Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

As a Fort Worth area personal injury attorney, I know that cyclists need to take every precaution to stay safe on the roads. This means learning your rights and responsibilities as a road user, but also making sure you use all available safety devices such as a helmet or lights. You should also make sure that your bike is regularly maintained and sign up for recall notices from the manufacturer just in case a problem is identified with your make and model in the future.

Trek Bicycle Corporation has announced a recall of 27,000 units of their Trek 2012 FX and District bicycle models due to a problem with the bike's seat saddle. A bolt holding the saddle clamp in place has been identified as inferior and several cyclists have already reported incidents of the bold breaking, causing a fall hazard which could result in a serious crash if cycling in traffic. The most serious accident so far reported resulted in the rider suffering a broken tooth and lip injuries, but there is a potential for far more serious injuries to occur.

Owners of the Trek 7.2 FX, 7.3 FX, 7.4 FX, AND 7.5 FX; District, and 9th District bicycle models: WSD, Livestrong and Disc models are asked to stop using these recalled bicycles immediately and to contact an authorized Trek bicycle dealer to arrange for a free replacement bolt to be installed.

If you or a loved one has suffered a preventable injury due to a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation in the state of Texas. For more information on your personal case, please contact the Dallas-Fort Worth bicycle accident and injury lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

We see them every time we walk into a shop; they are so commonplace that we don't think of them as unusual. But we should. Retail hooks used to display merchandise in all kinds of stores across Dallas-Fort Worth are dangerous.

As a personal injury lawyer, I know that accidents can happen anywhere, which is why I constantly advocate for safety precautions to try and prevent as many accidental injuries from occurring in the first place. Display hooks are one hazard which is completely unnecessary.

A close examination of any such hook will demonstrate to you just how dangerous these devices could potentially be. Most are thin metal wires with an unprotected, blunt-cut end. If someone was to fall against them they would likely suffer a cut, scratch or piercing of the skin. Even those hooks which do have some kind of protection (usually a small plastic cap or the hook has been rounded rather than having a sharp end) still pose a danger.

Children are the group most at risk from suffering display hook injuries since many of these hooks are place within their eye level range. If they were to hit a hook with their eye they would suffer serious eye damage which could possibly result in permanent vision loss. Even those hooks which have “protection” can cause serious eye damage because the surface area is still insufficient to distribute the pressure which can result in a penetration injury.

Retail stores need to be held accountable in the case of such injuries occurring. They have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all of their customers – which includes children in addition to adults.

If you or a loved one have been injured in any kind of accident which was not your fault, call me today at 8517-294-1900 to get a free copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case.

Given the severity of more news-worthy accidents in Dallas-Fort Worth, such as 18 wheeler wrecks or multi-vehicle collisions, one might suspect that injuries suffered in a dog attack might be relatively minor. As a personal injury lawyer, I know that couldn't be further from the truth.

In my 20 years as a dog attack lawyer, I have handled a variety of different dog attack cases throughout the North Texas region. Yet while it's true that every case is different, in all cases the victim is left with both physical and emotional scars. These can range from punctures, lacerations and abrasions to tissue loss, avulsions and fractured bones. As if that wasn't bad enough, in animal attacks (even with domesticated pets) there is a chance of contracting a serious disease, with rabies being the most notorious.

Unfortunately, not all victims survive their attack. The Center for Disease Control estimates that more than 5 percent of all dog attacks result in fatalities. In 2010 alone, there were a reported 34 canine fatalities. The vicious dog breeds which are most likely to attack a human resulting in their death are pit bull terriers and rottweilers, but they are by no means the only breeds to cause a fatality.

Make no mistake, dog attacks are extremely serious. If you or someone you care for has been attacked by a violent dog, then you need to consult with an experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney to discuss your personal situation and understand your legal rights and responsibilities. Call me for a completely free no obligation consultation today. Call toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or call locally at 817-294-1900.

