Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

If you’ve ever visited my Fort Worth personal injury law firm’s website, you know one of the first things I recommend accident victims get is the crash report written by the responding police officer at the scene of the accident. This report can have all kinds of useful information, including the contact and insurance information of the person that hit you. It will often also contain information regarding who is at-fault for the accident – either you, the other driver or if fault is shared.

The information found in the crash scene report will be important after your car accident regardless of if you file a claim on your own, or if you decide to hire a Fort Worth car accident attorney to do it for you. Because we know the days after your wreck are stressful enough, the Anderson Law Firm offers free crash reports to victims of car wrecks in Tarrant County. What this means to you is that if your wreck occurred in Tarrant County, we will get the report for you and send it to you free of charge.

The accident report is one of the first pieces of evidence in your claim – why not let us do the work for you and get yours today? If you are interested in obtaining a free accident report from your Tarrant County car wreck, contact us today. For more information on your legal rights after a car accident in Texas, visit my website or call me at 817-294-1900 to schedule a free case consultation.

The Anderson Law Firm is currently accepting clients who have been affected by the recall of DePuy hip replacement implants manufactured by DePuy Orthopedics (Johnson & Johnson). With one in eight patients experiencing extreme pain and other problems associated with the DePuy hip implants, 25,000 patients in the US alone have already been required to have corrective surgery as a result of these defective medical devices and the personal injury lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm are ready to make sure you get the full and fair compensation you deserve from the product’s manufacturer.

The affected prosthetics are the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. If you’re not sure if these are the devices you received, you should consult with your doctor’s office who will be able to confirm the exact product you received.

For more information on the dangerous side effects associated with the DePuy hip implants or to learn about your legal rights as an innocent victim, please call an attorney today toll free at 800-354-6275. Alternatively, you may call us locally in Fort Worth, Texas at 817-294-1900.

Although the song Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer is a holiday classic, it’s probably never going to happen to you – especially if you live in Texas. Unfortunately what is much more likely and scary is for you to be involved in a car accident in Dallas or Fort Worth. In the personal injury world it’s a sad truth, but car wrecks don’t take holidays. It doesn’t matter if it’s Christmas Eve or New Years, we can’t always protect ourselves from other idiot drivers.

So what do you do if you get into an accident this Christmas? The most important thing is for you to stay calm and get medical treatment. If your injuries aren’t the kind that require an ambulance ride; get the other drivers insurance information. Don’t be afraid to contact your own insurance company after the wreck. They will treat you much nicer than the other driver’s insurance company and will get you taken care of much faster.

When is it time to call a Fort Worth car wreck attorney?

It’s time to contact a Texas injury attorneys when you aren’t being treated how you should. Either the other driver isn’t admitting fault when they were clearly in the wrong, or you can’t get any calls back from their insurance company who is supposed to pay for your medical bills and property damage. If you have questions, we have answers – just contact us at 817-294-1900 to speak with one of our top-rated Fort Worth car accident lawyers. You have legal rights after your car accident and you deserve to know what they are. Find out how our injury law firm can help you.

The antiepileptic medicine Dilantin (Phenytonin) has been connected to the life-threatening skin reactions Steven Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (also known as Leyll’s Syndrome). Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS) causes rashes, blisters and bleeding to appear across the patient’s body, face and genital areas but becomes increasingly serious as it evolves into skin lesions and inflammation of the mouth, throat, nasal passages, genital tract and intestinal tract. Dilantin patients who develop Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) have a fatality rate of approximately 25 percent.

The dangerous drug lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm are outraged at the suffering of patients who have been prescribed Dilantin and its generic forms and are currently accepting cases against the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture this potentially deadly drug.

If you have been affected by Dilantin (Phenytonin) you deserve justice for the pain and bodily injuries you have suffered. If someone you love has died as a result of taking Dilantin, you are entitled to bring a wrongful death case against the medication’s manufacturer.

For more information on your legal right to compensation, please call the Anderson Law Firm today to speak to a medical attorney. Call us toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000.

As a DFW personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen distracted driving become a growing problem in Fort Worth and Arlington. Whenever you text while driving, you are taking your attention off the road and risking the safety of yourself, your passengers and all other road users. Make no mistake: using a cellphone while behind the wheel can and does result in fatal auto accidents.

Despite Republican candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry vetoing a distracted driving ban earlier this year, there are other people who fortunately do recognize the very real hazard posed by using a cellphone or other electronic device while in the driving seat. The FMCSA and PHMSA recently announced that they are updating both the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Hazardous Materials Regulations to prohibit truckers from using hand-held cellphones.

