Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

One of the reasons I wrote my book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case, was because I constantly see innocent car wreck victims forfeit their legal rights to fair compensation without even realizing it. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I’ve seen this happen time and time again.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a traffic collision which was someone else’s fault, you cannot expect their insurance company to treat you fairly. They have absolutely no obligation to do so – and they certainly don’t have motivation to do so. In fact, many insurance adjustors not only get bonuses for swindling innocent victims out of the fair compensation they deserve, they are also assigned targets concerning the percentage of cases they are required to close down within 48 hours of the accident happening. This is a disgusting and incredibly unfair practice – but unless you contact a board certified personal injury lawyer as soon as possible following your accident you could fall victim to these dirty tricks. It happens every day.

Auto accident lawyers have the negative stereotype of being ambulance chasers. In reality, there are very strict laws which prohibit attorneys from initiating unsolicited contact with accident victims within 30 days of their car crash. However, it is worth noting that there are no such rules to prevent the at-fault driver’s insurance company from harassing you. And believe me, they will.

I recently heard about an accident victim on pain medication who received a phone call from the insurance adjustor while she was still in hospital. The adjustor recorded their conversation and got her to agree to accept a measly $250 for her accident. That’s it. That won’t even cover her ambulance ride to the ER. Unfortunately, without knowing it, this innocent victim has waived her right to the fair damages she desperately needs – and deserves.

If you or a loved one has been involved in any kind of accident and suffered an injury, it is critical that you consult with an experienced personal injury or wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible – ideally, before you ever speak to the negligent motorist’s insurance company. You may not need legal representation in your case, but it is always far better to be safe, rather than sorry. For a free, no obligation consultation on your accident case, please call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

While reading the news this morning one story caught my attention as a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer. This story concerned a homeowner in Los Altos, California, who is being sued by the city due because they claim that a tree adjacent to his home obstructed visibility which contributed to a car wreck which seriously injured two pedestrians.

The police report for the auto accident says that two pedestrians were waiting at a crosswalk outside the home of Mark Choo. A car stopped to allow them to cross the road. However, a second car failed to stop and crashed into the back of the shopped vehicle, which was then knocked forward hitting the two pedestrians who were crossing the street. Both suffered what are being described as permanent and progressive in nature. This is not uncommon in traffic collisions which involve pedestrians. As a Fort Worth personal injury attorney I know that blunt force trauma, loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries and paralysis are all common in pedestrian-car accidents.

While Texas law does allow for injury victims to make a claim against the local authority if it is determined that unsafe roads could have contributed to a multi-vehicle collision, it is not common for such a claim to be leveled against an individual homeowner. In this particular case, it appears the plaintiff’s lawyer actually blamed the Los Altos city management, who in turn decided to pass the buck to Choo despite the fact the tree is not actually on his property. Choo says that he has never maintained the tree because power lines run between the branches. “PG&E comes out every 18 months or so and trims the tree. They told us not to touch it,” he said.

Although the city of Los Altos is making an indemnity claim against Mr. Choo they do not believe that the location of the crash is a dangerous intersection and report that there have been no previous collisions at that particular intersection.

Sadly, this is yet another one of those cases which gives car accident attorneys a bad name, despite the fact that it is the city of Los Altos who has brought Mr. Choo into the legal proceedings. It will be interesting to learn whether a jury ultimately places the blame solely with the driver of the second vehicle for failing to stop. One wonders if the reason why she didn’t brake is because she was texting while driving. In my experience, distracted driving is frequently the reason for such wrecks.

Naturally, my sympathies lie most of all with the victims of this terrible accident and their families. It sounds like their lives will be permanently changed by this crash and I hope that their attorney is able to recover the full and fair compensation that they deserve so that the rest of their lives can be made as comfortable as possible.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that children are particularly susceptible to suffer head injuries in car wrecks, falls and other accidents. Younger children in particular are at threat of suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of a vicious dog attack or through intentional abuse (for example, shaken baby syndrome).

Traumatic brain injuries can be extremely serious and have lifelong consequences for the victim. In the worst cases, the victim might suffer severe physical, cognitive and behavioral impairments which could be permanent.

Not all cases of traumatic brain injury are so pronounced, however, in many cases where a child suffered a significant head injury early on in life, they may develop conduct and behavioral problems later on in life. A decades-long study published by researchers in New Zealand found that children with mild TBI (also known as concussion) continued to display sub-clinical emotional and behavioral symptoms as late as 12 months after the injury occurred. Those children whose injuries were significant enough to require hospitalization also had a higher rate of developing attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In particular, the study noted that the children had decreased attention span, and increased distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

As any parent of an ADHD-diagnosed child knows, this can have a negative impact on the child’s learning ability in school. According to ADHD experts, this chronic disorder persists into adulthood for approximately 60 percent of all sufferers.