The recent spate of hit and run accidents in Dallas over the past decade have taken a particular toll on one DFW family. Andrew Green Sr. lost his father due to a hit-and-run accident in 2003 and his son, Andrew Green Jr., 14, was also killed by a negligent driver who failed to stop to render aid this week.

Green Jr. was run over by an SUV while crossing Skillman Street and Church Road in Northeast Dallas on Saturday morning. The car allegedly dragged the boy 20 feet before the driver disappeared from the scene. The teenager's cousin, Jordan Green, was a witness to the collision and he has told police that the dangerous driver didn't even stop to check Green Jr. was okay. Instead, he sped away from the scene, leaving the boy dead in the road.

As a North Texas personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, I have handled many hit-and-run accident cases for clients and their families over the past 20 years. There are generally two courses of action:

The first course of action is to find the guilty driver who committed the crime. In addition to taking criminal action against them, you are also entitled to make a civil claim for compensation against their insurance company. Obviously, no amount of money can relieve the grief of losing a loved one, but it can at least repay the financial costs you may have endured because of their death and offer some sense of justice. Finding a hit-and-run driver isn't always easy, but by hiring an experienced attorney their in-house investigator will continue to pursue the at-fault driver in addition to the police department's investigation.

The second course of action is to make a claim against your uninsured motorists insurance coverage if you have it. This is optional coverage you might have in addition to your basic auto insurance and it even covers you as a pedestrian if you are hurt by a hit-and-run driver. For more information on making this kind of claim, feel free to give me a call at 214-327-8000.

My thoughts are with Andrew's family and loves ones at this most difficult time. I am incredibly sorry for your loss. I sincerely hope that the driver who hit your son is found and brought to justice.

If you believe you may have any information which might be helpful identifying this driver, please call the Dallas Police Department at 214-671-3661.

In the last few years, more and more serious side effects and medical conditions have been linked to the hair loss drug Propecia. Although most prescription medications come with a list of potential side effects, some of the side effects associated with Propecia can be permanent and life-changing. It's become quite common to hear about Propecia causing permanent sexual dysfunction and several lawsuits throughout the country have been filed against the maker of Propecia for just that.

What's even more alarming is the news that the hair loss drug Propecia could be linked to one of the most deadly diseases around – prostate cancer. In June of 2011, the FDA informed the public of new safety information for drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), like Propecia. According to the FDA, men who take these drugs may have an increased risk of being diagnosed with a more serious form of prostate cancer (high-grade prostate cancer).

Since June, the Warnings and Precautions labels for all FDA-approved 5-ARIs have been revised to include information about this prostate cancer risk. The Anderson Law Firm is reviewing Propecia prostate cancer cases at this time. Contact us today to explore your legal options, or read more about Propecia prostate cancer lawsuits on our website.

As a Tarrant County personal injury and wrongful death lawyer I represent victims that have been hurt in all kinds of traffic accidents; this doesn't just mean car wrecks or collisions involving motorcycles or 18 wheeler trucks, but pedestrians and bicyclists too. My book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Claim – which I offer for free to crash victims – is designed to help injured people no matter what kind of accident they were involved in.

Cyclists are particularly prone to suffer terrible injuries if they are ever involved in an auto collision because they have virtually no protection whatsoever. Hopefully, they are wearing a bike helmet, but other than that they have nothing. Even motorcyclists often wear boots and leathers which could at least prevent road rash. Cyclists don't. If a car or truck was to crash into a bicycle, the cyclist is probably going to be facing life-threatening injuries or permanent disability.

A Fort Worth cyclist was killed on Sunday evening. Police report that Steven Wayne Johnson, 52, was attempting to cross Interstate 30 between Forest Park Boulevard and Summit Avenue at approximately 6:30pm. He was struck by a vehicle in the inside lane and died of blunt force trauma. There are no reports of anyone else being injured.

