Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

Like many other North Texas residents, one of my ambitions for the new year was to lose weight and improve my overall level of fitness. I’m a keen runner, but I know many other people in DFW enjoy cycling. Plano is the latest city in the area to encourage more people to turn to healthier and more environmentally-friendly forms of commuting to and from work, with the completion of their massive network of park-and-highway trails designed for cyclists and runner, linking residential areas to each of Plano’s 50 largest employers. City officials that it will not only prompt more residents to exercise on their way to and from work, but that it will also reduce the overall amount of traffic in the city, making it a more pleasant commute for those who must drive.

I think that this is a great initiative, and I’m looking forward to seeing the proposed bike lanes in Fort Worth and Arlington become similarly advanced. However, regardless of whether you ride a bicycle, run or walk, you need to be careful whenever you share the road with motorized vehicles. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that in the event of an auto collision, the chance of fatal injuries is extremely high. In 2010 alone, 354 pedestrians and 42 pedalcyclists were killed in Texas car wrecks, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

It is important that you understand the risks associated with running or cycling whenever you are on a public roadway. Always stop at stop signs and red lights, and follow all traffic laws that you would normally obey if you were driving a car, truck or motorcycle.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a bike or pedestrian accident, it is important that you speak to a board certified personal injury and wrongful death attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation. Call the Anderson Law Firm’s Dallas office at 214-327-8000 or in Ft. Worth at 817-294-1900.

Being injured in a Fort Worth traffic accident is never a pleasant matter, but if you were walking, running or riding a bicycle at the time you were hit by a car or other motor vehicle, it’s highly likely that you will have suffered some extremely serious injuries. As a DFW personal injury lawyer, I know that the injuries suffered by many pedestrians and cyclists in such situations are frequently life-threatening.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a bicyclist or pedestrian collision, it is important that you are fully aware of your legal rights. You may be entitled to considerable financial compensation.

To help you better understand your legal rights and options I have put together some key information which any innocent wreck victim needs to be aware of: Pedestrian and Cyclist Accidents 101. I hope that you find it very informative and will help you understand why it is so important that you take your claim to a board certified Fort Worth personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or wish to schedule a completely free, no obligation consultation with a lawyer, please call me toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

Students riding on a Decatur ISD school bus had a narrow escape on Thursday afternoon when their bus drove over a rural bridge which collapsed beneath the vehicle. Wise County officials reported that they had received several phonecalls regarding the condition of the bridge throughout the day, but the crew responsible for shutting it down did not arrive until after the bridge collapsed. Fortunately, none of the children on the bus at the time of the accident were injured. Thanks to the quick thinking of the driver, Debbie Brady, the bus was quickly and safely evacuated, despite the bus slipping further into the growing hole in the road every minute.

As a Decatur personal injury lawyer, I would like to applaud the actions of Ms. Brady for keeping a cool head under crisis and for rescuing the bus load of kids from would otherwise surely have been a far worse disaster. Photos taken by emergency responders show that the bridge eventually collapsed completely beneath the weight of the four-ton bus, into the stream below. According to children on the bus, the rear of the vehicle was as much as eight feet in the air following the collapse, which meant it was necessary for them all to evacuate from the front doors of the bus.

Less than two weeks ago, it emerged that there are a total of 1,551 bridges throughout Texas which are considered structurally unsound by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Dangerous road conditions need to be addressed by the local authority in charge of their maintenance. Regardless of whether they are heavily-traveled ramps over major interstates or small single-lane bridges over rural creeks, if they are expected to carry cars, trucks and buses they must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure that they are in fact safe to do so. Had circumstances been just slightly different, Thursday’s incident could have been a dramatically worse tragedy.

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.

By now we have all heard about the tragic cruise ship accident which occurred off the coast of Italy on Friday the 13th. The luxury liner Costa Concordia hit a rock off the Tuscan island of Gigilo. 4,200 passengers and crew members were aboard when the ship began to sink. So far six people are confirmed dead, while many others remain unaccounted for. Survivors have described the dramatic incident as similar to the movie depiction of the infamous Titanic wreck.

The captain of the ship, Francesco Schettino, was arrested shortly after the accident on charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship. His employers and owners of the Costa Concordia, Costa Cruises of Genoa (itself owned by Carnival), have since accused him to making an "unapproved, unauthorized maneuver" which is being blamed for the ship running aground. None the less, it is the company which will remain financially responsible for the disaster.

As a board certified personal injury and wrongful death lawyer it is hard not to draw parallels between this disaster and other accidents even in the landlocked Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Whenever we get on a bus, train or airplane, we likewise put our lives in the hands of the crew. As a passenger, we have no control over the bus, so we trust that the driver will get us to our destination safety. If they then are responsible for a crash which causes injuries, we can make a claim against their insurance under Texas law, because it was their negligence which ultimately caused us to be injured. Even if you are injured as a passenger in a car wreck, you are still eligible to recover compensation to pay for your medical expenses from the insurance company – even if the at-fault driver was your spouse or other family member.

Regardless of the circumstances which caused you to suffer your injuries, if you yourself were not at fault, it is always worth consulting with an attorney in order to properly determine your legal rights and whether you might be entitled to compensation.

As far as the Costa Concordia shipwreck goes, I am relieved that most people onboard have either escaped or been retrieved alive. My thoughts are with those who have lost someone they love or whose loved ones still remain missing.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Christian Hernandez, 17, of Fort Worth, was killed on Saturday morning when the car he was riding in crashed into a house on Loving Avenue in north Fort Worth. Hernandez was a passenger in a Chevrolet Cobalt driven by an unidentified 19-year-old male. Neither he, nor two other passengers (a 12-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy) were injured in the wreck.

Inside the house, a female in the room hit by the car suffered minor injuries and a baby sleeping on a bed was thrown to the floor but was not hurt.

Hernandez was pronounced deceased at John Peter Smith Hospital after sustaining critical injuries when the roof of the house collapsed on to him.

As a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I would first like to offer my sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Hernandez. As a passenger in an auto accident, he had absolutely no control over the vehicle and the events which led to his death.

Police have yet to determine whether alcohol was a factor in this collision which occurred at approximately 1:00 am on Saturday morning, however investigators have determined that the driver of the Cobalt clipped a minivan parked outside the residence, jumped the curb and subsequently drive through the front yard and crashing through the corner of the house’s garage which had been converted into a bedroom.

Two contributing factors in the crash are believed to be a combination of excessive speed and hydroplaning caused by rain on the road.

What is it about Thanksgiving dinner that makes you fall asleep in front of the TV, no matter how exciting the football game is? Most people blame the turkey...

For most of us, Thanksgiving usually involves a huge turkey and dressing dinner, football on TV and lovely nap somewhere in between. Some of us look forward to the traditional Thanksgiving nap just as much as we do to the pumpkin pie, but what about the feast makes us so sleepy? Are we just trying to escape from doing dishes or is there something in the food that actually makes us fatigued?

It’s been said for many years that it’s the amino acid tryptophan in turkey that makes us so tired. Although tryptophan can induce sleepiness in its pure form, we eat lots of other foods with tryptophan in them and don’t feel nearly as fatigued. In fact, turkey isn't even unusually high in tryptophan – beef and soy beans have a much higher concentration.

So what is it about Thanksgiving dinner that makes us want to catch some z’s? Most scientists believe what makes us so sleepy is a combination of the stressful hustle and bustle of the holidays, alcohol consumption and the massive caloric intake of Thanksgiving. Two of the best ways to combat your Thanksgiving drowsiness is to drink plenty of water and to take a walk after your meal. (Just make sure you’re back in time for pie!)

From all of us at the Anderson Law Firm, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Wednesday afternoon near Indian Springs Middle School, an eighth-grader was hit by a car in a crosswalk. According to a Keller ISD spokesperson, the boy darted in front of a car at the crosswalk just after the crossing guard had gone home for the day. Thankfully, the boy’s injuries are not life-threatening and the driver who hit him stopped and provided information to police.

If an eighth grade child will dart in front of a car, so would your 5th grader or kindergartener. Kids get excited when schools out, or they see the ice cream man or when they are playing games and easily forget the most basic rules of crossing the street. It is always a good idea to remind your kids that just because they are in a crosswalk, does not mean that they have an invisible shield around them that will protect against getting hit by a car. Pedestrian accidents happen all the time on crosswalks, so you still have to look both ways.

I’m glad this boy is doing ok and I’m sure he and the driver who hit him will be on extra alert from now on.

If you’re a fan of my Facebook page, you’ll already know that I dressed up as Superman for Halloween this year, but a Corsicana policeman is being hailed as a real-life superhero after saving a three-year-old girl from a house fire. Officer Dan Putman was the first emergency responder on the scene of the home owned by Marilyn Massey. All the adults had already gotten out of the house safely, but a young child, Jayden Jones, was still trapped inside.

In order to rescue the toddler, Officer Putman displayed what the family is calling “a burst of superhuman strength” as he pushed a four-poster bed and dresser away from a window in order to save the girl’s life. Officer Putman has been awarded the Medal of Valor and a Life-Saving Award for his incredible actions.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth child injury lawyer, I would like to add my voice to the chorus of praise for Officer Putman’s bravery and selfless actions.

I know how easily a residential fire can begin and the extent of the devastation it can cause. Given the epic wildfires we’ve had in Texas this summer, it should be something we are all mindful of. Since fires can start so easily, it’s important to make sure that you are properly insured in the event a house fire does occur. If you haven’t reviewed your home insurance policy recently, now might be a good time to make sure you have all the protection you need.

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.

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.

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.

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.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that children are often a high risk for suffering serious injuries in an accident. Whether it’s a car wreck, a dog attack or an accident around the home, their small, young bodies are liable to suffer considerably worse injuries than adults. As a father myself, such child injury cases always strike an emotional chord with me which is why I was particularly sad to learn of an Arlington toddler who was seriously hurt after falling three floors at a local apartment complex yesterday.

The child, who has not been named, is understood to be a three-year-old infant who lived at the apartment in question. According to the police, the boy’s mother was also at home at the time of the accident. They are still trying to understand how the boy fell out of the third-story apartment’s window.

The boy was transported by helicopter ambulance to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth to be treated for his injuries. His current condition has not been made public. I wish him a full recovery and offer my sympathies to his family. I cannot imagine the emotional stress they must be feeling right now.

As a DFW personal injury lawyer – and despite being a dog owner myself - I know that dogs can be dangerous. People often forget this since they are commonly thought of as friendly pets, but the fact remains that dogs are animals with natural instincts and their often unpredictable minds of their own. In 2010, for example, there were 34 people killed nationwide in fatal dog attacks.

Just last week, a Dallas boy was attacked by two pit bull terriers on his way home from school, and most likely would have been killed if his life hadn’t been saved by three city workers who just happened to be passing. Shannon Craig, 9, admitted that prior to the attack he had been taunting the dangerous dogs but as they were a known vicious breed and behind a fence he thought he would be safe. Unfortunately, the dogs were not properly contained and the two animals attacked him.

Fortunately, three Dallas sanitation workers were driving by and the end of their shift and took decisive action to save the boy, who they described as weak and limp. Larry Jones, Steve Thurman and Douglas Rochelle fought off the pit bulls using their pitchforks and managed to get the young child to safety.

Craig is now recovering at home, although he will forever be left with the physical and emotional scars of his attack. His body is covered with lacerations and punctures from the dog’s bites. His family is still awaiting the results of a rabies test.