If your child have suffered a head injury or traumatic brain injury, it is important that they receive the very best medical attention in order to reduce the risk of ADHD or other TBI-related symptoms. It is also wise to consult with a board certified child injury attorney as you might be entitled to seek some form of compensation. Although there is generally a two year statute of limitation for Texas accident injury claims, in child injury cases this deadline is extended to the 20th birthday of the child if a settlement has not already been achieved by their parent.

For more information on childhood traumatic brain injuries, please call a Fort Worth injury attorney at the Anderson Law Firm: toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I have handled a variety of traffic wrecks, dog attacks, dangerous drugs and other injury-causing cases throughout Texas. While each different accident type can have devastating physical, psychological and financial consequences for the accident victim and their family, one of the most life-changing scenarios is a commercial truck crash which results in the paralysis of the victim.

Depending on the extent of the paralysis, the victim might still be able to live independently with some expensive modifications to their home and car; but in many cases the victim will require full-time assistance from a professional care giver. Attendant care is not cheap, so it is important that the victim (and their family) hire an experienced, board certified personal injury attorney to ensure their legal rights are protected, and so that they have the best possible chance of recovering the fullest amount of compensation available to them.

At the Anderson Law Firm, our experienced Texas injury attorneys have considerable experience in successfully resolving large commercial truck collision cases to the benefit of our clients. If you or someone you care for has been seriously hurt in a multi-vehicle accident involving a CDL truck driver, we invite you to contact us for a completely free, no obligation consultation on your unique situation. Call us toll free from anywhere at 800-354-6275, or call locally in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900.

Dog bites. Swimming pool accident. Trampoline injuries. Car wrecks. Bicycle crashes. Daycare negligence. These are just some of the many threats to the safety of children living in Texas. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer experienced in handling a variety of child injury cases, I know that children could suffer serious injuries from all sorts of different everyday activities. When that happens, however, it is important that the parents ask themselves how it happened; who is at fault?

Depending on the severity of your son or daughter’s injuries, it may be that the accident will have a negative impact on them for the rest of their lives, whether as a physical disability, a psychological fear, or a visible scarring. As such, it is important that you protect their future well-being by speaking with a board certified Fort Worth personal injury attorney who will be able to explain your legal rights and help you understand the full compensation you may be entitled to under state law.

To help you understand the basics of pursing a child injury case in Texas, I have collected together some of the most useful articles on my website into one central resource called Child Injuries 101.

I hope that you will find this page to be extremely useful, although I must remind you that there is no substitute for speaking directly with an attorney to discuss your personal situation in detail. To arrange a free, no obligation consultation, please call me toll free at 800-354-6275 or call locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that anytime a child suffers a serious injury in an accident, there may be lifelong consequences as a result. Injuries sustained in a car wreck or school bus crash could leave them with a disability which affects them forever. A dog attack may scar their appearance with no chance of ever healing. In either case, the chances of the child suffering mental and physiological anguish either now or as an adult is enormous.

Since children are unable to speak for themselves legally in Texas, it is important that you protect their legal rights for them. State law permits you to make a claim for compensation against the negligent party responsible for their injuries. You can seek financial damages to cover all past and future medical expenses, any impact on their ability to work, as well as compensation for the very real pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life caused by their injuries. Any potential settlement will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on the rest of their life, so is incredibly important that you don’t do anything which could jeopardize their ability to recover the full and fair compensation they are entitled to under Texas law.

To ensure that you are full informed of your legal rights and responsibilities, you should schedule an appointment with a board certified Fort Worth personal injury attorney to discuss your situation, assess your legal options, and decide the best course of action for your son or daughter’s future. At the Anderson Law Firm we offer completely free, no obligation consultations to parents of children injured because of someone else’s negligence. To speak with a lawyer today, please call us toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

Any time that you are involved in a traffic accident involving a large truck, it’s usually a necessity that you seek good, trusted legal advice. Of course, if you’ve been badly injured, you’re probably unable to get to a lawyer’s office because you’re stuck in the hospital. That doesn’t mean that you can’t learn about your legal rights, so that you are aware of your options before you start looking for legal representation.

I’ve been a Fort Worth personal injury and wrongful death lawyer for 21 years. In that time I’ve handled a lot of cases where my client suffered terrible injuries due to a negligent 18 wheeler driver. The fact of the matter is, commercial trucks cause a lot of damage due to their size and weight. The medical bills alone are often in the tens of thousands at minimum. It is vital that you are fully informed before you start attempting to deal with the insurance company.