My thoughts go out to Mr. Johnson's family. I am deeply sorry for your loss.

Students and faculty at Hebron High School in Carrollton got a scare yesterday when a small plane crashed next to the school building, narrowly missing some power lines. Fire crews from Carrollton, Addison and Lewisville worked together to rescue one passenger from the aircraft, while the other occupant was pronounced dead at the wreckage scene. The deceased was later identified as Richard Goodrum, 47, of Flower Mound. The injured passenger has not yet been named publicly. It is also believed that there was a third person on board the airplane, although their condition is currently unknown.

Police say that the pilot had reported engine problems to air traffic control at Addison Airport and that he intended to return to make an emergency landing. The pilot apparently made one failed attempt to land just prior to the accident. The plane crashed at approximately 11:30 yesterday morning.

My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Goodrum and the other victims of this devastating accident. I hope those still in hospital make a full recovery as soon as possible

While plane crashes are statistically far rarer than car wrecks, as a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that aviation accidents often result in far more serious and life-threatening injuries. No doubt there will be a thorough investigation into the cause of yesterday's wreck to determine what cause the plane to malfunction and for the accident to ultimately occur.

From Dallas to Fort Worth and in between, cities all over North Texas were covered in a blanket of fog this morning. I didn't have too much trouble this morning during my morning commute and thankfully the drivers around me were definitely being more cautious. That's because fog can reduce your visibility to just ¼ of a mile or less – which can be extremely hazardous, especially when you're driving on the highway.

Weather changes affect our driving immensely and it's just our luck that Texas weather can change drastically in just minutes. One minute it's beautiful and sunny and the next there's lightning and thunder. Follow these tips for foggy days and you will have much better chances of avoiding a fender bender or a more serious car accident:

• If there is enough visibility, drive with you lights on low beam because high beam lights will only reflect off the fog and hurt your visibility even more.
• Fog can create the visual illusion of slow motion so watch your speedometer because you may actually be speeding when it feels like you're going as slow as molasses.
• If you can't see traffic, listen for it by rolling down your window.

No matter how cautious you are driving in fog or other extreme weather, we are still at the mercy of the other drivers around us. If you have been hurt because someone else didn't pay attention or was being negligent behind the wheel, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth, we represent clients who have been hurt in car wrecks in DFW. If you need help with your medical bills and lost wages, call us today and schedule a free case consultation to talk over your case with one of our top-rated personal injury attorneys. 817-294-1900

Are you addicted to texting? I didn't realize this was an actual problem until a few nights ago when I was flipping channels and stopped on MTV's documentary show, “True Life”. This episode was about two young women who were textaholics and all jokes aside – they really were! These ladies were addicted to their phones and could send almost 15,000 texts in one month.

You can watch the full episode online, but could you imagine getting carpal tunnel at the age 18 just from texting? Craziness. I found the episode to be insightful yet scary at the same time. One of the women in the show didn't even realize how dangerous it was to text and drive with her baby in the back seat. I thought we all knew how easy it is to have a car accident because of texting behind the wheel, guess not.

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again – texting and driving is just like drinking and driving. It's dangerous, stupid and will get you hurt in a car accident sooner or later. Put down you're phones people!

Someone who is texting and driving is being negligent. Contact my law firm today if you need a personal injury attorney in DFW to take your texting and driving accident case.

If you keep up with any of the tech gossip in the news, you've probably heard by now that Facebook is making major changes in its social media site. That's right, your Facebook profile is about to be turned into your Facebook timeline with new changes to the look and feel of the old Facebook. You may wonder why I'm writing about Facebook on my personal injury lawyer blog—Facebook has nothing to do with my profession, right?

Actually, Facebook can play a part in my job as an accident attorney and it can play a huge part in my clients' injury claims. That's because insurance companies can use your Facebook against you if you are making a claim against them. For instance, if you are a making an insurance claim for injuries you suffered in a car accident, the insurance company may use your Facebook post about going on a jet ski against you. To them, if you are really hurt as badly as you say you are, then how could you go out on the lake?