The greatest news for those of us who recognize the dangers of distracted driving came this week when the National Transportation Safety Board urged Federal and State lawmakers to introduce blanket bans of cellphone use among drivers. It’s a move that would make many motorists unhappy, but would undoubtedly improve public safety. As NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman said “We’re not here to win a popularity contest. No email, no text, no update, no call is worth a human life.”

Many people oppose such restrictive laws claiming that they are inconvenient and that whatever someone does in their own vehicle should be their own business. I’m not sure I agree with that; after all driving while intoxicated is illegal for similarly good reason. I think as the public becomes increasingly aware of the many wrecks caused by cellphone use – and the many lives lost as a result – we will start to see these restrictions come into place. From my perspective as a wrongful death attorney; the sooner, the better!

As a Dallas-Fort Worth pharmaceutical lawyer, I know that birth control pills pose a documented risk to the health of women across North Texas. The hazards associated with medication designed to prevent unwanted pregnancies has been known for some time. One of the major concerns is the risk of suffering a blood clot caused by the estrogen in the pills. While blood clots are common among patients taking such medicines, it is when the blood clot travels to the heart, lungs or brain that it poses a very real threat to the safety of the individual.

According to Dr. Darren Tate of Texas Health Fort Worth, the risk of a woman suffering a blood clot is approximately 6 in 10,000 when on birth. While Dr. Tate claims that all birth control medicines pose similar risks, he said that pills containing the smaller amounts of estrogen pose a lesser risk. As a DFW personal injury lawyer, I know that one of the most dangerous birth control pills currently on the market is Yasmin (also sold as Yaz, and in generic form as Ocella).

The reasons that Yasmin is so particularly dangerous is that it contains a fourth-generation progestin called drospiernone which is thought to elevate the level of potassium in the patient’s blood stream. The health risks associated with Yasmin include deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, heart attack and gallbladder disease.

If you or someone you love has suffered any life-threatening injuries which you believe to be a result of taking Yasmin or any other birth control medication, it is wise to discuss your case with a board certified dangerous drug attorney to make sure you are fully aware of your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation.

Please call us toll free at 800-354-6275 or call locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900 for a free, no obligation case review.

Traffic wreck fatalities might have declined in 2010, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but auto accident injuries actually increased by 40,000 throughout the USA. According to the NHTSA’s annual Motor Vehicle Crashes report, the greatest increase in car, motorcycle and truck collision fatalities are among passenger vehicle occupants and pedestrians. Furthermore, while the number of road deaths actually fell overall, the number of pedestrians killed in 2010 actually rose by 4.2 percent with the number injured rising by 19 percent – the greatest increase of all categories.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer and wrongful death attorney, the news that both injuries and deaths among non-motorists is on the increase is gravely concerning. This means that more pedestrians are being hit by drivers. Pedestrians do not have any form of protection to reduce the severity of being struck by a heavy, speeding vehicle.

According to the NHTSA, a total of 121,000 pedestrians and pedalcyclists were injured in traffic accidents nationwide in 2010. This is a huge problem, particularly when you consider that almost all of these crashes are not the fault of the pedestrian or bike rider, but rather the fault of a negligent motorist.

If you or a loved one have been injured while walking, jogging or cycling, then it is important that you understand your legal rights and responsibilities. You may very well be entitled to compensation. To discuss your case with a DFW lawyer today, please call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-6275 or call locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-800.

Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released their comprehensive report analyzing the causes of auto accident injuries and fatalities throughout the USA in 2010. At first glance the news is good; 2010 saw the lowest number of traffic deaths since 1949. However, as a DFW personal injury lawyer, there are a number of details within the overall report which has me extremely concerned.

One of the areas which has me particularly worried is the increase in alcohol-related crashes involving large trucks (such as commercial 18-wheelers, semis, flatbeds and tanker trucks). Overall, drunk driving fatalities declined by 2.9 percent in 2010, yet the number of people killed in wrecks caused by intoxicated truckers actually increased by 13 percent compared in 2009. In addition, the total number of fatalities in large truck wrecks increased by 6 percent in 2010 and the total number of injuries in commercial truck accidents increased by 12 percent overall.

This is hugely concerning, particularly as commercial motor vehicle drivers are supposed to fulfill much more stringent safety measures than average motorists in Texas. Put a drunk driver behind the wheel and of course they are going to pose a public safety hazard – but when the vehicle in question weighs several tons, the potential for severe bodily injuries and property damage is enormous.