To try to make life easier for accident victims who have not yet hired an attorney, I have put together an online resource which I hope you will find helpful. It’s called “Truck Accidents 101” and gives you a brief oversight of the key bits of information you need to know to protect yourself and your legal rights, before you hire qualified legal representation.

If you have any further questions or would like to discuss your personal claim in detail, please call me at any time for a completely free, no obligation consultation. You can call me toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

As we all struggle to work in the dark early mornings, it’s important that we’re all wide awake before we get behind the wheel. It seems like not a day goes by without some fender bender or major auto accident on DFW freeways, but we should also take care when driving on neighborhood streets both in residential areas and near schools.

This morning, two children were hit by a vehicle near Handley Middle School in east Fort Worth. Authorities reported that one of the victims, an as-yet unnamed 15-year-old boy, was taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries. The other victim was reportedly treated at the crash scene. The pedestrian collision occurred at approximately 7:00 am this morning in the 2700 block of Hitson Lane. No further details regarding the accident are available at this time.

Driving in and around schools during both the morning and evening rush hours requires all motorists to use additional caution. While many ISDs use flashing amber lights to notify drivers of a significantly reduced speed limit at times when children are likely to be walking along the road, some schools just have posted times when the slower speed limits are in effect. It is illegal in Texas for drivers to use a handheld cellphone while driving in school zones. Violators face a fine if caught. It is also important that drivers are cautious when driving near school buses and are up-to-date with the law in this regard also.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I would like to say that I hope the two students hurt in this morning’s accident make a full and speedy recovery. If you or your child are ever injured in a collision with a car, truck or motorcycle while out walking, jogging or cycling, it is important that you are fully informed of your legal rights as you may be entitled to compensation for any wreck-related medical costs you may have incurred. For a free no obligation consultation with an attorney please call 817-294-1900.

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 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.

A Denton County Transportation Authority A-Train crashed into an automobile in Lake Dallas yesterday evening. An older model pickup truck apparently did not completely clear the Hundley Drive crossing, meaning the commuter train was unable to avoid a collision. Fortunately, no injuries are believed to have occurred in the wreck. Police have yet to disclose the cause of the accident. There are two sets of red warning lights either side of the crossing where the accident took place so it is unclear whether the driver was tailgating another vehicle over the crossing or if there was a technical malfunction with the crossing signs.

This is the fifth serious accident involving the Denton County rail line since the passenger train began to run in June this year. Just last Friday, a pedestrian was killed in a fatal collision with a train in Carrollton. Dustin Odell, 23, of Garland, was apparently walking along a secluded section of railway when he was hit and killed.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, my thoughts are with Mr. Odell’s loved ones and those of other recent train victims in the North Texas area.

I don’t know the details of each of the individual accidents involving the A-train, nor do I know the extent of the injuries in each case. It may well be that victims and their families are entitled to compensation. However, the fact that there have been five accidents in fewer than six months suggests to me that DFW motorists need a reminder to be cautious when driving near railroads. Trains cannot avoid cars or motorcycles; they are on a fixed path and take a considerable time to stop. It’s up to you to stay out of their way. In a train-versus-car wreck, the train will win every time.

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.

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.

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.

It’s always nice to know that as a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I’m not alone in understanding the very real danger of distracted driving. That’s why I was pleased to find myself behind a four-wheel drive this morning heading into work, where the owner had installed a custom spare-tire cover loudly proclaiming their belief that texting while driving should be made illegal throughout the United States. I wholeheartedly agree.

According to the US Department of Transportation, 20 percent of all traffic accidents are directly caused by one or more drivers being distracted. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 15 people are killed nationwide every day because of distracted drivers.

The big local news this week is that Arlington City Council officially approved a proposal to outlaw texting behind the wheel. This is a fantastic decision that will save countless lives, and prevent many more injuries.

So why are so many people against it?

That’s a psychology I cannot comprehend. Distracted driving is just as deadly as drunk driving, so it makes sense that neither should be allowed. Unfortunately, many people have become accustomed to using their cellphone while simultaneously operating their cars, trucks and motorcycles so it’s natural they should bristle when told they can’t do it anymore. But trust me; your life is far more important that any text, tweet or email you might feel compelled to read. It can wait until you’ve arrived at your destination.

Others complain that the ban is going to be difficult to enforce. That’s an unfortunate truth. Not every person who decides to drive while intoxicated gets pulled over by police. Not every cellphone user will either. But many will. It may not be a perfect solution, but for many people simple knowing that they are breaking the law by checking their phone while in control of a vehicle should hopefully be enough to prevent a significant number of injuries and deaths.