I recently posted a video about Facebook and your accident claim. Watch it and see if you don't find other reasons why it's important to be careful about what you post on Facebook.

In almost all multi-vehicle wrecks, the driver who hits another car from behind would be considered the negligent motorist, although in certain circumstances both drivers would share responsibility for the accident. As a Denton personal injury lawyer, I know that rear-end collisions are becoming increasingly common as more drivers engage in the deadly practice of distracted driving (texting while driving). So far, however, police have not yet determined whether or not cellphone use was a factor in an astonishing Lewisville traffic accident which happened on Friday Afternoon.

A 47-year-old woman who has not yet been identified by police was driving her Chevy Cavalier through downtown on Business 121 near Main Street when she slowed down upon approaching the railroad because the warning lights were flashing and the railroad crossing arms were beginning to descend. Unfortunately, the unidentified driver of a Mercury Cougar following behind the Chevy failed to brake and struck the back of the first car, knocking it forward on to the tracks. An oncoming train hit the passenger side of the Chevy Cavalier, severely injuring the motorist. The lady was taken by ambulance to Plano Medical Center. Her current condition is unknown. No-one else is believed to have been injured in the incident.

Currently, Lewisville police department have not disclosed and further details of their investigation into the cause of the accident, nor whether the driver of the Cougar will be cited. Regardless of whether any criminal charges are brought against this dangerous driver, however, it seems incredibly clear to me as a Dallas-Fort Worth car crash attorney that they were responsible for causing the accident, regardless of whether they were texting, tailgating or engaging in some other dangerous practice.

My thoughts are with the injured woman and her loved ones. I hope that she makes a quick and complete recovery.

Just when you thought that Dallas-Fort Worth bike riders had it bad with all the reckless motorists in the metroplex, just spare a thought for this poor cyclist in South Africa who got charged by an antelope while taking part in a bicycle race. Ouch!

Check out the damage caused to the cyclist's helmet. If an antelope can do that, just imagine the damaged caused by a collision with a car, truck or the road. As a personal injury lawyer, I know that traumatic brain injuries are extremely common in auto accidents involving bicyclists, so please be sure to protect yourself with quality helmet which has been certified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Fortunately, we don't have many antelopes on the loose in North Texas, but that doesn't mean that cyclists are completely free of risk that they might get attacked by a deer or even a mountain lion while getting some exercise. Even if you're in the relative safety of a suburban neighborhood, there is still a chance that you could be attacked by a vicious dog if their owner has negligently allowed them to run loose. We all know how dogs love to chase cars and the same goes for bicycles. There is a possibility that an unleashed dog could cause you to crash, or they might even bite or maul you.

If you have been injured while out cycling, I would like to offer you a complimentary copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Claim. You can order directly through my website, or call 817-294-1900.

Travel and Leisure Magazine has ranked Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport as the tenth most dangerous airport in the US. Naturally, as a North Texas personal injury lawyer, I find this gravely concerning. While it's a well-known fact that statistically, you are far more likely to be injured in a car wreck than in an airplane accident, when the latter does occur there is obviously a far higher potential for serious injuries and fatalities.

A large part of the reason DFW ranks so poorly is due to errors made with air traffic control. The study looked at both serious incidents where an airplane crash was narrowly avoided as well as slightly less serious incidents where there was a significant potential for a mid-air collision.

Dallas/Fort Worth also has a history of very serious runway accidents too, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's latest Runway Safety Report. Within the past five years alone, DFW Airport has had 61 separate runway incidents, ten of which occurred within a single 30 day period in 2008.

Although aviation accidents are not every day occurrences, they unfortunately not the rarity you might expect. If you or a loved one is ever injured in a plane crash it is important that you consult with an airline accident attorney who can investigate the cause of the accident and ensure that the negligent party at fault is held responsible.