Unfortunately for personal injury victims and the relatives of those who have lost their life due to the actions of a negligent truck driver, the odds are stacked against you. National trucking companies have crash scene investigators throughout the USA whose job it is to respond immediately whenever one of their drivers in involved in a collision. Their goal is to ensure that you – the victim – are paid as little compensation money as possible. That’s not fair, because Texas law entitles you to recover all past and future medical expenses related to the crash, any loss of income due to injury or death and other damages.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a commercial truck wreck it is important that you consult with a board certified Fort Worth personal injury attorney as soon as possible. To schedule a free, no obligation consultation today please call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or call locally at 817-294-1900.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about some college football players who had brought a lawsuit against the NCAA accusing them of not doing enough to prevent concussions among athletes. As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer and a huge sports fan, I know just how dangerous concussions can be, so I was happy to hear yesterday that the NBA has introduced a new policy to ensure that players who have suffered a head injury must now consult with a neurologist before they are allowed to return to work.

The NBA has been considering introducing a concussion program since March of this year, following several players suffering concussion-like symptoms and finally came into full effect at the beginning of this winter’s training camp. Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher - an associate professor of neurology at the University of Michigan – has been hired as director of the NBA’s initiative and developed the new protocol with the assistance of several team physicians and athletic trainers.

Players that have suffered head injuries will now be required to undergo a series of tests consisting of varying levels of exertion before he is cleared to start playing again. The NBA says that the full process will usually take several days at minimum – and possibly weeks in some instances. That might not be great news for fans who might bemoan the loss of their team’s star player for several games, but the new policy is critical to ensure the safety of players in what is an extremely physical competitive sport.

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Mark A. Anderson is a board certified personal injury attorney who has been helping car wreck and other accident victims throughout the DFW since 1991. As a child injury lawyer, Mark understands the risks faced by athletes who suffer a concussion both in high school sports and all other levels.

Christmas is around the corner and you know what that means: road trips to grandma’s house or anywhere else where cookies and presents await. We prepare our cars for long trips by checking the air pressure in our tires and making sure our oil has been changed recently, but what about making sure the most precious cargo, our kids in the back seat, are safe?

Most parents know that young children need to be in car seats but what about kids in the 4-7 year-old range? Looks can be deceiving, but even your growing child needs to be in the proper car seat. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommendations, children 4-7 years old need to be in forward-facing car seats with a harness until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. After they max out on the car seat’s weight and height requirements, it’s time for a back-seat booster seat.

As a father, I know it can be extremely difficult to get your child to ride in their booster seat – especially as they get older. But as a personal injury lawyer in Fort Worth, I know just how dangerous car accidents are for children and the impact car and booster seats make when your child is involved in an auto accident. Don’t compromise your child’s safety just because they want to ride in the front seat or without a booster seat. To learn about the car seat laws in Texas, read this article on our website. It could be information that saves your child’s life.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I view consider the cause of most traffic collisions throughout DFW to be the result of a reckless motorist. Any negligent activity behind the wheel, whether it’s texting on your cellphone, speeding or tailgating is reckless. Driving while intoxicated is perhaps the most reckless thing any driver could do.

Unfortunately, however, there are some car, motorcycle and truck drivers on North Texas who seem especially reckless. We’ve all seen them. More than likely you’ve had the same thought I have: how has your stupidity not resulted in a fatal crash already?

I’m talking about dangerous drivers who realize they’re about to miss their freeway exit and so cut across several lanes of traffic at the last second, brazenly risking a multi-vehicle wreck and putting countless lives at risk. I’m talking about those idiots who fail to turn on their lights even though the Sun has firmly set for the evening. I’m talking about those anti-social motorists who arrogantly seem to believe that stop sights and red lights aren’t meant for them.

Reckless driving costs lives. Hazardous driving habits such as those I’ve referenced about will inevitably lead to critical injuries and possibly even death. It’s not just your own life you’re putting in jeopardy – it’s the lives of any passengers (family members and friends) who happen to be riding with you at the time – and anyone else who is unfortunate enough to be sharing the road with you at the time.

If you or someone you love has been hurt due to the negligent actions of an irresponsible driver, it’s important that you consult with a board certified personal injury and wrongful death attorney. To schedule your free, no obligation appointment with a lawyer today, please call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or call locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

It’s easy to put things off until tomorrow, or next year-it’s something we all have been guilty of at one time or another. But if you’ve been injured in a car accident and want to pursue a claim, or get compensated for your injuries, you absolutely cannot put off getting and completing the medical treatment you need.

As a personal injury lawyer in Fort Worth, I know the damage it does to your case if you have periods of time between your treatments. In the PI world, we call these “gaps” in medical care. Gaps in treatment destroy your case because it makes it look like you are not as injured as you say you are. You will lose credibility to the insurance company and ultimately to the jury, plus you are not able to fully recover from your accident.