As a wrongful death attorney, I hope that other North Texas cities follow Arlington’s example.

A comic book fan has built himself an eye-catching car that is sure to be the envy of the Justice League. That’s right, what we have here is a real-life, road-legal Batmobile. Casey Putsch decided to build himself his very own version of the Caped Crusader’s vehicle a little over a year ago. He initially considered modeling his new ride after the one used in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, but ultimately decided to copy the one in Tim Burton’s earlier films as he thought it looked more fantastical.

What makes this car even more amazing is that it’s powered by a Boeing turbine engine which Putsch salvaged from a decommissioned military helicopter. The core of the vehicle is a modified Corvette, but the frame and chassis were all custom-made.

Although the Batmobile is registered and technically road-legal, Putsch says that he won’t be driving it on public roads due to the noise it makes. He’s also worried about distracting other drivers who don’t expect to see Bruce Wayne driving past. Given how deadly distracted drivers can be, I think that’s something we can all thank him for. (As a personal injury lawyer, I can’t quite imagine the Batmobile being in an auto accident). Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see the Batmobile in Dallas-Fort Worth any time soon as Putsch lives and works in Ohio.

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 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.

Distracted driving is a big problem in Dallas-Fort Worth. As a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen far too many traffic collisions caused by people texting, eating and even reading behind the wheel. What most people don’t seem to realize, however, is that driving with a pet in the car can also be a serious distraction too.

This week, AAA and Kurgo announced the results of a joint study of various dog owners’ driving habits. Almost 60% said they’ve driven with their dog in the vehicle at least once in the past year, with 52% admitting to petting their dog while driving. 23% said they regularly drive with their pet on their lap. All of these things are incredibly dangerous. If you’re sitting in the driving seat, you need to be focused on the road ahead and the other drivers around you. As a dog lover myself, I know it’s tempting to always want to have your best friend with you and to shower them with affection, but doing so while you’re driving only puts you both in danger.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver you may be entitled to compensation to cover all past and future medical expenses, any loss of income as well as any pain and suffering you have endured. To speak to a board certified accident and injury lawyer, call 817-294-1900.

Fort Worth truck driver, Mahmoud Salameh (24) is in trouble in Idaho for both driving inattentively and for towing a 53-foot trailer without a proper permit. The reason he was caught? Since he wasn’t paying proper attention to the road, Mr. Salameh failed to safety negotiate a bend in the road and crashed through a guardrail, spilling his load into the Lochsa River below. Since his truck’s cargo was giant rolls of unprocessed toilet paper each weighing 8,000 pounds (30,000 when fully saturated) it means a massive cleanup operation which is why this flatbed truck wreck is making national headlines rather than the hundreds of other big rig accidents which occur on a regular basis.

As a Texas truck accident injury lawyer, I know that big rig collisions like this happen every day. Normally the results are far more serious that thousands of pounds of soggy paper and the environmental damage caused in this case. In the most sever truck accidents, lives are lost, people suffer brain injuries, broken bones, amputations. Although Mr. Salameh was transported to a local hospital in Missoula, he was released the same day. Fortunately, no one else was injured in the wreck.

Deadly tractor-trailer accidents are more common that you’d think. You should always be careful when driving near commercial trucks because you never know when disaster might strike. If you or a loved one have been injured in a Texas truck wreck, call an experienced Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury and wrongful death attorney toll free from anywhere at 800-354-6275 for a free consultation on your case.

What a difference a few states north make. Although Texas governor, Rick Perry vetoed a law that banned texting and driving, in Philadelphia it is now illegal to text and walk. Anyone caught focusing on their text and not on their sidewalk will face a $120 fine and deputy mayor Rita Cutler says that citations will definitely be handed out. This law may see over-reaching to some, but there is no doubt in my mind that it will prevent pedestrian accidents.

See, what many people fail to recognize is just how much concentration goes into sending and reading texts. No matter if you are driving OR walking-your eyes are still not where they should be. A few months ago, we watched the infamous “Fountain Lady’ video at my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth and we were all so surprised that someone could be that oblivious to a huge fountain in front of them! Is it a coincidence that the fountain lady just so happened to be from Pennsylvania? It could be, but who knows.

What we do know from that video is that any time you are traveling – either on a bike, in a car or on foot – your eyes need to be on the road. If you’re looking at your iPhone how can you see that car in front of you or that the crosswalk isn’t clear? Even though this ban will probably make some people very angry, it will also keep them safe. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw more laws like this in big cities like New York or Chicago where there is heavy pedestrian traffic. Maybe Texas will never pass an anti-texting and walking law, but I sure do hope that someday we can pass a ban on texting while driving. But, I guess will have to wait for good old Rick Perry to leave Austin first.