The owner of the dogs has been identified although so far no charges have been brought despite his clear negligence which contributed to these two known vicious dogs being able to escape. Authorities report that the two dogs have since been caught and are currently in quarantine.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I always encourage my clients to resist the temptation to settle their claim for compensation until either they have completed their medical treatment or their ongoing medical expenses are clear and apparent. Only then can the true cost of your injuries be fairly assessed. Settling the claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company before then is premature as it could seriously hurt you financially if you do.

Scarring is a classic example of this. In many non-critical injury cases, victims do get better, but in some situations they are left with serious scarring which will never fade entirely. In the case of facial disfigurements, for example, the effect can be a lifelong reminder of an event you would most likely much prefer to forget. It’s like piling on many additional years of emotional suffering on top of the traumatic physical pain you have already endured. Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine how significant of a scar you will be left with until at least several months after the accident.

If you have been in an accident and have been left with facial scarring or are worried that you might be, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. They will be able to accurately assess your situation and help you determine what compensation you might be entitled to. Often, they will be able to recommend you to a doctor who has experience in helping others who have suffered similar injuries in the past, and who could suggest appropriate procedures to help reduce the significance of the scarring.

For a no fee, no obligation consultation with a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, call the Anderson Law Firm toll free at 800-354-6275 or locally at 817-294-1900.

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 few weeks ago, I wrote about the end of free public school bus rides in Keller on my personal injury blog. At the time, parents who could not afford the bus service were worried about the lack of sidewalks and crosswalks for child pedestrians. But the problems in Keller keep growing, all because of the budget deficit that cut the free bus program.

Fewer buses in the Keller school district means gridlock traffic for anyone driving around campuses during drop-off and pick-up times. The pay for ride system means more cars are on the already over-crowded streets, causing an increased potential for car wrecks and pedestrian accidents in the area. To make matters worse, at some of the busiest crosswalks in the district, a lack of crossing guards has made it nearly impossible for students to walk safely. The principal at Parkwood Hill Intermediate, Kathy Knowles, sent a voicemail last week to all parents asking them to be mindful and not drive in a way that could endanger children while in lines around the school.

If you have to drive near the traffic around Keller schools, please be careful. Children lack the ability to appreciate danger and are often involved in pedestrian accidents. At the Anderson Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys sincerely hope that Keller ISD can figure out a solution to all their traffic and transportation problems before an innocent child gets hurt.

This summer has been hot even by Texas standards. It seems like almost every day for the past couple of months, there’s been some new record set by the temperature. The extreme heat brings numerous hazards for us here in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, but they are not all as obvious as you might think.

As a personal injury and wrongful death attorney, I know that one of the biggest dangers actually is actually to kids. While no-one every thinks it could happen to them, the truth is that many children suffer sickness or even die as a result of being left in hot cars every year. Just within the past couple of weeks an Irving toddler died after he was locking in his mother’s SUV in their own driveway.

I know it sounds like such a simple thing, you would never think you’d let it happen to your child, but the truth is that it happens to good parents all the time. I know that when I became a father, it was something that I became paranoid about.

Baylor Medical Center has actually founded a program called Backseat Buddies for new parents, to help them avoid the danger of potentially leaving their infants trapped in their vehicle. Each of the parents is given a small teddy bear which they keep on their keychain. Whenever they take their baby out of their car seat, they put the bear in their place. Then whenever they strap their newborn in, they clip the bear back onto their keychain as a visual reminder that their child is in the backseat. I think it’s a fantastic idea; not only is it incredibly simple but it reduces the worry that one day you might make that fatal mistake.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Friends of Fallen Riders gathered for the funeral of a Texas motorcycle rider, Robert Walker, Sr., who was killed last week when he was accidentally shot while trying to protect his family from a violent animal attack. The tragedy unfolded when a neighbor’s pit bull jumped over the fence and into Mr. Walker’s son’s back yard where his young granddaughter and her cousins were playing. The dog tried to attack Mr. Walker when he defended the children, so his wife, Betty Walker, attempted to shoot the dog and accidentally mortally wounded her husband in the process.

This is an absolute tragedy. My heart goes out to Mrs. Walker and entire family. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that dog bites can happen unexpectedly. All Mr. and Mrs. Walker were trying to was protect their grandchildren from the dangerous animal. Sadly, this story also goes to show that in moments of panic, terrible gun accidents can also occur. It is a terrible thing that has occurred. My thoughts are with the extended Walker family and their friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker are residents of Houston, Texas, but the accident occurred in Jackson, Mississippi. Mark Anderson is a Texas personal injury and wrongful death attorney based in Dallas-Fort Worth.

A new study has found that children may actually be safer when they are being driven by their grandparents than by their parents. As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I find this an interesting contradiction to the common misperception that elderly drivers are unsafe to drive. Interestingly, previous research which showed seniors as being poorer driver focused more on crashes (including minor fender benders) without taking in to consideration whether anyone was actually injured in the accident.

Although older drivers do suffer impairment that younger drivers do not, the majority recognizes their reduced ability to react quickly to potential collisions and make the conscious decision to driver slower and avoid situations where hazards are likely. Senior citizens are also the age group most likely to wear a safety belt (other than infants and preschool children) and are least likely to drink and drive.

Grandparents are also likely to drive even more safely when their grandkids are in the car. This could be because they take extra with their “precious cargo” but also because grandparents do not have the same distractions that parents do and they aren’t rushing to drop the kids off at school and then get to work.

Mark Anderson is a Tarrant County traffic accident injury attorney who has been serving residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex for 20 years. If you have been injured in a car, motorcycle or truck wreck which wasn’t your fault, call the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your personal situation at 817-294-1900.

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.

School is out for the summer in Fort Worth and Dallas and you know what that means: it’s time for the kids to play. Whether your children enjoy playing at the swimming pool, on a trampoline or riding bikes with friends, the most important thing is their safety. As a child injury lawyer in Fort Worth, I’ve seen too many avoidable accidents happen in the summer to kids. Sometimes as parents, we overlook simple safety precautions that could save our children from pain and suffering if they get into an accident. Making sure our children’s bike helmets fit them correctly is just one of these precautions that often gets overlooked.

Did you know that a properly fitted bike helmet reduces the risk of a head injury by 85 percent? Before you let your kids ride anywhere make sure their bike helmets fit them the right way. On my law firm’s website, we’ve provided you with six easy steps to properly fit a bicycle helmet so that you and your loved ones can always stay safe.

Although these tips were written with children in mind, they can be applied to adults, too. Nobody who rides is completely safe from bicycle accidents in Fort Worth. The laws regarding bicycle helmets in Dallas, Fort Worth and the surrounding Metroplex are different in each city, but one thing is for sure: it never hurts to have extra protection if you’re going to ride a bike.

So enjoy life on two wheels and make sure you and your family are wearing bike helmets the right way. If you ever are hurt in a bicycle accident, give my accident and injury law firm a call at 817-294-1900.

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.

I’ve been working as a Tarrant County personal injury lawyer for 20 years and I’ve seen some bizarre car wrecks in my time, but this one is just plain weird. A young girl waiting for her mother inside Pro-Cuts hair salon on West Berry Street in Fort Worth was taken to hospital after a car crashed through the front window of the shop, colliding with the bench the girl was sitting on. According to the shop’s owner, Beth Driskill, the girl and her sister went flying through the air across the shop as a result of the impact. The second girl is reportedly uninjured.

The driver of the car was also treated for their injuries, although their identity has not yet been released at this time. Neither has any explanation for what caused for the accident been reported. As a Fort Worth personal injury attorney, I have seen similar cases in the past. To me, it sounds like this is either a case of driver negligence, defective roadway construction or a combination of factors.

I wish both the girl and the driver a full and speedy recovery.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a traffic collision or any other accident which was not your fault, please give us a call toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) for a no fee, no obligation consultation on your personal situation. Alternatively, you may contact us locally at 817-294-1900 in Fort Worth.

At the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, we try to update the public about dangerous products and product recalls as much as we can by using our blogs, like this one. Our accident and injury attorneys know that these unsafe products are a hazard to our families and we want the public to be informed as much as possible. However, with so many product recalls and dangerous toys and the like out there, it’s impossible for us to keep up with all of them!

Did you know products like toys, cookware and lawn equipment can be considered defective even if there is no product recall? No matter how big or small, defective products can cause serious injuries to people, especially children. Texas law provides that people injured by unreasonably dangerous products are entitled to be compensated for their injuries—but what do you need to prove that the item was indeed defective and dangerous?

At the Anderson Law Firm, we recommend the following steps if you’ve been injured by an unsafe product:
• Save the product in its current condition
• Save all the manuals, instructions and paperwork that goes with the product
• Get the information of any witnesses that saw the accident happen
• Take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries
• If you are hurt, seek medical attention immediately
• Write down your injury symptoms days after the accident
• Do not give a recorded statement, sign a medical records authorization, or accept a settlement before talking to a products liability attorney

Following this advice will help you to get most value from your products liability accident claim. If you’ve been injured by a defective product, call the Fort Worth product liability attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm for a free case consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact us today at 817-294-1900.

Back in 2005, Michael Miles of Arlington got behind the wheel of his car after a massive drinking session, drove five miles down US 287 and E Loop 820 S on the wrong side of the road, and smashed into another vehicle; killing the four teenagers inside. On Monday, a Fort Worth jury awarded damages to the families of the deceased teens who had attended Dunbar and Wyatt high schools. But the decision wasn’t simply against Miles’ insurance company (Miles himself died in hospital following the collision) but also the topless bar where he was drinking. Under Texas’ Dram Shop Law, wrongful death lawyers can seek compensation from the proprietors of establishments that over serve alcohol to their customers. In this particular case, the liable bar owners named as Harry Floyd Freeman and John David Faltynski of Harlem Nites Cabaret were found to be 35% responsible for the fatal crash, and Miles 65% responsible. I’m sure that the families of those that lost their lives in this tragic wreck which could so easily have been prevented are glad that justice has been done.

Congratulations to attorneys Bob Haslam and Kevin Byrne for the outstanding job these gentlemen did for their clients. I know how hard these cases are to pursue and my hat is off to them for fighting the fight and achieving justice for their clients.

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.

Sure you might have all the right car and booster seats for your kids, but are they installed the correct way?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seven out of ten kids in child safety seats aren’t properly buckled in.

As a Fort Worth child injury and car accident lawyer, it’s no surprise to me that car crashes are the number one killer of children. But what is truly upsetting is that parents can help prevent child injuries from car accidents just by following the rules, regulations and recommendations for installing and restraining their kids in child safety seats.

As a parent, I couldn’t imagine the guilt I would feel if my child was injured because I had made a mistake buckling them up. Read about the most common mistakes parent’s make when installing their child’s safety harness on my accident and injury law firm’s website.

If anyone in your family has been hurt in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, call my law firm at 817-294-1900 today. We specialize in car accidents and child injuries and will make sure that justice is done for your accident injuries.

In my 20 years as a Dallas-Fort Worth traffic injury lawyer I have helped people injured in all sorts of car wrecks, motorcycle collisions and other accidents. Some of the most catastrophic injuries I’ve seen are broken bone injuries. They can happen to anyone from a kid falling off a climbing frame or a senior citizen slipping in a nursing home. In fracture injury cases it is incredibly important that you have an experienced personal injury attorney holding your hand and dealing with the insurance company on your behalf. You don’t want to do anything which could jeopardize your chances of recovering the maximum possible compensation from the insurance company, because chances are you’ll need it.

