accident claims. If you need an experienced PI lawyer, call 817-294-1900.