Want to keep your teen safe from distracted driving? Tell them to sign up for my Teens Against Distracted Driving program. And if you’ve been hurt by a distracted driver, call the personal injury attorneys Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

Wednesday night, the loving mother of two, Yolanda Guzman, was killed in hit-and-run car accident in Dallas. Yolanda and her husband Rafael Valdovinios were on their way home from the grocery store at the intersection of Ferguson Road and Joaquin Drive. The traffic light at the intersection was not working at the time of the accident. Yolanda and her husband stopped at the out traffic light and then continued into the intersection when a pickup truck with a brush guard slammed into them. Yolanda was killed instantly and her husband was seriously injured and is now in the critical care unit at Baylor Medical Center.

Now, the Dallas police department needs our help in finding this hit-and-run driver. Police are on the lookout for a white or silver pickup truck with a brush guard. Authorities know due to the severity of the accident, the truck will probably have significant damage and that the driver could be injured. If you have any information, please contact the Dallas police – they need all the help they can get in catching this criminal.

Although I have a bone to pick with the city for taking almost four hours to fix the broken traffic light, it’s not their fault this car crash happened. It’s the fault of the idiot hit-and-run driver who didn’t remember one of the basic rules of driving: when a traffic light is out, it is immediately a four way stop. That’s one of the first things they teach you in driver’s ed! This driver didn’t even slow down at the traffic light, they were going full speed when the crash occurred. Working signal or not, you should ALWAYS slow down when approaching an intersection, as you never know who or what is coming to cross your path. Maybe the hit-and-run driver was drunk at the time of the accident, or maybe they were just an idiot who didn’t know the basic rules of the road. Whatever the reason, they have taken the mother of two young children. I’m just thankful those kids weren’t in the car at the time of the wreck. I hope this person is caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Commentary provided by Mark Anderson, a personal injury attorney in Fort Worth, Texas.

I don’t know about you guys, but at my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth we are about done with this Texas heat! On days like today, just walking out to your car can make you sweat bullets. I know the heat in Texas is relentless – I’ve lived here all my life and it’s still almost unbearable to me. Extreme summer temperatures are difficult on almost everything, even Texas highways.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, road crews are dispatched to repair roads due to heat-related problems at least once a week around Dallas and Fort Worth. Most of the highways in Texas are built in sections and because heat causes concrete to expand, as the temperature rises the sections of road will slowly swell, eventually popping up. This is called a blowout and it can be very dangerous, even causing car accidents in Tarrant County and elsewhere. Just this weekend a motorcycle accident was caused in Oklahoma after a road buckled, forming a ramp two feet high.

I guess you really can blame the heat for ruining everything! Be safe out there drivers and look out for any road buckling this summer. If you ever are in a car accident and need legal advice, call the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. Our accident and injury attorneys can help you recover damages for your lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering.

After two years of uncertainty, due to a legal challenge and a subsequent appeal, Texas House Bill 148 has finally become law. The legislation, which was signed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2009, makes it illegal for lawyers or medical professionals (such as chiropractors) to solicit car wreck victims within the first 30 days following their accident. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury attorney with 20 years’ experience, I wholeheartedly support this law. The so-called “ambulance chasers” that this law targets are fortunately few and far between, but they give my industry as a whole a bad name. I do not sue negligent drivers for the sake of winning a windfall payout for my clients; I help people that have been injured through no fault of their own make a successful claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company. The victim of a drunk driver should not have to ruin their credit or put themselves at risk of bankruptcy due to the medical expenses incurred simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time – the negligent motorist’s insurance company should.

While I welcome this legislation into law, however, I feel there is still work to be done. Traffic collision victims and their family members need time to comprehend the often life-changing event which has unexpectedly taken place. The injured person needs time to both mentally and physically recuperate. So why are insurance adjustors allowed to visit them in their hospital room? It’s true and it happens every day. Why do they do this? They can exploit the patient’s vulnerable state and get them to sign a release accepting an offensively low settlement figure, which will not even come close to covering the debt they will incur as a result of being in an accident. This is all about the insurance company minimizing their losses. I think it is a most unethical practice. Texas law gives accident victims the right to a fair settlement which compensated them for all medical costs and any loss of income caused by being involved in a crash.

It is a great thing that Texas accident victims are now protected from unscrupulous lawyers and medical professionals, but they also need protection from the equally bad insurance adjustors.

Mark Anderson is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is the author of the books 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case and Roadmap To Winning Your Texas Motorcycle Accident Case.