If you’re lucky, your broken bones can be fixed with the standard treatment of setting and casting, and waiting for your body to heal itself over time. But in the more serious cases extensive orthopedic surgery is required. Many accident injury victims need long term physical therapy. Some people never fully recover and face lifelong disability as a result of the accident.

You need to be extremely careful in how you deal with the insurance company when pursuing a claim for damages. Usually, the insurance adjustor will try to rush you into settling a claim before you’re had the opportunity to consult with an attorney who can explain your legal rights. Don’t fall for their tricks. Under Texas law you are entitled to seek monetary compensation to help pay for all past and future medical expenses related to your wreck, so you don’t want to settle too soon. I never allow my clients to sign anything until their injuries have stabilized and their doctor is able to say with certainty what their future quality of life will be.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a Texas accident and suffered any sort of injury, I would like to offer you a free copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. It’s filled with the most important dos and don’ts to make sure you don’t get taken advantage of by the insurance company. If you live or work in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex then I offer free consultations to injured individuals and their families. Call me toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) to set up an appointment.

With the temperature in Dallas-Fort Worth expected to hit 100 degrees this week, I think it’s safe to say that summer is officially here. As the schools shut down, I’m sure that most kids are looking forward to getting outside to play with their friends. I think it’s great that children enjoy physical activities outdoors, but as an experienced child injury lawyer, I know that it can also mean an increased risk of injury-causing accidents both out and about and around the home. The most common summertime accidents are usually swimming pool or trampoline injuries.

Every year I get contacted by parents whose child has been seriously injured while playing at a friend or a neighbor’s house and they want to know whether they are able to make a claim for compensation. The simple answer is yes, of course you are. So long as your neighbor has insurance, we can make a claim. It won’t cost your neighbor a penny – the full settlement will be paid by their insurance company.

Many people are still reluctant to pursue a claim even after I reassure them of that fact. The truth is, I don't pursue claims against an individual. I look for insurance. But if your child was hurt as a result of something which was preventable you absolutely have the right to pursue a claim against your neighbor’s insurance company. That’s why they (and you) pay your premiums each month – in case something happens and someone gets hurt. You buy insurance to help pay the medical bills when someone is injured in an accident.

Yet people still worry that making a claim against the insurance company will hurt their neighbor in some way. I promise it won’t affect them at all. It won’t even make a difference to their monthly premiums because home insurance costs are determined primarily by where their house is located and it's value.

If you or your child has been injured in an accident, it is important that you consult with a board certified personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Give us a call on 817-294-1900 and we can explain your legal rights and help you determine the best course of action in your personal situation.

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.

As a Tarrant County personal injury attorney, I know that accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians are very common and can be extremely serious. Children in particular are at risk from suffering life-threatening injuries while out cycling as they are too young to drive, so their bike is their only form of transport to travel around their neighborhood. If a car hits a bike there is zero protection available to save the bicyclist from harm. While motorists certainly need to pay attention to surroundings and take greater care when driving through residential areas in particular, it is also important that children understand the risks and the hazards so they might better protect themselves while out and about on our road ways.

This Saturday, Richland Hills Baptist Church is hosting a bicycle safety rodeo to highlight best practices and safety issues specifically for cyclists. The event will also include a stunt show and competitions. Participants will be given the opportunity to win a new bicycle. The event will run from 10am to 1pm at 6852 Baker Blvd in Richland Hills.

Mark Anderson is a Texas auto wreck and child injury lawyer, and author of the book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. If you or a loved one have been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, call for a no fee, no obligation consultation on your personal situation. Call toll free at 800-354-6275 or contact us online.

Johnson County parents are anxiously awaiting news to confirm the cause of a school bus crash which occurred early this morning on County Road 507. Fifty five children were on the Venus Independent School District Bus #11 which collided with a tree. Eleven of the kids had to be hospitalized for their injuries. So far there is no word on the driver’s condition or what the likely cause of the crash was. Venus ISD Superintendent Bobby Matthews said in a statement that the wrecked bus had an on-board camera so that more details should be forthcoming once officials had reviewed the tape.

It is understood that the bus was not equipped with seat belts which could potentially have saved some children from injury. Although state laws went into effect back in 2009 requiring all new school buses in Texas to be outfitted with safety belts, there is no requirement for older vehicles to have them installed. The National Transportation Safety Board recently conducted a study into school bus crashes after learning that 26 students die each year in school bus crashes. They concluded that while the overall design of school buses has not changed since 1977, the introduction of lap belts at a minimum would reduce the number of and the severity of injuries sustained by children involved in school bus crashes.

My thoughts are with the family and friends of those children hurt in today’s tragic accident. As a Johnson County personal injury attorney, I shall certainly be eagerly following this story to find out what caused the crash to occur.

As a DFW personal injury attorney, I know than injuries can happen almost anywhere, as a result of many different kinds of accidents. Today, 20 people were injured following an escalator accident which occurred at DART’s Mockingbird station in Dallas. Seven of the injured pedestrians are children (reported to be from Quinlan ISD schools) have now been taken for medical treatment at Children’s Hospital. One of the kids has suffered a broken leg. Two adults were transported to Parkland Hospital for treatment.

According to DART officials, the escalator’s speed suddenly increased without warning. All escalators at the station have been shut down while an investigation is conducted into the cause of the defect. Most likely, the problems are the result of maintenance issues, but they could also be due to problems with the design of the machinery.

I hope that each of the individuals hurt in the incident make a full and speedy recovery.

Mark Anderson is a child injury lawyer who has been serving the families of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex since 1991. If you or a loved one have been injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, call for a free, no obligation consultation on 214-327-8000 or contact us online.

As a Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer, I know that dog bites and other animal attacks can cause serious injuries to their victims. I am a dog owner myself, so I have nothing against people who own dogs, as a citizen of Texas it is your right. But I am also a father, and I certainly don’t want my daughter to encounter a violent animal – regardless of the breed. If you choose to own a pet, you must make sure that it does not attack anyone. It is your responsibility.

A new bill was passed in the Texas House yesterday which brings even greater responsibility to dog owners. Authored by state Representative Chuck Hopson (Republican, Jacksonville), the bill means that if a dog kills a child or a senior citizen, the dog’s owner could face life in prison. Effectively, they would be charged with a first degree felony. The bill will now go on to the Senate before it becomes law.

Already, the new bill is stirring up debate. Why the age exclusions? Why not the same penalty if the dog attack results in deaths of those not infants or elderly? On the other hand, people argue that the bill seems excessive – there are already penalties in place for negligent dog owners. This is true, if you have been bitten by a dog, you are able to seek damages to help pay for your medical bills and compensate you for your physical and emotional pain and suffering.

It will be interesting to see whether this bill does indeed become law. At the very least, I hope it gives dog owners pause for thought and recognize the responsibilities they have to make sure their pets do not hurt anyone.

Mark Anderson is a board certified personal injury lawyer who has helped dog bite and child injury victims across the DFW area since 1991. For a free consultation on your case, call 817-294-1900 or 214-327-8000.

It’s the perfect weather to be outside in Fort Worth, Texas and although it’s still too cool to swim, it’s just the right temperature to go jumping on a trampoline. But before you let the kids jump on somebody else’s trampoline, take the advice of a Fort Worth personal injury attorney and know the facts on trampoline injuries.

In 2009, trampoline injuries were the reason for more than 98,000 ER visits. The American Academy of Pediatrics stance on trampolines is that they are so dangerous; children should never jump on them.

With as many trampolines as there are in Fort Worth, it’s unlikely that your kids won’t ever jump on a trampoline. But what will keep them safe from a child injury if they do?

Number one, only children 6 and over should jump on trampolines. There should only be one person jumping at a time and that person should only jump in the middle. Look to see that there is padding covering the trampolines springs and that a net encloses the jumping area.

Of course it goes without saying that a parent or adult must supervise any child jumping on a trampoline.

For more information on how to prevent trampoline accidents and what to do when they happen, read the article “Children and Trampoline Injuries.”

If your child has been injured on someone else’s trampoline, it’s a good idea to talk to a Board Certified personal injury attorney. It is very likely you could pursue an injury claim against the trampoline owner’s insurance company if your child’s injuries were caused by the negligence of the trampoline owner. Call the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 to set up a free, no obligation case review. Our accident attorneys will have the answers to your questions.

I find it incredibly frustrating as a Crowley personal injury lawyer anytime a big company announces a mass recall of one their products. Particularly when the product in question is something which the public purchases with safety in mind, and is mistakenly led to believe that by purchasing this brand and model over another they are actually making the safer choice – only to find out months or years later that their purchase is defective and potentially dangerous. Why wasn’t this problem discovered before it was released to the market? Such bad conduct by major corporations puts our families – our children – at risk, and in my opinion is entirely unacceptable.

Two such recalls were announced this afternoon.

Toyota (yes, them again) have recalled years 2007-2008 models of their RAV4 line along with Highlander and Highland HV models which were produced in 2008 due to problems with the sensors which cause driver and passenger airbags to deploy in the event of a traffic accident. This latest recall will affect more than 3000,000 vehicles sold in the US. If you are affected by this latest recall you should contact your nearest Toyota dealership.

Kiddieland Toys Limited have also announced a recall today of their Lights and Sounds line of Children’s Scooters due to a laceration hazard. As a parent, those are words you really don’t want to see together in a sentence. The recall was announced following reports of children getting their fingers caught in the hinge mechanism, necessitating stitches. 16,700 scooters are affected. Parents are being advised to contact Kiddieland directly to request a free repair kit.

Mark Anderson is a board-certified Tarrant County PI and wrongful death attorney. If you or a loved one have been hurt in an accident which was not your fault, call the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your case. Call toll free at 800-354-MARK (6275) or locally at 817-294-1900.

As a Tarrant County child injury lawyer I am happy that Texas is adopting new rules in an attempt to reduce the number of serious head injuries sustained in high school sporting activities. Currently, if a high school athlete suffers a blow to the head they must stay on the sidelines for at least 15 minutes. If they show no symptoms of concussion within that time, they are allowed to return to play. Starting August 1, that will change and players will be required to sit out for a day at minimum and may only return to action after being cleared by a licensed medical professional.

Knowing how serious head injuries can be, I think this is a great idea. In activities such as football, cheerleading and soccer, concussions and brain damage pose an enormous risk to athletes who bump their heads while participating in their sport. Concussions are the most common type of head injury and can range in severity. Symptoms can include memory loss and even seizures or coma.

In addition to the new head injury guidelines, a house bill is also seeking to end the traditional practice of passing down junior varsity football helmets. The reason is that as the equipment gets older and more worn, it offers far less protection to the wearer (similar to recommendations that motorcyclists and bicyclists replace their helmets following a crash). The new law would require schools to regularly recondition football helmets that have been used for 10 years or more, and to replace helmets that have been in use for 16 years.

Mark Anderson is a personal injury and wrongful death attorney who has served the people of Dallas, Fort Worth and the surrounding area for 20 years. If you or a loved one have been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, the Anderson Law Firm offers free, no obligation consultations to help you understand your legal rights and whether you might be entitled to any compensation. To schedule a meeting, call toll free at 800-354-6275 or contact us online.