I know nobody wants to take off work, find a babysitter and wait in a doctor’s office, but if you are pursuing an injury case, you must be a good claimant and get your treatments in order to win your case. If you still want to know how gaps in medical treatment ruin your case, read this article and if you’re worried about medical bills, talk to an injury lawyer. On a daily basis, my practice is able to provide Letters of Protection to accident victims so that they can get seen by a doctor and not have to worry about the cost. Call my Fort Worth injury law firm at 817-294-1900 to talk to a car accident lawyer about your claim.

A Tarrant County motorist has been arrested following his collision with a Weatherford ISD school bus yesterday morning. Charles Morgan, 31, of River Oaks, crashed his pickup truck into the back of a bus full of kids near the intersection of Bethel Road and South Main Street at approximately 9:30 am on Tuesday morning. The bus (which had been headed to Weatherford High School Ninth Grade Center) subsequently was rammed forwards into a sedan, at which point Morgan fled the scene. He was arrested several blocks away and charged with driving with an invalid license and failing to stop and render aid at an accident involving injury.

Fortunately, only one student passenger who had been riding on the bus at the time of the wreck suffered injuries and no-one in the sedan was hurt. As a Parker County personal injury lawyer, I know that while this is certainly a serious incident, it could have been far worse. Each year, more than 12,000 children are injured in accidents caused by another vehicle crashing into a school bus, so this incident could have been far worse than it actually was.

In cases such as these, Texas law grants the injured party the right to make a claim against the negligent party responsible for the case. Similarly, the owners of the sedan can claim for property damage against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

For more information about your legal rights if you or someone you love has ever been injured in an auto accident which wasn’t your fault, I’d like to offer you a complimentary copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. You’re also free to check out my website, which has a comprehensive collection of information to help personal injury and wrongful death victims understand their rights and responsibilities. Of course, as an attorney, I also offer completely free, no obligation consultations to those who are considering making a claim. To discuss your case today, please call me toll free at 800-354-6275.

A Dallas fire department fire truck was involved in a collision with a suspected drunk driver at approximately 1.15 am this morning. A gold-colored Chevy pickup truck was speeding down I-35 when it crashed into the back of the fire truck near Royal Lane. Police believe alcohol to be a factor as the motorist was driving without the car’s headlights on. Fortunately, no firefighters were injured in the wreck, but the allegedly intoxicated driver was transported to a DFW hospital with a broken leg. The at-fault motorist has not been identified at this time.

Drinking and driving is a major problem throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. As a North Texas personal injury and wrongful death lawyer, I’ve helped many individuals and families who have hurt by the negligent and irresponsible actions of a drunk driver. It is fortunate that no innocent lives were lost in this morning’s accident, and I hope that suffering a fractured bone will be enough to dissuade this particular driver from getting behind the wheel after drinking in the future.

This accident also highlights another leading cause of fatal traffic accidents throughout DFW: Speeding. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) acknowledges that speeding is one of the leading causes of multi-vehicle wrecks throughout the state. Unfortunately, speeding is even more common that drunk driving in the metroplex, with 75 percent of all US drivers admitting to driving in exceed of the posted legal speed limit on a regular basis (according to a survey conducted by Smart Motorist).

Having served innocent victims hurt as a result of all kinds of accidents throughout North Texas since 1991 as a DFW bodily injury attorney, I know that there are numerous possibilities for crashes to occur. If you or someone you love has been injured in a collision which was not your fault, it is important you are fully informed of your legal rights and responsibilities. For a free consultation on your situation or to request a complimentary copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case, please call my office in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900.

One of the first things I tell my clients when they come into my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth is not to exaggerate their injury claims. So many people think that if they just fib a little, they can get more money from the insurance company, not realizing that this can absolutely kill their case. Claimants must be honest if they hope to be successful in any type of insurance claim. Think the insurance company won’t know you’re lying about you claim? Think again. A Lufkin, TX man is finding out exactly why lying to the insurance company is a bad idea.

Back in 2009, Andy House said that he drove his $1 million dollar Bugatti Veyron (one of only 300 ever built) into a lagoon near Galveston when he swerved the car to avoid hitting a pelican. But his insurance company, Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company says House is making a fraudulent claim and they have video evidence to prove it. According to the insurance company, House wasn’t trying to avoid hitting a bird; he was trying to collect on a huge insurance policy, two times the car’s value. Now, House’s insurance company is suing him for insurance fraud.

When you are pursuing any type of insurance claim in Texas after a car wreck, house fire or anything else; you must always tell the complete truth. The insurance company, its experts and your doctors will know if you are exaggerating your claim and it can ruin your case entirely. Let your accident lawyer worry about how to get you more compensation for your injuries – that’s our job.

Want to watch the original footage of the million-dollar Bugatti getting water logged? Click here, but be warned – there is adult language.