The northbound lanes of Interstate 35W in Northlake, TX were shut down for three hours on Monday morning after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a pickup truck. The victim of the accident was a 21-year-old man from Fort Worth who had gotten out of his car on the highway. Police said the man was stranded along the freeway and that the driver of the pickup that killed him was not able to stop in time.

The Northlake police department had to shut down the I-35W lanes near the Texas Motor Speedway for three hours to investigate the accident, which caused a backup of vehicles, mostly 18-wheelers.

Every time I see people stopped along the side of highways in Dallas or Fort Worth, I get nervous. As an accident and injury attorney and Fort Worth, I’m used to hearing about car accidents, but now days it seems like so many people are getting hit or killed on the shoulder of roads in Texas. Especially on our busy highways in DFW, fixing a tire on the shoulder or waiting outside of your car can be more dangerous than you think. With so many distracted drivers out there today, there is even a higher chance that they won’t see you stopped.

A lot of Texans don’t know this, but if your car stalls on a busy road or interstate, take a look at the back of your driver’s license and call the Texas Roadside Assistance number, 1-800-525-5555. This number is for non-emergency situations and by calling it, the operator will relay your information to the appropriate police agency that will send a unit to check on your welfare and direct traffic if necessary until help arrives. It’s a free service that our tax dollars pay for so you might as well use it. It’s just another reason to always have your driver’s license on you. If you have been hurt in a car accident or injured as a pedestrian in Dallas or Fort Worth, give my law firm a call at 817-294-1900. We offer free case consultations to anyone who wants to know more about their legal rights or how to get a personal injury claim started.

At the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, potential clients ask our accident attorneys all the time if their injuries are serious enough to hire a lawyer.

As you’ll see in this video, the scope and extent of your injuries will determine if you need to hire a Fort Worth personal injury attorney.

The lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm will never take advantage of our clients and we’ll tell you if your injuries aren’t severe enough to warrant hiring us. It’s important to be aware of the statute of limitations in Texas when you’ve been injured in an accident. Many injuries aren’t fully realized until months or even years after the wreck or accident, so you need to know that time is ticking if you want to pursue a personal injury claim.

If you think that the injury lawyers at the Anderson Law Firm can help you with your car accident or other personal injury claim, give us a call at 817-294-1900 to set up a free, no obligation case review with one of our attorneys.

We were just discussing city bus accidents at my injury law firm in Fort Worth when I read a headline about a bus wreck just blocks away from our office. Wednesday afternoon, four people were taken to area hospitals after a car hit the back of a city bus in downtown Fort Worth.

The 40-foot city bust was stopped at West Ninth and Houston when the car struck it from behind. Three bus passengers and the driver of the car suffered non-life-threatening injuries but were taken to the hospital to get checked out.

Bus accidents are caused for a variety of reasons, but most of the time it’s usually other drivers around the bus that trigger the accident, just like in the story above.

City bus accident claims in Fort Worth and Dallas are just like any regular car accident claim except that every other passenger on the bus has the same ability to file a claim against the negligent driver. Because of this, it’s important that if you have been in a city bus wreck, that you seek the counsel of an experienced DFW bus accident attorney. You need someone in your corner that understands the system and won’t let your claim get pushed to the bottom of the pack.

If you are ever in need of a bus accident attorney, give the Anderson Law Firm at call at 817-294-1900. We take personal injury claims from all over DFW and can set up a free, no obligation case consultation to talk about your bus accident.

Automobile accidents aren’t the only killer of children in Texas. It’s terrible to think about, but cars can be deadly to children even when they aren’t in motion. As a Fort Worth child injury lawyer and father, I’m well aware of just how deadly leaving children in hot cars can be.

It seems like a no brainer to remember to take your child out of the car, but in these days when everybody is preoccupied with their cellphones, iPods and whatever else, accidents will happen. In the scorching summer months in Texas, it’s especially important that parents and caregivers of children be completely undistracted when loading and unloading kids from their car.

Already four children have died in hot cars in Texas this year alone – and it’s not even July. Just this Sunday, a La Vernia boy was found dead in his parent’s vehicle after he got trapped inside the car while his father was sleeping.

Accidents can happen to anyone, even something like this. According to KidsAndCars.org, a child’s body temperature climbs three to five times faster than an adult’s, especially in a hot car. The temperature inside a car can increase 35 degrees in less than 30 minutes and a baby can die in as little as 15 minutes, even in 75 degree weather.

If you live in Dallas or Fort Worth, don’t leave your child in your car for any amount of time this summer. It’s just too dangerous. Visit my law firm’s website to read some suggestions to help parents remember that kids are on board. Remember to lock your car when everyone is unloaded and keep the keys with you at all times so children can’t grab them and play around in your vehicle. This is an accident that is completely preventable – we just have to be extra cautious.