March 20-26, 2011 is National Poison Prevention Week. In my experience as a child injury lawyer, I have learnt that there are many dangers to children easily accessible around the average home. As adults we know that household cleaning products are dangerous to consume, but kids are not - so I think this year’s campaign tagline “Children Act Fast… So Do Poisons!” should cause us all to put safety first as we tackle the annual ritual of spring cleaning.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) says to store all cleaning products securely where children cannot access them. If you are using a lower cupboard then make sure you install childproof latches so your kids can’t get in. Always keep chemicals in the containers they came in. By law, poisons must displays warning on their labels and you should always follow the instructions for use carefully. It also helps you easily differentiate between cleaners and other products – and can help your children learn that certain household items are dangerous and that they should not touch them. For your own safety, always make sure that you use chemicals such as cleaning supplies and pesticides in a well-ventilated area and thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.

In the event of a poison emergency, call the Texas Poison Center Network on 1-800-222-1222. Trained professionals such as nurses and pharmacists are available to talk you through the immediate steps to take and help you decide whether or not you need to go to a hospital. As with anything which presents potential for a personal injury, however, I think it is important to be proactive. In ensuring a safe environment within the home we can eliminate the dangers of poisoning, and keep our kids safe and healthy.

Fort Worth PI and wrongful death attorney Mark Anderson has helped local families cope with the aftermath of child injuries since 1991. If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident which was not your fault, call the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your situation so that you can be advised of your legal rights and learn whether you might be entitled to any consultation. Call toll free on 800-354-6275 or locally on 817-294-1900.

Jessica Tata, the woman authorities say is responsible for a Houston day care fire that caused the deaths of four young children under her watch, has fled to Nigeria. It was too late on Sunday when authorities finally charged Tata with one count of reckless bodily injury to a child. She had already left the country.

Fire investigators said a stove top burner Tata left on started the fire while she was out shopping at a local Target. The children were home alone when the blaze started authorities said.

As a father, this story seriously upsets me. As an injury attorney, it enrages me. How could authorities let someone who displayed obvious negligence, someone who is entirely at fault for the deaths of four innocent lives get away? It boggles my mind.

In my many years working as an accident lawyer, I’ve learned that some people never get enough justice. The families of the children horrifically killed in this accident will never receive the justice they deserve. It’s heartbreaking and truly unfair.

Stories like this remind us how precious our kids really are. It is so important to know how to choose a good day care for you kids. I hope all parents are aware of what to look for when it comes to day care abuse and your legal rights. I hope I never have to hear another story like this one.

Last week, I blogged about a major car seat recall and this week it appears car seats aren’t the only kids product under review. A new study in the journal of Pediatrics found that on average, 26 children are personally injured by cribs every day.

Researchers found that from 1990 to 2008, there were more than 181,000 children under the age of 2 taken to emergency departments around the country for injuries related to cribs, playpens and bassinets.

Even though the study found crib-related accidents have decreased since 1990, as a father and child injury attorney, the numbers of kids getting hurt by cribs are still too high for me. I vow to continue posting important child product recalls on my Web site and informing you on what you need to know if your child’s been injured. Our kids are the most important things in the world and it’s my mission to help them stay safe.

Springridge Elementary sixth grade student, Matthias Berhanu, 12, died after an accident during a school trip last week according to the Richardson Independent School District. Berhanu was at Sky Ranch, an outdoor learning camp in Van, Texas, when he was struck by falling tree according to RISD. Fortunately, no one else was injured.
Berhanu was taken to Children's Medical Center in Dallas by helicopter. His family told the school district he died Friday night. Parents of Springridge students were informed of the death Saturday. Because of this wrongful death, counselors were at the school Thursday and Friday last week and will be back at the school when classes resume January 5.

As a father myself, I cannot imagine losing a child, especially a week before Christmas. Berhanu’s parents are undoubtedly going through a tough period in their life. It sounds to me that Berhanu was at the wrong place at the wrong time. The questions that come to my mind are what caused the tree to fall, was Sky Ranch aware of the tree’s condition and what can Sky Ranch do to ensure this doesn’t happen again?

Information and commentary provided by DFW Wrongful Child Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be contacted throughout Texas at 800-354-MARK. If you or a loved one has been injured from the negligence of another, please fill out our contact card for a free consultation.

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Updates for Hurst Wrong-Way/Intoxicated Crash Kills Innocent Carrolton Man

Intoxication manslaughter charges are expected to be filed against a Crowley man in the death of a Carrolton man. The Crowley man was driving a minivan the wrong way on Airport Freeway on October 16, when it crashed into a car. Blood test results completed a couple days ago showed that the driver was above the .08 blood alcohol level. In Texas it is a class C misdemeanor to have an alcohol level above .08 and one can be charged with a felony when a fatal accident with alcohol occurs. The police department declines to say what his BAC was. The van driver, Eric Supe, 22 was initiall arrested at the scene and charged with intoxication assault as Ricardo Magallon, 32, of Carrolton, was being treated at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. Magallon, a husband of two children, died a few hours after the crash. The collision occurred shortly after 5 a.m. in the 400 block of Airport Freeway, near Hurstview Drive.

This horrific story is not one I like to read, but hopefully someone that reads it will learn something. About 61 percent of drivers who cause a car accident were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so it is no surprise to me that Eric Supe was intoxicated when the accident happened. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Magallon family and friends through this difficult time.

Information and commentary provided by Dallas Fort Worth Drunk Driving Attorney Mark Anderson. If you have any questions regarding a wrong way or drunk driver, go online or give us a call for a free consultation.

Hyland's Teething Tablets have been recalled by the company after reports by the FDA suggested the presence of some potentially toxic substance. This substance has serious adverse effects such as seizure, difficulty breathing, and muscle weakness. The FDA has therefore asked the consumers to discard this tablet which is sold as a homeopathic remedy for teething pain in babies. Belladonna toxicity is being considered to be behind the whole problem causing some very severe harm at high doses.

Several children taking the tablets were found to be experiencing symptoms which were very similar to belladonna toxicity. Also, since the containers do not have the child-resistant caps, children were found to be consuming more than what was recommended.

The agency warned the parents to take immediate action if their child experienced suspicious symptoms after using the tablets. Some of the symptoms are excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, agitation, seizures, difficulty breathing and lethargy. The reports said that these tablets too contained inconsistent amounts of the ingredient. The FDA further said that it was "not aware of any proven clinical benefit offered by the product”.

Hyland’s Teething Tablets have been used for more than 85 years they are a pretty reputable company. In 2009 there were 1,752 recalls in the United States which averages out to 67 recalls per week. Hopefully every parent who buys this for their kids finds out about the warning to prevent kids being sick.

Information and commentary is provided by Fort Worth Child Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have questions about a child injury, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

On Friday night, 13 year old eighth grader Kelsee Williams died in a tragic rollover accident which occurred near the Grande Prairie – Mansfield border of Texas 360. According to police interviews, Ms. Williams was in the back seat of a Chevrolet Suburban driven by a 16 year old from Arlington. Apparently, Ms. Williams leaned forward to change the radio station on the steering wheel. The 2004 Suburban had radio station controls built in on the steering wheel. The driver of the vehicle then lost control and the automobile moved to the left side of the highway where it then rolled.

I feel very bad for the family of the young Ms. Williams and my thoughts and prayers go out to them in this time of grieving. I am sure that many of Kelsee’s friends at Gunn Junior High School in Arlington are grieving as well. Certainly, she did not mean to do anything to cause an accident. Also, I feel bad for the 16 year old driver. Even though no one knows exactly what happened except for the four teens inside of the vehicle, and my thoughts are only speculation, I have to think that the driver probably did nothing wrong to prevent the rollover.

This tragic accident certainly could have been prevented and hopefully will serve as a reminder to all of the responsibilities we all have as drivers and passengers in a moving vehicle. First of all, no one should have touched the steering wheel except for the driver, as any attempt by anyone else might interfere with the driver's ability to control the vehicle. Secondly, according to police investigators, no one was wearing their seat belts in the car (there were two other teen passengers in the vehicle). It is a law in the State of Texas that all front and back seat passengers wear their seat belts. Quite possibly, if Ms. Williams had been wearing her seat belt, she would not have been able to lean forward to attempt to touch the steering wheel and also the seat belt might have saved her life during the rollover crash.

Information and any commentary provided by Fort Worth Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson and he can be reached at (817) 294 1900.

Fort Worth teenager Brooke Franklin, 14, died from a head injury he suffered after being thrown from a friend's All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV). The accident happened at The Hill Apartments complex in the 3100 Block of Normandale Street in west Fort Worth. Franklin lived at the complex while his mother is a managed the complex. Some youngsters including Kainen Hadnot, Franklin's best friend, say Franklin was riding on the vehicle in the parking lot going about 20 miles per hour when he ran into a curb. The 4 wheeler hit a curb and sent him flying into a wall. Franklin, an eighth grader at Leonard Middle School, died at the scene.

A young girl knocked on a door and got someone to perform CPR while another person was trying to apply pressure to Franklin's head, however his injuries were too severe. Joseph Sport, Franklin's step-father, says the 14-year old was mature for his age and was not acting recklessly. His step-father told him not to ride the 4-wheeler. Franklin told his step-father he was putting the ATV up before the accident happened.

ATV’s are a raising epidemic with children and adults. They are a blast to ride, but are very dangerous no matter the age of the driver. In 2006, there were 555 deaths and over 146,000 hospital injuries caused by 4-wheelers. The number continues to rise as does the number of ATV’s sold annually. The most important thing to remember is to always wear a helmet, no matter where or when you are on an ATV.

Information and commentary is provided by Fort Worth Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have any questions involving an injury claim, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

A Haltom City father whose 2-month-old infant died from head injuries was arraigned this morning on a capital murder charge. Alfonso Contreras Jr., 24, and the girl’s mother, 20-year-old Ashley Nicole Massey, were arrested Monday evening, several hours after police and fire officials responded to a report of an unresponsive child at the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park in the 6000 block of East Belknap Street.

When paramedics arrived around 1 a.m., the parents were performing CPR on the infant. The girl was transported to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, where she died around 2:30 p.m. Monday. It was unclear how the girl was injured, but police described her injuries as nonaccidental. Massey faces a charge of injury to a child and is being held on $250,000 bail. Contreras’ bail for the murder charge is set at $500,000. Both remain in the Haltom City Jail.

This is a tragic event for family and friends that knew the young infant. My thoughts and prayers go out to them. The 2-month-old baby had a right to live and was helpless in this horrific tragedy. Unexpected acts happen daily and it saddens my heart to hear another story like this. Speaking as a parent I have no insight of how one could do this to anyone, nonetheless, an innocent infant.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/ Fort Worth Car Accident Attorney Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. For more information regarding wrongful death, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

Peyton Hood of Pflugerville, Texas, who would have been 2-years-old on September 1, died tragically Tuesday after being bitten by a rattle snake near Possum Kindgom Lake. The girl was bitten at the south side of the lake, in northwest Palo Pinto County.

The girl’s grandmother called 9-1-1 and reported that her granddaughter had been bitten on the ankle. A helicopter ambulance took Peyton to Cook Children’s where she died early Wednesday morning in the intensive care unit. Details about how the child came upon the snake are not available yet, according to news reports.

This is such a tragic story. My heart goes out to Peyton’s family. Although we don’t hear about snake bites very often, they can be deadly, especially to small children. Snake bite deaths are not very widespread in Texas, averaging two to three per year, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In this case, Peyton’s family did exactly what the Parks and Wildlife Department recommends when dealing with a snake bite, which is to call authorities immediately. They say that under no circumstances should one try to cut or suck out the venom.