I previously wrote about a three-year-old boy who accidentally fell from a third story apartment window in Arlington on September 22. That same day, another child, an 18-month-old toddler suffered injuries in an almost identical accident in Fort Worth. Just five days later, another Fort Worth child, a one-year-old was injured in the exact same way. When three separate incidents occur in such a short amount of time, I start to worry as a Tarrant County personal injury lawyer that there is a bigger problem here that needs to be addressed.

The parents of the 18-month-old, Robert and Trina Argo, have spoken to the Star-Telegram today to discuss what happened to their son, Charlie, and to warn other parents of the hazard. As with any good parents, the Argos have gone to great length to baby-proof their apartment. However, it was a simple oversight which contributed to Charlie's fall on that fateful day. In case you don't remember, September 22 brought some much-needed cooler temperatures to the metroplex following months of 100 degree temperatures. Trina says she had opened a bedroom window to let some of the cool air inside and neglected to realize that the screen on the outside of the window was not fixed in place. Charlie pushed against the screen and fell through the window.

The fact that three such similar accidents could occur so soon after each other demonstrates that greater caution is needed on behalf of both parents and apartment complexes. While the sight of a screen mesh might lead you to expect that it's fastened securely in place the fact remains that it's only purpose is to prevent bugs from getting inside. Even a small infant is strong enough to push it off the fame and subsequently fall through the window after it.

I'd like to thank Robert and Trina for sharing their story and hope that it will save other families from suffering similar accidents. Charlie was lucky that he only suffered minor injuries in the fall. The other two children hurt in the other accidents that same work have also both recovered from their injuries.

If you have taken the popular diabetes drug Actos and have since been diagnosed with bladder cancer, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your injuries. This summer, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about Actos and its link to bladder cancer in long-time users.

At the Anderson Law Firm, our Texas Actos lawyers are currently reviewing Actos claims. If you have developed bladder cancer because of Actos, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. As with all of our legal services, we work on what is called a contingency fee scale. That means our lawyers are only paid out of the amount of money recovered through your claim. Basically, we don't get paid unless we win.
To find out more about Actos and bladder cancer, or to learn more about what you can recover from your Actos claim, contact the pharmaceutical lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm today.

Do you have any information who could help Dallas police find the driver who killed a mother in hit-and-run accident in Southeast Dallas on Saturday night? Sue Burks, 54, was struck by a car as she crossed Great Trinity Parkeway near the Murdeaux intersection. She was pronounced dead at the crash scene. The motorist who hit her is believed to have been driving either a Ford Crown Victoria or a Mercury Grand Marquis when they mortally wounded Ms. Burks and failed to stop to render aid. Anyone with any information related to the deadly accident is asked to pleased contact Dallas Crime Stoppers at 214-373-8477.

My thoughts are with the family of Sue Burks. I am very sorry for your loss. While I know that finding the responsible driver or recovering any wrongful death compensation will do nothing to bring back your loved one, I understand the valuable closure that such justice can achieve for bereaved families. I hope that someone with knowledge of what happened in this case does indeed come forward.

The pharmaceutical attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth are currently reviewing potential Actos lawsuits. A recent warning issued by the FDA says that "the use of pioglitazone (Actos) for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.”

The Texas Actos lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm believe that those who have been adversely affected by Actos have the legal right to pursue a claim for their injuries. If you think the Type 2 diabetes drug Actos is responsible for your bladder cancer, contact our pharmaceutical attorneys today. It's important to know that there is a time limit on Actos bladder cancer claims. To avoid missing the statute of limitations for your claim, take advantage of a free meet-and-greet with one of our personal injury lawyers. During this free case consultation, we can discuss you Actos related injuries and how we can help with your case.

If the drug Actos caused your bladder cancer, contact the Anderson Law Firm today at 817-294-1900.