At the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, we take injuries to children very seriously. If you are ever in need of a child injury lawyer in Fort Worth, give us a call at 817-294-1900. Our lawyers are ready to help you in your fight for justice for your child.

If you've been unlucky enough to have been injured in a Dallas-Fort Worth traffic wreck, it's important that you understand that your chance encounter with a negligent driver could have long term implications which continue long after you complete your medical treatment and your wounds have healed. You may not know this, but unpaid medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy in America. Doctors and hospitals are very expensive. Even with really good health insurance, the money you personally owe can be quite substantial. As a Tarrant County personal injury lawyer, I have seen too many of my clients' lives ruined by the bad credit they were stuck with following their accidents, even after their claims have been successfully resolved and the bills paid.

Regardless of whether you were injured in a car wreck, a motorcycle collision or some other accident, chances are high that you're going to incur significant medical expenses over the course of your treatment. Added to that, you're probably going to be out of work for a while, so the loss of income makes the problem even worse. The good news is that in Texas you have the legal right to pursue a claim for compensation against the at-fault driver's insurance company. This will allow you to recover money to pay off your medical debt, replace those lost wages and compensate you for the very real pain and suffering you and your family have endured.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident which was not your fault, give me a call for a no fee, no obligation consultation on your personal situation. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

Two innocent pedestrians were killed in Arlington and Dallas this week.

Early Thursday morning a woman in Dallas was struck and killed by a hit and run driver in Dallas. The woman was crossing the street in her motorized wheelchair in East Dallas when the driver hit her and sped off – leaving her dead in the road.

In Arlington, a Ducanville man died Wednesday after he was hit by a drunk driver in Arlington on West Division Street. Cleveland Jourden was crossing the street when the pickup truck hit him. The driver of the truck, Bradley Wetzel, was arrested and is facing charges of driving while intoxicated.

This is the 14th traffic fatality in Arlington this year.

Sadly, these two deaths only provide support for the claim in a new study by Transportation for America that says the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area is the 10th most-dangerous place for pedestrians in the United States.

At my personal injury law firm in Fort Worth, we handle a large number of pedestrian accident cases. Unfortunately for us, it wasn’t so surprising to see DFW rank so high up on the list.

As gas prices go up there’s no doubt in my mind that we will see more people walking and biking to get where they need to go in DFW. The drivers, pedestrians and cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington have got to be more conscious of pedestrian safety. The fact that there have already been 14 pedestrian deaths in Arlington this year is just not tolerable.

As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I sometimes get nostalgic for happier, simpler times when an amber traffic light used to mean slow down, not speed up. Nowadays it seems everyone is always in a hurry, and it seems the worst drivers aren’t even concerned about beating the red light because they simply don’t stop at all. It sounds ridiculous, as all motorists know that a red light means stop, but drivers ignoring red lights is a huge problem – particularly to the innocent victims who suffer because of these reckless idiots’ negligence.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that 6% of intersection accident fatalities are the result of a car or truck running a red light. The reason that these wrecks are so serious is that at an intersection you inevitably have cars coming from multiple directions. This creates a tremendous potential for head-on and side-on collisions if one driver decides to ignore the stop light. But it’s not just drivers and passengers who are victims; pedestrians and bicyclists are also highly vulnerable. Remember that by law you must always make a complete stop at a red light, even when turning right.

So what’s the solution? Well, given that some people apparently struggle to grasp the concept that red means stop, enforcement is needed. That means red light cameras. I’ve said before that I am in favor of red light cameras as I really do believe that they can save lives. The Insurance Institute’s report states that from 2004-2008 red light cameras help prevent 159 intersection deaths in the 14 biggest cities which use the technology. They estimate that more than 800 lives could have been saved if every large city used them.

Mark Anderson is a board certified traffic wreck injury attorney and author of the book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car crash which wasn’t your fault, you are entitled to a free, no obligation consultation on your case. We will explain your legal rights and evaluate your personal situation to let you know whether you have a potential claim. Call us toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900. You can also contact us online here.

Thursday, April 28, the House Transportation Committee voted yes on HB 1105, otherwise known as the Complete Streets Bill.

The Senate Transportation Committee has heard the Complete Streets Bill (SB 513), but they have not yet scheduled a vote. The bill must be passed out of this committee in order to be voted on the Senate floor.

Because I deal with pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents regularly in my personal injury law practice in Fort Worth, I think the Complete Streets Bill is a great idea.

If approved, Complete Streets would encourage agencies constructing or renovating streets with State or Federal funding to include accommodations for bicycles, buses and pedestrians. Things like sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, bike lanes, traffic islands and transit waiting area improvements are all a part of Complete Streets.