The Parks and Wildlife Department has several suggestions to keep yourself safe from snakes. Don’t put your hands or feet someplace into which you can’t see. Don’t step over a log without looking on the other side first, and if you have to move a log, do so with a stick or a tool. If you come upon a snake, stand still. Allow the snake to retreat first, and if you must move, back away slowly and carefully.

Information provided by Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson. He can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, in Dallas at 214-327-8000, and toll free across Texas at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

The mother of a 2-year-old Mansfield girl who arrived at an Arlington hospital unconscious earlier this month has been arrested. Ryka Hopper is in the Mansfield Jail where she faces a charge of injury to a child by omission. Her bond had been set at $100,000.

Hopper's live-in boyfriend, Adam Carroll Palmer, 27, was arrested earlier this month. He faces two counts of causing serious bodily injury to a child and an aggravated-assault charge and his bond was set at $450,000. Hopper and her two daughters, ages 5 and 2, arrived at an Arlington hospital on July 12 with bruises and other injuries to their bodies.

The 2-year-old was unconscious and had injuries to the brain, including blood and contusions. She was later taken by air ambulance to Medical City Hospital in Dallas, where she remains in a coma.

Hopper said she had arrived home and found the 2-year-old unconscious on the floor, according to the affidavit. She said Palmer told her that the toddler had a seizure. She then stated that the child remained on the floor for more than 16 hours before she finally regained consciousness and started crying. Because the crying awakened Palmer, he picked the 2-year-old up "like a rag doll and threw her to the floor and told her to shut up," Hopper told police.

The toddler whimpered on the floor until she went to sleep, according to the affidavit. After the incident, the girl could not walk or use her right hand and had trouble speaking, the affidavit says. According to court records, Palmer was given deferred adjudication on an injury-to-a-child case that occurred in 2003, but that probation was revoked in 2008 and he was sentenced to prison.

The fact that a mother can sit there while her child is unconscious for over 16 hours without getting worried just shows an extreme amount of recklessness and irresponsibility as a parent. This kind of child abuse should not be tolerated. Parent negligence is usually the cause of child injury, and this woman was aiding in this criminal act by not saying anything or reporting the abuse to the police.

I hope this investigation gives justice to a toddler that was critically injured for no apparent reason. As a parent myself, I find this kind of act despicable. It just shows cowardice and ignorance on the guardians’ part.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Child Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. For more information on child injuries, fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

An East Texas father and mother tried to rescue their 7-year-old girl from drowning Monday afternoon in the Trinity River. A passing bicyclist pulled out the girl and her mother, who also was trying to save the girl. Unfortunately, the father was unable to survive.

Richard Walker, 47, of Winnsboro, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office. The names of other family members have not yet been released.

The drowning occurred at a low-water dam between the Interstate 30 and West Lancaster Avenue bridges.

Fort Worth Fire spokesman Tim Hardeman said that the family had been walking across the rocky crossing when the little girl fell in the water. The parents jumped in after her.

The bicyclist, Jeff Harrison, said he was on the 37th mile of a ride that had begun more than two hours earlier at his home in north Fort Worth. Harrison was cycling back home through Trinity Park about 3:30 p.m. when he saw the girl floating with the current and an older woman and man swimming after her.

A teenage boy, Walker's son, was standing on the rocks and appeared frantic, Harrison said. The boy told him that he couldn't swim. There were adult onlookers nearby that didn’t even bother to help.

Harrison saw that the man was caught in a strong current and the mother and daughter had floated farther away. Harrison said he ran along the bank toward them, and he could see the mother's body beneath the water's surface.

He jumped in and pulled them both out of the river. The girl appeared fine, he said, but the mother's body had turned blue.

Harrison did CPR, even though he had not been trained to do so. Luckily it saved the mother’s life. Emergency workers then arrived and revived the woman.

Harrison said the satisfaction of saving the mother and daughter was tempered by sadness and frustration over the father's death. He was still stunned that no one else tried to help.

This heroic effort was shadowed by the fact that a father died trying to save his daughter. The fact that only one man who saw them that day tried to help is somewhat disturbing. We need to celebrate this bicyclist’s bravery in saving a mother and child when everyone else watching seemed to think it was impossible.

Remember that drowning is the second leading cause of death of children ages 1-14. Steering clear of dangerous water, or dangerous pathways over bodies of water, could save your child’s life. And in this case, the poor father was just trying to save his little girl when he was overcome with the strong current and suffered the injury that he thought he was preventing. Our hearts go out to this family and we also want to acknowledge the courage of the bicyclist for risking his own life to save a stranger’s life.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm specializes in personal injury matter. We can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have any questions, feel free to fill out the contact form online for a free consultation.

Former NFL quarterback-turned-minister Randall Cunningham is mourning the loss of his son after a hot tub accident at his home. The two-year-old, Christian Cunningham, died late Tuesday night at the family's home in Las Vegas in a backyard hot tub.

Authorities were called to the family's home by an unidentified adult. This adult was reportedly watching several children when the toddler was discovered at the bottom of the hot tub. Efforts to resuscitate Christian failed. The Clark County, NV coroner says the autopsy will probably show the cause of death was accidental drowning.

Randall Cunningham played football professionally for 16 years for the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, and Dallas Cowboys. He was out of town at the time of his son's death. Christian Cunningham is the youngest of Randall and Felicity Cunningham's four children.

It is hard for any family to get over the loss of a child, but especially hard when you have to do so in the public eye. Our deepest sympathies go out to the Cunningham family, and we hope that they will be able to find some closure despite all that has happened.

Parents can take steps to minimize the chance that an accident like this could happen to their family. Remember to never let your children be unsupervised in a pool. Twenty-five percent of fatal drowning victims were children age 14 and under, so parents need to be sure that they are always within reaching distance of their child if something were to happen.

In 2010, the majority of child drowning deaths have occurred in backyard and residential pools and bathtubs. Also remember that just because you taught your child to swim doesn’t mean he or she is safe from drowning. Swimming pools are fun and popular, but they can become dangerous to children if let unsupervised.

Information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Child Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. For questions concerning child injuries, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

Vanna M. Smith of Bedford, Texas was placed in jail Monday on suspicion of abandoning and endangering a child.

Smith, age 23, left her 5-month-old baby unattended for four hours in a parked vehicle. A Bedford patrol officer, Lt. Kirk Roberts, found the baby while responding to a report that an infant was left alone in a car in the 2000 block of Natchez Drive. At 8:30 a.m. he found the baby strapped in a seat in the unlocked car with the windows rolled down about an inch.

Smith told the officers she arrived home at around 4:30 a.m., went inside the house and fell asleep.

The infant was taken to Texas Health Hurst-Euless-Bedford hospital in Bedford and then to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. Police say he did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Every day in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, all kinds of preventable accidents resulting in serious injuries happen to children. In this case, the baby’s injuries were caused by the negligence of the mother. In the hot Texas heat mothers have to be more aware of their children. Leaving a child in a car unattended in the blistering sun is not acceptable. Thankfully the baby had no serious injuries.

Information and commentary are provided by Dallas/ Fort Worth Child Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817.294. 1900 or in Dallas at 214.327.8000. If you have questions about child injuries please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

A 5-year-old boy died Thursday evening after being struck by a vehicle backing out of the driveway of his family's home. Evan Fisher was pronounced dead at 7:22 p.m. at his home on Bowie Road, a rural area in Parker County near Weatherford.

Our deepest sympathies go out to the Fisher family, and we hope time will heal the pain they are feeling. It’s hard losing a loved one, especially a child. It is important to watch your kids at all times so accidents like this can be prevented. Remember also that there are blind spots with any vehicle, so be sure to check those before backing out of a driveway. Statistics show that children are at a high risk of pedestrian-related accidents. In the 5 to 19 age demographic, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death. Many of these accidents involve children as pedestrians. Evan was probably just playing outside when it happened, and because he was only 5 years old, probably couldn’t be seen from the vehicle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7-month-old Brianna Jones died on Thursday after being left alone in a car for over four hours in the Red Bird area of Dallas, TX. The girl’s caregiver forgot she was in the vehicle, according to news reports.

Brianna’s caretaker was supposed to drop her off at daycare, but forgot, and parked the car in her driveway at 9am. Someone saw Brianna in the car around 1:30pm. Paramedics took her from the house in the 1900 block of Sedona Lane to Methodist Charlton Medical Center. She later died at the hospital.

Leaving children in a car is so dangerous because the car heats up more than the temperature of the air outside. A car in direct sunlight for an hour can reach over 120 degrees when it’s 80 degrees outside. In the tragic case of Brianna Jones, the temperature rose throughout the morning reaching 78 degrees by the time she was found. Once a person’s core body temperature reaches 104 degrees, heatstroke occurs. Organs began to shut down when the core body temperature reaches 107 degrees.

Brianna is thought to be the third child this year who died after being left in a hot car. Last year, 33 children died after being left in vehicles. More than half of children who die this way are under the age of 2. 15 states have laws prohibiting leaving children in vehicles, and Texas is one of those states. According to police, it is unknown whether or not charges will be filed in this instance.

Information provided by Child Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, in Dallas at 214-327-8000, and toll free across Texas at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

An 11-year-old girl from Saginaw, TX was hit by an SUV on Tuesday as she was riding her bicycle. The crash occurred at the intersection of High Country and East Bailey Boswell Road in far north Fort Worth. The SUV was driven by an 18-year-old, who stopped immediately after the collision. The 11 year old girl was care-flighted to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth and is reported to be in good condition.

I don't know any other information about this wreck, but I always wonder when I see these reports what was the cause of the accident. I see a good portion of these bicycle/car collisions being caused by either the bike rider or the car driver not paying attention. I'm not saying that is the case here, as I don't know what caused the accident, but it makes me wonder. I sure hope the 11-year-old girl recovers quickly from her injuries.

Personally, I somewhat know how the 18-year-old motorist feels, as I was involved in a bicycle/vehicle collision when I was in high school. Coincidently, my accident occurred in Saginaw. In my wreck, the cause was the bicyclist pulling in front of me as I was driving through an apartment complex. However, as I get older and look back, I wonder if I would have been more of an experienced driver if I would have been able to avoid the accident.

Information and commentary provided by Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson who can be contacted at (817) 294 1900. Click the link to visit the Anderson Law Firm personal injury website.

A 13-year-old boy who was riding his bike to North Ridge Middle School was in an bicycle accident this morning when a station wagon hit the back of his bicycle. According to the North Richland Hills Police Department, the 13-year-old ran a stop sign at a North Richland Hills intersection. The boy was traveling east on Starnes Road where it intersects Crosstimbers Lane. According to police, he did not have a helmet on and was riding on the wrong side of the street. The child was taken to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas for observation.

First of all, I sure hope this young boy is okay. You never can tell from the initial police reports how serious the injuries are. I do know that bicycle-car collisions can result in very serious injuries. Especially since the boy was not wearing a helmet, you have to worry about any head injuries.

One thing this accident does is remind us all of the dangers of riding a bicycle. Everybody should wear a helmet, as it makes sense to protect your head as sometimes accidents do occur. Also, bicyclists are required to ride in the flow of traffic. In other words, bicyclists must ride on the right hand side of the road, not against the flow. And finally, bicyclists must adhere to the same traffic laws as automobile drivers. Here, maybe the accident could have been prevented if the bicyclists would have stopped at the stop sign as is required by law.