A few days ago I wrote about a study which had found that texting while driving doubles a driver's reaction time, which is why it's such an incredibly thing to do behind the wheel. Today, I'd like to talk about another distracted driving study conducted by AAA: The good news is that most motorists in the US are aware of the hazards of using a cellphone while driving. The bad news is that while the majority of people realize it's a potentially fatal habit, they still do it.

88 percent of drivers surveyed agreed that talking on their cellphone while in the driving seat was a safety hazard, while a total of 95 percent were worried about other people texting, tweeting or emailing. That's even higher that the amount of people (93 percent) who worry about drunk drivers. What's most interesting to me as a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, is that 87 percent of drivers actually support the introduction of laws which would prohibit drivers from sending texts or emails while driving and 50 percent would like to see laws outlawing cellphone use entirely!

Unfortunately, 68 percent of these same drivers admitted to talking on their cellphone while driving within the previous 30 days. 35 percent admitted to texting while driving.

In my experience, the distracted driving epidemic has become so bad in North Texas that penalties are clearly needed in order to deter dangerous drivers that risk not only the public's safety, but also their own lives. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if Texas is going to get a statewide ban while our current Governor remains in Austin, so it's up to individual cities such as Arlington to set the standard by creating their own local laws.

So what can you do? As AAA's report shows, realizing that distracted driving is dangerous is not enough. People need further deterrent to stop themselves from doing it. So I'd like to invite you to take my pledge to make a promise that you won't text and drive. I'll even send you a free bracelet for you to wear as a physical reminder to yourself if you ever do get the temptation to pick up the phone while you're behind the wheel.

Dog bite attacks can happen anywhere and the circumstances are often as unpredictable as the animals themselves. As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer with over 20 years' experience helping dog attack injury victims, however, I have noticed a number of similarities at least in those cases I've worked on. For example: the vast majority of attacks occur either near the home or in a familiar place; likewise, in most cases the attacking dog is owned by someone known to the victim, such as a friend, neighbor or even a family member.

This means that if you live in an apartment, the probability is high that if you are ever attacked by someone else's dog, that is where it will happen. We've all seen those people who let their dogs just roam around the complex unattended. Not only are those people inconsiderate neighbors, they are negligent owners. If their dog was to attack a resident or a child, then they would be responsible.

The landlord has a responsibility too. Part of their duty as a landlord is to guarantee the safety of their tenants as much as possible. If they know that one resident's dog poses a threat to others, then they have a responsibility to ensure that dog cannot hurt anyone while in a common area of the complex. Therefore, the landlord could also be considered negligent if such an attack occurs.

If you've been attacked by a dog outside your apartment – or anywhere else for that matter – it's critical that you consult with an experienced dog bite and attack attorney. For a free no obligation consultation on your case, call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or call locally at 817-294-1900.

A train wreck in Arlington on Saturday night resulted in a mass clean-up operation which lasted much of Sunday after a Union Pacific train collided with a stationary train near Division Road and Dottie Lynn Parkway. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that railroad accidents can cause significant bodily harm and property damage, so the fact that no-one was hurt in the three-locomotive crash is amazing. Thankfully, none of the trains involved in the collision were pulling passenger cars, instead they were all carrying shipping containers.

Fortunately, Union Pacific reported that there was little spillage from the box cars, although the wreck did damage a significant portion of the railroad itself, which will now need to be replaced. Police were forced to close down some nearby roads immediately after the accident because of the wreckage. This is the sixth Union Pacific train crash in the North Texas region in the past 15 years. The worst railroad accident in recent memory is the 1998 crash involving an Amtrak which resulted in 22 people being injured.

Currently, no explanation has been given as to the cause of Saturday's wreck, although in my experience as a train wreck injury attorney working on similar cases in the past, causes over include defective equipment such as a warning light. As a passenger on a train, you obviously have no control over your own safety, which is why it's so important that the train owner, the operator and any other agencies involved in the running of the railroad ensure everything is kept in proper, safely functional condition.