A lot of the pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Dallas and Fort Worth are caused because drivers aren’t paying enough attention and because there aren’t enough sidewalks and bike lanes. With Complete Streets, I think our roads will be safer and there will be a lot less accidents for bikers, walkers and drivers alike.

If you were hit by a car while walking or riding your bike, you should call my accident and injury law firm at 817-294-1900. We’ve represented many bike and pedestrian accident victims and are ready to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call us today to set up a free case consultation with one of our top-rated personal injury attorneys.

An out-of-control 18-wheeler almost caused a devastating wreck in Waxahachie on Tuesday. As an auto accident lawyer, I’m astonished – and thankful - that no-one was seriously hurt. The truck driver was heading north on I-35 when he claims he took a sip of his soda which caused him to lose control of his vehicle. That’s called distracted driving, folks.

The truck departed the road down an embankment, but careened up onto US 287 after hitting a drainage ditch, eventually coming to a halt between two concrete pillars. The highway was closed for a few hours for cleanup and investigation, but no structural damage was found. The driver of the truck is reported to have suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Given the number of major tractor trailer collisions around the Dallas-Fort Worth area lately, I would hope that truckers would be more careful than this. This accident could have been so much worse – and it just goes to show you how dangerous distracted driving is!

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a traffic wreck which was not your fault, call the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your case. There is no obligation, and unless we win there is no fee. Call toll free at 800-354-6275.

A video of a Dallas motorcycle accident released by the North Texas Tollway Authority yesterday serves as a reminder that wrecks often come out of nowhere. Even as a DFW personal injury attorney I find this video quite shocking, so be warned before you watch it. The collision occurred on March 17, 2011. Zacharie Perez (25) was riding home when a car failed to slow with the rest of the traffic, rear-ending him and caused him to be thrown from his bike and sandwiched between cars, ultimately landing between lanes.

Miraculously, Perez is already back at work a little over a month later, but he did suffer serious injuries as a result of the crash. He was hospitalized due to a ruptured spleen, torn muscles, a fractured rib and four fractured vertebrae. His bike (a Triumph Daytona 675) was totaled. The fact that really makes my blood boil? The driver of the car that hit him had no license and no insurance and yet wasn’t arrested. I hope Mr. Perez had significant uninsured motorist coverage! Either way, as this video demonstrates, he was extremely lucky to have survived.

Mark Anderson is a board-certified PI lawyer who has been helping injured motorcyclists across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex since 1991. He is also the author of the book Roadmap To Winning Your Texas Motorcycle Accident Case. To request a complimentary copy of the book, or to schedule a free, no obligation consultation on your traffic wreck case, call 800-354-MARK (6275).

Parents and teens ignore dangers of their own distracted driving habits in Fort Worth, yet 81 percent of parents get upset or angry when they see other motorists doing the same. Many people believe that they can text but their neighbor they are passing can’t text and drive.

In May, AAA partnered with Seventeen Magazine and surveyed teen drivers to get insight on their behaviour when behind the wheel. In the survey, 86 percent of teens admitted to driving while distracted, despite their knowledge about the inherent dangers. Interestingly, 96 percent of parents with teens admitted they too have engaged in one or more distracted driving behaviors in the past 30 days.

Many younger drivers, 41 percent of teens said “It only takes a split second” while 35 percent said "I don’t think I’ll get hurt doing it." As for parents of teen drivers, 34 percent said they are “used to multi-tasking,” while 26 percent said, “I’m a good enough driver to do more than one thing while driving.” With less experienced drivers multi-tasking the higher the opportunity there will be an accident. Although 96 percent of parents surveyed said they engage in distracted driving behavior, 81% of them get upset or angry when they see other motorists doing the same.

Everyone seems to be confident in their own ability to drive distracted, but are concerned about other distracted drivers when ironically, everyone is the ‘other driver’ and any driver who engages in distracted driving is a threat to both themselves and everyone else on the road. When teaching their teen to drive, 48 percent of parents strongly agreed that they practice all the safe driving habits they teach their teen. Yet, 41 percent said they agree or strongly agree that they expect their teen to “do as I say, not as I do.”

This article leads me to believe distracted driving compares with drunken driving. It’s always that one person who thinks, “I have only had 5 beers, I am fine to drive home.” Inevitably, they were thinking this could not happen to me because I know all about the dangers. This article supports the facts that distracted driving accidents happen to people regardless of their education of the subject. In 2008, over 20 percent of automobile accidents were due to distracted driving. I think that by raising awareness and instructing higher fines people will have more focus on the roads.

Information and commentary provided by Fort Worth Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be contacted in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 for a free consultation.

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Distracted Driving Statistics