Information and commentary provided by Tarrant County Accident and Injury Lawyer Mark Anderson, who can be contacted at (817) 294 1900 or by visiting his web site to read more about bicycle injury cases.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Evenflo have recalled their “Top of Stair Plus Wood Gates” due to the slats on the gate detaching. The recall is for about 150,000 units in the United States and includes model numbers 10502 and 10512.

The product can be purchased for around $40 dollars at mass retailers, including Toys R’ Us, Kmart, and Amazon.com. The recall occurred after about 142 reports of slats breaking from the gate. Several injuries to children occurred including bruising and bumps to the head, as well as a few more minor personal injuries.

For more information on this recall please contact Evenflo at 800-233-5921 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

It is so important for parents to be aware of updates on recalls in order to keep their children safe and out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, something as simple as a slat breaking from a baby gate could severally injure a young child. It is my hope that all parents stay as informed as possible by checking the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s list of recalled products.

Information and Commentary provided by Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900 or in Dallas at 214-327-8000. If you have questions about a car accident or personal injury case you may also contact us online.

Graco Children’s Products, a popular brand of children and baby products, has recalled 1.2 million Harmony highchairs.

These highchairs pose a danger due to two defects that can cause the chair to tip over unexpectedly. The screws holding the front legs in place can loosen and fall out, and the plastic brackets on the legs can crack and cause the chair to tip over without warning. So far these defects have resulted in 464 reports of chairs falling over, with 24 reported cases of injuries to children, including everything from minor bumps and bruises to cuts and even a fractured arm.

The Harmony highchairs are no longer in production, and were manufactured from November 2003 to December 2009. If you have one of these chairs, you should stop using it an once and contact Graco for a repair kit, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

For more information, contact Graco at (877) 842-3206, or visit their website, www.gracobaby.com.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000, in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900, and toll free at 877-294-1115. He can also be contacted by clicking here.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said that a mini-van heading East on Highway 290 near Bastrop, Texas collided with a pickup truck, when the driver of the mini-van did not yield the right of way to the pickup truck.

Three children, all under the age of 9 were killed in the accident. None of them were wearing seatbelts. Two other children were also injured. The two adults in the van have non-life threatening injuries.

The van flipped whenever the pickup hit them. Paul (9), Noel (8), and Leah (5) Gonzalez were all killed in the car crash and were declared dead at the scene. Angie Gonzalez, who is 6-years-old, is listed in critical condition at a local hospital.

A 19-year-old, Texas A&M student was the driver of the pickup truck. Bastrop area police officials say he is not at fault for the accident because he had the right of way.

Any accident involving children is absolutely heartbreaking to hear about. My heart goes out to the families of the children killed and injured in this tragic accident. The other true tragedy in this case is that the children could have possibly been saved if they had been wearing their seatbelts. It is imperative that we make sure everyone is buckled up in the car before you even put the car in reverse. For a list of driving safety tips please click here.

Information and commentary provided by Texas Car Accident Lawyer Mark Anderson. Mark can be reached Toll Free across Texas at 1-877-294-1115 or online by clicking here.

Yesterday, a FWISD school bus veered off of Cooks Lane in east Fort Worth, TX and hit a tree. The cause of the bus accident was not readily apparent and is being investigated by the Fort Worth Police Department. The driver, whose name was not released, was transported from the scene and taken to a local hospital with complaints of back pain. There were nine students aboard who had just been picked up from Lowery Elementary School. Luckily, none had injuries which required medical transport to a hospital.

When you see pictures like this one, the thoughts are that this could have really been a horrible bus wreck. I am sure glad that none of the kiddos appear to be seriously injured. I wonder what could have caused the wreck. It is unusual to just leave the roadway without some reason, like driver distraction or even avoidance of another car or object.

Information provided by Fort Worth Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached at 817-294-1900 or online by clicking here.

6 people, including four teenagers, an adult and a child, were injured early Tuesday morning in a three-vehicle auto accident near Boswell High School. Four people were hospitalized.

The crash occurred at about 8:00 in the morning on West Bailey Boswell Road. This area is in North Fort Worth, just outside of Saginaw. A Mercury changed lanes into a Corvette, sending the Corvette across the center lane into a Honda. The Mercury over-corrected to the right and hit a wall.

A 16-year-old girl, the driver of a Corvette, was taken by ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital. Her passenger, a 14-year-old girl, was taken by helicopter in serious but stable condition. Both are Boswell students. A 16-year-old driver of the Mercury and his 17-year-old passenger reported injuries as well. The adult driver of the Honda and her 11-year-old daughter also went to the hospital by ambulance.

I went to Boswell High School, so I am very familiar with the area. I don't recall anything particularly dangerous about the road. This appears to be a case of basic driver error of changing lanes when it was not clear to do so. But this is a perfect example of how a simple mistake while driving can lead to serious injuries. I certainly hope all of the injured parties are not seriously hurt.

Information provided by Fort Worth Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached at 817-294-1900, or contacted by clicking here.

Parents in the Fort Worth Dallas area beware. In its second big recall of the year, Stork Craft Manufacturing of Canada has recalled 1.2 million cribs in the United States and nearly 1 million in Canada, where the company is based. The cribs involved in the recall have drop-down sides and have been sold since 1993. According to the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, this type of crib will probably be completely eliminated due to its danger to children. Stork Craft has received 4 reports of infant suffocation due to this type of crib.

The problem with the drop-down side crib is that the drop-side can detach and create a space between the drop-side and the crib mattress where children can become trapped and suffocate. The hardware holding these sides in place can break or become damaged over the years creating the suffocation danger. In January, Stork Craft recalled about 500,000 cribs because of problems with the metal brackets that support the mattress.

For years advocates have complained about drop-side cribs, and more than 5 million have been recalled over the past two years for contributing to the deaths of a dozen young children. ASTM, an organization that sets voluntary safety standards for all sorts of consumer products, approved a new standard recently for fixed sides for full-size cribs. Toys “R” Us started phasing out drop-side cribs earlier this year and after next month will no longer carry them.

So why has it taken the CPSC so long to recall these dangerous cribs? According to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, “We have just not been acting as quickly as we should have…on these types of incidents.” CPSC is now considering adopting ASTM’s voluntary standard, banning drop-side cribs completely.

If you have a drop-side Stork Craft crib, the CPSC recommends getting rid of it completely, or at least ordering the repair kit to immobilize the drop-side. You can obtain a free repair kit at www.storkcraft.com, or call the company at 877-274-0277. Some of the Stork Craft cribs have the Fisher Price logo, and some have “storkcraft baby” or “storkling” on the drop-side. For the full report at CPSC, click here.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Popular British baby stroller and accessory company Maclaren, which promotes itself as being stylish, innovative, and safe, issued a huge voluntary recall yesterday of close to one million folding strollers.

The stroller involved in the recall is the single and double umbrella style stroller, which includes models Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno, and Easy Traveller. The stroller poses a danger to children because the folding hinge can cut or even amputate children’s fingers. The recall comes after 12 reports of fingertip amputation in the U.S.

According to Maclaren’s website, owners of these strollers can obtain a free repair kit to cover the stroller’s hinge mechanism. To find out more from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, click here.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Who can resist a good deal? Buying refurbished products can help you save hundreds of dollars over buying products new (or maybe even more). However, buying refurbished can also cost you a lot in the long run, so think twice before you jump on that good deal when it could affect your safety.

Don’t buy refurbished when your safety is at risk.
Saving $50 could make a product a great deal, and help you decide to make a purchase when you’re considering refurbished products. However, buying refurb when your safety is at risk is a bad idea.

Consider the example of a refurbished car seat for your child. I hear that many refurbished car seats come back to the manufacturer after a car accident and are‘re-certified’ and then sold again. There is no legislation in place governing how refurbished car seats are inspected or tested to determine their safety. After the stresses of a car accident, you could buy a refurbished car seat on the verge of failure and you’d have no way to know it.

Follow safety checklists to determine whether a product is safe.
In many cases, there’s nothing you can do to determine whether or not a refurbished product is safe. In the car seat example, though, you do have a few options to check for safety before you use it.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has guidelines for when car seats need to be replaced, and when it’s safe to continue to use them after an accident. CPSafety has a checklist you can use to look for common issues and determine whether or not the car seat is safe for reuse. Neither of these can tell you for sure that the car seat is safe, but they can help you make an informed decision about whether or not to buy a product that has been refurbished for resale.

Information provided by Tarrant County Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who practices injury law throughout Tarrant County, and can be reached at 817-294-1900.

A portable storage closet fell on a kindergarten student in the gym at G.L. Wiley Middle School in Waco when she and two other children were playing on top of it. They were reportedly chasing a lizard.

The children were attending classes at the middle school while J.H. Hines Elementary is closed for repairs. Princanna Strain, who died en route to the hospital, would have been six-years-old on October 20.

What a devastating accident. My heart goes out to this child’s parents and family. From the picture, the storage unit looks very large and heavy. What was it doing in an area where children would be playing? Perhaps it should have been moved as part of the effort to make a middle school building safer for younger children. Were the children properly supervised? Were there enough teachers to keep an eye on all the children in the gym? These questions and more will have to be answered during the course of this wrongful death investigation.

Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.

Photo from KWTX.com

A student at Blalack Middle School in Carrollton was left with devastating injuries after being hit by a car on Wednesday. The absence of school zone signs or crossing guards in the area may have contributed to the accident.

13-year-old Caitlyn Self was walking home from school and attempted to cross Rosemeade Parkway at Standridge Drive when she was struck by a vehicle. The impact broke an elbow and leg, fractured her hand, and cracked her pelvis in two places. Luckily as she fell her backpack slipped up and protected her head from even worse injury.

The intersection where the accident occurred is about half a mile away from the school. There are no school zone signs or crossing guards at Rosemeade Parkway, which is a big street with fairly heavy traffic in this mainly residential area. I hate to hear about an injury to a teenager like this, and hopefully after this terrible accident the city will take greater precautions in protecting the students who walk home from school.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Accident Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted toll free at 877-294-1115, or by clicking here.

A three-year-old boy died on Saturday afternoon as the result of a tragic accident in Dallas, Texas.

Jacob Vega was riding his bike when he was struck by his mother’s vehicle. She didn’t see him as she drove forward from her parking spot in front of their home. Jacob later died at the hospital. The police are not pressing charges on his mother as they have ruled the incident an accident.

I can’t even imagine the grief this family must be going through. Unfortunately, children are injured in horrible accidents such as this one every day. According to www.kidsandcars.org, 95 children in the United States have died since late June of this year in this type of accident. That’s why it is so important that parents don’t let small children play unattended where they might be in danger of getting hit by a car.

Information provided by Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached at 817-294-1900 or by clicking here.

The Consumer Product Safety Committee recalled millions of window blinds and shades Wednesday because of their danger to children. The recall includes blinds and shades sold at Pottery Barn Kids and IKEA as well as many brands sold at retailers like Target.

Three children have died as a result of becoming caught and strangled in the exposed cords that move the blinds up and down. Two of the blinds that caused deaths were the Lewis Hyman roll-up blind, sold at retail stores from 1999-2003, and the Woolrich roman shade, sold at Target from 2006-2008. Customers should contact the company for a free repair kit. A Vertical Land blind, sold in Florida from 1992-2006, caused the third death. Customers of this product should contact the company for a free retrofit kit.

Roman shades were recalled from Pottery Barn Kids and William Sonoma after six children were found with cords wrapped around their necks. Fortunately, none of these children died. Roman Melina blinds were also recalled from IKEA after a child was found hanging from the cord nearly strangled to death. Customers of these blinds should return them to Pottery Barn Kids, Williams Sonoma, and IKEA for a refund.

The problem with these types of shades is the exposed cord that moves the blinds up and down. A child playing with or near the blinds can easily become entangled in this cord and die of strangulation if not found and disentangled immediately.

For a complete list of the recalls and more details about the types of blinds involved, click here.

Information provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be contacted at 817-294-1900, or by clicking here.

An 11-year-old boy is in "very critical condition" this morning after he was struck by a car in east Fort Worth around 5:30 a.m.

The boy and three other children were playing with shopping carts on the access road of East Loop 820 in between Ellis Road and Meadowbrook Drive when the pedestrian-auto accident happened.

A 31-year-old woman in a Dodge Stratus said the boy ran out in front of her and she was unable to stop in time before hitting him. He was rushed to Cook Children's Hospital where he is currently being treated for his serious injuries.

Investigators said they were called to the area because they had gotten reports of children out past curfew. They also said the day before, the boy who was hit and another kid who was out were reported as runaways.

This is a sad story--especially if the child is a runaway. I can only imagine a parent's worry over their child missing, let alone finding out from authorities that their child has been critically injured. I hope FWPD will be able to locate the boy's family and that he is able to recover from his injuries.

Pedestrian accdidents can have devastating effects since people have no protection against the force of a car hitting them. If you or a loved one has been hurt by a vehicle, please contact Board Certified Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Mark Anderson by calling 817-294-1900.

June and July are officially designated National Fireworks Safety Months. Each state has differerent laws regarding the use of fireworks based on factors determined by the state fire marshalls. Texas, like most Midwestern states, allows the use of all consumer fireworks and requires those who operate special effects to have a permit and be at least 21 years of age. You must be at least 12 years old to purchase consumer fireworks.

Here are some safety tips to keep in mind as the 4th of July holiday weekend approaches. Information provided by the National Council on Fireworks Safety:

* Use ALL fireworks and sparklers outside
* All users should be at least 12 years old
* Obey all local laws and bans
* Do not alter fireworks--use them only as intended
* Designate a "shooter" as you would a designated driver--alcohol and fireworks do not mix
* Use common sense and always use extreme caution when lighting fireworks

The Anderson Law Firm wishes everyone a fun and safe Independence Day!

In a second tragic water-related accident death over the weekend, a 16-year-old Carroll Senior High School junior died after drowning in the pool at the Omni Hotel in downtown Fort Worth.

Winston Ward of Southlake went to the Omni Hotel Saturday night to eat dinner and swim with his friends. Around 7:20 p.m. he did a somersault and hit his head before an adult saw him at the bottom of the pool. No one knows how long he was in the pool before he was found, but witnesses said it wasn’t long.

There were no lifeguards on duty but the pool depth was only 4-foot-6-inches deep. Ward was 6-feet tall. Attempts to resuscitate him failed and he died at the scene.

The pool is on the third floor of the new Omni Hotel and is closed until further notice while an accident investigation is conducted.

Sadly, already 50 children have drowned in Texas and summer only officially started this past weekend. That’s more than half of the total number of child deaths from drowning in 2008. Last year, 89 children died by drowning in Texas.

If one of your loved ones was wrongfully killed in an accident that was the fault of another person, please contact Board Certified Accident Lawyer Mark A. Anderson to learn your rights by calling 817-294-1900.

Photo courtesy of www.star-telegram.com.

An unidentified 11-year-old boy died Saturday when the inner tube he was being pulled on collided with a personal watercraft (or Jet Ski) on Lake Worth.

The boy was riding on the tube with another boy and they were being pulled by a boat. Coincidentally, the watercraft they ran into was also pulling two boys on a rubber tube.

The 11-year-old was CareFlighted to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth where he died. The boating accident happened at 3:45 p.m. No one else was hurt and no charges were filed. The accident was still being investigated over the weekend.

This was the first of two water-related accidents which killed kids over the weekend, and unfortunately, they probably won’t be the last. With summer officially underway and temperatures consistently topping 100 degrees, North Texans are heading for water to cool down. Annually, hundreds of Texans are killed in boating-related accidents as the number of boats in Texas waters increases. The good news is, the number of water-related fatalities has consistently decreased over the years, but this isn’t a perfect world and accidents still happen.

To prevent boating and other watercraft-related accidents, Texas Parks and Wildlife recommends following these four principles of safe boating:

1) Wearing life jackets
2) Being educated on boat safety
3) Operating safe boats and equipment
4) Boating sober

Information provided by Texas Boating Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson: 817-294-1900.

If you have been injured in an automobile wreck, truck collision, motorcycle crash, or any other type of accident which causes personal injuries in Texas, you must be aware of the relevant law called the Statute of Limitations. This law requires you to file a lawsuit at a local Texas Courthouse within two years of the date of the accident. If you have not resolved your injury case before then, it is absolutely imperative that this very strict two-year deadline is complied with. Failing to file a lawsuit within the two-year time frame eliminates your right to pursue a claim forever.

And it's imporatant not to wait until the eve of your two years to think about purusing an injury claim. If you've been injured as the result of another person's negligence, you should consider hiring a Board Certified Injury Attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Sooner is better because crucial evidence must be collected before it disappears. Plus, it's very common for injured parties to make mistakes on their claims if they don't have the guidance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

The common mistakes injury victims make are discussed in detail in the newly released book by Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson. It's appropriately titled, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. This informative book is available for FREE to Texas residents who may order it by calling 817-294-1900 or by visiting: www.DontWreckYourCase.com.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, or any other type of accident for that matter, you have a ton of options when it comes down to hiring a lawyer for your Texas accident claim. Hiring an attorney is a very important decision and it's sometimes very difficult to try and weed through all of the attorneys out there who hold themselves out as being “injury attorneys.” So how do you know you're making the right decision? The best thing to do is to limit your search to only attorneys who are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This is a designation held by only 2% of the roughly 80,000 lawyers who practice law in Texas.

What does it mean to be Board Certified? It means that the attorney has passed a rigorous test on injury topics, has tried a certain number of cases to a jury, has been recommended by local attorneys and judges and has been practicing a certain number of years. There are plenty of qualified attorneys in Texas who are Board Certified, so there's no reason that an injury victim should settle for a lawyer who is not Board Certified.

The importance of hiring a Board Certified Injury Attorney is discussed in Mark A. Anderson’s new book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck your Texas Accident Case. This book is full of information which is helpful to accident victims. The Anderson Law Firm is offering a copy of the book FREE to Texas residents. To order your free copy, please call the firm at 817-294-1900. The book can also be ordered online at www.DontWreckYourCase.com.

A general rule is that all injury claims must either be resolved or a lawsuit filed at the Courthouse within two years of the date of the accident or the claim is forever barred. This is the Statute of Limitations in Texas. An exception to this rule is in the cases of minors. If a child is injured as the result of the negligence of another person or company, then the minor has up until two years after the time the child turns "majority" (or, 18-years-old) to bring a claim. Basically, the child has up until he or she turns 20 to bring a claim.

But parents must be aware that the medical bills incurred by a child are the parents' legal responsibility. As such, the parents must make sure they bring the initital claim within required two-year period to recover compensation for medical bills. The parents' right to recover damages for the medical bills they have to pay is still governed by the two-year Statue of Limitation deadline.

Board Certified Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson discusses all the typcial mistakes made by injury claimants and how to avoid them in his new book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. This book is free to Texas residents and can be ordered by calling the Anderson Law Firm at 817-294-1900 or visiting www.DontWreckYourCase.com.

The National Safety Council has declared this week (April 5 through April 11) National Window Safety Week. The purpose of of this week is to promote safety as it applies to windows, drawing attention to the many hazards which arise from somthing as normal as household windows. The main issues the council wants to focus on are preventing falls by children out open windows and keeping windows accessible for exits in case of fire. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the No. 1 cause of all non-fatal injuries to children.

In an effort to help the NCS out in drawing attention to these issues, I'd like to provide the following things to consider:

Falling Hazards
*Keep windows closed and locked when children are around to prevent them from falling out a window.

*Use higher windows if you must open one for temperature control or fresh air.

*Do not keep furniture near windows, as children can climb on it and use as access to open windows.

*Keep in mind that insect screens do not prevent children from falling out an open window.

*There is no substitute for adult supervision when children are playing at home.

Fire Safety
*Windows serve as the best secondary escape in a fire. Remember to teach children how to safely open and exit a window in case of a fire.

*Do not nail or paint your windows shut--check periodically to make sure they open properly.

*Do not install window air-conditioning units in windows that might be needed for escape in case of a fire.

Keeping children safe is every parent's top priority. That's why knowing how to make your windows safe is so important!

This announcement provided by the Anderson Law Firm--a personal injury law firm based in Fort Worth, Texas. We handle all types of personal injury claims, including those involving injuries to children. Please contact our office for a free consultation at 817-294-1900.

Police had to shoot and kill two pit-bulls in San Antonio, Texas Tuesday after they mauled an infant to death before attacking their owner. A woman left her 7-month-old grandson, Izaiah Gregory Cox alone for a minute while she went to retrieve him a bottle from her kitchen. When she walked away, the dogs attacked the baby and killed him. When the woman tried to free the baby, the dogs attacked her also.

It always amazes me when people keep dangerous dogs in their homes with young children. It's one thing when a dog injures a child after jumping a fence or getting loose from its leash, but it's another to own and keep threatening dogs--like Rotweillers and Pit Bulls, in your home with kids around. This was just an accident waiting to happen. And now that poor woman has to live with the guilt from her grandson's tragic and untimely death.

If you or someone you know has suffered severe injuries or has died as the result of a dog bite or some other type of personal injury accident, please contact the Anderson Law Firm at 817-294-1900 for a free consultation on your rights.

Wednesday around 4:30 p.m. a 10-year-old boy was impaled by a crowbar after the pickup truck he was riding in was rear-ended in Ennis, Texas. The car accident—which happened at the intersection of Highway 287 and Highway 34, caused an inch-in-diameter crowbar from the bed of the truck to be thrust into the cab. It impaled the boy’s lower back and leg and continued on to pierce his 38-year-old mother’s back, who was seated in front of him in the front passenger seat.

It took fire and rescue crews almost two hours to cut the boy out of the truck; rescuers said he was alert, oriented and talking throughout the process. He was taken to Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas and his mother was taken to Parkland Hospital. Miraculously, neither suffered life-threatening injuries.

The woman who hit the Ford Ranger pickup truck, causing the accident will not be charged. The wreck happened yesterday during the severe thunderstorm weather that hit North Texas.

If you or your child has suffered bodily injuries as the result of someone else's negligence, in a car wreck--or any other type of personal injury accident, please contact the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on how to recover damages.

Photo courtesy of NBC-Dallas.

Yesterday evening, in the 3000 block of Las Vegas Trail, a toddler was injured when a group of teenagers threw rocks at the car she was riding in. The two-year old had a contusion and swelling to her right cheek, but did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. The girl’s mother was driving and noticed a group of teens throwing rocks from the sidewalk as her car approached them. One of the teens then threw a rock which flew through an open window and struck the girl as she drove by. The culprit was a 15-year-old girl who admitted fault and was taken to the Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Facility. This personal injury accident happened around 6 p.m.

The Anderson Law Firm handles all types of injury accidents, and most times, they result from vehicle accidents like car, truck and motorcycle wrecks. Occasionally, we get calls about dog bites and other common accidents. But there are so many ways a person can be injured as the result of someone else’s negligence that it’s too hard to categorize them all. This is the perfect example of a freak accident which cannot be categorized, but it’s also a case I might be able to take after some investigation.

If you or someone you know has been injured as the result of another person’s negligence, please contact the Anderson Law Firm to discuss your rights at 817-294-1900.

2-year-old Abdallah Khader remains on life support at Cook Children’s hospital in Fort Worth after his car was hit by an alleged drunk driver. Stewart Richardson is in jail on $100,000 bond. He has been charged with intoxication with serious bodily injury and DWI felony repetition. Richardson has outstanding drunk-driving charges in Iowa, Colorado and Utah.

The car crash happened in Arlington. Richardson rear-ended the Khadar family after he’d been drinking at two bars—Applebee’s and Mr. B’s, both in Mansfield. His blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit at the time of the wreck at .25. Witnesses say he showed no remorse and when he heard of Abdallah’s condition, he said, “that sucks.”

Since Abdallah is Muslim, religious beliefs are preventing his family from taking him off life support even though 80 percent of his brain is damaged. If he lives, he will have severe brain injuries and if he dies, it will be unfacilitated. The family has filed a civil action suit as well and investigators are looking into the two bars which served Richardson the night of the wreck.

If you’ve been injured in an accident as the result of someone else’s negligence, please contact the Anderson Law Firm for a free consultation on your rights at 817-294-1900.

Over the weekend a tragic one-car accident in Bowie, Texas killed young Allison Hammer on her sixth birthday. The wreck occurred when the van she was riding in veered off the road, and rolled after the driver tried to over-correct. The van was driven by her aunt and unfortunately, Allison was not wearing a seatbelt.

Texas law requires the use of child safety seats if the child is less than five years old and less than 36 inches in height. But those are the minimum standards, and it is recommended that all children be in child safety or boosters seats, or at the very least, have seat belts on. Since it was Allison’s sixth birthday, no law was broken by her not being in a car seat. But it is illegal to not wear a seat belt. Seatbelts do save lives.

According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, the leading cause of death or injuries to children is auto accidents. Approximately seven children are killed and 700 are injured every day in the United States in car crashes.

Information provided by Texas Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson.

Last Wednesday, 16-year-old Chelsea Lunt was texting on her way to Decatur High School just before losing control of her pickup truck. The truck flipped five times after she tried to overcorrect it before landing in the ditch on U.S. 81/287, just short of the FM 730 exit. Lunt was killed instantly in the car accident. Although she was wearing a seat belt, her body was partially ejected and she suffered major head injuries.

Lunt was on her way to track practice and had been texting a boy during the drive. 11 messages had been sent to the boy on her drive to school—the last was at 6:51 a.m.—the time of the accident, which was called in two minutes later.

Witness statements revealed that the sophomore had been swerving in her lane, an indication that she might have been distracted by something. An accident investigation, which will continue for weeks as police await test results, revealed that texting was the absolute cause of the tragic wreck.

According to an article published a year ago in U.S. News and World Report, approximately 20 percent of people on the roads were texting while driving. I’m sure that number has increased in the last year. Already, texting and driving has been banned in New Jersey and Washington, and 16 other states were considering legislation that would ban the distracting activity. Most of these states are in the Midwest and on the East Coast, but unfortunately, Texas is not among them.

The good news is Texas does recognize texting—and using a cell phone in general, while driving as dangerous. Already, several cities in North Texas ban the use of cell phones, including texting, in school zones. Hopefully, our state will jump on board soon as far as extending the ban to major roads and highways.

Funeral services for Lunt—a star athlete in volleyball and track, were Saturday in Decatur, Texas.

Information provided by Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson.

Southlake, Texas is the latest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area to ban car cell phone use in school zones. The city is just one of many to jump on the bandwagon in the last few months making it illegal to talk or text near schools. The ban will take effect just as soon as signs can be posted. If caught, violators face a $200 fine. The new law, like the ones in nearby Texas cities—Dallas, Denton, Hurst, Flower Mound, University Park, Watauga, Irving, Duncanville and Rowlett, not only bans people from talking on their hand-held devices, but also from sending and receiving text-messages. Drivers are allowed to talk on hands-free devises, however.

I think these bans are great ideas. It is really a minimal intrusion on the rights of people to stop talking on cell phones for a moment. This law can really save lives and prevent injuries to children. The Texas Legislature is currently I session. I’ve heard that a state-wide ban on talking or texting in school zones is up for consideration. I say let’s do it! Protecting our kids has to be a higher priority than that one phone call or text.

For more information on bans, car safety, accident prevention and cell phone statistics while driving, visit the National Highway Safety Web site.

Information provided by Fort Worth Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson.

In a massive recall which will surely send concerned parents scrambling to see what kind of crib they own, the Canadian company Stork Craft has recalled over a half a million cribs due to defective metal brackets. These brackets are now known to sometimes break, causing the mattress to collapse and possibly cause an injury to a child who might become entrapped and suffocate.

The recall was announced yesterday by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. It involves all Stork Craft Baby Cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between May 2000 and November 2008. The cribs were sold by major retailers including J.C. Penny, Wal-Mart and K-Mart and online at Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Sears.com and Walmart.com.

The CPSC urges parents to immediately stop using the cribs in the recall. You can contact the company for a replacement kit. Their site is www.storkcraft.com, but I tried and could not log on to the site, presumably due to heavy traffic. Their toll free number is 866-361-3321.

Click here for a copy of the Recall Notice

Information provided by Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson

The State of Texas closed a licensed, but severely overcrowded Denton home-based day care center after a four month old girl was found unconscious and later died. According to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office in Fort Worth, the cause of death is pending.

According to Texas law, day care centers in homes are required to be licensed and can have up to twelve children. The Denton business, called 2 Kool 4 School Kids Club, had 30 kids at the home—more than twice the amount allowed. This business was licensed in August to care for children from infants to school age. No violations had been noted during the time the day care had been in operation.

While this death is under investigation, the State’s investigator did not see any evidence of foul play. But one has to wonder about the over capacity issue. The limits on the number of children allowed are there for a reason. To have over double the state limit, it seems likely that the employees were not in a position to adequately supervise the children.

For questions regarding personal injury claims, including injuries to children, feel free to contact Mark A. Anderson online or by calling toll free 1-877-294-1115.

A 44-year-old woman was killed early this morning on Highway 175 and Malloy Bridge Road in Seagoville, Texas when her car flipped and ejected her. She died at the scene. Fortunately, the passengers in the car accident—the woman’s daughter and two grandchildren, ages 6 and 2, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and are expected to be released later today.

A Dallas County Sheriff’s spokeswoman said that water from nearby sprinklers may have been the cause for the slick road, which in turn caused the rollover, resulting in death.

So that raises the question of whether or not it is negligent to allow your sprinklers to hit the road when it’s below freezing. In my opinion, I don’t think you should be running your sprinklers in the winter when temperatures might drop below 32 degrees. But what’s potentially negligent is allowing water to fall onto the road. It is my understanding that most cities have ordinances which prevent excess water on the streets. If that’s true, then there is definitely a possibility that someone was negligent in breaking a city ordinance which, not only resulted in an injury to a child, but also in the wrongful death of an innocent person.

If you have questions regarding an injury claim, feel free to contact Fort Worth Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson online, or by calling 817-294-1900.

Remember when I wrote about the helicopter that crashed into the roof of a residential home in Wisconsin while a family slept inside? Well a similar thing happened yesterday in San Diego, California and unfortunately, some residents were just as unlucky.

Several people were injured and three people were killed when a military jet crashed into a home in a residential area of San Diego and at least two homes burnt to the ground. Twenty more homes were evacuated Monday due to the dangerous fumes the explosion emitted. The aircraft was a F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet and it crashed into the University City neighborhood which sits just about two miles from the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

Early accident investigations have not revealed the cause of the crash but apparently, jets like this one have been recently grounded by the military for repair. The pilot ejected safely before the crash and did not appear to be injured. He was found hanging by his parachute in a tree nearby.

The three people who were killed included a baby, its mother and a grandmother—all of which were in the house the jet crashed into.

Yesterday, when I wrote about a girl killed in a Beaumont, Texas parade over the weekend, I mentioned that the viability of a wrongful death claim in that case will depend on the accident investigation. In this case, however, the people in the home who were innocently killed by the jet crash were most definitely wronged. By no fault of their own, an accident took their lives. Their families will most likely make wrongful death claims against the military or the jet manufacturer for the deaths of their loved ones.

If a loved one has been killed wrongfully or personally injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, please call me to discuss your rights at 817-294-1900 or Contact Me Online.

Just days after a Cub Scout troop was hit by a reckless driver in an Overton, Texas parade, another freak parade accident over the weekend left a 10-year-old girl dead. The girl was riding in the back of a pickup truck and had been hopping on and off the slow-moving vehicle during the parade. At one point, she was scolded and told not to hop around for safety reasons. Then, in front of the Beaumont, Texas crowd of a couple hundred people, the girl jumped off the truck and hit her head just before a trailer full of children ran her over. The girl was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Ironically, the annual parade was put on to bring the community together in a positive way after the devastation caused by Hurricane Ike in September.

As I view each wrongful death and tragic incident I read about through the eyes of an injury lawyer, I always wonder if a claim will be pursued. While I don’t know many of the facts of this case except what I have written above, I do not know whether an accident investigation will reveal that anyone, other than the young girl, was responsible for her tragic death. That is what investigations are for. I would look at the reasonableness of the actions of the event organizers and whether the adults on the truck in which the girl was riding took reasonable precautions to prevent her from jumping out. I would also look at the distance between the truck and the trailer vehicle that ran over her to make sure that a safe distance was between the two vehicles. And like I have said before, investigations are key and sometimes unveil surprising results in personal injury cases.

At the Anderson Law Firm, we investigate all of our clients’ claims to make sure that all possible evidence is found and used to support each claim. If you have questions regarding a personal injury claim or would like to set up a free consultation with Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, please call 817-294-1900.

A tragic and bizarre pedestrian-truck accident has spiked my interest. An 82-year-old Troup, Texas man was released on bail from the Rusk County Jail yesterday after he drove his pickup around a barricade and crashed into a Cub Scout troop at a Christmas parade in downtown Overton, Texas Monday night. It’s hard to tell whether the man intended to hit the troop or if the Cub Scouts were just collateral damage. Either way, ten children and two women suffered injuries. The injured scouts were 7 to 11 years old and all but two were treated and released.

Unfortunately, two of the kids were not so lucky. One was taken to the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and is in good condition while another child—a 7-year-old boy from New London, Texas, is in serious condition and being treated at Mother Frances Hospital.

The 82-year-old, Charles George, lost his license and has been charged with reckless driving. Overton, Texas is located about two hours southeast of Dallas.

As a parent, I would be outraged if this happened to my child. Maybe some sort of injury to a child charge would be more appropriate. The man should have never driven around a barricade. I sure hope this man had sufficient insurance to cover all the medical bills being incurred by these unfortunate families.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact me at 817-294-1900 or Contact Me Online to discuss your rights.